JOEY BROYLES An American Pop Star on the Rise
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DECEMBER 2013 | projectfamous.com
Editor in Chief JOEY BROYLES Mananging Editor KELLY LAJTER Arts Editor CHRISTY GRACE Beauty Editor CANDI ROBBINS Fashion Editor ADELINE PECK Music Editor KAREN WHEELOCK Copy Editors DANIEL ATWATER FREDERICK HURST Contributing Writers ERIC GEANE HANNA KAZMAREK JASON OCKER MATTHEW HURTADO NICOLAS ALEXANDER PAUL SMITH RICK TVEDT RYAN SCHREMP Contributing Photographers ADELINE PECK HIGH IMPACT CREATIONS, LLC JEFF BLANKENSHIP MIGUEL RUIZ PHOTOPHELIA RISE UP LIGHTS PHOTOGRAPHY Project Famous, LLC. | PO Box 6292, Madison, WI 53716 Letters to the editor, advertising opportunities and all other questions can be emailed to info@projectfamous.com PROJECTFAMOUS.COM ©2013 All Rights Reserved. December 2013 Issue 011
DECEMBER 2013
FEATURE
Joey Broyles
by Kelly Lajter PHOTOGRAPHY Adeline Peck
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PAGE 64
PAGE 41
PAGE 8
PROJECT FAMOUS MAGAZINE
December 2013 Issue 011
GUEST WRITER
6. A LOVER WHO LOVES by Matthew Hurtado
FASHION
8. Frugal Fashion: It's A Kitschy Holiday by Guerrilla Thrifter Adeline Peck
BEHIND THE SCENES
18. The Armed Robbery on 44th Street by Kelly Lajter and Nicolas Alexander
TAKE THE FIRST STEP 23. Apples to Oranges by Paul Smith
FEATURE
26. An American Pop Star on the Rise by Kelly Lajter
BEAUTY
41. Showstopper! RAW Madison Makeup/Hair by Candi Robbins
MUSIC
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54. Lion's Mouth: Not Just Background Music by Hanna Kazmarek 57. The Frequency Calendar 58. Madison's Music Bounty by Rick Tvedt 60. Sarah Longfield by Ryan Schremp 64. D.R.U.M. by Eric Geane
THE ARTS
66. Hatch Art House by Christy Grace 69. TownSpot by Jason Ocker
Matthew Hurtado, Author and Entrepreneur
A Lover Who Loves: The Ultimate Goal
December is a special issue for Joey Broyles as the cover article. As such, we’ve decided to give him a break and have asked a local businessman help with our “Letter From the Editor.” His message is quite inspiring. Read on…
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hen I’m not involved with the d a i l y brainstorming for a multimillion-dollar internet business, I am usually playing with my kids or one of my seven 6
“favorite” guitars. I learned a few years ago that if you can design an ideal day, you can orchestrate the life of your dreams. Today I am living proof that a person can do this – no matter what excuses they have. You see, I had hit rock-
events occurred that rocked my universe! I was told that when a person becomes disconnected and diseased (in my case), the fastest path to one’s joy becomes the physics of aligning oneself with their destiny. The destiny
Hurtado pictured with his wife and children.
bottom with Lyme’s disease and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. I watched the banks extract my home and car while I went through a second bankruptcy in 2009 at the age of 32. With nothing to look forward to, an unusual series of miraculous and extra-terrestrial-inspired
you’ve been taught to chase into the world and climb the ladder of someone else’s design is a surefire way to struggle, experience lack, and disease. However, following your own bliss every moment, regardless of the positive outcome or negative fallout perceived by your mind puts you in the
mystery, and outside of the box. Getting out of this box contains the new adventure you are seeking and it actually begins seeking you. So with this in mind, my creative flow led me to visit my friend Spyder at his studio in Madison to learn guitar. My first guitar was purchased when I was 12 years old at a local shop on Atwood Avenue. After I really began to rock out, we put together a part-time band. Madison’s music scene has always been my favorite part of the city in which I grew up. Growing up on Rutledge Street, my youth was full of rich experiences in culture and artistic exploitation. Walking to the Barrymore Theater to go to a concert or skateboarding on Willy Street, all the way up to State Street, were some common things I really enjoyed. Today I love shopping at Willy Street Coop, getting acupuncture at Red Sage, or grabbing a burrito at Burrito Drive. I’m a big fan of what the Inferno and the Cardinal Bar have going on. Let me explain: Many people there have alternative lifestyles and the level of honesty people share about themselves makes for a wonderful experience. As the years have progressed, I have
learned how to embrace myself with no reservations. When I was 19 I was an exotic dancer with a company in Madison, doing shows all over the state. This was a perfect lifestyle for me then as I lived a bodybuilding-lifestyle and also suffered a five-year eating disorder, forcing me into a form of solitude with shame and guilt as my constant companions. My self-worth was something that was reminded to me over a steady period of self-growth in my own journey. My journey is told in the fiction book, Misfit to Millions. It’s a wild ride that takes the reader into the life of someone least likely to succeed, who eventually becomes more than he ever imagined or dreamed of becoming. My roots are in Madison, and like many people who wonder if their “ship” will ever come in, my blessing came in the form of my curse. Anyone who faces and overcomes a lifethreatening illness will mature to “see” and realize (real eyes) that the true secrets to success are simple, profound, and have nothing to do with vanity or chasing the facade of Hollywood stardom. When you are thrust to your death bed at some point in your physical experience, you will truly know what matters most: love, appreciation, and connecting with people at the most basic level… hence the idea of The Snuggle House. At age 36 now, with two kids and several businesses, time is something I choose not to participate in unless it’s absolutely
essential. It’s always now! Right now you can alter the course of your life by changing your words. This is the most advanced lesson that transformed every bit of my reality. When I began only permitting my tongue to speak of what I desire and refrained from casting a “spell” or a “sentence” on my life with more negativity, things shifted faster than anyone could comprehend. I didn’t wait. There is no tomorrow! So in my vibrational escrow on the eventhorizon, there are plans to visit the Overture Center, The Comedy Club, and even a concert on the square this coming summer. When the temptation to feel bored sets in, music is something that always awaits me in my home studio. With a built-in home movie theater and all the fitness equipment I desire in my workout facility, I’m sort of a home-body these days. My kids are my greatest joy so this all works out quite well. My life was not always glamorous and amazing. There were always doubts in my mind of my own self-worth and haters to remind me to “stay down.” Yet in spite of all this, once I began following the fastest path to my own joy in each moment and speaking only of what I desire, look at what transpired! The majority of businesses that I’ve started have not succeeded. Yet the ones that did succeed have made millions. Never let the least productive in society, or the professional parasites usurp your power. Take your power back! That’s my message. PROJECTFAMOUS.COM | DECEMBER 2013 7
FASHION
8
FROM:
GUERRILLA THRIFTER
FRUGAL FASHION
It’s a Kitschy Holiday With Mary BY ADELINE PECK
Season’s Greetings thrifters! It is that time of year where we gather with our loved ones, bake delicious treats and send cheers in good spirits, with spirits! This holiday, Kitsch is Key. Grab your festive family members, that timely poinsettia apron and your favorite cocktail to warm your soul. Who better to celebrate the holidays with than your family? I am joined by my mother Mary, who not only whipped together homemade aprons and stockings, but shared her collection of mid-century modern glassware and decor. Once again, with a little bit of craft, creativity and one kick-ass mom, your holidays are sure to shine!
Photography ADELINE PECK | Model MARY PECK PROJECTFAMOUS.COM | NOVEMBER 2013 9
“Rockin’ Around the Yule Log” What is more Kitsch than a vintage poinsettia tablecloth turned apron with rick-rack trim? Mary created her own pattern for these sweetheart neckline aprons and matching holiday stockings. Creativity is a labor of love. Fall and winter have brought about the resurgence of yellow-gold jewelry. Collected pieces through the years are accenting our outfits. Mary is wearing a cluster pearl bracelet, heirloom diamonds rings and a vintage pearl necklace. I chose a pair of gold-tone button earrings and a vintage red rhinestone bracelet.
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Someone’s in the Kitchen with Kitsch!
Whether you are nibbling an oatmeal cookie in the kitchen or sipping a cocktail on the staircase, do it with a level of Kitsch this holiday. My Mother and my collection of glassware seems to swell and grow every time we enter a thrift store. These photos showcase our vintage glass tumblers with red polka dots. Red sectioned tin plates and a holiday hound dog toothpick server are always crowd-pleasers. Rotate your plates and servingware and keep things interesting all year round! It’s like going thrifting in your cupboards! PROJECTFAMOUS.COM | DECEMBER 2013 13
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FASHION
“Cheers to You, Mom! “ Happy Holidays to you all. Celebrate all year round and a little extra on a warm night by the fire with your family and friends! Don’t forget to do the twist with your mom to your Motown Holiday LP!
• Tablecloth - Savers $3.99 • White Oxford Ann Taylor Blouse - Goodwill $3.99 • Matte Black Straight Leg Trousers - Goodwill $6.99 • Vintage Red Slip-on Loafers - St. Vinny’s $2.50
• Black Knit Cowl-neck Sweater - Goodwill $3.99 • Vintage Black Satin High-waist Trouser Pants - St. Vinny’s $1.70 • Gold Heels - Savers $5.99 16
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BEHIND THE SCENES
Pictured left to right: Jaimie Doering, Adam Schulte, Nicolas Alexander. 18
The Armed Robbery on 44th Street by Kelly Lajter and Nicolas Alexander PHOTOGRAPHY Photophelia
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ith an intense plot, four well-defined characters and a shocking twist that will leave you speechless, Nicolas Alexander’s new film, The Armed Robbery On 44th Street, will be sure to turn your skin to ice, numb your muscles and chill you down to the bone. In the new film from Alexander’s Phantom Moth Productions, four life-long friends (played by Carlos Christian, Steve Schuder, Chi Williams and Alexander) decide to by rob a bank in the secrecy of the night – their biggest heist ever. When the robbery goes awry and one of them gets shot, the four men are late getting to
the rendezvous point to be picked up by the fifth member of the group. As the clock keeps ticking down and the cops draw closer in on them, the friends must try to pull together to survive the night. With heavy tension and heart-pounding intensity, this is sure to be one film to get out there and see! The Armed Robbery On 44th Street is Alexander’s fourth film that he has written, directed and acted in since last year. His writing has been noted as “brilliant” and “refreshing” by peers and other filmmakers and with two of his films having been theatrically released this summer, he is ready to step up his game more so. “I love cinema and I love writing. The way
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Alyssa Spangler applies makeup on Carlos Christian. Taylor Kokinos gets set up in the background.
Pictured from Left: Taylor Kokinos, Adam Schulte, Nicolas Alexander, Jaimie Doering, Billy Johnson. 20
Chi Williams takes a break.
Interviews for the Kickstarter campaign are underway. Pictured from Left: Alex Falk, Emily Root, Billy Johnson, TY Parish.
that a film can engross you and envelop you is truly inspiring,” Alexander stated. “I want to turn some more heads with 44th Street. I want to get people thinking and more importantly; talking.” The script was written in early October. The cast and crew began meeting in November, planning out the details of preproduction which also included the filming of a trailer to be used on a Kickstarter campaign to help fund the film. The week before Thanksgiving, the trailer and interviews for the campaign were successfully filmed and conducted over the span of two evenings. The first evening found the four actors sitting at a diner going over the plans to rob the bank. With Assistant Director, Adam Schulte, behind the camera, Alexander, Christian, Schuder and Williams ran through the scene about two dozen times that evening. On audio for the trailer was Jaimie Doering and Joshua Schmoock, whom Alexander
has previously worked with on multiple films. After just a few hours, the trailer was shot and plans for the next meeting were laid out. A couple of days later, all cast and crew members met at one of the production assistant’s home where one last meeting took place and then the interviews for the Kickstarter were shot. The Director of Photography, Taylor Kokinos, along with Schulte, Doering, and Ty Parish on audio, shot the interviews in a setting that took several grips and production assistants to create. With original artwork set up behind the interview couch, the video will be a great addition to the Kickstarter. Not everyone chose to be interviewed, but you can be sure that those that were interviewed offered informative and fun answers. Alexander was interviewed last and shared some great insights into his film. Watching the trailer and interviews on Kickstarter will be a great way to see the energy, passion and
cohesiveness of the cast and crew on The Armed Robbery On 44th Street. With twenty cast and crew members, this is the biggest team that Alexander has had the pleasure of working with. Everyone is working confidently and enthusiastically to create a dynamic film. Allowing people to develop themselves professionally, Alexander loves to keep a free and lively atmosphere on his film sets. “Listening to everyone’s ideas and having a good time is crucial to making a successful film,” Alexander commented. Shooting the film will take place this month. Alexander is looking for a release date of late January. The Kickstarter campaign will be available to pledge to through the end of the month. Help support Phantom Moth Productions’ latest endeavor; visit their Facebook page for further information.
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TAKE THE FIRST STEP
PROJECTFAMOUS.COM | DECEMBER 2013 23
Apples to Oranges
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ne of the problems that the art newcomer has to eventually face is the “compare/ contrast” exercise. We all do it. We’ve gazed at paintings by recognized masters, listened to music from established professional musicians, read countless articles, short stories and novels from experienced well-known authors and we’re ready to take the creative plunge. After all, it’s exactly this exposure to art that grabbed our attention and started us down the yellow brick road of creating this stuff on our own, right? How hard can it be? They make it look so easy, y’know. Then we begin, and something just isn’t quite right. Brushes will not obey our commands, our story introductions appear to be word-salad nonsense, and that major chord we’re riffing out of simply will not enact the flow you expected with the minor chord interlude. This thing isn’t anything like we had imagined and certainly not anywhere close to what we had seen at the Chasen, or heard at the Overture Center. What’s wrong? 24
Article and Illustraton by Paul Smith Simple answer: nothing. The problem inherent in the necessary compare/contrast of the art world for the newcomer is fairly obvious and probably the main reason most people will refuse to try to produce anything. Even though their inner child is throwing tantrums about it, they simply will not attempt that piece of art because it will never stand up to public scrutiny when it is compared to a master’s work. And it’s even worse when a peer turns out something that is spectacular and just standing in the same room with it turns down your damper because “I’ll never get my project to that level of perfection.” So we wind up shutting it all down, maybe abandoning it for good. And that’s a pretty bad choice for all of us. A huge part of the psychology of making art is selfsatisfaction; we seem to forget that once we’re hip deep into the process. We tend to lose focus on the fact that this is our version of this piece. I could go on for days about why we make the effort to express ourselves artistically, but that’s another story for another campfire. For the time being, let’s focus on what can be aptly named Comparison Stage Fright. When we start a project, whatever the art discipline we are involved in, it’s critical to our
own artistic welfare to understand that we are not supposed to match another person’s artistic endeavors. We are supposed to concern ourselves with developing our own visions. True, we are inspired by those who have produced something before us, maybe even appreciative of the flair and elegance of a piece produced by someone else. There’s nothing wrong with admiring a technically sound, aesthetically beautiful composition. But don’t forget that art can be defined as an example of personal human experience expressed, and when we are putting something out there for public-viewing, we are letting people see what is in our hearts. I will never forget the first time I was able to stand in front of an old master’s painting. I was an effectively uninformed young GI on leave from my company in Frankfurt, Germany. I had traveled to France with four friends to take in the sights. I had to insist on a pretty heated level that we visit the Louvre because the friends I was with were more interested in visiting Pigalle, the notorious “red light” district of Paris. But by holding my breath and turning an unbelievable shade of blue, they caved, and off we went. We wandered the vast
corridors of that palace for a few hours. As I turned a corner into a side room, I was confronted with Rembrandt’s “Night Watch” – a massive painting. It completely blew me away. All I could do was just stare – rendered completely immobile. The immensity of that work took my breath away. But what was important then is as important as it is now; I had come to the depressing conclusion that I simply did not have it in me to even attempt to match the magnificence of that piece. By the time I got back to my home station, I had internally abandoned even the notion of becoming an artist. I knew I could never do that well. It took a while, but that feeling dissolved. I discovered that the idea of life without creating artwork appeared to be an unbearable option, and I was soon back into the sketch pads. I didn’t really realize it at the time, but I was able to come to that choice by an important epiphany. That painting was Rembrandt’s work,
his vision, from his time. I had a different vision, something that reflected my time, not his. Once that idea took hold, I was never bothered by those feelings of inferiority again. While the old “compare/contrast” exercise is important for in depth critique, it’s equally important for us to remember that exercise is also comparing “apples to oranges” to complete an analysis. Not to fragment our own creative desires. As time goes by, the more that you create, the greater confidence level you will achieve. It’s exactly that confidence level in one’s own experiences and talents that help us rise above that creative roadblock. Keep in mind that what you are creating is a unique, fascinating and in-depth look at you. Not anyone else. It’s why we make art at all.
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Photography ADELINE PECK 26
PROJECTFAMOUS.COM | NOVEMBER 2013 27
JOEY BROYLES
An American Pop Star on the Rise
by Kelly Lajter Photography ADELINE PECK
PROJECTFAMOUS.COM | DECEMBER 2013 29
J
oey Broyles. If you’re an active participant in the Madison arts scene, you may have heard this name. No? What about Project Famous? Ah yes, that rings a bell doesn’t it? It should. You are reading Project Famous Magazine. If Joey Broyles is not a familiar name to you, take note. Just what Steve Jobs is to Apple and Richard Branson is to Virgin Records, Broyles is to Project Famous. Though smaller in scale, it exists, founded on Broyles’ passion and his desire to revolutionize the art world. Broyles is also a singer, songwriter, composer, screenwriter, actor, producer, local and business-owner. He was featured as “Our Entertainer” in the July/August issue of Our Lives Magazine. He has recently won RAW: Madison’s RAWard for Musician of the Year and he is consistently on the top Broadjam and Reverbnation charts for his pop music. With influences ranging from David Bowie to Andy Warhol to Lady Gaga to Baz Luhrmann, Broyles leaves no creative facet unexplored. A true visionary and a passionate man, Broyles lives a whirlwind life. 30
Kelly Lajter: Let’s start from the beginning with Project Famous. You started this in June of 2012. Why? Joey Broyles: All of my friends were getting older and having kids and getting jobs not paying attention to the art that I liked, so instead of continuing to beg them to be a part of my artistic world, I found Meetup. com. I could not find any one group where there were several different kinds of artists hanging out together. So I started my own group with photographers and actors and singers and writers. KL: Why did you choose the name “Project Famous?” JB: For me, it’s sort of an oxymoron because “Project Famous” doesn’t mean you’re going to be famous but it’s the idea of fame – of doing what you want. I wanted to be able to do what I love every day and by calling it “Project Famous” – the project is doing whatever you’re working on – and then the fame behind that. I would rather live every day doing what I love than doing things I hate. KL: From Project Famous you got this core group of people interested in doing projects. What was the first project?
JB: The first project didn’t happen. (laughs) Two guys in the group wrote a script and we got down to reading the script and then our director dropped out and we all sat down and asked “okay, what is this group; what are we doing?” So it started out with a rock star photo shoot. It was a pretend, dress-up like a rock star and get photographed photo shoot. This was our first real project where we weren’t just sitting around in a circle talking. KL: Looking at that first project and the projects of today, how would you say they differ? JB: Well, they’re very much the same at heart but the biggest difference is just that the level of participation is greater now. The scale is larger but we’ve learned a lot along the way from project to project… People kept saying “we want to do something – tell us what to do.” It was nice to do other people’s ideas like Shawn [Tallard]’s music video for “May As Well Be Me” and Karen [Wheelock]’s music video for “Stitches.” To do something for someone else is so much more rewarding than doing something for yourself. And for me, that is still the best part about Project Famous – doing something for someone else. I mean, you can look at everything that’s happened to me in the last year and I am nothing without all the people that have backed me up; I am nothing without Project Famous. They made me, and I made them, and we make each other.
KL: This not just you saying this; people are experiencing this. JB: There’s an energy when you work with other people. A lot of Project Famous just comes from the Andy Warhol Silver Factory, like that idea. And Lady Gaga has her haus – the Haus of Gaga. That was the idea that I was looking for… to find a group of people that like to make art and we can make art for each other and we feed off that energy. I have seen people go from doing open mic nights to performing all the time, people drawing in a little sketchbook to showcasing at RAW. The impact of this idea is so much bigger than I know how to ride; I am still learning how to work Project Famous everyday. KL: Let’s talk about RAW. When did you first go to a RAW event? JB: In February, 2012 I started going to RAW Showcases. For the life of me, no matter how many times I submitted, I did not get in. But I think that I was not ready to be a part of that because I didn’t know who I was as an artist. In February 2013 we went to RAW to support a friend that was showcasing. We were really impressed with the fashion show and I filmed it with my phone and then we wrote about it for the Project Famous website; we just wrote a little blurb and posted the video. The video got like a hundred hits and that’s when Samiera [Kookasemkit] approached Project Famous. The whole point of Project Famous is to connect people through
art and to not leave any artists behind and that’s what RAW is. The partnership with RAW made sense. It was very strange because they asked what we wanted to showcase and I thought I wanted to showcase myself. Members of Project Famous all said “Let’s do this, let’s put you on stage” and that was not what I had expected. Then when I got onstage at RAW in April, it was like a drug and I didn’t want to be off stage. When I’m onstage, I feel like that’s where I’m supposed to be. I feel that’s my destiny. KL: Within this year’s time, you’ve gone from Joey Broyles, kid from Sun Prairie to Joey Broyles, RAW: Musician of the Year. JB: Yes, it’s strange. Being named Musician of the Year is so humbling because I don’t feel like a musician. I love the Madison music industry, but I don’t feel like I fit in. But I write all my own lyrics, I write all the melodies. I play on the piano every day, I write songs every day. It’s really cool that RAW is recognizing me. I’m the oddball. I have the crazy visuals on the screen behind me. I dress up like a girl. I dress up like a guy. I gender-bend. I dress up like an alien. I do things that are different.(laughs) Being nominated alone was so great because it made me feel like I was being acknowledged for what I can do, but winning was even better because now people know that I am here. It’s just about building awareness now. The music that I write is not like the music you hear on the radio. The lyrics are very different; I try to make
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you think.
they hear my music. If I can KL: You also did the script for change someone’s mind or change your song “Burn the Money” from KL: When you won Musician of the someone’s life, that’s winning. your EP and soon-to-be LP Future Year, RAW: Madison host Emma Pop. Dehlinger announced your name, KL: Speaking of winning, this past said “Joey has been a huuuuuuge July Project Famous entered into the JB: I am very proud of this. part of RAW,” and then she asked 48-Hour Film Project competition This was a big labor of love. I you what your favorite part of and the film D won four awards. wrote the script to Sun Voyage’s RAW was and you answered with: “May As Well Be Me” and Karen “All the art. You guys are always JB: That was the first script that Wheelock’s “Stitches” as well awesome so it’s always been fun. I wrote that won something. But and by the time I wrote “Burn This is magical so, thank you.” I’ve been writing scripts since the Money,” I had experience in That was a very humble thing to shooting music videos from my say, and quite heartfelt. scripts so I was more prepared. We shot over four days and when JB: Well, I honestly wasn’t it was over and time to go back expecting to win because Madison to work, it was very hard. It was is a very band-centric city. I was a small production with the heart very happy to win and really of a large production. Afterwards, wanted to win but I don’t want that I forgot how I was supposed to award to define me or my music. function in the real world. I am in It’s nice to be recognized for my dire need to make more films. hard work and talent, and yes there is a prestige with the title Musician KL: You face demons during of the Year. For example, the other “Burn the Money.” Tell me about day someone said to me, “I had that. heard about RAW and about you eighth grade. Seeing my little script before, but when you won Musician come to life on the big screen was JB: We were in a large warehouse of the Year I thought, ‘wow this guy really humbling. with a cooler space about two really must be something.’ So I had thousand square feet. And there to come to one of your shows.” KL: And with that comes acting? was nothing in there but scaffolding It was a moment of reality against the one wall. And with the that made me smile but also JB: Yes! I love acting. My first play door closed, it was pitch black. I made me sad. People want to see was in fourth grade. I was a nitrate hate the dark; I am terrified of winners; everything is about status. in a pollution awareness play. the dark and faced a lot of inner People are missing out on all sorts demons and fears in there. Despite of talent around them because KL: What other scripts have you my fear, I needed to do this to get they want to be around the famous done? into the mindset of the character artists and winners. There are in “Burn the Money” and I needed living artists that you should make JB: I did a very silly script for a to have complete isolation, which a point to see and hear. I am happy song called “Nuts & Berries.” My this room provided. As the writer I won, but I believe that winning dad brought me up on the black and producer of the short film I comes with a responsibility. Now and white 1940s and 1950s “B” was in high-demand. As an actor, that I have this title, I want to sci-fi films and so this was a kind I couldn’t be distracted by the use it to make people focus on of homage to those because I love logistics of the filming. “Burn what’s important: how they feel them. the Money” is a complete view and how I can inspire them when of money and how it affects you.
“There are living artists that you should make a point to see and hear.”
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My character has gone mad and gone overboard and what he does is a statement; I would never do those things, but to become him, I needed to really find him inside of myself. It took me about two months to lose him then and to lose his laugh that I unknowingly developed during production. KL: So what’s coming up next for films? JB: I have a slew of music videos to make for my album, and I really want to work on filming the short stories for Future Pop because there’s a lot of stuff going on as back-story and I want to tell those stories. KL: Okay, tell me about Project Famous Magazine. You’ve created this and are the Editor In Chief.
JB: I always knew I wanted to make a magazine. Project Famous Magazine has a different niche than the other publications in Madison. It’s a tool for artists. Anyone reading it or writing it or being interviewed for it is learning something about the community they live in and who else is out there doing what they’re doing. It’s spreading this positivity and awareness in the community for all art. If one person reads the magazine and is inspired by it in some way, then I feel like we’re doing a good job; we’re making someone else’s life better. These tools didn’t exist for me, so I designed this for others. I found a way to tell people “Yes, you can do this too” through spreading inspiration through art. If people can take advantage of what we offer, then we’re doing the right
thing. KL: You sort of have your own mantra. I have heard you say time and time again a variation of “Only you hold yourself back” or “If you want to do it, do it.” JB: If you just sit around and wait, then you’ll just continue to sit around and wait. If you tell me “no” I just go and find a “yes.” This is how I have to be though. I have goals, and I have to obtain my goals. KL: I think that when people work with you they know they can expect professionalism and results. JB: I feel that it’s very important that if you establish a relationship with someone that you have to do the follow-up. If you want people
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has been a big inspiration for me since I saw them at RAW last year. Performing at Fruit Fest was the best thing I’ve ever done because I was performing in front of my own [gay] community for the first time. It was really important for me. When I did the first song, “Future Pop,” it pulled the crowd in and I was like “this is what that feels like!” And then I was even more addicted and had to make my shows bigger and better. That was very much a special moment to take you seriously, first you say in my heart. yes, and then you show up. And that’s all there is to it. Once you KL: In August you performed at do this, everything else will follow FIVE Nightclub. and fall into your lap. The trick is to want it to happen. If you JB: That was amazing! We brought want it to happen, and work for in the American flag because it it, it will happen. Does it happen makes a statement for “Remember overnight? Nope! It took a year for You’re A Number (R.Y.A.N.)” and me to get here. I’m still planning there were some people there that on winning a Grammy… that weren’t happy about that. may take me twenty years! So, stay tuned! (laughs) KL: There was a ex-marine in the audience that was not happy. He KL: You’ve had a lot of onstage even threatened to disrupt your performances this year including performance and punch you in the fundraisers for various local face. organizations. Your first time onstage performing your own JB: Well the point of the flag was original music was in April at RAW. to get people to think. The lyrics Many people were shocked that to “R.Y.A.N.” make people think. this was your first performance. I’m not being anti-American. I feel like there is not enough sympathy JB: I had to make it big! (laughs) I for the American people anymore. had to make sure that people knew The song illustrates us working all what I was driven to do. of these hours for someone else’s dream. Why? Why should we do KL: In June you played the keytar that? Why are we making these for “Rock Candy” with Sexy Ester businesses richer and richer and when you won a dance-off at the we’re making a very small amount High Noon Saloon and then you of money. played Fruit Fest at Plan B. Corporations don’t look at their employees like people and I JB: Yeah! That was fun! Sexy Ester
“I am holding a mirror in America’s face and saying ‘look at yourself.”
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think this is hugely what is wrong with America right now. I really do think that the American dream is broken. And if people stop and thought about it, they’d want to see a revolution happening. The problem is that not everyone wants to work together and people are scared. We’re lost. Which means we’re forgotten about, which means the Average Joe, Ryan, or whoever is forgotten and that is equal to murder, to me. I’m very, very passionate about my country. I’m not pissing on the American flag; I love the American flag. But I also want to let you know that I bought that American flag with a tag on it that says “Made in China.” It is important that people know that I when I dance around with an American flag that has been defaced, it is still the same symbolism as what the American flag stands for. Is seeing it defaced bugs you, good! What we’re doing to this country is defacing it. I am holding a mirror in America’s face and saying “look at yourself.” KL: You have your EP out right now with four songs and your LP, Future Pop, is slated for winter next year. How’s that going? JB: Good. We have five more songs to record. There will be collaborations on the album with Sun Voyage, Gabe Burdulis, and Lyndsay Evans. KL: Can you tell me about the theme of the album? JB: There has been a lot of heartache for me the last year or so
JB: It is about everything I don’t enjoy about the radio. It is about musicians writing only for the money or not having the creativity to write. For a lot of people, the radio is just background noise; there’s no message. They just want a beat. There has to be more. Give them a reason to dance. Give them a reason to scream and shout. There should always be more. This song is to provoke people to think. KL: The song “Boys Don’t Do That” is one of your more popular songs online. Can you tell me about the meaning behind it? JB: This is my personal story. I was prompted to write it because I kept experiencing those situations where parents would say “boys don’t do that” to their kids in various circumstances and as a child myself. It was unfair for me to hear this because once I found out I was gay, it was hard for me to be gay because “boys don’t do that.” The “pink is for girls” and “blue is for boys” world was very difficult for me... Because of these societal rules, a lot of the friendships, b u t isn’t it? misfit kids get left behind. This is a there’s been a lot of good song for the misfits! and as an artist, it’s been good for JB: “Battleground” is sort of a me and for my art. I’m presenting requiem for a friendship. But it KL: Which musicians do you this to you as being the future of could also be about a father and admire? pop music and also the future of a son. You can interpret it however new way to think. you want. Whatever it means to JB: I really love Lady Gaga. Beyond all the fancy things that make her you. KL: The songs on Future Pop are KL: Tell me about “Repeat cool, that make a gay boy’s heart very personal but all have universal That…” thump, she can wail on the piano messages. “Battleground” is about PROJECTFAMOUS.COM | DECEMBER 2013 37
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forever. I adore her. I listen to David Bowie. I used to sing along to Labyrinth [the movie] and so that probably formed my voice. I had David Bowie as “the Goblin King” train me when I was kid. (laughs)
KL: What advice would you give to JB: Yes, and my cats, and my husband… an amateur singer or songwriter?
JB: If you are just starting out, just do it. Don’t be afraid. You’re going to fail a lot, but that’s the point. Failure is beautiful because sometimes when you fail KL: How would you define the something great happens. term success for yourself ? KL: What advice would you give JB: Success for me is if I’m feeling you someone embarking on a new good about something. If I feel path in life? good about what I did or what I put out there then I’ve succeeded. JB: Do what you want to do. If you feel that you need to write a KL: How would you describe your song, write a song. If you feel like music to people? you need to find or start a group, like an artist’s collective, go start JB: I like to think of it as futuristic. an artist collective. Don’t be afraid. When I listen to “Future Pop” I It’s terrifying when you first do feel like I’ve never heard a song like anything, but then after you do it, that… Obviously there’s imagery even if it sucked, even if it wasn’t that exists in the storytelling that right for you, then you know is going on, but it’s like a big score that… you can stop worrying for a film… Sometimes when I about it, and stop wondering about hear that song, I go “Wow!! That’s it. But if it was something that you me!!” (laughs) If I were to die enjoyed doing, there are so many tomorrow, that song represents doors that open for you after that everything I am. one door. But always remember to extend kindness and be sure to KL: How do you balance your help others. song-writing and music with other obligations? KL: What is your greatest accomplishment until now? JB: Music probably gets the most attention. I can’t ignore when I feel JB: I made my own art, I wrote inspired because that song that I’m my own songs, and I encouraged writing may be the song. Not the a community of separate artists to song that makes me millions, but come together for a greater cause. the one that I leave behind... The If I were to die tomorrow, my one that tells the story. Songs are music, my art and Project Famous like photos… the phrase “a picture would be what I’m most proud of. is worth a thousand words…” KL: So essentially, the life you’re Well to me, a song is worth infinite living right now, today, is what words. It goes on forever. makes you most happy?
KL: I actually thought you might say these things… because this just shows who you are. You’re living and breathing your own instruction manual to success. JB: Yes, I just wish it was on a larger scale. (laughs) I want to be that gay pop star role model that I never had… Lady Gaga has her “Little Monsters” and I have my “Superstars.” I want all my fans and supporters to know they are Superstars because being a Superstar is to be happy being themselves and being confident. If they believe in my music and they believe in me and they believe in themselves, they are Superstars. Lady Gaga said something once and it’s my favorite quote ever: “An image is nothing without its projection.” It’s true. I am nothing without the people that believe in me… nothing! The people that believe in me, support me, or hate me… I am nothing without them. Because even those that hate me motivate me. What more can I ask for? In only 18 months Broyles has countless personal successes and various public accomplishments. Driven, intelligent, passionate, creative to the utmost degree (anyone else have a Silver Factory in their garage?), and deeply caring and kind, Broyles is going places – fast! Make sure to keep up with his crazy ride! Website | Facebook | ReverbNation
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2014 SEASON BEGINS
FEBRUARY
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VISIT rawartists.org/madison for more details!
BEAUTY
CANDI ROBBINS RAW MADISON'S HAIRSTYLIST OF THE YEAR and Project Famous Magazine's OFFICIAL BEAUTY EDITOR
Candi is a freelance hairstylist and makeup artist in Madison. She grew up fascinated with all aspects of hair, makeup and visual art and six years ago decided to turn her love for all things beauty into a career. When she is working in her studio behind the chair she loves to make people feel great about themselves with personalized looks and comprehensive skin care. Candi is a Redken Certified Specialist and has extensive training in precision haircutting, polished styling and dimensional coloring techniques from Redken, Surface, Pureology, KMS, FHI and American Crew. She is also regional educator for Bioelements Professional Skin Care. Her love of art and beauty has led her behind the scenes of many editorial photo shoots and runway shows. Candi finds inspiration in her dreams, nature, music, fashion and art. She has become known for dreaming and creating avant garde hair and head pieces and is RAW Madison’s 2013 Hairstylist of the Year. This month Candi debuts Beauty from RAW Madison's RAWards 2013 where Candi presented some of these showstopping looks!
MUA/Hairstylist CANDI ROBBINS | Photography HIGH IMPACT CREATIONS, LLC. PROJECTFAMOUS.COM | DECEMBER 2013 41
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MODEL: Brittany Rose Lange To incorporate a little beauty makeup and a little fantasy, Brittany’s face was divided into two sections. A classic look was created on the left half of her face. A sharp, clean eye was made with Urban Decay’s shadow in Virgin and lined with Kat Von D’s Autograph Liner in Puro Amor. False lashes from Red Cherry were also applied to the left eye only. Blush from Smashbox in Chiffon was applied to her cheek bones and her lips were dressed with NYX Alabama red matte lipstick. On the right side, her face was based with Ben Nye’s Cream Makeup from the Monster Wheel. Her brow was accentuated with Mehron Black Face and Body paint, which was also used to create the smearing effect above and below her eye and out from her mouth. NYX eye shadows in Black and Cherry were blended to create her deep dark eye. The NYX black shadow was also smudged on her lips and blended with her Alabama red lipstick from the left side. Her whole face was then powdered with Ben Nye’s translucent powder to set the look for the whole night. PROJECTFAMOUS.COM | DECEMBER 2013 43
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MODEL: Courtney Adaire To prime Courtney’s face for all that glitter, it was first painted with custom blended colors from the Ben Nye MagiCake Aqua Paint Palette. Black from this palette was also used to create a fantasylike brow. After painting Courtney’s face, adhesive was applied to her skin and the glitter was applied immediately after. This all was then allowed time to air dry. Her lips were blackened with an outline of Kat Von D’s Autograph Liner in Puro Amor and filled in with Mehron Black Face and Hair Paint. Once dry, it was topped with a clear shiny gloss. PROJECTFAMOUS.COM | DECEMBER 2013 45
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MODEL: Heather Stern For Heather’s look, sheets of hair were created in two different blonde tones. In order to affix the sheets of hair, the front section of Heather’s hair was braided from ear to ear and the back section was formed into a ponytail. Each sheet of hair was shaped and ironed individually before being attached to the braids in a free-form manner. After all the pieces were placed, the entire structure of hair was touched-up with a flat-iron and sprayed with a firm-hold hairspray. PROJECTFAMOUS.COM | DECEMBER 2013 47
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MODEL: Jaclyn Guzman To create Jaclyn’s look her hair was first divided into a front section and a back section. The front section was divided into three partings where extensions were added to extend the forward length of Jaclyn’s hair. After the extensions were applied, each parting was braided and affixed under her chin. After the braids were in place, chains were attached to the braids to give her a “caged in look”. The back section of her hair was curled and back combed before the addition of more extensions were added to create tons of heavy volume at the jaw line. PROJECTFAMOUS.COM | DECEMBER 2013 49
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MODEL: Katie Fulton Katie’s look was created with individual hair extensions that matched her own hair. The hair extensions were used to create each individual petal in the rose. The rose was then integrated into her own hair, which was pulled up on top of her head for a clean sleek look. PROJECTFAMOUS.COM | DECEMBER 2013 51
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MODEL: Ryan Crice Ryan’s clean cut look was done over into a dark grungy feel with the use of multiple black mediums. His brows were created with black Mehron Hair and Face Paint. His eyes were then contoured and deepened with NYX Black Shadow. The Mehron Black Face and Body Paint was also used to define his upper lip and then diluted with water to create a smudge of color off the lip. PROJECTFAMOUS.COM | DECEMBER 2013 53
MUSIC
Lion’s Mouth
Not Just Background Music by Hannah Kazmarek Photography RISE UP LIGHTS PHOTOGRAPHY
Just hanging out: Sara Wexler and Chelsea Z.
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ara Wexler and Chelsea Z walk into a performance venue filled almost entirely with men. They make up a two-woman band called Lion’s Mouth and have just arrived to set up before a show. “Here, do you need help setting that up?” a man offers, as Wexler barely starts to unpack her drum set. She gets this a lot from guys, she says, who assume she doesn’t know how to handle a drum set. Wexler has a buzz cut, short stature and face that looks just out of high school. She’s also a third degree black belt, and has been playing drums since the fourth grade. Z laughs as her bandmate tells the story. Z had bobbed around the Midwest, playing
solo for years, with a brief stint in Australia, before she met Wexler. She used to hang out in an ice cream shop in Madison where the drummer worked. The two lactose intolerant friends discovered their common interest and began jamming together. “We both moved to Madison for failed relationships,” Z explains. But that’s where the similarities end. One is into heavy rock and metal, while the other is partial to Kesha. Wexler also has a hard-core rhythmic obsession, while Z just feels the music. “Sometimes Sara gets frustrated with me,” the vocalist admits with a grin. “It’s all very free-form,” Wexler says, laughing about her band-mate’s style, “It’s all floating in the ether! But her tendencies have also helped me grow,” she admits.
The guitarist/vocalist says her skills have been stretched as well. “You definitely have to be dead on, because there are no other instruments to hide behind.” The extreme divergence of style and tastes has lead to a balance of sound that can’t be pinned down. “Our music gets good responses, but people just don’t know what label to give it. If you’re there for background music though,” Wexler says, “people get sort of annoyed at us, because we might start with a punk theme and then go into a reggae beat. We try not to restrict ourselves, you know; we always keep our music honest and raw. It’s not fluffy.” From genre-shifting instrumentals to upbeat rhythms supporting dark lyrics, Lion’s Mouth derived its name from a
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running theme in their music, symbolic in their song “Crucible.” “I wrote it while training to be a volunteer firefighter,” Z explains. “Literally, it’s about what it feels like to be the first one to make your way into a fire, but of course it has an analogical meaning behind it.” “If there is any theme in our songs,” Wexler adds, “many of them are about doing things that are hard to do or that you’d like to run away from and don’t, whether it’s running away from a relationship, starting a relationship, starting a new job… I think looking into a lion’s mouth is sort of symbolic of that.”
There’s a natural pause while that settles in, and Z politely interrupts the next question, “I just have to say, Sara, that was really well-said.” “Well thank you, Chelsea, thank you for tooting my horn there,” Wexler pulls on an invisible train horn a few times and they laugh. Feeling uncomfortable around these two is impossible. After forming a band last year, the pair landed their first record deal after their first performance at the Midwest Acoustic Festival. “There was a man that approached us after
the show about recording in his studio,” Wexler explained. “We were hesitant that he was just some weirdo and he was going to kill us when we got there, but then he drove up again and met us, and we were like ‘wow, this is actually legit’.” This will be Lion’s Mouth first professionally-produced recording. But while it is a deliberate process (they can only carpool to the Chicago studio every few months) compared to everything they’ve produced within the “infant stages” of their band’s life; it’s a giant in the making.
PROJECT FAMOUS ~presents~
1ST ANNUAL PROJECT FAMOUS SCREENWRITING COMPETITION
WINNER: Announced and contacted the evening of 12/30/13 For full details and rules visit our website
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121 W Main St, Madison, WI 53703 (608) 819-8777 DECEMBER SHOWS: 12/20 SIR! NO SIR! Release Party w / Drunk Drivers, The Flavor That Kills 10 PM, 21+, $8 12/21 THE BODY THIEF w/ Warhawks, The Deal Breakers, Carbellion 10 PM, 18+, $5 12/22 TBA 12/23 DAVID LEON & FRIENDS CHRISTMAS EVE EVE COMEDY SHOW featuring BRYAN MORRIS + CHRIS LAY + NICK HART + ALAN TALAGA 8:30 PM, 18+, $5 or $3 w/ canned food item 12/24 NO SHOW – CLOSED – MERRY CHRISTMAS! 12/25 NO SHOW – CLOSED – MERRY CHRISTMAS! 12/26 F STOKES DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS PARTY DAY ONE w/ DIRTY DISCO KIDZ 9 PM, 18+, $10 12/27 F STOKES DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS PARTY DAY TWO w/ VO5, FOSHIZZLE FAMILY 9 PM, 18+, $10 12/28 MARTY FINKEL w/ The Living Statues, The Earthlings 9 PM, 18+, $7 12/29 NICK JOSEPHS w/ Mike Simmons 8 PM, 18+, FREE SHOW 12/30 FAUVE w/ The Shones, Asumaya 8:30 PM, 18+, $5 12/31 NYE BASH - NYE BASH - WHISKY PIG + PUSSY VULTURES (LAST SHOW) + BEREFT + UNDERGROUND DAY 1 + THE MOGULS 9 PM, 21+, $5 JANUARY SHOWS: 01/02 THROW THE FIGHT w/ Beretta 9 PM, 18+, $8 adv $10 dos 01/04 LITTLE LEGEND w/ Surgeons in Heat 9 PM, 18+, $5 01/05 CUPCAKE COMEDY CABARET 6 PM, 18+, $ tba 01/05 STATE MAPS w/ Jimmy Whispers, An Unfortunate Woman 8:30 PM, 18+, $5 01/06 DEAR YOU w/ The Way Back, Everyone’s My Enemy, Acyuta 8 PM, 18+, $7 ADV $10 DOS 01/09 FAREWELL MILWAUKEE w/ The Buscemies 9 PM, 18+, $tba 01/10 PRIMATES INC. BENEFIT featuring MAMI WATA + SUPERVILLAIN FIREDRILL + WISEGUYS N SCALLYWAGS 9 pm, 01/11 YLAB w/ The Black Saints, Kill Junior 10 PM, 21+, $6 01/12 GRISWALD w/ Dana T, The Hi Matics 8 PM, 18+, $5 01/13 JACK OF HEARTS 8:30 PM, 18+, $7 01/14 LIVEWIRE w/ Damidol, Stone Kings 9 PM, 18+, $5 01/16 SPARETIME BLUEGRASS BAND 6 PM, 18+, $5 or 3 cans food for local pantry 01/17 MAJESTIC LIVE presents BETTY WHO w/ Sombear 8 PM, 18+, $10 ADV $12 DOS 01/18 SIX SHOT COMEDY SHOWCASE 6 pm, 18+, $3 01/18 TAKE ME TICK TOCK (release show) w/ Government Zero, The Faith Hills Have Eyes 9 PM, 18+, $5 01/20 THE TOASTERS w/ Something To Do, Supervillain Fire Drill 9 PM, 18+, $10 01/22 COMMUNION MADISON featuring THE WEEKS with BAILIFF + DOUBLE EWES 9 PM, 18+, $11 adv, $15 dos 01/23 WAR POETS 9 PM, 18+, $tba 01/24 MAJESTIC LIVE presents CATE LE BON w/ Kevin Morby 9 PM, 18+, $10 adv $12 dos 01/25 MAJESTIC LIVE presents JON WAYNE & THE PAIN 9 PM, 18+, $8 adv $10 dos 01/27 CROOKS ON TAPE 9 PM, 18+, $10 01/29 HOSTAGE SONG (early) 7 PM, 18+, $12 01/29 AMY LYNN& THE GUNSHOW 9:30 PM, 18+, $8 01/30 HOSTAGE SONG (early) 7 PM, 18+, $12 01/30 MAJESTIC LIVE & FITZROY PRODUSTIONS present DAMIEN JURADO 9 PM, 18+, $10 adv $13 dos 01/31 HOSTAGE SONG (early) 7 PM, 18+, $15 01/31 DIVYDED 10 PM, 18+, $tba
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Madison’s Music Bounty by Rick Tvedt
Graphics by Paul Smith
No, I’m not talking about putting a price on Madison music or trading in my pocket protector to become a bounty hunter. I’m talking about the sheer breath and scope of music produced in our fair city. Each year I take some time to compile a list of recordings that have been released. This takes up an entire week of my free time for a few reasons. First, I do this because these recordings are eligible for the Madison Area Music Awards the following June and so I also need to scrounge up an email address. And man, I mean sometimes I really have to scrounge! Note to music artists: I should be able to find a way to contact you directly. I can’t tell you how many Facebook pages (bands don’t have as many personalized websites as they used to) don’t have a contact email. Facebook is one of the clunkiest methods of communicating since AOL was the rage. Please. Post a band email! Worse yet, there are a fair number of bands who use aliases instead of real names so, if they also don’t have an
email, it becomes even more difficult. One band I contacted through Facebook also had a web page. I had to log in to Facebook and message them that I could not find an email. They replied with an address that was “booking@_____.com” and indicated it was on their site. They were surprised to learn from me that it indeed was not. “No wonder we haven’t been getting any booking inquiries,” they replied. Get the picture? But more importantly, the reason this process takes so long is that there are just so damn many releases. Really, it’s staggering. Well over a hundred each year for many years running. It would be really interesting to attempt to correlate with other cities our size, and maybe even bigger places like Milwaukee, to see how we stack up. I am guessing that per capita, we’d be at or near the top. One of the real rewards of checking out the year’s recordings is discovering all the new artists and bands. Every year I become more aware of just how diverse the music is in the city. What is sad, however, is just
how little attention most of these efforts get. This frustrates me and if it frustrates me just think of how it frustrates those making the music. I love that I can now download FLAC files (Free Lossless Audio Codec files are higher resolution than MP3s, which I refuse to lower myself to) directly from the bands too, so that makes it convenient to check things out. The best way to support local music is to buy their merchandise online or at their performances. It takes a great deal of effort and expense to make a recording. This is still true despite the advantages of digital technology. Check out this year’s list of recorded releases (LPs and albums) online. You can find past years’ releases there, too. A little discovery on your own will reveal the breadth of variety, from country and folk, to electronica and avant-garde, to pop and R&B, to rock, metal, punk and beyond. This is a special city filled to the brim with special musicians. Get out there and support them.
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MUSIC
sarah longfield
The Youngest of the Metal Gods
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by Ryan Schremp Photography JEFF BLANKENSHIP
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arah Longfield is a 21-year-old musician that has been invited to play guitar festivals here and abroad, has amassed over twenty-five thousand subscribers on YouTube, has earned several sponsorships, and consistently raises the eyebrows of anyone who listens to her music. All of this gained without seeking the attention and with little formal training. How has she done it? She sat down with me to talk about all that and more.
So I had this one guitar teacher and he was trying to teach me things like Creed and Blues, and it was just not happening, and I was thinking, “This instrument is dumb and easy and I don’t like it.” Then I got another guitar teacher and he said, “listen to some metal,” and he showed me some Slayer riffs, so that’s where that started. RS: So he was pretty much the catalyst for you getting into metal.
SL: Pretty much. I was like, “Wow, this stuff sucks, but it’s really fun to play.” (laughs) My twelveRyan Schremp: So you’ve been playing for about year-old mentality. nine years now, what got you started? RS: What brought you to Prog-Metal (Progressive Sarah Longfield: It’s actually sort of obscure. I Metal)? played violin when I was younger, and my violin teacher was super cool, but she moved away and SL: It was more continuously harder to play for then I had this new one and she was a total bitch. So me. If I can do something, I get bored of it almost I said, “I’m done with violin,” and my dad asked, instantaneously. Like, “Ok, I’m done with that. “Why don’t you try playing guitar? It’s like the Time to go do something else.” So, Prog stuff is same thing with more strings.” out there enough that it poses challenges to me; PROJECTFAMOUS.COM | DECEMBER 2013 61
SL: I don’t know, I was just thinking, “This instrument is great!” So what I would do because I didn’t know that tabs existed was go on YouTube and try to learn stuff by ear and watch people play it. That was how I learned how to do things. I was learning Lamb of God stuff one day and I came across this girl who was covering “Walk with Me in Hell” and she sucked. She was so bad. I thought, “That’s stupid, I could do that way better.” So it started and I did that for about a year or two. Then everyone was commenting things like, “You need to use your pinky.” So I said, “The internet’s dumb. I’m going to be an artist” and I gave that up for about two or three years. I only came back to it because I thought, “Meh. Why not? Art school is too expensive.” RS: Speaking of school, have you attended college at all?
the time signatures are weird, the song lengths are really awkward and the guitar parts are intricate. RS: Do you find yourself nearing a point where Prog no longer poses that challenge at all? If so, where do you go from there? What keeps you on your toes?
SL: I tried out for music college and I applied to art colleges, and I got in, but I didn’t get any significant scholarships so I decided no fucking way am I going to drop that money. Maybe now. I tried to do some Jazz, but later or if I can get some full I have no concept of theory. So ride somewhere, but I did attend now instead of trying to learn MATC for three weeks. new things, I’ve been trying to push my writing more and work RS: I imagine those were some on my transitions and work on real beneficial three weeks. the complexity of the stuff that I Did you get the full college experience? write.
RS: At what point did you decide SL: So many parking tickets. I had my car towed. SL: To be honest, I don’t really to start doing YouTube videos? know. I’m at a weird point right
RS: You’ve had a lot of really awesome opportunities, but you’re also in a band. How do you balance those priorities? How does that work for you? Is there any contention?
circumstance where it’s just me playing, I’ll play that kind of stuff or if I’m sending things out demos to other musicians that I might want to collaborate with, that’s more what I’m using it for. It’s like a portfolio-base. Like, “Here’s what I can do. If you want me to work with you, or for you, let me know.” Or YouTube videos.
SL: We had a lineup change about six months ago. I’m really happy with it; Sam and Steveo – our new bass player and new guitar player right now – they knew they were getting into what was kinda my solo project from the beginning. So you walk in knowing, “Okay, so I’m going to be playing this person’s music, not really writing right now.” But there are times when there’s a struggle for control over that. I mean, I’m like, “Whatever. Do whatever you want.” I’m just going to be doing my solo stuff separately so I can have more freedom with what I’m doing and not have to pull it off live. Then they can feel more a part of the band and it’s not going to be this weird, awkward thing that it is RS: So you now. (laughs) mentioned Sweden. You were there recently for what? About a RS: When you move to week? How was that? individualize that solo stuff, do you have any intent whatsoever SL: Yeah. That was crazy. It was to perform that live? sort of awkward because it was more of a classical guitar festival SL: In Sweden, I was playing and I don’t know anything about my solo stuff – the new EP that guitar playing. So it’s like, these I put out – that was for just the people who have been playing solo project, not any of the band’s for like, fifty years would just stuff, and I did play that live. So sit down and jam and they knew if it comes up where I’m in a exactly what they were doing,
playing Flamenco stuff. It was amazing. Everyone in Sweden is super nice. Also, really shy and awkward, so I fit in great! (laughs) RS: You had mentioned delving into Jazz a bit, and that Metal isn’t all. Tell me a little bit about your Indie albums. Is that a style you’re going to continue pursuing whenever the mood strikes? SL: I’m a woman! I have emotions! Come on! (laughs) I can’t just do metal all the time. I’m on my third indie album right now; that one’s super-secret – nobody listens to them anyway – and I’m working on this electronic album. So that’s going to come out in the next couple months, I think. Longfield will be performing at the NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) show in Anaheim, CA again this year, and has several secret projects in the works for us to look forward to! Catch her band, The Fine Constant, when they play around town! You can listen to and buy Longfield’s solo work, as well as her work with The Fine Constant on her bandcamp page.
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D.R.U.M. Diversity, Respect, Unity thru Music. This is the mission that Black Star Drumline brings to the Madison youth community. Founded in 2008 by Madisonian Joey B. Banks, the Black Star Drumline (BSDL) D.R.U.M. program develops the raw talent of youngsters from ages 7-16. BSDL was formed when Banks worked as a volunteer with the Madison Youth Performing Arts Foundation and Yamaha Drum Corporation to acquire marching percussion equipment for Madison’s youth. “It was an opportunity to give kids an opportunity to perform on marching percussion at the basic level; teach them notation & how to play snare drum, tenor drum and bass drum,” says Banks. “It started out as a developmental program to teach basic marching drumming 64
by Eric Geane
concepts to get kids involved.” Initially BSDL formed with about 20 participants but the group’s popularity has forced them to expand, creating a junior drumline for students, ages 7-11, and a senior drumline for students, ages 12-16. The group is now developing the Black Star Performance Group which will include Brazilian drums, Taiko drums, a dance group, and even a live band performing alongside the drumline. Today, BSDL has over fifty student participants that meet three times a week for practice. The group performs more than fifty shows per year. Merging drum core concepts with Hip-Hop genre, Banks writes all of the group’s street beats in Hip-Hop-style to capture the kids’ interest. “The drum core term ‘street beats’ is used to define the beats that
drumlines would use when they marched in parades,” he explains. “Although the beats that I write for the group are all Hip-Hop-based, I basically label them ‘street beats’ because that’s what they are in their raw form. Without any instrumentation or rap over the top of them, they’re simply street beats.” BSDL’s performance season usually runs from January to October. In just over five short years, the group has given over 400 performances statewide and within the Madison community. Ranging from small audiences of twenty to crowds of 25,000 (they performed at Lifest in Oshkosh, WI), the group has performed on a variety of stages. They’ve played at elementary and high schools, Summerfest, the Wisconsin State Fair, Willy Street Fair, Brat Fest and the River District Series in
the Wisconsin Dells. The group’s next scheduled performances are both at the Overture Center on January 20th for the “Martin Luther King Celebration,” and February 1st for “Kids in the Rotunda,” where the group gave three full capacity/ standing room only performances last year. But live performance is not where it stops for BSDL. In 2011, the group released their first professionally produced music video “Drop It,” and they will soon release their second
Update by Hannah Kazmarek Featured in last month’s issue, Backstagevibe.com has now re-launched its website with additional features that give you the opportunity to have your own reality TV show. Set to film this spring, Backstage Life - The Series will capture the struggles and
music video, “Slam,” featuring some Madison local Hip-Hop artists. BSDL gives these young kids a hands-on opportunity to work in professional recording studios and take part in the video and audio production process. So what are these kids really getting out of this program? “They get a lot of discipline – a lot of focus. They’re learning how to read music. They’re learning how to be professional high-end performers. They are way above the level of most kids their age that are drumming,” answered
highlights of chosen bands or artists. The application process will be held December through January on Backstagevibe.com. Visit Kickstarter to help fund this production due to air in the summer of 2014. The new website has also added an additional digital distribution center. While most forums share your music with an average of 40-60 venues,
Banks.
“There is a lot more attached to the drum than just playing the drum; they have responsibilities to the team, commitment and dedication. They learn work ethic, what it takes to be a professional and the amount of work and hours that go into that.” Videos of the BSDL performances can be seen at Banks’ YouTube channel or visit their ReverbNation profile to listen.
you can get your recordings in hundreds of venues from iTunes to Amazon, for less at a flat rate. They’ll also help you reach the required specifications of the top distributors. Don’t wait! Build your audience today. Backstagevibe. com gives you the resources you need.
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ARTS
H atch A r t H ouse Is Em br acing Loc al Creativity by Christy Grace
W
hen entering Hatch Art House, located on charming and charismatic Williamson Street (AKA Willy Street), you are greeted with a sweet smile and a welcome from owner and artist Tammy Schreiter. Taking the shop in for the first time is a treat. Original works of art reach to the ceiling and tables are full of prints, sculptures, jewelry, cards and more. It is a warm environment, which is exactly what Schreiter was hoping for when she created the art house. “People ask me about the name quite often. First, I knew it would be ‘Art House’ not ‘Gallery’ mainly because I wanted to create that inviting, casual and creative feeling. ‘Hatch’ because it means many things; emerging, fresh and new beginnings and ideas.” She also notes that if you look at the hatch logo font, you will notice each letter is filled with hatch marks, a drawing technique. Though Hatch opened three years ago this month, the dream started well before that. “The idea of Hatch Art House developed when I was a young artist starting out. I dreamt of an art gallery that was casual, affordable and open to emerging artists. I 66
Tammy Schreiter remember walking into art galleries with the feeling that I just didn’t fit in. Between graduating college (with a BFA in painting) and moving to Madison, I worked and volunteered in numerous art galleries, mainly in Door County, Wisconsin, and waited tables at night. Before I opened up Hatch I lived in Portland, Oregon for seven years. While there, my job gave me plenty of time during the day for painting, jewelry making and lots of hiking for inspiration. In the summer of 2010, after too many years of pushing this dream aside, I decided it was time to go for it. I moved back to Madison. The art scene was taking off in Madison and I wanted to be a part of it. Shortly thereafter, a great space opened up with the Williamson Street location across from the Willy Street Co-op. Hatch Art House opened its doors December 3rd, 2010 and is now home to approximately fifty local artists.” The goal of Hatch Art House has always been keeping it local as noted in their catchphrase: “Embracing Local Creativity.” Schreiter explains, “Hatch Art House showcases only Wisconsin-based artists while encouraging emerging artists to submit their work. Right now we have 50 artists with the
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majority being from the Madison area. We also have an emphasis on upcycling and recycling materials, both in art and in the shop itself. If we can keep things out of the landfill and give it a new life in art, we’ve done a great thing. We strive to offer something for everyone at affordable prices in a casual and creatively-charged environment.” When searching for artists for the space, Schreiter loves variety. “I try to not overlap in artist styles too much. We have a small space to work with and to keep it interesting and everchanging; I look for artists to fill that niche – basically, fine artists, along with craftsmen and some crafters round it out.” On the second Friday 68
of every month, Hatch Art House has an artist reception. “I choose an artist that is already in the gallery and I showcase that artist all month long. In addition to the reception, I also work at getting them into local print and online publications. Also, twice a year we have a juried small works art show – January’s EcoSquared Art Show and July’s EcoSculpt Art Show. This gives all artists, emerging or established the chance to show their work in a gallery space. We have a lively, fun-filled artist reception for them too. This is a great opportunity for emerging artists to have an exhibit on their resumes. The Facebook page and website have all the details of the latest events.” Schreiter cares deeply about the artists in Madison and
hopes Hatch Art House will play a significant role. “I hope for Hatch to continue growing and strengthening its roots in the Willy Street neighborhood and in Madison as a whole.” She encourages people to follow their dreams: “It took me a while before I was ready to go for my dream, but I want people to know that even though the first step is always going to be a tough one, it’s worth it. I was a waitress who saved her tips to make it happen. You can do it, too!”
TownSpot: Madison Talent Under the Spotlight by
B
efore anything else, I want all of you that are artists of any kind, and I mean any kind, to go over to TownSpot. tv and create your profile. Why? I’ll get around to that in a minute. Just trust me on this one. Josh Cohen is from Los Angeles and loves the local music scene. The problem he found is that it was always a bit tricky to find those local gems on YouTube. YouTube is built for a world-wide audience and what he was looking for was what was in his own backyard. About two years ago, he decided that he wanted to make his own website to serve as a spotlight on local bands in cities that had a unique artistic flair to them. He wanted
to elevate the status and exposure of all that raw talent that was so hard to track in large multimedia aggregators. And so, he created a great place called TownSpot.tv. It all started with Los Angeles. Over a short period of time, four other cities followed suit: Atlanta, Bloomington, Austin, and our fair city, Madison. They were all chosen for the uniqueness and vibrancy of their artistic communities. One of Madison’s original content creators and talent recruiters was JT Roach, a rapper and R&B singer. A content creator is somebody that, well, creates content, but with an important distinction from your average artist – they are tied closely to the site; they have an affinity
Jason Ocker
for it. They post as much quality content on TownSpot as they can, and for that they receive added exposure, usually in the form of Q&A and featured articles in “The Backstage” area of the website. They also do what they can to drum-up support from the local artist community and get those people to participate on the site as well. So far, there have been over 600 profiles created and 1600 videos released. Those numbers are always rising. These videos exhibit dancing, singing, the playing of instruments, displays of visual art work, and even the cinematographic prowess of young filmmakers. TownSpot gets submissions from DJs, comedians, action stars,
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dramatists, and every type of performer and creator under the sun. And for those of you looking for a comical take on Madison tourism, I highly recommend “Let’s Take a Stroll.” S o who can s u b m i t ? Anybody can, but not every video will make the cut. To ensure a high standard of quality, there is a group of reviewers that ensure the videos submitted are of proper visual and auditory a p p e a l and they show a fair representation of their origin city. Grainy bathroom manifestos captured with a cell phone camera are not allowed. If the artist sounds like they’re singing a mile away or under water, their video will be halted by the reviewers. A short film shot in HD and recorded with a solid microphone will likely pass the gates into stardom on TownSpot. The big draw for artists and content creators is the way profiles are laid out – information is easy to spread and easy to access. Fans don’t have to go far to provide feedback to their 70
favorite talent, and artists are able to share their exploits and schedule upcoming events for the world to see. Fans are able to share content conveniently from any video they’re watching, so
TownSpot connects well with other online networks. When searching for something new, visitors can search for a name, genre, city, and eventually, neighborhood. The TownSpot team is working on a mobile app so that followers can stay on top of news and events of the artists they’re subscribed to and keep up with what’s happening in the art scene around them. So what was it that I had mentioned earlier that is so important to you? Well, as of November 6th, the site went
national. That means all preexisting content and all future content will be the spearhead aimed at a massive encroaching audience. As submitters from all cities across the United States dump their best material on TownSpot, so too, will hordes of eager art-lovers bask in the wealth of its highquality content. A u d i e n c e focus will be transcendent, c o v e r i n g content not only from their communities but also from neighboring and distant communities. What is available now will be seen, first and foremost. T h e site is straight-forward enough that if you still have a hard time conceptualizing just what this whole TownSpot thing is all about, they have a section that explains the whole operation in detail. Check out “The Backstage” to learn about the current key players at this phase in TownSpot history. As time goes on, more content creators will be added to that roster of fame. One of them may be you.