The Daily Princetonian
Thursday April 30, 2014
page s1
SPRING LAWNPARTIES 2015
PAGE DESIGN BY LIN KING :: STREET EDITOR
quadrangle club
ALUS
YouTube it: “ORDINARY GIRL” “RELAPSE”
An NJ native, ALUS brings a range of vocals as an opener at Lawnparties. The 20-year-old released her first EP “Alustrious” in 2014 and since then her music has been gaining traction. She turned down a scholarship to the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston to sign with Water Music Publishing, which has worked with artists like Leona Lewis and Trey Songz. Her sound has been compared to that of Aaliyah and Janet Jackson and she has command of a variety of genres ranging from soul to pop. ALUS is on the rise so don’t miss a chance to see her this weekend! - CATHERINE BAUMAN, STREET EDITOR EMERITUS COURTESY OF PBS.TWIMG.COM
BIG SEAN
COURTESY OF MINASAYWHAT.COM
quadrangle club
This year’s headliner entered the music scene participating in weekly rap battles on WTHD, a Detroit hip-hop station. In 2005, Sean Michael Leonard Anderson insisted on freestyling for Kanye West, who was at the station for an interview. In 2007, he was signed to West’s GOOD Music label. Big Sean released various mixtapes before releasing his first album, “Finally Famous,” with collaborators like John Legend, Wiz Khalifa and Nicki Minaj in 2011. 2013 was a Big year, with the release of his second album, “Hall of Fame,” and two Grammy YouTube it: nominations for his work on the hit single “Mercy” with Kanye West, “PARADISE” Pusha T and 2 Chainz. Big Sean recently released his third album, “Dark Sky Paradise,” which debuted at number one on the Billboard “I DON’T FUCK 200 chart. The album has received positive reviews and Pitchfork has WITH YOU” described it as “a big leap in the ideal Big Sean full length.”
“BLESSINGS”
- DAILY PRINCETONIAN STAFF
SMALLPOOLS tower club, 1:30 p.m.
LUKE CHRISTOPHER
quadrangle club
Luke Christopher is a California native who cites Elton John, Kanye West, Common, U2 and Tupac as a sampling of his original musical inspirations. Christopher released his first mixtape “Tmrw Tmrw” in 2012 and has since released a second, “Tmrw Tmrw Pt. II.” He also released an independently produced singe titled “Sex With You,” which features a collaboration with Common. In 2013, he signed with ByStorm Entertainment, which has managed artists such as Notorious B.I.G. and Usher. Christopher describes his sound as a blend of feel-good hip-hop with an alternative vibe. - CATHERINE BAUMAN, STREET EDITOR EMERITUS COURTESY OF KARMALOOP.COM
As the late spring/early summer breeze ruffles your hair this Sunday, mosey on over to Tower’s front stage, which will be playing host to Smallpools, the band behind the synthladen “Dreaming” and “Karaoke” — you may not know it by name, but you’ve probably heard it, and you’ve definitely tapped your foot to it when you did. This band’s been on the extremely fast up and up, so make sure to take advantage of this chance to see them before they explode. YouTube it: With beats reminiscent of the unholy love quadrachild of Vampire “DREAMING” Weekend, Passion Pit, Walk the Moon and American Authors, they’re just the right sound for the warm-but-chilly Lawnparties “NO STORY TIME” vibe — kick back and relax, but have raging fun! “MASON JAR” - NINA WADE, STAFF WRITER COURTESY OF ANNALEEMEDIA.COM
“KARAOKE”
BRICK+MORTAR charter club, 1:45 p.m.
COURTESY OF ROCKYOURLYRICS.COM
Charter did it again. They’ve found the next big alt-rock band. Hailing from Asbury Park on the Jersey Shore, Brick + Mortar is an electronic drum and bass pop duo, made up of lead singer and bass guitarist Brandon Asraf and drummer/vocalist John Tacon. The band’s alternative, electronic sound resembles a crossover between Imagine Dragons and 2000s-era Arctic Monkeys. In 2013, the band dropped their second studio album, “Bangs,” featuring “Locked in a Cage,” which reached #36 Billboard Alternative Songs in 2014. In the last three months, Brick + Mortar has released three new singles — “Move to the Ocean,” “Voodoo Child” and “Hollow Tune,” a power ballad sure to make YouTube it: radio waves this summer. A strong foundation for “LOCKED IN A your Lawnparties experience, Brick + Mortar is a band on the rise. CAGE” “BANGS”
“HOLLOW TUNE”
- HARRISON BLACKMAN, ASSOCIATE STREET EDITOR