Rock & Roamer WINTER 2023
LAURA NICKEL
CIARA LEAH
CHIPPED NAIL POLISH "WE'RE ALL A LITTLE MESSY AND IMPERFECT" ROCKANDROAMER.COM
Editor's Note
Rock & Roamer caters to good music, both mainstream and indie, finds you the most interesting places to travel, and the food to get you there.
Rock & Roamer Winter Playlist Stick Season Noah Kahan
The Dream Ciara Leah Kill Bill SZA Rut Chipped Nail Polish Lonesome L.A. Cowboy New Riders of the Purple Sage You're On Your Own, Kid Taylor Swift
That July Laura Nickel Photo by Tiana Perez I Griffith Observatory
Join me in discovering new music, travel destinations, and indulging in delicious cuisines this winter. This issue features an exclusive look into the lives of Chipped Nail Polish's Jill Sullivan, Laura Nickel, and Ciara Leah with in-depth interviews about their work. We explore the motivations and experiences that drive us to listen, create, and enjoy music. A self-proclaimed fangirl reflects on the misconceptions of being a fangirl and the beauty of what she brings to music. We investigate how music-centered movies, such as Almost Famous, can ignite a passion for music. And what lengths fans are willing to go to just to be in the presence of their favorite artists, like Taylor Swift. And we travel, whether it is to uncover hidden gems of music while exploring through travel or to savor the culinary delights of West Hollywood's most exclusive "Chain" restaurant. I hope this issue of Rock & Roamer surprises you, moves you, and gives you something to look forward to.
LAUREN ELIZABETH CAMPBELL Editor-in-Chief ROCK & ROAMER | 2
Story of My Life One Direction Motorcycle Colter Wall Sparks The Who Flowers Miley Cyrus
Rock & Roamer welcomes Julia Keenan as a Content Management Lead! Editorial Assistance From Lindsey Gross
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Table of Contents
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LAURA NICKEL Laura is preparing to release her debut album, Dusty Houses, this spring.
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CHIPPED NAIL POLISH Jill Sullivan, the creator of the ukulele-led indie rock band, discusses Bottom Feeder.
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SZA Read the Rock & Roamer review of SZA’s latest album SOS.
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CHAIN Rock & Roamer explores a one-of-a-kind restaurant pop-up that combines nostalgia and delicious food.
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FANGIRLS The history and importance of fangirls to the music industry.
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ALMOST FAMOUS How one movie helped drive a person’s love for music.
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MUSIC & TRAVEL Music can transport you to locations all around the globe.
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TAYLOR SWIFT The ticket-buying strategy used to obtain tickets to The Eras Tour.
26 LAURA NICKEL
CIARA LEAH Ciara Leah talks about her live studio album, Love Money.
Photo 1 courtesy by Warren May | Photo 2 by Allison Barr | Photo 3 by Naomi Holmes Cover Photo by Allison Barr | Outfit Design by Kelly Madden
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PLAYLIST
WINTER 2023
FOR THE LOVE OF SONGWRITING SONGS ABOUT WRITING SONGS It Might Be Time Tame Impala
Wrote a Song for Everyone Creedence Clearwater Revival
Highway Boys Zach Bryan
Borrowed Tune Neil Young
Queen of California John Mayer
Song About the Moon Paul Simon
Secrets OneRepublic
One Down Ben Folds
Dancing in the Dark Bruce Springsteen
I Write the Songs Barry Manilow
Line by Line Maren Morris
Shy Away Twenty One Pilots
Guitar and Pen The Who
Love Song Sara Bareilles
I Write the B-Sides Eels
There Only Was One Choice Harry Chapin
Leaving LA Father John Misty
Tower of Song Leonard Cohen
Your Song Elton John
Every Song's the Same Justin Currie
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MUSIC
WINTER 2023
DISCOVER NEW MUSIC ALBUMS RELEASING THIS WINTER
January 13 'Strays' Margo Price
January 27 'Gloria' Sam Smith
February 3 'Higher Than Heaven' Ellie Goulding
February 3 'Queen of Me' Shania Twain
The Nashville-based artist released an incredible collection of heartfelt rootsrock that showcases her talent as both a singer and a songwriter.
Smith's album features heartfelt, soulful pop and R&B tunes. Every song has been carefully crafted to communicate deep emotion.
Goulding's lyrics in this album are heartfelt and honest, delving into her emotions as she reflects on life, love, and relationships.
Her sixth original full-length album is set to become an absolute country classic from one of the all-time greats, capturing Twain's upbeat and playful spirit.
February 14 'Desire, I Want To Turn Into You' Caroline Polachek
February 10 'This Is Why' Paramore
February 17 'Trustfall' P!nk
The sixth studio album by the American rock band Paramore explores new sonic territories while staying true to their rock roots.
You can expect an eclectic mix of sounds, styles, and themes in P!nk's upcoming album release that demonstrate her artistry as a musician.
March 10 'Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Boulevard' Lana Del Rey
Polachek's innovative sound and lyrical exploration draws inspiration from modern pop with a classical sound. ROCK & ROAMER
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Rey's upcoming ninth studio album features a lead single of the same name. @ROCKANDROAMER
WINTER 2023
INTERVIEW
LAURA NICKEL: "I WANT MY MUSIC TO INSPIRE LISTENERS TO APPRECIATE THE MOMENTS THEY ARE LIVING IN EACH DAY." Interview By Lauren Elizabeth Campbell Editor-in-Chief
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Photos in this story by Naomi Holmes
Laura Nickel is a 22-year-old indie singersongwriter based in Nashville, TN who uses her music to delve into the nuances of emotion and mental health. Her heartfelt lyrics give her audience a window into her personal experiences and those of her peers. In October 2021, Laura released her first EP, Blue Skies, and is now preparing to release her debut album, Dusty Houses, this spring. With her music, Laura hopes to inspire her listeners to embrace self-reflection and cultivate loving kindness towards themselves and others. Laura shares about her latest single "That July" and about her music-making process: What inspired you to write "That July"? I initially wrote "That July" on a cold, snowy January afternoon during the pandemic lockdown. I grew restless due to cabin fever and desperately wished for summer to return quickly. I wanted to relive my favorite summer memories from when I was younger. Many of those moments spent with friends felt carefree, easy, and exciting. I wrote "That July," reminiscing those days, snippets of which are featured in this song. Partly why I am so happy to release "That July" in January is because it reflects the same time of year as when I first wrote it.
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INTERVIEW
WINTER 2023 How did you use storytelling techniques in your songwriting? "That July" consists of many little snapshots from various memories scattered throughout the verses and pre-choruses. I used hyperspecific details from each story to immerse the listener in the song. Some specific moments I drew from while writing this song included pranking a friend's boyfriend's car, ding dong ditching each other's houses, and scaring each other after telling ghost stories. One of my favorite songwriting techniques is called sense writing. I selected descriptive words that encourage the listener to experience the five senses while listening to the song. For example, instead of telling the listener, "It was a hot July day," I wrote my pre-chorus, "When the sun hits the car like it's been baking for six weeks, and the sizzle on your skin reminds us where
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we used to be..." It places you into the song on a more individualistic level. I wanted to immerse the listener into the story. What do you want listeners to take away from your music? I want my music to inspire listeners to appreciate the moments they are living in each day. It's fun to relive memories and replay the past, but reminiscing often ends on a melancholy note—when the storytelling ends. That is until you start a new story. I'd like to encourage my listeners to live as if each moment is part of their story. Every day contains its own snapshot of joy. Some aspects can be fun and exciting even though parts of each day can turn dreary. I'd love for my listeners to look for those snapshots and appreciate them daily. What was the most challenging part of producing your own music? Knowing when a song is complete! It is
incredibly easy to want to keep adding more and more layers to a song's production. Sometimes too, the longer I work on a piece, the more ideas I get. Although it can be difficult, I try to find a good stopping point and save some of my ideas for the next song I produce. What has been the most rewarding part of your musical journey? I find sharing my music with new people very rewarding. For a long time, I believed that recording and sharing my music was a dream that would stay simply a dream. Now, I have released an EP, and I am finalizing a new album, Dusty Houses, which is set to release in March. I am incredibly blessed to record and share what I create, and I want to express my gratitude to everyone who listens. Your support means everything. Thank you! Keep up with Laura Nickel on Instagram @L_Nickel and TikTok @WhosThatLaura.
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INTERVIEW
WINTER 2023
Chipped Nail Polish: "I LOVE WRITING SONGS THAT I CAN ENVISION PEOPLE DANCING TO." Interview By Lauren Elizabeth Campbell Editor-in-Chief
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Photos in this story by Allison Barr | Outfit Design by Kelly Madden
Chipped Nail Polish released their EP Bottom Feeder and the EP's lead single "Rut" in January. Jill Sullivan, the creator of the ukulele-led indie rock band, wrote the EP when she felt like she was sinking. But as she spent time at what she felt was the bottom, she started not to see it as such a bad thing, "Just as bottom-feeding fish are vital to an entire food chain, our pain is required to experience joy." She explains what inspired Chipped Nail Polish, her influences, and the new EP: What inspired the name Chipped Nail Polish? It was just a random thought I had one day, years before I even started making music. I was looking down at my awful DIY manicure and thought, "that would be a cool band name." It's silly, memorable, and ties in well with my lyrical content. We're all a little messy and imperfect, and that's okay! What musicians have had the most influence on your style or approach to music? Surf punk and pop punk bands like FIDLAR, Paramore, and Surf Curse ruled my teen years and instilled in me a deep love for the mosh pit. I love writing songs that I can envision people dancing to. The past few years, I've developed a deep admiration for artists like Snail Mail, Soccer Mommy, and Phoebe Bridgers, all of whom have inspired me to be much more vulnerable in my lyricism. What has been your most memorable moment since starting Chipped Nail Polish It feels impossible to choose one moment. I think what sticks out the most are the people in my community who have rallied around me and my creative endeavors. I've
had the honor of playing and working with some very talented individuals who I feel are entirely out of my league. I am beyond grateful to make art with my friends. What do you want people to take away from Bottom Feeder? This EP was my way of coming full circle, of making something good from the bad. I hope
people take away that it's okay to not be okay. We all get a little lost in life. Ultimately, we need to experience real pain in order to also experience true joy. Keep up with Chipped Nail Polish on Instagram and TikTok @ChippedNailsBand and stream Bottom Feeder wherever music is available.
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WINTER 2023
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INTERVIEW
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PLAYLIST
WINTER 2023
NEW MUSIC: WINTER 2023 YOU NEED TO KNOW THESE SONGS! In The Kitchen Reneé Rapp
Deny Me Grace Gardner
girlfriend hemlocke springs
Emerson Annie DiRusso
Pretty Face Maya Delilah
Drunk On A Flight Eloise
Ruin Your Night modernlove.
VICIOUS Thomas Day
Big Love Ahead Mon Rovîa
paper kenzie
Georgia Thomas Headon
Use Me Blake Rose
Body Better Maisie Peters
Kaden's Van Sun Room
Holly Anna Shoemaker
Fairytale Mac Wetha, Rachel Chinouriri
Lookaround Edgehill
call me whenu get home Lindsey Lomis
Out of Body Kaleah Lee
I Need Ya Somebody's Child
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PLAYLIST
WINTER 2023
BLACK HISTORY MONTH BLACK MUSIC MATTERS. Every Kind Of Way Something Beautiful Trombone Shorty, Lenny Kravitz H . E . R . Colors Black Pumas
Black Like Me Mickey Guyton
A Beautiful Noise Alicia Keys, Brandi Carlile
Chanel Frank Ocean
Special Lizzo
Shirt SZA
I Still Pray Mickey Guyton
Raspberry Beret Prince
Escapade Janet Jackson
Sir Duke Stevie Wonder
Color Is A Beautiful Thing Nina Simone
You're All I Need to Get By Aretha Franklin
Can I Kick It? A Tribe Called Quest
FREEDOM Jon Batiste
Son of a Preacher Man Aretha Franklin
Coming Home Leon Bridges
Lovely Day Bill Withers
Hello Sunshine Aretha Franklin
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MUSIC
WINTER 2023
Album Review: SZA'S 'SOS' By Julia Keenan Content Management Lead
It is no secret that SZA's newest album was predicted to make a massive splash in the industry's waters. The artist's drop SOS on December 9th has remained #1 on Billboard's Top 200 list for over two months straight. Safe to say, all SZA stans have our girl on REPEAT. She did not come to play. This is not the same woman we found, knew, and loved when she released CTRL. SOS, quite literally meaning 'Save our Ship,' essentially translates to SZA's cry for help, or in better terms, a signal to reclaim herself. "Kill Bill," cue mass applause, not only has the second track of the album climbed the charts while becoming a widespread phenomenon via TikTok, but it is also vibing with the vast majority. The melodic tunes start the track off strong, leading into some heavy but vibey lyrics. The theme is attributed to Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill Volume I and II, in which SZA describes the anticipation of killing her ex. She really dropped the mic on this one. Working our way down from the top of the album and to track three, "Seek and Destroy" is a song that never fails. This song speaks for itself. The second verse's lyrics resonated with so many loyal fans over the internet. Beginning with, "Now that I ruined everything, I cannot complain. Now that I ruined everything, I'm so fucking free," suggests how her past mistakes have influenced her present state of mind. The last two lines of the verse counteract her original statements with a more self-positive outlook. "Now that I've ruined everything keep it all for me. Now that I've ruined everything, space is all I need." Her healing stage begins after she takes accountability for her role in her own pain. And that's on GROWTH. Talk to meeeeee in ya love language. Ugh, "Love Language" has everybody hooked. From the subtle melodies to sampling her earlier track "Hit Different." This song is straight up a moment. More female artists must showcase their feminine perspective from start to finish. Her song is a reminder of how important recognition in a relationship is. Simple love
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proclamations reiterate how things often get lost in translation when she yearns to show affection toward another soul. Also, the violin solo at the end. Iconic. "Blind." First of all, if you have not had the chance to watch her perform this song live on SNL, move accordingly. This song makes me want to pull up to a speakeasy and riddle my life story. The track soft launches how relationships prevent us from moving forward. When we see what we want to see, our connections hinder how we show up in our relationships, separating us from our true reality. Hey, we've all done it. SZA stays reminding us to learn from our experiences and keep it moving. "Notice Me" is the ultimate situation-ship BOP. A little bad bitch energy there, SZA describes the feeling of not knowing where you stand with someone. Yearning for more recognition, just wondering how good it is, and enjoying the potential.
"Trying to grow without hating the process" an intro we will sing along to loudly and proudly. "Gone Girl" and "Conceited"—I intentionally meant to group these two tracks; they align with each other rhythmically and spiritually. When we reach "Far", this queen's unreal energy is just pouring out. Her songwriting style stays on point through its truthful and relatable verbiage. SZA showcased her growth from the start to finish of this album. A long-awaited masterpiece. Her fans are so die-hard for her music especially after growing with her over the past few years. This album has managed to volumize SZA's talents louder and stronger. She sets an example for other female artists to follow and imprints her success with ease, poise, and integrity. She is looking forward to what will come in her journey as an artist for the next five years. Quite literally, I'll wait for her music forever.
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Photo by Daniel Sannwald | Courtesy of RCA Records
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MUSIC
WINTER 2023
FOOD
WINTER 2023
WE HAD DINNER AT THE MOST EXCLUSIVE CHAIN RESTAURANT IN WEST HOLLYWOOD. By Lauren Elizabeth Campbell Editor-in-Chief
If you’re looking for a unique dining experience that combines nostalgia and delicious food, then Chain is for you. No, not a chain restaurant like Kentucky Fried Chicken or Applebee’s, but Chain—the restaurant. Chain offers a one-of-a-kind dining experience that recreates dishes from popular chain restaurants, such as Chili’s and Taco Bell, and serves them during pop-up drops to an exclusive group of people in a private house on a residential street in West Hollywood. The concept of Chain is based on nostalgia and people’s love for chain restaurants. The menu at Chain varies based on which restaurant they are taking on for the evening. When Julia Keenan, Rock & Roamer's Content Management Lead, and I dined at Chain, the pop-up recreated the Chili’s dining experience. On the menu are desert-dusted southwest eggrolls, extra tender chicken crispers, throwback fries, and, to top it off, the sunset presidente margarita. The dishes are prepared with high-quality ingredients, but they still capture the nostalgic flavor of classic chain restaurant dishes. BJ Novak, actor and writer known for his work on The Office and The Mindy Project, and Chef Tim Hollingsworth, Otium restaurateur and a competitor on Netflix's
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Lauren Elizabeth Campbell (left) and Julia Keenan at Chain | WeHo, CA The Final Table, founded the unique restaurant, and John Mayer, yes that John Mayer, developed the Chain logo. When you first arrive at Chain, you aren’t sure if you are at the right place. From the outside, it looks like any other West Hollywood residence. But when you walk in the front door, you are immediately transported into a Candy Land of various chain restaurant memorabilia from the 1970s to today. The Chain house offers a one-of-a-kind experience that will bring back memories of your favorite chain restaurants. Make your way through the house, and you arrive at the back patio—where the magic happens. All of the food and drinks are
served in the back. Along with your meal, pick up one of Chain's "tap is fine" bottled waters and browse through the gift shop, where you will find items like a "Save the Rainforest Cafe" or "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Lobster Blue Fish" t-shirt, Pappy Van Winkle's Chain Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky Sauce. And don't leave without taking a trip to the bathroom and diving into their bathtub ball pit. To experience Chain for yourself and obtain a reservation, follow the official Chain Instagram @EatatChain and turn on post notifications for drop announcements. This is a rare dining experience you don’t want to miss.
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WINTER 2023
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FOOD
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MUSIC
WINTER 2023
Who run the world?
FANGIRLS. By Lindsey Gross Staff Writer
for the artist, the industry, and the fan experience. This mobilization, though often unrecognized, is an unmatched industry experience—which brings us to one of my favorite pop-culture phenomena: The Fangirl to Entertainment Industry Pipeline. This phenomenon is the idea that the future leaders of the entertainment industry are the Beliebers and Directioners that you (maybe) used to make fun of in high school. And if you were someone who made fun of fangirls back in the day, know you weren't alone. You were actually one of many to do it. Believe it or not, fangirls being made fun of is rooted in history. Historically, society has molded teenage
girls into symbols of purity. They are to be docile, quiet, and obedient to their fathers in adolescence and to act the same to their husbands in womanhood. The mentality and actions of the fangirl are a subversion of this "purity" mold. Think back to things like the Salem Witch Trials or the Victorian Era. If you look closely, you will see that when young women veered from the "purity" mold, they were deemed hysterical. This is not due to the girls actually being hysterical but rather due to a loss of control. Men lost control over teenage girls' thoughts and feelings and thus deemed them mentally insane, shamed and banished them, or (in cases like the Salem Witch Trials) sentenced them to death. As Barbara Ehrenreich once
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Lindsey Gross at Harry's House | The Forum, Inglewood, CA
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Photo by Jennifer Mendez-Ruiz
What are a few adjectives that come to mind when thinking about a fangirl? Crazy? Unhealthy? Stupid? Now think to yourself if these adjectives have negative or positive connotations. I encourage you to reflect on this because, historically, the concept of a fangirl has many negative connotations. Fangirls are often called crazy, unhealthy, insane, frightening, and stupid when, in reality, a fangirl is simply an extreme fan of an artist or band. Not to be confused with the casual fan, a fangirl takes on her enjoyment of an artist as part of her personal identity. She spends much of her free time and disposable income supporting her favorite artist by attending concerts, purchasing merchandise, and creating bonds with others who share those interests. You can expect her social media to be dedicated to her favorite in the form of a "fan account" or, at the very least, be a platform to declare her support for her favorite to all who will listen. Spending habits and free time well spent are not the only compelling traits that can be attributed to a fangirl. These intelligent young women are also tastemakers within the industry they support. A fangirl knows who and what will become popular before you do, guaranteed. And this eye for popularity is nothing new. Artists like The Beatles and Elvis Presley initially rose to fame because of the power and influence of fangirls. And the fangirl doesn't stop there. Not only will she know about the next generation defining artists first, but she will also mobilize to support her new favorite. She will take the lead on audience acquisition (creating and posting fan cams in popular forums and comments sections), community management (organizing a pit line at a concert when a venue fails to do so), and digital marketing (compiling and posting highlights from concerts and interviews that will gain traction with more casual audiences). Plus, she does this all for free. The fangirl is fueled purely by a passion
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WINTER 2023 wrote for the Chicago Tribune, "To abandon control—to scream, faint, dash about in mobs—was in form, if not in conscious intent, to protest the rigid double standard of female teen culture." Though lighthearted, even the names "Beatlemania," "Bieber Fever," or "One Direction Infection" all hold the connotation that something is wrong with teenage girls. They are sick, and they are acting outside of their mold. Mania, Fever, and Infection are all modern-day plays on this centuries-old idea of teenage girl hysteria. Again, fangirls are tastemakers; but they have not historically been shown respect for platforming the future favorite bands of the world. Elvis and The Beatles were initially written off as "bad" or "only for women" but are now revered as some of the most successful and influential artists of all time— once men started liking them too. In an article for the New Statesman in 1946, Paul Johnson said about Beatlemania, "those who flock round The Beatles, who scream themselves into hysteria, whose vacant faces flicker over the TV screen, are the least fortunate of their generation, the dull, the idle, the failures." This begs the question: why are artists considered bad when their fanbases are primarily young women but
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respected once men decide they like those same artists too? I believe this line between "cool" and "uncool" lies in societal power. And men hold the power. Within the music community, fangirls are expected to not truly understand music. It's believed that they don't know about the technical aspects of music, an artist's lyricism, or have the ability to analyze and identify the true meaning of a song. Rather, fangirls are further dismissed as juvenile beings obsessed with the fairytale tropes sung about in pop music. This idea, however, does not translate for male fans of classical, metal, punk, or hip-hop genres. Instead, their fandoms give them an air of intellect and encourage them to bolster their own selfimage. It's a double standard. Because men hold the societal power, they have been centered in culture. So, in turn, their interests have been centered too. To quote Matisse DuPont, "Masculine fandoms are figured to be historical and universal, whereas feminine fandoms are seen as nothing more than a fad." Anything teen girls like becomes vapid, trendy, over-hyped, cringe, sappy, and embarrassing. Think for a minute about a sports fan and a fangirl. What's the difference between a season ticket holder to the Lakers and
someone who attended a handful of the Harry Styles: Love on Tour shows at The Forum? One is celebrated, and the other is belittled. This belittlement has measurable adverse effects. As the new generation is entering the workforce, it is found that there is a confidence gap between young men and women. Women are finding it difficult to recognize the validity in their own skills learned as a fangirl (again—community management, market analysis, audience acquisition). How can we expect fangirls to recognize the value in their skills when they have been told over and over again that their motivation for learning these skills is something to be ashamed of? So, I encourage you all to recognize and understand the importance of fangirls in the music industry (and of young women in wider society). Even if fangirls don't become industry leaders, these young women still deserve the space to explore and discover their senses of selves through the artists and bands they support, just like boys get to do. It's time we stop demeaning girls for experiencing joy out loud and instead embrace and celebrate fangirls for all the effort and joy they bring to society.
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MUSIC
WINTER 2023
HOW THE MOVIE 'ALMOST FAMOUS' DROVE MY LOVE FOR MUSIC By Sebastian Potter Staff Writer
Almost Famous is a classic musical drama written and directed by Cameron Crowe and starring Patrick Fugit and Kate Hudson. Through its inspiring portrayal of the music industry of the time, Almost Famous significantly impacted my own appreciation for music. I appreciated the brilliant soundtrack and the music of the era. The movie showed me what it was like to live and breathe music with a passion. Seeing the characters in the film fall in love with music conveys a powerful message that resonates—music is extraordinary and should be enjoyed. This film inspired me and made me realize that music could bring out the best in us and have a powerful effect on our lives. The movie follows the journey of a teen journalist named William Miller, based on a young Crowe, who has been given a chance to write a story for Rolling Stone about an up-and-coming rock band, Stillwater. Through watching William's interactions with the band members and learning more about their music, I began to appreciate music's impact on people's lives. The movie captures the passion, creativity, and emotion of being involved in the music industry, which resonated with me and made me more interested in learning more about different types of music. I have been a music fan since I was a kid, but it wasn't until I watched the movie this past year that my love for music took off. As he follows the rock band Stillwater around on their tour, William is exposed to the wild and exciting world of the rock n' roll music scene. This movie has opened my eyes to all the different sounds, stories, and emotions that come with music. The first thing that captured my attention in Almost Famous was the incredible soundtrack. From Led Zeppelin to Elton John to David Bowie, this movie features some of the best music from the past and
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Photos in this story courtesy of Columbia Pictures present. Listening to these incredible songs gave me a newfound appreciation for the artistry and craftsmanship of musicians. It made me realize how talented musicians are and how much thought and creativity can go into creating a song that people can appreciate and connect to. Another element that I found inspiring about Almost Famous were the characters. William's journey is one of self-discovery and learning how to appreciate life, music, and everything in between. His willingness to work hard and never give up on his dreams inspires me to pursue my musical ambitions. His courage and passion also open my perspective on what music can mean to someone.
Finally, I love being part of a music community, as depicted in Almost Famous. Music can bring people together as no other art form can. This experience of sharing a passion with others and being able to express yourself through music is something that I cherish. Overall, watching Almost Famous has been transformative for me. It has made me aware of the powerful impact of music on individuals and cultures. It has given me a newfound respect for both the craft and artistry of musicians and encouraged me to become more involved in the music scene. I found my true calling as a passionate music fan through this movie.
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MUSIC
WINTER 2023 If you like Almost Famous, you will also enjoy watching... That Thing You Do! (1996) Written and directed by Tom Hanks, the heartwarming story follows a band of four young men, known as The Wonders, who form a pop band in the summer of 1964 and find success with their hit song "That Thing You Do!" The film charts the band's meteoric rise to fame, their subsequent breakup, and the romantic relationships between the band members. School of Rock (2003) The 2003 comedy film directed by Richard Linklater stars Jack Black as Dewey Finn, a slacker and wannabe rock star who poses as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. After discovering the students' musical talents, he forms a band of fifthgraders to win a local "Battle of the Bands" competition. Walk the Line (2005) The film stars Joaquin Phoenix and Reese
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Witherspoon as the singers Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, respectively. It follows the young Cash's early life, his romance with Carter, and his ascent to the country music scene, as based on his autobiographies. The film also stars Ginnifer Goodwin, Robert Patrick, Dallas Roberts, and Dan John Miller as musicians who worked with Cash. The film won the Academy Award for Best Actress (Witherspoon) and was nominated for two other Academy Awards, including Best Actor (Phoenix). A Star is Born (franchise) A Star Is Born franchise is a series of romantic musical films about the rise and fall of a star. The original 1937 film starred Janet Gaynor and Fredric March, and was directed by William A. Wellman. It was remade in 1954 with Judy Garland and James Mason, and again in 1976 with Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson. The most recent adaptation, released in 2018, stars Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. All of the films
focus on the story of a young aspiring artist who falls in love with an older mentor and struggle to make it in show business. Yesterday (2019) This 2019 romantic comedy film directed by Danny Boyle and written by Richard Curtis, based on a story by Jack Barth. The film stars Himesh Patel as struggling musician Jack Malik, who, after an accident erases everyone's memory of The Beatles, becomes famous by performing their songs. The film also stars Lily James as Jack's childhood best friend and manager, Kate McKinnon as a record label executive, and Ed Sheeran as himself. Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) The 2018 biographical drama film about the British rock band Queen, focusing on lead singer Freddie Mercury's life and leading up to the band's legendary performance at Live Aid in 1985. The film stars Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury, and became the highestgrossing musical biographical film of all time.
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WINTER 2023
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MUSIC
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PLAYLIST
WINTER 2023
SONGS THAT MAKE ME THINK OF
PENNY LANE Going to California Led Zeppelin
Sedona Houndmouth
Rollercoaster Bleachers
Dreams Fleetwood Mac
Lola The Kinks
Oh Caroline The 1975
Rebel Rebel David Bowie
Voodoo Child Jimi Hendrix
Day Tripper The Beatles
Carmen Lana Del Rey
Another Kind of Green John Mayer
L.A. Woman The Doors
Wild Thing The Troggs
Penny Lane The Beatles
Pretty Girl Clairo
Killer Queen Queen
America Simon & Garfunkel
Canyon Moon Harry Styles
Life by the Drop Stevie Ray Vaughan
Tiny Dancer Elton John
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PLAYLIST
WINTER 2023
TRAVEL THROUGH MUSIC WHERE WILL THESE SONGS LEAD YOU? Kyoto Phoebe Bridgers
Galway Girl Ed Sheeran
Alaska Maggie Rogers
Lost in Japan Shawn Mendes
Saigon Luke Hemmings
San Francisco Scott McKenzie
San Francisco THE DRIVER ERA
Paris The 1975
Malibu Miley Cyrus
Empire State Of Mind JAY-Z, Alicia Keys
Africa TOTO
Beverly Hills Weezer
Sweet Home Alabama Lynyrd Skynyrd
Viva Las Vegas Elvis Presley
Vienna Billy Joel
Paris Taylor Swift
Carolina Harry Styles
Chicago Louis Tomlinson
Budapest George Ezra
San Francisco Niall Horan
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MUSIC
WINTER 2023
Travel & Music:
NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE FROM, OR WHERE YOU ARE HEADING, MUSIC CAN HELP YOU MAKE THE JOURNEY. By Sarah Williams Staff Writer
Travel and music have long been intertwined—hitting the open road while listening to a favorite album can provide a soundtrack to some of our fondest memories. From the traditional folk songs about faraway journeys to the vibrant street music of a bustling city, music has long been a powerful source of inspiration for travelers. But what happens when you find yourself inspired by this music exploration? Recent studies have shown music is an effective motivator when deciding where to travel. A study by the University of Melbourne found that people who listened to travel-related songs named specific destinations they wanted to visit, with many saying they would plan a trip based on the songs they heard. As the Beachwood Cafe in Los Angeles can attest, after Harry Styles mentioned the eatery in his song "Falling," the cafe is filled daily with fans who have traveled wishing to experience the Beachwood Canyon restaurant themselves. Music can also be a great way to bond with locals. Music can bring people together, whether it's a shared appreciation of an artist or a genre of music. For those looking to make meaningful connections on their travels, music can play a vital role in helping to bridge cultural and language barriers. From crossing continents to exploring city streets, music can open up a new world of possibilities and give you an adventure you never expected. The power of music to motivate us can be attributed to how it stimulates our emotions. Music makes us feel nostalgic for lost times and can evoke strong memories of people
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and places. It's no wonder a catchy tune can inspire wanderlust. But how can we use music to help plan our next getaway? Create a travel playlist based on a destination you wish to visit. Not only does this make for an excellent soundtrack for your adventure, but it can also provide valuable insights into a place's culture and places to visit within a city. But through music, you can also travel far and wide without ever leaving home, and music can offer its listeners a unique window into the world. So next time you're stuck at home dreaming of distant shores put on a travel-inspired playlist and see what new horizons it brings.
Listening to the haunting sounds of jazz can transport you to New Orleans's streets, like sitting in the famed Spotted Cat. Or take a journey through Bangkok, where the sights and sounds of Thai pop surrounds you. Each region has its own unique style of music, which can help you create a new experience of travel by just turning on your speaker. It's no surprise that music significantly influences many people's travel plans. Whether you're looking for an adventurefilled getaway or a more relaxed experience, there is something for everyone to enjoy. So, if you want to experience something truly unique, consider the possibilities of travel inspired by music.
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PLAYLIST
WINTER 2023
LONELY FEBRUARY NO VALENTINE THIS VALENTINE'S DAY Don't Swerve Annie DiRusso
Why Shawn Mendes
Something Great One Direction
ceilings Lizzy McAlpine
Why Won't You Love Me 5 Seconds of Summer
Meet Me in the Hallway Harry Styles
CHICKEN TENDIES Clinton Kane
I Can't Make You Love Me Bonnie Raitt
On My Own Niall Horan
Why I Broke Up With You Madeline The Person
One And Only Adele
Not In That Way Sam Smith
Love On The Brain Rihanna
Mr Loverman Ricky Montgomery
Maybe Lewis Capaldi
Heather Conan Gray
Give Me Love Ed Sheeran
fOoL fOr YoU ZAYN
You, Dear Eloise
Dancing On My Own Calum Scott
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MUSIC
WINTER 2023
You're On Your Own, Kid:
THE WILD RIDE PURCHASING TAYLOR SWIFT CONCERT TICKETS By Maria Garcia Staff Writer
As a die-hard Taylor Swift fan, I was beyond excited when she announced The Eras Tour. I immediately started planning my outfit and, of course, my ticket-buying strategy. Little did I know, I was in for a wild ride. I signed up for a presale code and was relieved when Ticketmaster sent me a code for the first night of SoFi Stadium. Three of my friends also applied, and only one of them got a code as well. Because they limited who got a presale code, we were not too worried about securing seats for all of us. The day tickets went on sale. I was up bright and early, ready to buy my tickets. I had my credit card in hand and my fingers crossed. I was ready. I logged onto my Ticketmaster account, and at 10:00 a.m., the site kept crashing. I thought it was me. I knew not to refresh, but as I sat there, not being able to do anything, I panicked. The same thing was happening to my friend, who was also trying to secure tickets. I then saw on Twitter that no tickets had been sold, and the West Coast sale had been moved to the evening. That evening, when I logged onto the Ticketmaster, I was immediately met with a long wait time. I was stuck in a virtual line with thousands of other fans, all trying to buy tickets. I sat in front of my computer for four hours before I was finally let into the room to purchase tickets. I got them! And it was not too much longer before all the tickets were completely gone. Ticketmaster had to cancel the general sale. However, tickets started popping up on
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Photos courtesy of Universal Music Group I Photos by Beth Garrabrant resale sites for thousands of dollars, even for nosebleeds. While I was excited to have tickets to the concert, I also knew Ticketmaster's way of selling tickets needs to be updated. There must be a better way to get tickets in the hands of fans, not scalpers.
Buying Taylor Swift concert tickets was long and difficult, but it was worth it in the end. I was so happy to finally have tickets to the show, and I can't wait to see her perform live!
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INTERVIEW
WINTER 2023
Ciara Leah
Releases Live Album 'Love Money' Interview By Lauren Elizabeth Campbell Editor-in-Chief
Ciara Leah is a multi-faceted artist from Toronto, blending soulful vocals, conscious lyrics and classical, jazz and gospel harmonies with classic funk, R&B, and hip hop rhythms. Her unique sound captivates audiences. The singer-songwriter discusses her five track live studio album Love Money: How did you first become interested in music, and what influences you as an artist? As far back as I can remember, I've been interested in sound and how it influences people. When I was a very young child, my mother nicknamed me after this cartoon character from the '50s who didn’t speak but would mimic the everyday sounds he would hear around him—that was pretty much me. I've always enjoyed playing. The sound of the piano especially resonates with me because my mother played classical music exclusively and continuously around the house, and even in the car, when I was growing up. Especially the piano greats like Chopin, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, Debussy, Grieg—the really colorful, dramatic stuff. That's the music that shaped me the most. The only pop music she would listen to was pretty much the Beatles, the Beach Boys, the Beegees, and Whitney Houston. My whole family loves music. My dad exposed me to choral music at church every Sunday, put me in the choir, and got me interested in jazz music, particularly big band, bebop, and cool jazz. My nine siblings exposed me to a lot musically: my eldest sister is an opera singer and musical theater performer, another sister was heavy into the punk scene, my eldest brother played the trumpet in the military and loves experimental jazz, a handful of my siblings are into folk, a couple brothers introduced me to classic rock, '80s pop, '90s grunge, and alt-rock. As a result, I’ve always formed the strongest bonds with music heads, and drew inspiration from their personal musical influences.
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Photos in this story by Warren May I've also done a ton of musical exploration on my own. Having moved to the city in my late teens, I've met people from all cultural backgrounds and walks of life, so I've fallen in love with pretty much every musical genre, along with the people who listen to it. When it comes to writing, the music just comes, and it always has. I've been hearing unique melodies in my head for as long as I know. As an artist, I'm most inspired by the people I meet, the connections I make, and the lessons I learn about myself and about humanity. I write music for everyone.
What inspired you to specifically release a live studio album? I love musical instruments, and I strongly connect with people who really love to play, as well. It's a divine connection. It’s sort of like asking a mother what inspired her to have children; she will tell you that they were always there and that she just birthed them. As a musician, I've always known about the musical babies that would come through me. Music is a language and a connector, and I believe that musicians do some of the most important work in this world. I've always
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INTERVIEW
WINTER 2023 aspired to do that work, and the recording process is integral to that mission. Can you tell us about your creative process for writing and recording new music? I dream a lot about my music. Seriously. I wake up in the mornings with a song in my head, and sometimes it will just slip away back into the soup of my subconscious unless I'm conscious enough to catch it. I keep forgetting that I'm a songwriter and assume that the songs that I hear in my dreams are songs that already exist, so when I am just conscious enough to realize I have dreamed an original song but not conscious enough to lose the connection to the dream state, I will hum the melody and any specific production elements I hear into my phone, half-awake. Next, I go over to the piano and just play. I'm always hearing some kind of music in my head. I can turn it on and off like a tap. When I want to write, I can just record melody ideas into my phone and/or sit down at the piano and play around until something feels good or interesting. Sometimes I'll hear a sound in the room, on the street, a rhythm or short melody, and it will inspire something. My son and I write songs on the subway all of the time, for example. I always pay attention to interesting musical movements when I'm listening to other musicians or watching movies and take inspiration, but don't ever ask me to recall the plot of any movie I've seen! As for lyrics, I mumble words and work out what they are later, like some kind of message I'm decoding. There's always a message in there. I've been having a lot of fun with the recording process, especially since I learned the basics of engineering. I love to edit, move pieces around, and explore different feels, rhythms, textures, and layers. And because of my experience with classical and choral music, vocal harmonies come really easily to me, so I love building vocal stacks. I started engineering with Chris Rouse, and the two of us were like kids in a candy shop, working together, starting with the stems I originally recorded with Thomas McKay. I lost track of how many hours Chris and I spent in the studio and if we didn't have a deadline, we'd still be adding layers and playing around with the songs. We had more ideas than we had time! Who are some of your biggest musical influences? There are honestly way too many to name. I take bits and pieces from
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everywhere, But here are a few: Stevie Wonder inspires me because of his timeless songwriting and production, his ability to play almost any instrument, and he has a voice that can move people to their feet and also move them to tears. I also connect deeply with Donny Hathaway's voice, playing, and musical arrangements. Prince is a genius, so obviously he's a huge influence on almost anyone in the industry who is serious about their craft. The same goes for Michael Jackson. Quincy Jones is legendary. James Brown and Fela Kuti win for the rhythm, feel, and funk factor. Classical music is my first love: Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Debussy, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and Vivaldi. Some of my favorite jazz musicians: Thelonius Monk, Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, Ahmad Jamal, Roy Ayers, Don Blackman, and Brandon Coleman. Danny Elfman, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, John Williams, and Vince Guaraldi are on the list, as well. Rock bands/artists: Nirvana, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, essentially the "27 club," which inspired one of the tracks on the album... The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd. Other bands: Parliament Funkadelic, Sly and the Family Stone, Earth, Wind, and Fire, and the Gap Band. I am deeply moved by women who can play and sing their butts off, like Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone, Joni Mitchell, Rachelle Ferrell, Patrice Rushen, H.E.R., Yukimi Nagano (Little Dragon), Nai Palm (Hiatus Kaiyote), to name a handful. A few more of my favorite vocalists: Chaka Khan, Luther Vandross, Marvin Gaye, Anita Baker, and Lalah Hathaway. I also love world music: Bob Marley, Antonio Carlos Joabim, and Sergio Mendes. Canadian artists (and some of my friends!) I look up to: Chris Rouse, Glenn Lewis, Divine Brown, Carlos Morgan, Deborah Cox, and Oscar Peterson, are just a few. U.K. Soul: Omar Lyefook, Lewis Taylor, Brand New Heavies. And I couldn’t not mention J Dilla (and the Soulquarians) and Jam and Lewis as a producer. Last but not least, Robert Glasper is one of my favorite artists, and people I have met, because of his ability to cross genres, his work ethic, and appreciation of the culture; his piano playing resonates in a part of my soul that transcends space and time. Can you talk about FACTOR and your involvement with them? The Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recording (FACTOR) is a public/private
partnership designed to support Canadian artists in reaching a broader audience to help strengthen and develop the Canadian music industry. FACTOR, the Government of Canada, and Canada’s private radio broadcasters contributed financially to the recording and marketing of the Love Money album. Through FACTOR's competitive Juried Sound Recording program, I created an application that was assessed by an independent panel of Canadian industry professionals, and my project was selected out of a pool of thousands of other Canadian artists to receive a grant to support the project. What do you want people to take away from Love Money? Recently, someone told me that listening to the album feels like a "warm hug." More than anything, I want my audience to feel good when they’re listening to my music; music is meant to heal. On a deeper level, the album is the story of a single mother learning hard and transformative lessons to try to make a life for herself and her children. I wrote the album as a single mom, looking for light in the darkness. That’s actually my namesake: Ciara Leah literally means "dark light" in Gaelic. I drew inspiration from the story of "Roxanne" by the Police; navigating the music industry, especially as a woman, there are so many opportunities to sell your soul. I want to inspire other female musicians and working mothers to never lose themselves but to have faith and believe in the power of love over everything. Keep up with Ciara Leah on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube @CiaraLeahMusic and Twitter @KeeyarahMusiq and stream Love Money wherever music is available.
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Winter 2023 Issue 8
ROCK & ROAMER
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LAURA LAUR A NI CKEL
Read on Page 6