PUREHONEY 38

SOKO Credit: Thomas Afterpass

Soko is at the tail end of a transformation when she pauses to share with PureHoney what is going on with her new album. We caught her in the middle of mixing her sophomore effort, which she has titled My Dreams Dictate My Reality. If her new, lusciously layered, new wavey single “Love Letter” is any indication, she has ditched the spare instrumentation of her first full-length for something more ambitious. The 27-yearold told us she is nearly finished with mixing and is looking forward to performing several Florida shows, not only opening for Foster the People but also hosting some intimate shows in smaller venues.

Soko preferred to conduct the interview via email, so the exclamation points are her own.

But they stand as testament to her excitement about sharing the latest about her new music and revealing a few candid details of what inspires her to use music to express herself. She also seems quite lighthearted, as there are more than a few laughs in her responses. Though she’s also not above admitting she is a control freak and unlovable (though, she really comes across as quite endearing).

Soko

This writer actually first became familiar with Soko, who has more than 10 years of experience acting, in quite a serious work: the art house period piece film Augustine.

It was a 2012 French movie that examined the true story of a patient key to defining hysteria in the 19th Century. We broke the ice with that.

Hans Morgenstern: I must admit, I had to spend some time searching my memory for how I was familiar with you. You were the star of Augustine! I reviewed the movie (read it here: http://indieethos.wordpress.com/2013/07/12/film-review-augustinereaches-for-feminism-in-the-hysterical-era/ ). It’s a spectacular performance because you bring out the power of Augustine and still maintain an awareness of restraint. It was a difficult era for women. What inspired you to take the role?

Soko: Oh, no way? Wow, that’s crazy. Well, thank you so much for the kind words.

I loved making that movie so much. I fought really hard to get the part. They saw 800 girls and didn’t want to see me at all, and I knew I had it in me to nail that part, so I kept on insisting that they see me for the part. I loved that it’s a real story, and painting the crazy destiny of a courageous woman, very strong, very tortured, and who gets a breakthrough and becomes free of all the weight that has been put on what women should and should not do. That was very inspiring.

Are you selective about your acting? What are your standards for a role?

I don’t really feel like an actress, even though that was my first “job.” Making music is my absolute vital everyday life. For me to take on a movie, it really has to be something special that challenges me to learn something new, be someone new, inspire me to learn new stuff and also making sure that the characters I choose will be inspiring to women. Showing strength and passion and vulnerability is all I care about, so, if a script touches me, brings me to tears, then, that’s what I want to do.

Now you are on the way to South Florida opening for Foster the People. Do you have a plan to stand out as a warm-up act?

Ha-ha. Well, I’m just doing my thing, you know? I love performing so much. I’m so glad to be opening for my friends. It makes it even more fun.

I always play so wholeheartedly and put all my soul and pain and love and sadness and blood and sweat in it. Performing takes so much out of me because it makes me re-live all these intense songs that I wrote, so I’m always all shook up when I sing.

Besides opening for Foster the People you will have some intimate shows. What will be your approach with these shows?

Same, there’s no plan behind performing. Other than doing it, it’s life or death when you’re up there singing for people. I guess, for the intimate shows, my set will be longer, and obviously more intimate! I end up talking a lot and interact with the audience a lot when I play small places. I actually feel a lot more comfortable doing that! I always try to set the mood to make people feel at home, like they’re sitting through a “living room show” type of vibe!

So I hear you are mixing the new album now. What has evolved about your songwriting?

I sure am, should be done in a week!! So exciting, I wrote this album all by myself in Paris, post breakup, and was having a really hard time, spending nights flirting with my bass (put a lot of chorus on it!) and my drum machine and writing very sad, minor songs but weirdly Goth and upbeat and sort of punky too, pretending I was Robert Smith, and all the lyrics are very personal and related to childhood and dreams and how I’m really immature on certain levels! Ha-ha! Sort of refusing to grow up, but at the same time, having to embrace and accept all these responsibilities, so it all sounds very conflicted! And dark but also feels upbeat and happier. I don’t know. It’s all of that at the same time! I’ve been calling this record “beach Goth” or “beach punk” coz that’s all the images I have for it! Ha-ha! The title is “My Dreams Dictate My Reality,” and it was produced by Ross Robinson (who produced The Cure, At The Drive In), and it’s definitely very Cure inspired!

I’ve heard “Love Letter.” (FREE download on this months PH comp!) The music sounds more luscious for you. Are there any new instruments/sounds that fans should expect to hear in the mix?

Well, yes... ha! Actually, it’s a lot more synth-based. It’s got a lot of drum machine, synthy string ensembles, lots of reverbed-out and chorused-out atmospheric texture and NO acoustic instruments... and has a lot of surfy guitar riffs.

Read More: “Soko” continues>>>

SOKO cont.

You’ve said personal experiences inspired your earlier music. Is it still the same with these new songs?

Credit: Justin Tyler Close

You’ve said personal experiences inspired your earlier music. Is it still the same with these new songs?

I can only write about what I know, about what feels vital to me, because what touches me about music is when I can hear people’s wounds wide open, so I always try to go right where it hurts, and write about that! It’s always very uncomfortable for the time being, but then gives me a sort of relief, and the chance to move on after transforming dark thoughts into art.

Is there a release date or label yet?

Soko

Not yet, still trying to figure that out, talking to a few really interesting people but not sure yet where this records needs to go!

You’ve had some great success with viral videos and hit songs. Are there any creative ideas you plan to use for your follow-up album or single?

Ha! Uh, yes, the success of that “First Kiss” video was pretty unexpected and amazing! Still such a fun little story to look back at and be like, “yup, this really happened.” Millions of people heard “We Might be Dead by Tomorrow”! It makes my heart melt but at the same time, feels totally unreal!

I’m about to put out another single soon, and I’ll direct a video for it. I’ve really been enjoying directing all my videos for the first album so planning to do that for this one too! And I’m working on my ‘zine right now. I’ll be selling it on tour. It’s called “Daddy Issues” (obviously!).

There is a special pressure that comes with a sophomore release. How do you approach new music with that pressure, if you even feel it all, of course?

I put so much pressure on myself all the time for everything I do coz I’m such a control freak perfectionist, but I’m actually trying to let go a little bit more this one and with the experience of the first one, be a little easier on myself and do things faster... ha-ha! I think I did a lot of opening up and growing up since my first record, so I feel more calm and serene about this one, and I’m actually really excited to go and tour these new songs!

Love was a major theme on the last album. With “Love Letter” It looks like it might be inspiring you just as much in this album. Is that so?

Well, “Love Letter” was a song requested by my friend Aaron Rose. We made this little video for it for the MOCA [Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles]. We took some words from Nikki De Saint Phalle from one of her books and then animated her drawings to the words I picked, so it’s like this little lyric video. Aaron chose me because, obviously, he thought that her words are very similar to what he thinks I always go through, so that was a good match!

The rest of the songs on my record, I actually wrote. Everything I write is always somewhat about love. Love songs are the best! But it addresses a lot of deeper issues, childhood-related, I guess. It’s more about childhood and dreams than it is about relationships!!

What is it about love and relationships that translates so powerfully to song?

The feeling that we’re all equal in the struggle of finding that perfect match, the perfect person to complete us. We all go through rejection, desire, love, lust, passion, fights, jealousy, resentment, sex withdrawal, cuddle withdrawal, and this infinite craving of wanting to be held by some loving arms for the rest of your life, so when this vital feeling is translated into songs it just melts me. My favorite song ever is “Unlovable” by The Smiths. These lyrics are just too heartbreaking. I cry almost each time I listen to that song, mostly because I can relate to that feeling of being unlovable too! Damn, Morrissey is the best!

Recently, we saw this excellent French film, La Jalousie. You can always count on the French to deliver powerful relationship films. You, yourself, also write so profoundly and humanly about relationships (truly, excellent lyrics!). What is it about the French experience that is both so insightful and concerned about “amour”?

Ha, ha, ha! I haven’t seen that film. I don’t know. We’re just very fiery, passionate, 100 percent kind of people. It’s black or white, no in between, so when we love, we love fully, and when we’re heartbroken, we scream it to the world. Ha-ha!

You were an actress before you released music. Did you feel any prejudice turning to this medium of expression?

I started acting at 16, yes, but I started playing music at 5 years old, took on piano lessons then, and at 20, really started writing my own music, and that was such a relief for me. I’m never really concerened about what people think. I do what feels right, and I assume that if people do things from a loving, vital, passionate place, then there’s nothing wrong that can happen from it!

How do you balance between acting and music?

I haven’t done a movie since Augustine. First, because I wasn’t really interested in anything and also because I had this second album all in my head and needed to lay it out before I could move on with my life, but now that I’m almost done, I have four movies booked for 2015, so bring it! I’m ready! And I’ll let my agents and label and stuff discuss my schedule! They have to figure out that balance for me!

Ha, ha, ha!

Are there any more films you will be starring in anytime soon?

Well, yes, these four different films, all directed by women (randomly!), and I’m the lead of all of them, and all of them are very strong, very different, challenging roles, so I’m really excited about them and all the prep that goes with it!

Thank you for your time! And Miami Beach is looking forward to seeing you here.

Same! : )Come say hi! I don’t bite! ~ Hans Morgenstern | The Independent Ethos | www.indieethos.wordpress.com/

JULIAN CASABLANCAS Let’s be real: Julian Casablancas’ slacker chic vocal delivery and good looks defined the the Strokes. While Albert Hammond Jr.’s hooky guitar licks and the low-fi, New York circa ‘77 sonic and visual aesthetic the band copped were certainly necessary parts of the Strokes’ recipe for success, the band undoubtedly could not have been the rock ‘n roll reinvigorator they were had they not had Casablancas at the helm. And as tradition for bands that explode in the manner the Strokes did dictates, time takes its toll, meeting expectations outweighs inspiration with each Julian Casablancas & the Voidz release, and things generally fall apart, leaving Casablancas poised for solo success.

Casablancas has since laced himself within the very fiber of all that is relevant and radical in modern popular music. He’s worked with a list of modern greats in one capacity or another over the years, from Queens of the Stone Age and Daft Punk to Danger Mouse and Bright Eyes’/Saddle Creek producer extraordinaire Mike Mogis, and has really imbued himself in the culture of modern rock ‘n roll.

Times seem to be particularly good for Casablancas right now as far was we can tell. The reunited (but never reformed) Strokes put out a record in 2013 that was met with decent critical acclaim and the band subsequently spent this year enjoying the good times and good bucks of the festival circuit. The frontman has been playing double-duty and is also finally preparing to release a follow up to his abstract-but-approachable 2009 debut solo album, Phrazes for the Young. Entitled Tyranny and done in conjunction with a new unit of roughnecks, the Voidz, the album is said to be even more jarring and out there than its predecessor, with early reviews landing all over the board -- meaning this may not be your thing if you gave up after Is This It. However, if you are willing to rifle through the mire of low fidelity scuzz and buzz Casablancas and his cohorts have settled in, we expect you’ll find something very rewarding, as is evident in the lead single “Where No Eagles Fly,” which comes paired to an absolutely perfect music video in terms of visuals matching a sound.

Casablancas will make his way to West Palm Beach on October 26 as part of the Coral Skies Fest, and while we wouldn’t bank on a wealth of Strokes material in the set, we would absolutely bank on a cutthroat performance from someone who has time and again proven himself to be the real deal. ~ David Von Bader

PSYCHEDELIACS Psychedeliacs V3: Paint Yourself Psychedeliacs, is an ongoing music series on Tropicult. com, where I continue to observe and report on today’s psychedelic scene. Today I will talk about a particular band from Austin, Texas: White Denim.

A recurring thought of mine when listening to White Denim is “How?” Just how does the genre-less Austin quartet manage to flow through so many styles of music so seamlessly and with such virtuosity? White Denim, along with fellow Austinites The Bright Light Social Hour, are by far the most impressive live band I’ve ever seen. I first stumbled upon them at Antone’s in 2010 on a trip I made to Austin with my mother. She sat in the corner sipping wine out of a plastic White Denim cup and I stood up by the stage getting my life turned around while a buncha them damn hippies danced around me in circles. In retrospect, had I known how much joy this band would eventually bring me, I would have probably danced too. But I was just too awestruck by the swirling guitars, driving basslines, and the calculated chaos of the drums. Oh my God, the drums…

By then, their second guitarist, Austin Jenkins, had joined the band after which things took a turn for the best. That’s not to say they weren’t already a force to be reckoned with. But after Jenkins was recruited, the band’s sound became fully realized. Their 2011 album, simply titled D, is nothing short of amazing. It sounds tight and refined and yet is simultaneously all over the place. In the best of ways, of course! Influenced by 60s psychedelia, jazz, blues, and folk rock, the album contains 10 explosions of music each more exquisite than the last. Even more impressive is the fact that while the influences are clearly there, the songs don’t exactly sound like any of those aforementioned genres. It is unclassifiable but relatable. It feels not like something you’ve heard before (because you haven’t), but like something you’re supposed to hear.

For more Psychedeliacs, photos, videos, and music, visit Tropicult.com ~ Daniel Fernandez

WedneSday, OctOber 1

DADA: Bruja CARSONS TAVERN: Ben Mejia VINTAGE TAP: Stephen Rose

OctOber 2-4

EMBASSY SUITES WPB: “What’s All The Buzz About?”

Exhibition at FSBA 94th Annual Honey Bee Conference

thurSday, OctOber 2

RESPECTABLE STREET: Down Coyote, Crazy Carls DADA: Sol Republic FUNKY BUDDHA: Ghost Owl VINTAGE TAP: The Agony Brothers

KAVASUTRA : Florida Flow Fest After Party w. Warp9 & Fire Performers HAROLD’S: The Grandfather, Levi the Poet, Lowercase Noises, Glowhouse, The Thieving Hand, Christian Welch VINTAGE TAP: David Shelley & Bluestone MAXI’S LINEUP: Brett Staska PROPAGANDA: DJ Needlez Presents. Rock The Mic FUNKY BUDDHA: The Malah, Bells & Robes WYNWOOD ARTS DISTRICT: III Points

Saturday, OctOber 11

SOFLA FAIRGROUNDS: FRIGHT NIGHTS DADA: Mylo Ranger BRYANT PARK, LAKE WORTH: Florida Flow Fest w.

Momentology DJs

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Friday, OctOber 3

VINTAGE TAP: JL Fulks Band DADA: Ethan Parker Band BEAR & BIRD GALLERY: Not of This Earth: An Extraterrestrial Art Invasion Art Opening

Saturday, OctOber 4

OLD SCHOOL SQUARE: Stitch Rock #8: an Indie Craft Fair & Bazaar!

VINTAGE TAP: Living Daylights RESPECTABLE STREET: 27 YEAR ANNIVERSARY w. The Drip Effect, Boxwood, Lavola, Astari Nite, Alarmists, False Flags, Violet West, Johnny Raincloud & the Downers, Gallimimus, Riot Act, Que Lastima, Space Between Words, Ordinary Boys, Bearhead, The Band in Heaven, Wolfcat, Krisp, Bluejay, Killmama, Bloomfield, Jangle Leg, The Jacket PROPAGANDA: Green Jelly, FOO, Masticator, Underlined DADA: Siren Sea KILL YOUR IDOL: Off Orbit GRAND CENTRAL: Bonobo

Sunday, OctOber 5

PROPAGANDA: POT Benefit, Acoustic Showcase / Open Mic JAZID: Jahfe, Lance-O, Kulcha Shok Krew THE FILLMORE: CHVRCHES THE GARRET: Night Bass: Jack Beats, Hannah Wants, AC Slater

MOnday, OctOber 6

THE FILLMORE: St Vincent DADA: Basement Jams Open Mic PROPAGANDA: Karaoke Night Hosted by Chris Martin

tueSday, OctOber 7

THE FILLMORE: The Australian Pink Floyd Show DADA: Comedy Open Mic

WedneSday, OctOber 8

DADA: Hannah CULTURE ROOM: Emery, Norma Jean, Night Verses, Aritifex Pereo THE FILLMORE: Rodrigo y Gabriela CARSONS TAVERN: Deal James VINTAGE TAP: Davee Bryan

thurSday, OctOber 9

SOFLA FAIRGROUNDS: FRIGHT NIGHTS, Behind the Scenes Tour VINTAGE TAP: Rockin Jake Duo DADA: Craft Bazaar THE FILLMORE: Rodrigo y Gabriela FUNKY BUDDHA: The Train Wrecks

Friday, OctOber 10

SOFLA FAIRGROUNDS: FRIGHT NIGHTS, Opening Night!

DADA: The Trainwrecks BRYANT PARK, LAKE WORTH: Florida Flow Fest w.

Momentology DJs

KAVASUTRA : Florida Flow Fest After Party w. Warp9 & Fire Performers PROPAGANDA: 4th Annual ARToberfest Block Party, JC Dwyer, Christian Rivera, Neverland, Sawgrass Express, LFTD LVLS, The Citylines, Mylo Ranger, FLA, Raggy Monster, Closer to the Ocean, The Violet West, 84 Sheepdog, Smith Sundy, The Goddamn Hustle, The Drip Effect, The Pathetique VINTAGE TAP: Juke GRAVEFACE RECORDS: SOKO, Sweet Bronco KILL YOUR IDOL: Flashback Saturday CARSONS TAVERN: String Theory TWO&: The ‘Refractions & Echoes’ Release Party: Adam Matza, Kelcie Mcquaid, Steven Bristonl, Shay Eischein, Kenny Millions, Rizzletron CULTURE ROOM: Fuel FUNKY BUDDHA: Mike Mineo

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Sunday, OctOber 12

BRYANT PARK, LAKE WORTH: Florida Flow Fest w.

Momentology DJs WYNWOOD ARTS DISTRICT: III Points UNDERBELLY: SOKO, Sweet Bronco PROPAGANDA: Acoustic Showcase / Open Mic

MOnday, OctOber 13

THE FACTORY: SOKO, Sweet Bronco PROPAGANDA: Columbus Day Karaoke DADA: Basement Jams Open Mic

tueSday, OctOber 14

PEACOCK ROOM: SOKO, Sweet Bronco CULTURE ROOM: Beartooth, Vanna, Sirens & Sailors, Sylar, Alive Like Me DADA: Comedy Open Mic

WedneSday, OctOber 15

THE BUBBLE: SOKO, Sweet Bronco, JUDE., Fern CARSONS TAVERN: Ben Mejia CULTURE ROOM: Whitechapel, Upon A Burning Body, Glass Cloud VINTAGE TAP: Scott Becker DADA: Chloe Dolandis HARD ROCK LIVE: Earth, Wind & Fire

thurSday, OctOber 16

KILL YOUR IDOL: SOKO DJ SET FILLMORE MIAMI: Foster the People, SOKO SOFLA FAIRGROUNDS: FRIGHT NIGHTS FUNKY BUDDHA: Dr. Fameus VINTAGE TAP: Kerosene Acoustic Duo DADA: Blind Dog Aussie

Friday, OctOber 17

PROPAGANDA: SOKO, Sweet Bronco, JUDE., Fern VINTAGE TAP: Phil Varca & the Slamjammers SOFLA FAIRGROUNDS: FRIGHT NIGHTS RESPECTABLE STREET: Rocky Horror Picture Show FUNKY BUDDHA: Funky Nuggets, Come Back Alice HARD ROCK LIVE: Motley Crue CULTURE ROOM: Mayday! & Murs

Saturday, OctOber 18

SOFLA FAIRGROUNDS: FRIGHT NIGHTS DADA: Stratolites PROPAGANDA: Everymen CD RELEASE ft.

Mischief Brew, Birthday Candels, S.S. WEB, The Zoo Peculiar KILL YOUR IDOL: Ethan Parker Band VINTAGE TAP: Octo Gato, Sandratz, Park Road CULTURE ROOM: Toasters, The Attack TATE’S COMICS, Lauderhill: Halloween Sale HARD ROCK ORLANDO: Foster the People, SOKO HARD ROCK LIVE: Motley Crue BLIND MONK: Brett Staska CD Release CULTURE ROOM: Toasters, The Attack CARSONS TAVERN: Greg Hansen

Sunday, OctOber 19

PROPAGANDA: Acoustic Showcase / Open Mic CULTURE ROOM: The Amity Affliction, For The Fallen Dreams, Obey The Brave, Crossfaith, Favorite Weapon

MOnday, OctOber 20

PROPAGANDA: Desolated, Traitors, Benchpress, Vice, Sweet Nothings DADA: Basement Jams Open Mic

tueSday, OctOber 21 DADA: Comedy Open Mic

WedneSday, OctOber 22

RESPECTABLE STREET: Authority Zero CARSONS TAVERN: Deal James VINTAGE TAP: Billy Vazquez DADA: John Nangle

thurSday, OctOber 23

SOFLA FAIRGROUNDS: FRIGHT NIGHTS DADA: Jypsea Bikini Fashion Show & Los Bastardos Magnificos FUNKY BUDDHA: Royal Noise VINTAGE TAP: The Jaime Craig Duo

Friday, OctOber 24

RESPECTABLE STREET: Red Shadows Masquerade Ball VINTAGE TAP: The Red Elvis’s SOFLA FAIRGROUNDS: FRIGHT NIGHTS UNIT1: Celebrator, Wolfcat DADA: Bluejay PROPAGANDA: WEB THREE Halloween Party GRAND CENTRAL: Doctor P, Cookie Monsta, Funtcase CULTURE ROOM: The Devil Makes Three, The Cave Singers FUNKY BUDDHA: Fish Out of Water, Latebird

Saturday, OctOber 25

CLEMATIS STREET WPB MOONFEST: CLAP YOUR HANDS SAY YEAH, Sweet Bronco, Gravel Kings, JUDE., Ethan Parker Band, Campeona, Franscene, The Kinected, Telekinetic Walrus, Prizm, Ohverclock, Lo IQ, DJ XTA C, Beat Thief Inc JMS, Lucid Frequency, Onee, Shark Anthony w. Ashleigh, James Boucher, CLVB DRVGS, Medley, Scotty Solomon, Brandian, Chazz Royall, Dro Matik & more!

POORHOUSE: Ancient Rivers, Octo Gato SOFLA FAIRGROUNDS: FRIGHT NIGHTS VINTAGE TAP: Gold Dust Lounge DADA: Jangle Leg KILL YOUR IDOL: Robby Hunter Band GUANABANAS: Brett Staska HARD ROCK LIVE: Enrique Iglesias & Pitbull FUNKY BUDDHA: Matt Calderin CARSONS TAVERN: Killbillies

Sunday, OctOber 26

SOFLA FAIRGROUNDS: FRIGHT NIGHTS, Monster Bash Costume Party/Competition PROPAGANDA: Acoustic Showcase / Open Mic CRUZAN AMP: Coral Skies Music Festival: Cage The Elephant, Julian Casablancas & The Voidz, City And Colour, Bombay Bicycle Club, Bleachers, Tokyo Police Club, The Hold Steady, Wild Cub, Junior Prom, Benjamin Booker, Good Graeff & More.

SALTWATER BREWERY: Brett Staska

MOnday, OctOber 27

PROPAGANDA: Karaoke Night Hosted by Chris Martin DADA: Basement Jams Open Mic

tueSday, OctOber 28

CULTURE ROOM: Watsky, Kyle

WedneSday, OctOber 29

PROPAGANDA: Divided Heaven, Teen Agers, Protagonist, Routine Scheme DADA: Rachel GRAND CENTRAL: KISS Kruise: PreParty w. Great White CULTURE ROOM: Amaranthe CARSONS TAVERN: Clifton Perry

thurSday, OctOber 30

SOFLA FAIRGROUNDS: FRIGHT NIGHTS DADA: Commonwealth VINTAGE TAP: JP Soars Gypsy Jazz HARD ROCK LIVE: Judas Priest CULTURE ROOM: Partynextdor

Friday, OctOber 31

SOFLA FAIRGROUNDS: FRIGHT NIGHTS VINTAGE TAP: Halloween Vintage Tap Style w. Scarecrow Jenkins, The Funky Nuggets, Burlesque PROPAGANDA: Hell of a Party!

DADA: Halloween Show FUNKY BUDDHA: The Politix

FRIGHT NIGHTS Newlyweds check into a tacky motel for their honeymoon, not realizing the property is haunted.

Inside a dimly let interrogation room, complete with a single swinging bulb, grim authority figures question a bruised woman about her knowledge of a shadow government. The car containing a quartet of oddly matched friends stalls in the middle of nowhere, and recently resurrected demons inhabit the only place of shelter.

These aren’t trailers for the latest horror and scifi dystopia films, though they might as well be.

They are the three walkable haunts, developed and furnished with blood, sweat, tears and more blood, at this year’s Fright Nights at South Florida Fairgrounds. For a brand known for its cinematic attention to detail, it’s only natural that faux movie Poster Art by Craig McInnis trailers were made for the haunts—titled Flamingo Hotel, New World Order and Vile—which anticipate both the jolting scares and dark humor that await attendees.

“We pilfer a lot of media [for ideas], including books, T.V., movies and news,” says Craig McInnis, creative director for Fright Nights. “Sometimes current events will shape the large major themes all the way down to the most minute details in a room—the way a character acts or the way a scare comes across.” McInnis developed those creative and cheeky trailers (viewable at myfightnights.com), but that’s only a small fraction of his job, which includes but is not limited to set design, haunt design, character design, makeup, marketing and graphic design.

But his favorite part is acting in the finished product: Every year, he plays a character called Eggman.

As McInnis reveals, it takes many months of work to create the few minutes of fright in each walk-through. “Our design team starts planning the themes and layouts in March,” he says. “The design phase carries all the way to the start of production in early August. Then it is an incremental climb through construction, paint, electric, air, sound, set design, props … and this doesn’t even include makeup, wardrobe, facades, scare zones and other midway features. The man hours are immeasurable.”

If you’re not the kind of person that enjoys being hissed at by haunts or threatened by mutilated creeps with meat cleavers, Fright Nights still offers a fun carnival atmosphere, with live music, midway talent, rides and . As for the wide demographic of those of who do enjoy a tingling spine every now and then, McInnis has his theories: “I think it is one of those things we love to hate / hate to love. It is unnerving but exciting. Being in a haunted house drums up adrenaline and allows us to suspend disbelief for a little while. I think it is a bit of escapism, and it serves our soul to encounter a little bit of danger, or perceived danger. It is our pleasure to deliver.”

Fright Nights runs select nights from Oct. 10 to Nov. 1 at South Florida Fairgrounds, $15-$25. Call 561-793-0333 or visit myfrightnights.com. Save $5 w/ advance ticket purchase until October 9. ~ John Thomason

MOONFEST 2014 At this month’s MoonFest on October 25, the circus is in town. Not only will carnival rides make their triumphant return to the five bustling blocks of Clematis Street, but a menagerie of sideshow freaks will show up, too: Stilt walkers, knife swallowers, a bearded lady and the “world’s strongest man” are among the attractions at the Dark Carnival, a special stage/performance art installation spearheaded by Daniel Warren, one of the event coordinators. DJs will spin behind them, in one of three stages at this onenight extravaganza of spooky debauchery.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

And the circus sideshow isn’t the only activity unique to this year’s Moonfest; attendees can also enjoy the premiere of Silent Disco.

Visitors to this the tented “club” in the middle of Moonfest will be lent a battery-powered pair of headphones, where they can choose which of two warring DJs they want to listen to; thus, two people could be dancing together to completely different rhythms in their heads, much to the amusement of outsiders peeking in.

There also will be customary arts and crafts vendors, food trunks and drink sales, as well as a costume contest, with the winning team or individual taking home $1,000, based on audience votes, circa 11:45 on the main stage (might I suggest some intrepid collective showing up as the cast of Guardians of the Galaxy?).

As for the music, DJs such as Prizm, LO-IQ, XTA-C and ONE3 will spin at the ominously titled Devil’s Alley stage from 8:30 until 1am, and at the Main Stage, at the opposite end of Clematis, a top-tier headliner always shreds through the midnight hour; this year, it’s Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, the shambling fuzz rockers from Philadelphia, who will be making their first South Florida appearance since 2012. The band’s latest album Only Run is spectral and nocturnal, flirting closely with darkwave and making their sound an ideal hipster Halloween soundtrack. They’ll be preceded by Fort Pierce folk-pop quartet Gravel Kings, Lauderdale dream-team Sweet Bronco plus JUDE., Ethan Parker Band, Campeona, Franscene, The Kinected and many others!

As has become the standard with recent Moonfests, the event will be gated, with a modest $10 cover charge—a decision that Warren says has led to a better event for everyone. “There’s no more underage kids going crazy; the last two years have seen no violence, no arrests, no fights,” he says. “I’ve been performing for five years and adminning for three, and I’ve seen it only get better. When you have people paying the price of the ticket, they become more involved. More people are dressed up, there’s a lot of hot girls in sexy outfits, and guys in overdone Comic-constyle cosplay. Our clients feel like it’s safer as well.”

For more information and artist lineup updates, visit www.moonfestevents.com ~ John Thomason

PEAK AT KRAVIS CENTER The Kravis Center promises to bring an array of performers from across the world offering original hybrids of music, dance and performance for its Third Annual PEAK Series, starting this November. It’s appropriate that American dance group Diavolo open the series on Nov. 7 with their performance “Architecture in Motion,” which features dancers/acrobats dancing on and off unstable structures. It recalls the famous quote “Writing about music is like dancing about architecture.” Several artists feature combinations you might be surprised to hear about.

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W. Lee Bell, Senior Director of Programming notes Camille A. Brown & Dancers offer an activist form of dance, and Well Strung, a quartet of openly gay male classical musicians combine hits from Adele and Lady Gaga with Vivaldi, and they sing, too. Bell also notes his excitement of booking DakhaBrakha. “They’re a combination of Ukrainian folk melodies, which are beautiful. They’re similar to the Bulgarian women’s choir. It’s this hypnotic, mystical sound of upper registers. It’s beautiful, and this group incorporates that folkloric type language into a trance-like minimalist approach, so it’s this very unexpected sound.”

Bell notes the program is as much about putting on crowd-pleasing shows as a consciousness for outsider art. “The nature of the series is to provide a forum for contemporary work for ethnic diversity or gender issues for things that are current, artistic or innovative,” he says.

Education is also a big part of the series. Bell notes Well Strung does outreach work in the LGBT community. The program also allows students a chance to learn from masters. “A lot of these performers will be providing unique experiences for students that we’ll bus in, so we’re very thankful that they’re participating in that way. It’s just a way to engage the student population in a very inspirational way.”

Bell says attendance for the series jumped last year, and he has high hopes for this season’s offerings. He is not shy about hiding his own enthusiasm for the program.

Referring to Zap Mama & Antibalas, he says, “They’re actually the group who opened for Fela!. That was the group playing as you walked in! That’s that group! I’m excited.

We’re gonna put them in the outdoor amphitheater.”

The Third Annual PEAK Series kicks off at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts with Diavolo - Architecture in Motion, Friday, November 7th at 8:00 PM at the Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. Concert Hall. For more information visit: www.kravis.org/peak. Every ticket comes with a complimentary drink ticket, excluding Dreyfoos Hall shows. ~ Hans Morgenstern, The Independent Ethos | http://indieethos.wordpress.com/

Credit: Renata Raksha

ST. VINCENT Take a look at one of the most unconventional pop musicians on the music scene. When I heard St.Vincent for the first time, I could not ignore the clever, eccentric, and thought provoking lyrics. Her high pitched vocals intertwine with bold and abrupt guitar riffs throughout the music. The guitar verses are choppy and rivet all over the track. It starts off slow, and then picks up with a variety of noise then unexpectedly creating a sublimely theatrical experience.

Prior to St. Vincent, Annie Clark sang and played guitar in the psychedelic group Polyphonic Spree. It was not until she started touring as part of Sufjan Stevens’ band that she would focus on a career as a solo artist.

Clark would finally unveil the genius boiling beneath the surface better known as her alter ego St.Vincent.

Marry Me was the first album that showcased St.Vincent’s piano skills.

Through these tracks Clark expressed St. Vincent the many wonders of a poetic mind.

St. Vincent also released Love The Giant in 2012 that featured a collaboration with Talking Head’s David Byrne. With the creativity of both imaginations bouncing off one another, it’s no wonder they produced an album that quenches a thirst for innovation. Did I mention there are horns? Lots of horns.

In an interview with French streaming music site Qobuz, St. Vincent explains that,”The hardest thing for any musician to do is to play like yourself and sound like yourself, and I think I do that on this record, so I decided to self title it.” This is by far St.Vincent’s most transformative collection of music.

Songs Rattlesnake and Digital Witness are upbeat and chaotic tracks that exemplify St.Vincent’s experimental talents fully. Clark also slows the tone down dramatically with songs Prince Johnny and I Prefer your Love. There is a fresh level of confidence which St.Vincent radiates on this album, and her creativity as an independent artist doesn’t fall short of brilliant.

Feel all the innovative talent pouring out of St.Vincent when she performs on October 6 at the Fillmore in Miami. Show starts at 8pm with folk singer Matthew E. White as the opening act. ~ Brittany Curtis