Nick Santino Vanna//Bonfires//Baby Baby//Homesafe//& Many More!
Issue #4 Winter 2014/2015
Photo Credit: Dirk Mai
February 27 - State Theatre - St. Petersburg, FL Feburary 28 - Backbooth - Orlando, FL March 01 - Murray Hill Theatre - Jacksonville, FL March 02 - The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA March 04 - Rocketown - Nashville, TN March 05 - Granada Theatre - Lawrence, KS March 07 - Marquis Theatre - Denver, CO March 08 - The Loading Dock - Salt Lake City, UT March 10 - El Corazon - Seattle, WA March 11 - The Alhambra Theater - Portland, OR March 13 - The Boardwalk - Orangevale, CA March 14 - The Epicentre - San Diego, CA March 15 - Constellation Room - Santa Ana, CA March 17 - Pub Rock - Scottsdale, AZ March 22 - Korova - San Antonio, TX March 24 - Firebird - St. Louis, MO March 26 - Amsterdam - St. Paul, MN March 27 - Bottom Lounge - Chicago, IL March 28 - Crofoot Ballroom - Pontiac, MI March 29 - Mahall’s - Lakewood, OH March 31 - Altar Bar - Pittsburgh, PA April 01 - Underground Arts - Philadelphia, PA April 02 - Marlin Room at Webster Hall - New York, NY April 03 - Gamechanger - Howell, NJ April 04 - Brighton Music Hall - Boston, MA April 06 - Metro Gallery - Baltimore, MD April 07 - Jammin’ Java - Vienna, VA April 08 - Greene Street Club - Greensboro, NC
Don’t miss the Glamour Kills Spring Break ’15 Tour this Spring! The tour kicks off in late February and wraps up in early April, all across the east coast. The tour will be headlined by Against The Current and Set It Off, with supporting acts As It Is and Roam. Check out the dates above and be sure to get tickets!
Special Thanks To…
Everyone who helped contribute to this issue of Stereo Noise. Included each and every one of the artists, bands, photographers, and their management teams. Things like this wouldn’t be possible without you. So, thank you!!
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Editor’s Note I plan to make 2015 a great year for not only Stereo Noise Magazine, but for myself as well. I have tons in store to bring to you guys throughout the year, and really hope I am able to do so. This past year has been exciting and filled with great things. I’ve met so many great people and have been given so many great opportunities in furthering my education, career, and projects I have for you. I would like to thank all of those who have stood behind me through all of my crazy ideas and endeavors I set myself out on. Without all of you, this wouldn’t be possible. I would also like to thank all of the great artists, and their management for all of their contributions they have made to Stereo Noise Magazine. Without you, there would be no stories for anyone to read! I know sometimes it may take a while to get things on track for the issues, but bare with me! I work, go to school, and single handedly publish this magazine. I promise things will get better within this upcoming year. Lots of research, work, and planning has gone into this issue to kick off the 2015 year, and I hope that you all enjoy it!
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So grab a cup of coffee, kick back, relax, and enjoy your reading!
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xoxox
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Bonfires
Story: Brianna Cutter Photography: Gary Weissman
CHICAGO, IL - Pop-punk five piece, Bonfires, hasn't been together as a band long, but the time that they have been together, they sure have made it count! The band consists of Zech Pluister as vocals, Brad Harvey on guitar/vocals, Nathan Thompson on guitar, Kevin Provencher on drums, and Kyle Grzejka on bass. Although the guys haven't been together as Bonfires that long, they all have some awesome musical experience having done a number of projects together throughout the years, and even though these musical projects may not have worked out in their favor, it helped the guys come together to create Bonfires, which seems to have been worth all of the trouble along the way. Just recently, Stereo Noise was given the opportunity to have a chat with the guys of Bonfires, and they were all very cooperative and had lots to share! As mentioned earlier, this past year was the start up year for Bonfires, and it was one hell of a start up year to say the least! The guys were given ample opportunities to travel and play show with tons of different bands and artists, including some big names such as Knuckle Puck, and Real Friends. The guys were super stoked to tell us about some of their tour experiences, "Our favorite show we got to be a part of was the holiday show at the Metro this past December with Real Friends, Knuckle Puck, Expire and
Light Years. It was crazy, honestly. We've known the guys in Real Friends and Knuckle Puck for years now, it was a privilege to get to play a sold out show at one of our favorite venues with those guys. It was like a big family reunion." Towards the end of 2014, Bonfires released their EP Nothing to Hold/ Something to Keep which went over phenomenally with fans. Needless to say, the release of the EP was the perfect way to end the year. The cherry on top to a fantastic year! In regards to listener's reactions to the EP, the boys of Bonfires explain, "We were sort of blind sided by the reaction we got. We're really happy that people seem to like it. We spent a fair amount of time on those songs, and we knew it was going to be a little different than the We All Talk About Dying Like We've Done It Before EP,in the sense that it's a little darker and slightly more aggressive." Having been such a successful EP, there's no doubt that the guys had a great time in the studio, "We had a blast recording those songs. Seth at ABG Studios has been a good friend of ours for a little while now and he really makes the whole experience simple and easy going. He tends to know what we want before we want it," the guys tell us.
“It was a privilege to get to play a sold out show at one of our favorite venues with those guys. It was like a big family reunion.”
Stereo Noise Magazine Issue 4 In addition to the releases of new music throughout the year, the band also put Bonfires don't plan on stopping any time together a music video for an older song of soon. As a matter of theirs, "Closure" which fact, the band has turned out awesome. Check out more from Bonfires! started off strong with "The music video is one a show in Oak Lawn, of the best things that IL on January 2nd that happened to us. We Facebook: www.facebook.com/ they were willing to drove with all of our gear bonfiresband tell about, "It was a to a small apartment in blast. The show was Chicago, paid too much Twitter: www.twitter.com/bonfiresband free, but we ended up money for parking and having to turn kids loaded up a bunch of away because Bandcamp: stairs. It was kind of everyone in the awkward playing to a www.bonfiresil.bandcamp.com basement and up backtrack for the the stairs were first few takes, but shoulder to eventually we got shoulder. We're the hang of it and it very sorry to turned out to be anyone who super fun. After we couldn't get in!" shot it, we were Naturally, the pretty eager to see band plans on what it looked like, continuing to and we were stoked keep up the great on how it turned work all out," the band throughout the says. year and has Surely shared their plans having had such a for the year, "As great start up year, far as music goes, the band has made the current goal is a name for to release a single themselves, and within the next with making a name few months, and for yourselves hopefully get back comes the start of a into the studio fan base. Having over the summer to release a longer EP. We started from scratch, there's no doubt that can't say a whole lot when it comes to watching your fan base grow is an awesome touring, but we can say a tour is in the feeling, and the band agrees, "We wouldn't planning stages." go so far to say we have some massive So there you have it ladies & gentleman, following or anything, but watching the Bonfires! Definitely worth checking out, crowds get a little bigger every show has especially if you are a lover of pop punk and been awesome. Having more and more kids fans of Knuckle Puck and Real Friends. A singing the words to our songs back in our great group of guys, with even greater music! faces is insanely gratifying." Now that 2014 has come to a close, the 2015 year is well underway and the guys of
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Ionia - Postcards From The Edge Chapter 1 (Delta 32) - EP
NY-based melodic rock band Ionia has recently announced the release of their new EP Postcards From The Edge: Chapter 1 (Delta 32) for February 1st. The EP features five brand new hits from the band. Each track features unique, upbeat backtracks with lyrical genius in each of the songs. Each song starts off subtly, with melodies being added in as the song progresses, and the each end off strong. The EP starts off with, my personal favorite, the single ‘I Hate Long Pretentious Titles and I’m A Hypocrite’ which is the perfect song to start the EP off with, it definitely sets the tone for the rest of the EP. I absolutely love the opening to this song, it starts off with a few lines of chants and then eases into the opening verse, which I thought was unique and it fit perfectly into the song. I would definitely recommend this EP and this band for those who are friends of bands such as Lost Prophets, and Deftones.
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Recommended Tracks: I Hate Long Pretentious Titles and I’m a Hypocrite & We Shall Overcome
Reviews
Jilly Anais - The Juice - EP
18-year old R&B/Pop artist Jilly Anais has had her eyes set on the prize since middle school when she would perform in school choirs, plays, musicals, and all the above. Miss Anais’ dreams are finally coming true as she prepares to release her debut EP The Juice with help from LA Production The Invaders. The EP features five tracks, each with contagious, catchy, and infectious beats of their own. The vibe of the EP is very edgy and strong. If you’re a fan of Ciara, Nicole Scherzinger or Alexa Ferr, I definitely recommend checking out Jilly Anais’ music. You’ll love the vibes that come from her music.
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Recommended Tracks: The Juice & Tough Luv
Ships Have Sailed Moodswings - LP
Alternative three-piece Ships Have Sailed hail from Los-Angeles where the sun shines bright and the waves crash against the shore. The bands debut LP Moodswings features 11 tracks, all perfect to listen to on a road trip with friends or while just laying out in the sun. Each of the tracks off the album feature upbeat, happy melodies that will no doubt put a smile on your face and a skip in your step. If you’re anything like me you will find yourself dancing along to the music as you listen. I definitely recommend this album to anyone who is fans of Imagine Dragons, or American Authors!
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Recommended Tracks: The Tide & If Only
Hannah Gill - I Feel Awake - EP
If you’re looking to be impressed, look no further because this 17 year old has a voice like none other! This Maryland-based beauty just recently released her new EP I Feel Awake, which features five tracks with an awesome jazzy feel to them. Each song off the EP is something I could see myself snapping my fingers and singing along to, which I think is awesome. With hints of pop sounds in each of the tracks, Gill knows exactly what she is doing and knows just what it is to get people on their feet, dancing around. If you find yourself fond of Florence & The Machine or Lana Del Rey, Hannah Gill’s music is something you should check out!
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Recommended Tracks: Love and Glory & Evergreen
Baby Baby
Story: Brianna Cutter Photo Credit: Dylan York ATLANTA, GA - Many bands now a days stick to what it is they know. A lot of originality has been lost in music these days. Once a trend is discovered, a lot of artists will follow that trend to fit in. However, Atlanta-based five piece, Baby Baby, are trendsetters of their own. For those of you who don’t know who Baby Baby is, they are a “Fun Rock” band as they like to call themselves. Just recently, the guys announced that they will be playing this summer’s 2015 Vans Warped Tour, along with a number of other big name artists. Recently, the guys of Baby Baby agreed to do a quick interview with Stereo Noise Magazine and here was the, pretty interesting, results.
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To start things off, could you guys introduce yourselves and state your roles in the band? You got it bucko. Grant- drums and all around good guy. Tez- guitar, vocals and professional drinker. Colin- vocals, aux percussion and party monster. Hsiang- bass, vocals and architect. Ryan- keys and a horndog.
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How did you guys come together as a band? It was on a starry night. When the hills were bright. The earth lay sleeping, sleeping calm and still. Then in a cattle shed, in a manger bed, a boy was born. King of all of the world, and as his first order as king, he proclaimed “let the wild rumpus begin!”
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What sets you guys and your music apart from other bands? What you say makes you guys unique? It’s kind of a medical condition. In Whoville they say that our small hearts grew three sizes that day, and then, the true meaning of BABY BABY came through, and the Grinch found the strength of ten Grinches, plus two!
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What is it that makes you guys excited to get up each day and come together as a band? There’s no earthly way of knowing which direction we are going. There’s no knowing where were rowing or which way the rivers flowing. Is it raining or snowing? Is a hurricane a blowing? Not a speck of light is showing so the danger must be growing.. are the fires of a hell a-glowing? Is the grisly reaper mowing? But we’re certainly not showing any sign that we’re slowing!!
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So its been recently announced that you guys will be taking part in the 2015 Van’s Warped Tour. How exciting! Are you guys super excited about this tour? How does it feel to be part of such a big name festival tour? Yeah dud, we’re stoked! In fact…All I want to do right now is sing “I’m so excited, and I just can’t hide it! I’m about to lose control and I think I like it. I know I know I know, I WANT YOU. I WANT YOU!”
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Since the release of your album “Big Boy Baller Club” in early 2014, how has reception from your fans been in regards to the album since the release? Pretty good. Some really popular celebrities have had some nice things to say about us. Miley Cyrus- “I’m pretty cool. Like, I’m pretty much the coolest person ever. Except for BABY BABY of course.” Paris Hilton- “Do they like make walls there at Wal-Mart? and like, I totally bought the last BABY BABY album there.” Kanye West- “I won’t go into a big spiel about reincarnation, but the first time I was in the Gucci store in Chicago was the closest I’ve ever felt to home. Except for when I hang with the BB boys.” Keanu Reeves- “I cried over beauty, I cried over pain, and the other time I cried because I felt nothing. I can’t help it. I’m just a cliche of myself. Oh, and I love BABY BABY.” Rolling Stone- “Big Boy Baller Club is the best album since the Big Bang.”
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What has it been like watching your fan base grow throughout the past year? Does it make you guys feel accomplished? Yes.
It’s rumored that you guys are currently in the process of making new music. Is this true? If so, what can fans expect from you guys and when? Goddamn rumors! Yes we are making new songs. I heard a funny rumor the other day… I heard our percussionist Colin and Nicole Kidman had a one night stand and there is a baby on the way. #ColinAndTheKid
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After having accomplished so much in the past year, what do you guys have your eyes set on next? We got our eyes set on the GOLD BABY. We don’t want no bronze. We don’t want no silver. We want gold rings, gold lambos, gold chains, gold dogs, gold diamonds, gold goose and golden fruits, golden gold and golden globes. Give me gold, gold, gold. I want that gold fish and the gold dish. I want a gold star for my gold grillz.
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& Before wrapping this quite interesting interview up, is there anything you guys would like to share with your fans and listeners who are reading this? Yeah. We love you. Hit us up on the social media! We respond to everything!
Check out more from BABY BABY:
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ babybabylovesyou
! Twitter: https://twitter.com/babybabyband ! Instagram: @BabyBabyBlows
Photo Credit: Tristan Ervin
Wind In Sails
Story: Brianna Cutter Photo Credit: Sergio Petraccone http://www.sergiop.com
NEWPORT, RI – When Evan Pharmakis decided to stop playing guitar for Vanna back in 2012, he decided he wanted to experiment with a different type of music. He wanted to experiment with the softer side of music, the side of music that he couldn’t necessarily explore while playing for Vanna, seeing that they are a heavier band. This is where Wind In Sails came into play. Wind In Sails is Evan Pharmakis’ solo project that he started around the time that he left Vanna in 2012. Pharmakis uses Wind In Sails to as he says “write and perform music that is intimate and personal, and pushes a positive message.” So what sets Wind In Sails apart from other solo acts? Pharmakis tells us, “I feel like a lot of solo artists out there write from a more melancholy mindset, which is great because we all feel that way sometimes, and it’s certainly relatable. I go there at times, but I really do try to focus on writing from a place of love and positivity. I don’t feel like there are enough artists writing real, honest love songs, and this generation could certainly use some.” Seeing as many solo artists now a day write their music from pain and heartbreak, it is good to see a change of pace and hear songs with a happier tone, about love and happiness. Being that his songs are geared more towards love and happiness, Pharmakis surely must have some great inspiration to write these songs. “Writing music has always come naturally to me. I’m not a groundbreaking guitar player, or singer for that matter, but I truly love it. It’s honestly therapy for me. Writing about things really helps me clear my head. I’ve always written from real life experiences, and I think it shows. You can really tap in to honest emotion when you’re singing about something you full understand and have experienced first hand,” Pharmakis
explains. While the inspiration for his songs comes from first hand situations Pharmakis has experienced himself, the sound of his music is influenced by a variety of 90’s alternative bands. “I grew up with a serious love for 90’s alternative. The Gin Blossoms are special to me, as well as the Cranberries, Pearl Jam, The Goo Goo Dolls. It all plays a part in what my ear naturally likes when I’m writing. Something about those types of hooks. But I strive to be me, and do my best to write music that doesn’t sound like anyone else. I love so much current music, Keaton Henson, Daughter, Ben Howard, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Lucy Rose. There are so many incredible people writing beautiful music, and I feel like they more or less push me to write my own music, than to write material that sounds like their music,” Pharmakis says. It’s nice to see an artist that builds his music straight on originality rather than the sounds of others. It’s great to see artists with great influences, but often times these artists will make music that may sound a little too similar to their influences. Major props to Pharmakis for his originality.
“I really do try to focus on writing from a place of love and positivity. I don’t feel like there are enough artists writing real, honest love songs.”
It was just recently announced that Wind In Sails will be a part of the Radio Revival tour with big names such as Ryan Cabrera, Secondhand Serenade, and a number of other acts. It takes a lot of hardwork and dedication for an artist to be added to a big bill, such as the Radio Revival Tour. “I’m really excited to perform every night with all these great artists! It’s gonna be wild! This will be the first tour for me where I’m going to be performing with all acoustic artists, which is great. It can be a bit strange being the only acoustic performer on a bill. Getting to be a part of the Radio Revival Tour is an absolute honor, and a huge opportunity that I’m extremely thankful for! I’m really looking forward to meeting all the artists, and all the fans that are going to come out to each date,” Pharmakis tells. This tour couldn’t fall at a better time for Pharmakis, as Wind In Sails is getting ready for the release of his new album Morning Light, on February 24th! Pharmakis will be playing a number of CD release shows in celebration of the release throughout the month of February, which fans are stoked about. So what can fans expect from this upcoming release? Greatness, of course! “It’s the most honest album I’ve created up to this point in my life. I covered a wide variety of topics from the uncertainty of where we end up after death (“Keeping Count”), to the story of my engagement to my fiancé (“Wild Child”), which is an extremely wide spectrum. I touched on many things that I feel everyone experiences at some point through out their lives. Production-wise there are some very raw and stripped down songs, and there are some tracks that have a bit more of a full band vibe to them. Yet everything is very cohesive, and it all fits together nicely. I’m so excited to get this out into the world,” Pharmakis spills. Naturally, having such a great album on the rise, the studio time while recording the album had to have
been great. When asked about studio time during the recording of this album, Pharmakis responds, “It was really great. Chris Curran is a very close friend of mine and I’ve always enjoyed working with him. He’s actually recorded every Wind In Sails album so far, and he never ceases to amaze me. He has this great house out in the middle of the woods in Connecticut, and it’s a great place to escape to and clear your head. Really focus on your work and find honest relaxation. I’m very at peace there.”
Photo Credit: Sergio Petraccone
Having accomplished so much since the beginning of Wind In Sails, it makes you wonder what Pharmakis sees as his biggest accomplishment since starting this project. In regards to this, he responds, “In all honesty, there’s not one particular thing that stands out to me. It’s more like a bunch of things that all play a part in making this such a special achievement. When I parted ways with my old band, I was very much alone. And with that came a lot of learning, and hard work. I created this project, designed/printed/sold my own merch, self-released two albums, selfpromoted, and booked my own shows and tours. When I eventually began to notice Wind In Sails spreading around, and actually gaining momentum, it was a phenomenal feeling. And now I’m really lucky because I have found a great team of people that believe in what I’m doing and help guide me in the right direction.” Pharmakis plans to continue this great success throughout the upcoming year, with tons of plans for releases and touring. “This year looks very exciting, and I can’t wait to
Photo Credit: Sergio Petraccone
see how everything goes. I’ll be heading to Europe for a tour in late spring, and I’ll also be doing a really great festival in the UK as well! There will be lots of info to come on both of those endeavors as things develop,” Pharmakis reveals. With such success, comes great admiration for the fans and listeners that got him there. Pharmakis has so much love for his fans and listeners, and really couldn’t thank them enough for their support, as Pharmakis signs off with, “I’d just like to say thank you so much for all your support. You push me to get better and I’ll always work hard to write honest and relatable music. I hope the songs I create will give comfort to people who need it. Thank you so much for your time!”
Check out more from Wind In Sails:
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ windinsails
! Twitter: https://twitter.com/WindInSailsRI ! SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/ wind-in-sails-music
Tides Of Deception
Story: Brianna Cutter Photo Credit: Annabella Gross
MOUNT LAUREL, NJ – About six years ago, the guys of Tides of Deception could be found in a bar playing covers of Metallica and Maiden songs for all the old men sitting around enjoying a cold one. Today, you can find the guys playing shows all throughout New Jersey. The band consists of Jaime GoWell with the lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Brandon Jacob with lead guitar and split screams, Kasey Dobbyn on drums, and Tyler Morales with the bass. With the exception of Jacobs and GoWell, the original lineup of the band was completely different. After having grown tired of playing covers show after show, the band decided to come up with their own music. Because of this decision, about three years ago, the band put out their first release, which was their EP Rise. After having seen the great response coming from their listeners, the guys of the band decided to continue with what they had going. However, it wasn’t always smooth sailing for the band. After the release of their new music, the band had been through a number of member changes. As always though, the guys found their way and found two great new members to add to the lineup. About a year and a half ago, Morales joined the band, and just recently in August Dobbyn joined the band as well. “This is probably the fifth lineup for Tides of Deception, but this time around we have some really great chemistry, and we are better than ever before,” GoWell claims.
2014 was an all around good year for the band, having played a number of shows with a number of bands gave the guys a chance to expand their fan base and gain tons of new listeners. “2014 was a lot of fun for sure. One of the shows that stood out was when we played with The Relapse Symphony and Eyes Set To Kill. That was a ton of fun and we had a killer crowd as well. There’s also a local festival in South Jersey called Gregapalooza that’s always a ton of fun. It was our second year playing and it was a blast as usual! It’s a great opportunity for the local scene since it’s pretty much a smaller localized version of Warped Tour,” the guys explain. Once a band has a good year, fans and listeners will hold high expectations for the band in the years to come, and the guys of Tides of Deception do not plan to back down from these high expectations. Fans and listeners of the band can expect a lot to come throughout this 2015 year the band tells us, “In 2015 fans can expect The Tyrant Will Fall – EP to be released hopefully within the next couple of months even though we don’t have a set release date yet. Other than that we plan on playing as many shows as we can in places that we’ve never been before! We can’t tour at the moment since we’re without a van and trailer but we’re still going to be hopefully travelling all up and down the East Coast this summer, stopping at as many cities as we can!”
“This time around we have some really great chemistry, and we are better than ever before.”
So new music from the band this year? How exciting! In regards to the new release, the guys tell readers what they can expect from this upcoming EP, “Fans can expect 18 minutes of insanity, aggression, passion, and everything in between. This is by far the heaviest material we’ve ever put together, but it also has a huge sense of melody. There are a lot of layers in these tracks; so upon first listen we doubt you’ll catch everything. We held nothing back, and cranked every aspect of our music up 10 notches. Even though it’s only four songs, The Tyrant Will Fall – EP will take you through a myriad of emotions.” To top off all the talk about the band’s new music, comes a rumor that there will be a song with Spencer of Ice Nine Kills. When confronted about the rumor, the band replies, “All that talk you’re hearing about with Spencer from Ice Nine Kills is true! He will be featured in a song called, ‘From The Depths’ and we couldn’t be more excited to have him be a part of this with us. We’ve always been big supporters of Ice Nine Kills so to have him in our release is incredible, and we’re extremely thankful that he did it and is as excited about it as we are! He fit the part perfectly and we’re so anxious for our collective fan bases to hear it!” Naturally, recording the music for this EP must have been a blast, like the guys said, they didn’t hold anything back this time around. So with all this great talk about the new music, we were desperate to hear how it all came together. “The entire recording
process has been an incredibly fun experience! We tracked The Tyrant Will Fall with Jesse Cannon and Mike Oettinger at Cannon Found Soundation and we absolutely love how it came out. Both Jesse and Mike are amazing at what they do and they really pushed us to make this EP sound huge. We came out as stronger musicians with a much greater sense of focus and determination,” the band tells us. So do the guys have a favorite song that they recorded? “I honestly don’t know if we can answer that question! Since we just finished we’ve only been able to hear the mixes for the last two weeks so it’s hard to choose! I’d have to say it’s probably a tie between ‘The Tyrant Will Fall’ and ‘Heartwrencher’, but it changes all the time. We’ll leave it at that since saying that all of them are our favorite is taking the easy way out. Haha!” At the end of it all, the guys of Tides of Deception have tons of great talent, and the sky is the limit for them! “We would like you all to know that we do not take your support lightly, and we deeply appreciate everything that you have done for us. We’ll get this new EP out to all of you as soon as we can, and we hope that you love it as much as we do! If you want to keep up with us online, you can find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Soundcloud, and Bandcamp and hopefully we’ll be able to make it out to a city near you! Thank you so much, we love you all,” the band signs off with.
Check out more from Tides Of Deception:
! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TidesofDeception ! Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOD_Official_ !
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/rise-ep/id651666808
Artist Spotlight
Davey Muise of VANNA Story: Brianna Cutter Photo Credit: Marco Franzese https://www.facebook.com/ franzese.photography BOSTON, MA – Boston-based post-hardcore band Vanna came together as a band in 2004. Throughout the years the band has undergone many changes, but as the years passed, they’ve finally gotten it right. Since having come together, the five guys that make up the band have traveled across many states and countries to bring to listeners everywhere their music and the inspirational stories behind that music. Nick, Davey, Shawn, Joel, and Eric have sacrificed and dedicated so much towards this band, and they couldn’t be more proud of it. Recently, Stereo Noise got the chance to talk to vocalist, Davey Muise, about how the band is doing and got some insight on what goes on behind the scenes in the life of Muise and his role in the band Vanna. As mentioned earlier, Muise is the lead vocalist of the band. He joined the band back in 2009, when former vocalist Chris Preece left the band on good terms. Before Vanna, Muise took part in the New Hampshire band Seeker Destroyer. Since having become a part of Vanna, Muise has found great success in his music and is in love with what he and his bandmates do. 2014 can easily be considered the biggest year for Vanna. With the release of their biggest album yet, VOID, and the number of tours the band embarked on, the band is not ready to slow down just yet. When asked about what the greatest part of this big year was, Muise talks about the experience of meeting tons of new people. “I think for us, the fact that we got to travel so many places and we got to meet a whole different group of kids that never heard of our band before
between Warped Tour, and the Beartooth tour, and the Being As An Ocean tour, and even our headliner tour brought out a whole new group of kids that were able to relate to our music was great,” Muise says.
Check out more on Davey Muise:
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ vannamusic
! Twitter: https://twitter.com/VannaBoston ! Official Website: http://vannaboston.com ! Instagram: @vannaboston ! Tumblr: http://vannaboston.tumblr.com !
Davey Muise on Harbor TV: http://vimeo.com/ 113679712
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As previously talked about, 2014 marked the release of Vanna’s fifth studio album VOID. This album is no doubt the band’s most personal album to date. This album is said to mark the start of a new sound for Vanna, a more aggressive, melodic sound. VOID features 11 new songs from the band, all with their own unique story behind them. “This album is definitely a personal one, I felt like it was time for me to talk about a lot of personal issues that I was afraid to talk about before this record,” Muise explains. Since the album was so personal, Muise surely has to have a favorite song off the record. “My favorite, most personal song off the record has to be ‘Digging’,” Muise tells. For those of you who know about Muise and his upbringing, he dealt with a great deal of depression, and he found music as his own personal salvation. Muise goes on to tell, “Digging for me, it makes me think about how music saved my life, I found my shovel, I found my thing in life that could dig me out of the hole I was burying myself in.” Not only is this song personal for Muise, but people all over have found themselves being able to relate to this song. “After we play shows, kids will come up to me and talk to me about how that song one way or another relates to them. We’re all very similar. We all need to find something that gets us out of those low points, whether it’s through sports, music, or the arts, or anything really. That song, for me, is kind of like the anthem on the banner I wave,” Muise says. Coming from the song “Digging” comes the saying “Find Your Shovel,” which if
you’re a Vanna fan, you have no doubt heard before. “Find Your Shovel” has become a motto for kids of this generation, and give the modern youth motivation to dig themselves out of that hole that they may be stuck in and go overcome any hardships they may find themselves facing. Muise tells us “The whole ‘find your shovel’ thing came up organically, like I said music is my shovel and I dug myself out. I want kids to do whatever it takes to find their shovel, find whatever it is for them to dig themselves out. My advice is to go and find that thing that you love, sometimes it will pay off, sometimes it won’t but it’s what makes you happy, no matter what it is. Sometimes you gotta do things you don’t want to do. Sometimes you gotta go to school, sometimes you gotta go to college, sometimes you gotta find a job, and you might not like it. But like I said before, it’s about finding a balance. You gotta find that thing you love, you got to do that no matter what.” Muise finds himself choosing happiness over misery, and he will go to the ends of the earth to encourage others to choose happiness. “I like to pursue happiness. Ya know, I don’t know what it is that people think being miserable is cool. I think happiness is way cooler, so choose happiness,” he tells us. If interested in hearing more about the story behind “Find Your Shovel,” Muise will be making an appearance this year at the South By So What Music Festival along with Josh Balz of Motionless in White and Garrett Rapp of The Color Morale, all speaking on their own personal subjects. Definitely something worth checking out.
“I felt like it was time for me to talk about a lot of personal issues that I was afraid to talk about before this record.”
2015 will bring big things for the “Find Your Shovel” concept, as Muise has recently announced through an Instagram post that he will be launching a “Find Your Shovel” inspired clothing line, which he was eager to tell us all about, “We’re going to design some ‘Find Your Shovel’ shirts, just something that I can bring on tour to kind of give kids a reminder that wear their heart on their sleeves to, you know, find their shovels and be proud of who they are.” Muise goes on to explain that his concept for the clothing line is to start a type of chain reaction, he believes that if one person wears this shirt and does what makes them happy, someone else will see the shirt and go and find what makes them happy, and so on and so forth. It is a phenomenal idea with a great story behind it. The clothing line is sure to find nothing but success. On top of the release of a great album, naturally, the band did lots of touring in support of the album. For anyone who has any experience in the music world, they know that leaving home for a tour can get hard, especially having a totally hectic tour schedule. When asked if it’s hard to leave home for tours, Muise replies with, “It gets hard for some tours, it’s hard to leave my wife, my dog, and my friends at home. The thing of it is, once you’re home for a while, you do kind of itch to go out on tour. So I mean it is hard, and it is hectic but you got to remember, at the end of the day you’re doing what you love. It does get stressful, but you have to remember to keep the balance.” At the end of the day, Muise is very happy to be a part of such a dedicated band, and he and the guys of Vanna are not ready to slow down just yet. So what does 2015 bring for the band? Muise explains, “We just announced a tour with the Color Morale, Slaves, and Favorite Weapon. We’re going to be touring all over the United States for about six weeks. So you know plan a road trip with your friends, get in the car, and I promise you that you will have the
experience of a lifetime driving a couple hours to get to a show. You’re going to be super tired the next day, but it will all be worth it. Besides that, we’re going to go to Alaska this year, we’re going to Europe, all kinds of place, and we really hope to see you there!”
“So you know, plan a road trip with your friends, get in the car, and I promise you that you will have the experience of a lifetime driving a couple hours to get to a show. You’re going to be super tired the next day, but it will all be worth it.”
Knuckle Puck - Don’t Come Home (Deluxe) If you’re a fan of Knuckle Puck, you have no doubt heard their EP Don’t Come Home. Well the band has just re-released a deluxe version of the EP that features a song that was never released titled, “Townsend.” The release is a five-song EP and features the day-one Knuckle Puck songs. If you are a newer Knuckle Puck fan, this EP will give you a glimpse of the raw material the band started out with, which made them into the musicians that they are today.
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Recommended Tracks: Townsend & Stuck
Reviews
ROAM-Viewpoint EP
Pop-punk five-piece ROAM, just released their newest EP Viewpoint. The EP contains four brand new tracks, each with an upbeat sound. If you’re looking for a new band to check out, look no further! This EP honestly just made me excited for more music to come from the band! Definitely worth checking out.
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Recommend Tracks: Safeguard & Warning Sign
You Blew It! - Pioneer of Nothing EP Orlando, FL based alternative-rock band You Blew It! released a three track EP titled Pioneer Of Nothing. Each song off the EP gives off a melancholy vibe that puts you in the mood to just chill out and relax to while listening. The EP sounds very cleanly done, which is pretty rare to find these days. You can tell that the band is dedicated to their music, and put a lot of time and effort into it. If you’re looking for some new music to just chill out to on a long drive, I would definitely recommend this EP!!
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Recommended Tracks: Your Side & Bedside Manor
Sound Sleeper - A Perfect Sea For Drowning EP Former members of Sunday Driver & MonstrO now make up the South Florida three-piece Sound Sleeper. The group recently released their debut EP A Perfect Sea For Drowning. The EP holds six debut tracks from the band. When I first listened to the EP, I automatically thought that this is a great EP to listen to in the summertime while you’re relaxing by the pool, drinking a cold one. Each track off the EP features great acoustic melodies, and lyrics that will put your mind at ease. This EP is definitely a good way to kick off a band’s debut. Props to Sound Sleeper!
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Recommended Tracks: Celsius vs. Fahrenheit & The Prisoner’s Dilemma
Homesafe
Check out more on Homesafe:
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ HomesafeIL
! Twitter: https://twitter.com/homesafeIL !
Story: Brianna Cutter Photo Credit: Anam Merchant https://www.facebook.com/ AnamMerchantPhoto
OAK LAWN, IL - To become successful in the music industry these days, you need to start off strong, and know exactly BandCamp: http:// what you are doing. You need to make a name for yourself, homesafeil.bandcamp.com and live up to the expectations and standards that you set for yourself. Well that is just what Illinois-based band Homesafe has done, and that is why they have started off so successful! Homesafe is a three-piece rock band hailing from the town of Oak Lawn, Illinois. The band consists of Ryan Rumchaks (you may know him as the bassist of Knuckle Puck) with vocals and guitar, Tyler Albertson with vocals and bass, and Emanuel “E-man” Duran with the drums. Like most successful musicians, it took the guys of Homesafe some experimenting and testing with different bands and music to find the right niche for them. Luckily, it came to them this past year when they decided to put together Homesafe. “We’ve been playing in bands together for the last two years, and we feel like we finally found direction and stability in what we wanted to do. This is when we decided to start Homesafe,” Rumchaks shares. The band put out their first EP towards the end of the 2014 year. The EP was self-titled, and features 5 awesome new tracks that are definitely worth a listen. “I think it’s safe to say that the reaction to our EP from fans has definitely exceeded all of our expectations. We couldn’t have asked for a more positive response. Everything’s been going great so far,” Albertson says in regards to the release. So how was the studio time during the recording of this EP? Duran tells us all about the experience, “It was a lot of fun. I feel like we really found the direction we want to take as a band. It’s always great working with our producer/engineer, Seth. He makes the process comfortable and clear every time we record. Shouts to Seth at Always Be Genius Studio in Crown Point, IN!” The guys of Homesafe kicked off the new year by playing their very first show. The show was played in their hometown of Oak Lawn with their friends in Sudden Suspensions, Bonfires (also featured in this issue!), Lakefront, and Pat Egan. The show ended up being so packed that the bands had to start turning people away! What a way to kick off the year, especially having been the band’s very first show! “That was our very first show and we’ll remember it forever. I never thought I’d see that many people in my basement. Everyone who came out to support and all the bands that played made it a very special night for us,” Rumchaks says as he recalls the experience. Having had experience in a number of different bands and experimenting with different music, it is to no surprise that the guys of Homesafe have each grown in their own way with their music, and more importantly they have all grown together as a band. Albertson shares with us what it was like to grown both musically and mentally as a band, “I definitely learned what it takes to be in a band these past few months compared to all the years I’ve been playing music combined. Mentally, seeing Homesafe growing at a steady pace has us all planning the next steps we want to take as a band. Musically, this is what we loved to do and we are going to strive to out-do ourselves every single time.” What a great outlook to have on the future! As the band’s start up year has come to a close, and they are ready to take on whatever 2015 has in store for them, it poses us all with the question, what’s next? “There will be new music out before the summer. As far as touring goes, we plan to be on the road by that time as well,” the band wraps shares. Homesafe is definitely a band worth checking out, with a new EP and even newer music on the way, you will not be disappointed with what you hear! Lastly, the guys of Homesafe would like to sign off with, “we have a lot in store for 2015, and we can not wait for you all to join us!”
Nick Santino
Story: Brianna Cutter Photo Credit: Dirk Mai http://www.dirkmai.com
BRAINTREE, MA – I’m sure at some point you have all heard of the band A Rocket To The Moon. If you have, I’m sure you know that lead singer, Nick Santino, had recently embarked on his own journey to start his solo music career. And let me tell you, Santino has hit the ground running! Since the beginning of his solo career back in late 2013, Santino has released four very successful EP’s, and even a full length titled Big Skies. The most recent of his releases was his EP, Savannah, which was released in December of 2014. Just recently, Santino found some time to answer some questions Stereo Noise had for him, and he had tons to share! Being a part of a popular band like A Rocket To The Moon, artists do not necessarily have the freedom to express themselves through music as much as solo artists do. Needless to say, Santino was held back in a way from truly expressing himself through music, and he knew that a solo career was an opportunity that he could not pass up. “I’ve always written music that I sort of kept to myself, even while I was in A Rocket To The Moon. So when we decided to not move forward with the band, I knew I wanted to pursue a solo endeavor,” Santino shares. As I mentioned earlier, Santino has put out a number of releases during the short time that he has been a solo artist, and all of these releases have been extremely successful. When asked about his success so far, Santino responds, “It seems to be going well. Obviously time will tell but I feel more comfortable and natural in the musical skin I’m wearing these days. I think a lot of fans have carried over and a lot don’t really care. I think the ones that moved over and now listen to my solo stuff and come to shows are the true music lovers. For that I thank them endlessly
for believing in music.” When asked about his favorite release that he has recorded Santino explains, “Big Skies is my favorite record. Seeing as it’s my only one. And Savannah is probably my favorite EP but it’s always hard to pick favorites.” Completely understandable when every release sounds phenomenal! Most recently, Santino put out his new EP Savannah back in December of 2014. The EP features six brand new tracks straight from Santino himself. The EP is full of unique, acoustic medleys that are definitely worth a listen. Santino tells us about the release, “The Savannah release was really great for me. I think people enjoy the acoustic side of my music. Even in A Rocket To The Moon. So this was something I think really spoke to them. I recorded this all myself in my attic so it was great.”
“I’ve always written music that I sort of kept to myself, even while I was in A Rocket To The Moon. So when we decided to not move forward with the band, I knew I wanted to pursue a solo endeavor.”
Surrounding the releases of tons of new music throughout the year, Santino embarked on a number of different tours, and played a variety of different shows with tons of great artists. Some of these shows include but are not limited to The Vans Warped Tour, and holiday shows with We Are The In Crowd. Santino was more than happy to share his experience of the shows with us, “These tours were great. I spent this year getting in front of a lot of new fans and that felt really good. Warped Tour was a lot of long days, but a lot of fun. I did a fall acoustic tour with some good friends so those shows were a blast too,” Santino shares. Santino’s touring endeavors don’t stop there; he even kicked off 2015 with some big shows, including a show in Mexico with the well-known band, Hanson! “Hanson is great. Mexico was fun. I was fortunate enough to be able to play my music alongside a talented band like Hanson. I’d love to do it again. It was like work and vacation rolled into one. But my job isn’t really work anyways,” Santino tells us.
Needless to say, 2014 was a phenomenal year for Santino and his music, and he doesn’t plan to stop there. 2015 is sure to bring bigger and greater things for Santino and he can’t wait to share them with his fans. “I’m hoping stuff comes naturally this year. I’m working out some touring plans now but for now I am getting my backing band together. It’ll be nice to play Big Skies the way it sounds on record for a change. I’m looking forward to see what happens after we get the Northern Wind blowing,” Santino concludes.
Check out more on Nick Santino:
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Facebook: https:// www.facebook.com/ OfficialNickSantino
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/ nicksantino
! Instagram: @nicksantino !
Photo Credit: Dirk Mai