V O L 2 , I S S U E 3 j U L y 2 0 1 1 m a g a z i n e

Kristin ChenowethTalks candidly about her faith and her future

Birthday issue!

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All Time low Doing some Dirty Work

JusTin nozukAAround the musical world

mAnchesTer orchesTrAPushing boundaries

chrisTinA Grimmie’s Rise to the top

kATe VoeGeleMusic like blue jeans

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PHOTOGRAPHY WINDLE

WWW.MIKEWINDLE.COM | LOS ANGELES 213.915.6165 | CHICAGO 312.613.1131

AVAILABLENOW

FALLING HIGHER

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E O

F D

ISM

AY

t a t e m u s i c g r o u p . c o m

The creature Satan has declared War on Almighty God. We are the prize. The evil one honors no convention; he wants you in Hell. Our Sovereign Father has provided for our free will and will not break integrity. Who is making decisions? Who is our defender?

Men and women can endure any amount of suffering so long as they know the why to their existence.

—Nietzsche

No trouble comes to us without Divine permission. —Charles Haddon Spurgeon

...we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called in accordance with his purpose...

—The Apostle

Loved ones ... Jesus is the only Light. He is the Truth, the guardian of our souls, and the way home. We are like sparkling flowers, a short time here, as if in a flame, and we’ll all be home in time for dinner.

—Simon

ava i l a b l e n o w fromtat e p u b l i s h i n g . c o m

There has been an assault on conservative based values by the

liberal left. Common Sense Conservatism is the antidote for all

that troubles our great nation. What is it in a person’s life that sets

forth a conservative outlook? Here William Edward Skokos allows

us a peak into his experiences for the key to that conservatism.

A v A i l A b l e n o w f r o m

t A t e p u b l i s h i n g . c o m

4 Reviews

9 Thirty-Nine Thoughts

10 For King & Country

12 Mike Ziemer

13 J u s T i N N o Z u K a

16 alexandra amor

18 The Prophet’s son

20 Jason Reeves

21 K R i s T i N C h e N o w e T h

25 Fun

28 a l l T i M e l o w

30 s u M M e R F e s T i va l s

34 Dev

36 C h R i s T i N a G R i M M i e

38 oh snap!

40 M a N C h e s T e R o R C h e s T R a

42 K aT e vo e G e l e

44 Caitlin Crosby

46 hyperlite

48 Brendan James

50 Changing Pace

Design / Production:

Leah LeFlore

Shawn Collins

Advertising / Marketing:

Chris Rutherford

Writing / Editing:

Jonathan Robles

John Mouser | mousertime.blogspot.com

Amanda Morad

Laura Ladymon

Brittany Pickering

Shayla Eaton

Alexa Spieler

Weston Shepherd

13 30

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h a P P y B i RT h Day

variance

“Thanks to all the guys at Variance! The content in your magazine rocks. Great new find!”

Stephen D., Chicago, IL

“We’ve been following since the beginning and we’re impressed! Looking forward to

more and more in the future!”Annie P., Bentonville, AR

“The magazine always looks great! Love the pics from live shows!”

Katie A., Oceanside, CA

“Thank you for representing Austin so well in your SXSW issue...such original stuff!”

Jordan W., San Marcos, TX

“Stumbled across your site with the Goo Goo Dolls issue and never regretted bookmarking.

Thanks for spotlighting great people.”Chad R., Jacksonville, FL

“I’ve recommended Variance to all my friends. I always look forward to your new releases.”

Justin C., Denver, CO

“I discovered my favorite band, The Civil Wars, through Variance. I read every issue now so I don’t miss anything!”

Allie G., Columbia, MD

“The free downloads rock! Thanks for introducing me to some great music and bands!”

Sasha R., Tacoma, WA

“Faves so far: Yellowcard, VersaEmerge, Vinyl Pinups. I just love your magazine really!”

Gaby L., Milwaukee, WI

“Great magazine! Good luck in everything you guys do!”Derrick T., New Orleans, LA

“We wish you a great first birthday, Variance! From everyone in the band!” —Goo Goo Dolls

“From your friends at TwitPic, Happy Birthday!” —TwiTPiC“Happy Birthday, Variance!” —yellowCaRD

“This is our favorite magazine! Happy Birthday, Variance! Much love, VP!” —The viNyl PiNuPs

“Thank you guys for bringing attention to Wakey! Wakey! Wish you all the best!” —waKey! waKey!

“We wish you a very Happy Birthday, Variance! Many more to come!” —Joy & JP, The Civil waRs

“Have a stellar birthday, you guys! Thanks for being a friend!” —a RoCKeT To The MooN

B o o k s

A V i s i t f r o m t h e G o o n s q u A dby Jennifer Egan

Meet Sasha, a New York kleptomaniac with an affinity for peo-

ple’s personal items and mementos. Her most cherished stolen

item is a child’s lost scarf, which she witnessed falling from the

child’s neck but failed to return. Sasha’s former boss, Bennie, is

neurotic in his own right. He’s haunted by his crumbling career

as a record label executive and his recent divorce. Take a trip

back to the eighties and meet Bennie’s band of misfit punk-

rocker friends who get into infinitely more than their share of

trouble.

In A Visit from the Goon Squad, Jennifer Egan has assembled

a diverse collection of characters that include everything from

a college student on safari with her much older boyfriend to a

nine-year-old girl with a penchant for pink to a corrupt foreign

statesman to an out-of-work writer fresh out of prison for as-

saulting a famous melodramatic actress. Egan’s novel instantly

captures the reader with a strange, interesting look into the

thoughts and feelings of infinitely complex people who have

lived highly extraordinary lives that intertwine in the strangest

of ways.

By incorporating nontraditional writing styles, such as ever-

changing points of view, time shifts, an integrated magazine

article complete with footnotes by one of the characters, and

even a PowerPoint slideshow, Egan creates a fresh take on the

conventional novel and throws it in the face of an attention-

deficit, technology-addicted world. Egan’s novel is a rock

album of words, story songs of highs and lows that invoke

deep-seated, forgotten feelings of past and future failures and

triumphs. It’s full of the strange sounds of life that are simulta-

neously amazingly normal and painfully extraordinary.

t h e e V e n i n G W o l V e sA Tale of Love, Murder, and WWII Spies

by Kate Carter Gooch

With a shell-shocked father, an over-the-top mother, and a

misfit band of sisters, Alcina Whitaker’s life is hectic enough.

When her best friend, Lorena Aylward, is found dead in

Monk’s Lane, a place she would have never gone willingly, it

seems like her world is spiraling even more out of control.

A missing pharmacist; a motley crew of various other towns-

people; the reappearance of Lorena’s haughty brother, Saxe;

and random air raids by the Germans don’t help the situation.

Is there another reason for her father’s erratic behavior? Where

does he go when he disappears? Exactly how many people were

involved in Lorena’s murder, and who are they? What is the

real reason Saxe Aylward has returned to town? Alcina must

figure out who she can trust while she tries to piece together

the events leading up to her friend’s death and what exactly is

going on in her once-quiet little town.

Kate Carter Gooch is off to an explosive start with her first

novel, The Evening Wolves: A Tale of Love, Murder, and WWII

Spies. The story captures your attention from the first page and

continues to hold it as the intrigue builds and reaches a conclu-

sion that keeps you wanting more and wondering what will

happen to the characters next. Gooch’s characters are funny

and interesting without being completely unbelievable. She has

managed to avoid so many mistakes made by first-time authors

and create a story that readers of all ages will enjoy. This is defi-

nitely a must-read for lovers of mystery and WWII novels.

6

m u s i c

E n d E d I t A l lDownpor

“Running from my past / I’m so afraid of the shadows I’ve cast / Tired of breathing / Can’t catch my breath”

Fans of Christian rock, rejoice! If you like the hard hitting

sounds you hear at Skillet, Kutless, or Thousand Foot Krutch

concerts, you’ve just found your new favorite band in Down-

Por. This four member band recently released its debut album,

Ended It All, and with the gritty sound and thoughtful lyrics it’s

definitely worth a listen.

Vocally, lead singer Darrin Keith channels some of the wonder-

ful rockiness made popular by the greats of grunge while em-

ploying the emotional range you hear from singers like Trevor

McNevan of Thousand Foot Krutch. This combination melds

well with guitar that is very reminiscent of Collide-era Skillet.

As musicians who live to serve God with the talents they are

blessed with, DownPor creates music that is relatable through

lyrics based on personal experiences that are sure to touch the

listener’s heart. Don’t miss out on a chance to purchase Ended

It All.

t h E W h o l E W o r l d I s A s l E E pHours Before Morning

“We turned our eyes / I heard your words so bold and pretty / We won’t look back / No we won’t ever think of giving in”

The whole world may be asleep, but it’s about to wake up

when it hears Hours Before Morning. With a genuinely unique

sound rife with close and haunting harmonies, it’s sure to make

its way onto your top plays on iTunes.

The quiet strength in this music is genius. The music ebbs and

flows like an ocean and displays the same amount of depth. For

the perfect example of this, check out “Hold On.” The vocals

remind one of your favorite 70s rock and the instruments are

subtle in all the right places and hard-hitting at just the right

times.

Truly, the instruments give this album an ethereal quality.

You’ll enjoy every moment when listening to The Whole World

is Asleep. It’s a great collaboration of four friends making the

music they love, and the passion they have for their songs

shines through. Don’t miss the chance to purchase this album!

7

m u s i c

G r a v i t y h a p p e n s Kate Voegele

I’d rather make sandcastles / than these wide world de-cisions / I knew I knew it was all catching up to me yeah / and I don’t have a plan at all / but I got this six string religion / and I do I do believe a song can heal me”

Rockin’ it since 2002 and in the spotlight since Tom

discovered her on MySpace in 2004, Kate Voegele has only

made her albums fuller and more complex over the course of

her career. Kate’s lyrics possess an intelligence and honesty

that other artists are often lacking. Her newest album, Gravity

Happens, is no different. A mix of the cheerful pop music that

has made her popular and twangy riffs reminiscent of her more

folksy-sounding beginnings, it definitely shows how she has

grown as an artist and songwriter.

“Sunshine in My Sky” is a summertime anthem that showcases

Kate’s love of the outdoors and the sky, which is a common

theme in her songs (“Manhattan from the Sky” from A Fine

Mess, for instance).

“Maybe I should pack my bags and fly to Costa Rica / put a flower in my hair a dancing senorita / oh / put a little sunshine in my sky / oh / what a lovely day to be alive / these eyes / are longing to see a sign of summer / leave my cares in the breeze / oh put a little sunshine in my sky.”

“Heart in Chains” shows a darker side of Kate. In the song, she

talks about a recent breakup in an on-again, off-again addictive

romance.

“Your attention is my addiction / a rollercoaster of highs and lows / I need your venom it’s been in my system / since the second we said hello.”

The song starts out somewhat haunting and dark and evolves

into the driving, in your face, honest reprimand that Kate has

become known for. The last lines are especially poignant:

“Don’t leave me helpless / don’t leave me lost / don’t leave me waiting / you’re all I’ve got.”

The title track is an eerie ballad with an orchestral background

that seems to echo Kate’s musical journey and outlook on life:

“I have gathered / that the moments that shaped me / were the ones that have tested my faith / and all that matters / is the cour-age they gave me / I fell down and my fears were erased.”

Once again, Kate has produced a hit album with a mix of both

heart and fun. There’s not a bad song on the album, and it’s

difficult to tell which tracks will be played over and over on the

radio—they’re all just that good.

“What am I to do? / I’ve broken my parachute / so if gravity hap-pens / then I’ll fasten wings to my shoes.”

read more abou t Ka te voege le on page 42

featured

8

m u s i c

n o t a l o n eAaron Perez

“Lift up your eyes / Can you see the glory? / Hear the cries / All of creation’s longing / For the rise of this kingdom that’s to come”

Aaron Perez has that unique gift of taking even the simplest

of notes or melodies and making them speak straight to the

listener’s heart. With his debut album, Not Alone, Aaron pairs

beautiful vocals and heartfelt lyrics together and layers in musi-

cal styling that reminds one of Switchfoot.

The piano used in the intro of “Reign Forever” ensures the

song as a favorite. It reminds one of songs that never fail to

move the listener, like “I Can Only Imagine.” The lyrics are

equally moving in a personal, convicting way. The words speak

to everyone in every station of life.

If you’re looking for a dynamic and passionate blend of alterna-

tive and contemporary praise and worship, Aaron Perez’s Not

Alone is the album for you. Download it on iTunes today!

J u a r e zReid Perry

“I don’t like this situation / It’s scaring me to death / You make me feel like a book with a bad ending / A plot that really has no point at all”

Download Juarez by Reid Perry, and you’re definitely in for a

good time. Reid is offbeat, eclectic, and tons of fun. He’s been

playing guitar since age seven, released an album two years ago,

and now he’s continuing his musical journey with this foot-

tapping new project.

It’s hard to describe Reid’s style. It’s primarily lyrical folk, but

listen closely and you’ll find hints of rock and country that

turn this album into a quirky kind of genius. “Sea Side” is the

perfect midsummer day song with its pleasant guitar-pickin’

and soothing vocals. In no time it’ll have you wanting to take a

blanket outside so you can lay back and watch the clouds go by.

For the love of all that is quirky, please go download Juarez.

You’ll listen to it over and over and find something new every

time!

9

FREE YOUR SOUNDS

AND YOUR FRIENDS WILL FOLLOWSOUNDCLOUD.COM

M I N I S T R Y F I RS T, M U S I C S E C O N D

IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY, it takes more than just ability to sing and play music. It takes perseverance, knowledge of the game, and years of practice.

Thirty-Nine Thoughts hasn’t missed one single practice.

Contemporary Christian rock band Thirty-Nine Thoughts is from Lubbock, Texas, and consists of six band members between ages sixteen and seventeen. Young, right? But not naïve. These guys know what they’re doing. And have known since first grade.

“Several of us had been talking about it since the first grade,” said Scott Dawson (bass guitar) of forming a band. “Once we were all in the seventh grade, we decided it was time to be serious and actually try this.”

The band members are all Christians and knew from the very start that their music would be their ministry.

“There really never was a question as to what type of music we would play and who we were playing for,” said Philip Moore (acoustic guitar, vocals). “Right away it became a ministry rather than a band, and we realized we could do more than just

entertain people. In focusing on ministering to our own generation, it became clear that being ministers didn’t have to wait until we all ‘grew up.’”

That’s for sure. Adolescence won’t stop these guys from belting it out.

“To You,” an emotional worship song, placed third in the 18th Annual Billboard Worldwide Song Contest. Drawing inspiration straight from the Scripture, the band delivers uplift-ing songs.

“When we write,” said Rett Watts (lead vocals), “we thank God for what He has done for us in sending His Son and try to focus those lyrics on His power, who He is, and that there is an alternative to hopeless-ness, suicide, and other issues that face our generation.”

With all that inspiration, it’s no wonder they’ve got some great gigs lined up this summer. Thirty-Nine Thoughts will be playing at the Ichthus Festival in Wilmore, Kentucky, in June. Right after that, they’ll be rocking it out at the AtlantaFest Talent Competition in Stone Mountain, Georgia. In August, you’ll find them appearing as the featured artist for Rock the Desert 2011.

It’s got to be hard to have this much going on—and so fast too. But the band is con-tinually engulfed in support and love from their family and friends.

“When we started this, we signed a contract with each other about practices and respon-sibilities as a member of the band,” said Tanner White (lead guitar, keyboard). “One of the items in the contract is that we would all commit to a daily time with God…know-ing this, our parents held us accountable to this commitment.”

Commitment isn’t the only thing helping them to succeed though.

“Stay strong in your faith,” said Brock Lilley (rhythm guitar, vocals) of pursuing your dreams.

“When you are following God’s will, He will take you to awesome places…so go for it,” said Isaac Zapata (drums).

And these guys are definitely going places.

By Shayla Eaton

THIRTY-NINE THOUGHTS

11

ForKing

Country

by Jonathan robles

&

12

Growing up in Sydney,

Australia, and Nashville,

TN, music has always

been a backdrop in the

lives of brothers Joel and Luke Small-

bone. They’ve worked with amazing

artists such as Aqualung and Rebecca

St. James and their music has been

featured on television shows like The

CW’s Vampire Diaries. As they embark

on a new journey with their debut

album, they sit down to talk exclusively

with Variance.

How close are you guys to completing

the album?

J: We were slated to release at the end

of 2010 but our original A&R guy

kind of moved on. We had 4 months of

wondering “what’s the label going to do

with this?” But they basically came and

said they love the record as-is. We want

to add two or three tunes and release it

this year. And that’s what we’re working

on right now.

So, you guys are from Australia, but

how did you end up here?

L: Our dad was a concert promoter

in Australia and he actually lost a

small fortune on a tour that we did

down there. Then he got a job offer

in Nashville. And it was one of those

things where he thought, I’m ready for

a life change. So we brought the family

out here to work in the music indus-

try. And when we came here we really

didn’t have anything. So it was sort of

an adventure.

We enjoy all of the good things

America has to offer. I actually married

an American girl. But we have our

green cards, so the Australians still have

to take us back when we show up at the

border.

J: It is funny, because a lot of the

people in Australia want to meet an

American. And everyone here wants to

meet an Australian or go there. And it

just goes to show you that the grass is

always greener on the other side.

Speaking of the grass being greener,

you started “indie” but you’re with

a label now. Do you still have some

creative control?

L: Of course we listen to producers and

the label has a lot to say about which

songs are cut. But we get to write our

own songs and what we are giving them

is essentially what they are looking at.

I think labels are at a point now where

they’re realizing, if we control them

[artists] completely and take away from

who they are, the music doesn’t seem to

make a lot of sense. But if we support

them and make their artistry and who

they are come alive, that’s a home run.

J: Because we were an indie band

before, I guess we had a little bit of

credibility because we had already

defined who we are. We didn’t come to

them empty-handed and say, “hey we’re

two brothers from Australia…let’s do

something!” We came to them and said,

“here’s our vision…here’s the kind of

music we want to sing…this is where

we want to go in our careers. Will you

partner with us?”

Do you feel that is happening more in

the industry today?

J: We have really good friends, namely

Joy Williams, who went down this road

of full label support and then ventured

out of it and has done an incredible job

with her band, The Civil Wars, apart

from any label. And now they’re at a

point where because of what they’ve

done through independent market-

ing and promotion they’ve now got

all these labels knocking on their door

saying, hey, let us partner with you.

We never wanted to be an indie-rock

band. We want to have that partner-

ship and influence that a label has but

there are tons of people doing it differ-

ently. And for the first time in history,

with modern technology, it’s feasible.

Twenty years ago you either had the big

machine or you really didn’t have too

much.

You talk about partnerships. What’s it

like being brothers in a band together?

L: The interesting thing is you can be

so straight ahead with each other. If

Joel doesn’t like something I come up

with in a writing session, he can say so.

And there’s no emotional weirdness.

He’s my brother. If you can’t trust your

family, it’s going to be a long journey to

where you can trust someone else.

J: It’s like any partnership; you have

your moments. The beauty of what

Luke and I do is that opposites attract.

He is sort of chill, taking life as it

comes, incredibly talented. But I am

like the Energizer Bunny.

Where do you guys ultimately want to

take this?

L: Music does something to your life.

It’s universal. And I am not exactly sure

of where this road is going to take us

but I do know, I’m passionate about

music and Joel is passionate about mu-

sic. And something happens when we

get together. And as far as who’s going

to hear it, that’s part of the excitement

and journey of it. I don’t know!

J: Luke and I have seen many miracu-

lous events throughout our lives. And

you’ll see, even in our Twitter posts,

this underlying theme of hope and serv-

ing something greater than ourselves.

Coupled with our love for music, it’s

such a powerful thing. If you were to

speak those lyrics, it’s one thing. But to

put those words with a melody, all of

a sudden it becomes something kind

of peculiar. It’s spiritual. We want our

music to encourage and impact lives

and introduce people to hope. That’s

our vision.

For King and Country’s new album

releases fall 2011.

www.forkingandcountry.com

www.twitter.com/4kingandcountry

13

A C O N V E R S A T I O N W I T H M I K E Z I E M E R

FROM THE MUSIC WORLDTO THE CORPORATE WORLD

He’s been promoting bands since puberty and his production

company, Third String, has changed Dallas’ music scene for teens altogether. But Mike Ziemer is swimming in new waters this summer with his fledgling social media marketing company, Z Interactive. Variance talked with Ziemer about his new foray into the corporate world and how it’s changed his tune.

What propelled the transition from music promotion to social media marketing?

It kind of came to me because of the Busi-ness Week article (The MySpace Genera-tion, December 2005). When that came out, they labeled me as a “brand influencer.” At that point, I didn’t really understand what that meant. [Jesse at Business Week] kept trying to explain it to me. She said, “you have this following and this demographic—every company is trying to reach the 15-24yr old demographic and you’re reaching that. You have this power to take your knowledge and contribute to trends.” At that point I was just happy doing music. But as the years went on and I became more business savvy and started looking at what’s going to last long term, it made sense to reevaluate that idea. I started with music venues, so I didn’t really stray far from what I was doing, but then it translated into restaurants and full brands and businesses. It’s been a natural progression going from promoting music, finding a way to avoid traditional advertising on radio and television, [via] the internet, to teaching businesses how to avoid paying for yellow pages, billboards, and print ads, and how to utilize this online space.

How has your experience with marketing shows and bands influenced how you approach social media?

I’d been messing around with blogs and MySpace and Facebook and everything since

2003-2004, so we’ve figured out ways, both automatically through a program, and manu-ally by hand to target people (15-24yr old music fans) and pull them into what we’re doing and make them want to be a part of it. So we took that concept and applied it to brands. It was actually an easier transition than I originally expected, but you have to figure out, how do I translate this formula to that formula and is it compatible? And we’ve found it is. The ways we target people in the music industry are the same ways you can target people in any industry.

In your experience, what are the top 3 things that make a successful online marketing campaign?

It requires full knowledge of the business that you’re working with. You can’t sell a product or properly engage people for a product or service if you yourself don’t know anything about it. You have to know the brand. Second, you have to know the demo-graphic. You can’t market a car company to a ten-year-old kid. It’s not gonna work. I guess the third thing would be paying attention to what people are saying about the brand. You have to be able to play off positives, handle negatives, and know how to engage a demographic that may not have anything to do with your particular interests. We have a wide range of clients from venue to restau-rant chains to a home décor store to a real estate agent. We’ve figured out a formula that is universal and works for all of these and those are three of its main components.

How does your day-to-day lifestyle differ now as opposed to when you were strictly promoting bands and shows? How are you juggling two full-time businesses?

The music industry is a lot different. You keep the schedule of the bands, so you wake up whenever, you go to bed whenever. Sometimes you don’t sleep for a day. It’s

kind of a free-for-all. No one expects you to be awake and in a suit at 9 in the morning because you were at a show until 2 last night. That’s just the way the music industry works. But coming to a [corporate atmo-sphere], we have to be here in the morning and we have to dress better. I can’t just sit at home in my tank top and shorts, you know, I’m coming to an office now. I’m wear-ing slacks, dress shoes, and a button up. Sometimes I wear the suit and ties, depend-ing on the meeting. It’s challenging for me because I’m living in both worlds. I will go to a concert and be at that show until 2 in the morning and I will get home at 3 and stay up till 4, but I still have to be at the office at 9 in the morning. It does present challenges because it’s a completely different world of structure, organization, and presentation.

I have a seven-year track record of doing well in the music industry, so that kind of speaks for itself. I don’t have a seven-year track record of specifically doing marketing for big brands or corporations, or even small businesses. So I have to present myself in a way that when I walk into a building, people are going to want to have that conversation with me.

As far as juggling my time, my time is 90-100% on Z Interactive. I have somebody running Third String full time for me now, handling all the day to day promotions, booking the smaller shows, and checking in with the bands. I’ve pretty much been able to transition most contacts over to him, and he handles everything so that I can come to my office from 9 to 6 or 7 or however late I end up working, and just be focused on one thing—marketing.

Want more Mike? Check out his hub at www.apromoterslife.com.

14

A R T I S T S P O T L I G H T

Written by John MouserPhotos by Alex Tanas

15

With the debut of his 2008 release, Holly, featuring the popular tune “After Tonight,” Justin Nozuka

quickly became a household name. His follow-up album, You I Wind Land and Sea, further cemented the Canadian singer/songwriter’s international success. Shortly before he boarded a plane for Paris, Variance had a chance to briefly speak with Justin about his world travels and latest release, The Blue Velvet Sea EP.

Your music has taken you around the world. Have you always had aspirations of world travel?

It was an abstract idea for me in the beginning. I didn’t know where it was going to take me, but I knew that I wanted to go and play for lots of people. I always had that image in my mind. I had no idea what the touring experience was like and how it was going to unfold, but I knew that I wanted to tour.

Where are some of your favorite places to travel?

I really like Western Europe, where we’re going. I really like America as well. I love traveling through Canada. All of these places are special and they are all different

in the way that human beings have established, but they all have some similarities also. It is really cool to see all of these different cultures; to be there for two days, get a sneak peek, make some friends, then leave to go to a different place.

What do you think makes your music appealing to so many different cultures?

I think that ultimately, when you create music that is proper music, it becomes fundamental and anyone can relate to it or connect to it. When done properly, the language doesn’t really have anything to do with it. It’s the music as a whole. When it is speaking truth, everyone can relate to that on a fundamental level.

16

What advice would you offer a musician who is just starting off?

It’s important to have in your mind what your attention is and what you want to do. Just go for it and fall and go for it again. Learn and continue to go for it. It starts as an abstract idea and you have this dream and desire. It will take you to one place, and in that time you do what you have to do in that one place to get you to the next place. It is constantly building into this idea that you have. [Know] what your ulti-mate dream is and just continue to envision it every day.

Where did your love for Africa begin?

That experience came through a friend I met in Paris, actu-ally. She came to me with the opportunity to go to Africa because she was already involved at the Children in the Wilderness foundation. So I went and really learned about what they were doing (Sustainable Conservation through Leadership Development). It’s a beautiful thing that we are able to get involved in places all over the world.…By focusing on other places in the world we really do take steps

towards creating a more peaceful structure. It’s something we can all enjoy. Africa is a very special place. There is a lot of love, warmth, and light there.

How did the Blue Velvet Sea EP come together?

We [recorded] a cottage session and did some live perfor-mances in the countryside. We had these recordings when the second album (YIWLAS) was released, and I just really wanted to put something else out. So, we put this together quickly. There’s songs from 2006 and from along the way that I really wanted to put out.

17

Youtube sensation Alexandra Amor’s rise in the music industry

by Amanda Morad

18

It’s been said that Justin Beiber was the last YouTube pop sensa-tion. But after sitting down with up-and-coming pop artist and Orlando native, Alexandra Amor, we’re not so sure. Our Q & A with Alex has us convinced that this sensation in the making is ready for the big leagues.

These days there are several paths to musical success. How did you decide that covering pop tunes on YouTube was yours?

Well, I just knew different success stories you know, with artists like Justin Bieber. I also have a friend that records at a studio that I used to, [country artist and YouTube sensation] Avery. She’s signed to Universal now. It just seemed like a good way to reach different fans. I generally try to cover Top 40 because that’s the music that I’m doing, but I’ve also used things like Twitter to talk directly to fans and get to know them, but YouTube has definitely helped circulate everything.

Tell us a little about the making of your music videos.

I did a lot of the beginning music videos with NVD Studios, but he does a lot more on the rap and hip hop side, less on pop projects, so it’s been a real learning experience for us both. It’s a whole new world to him. It’s all about the teamwork. He believes in the project and we work together really well.

Josh and I would come up with the concepts. We didn’t just want to do in-studio performances, because that’s what a lot of people do. We wanted to put a creative twist on it and do mini music videos. It wasn’t so much to copy other artists, but to show that I’m versatile. We’ve gotten a pretty good response. I think people aren’t used to mini music videos though. They think I’m trying to copy the artist or that I don’t have my own style, but we [just released] my original music video, “Radio,” June 4. So that’s me as an artist, versus me trying to be Katy Perry or Rihanna.

Your Reverbnation bio says you got noticed by manager Josh Mendez in your college communication class. How were you pursuing your music career before the class assignment?

I was still in school so it was more a hobby rather than a career as it is now. Three days after meeting him was my first time recording in a stu-dio, so from then on til now, it’s been a completely different world for me, as far as recording and going in with producers and having writing sessions, everything. It’s definitely a career now. I feel very blessed it came about the way it did. It doesn’t happen every day.

What’s your favorite cover so far?

I have two, but I’m biased because I just did my first collab video with Jake Coco so I really like that one [Edge of Glory, Lady Gaga]. But my personal favorite that I did with NVD was F****** Perfect, by Pink. That day was so amazing. We ended up recording it in Miami at Circle House Studios, and I got to meet Pitbull.

How do you process the feedback for your videos? Most of it’s positive, but some people are just hurtful.

There’s always gonna be negative feedback but I just take it as motiva-tion to filter out and see what I can do for the next video to make them fans as well. You can’t let it get you down.

The Superstar video is a ton of fun, but what can we expect from the rest of your album?

Nothing having to do with Superstar actually. It was the first song I’d recorded in the booth, ever. The writer I wrote it with, we didn’t really know each other, and it wasn’t even written in my range. And with me being new to the booth, I didn’t know the lingo to use in the studio, so my whole album is going to be in different keys and a different style. It’s not gonna be bubblegum pop, it’s gonna be a little bit more pop, dance, and a splash of rhythmic. Something that I would definitely listen to. Less Disney, more Top 40.

So what’s up next for you?

Hopefully the single. We’re really trying to find that one hit that de-scribes Alexandra Amor. You listen to it and you know me as an artist. We’ve been having meetings with some major labels (Jive, Universal, Warner Bros, and Sony), which I can’t talk too much about, but it’s good. So hopefully a joint venture in the future, but [for now] we’re just gonna keep working on social media, releasing covers, releasing original music, and performances.

What’s your biggest goal for the next year?

I definitely hope that we have a joint venture and my album is pro-duced. [I hope] I can express to all my fans who Alexandra Amor is through my album. And also touring. That’s my number one thing right now. I want to meet my fans. I want to inspire them. And hopefully be able to give back through some charities. I’ve been looking for charities dealing with neglected children.

What advice do you offer other young artists trying to find their way in the entertainment industry?

I always tell them to have integrity in everything they do. If they want it, they’re gonna work for it. It’s not easy. Practice, work hard, and have integrity and you’ll achieve whatever it is you’re out to achieve.

C o n n e C t w i t h A l e x o n :

Youtube: youtube.com/user/alexistoothick

Twitter: twitter.com/alexandraamor

Facebook: facebook.com/alexandraamor

19

For recording artist Josiah Warren and author Sun Hui East, talent

definitely runs in the family.

20

Keep your eyes and ears open for a flurry of re-leases from Sun Hui East and Josiah Warren, a mother and son whose artistic abilities seem to know no limits. A CD, two books, a concert and

an independent feature film will be the accomplishments added this year to Sun’s five nationally-released books. She has penned her life story, When I Hold His Hand, as well as three novels based on the book of Hosea.

It’s her fourth novel, The Prophet’s Son, that brings Sun’s writing and directing skills together with Josiah’s musical and acting skills.

The Prophet’s Son is a love story between budding novelist Juliet Oscar and Abel Benjamin, the son of her prophesy-ing pastor. “This film is rich in music, politics, and drama,” according to the film’s website (www.tps-themovie.com). “It dares to reopen the wounds of Columbine, expose the heartache of homeless, runaway youth, and demon-strate the bold faith and love of Christian believers. In the ever-present longing of the main characters for each other, The Prophet’s Son models purity in the kind of love that lays down its life for others. It is at once romantic and prophetic, demonstrating the power of love to conquer in every imaginable situation while preparing God’s people for impending judgment.”

While the cover art features Josiah at the piano, that’s just the beginning of their collaboration for this project. The two are currently busy filming a movie based on the book. Sun is the director and producer, and Josiah is making his acting debut as the title character.

Josiah Warren’s debut CD, December Rain, scheduled for release in September, has already attracted attention from some big names in contemporary Christian music. The trio of pastors known as Phillips, Craig, and Dean is helping to promote the film with a concert

at Southeast Christian Church in Parker, Colorado on July 15th. The evening of the concert, Josiah will open for Phil-lips, Craig & Dean in front of an expected crowd of 2000, just after the movie trailer of The Prophet ’s Son makes its debut.

It almost didn’t happen at all. Ten days before shooting began in early June, Josiah lost control of his car in the rain, crashed, and was thrown from the vehicle. Rescuers confirmed that he was unresponsive at the scene, and he was airlifted to the hospital. After KLOVE radio spread word around the country, friends and strangers began to pray for Josiah.

“Just 24 hours after being admitted, Josiah was released from the ICU with only minor scratches and bruising,” said Desera Price, pub-licity coordinator for the film. “The medical staff could not under-stand how someone in such a serious accident did not have internal bleeding or any other major injuries. It was truly a miracle.”

The Prophet’s Son is scheduled to wrap production around Thanksgiving. For more information visit www.tps-themovie.com.

For details and tickets to the Josiah Warren and Phillips, Craig, and Dean concert, visit www.iTickets.com or call 303-841-9292.

December Rain is currently available through www.tatemusicgroup.com, and Sun Hui East’s books are available at www.tatepublishing.com and everywhere books are sold.

21

A R T I S T S P O T L I G H T

by Jonathan Roblesphoto by Shannon Sewell

You got started by releasing your music on Myspace, right?

I started putting my albums up on CDBaby. I didn’t know

about Myspace until I moved to California and Colbie [Caillat]

introduced me to it. From the moment we started recording

our first songs we put them up on that site and everything

changed. It was a crazy moment. I don’t even understand it,

but I’d say that Myspace changed everything for us.

Do you feel that it led to where you are now?

For sure. No one would know about Colbie if we hadn’t put

her songs on Myspace. And everything has branched out since

then for both of us.

What does The Lovesick, the title of your new album, mean?

I call it The Lovesick because it’s like an army. Not in a sense

that it goes to war, but just a group of people that are sick with

love—either in a good or a bad way. I believe everybody is af-

fected by love in either form.

If you could do anything differently from the span of your

career so far, would you?

I don’t really think about stuff like that, I’d rather think about

what I’m going to do in the future than what I would have

done differently in the past.

You’ve gotten to work with Colbie Caillat and Kara

DioGuardi. What is that like?

Well they’re both very different. But they’re incredible musi-

cians and incredible women. I’m just lucky to work with peo-

ple who are so talented. It’s very freeing when you don’t have to

force something and with those two there’s no forcing it.

Kara has said that, as a songwriter, she is a big advocate of

songwriting. Do you feel that’s why you guys work so well

together, because you’re both songwriters?

I definitely believe that. We connect because of that; because

we come from the same mindset. We both feel the same way

about the art of writing songs.

OK, so looking ahead, you’ve worked with some great

people. Anybody on your wish list?

I want to work with Nicki Minaj and Eminem.

You covered Nicki’s song “Moment for Life”…

I did. And the cover is supposed to be out sometime this sum-

mer on Billboard. But I love them both for different reasons,

and it would be great to do a song with them.

Speaking of “moments,” is there a highlight that stands out

for you in your career at this point?

I think the highlight for me was the moment that Colbie and I

realized that people from all over the world could know a song

that you wrote in your bedroom, that moment of realizing

music is so powerful—it blew my mind and it made me want

to keep doing it.

What advice would you give to other musicians starting out?

Know your vision and to believe in what you’re doing; putting

your heart into it and being honest with yourself. A lot of

people will tell you what they think you should do, but the

truth comes from within. Always.

Jason Reeves

22

Glee & GodKristin Chenoweth talks candidly about her faith and her future

by Jonathan Roblesphotos by Jeremy Cowart

23

“There are some people who live in a dream world,

and there are some who face reality; and then there

are those who turn one into the other.”

The words of Douglas H. Everett are true today.

Kristin Chenoweth, the bubbly blonde with an extraordi-

nary—and unique—set of pipes, has the life many others

dream about. Since her rise to fame as Glinda the Good Witch

in the Broadway musical Wicked, she has had a remarkable

career. And it seems she’s just now hitting her stride.

The Emmy-winning actress—whose character April Rhoades

has become a fan-favorite on the hit show Glee—just released

the debut single “I Want Somebody” off her upcoming new

album, which precedes her starring role in the new ABC dram-

edy Good Christian Belles (which already has people talking,

simply based on its premise).

“It takes place in the Bible belt,” explained Chenoweth. “In a

world we haven’t seen on TV a lot, which is church.”

“It’s about real women and the struggles they face, just like

anybody else. My character is a former nerd turned socialite.

She is the head of the ‘belles’ and when the former ‘mean

girl’ (played by Leslie Bibb) comes back to town, she feels

threatened and insecure. She will stir it up and then pray for

everyone!”

Chenoweth—born and raised in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma—is

no stranger to the “Bible belt.” She started singing at an early

age in her church and she regularly talks on Twitter about her

love for her home state.

“Oklahoma is my home,” she said. “It’s where I grew up and

it’s all I’ve ever known. The people, the food, Sonic and Chick-

fil-A included, and the heritage are all the best. We’ve had

some of the best musicians from Oklahoma and our education

system is the best. I’m proud of my state.”

Perhaps it’s that sense of pride that has her—as she points

out—“getting back to my roots.” Not just in her new TV role,

but in her music as well. For the singer who has become known

for her big Broadway voice and her even bigger personality, the

new album Some Lessons Learned is a slight change of pace.

“I was very scared,” she recalled. “This is the music

I grew up singing but I didn’t know if it would be

accepted. But the Nashville community has been

amazing and I can’t wait for people to hear it.”

24

Given her overwhelming reception at last month’s CMT

Awards and the premiere of her new music video, fans will

certainly be hearing more from Kristin Chenoweth. But will

they be seeing more of her on Glee, especially considering her

upcoming commitments?

“I have no idea if April gets to come back,” she said. “If she

does, we’ll make it work.”

“Glee resonates with people,” stated Chenoweth, explaining

her love for the series. “Because music is the universal language.

It speaks to all. Ryan Murphy (the creator) has placed all kinds

of music on that show and there are also characters that are real

people with real struggles. I don’t know a person alive that can’t

understand that. Also, it’s just freaking entertaining!”

Regardless of what happens, she will have a full plate. But she’s

used to that.

“Juggling a lot of aspects of my career is hard,” she said of her

busy schedule. “I don’t really have a lot of down time, so when

I do—even if it’s only one day, I relax! I also have people in my

life who help me with my schedule.”

The people in her life, as she has credited constantly throughout

her career, have definitely made an impact. And so has her faith.

“My parents encouraged me in the talents God gave me,”

she remembered. “I can promise you right now I wouldn’t

be alive today without the faith I have in the Lord. There

are days where I think, ‘I can’t do it today; I’m too tired, too

depressed’—yes, I get depressed! But there’s something about

the name of Jesus. I know that He lives. If I’m wrong, I’d much

rather live in the place of love, hope, and forgiveness than

disparity.”

Having ascended as she has in her career and in Hollywood

ranks, Chenoweth has had to defend her faith at times—from

various perspectives. In 2005, the events following an appear-

ance on The 700 Club seemed to put her odds with two of her

most loyal fan bases—the gay community and the Christian

community. If anything, it revealed her growing influence as a

role model.

“I think we are all people just doing the best we can,” she said.

“I always ask myself, ‘what would Jesus do?’ For me, that’s the

question. I am trying to live by the right answer.”

For the girl from Oklahoma, who was one of a select few to

perform at the Oprah Winfrey Show’s grand finale in Chicago

and who has quickly become one of the biggest voices in today’s

pop culture, both literally and figuratively, the multi-talented

Chenoweth knows what it is like to be that kid with a dream.

Her advice to someone else who has a dream in their heart?

“Go do it!”

“If you can see yourself doing anything else, then by all means,

go do it! This business is hard, but if you can’t see anything but

music, then go for it! Don’t let anyone tell you, ‘no.’ But also,

study hard so that you can hone your craft.”

Although an accomplished artist and star—with an Emmy

award and a Tony, multiple hit TV shows, tremendous success

on Broadway, and an enviable list of achievements, Kristin

Chenoweth is a lot like many of her fans.

She likes Krispy Kreme donuts and Oklahoma Sooner football.

She says the easiest and best decision she ever made was to

become a Christian. And she admits that life still has its ups

and downs. She recalls her greatest moment in life, after a long

struggle. “Finding out my mother was cancer-free—that was

the best moment ever!”

And while she’s come a long way from singing in the choir on

Sundays as a child, she—just like many of her fans—still has

hopes and dreams. There’s still one person she really wants to

work with—her biggest idol. “Two words: DOLLY PARTON.”

If her career up to this point is any indication, she will prob-

ably get her wish. As Douglas H. Everett said, some people live

in a dream world, some face reality, and then there are those

who turn one into the other. Kristin Chenoweth is definitely

the latter.

Kristin’s new album Some Lessons Learned is available world-

wide on September 13, 2011.

www.kristinchenoweth.com

25

fter Japanese bombs rain from the skies

at Pearl Harbor, the world of Alexandra

Lillis is drastically changed. Two close

male relatives go off to war, and America becomes

a society of families left behind to worry, pray, and

wonder about the future. The Lillis family must be

strong, and Alexandra has much to learn about the

effects of war—especially since it will not be the last

wartime she lives through. Will war and its aftermath

affect Alexandra and her family permanently?

AvAiLAbLe noW from

TATePubLisHing.com

THeir

sHAdoWs

remAin

4

Kathleen Searles Ermini 4

A

fun.

text by

John Mouser

photos by

Elizabeth Weinberg

27

ith summer in full swing, one of my favorite

groups to play on a perfect sunny day (or a day

when you need a pick-me-up), is fun. The super

group is comprised of front man Nate Ruess,

former lead vocalist of The Format, Andrew Dost, previously

in Anthallo, and Jack Antonoff, current vocalist/guitarist of

American indie rock band, Steel Train. It has been nearly two

years since their debut LP, Aim and Ignite, introduced their en-

ergetic sound filled with infectious melodies, fun-loving lyrics,

and epic Queen-like harmonies. They are currently touring the

nation with Panic! At the Disco, and are planning to drop their

sophomore LP later this summer on Fueled By Ramen. I had

chance to briefly speak with Nate Ruess about their upcoming

album, live performance, and his unique style of writing.

What can people expect when they come to a fun. show?

I have always said that it is a whirling dervish of sound. On

stage we really like to have a good time, which is cool because

our band name is fun. (laughs). I love playing live, and every-

one in the band is having a great time, so hopefully that comes

across. I think the songs sound good (live). I think for people

that have seen us (in the past), our live show will change a little

bit too, which is exciting for me.

With all of you guys being from different backgrounds

and different successful bands (the Format, Steel Train and

Anathallo), how did you guys get together and decide to do

this project a couple of years back?

When my last band was no more, I just knew that I wanted to

work with those two (Andrew and Jack) specifically. They were

the first and only two people that I called. I had toured with

them in the past and had such a great friendship with them,

and I admired them as musicians and as songwriters. So I

figured if I was going to go down, I was going to go down in a

blaze of glory (laughs), and they would go with me.

With such intricately orchestrated songs, do you ever run

into any challenges with bringing some of your songs to the

stage?

I think it can be hard. We do not have any string players, and

there are a lot of strings on the album and sometimes there are

more vocals (on the album), than there are people singing. But

I think that we make up for it in other ways. We make up for

it with a certain energy, and there is a little bit more rawness

to the songs. They are different from the studio work, but they

lend themselves to the live show very well. We try and dupli-

cate that as much as possible with who we are and what we

W

28

have. We don’t throw on any CDs of ourselves and play over

something. I think it works out really well.

How did Aim and Ignite come together, from the writing

standpoint? Were they songs that you had written, or was it

a collaborative effort?

I had about forty or fifty percent of the songs raring to go,

and then we worked out the other ones after the fact. But even

when I had songs raring to go, that still means that there is

a huge process. It took us about three and a half months to

record the album.

I hear that you have an interesting writing process?

Yeah! I don’t know how to play an instrument because I’m lazy,

so I just write everything in my head and try my best to explain

it to either one of those guys (Jack and Andrew). Usually it

varies on whether or not it starts on a guitar or piano, and

then they will help me work through it and get my idea across.

Hopefully at that point the song kind of belongs to all of us.

So many times they just come up with ideas that I never would

have thought of, that are so much better than the ones that I

had.

What are some of the differences that you are seeing with

this album, in comparison to Aim and Ignite?

I think that it is so different. It is different from the songwrit-

ing process, to the recording process, to the instruments (used),

to the style of songs. It still feels like a fun. album to me,

because it’s still my voice and lyrics, it’s still Jack’s guitar style

and Andrew’s piano and composition style. It’s amazing that I

think we have taken them (the songs) to a different world, and

I don’t think that we could be more ecstatic about it. I know

that I’m supposed to say that, but I am secretly freaking out

about how excited I am about the music.

What about similarities? Are there still a bunch of string

arrangements and harmonies that were prevalent on the

first fun. record?

I think that it would be hard for us to not add strings or har-

monies, but they are not a point of emphasis like they were on

the last album. They are there for sure.

Did you guys sit down before the writing/recording of this

record and decide on a type of sound that you wanted to

achieve? Or did you just let it unfold in the studio?

I had kind of a crazy idea, and I started to write within that

idea. From there I brought it up to the guys, and we all kind

of thought “Oh shoot! It would be crazy if we were able to do

this!” It worked out, and so when I started writing the songs,

I had a lot of that in mind. Others ones that I had, previously,

kind of just adapted and ended up sitting in this whole thing.

Are you talking specifically about the sound, or the theme

of the lyrics?

Oh, just the sound. To me it’s not conceptual at all. I mean, it

might be because I always tend to write what is on my mind

and I don’t think I progress very far mentally (laughs). It’s more

of just a general sound and something new that we are trying

to do, that I just don’t know if that many people have done it.

You guys have been in some pretty successful bands over

the years. With that in mind, what kind of advice would

you have for a band just starting off?

Yeah, to me it has to do with playing live and just being your-

self as much as possible. I think as a songwriter, I do not want

to restrict myself and fall under certain genres or this or that. I

try to go with my instincts and not to give myself boundaries.

You shouldn’t have a lot of boundaries as a songwriter and as a

performer, you should just try playing live a lot and try being

good at playing live. I think that somehow in this world of Pro

Tools and the ability to do this and that, live music has been

one of those things that has failed the most. I think that it is

important to put emphasis on being a good live performer.

Speaking of the live performance, who are some people that

you have looked up to in the past as far as stage presence/

live performance goes?

Well, as a kid I was obsessed with At The Drive In. I used

to think they put on the craziest shows in the world, and I

thought that they were just a really cool band. There is a lot of

self-awareness that you have to lose in order to become a great

live performer, and they were just so good at feeling the music

out and putting on a show without wondering if it was cheesy

to be actually moving around. That is something that we all

think of too, when we are putting on a show. One time we had

a show, at a pretty hip place with a bunch of hip people and I

think that we were all worried about the perception. Somehow,

moving around and having a good time onstage is not synony-

mous with being “hip,” and we just told ourselves “Let’s not

play to the crowd, let’s just be ourselves.” It ended up being

one of our favorite shows ever. I just always look at someone

like Freddy Mercury in those situations, or Mick Jagger. I love

a good front man, who doesn’t necessarily play an instrument

and does a good job of being a master of ceremonies too.

For more info, check out www.ournameisfun.com

29

In a tIme where the pop-rock world Is cluttered

with perfect hair and excessive production, one band has risen

to the top with years of hard work, well-crafted tunes and

countless shows under their belt. That band is All Time Low

(ATL). The Baltimore pop-rock group made up of Alexander

Gaskarth (vocals/guitar), Jack Barakat (lead guitarist), Zachary

Merrick (bassist), and Rian Dawson( drummer) is back with

a brand new album, Dirty Work, that has already topped the

iTunes charts and plans to hit a city near you on their massive

headlining tour that begins in late July.

All Time Low’s major label debut, Dirty Work, is a project that

was two solid years in the making. The group put in countless

hours of work, in between a hectic touring schedule. The album

was originally set to drop this past winter, but due to complica-

tions with the record label the release was ultimately pushed to

early June. This push gave the band a short break from touring

and recording, which Barakat sees as a positive move.

“I think that it made it almost like a comeback. Like we came

back with a bang,” explained Barakat. “ I think that it was a

really good idea to kind of step away for a little bit.”

While fans were anxiously awaiting the new release, the band

decided to give a taste of what was to come by releasing “Time

Bomb.” Barakat revealed that the idea behind this was “to show

kids that we are still here.”

On Dirty Work the band commissioned some of the best pro-

ducers in the business including Butch Walker, who also played

a key role on the group’s previous release, Nothing Personal.

The band also brought in a new producer, who ended up doing

a majority of the album with them, Mike Green. Green, who

is most known for his work with bands like Paramore and Boys

Like Girls, became very close with the ATL guys while record-

ing with them in Los Angeles.

“It was the first time that we’ve worked with him, and it really

clicked. He has kind of become the fifth member of the band

in a way,” stated Barakat.

When making this record, ATL made a strong effort to not let

their expectations mold the songs they created. On their last

release, Nothing Personal, the group attempted to tone down

tracks that could be labeled as being “too pop” or “too rock.”

Barakat explained, “The major difference in the recording

process of this record was we definitely weren’t scared to write a

very poppy song or a very rock-oriented record.”

By eliminating the constraints normally placed on their song-

writing, ATL was free to create an album that stretches across

genres and appeals to a wider range of listener.

“Every song seems to have its own identity, and we did some

really different things on the record that I think everyone will

enjoy,” said Barakat.

On top of working with a number of successful producers,

ATL also got a chance to do some co-writing with a pop-rock

hero, Rivers Cuomo. The Weezer frontman had Barakat and

Al T ime low

by John Mouser

30

Gaskarth over to his home in Santa Monica, for a little writing

session in his living room.

“They (Rivers and Alex) wrote the song (‘I Feel Like Dancing’)

and I had a couple words of input,” shared Barakat. “It was ac-

tually a really cool experience, to just sit there and write a song

with one of our biggest inspirations of all time!”

While releasing a number of solid albums that have caught the

attention of the masses, ATL’s energetic live performances may

be their most notable asset.

“I like to think of ourselves as a live band,” states Barakat. “It’s

kind of hard to show off our energy via our records, but I think

if you come and see us live then it will really start to make

sense and it clicks.”

With the release of Dirty Work, ATL now finds themselves

playing in larger venues with room to fit their increasing fan

base.

“It has definitely been a super slow build over the past six years

of touring, where we have been slowly, slowly stepping into

bigger venues on every tour,” Barakat explained. “Now we are

starting to make the big jump. We are definitely starting to add

some bigger shows into the bigger cities. So it’s pretty cool!”

ATL’s hardworking attitude and perseverance teamed with a

great deal of social networking has taken the band to where

they are today.

Barakat explained that he considers ATL to be “one of the first

Internet-based bands, especially because we basically started

our entire band via the Internet.”

Before MySpace Music took off, the band had a band page to

help build a fan base. They were also one of the first fifty bands

on PureVolume.com, which also helped establish a strong

Internet following.

“That’s how we started talking to record labels, that’s how we

booked our first tours,” Barakat revealed.

Even today, the band can be found making tour update videos

and providing fans with up-to-date information via Twitter. “It

still is a huge part of the band,” said Barakat.

Since the time that the band began in 2003, All Time Low

has been through a great deal of ups and downs. When asked

what kind of advice he would give to a band just starting out,

Barakat shared that “you have be super patient and work really

hard. Definitely be willing to give your entire life to it, because

that’s what it takes.”

Barakat went on to explain, “One of the biggest things is to

always think positive and be willing to fight through everything

you have to.”

www.alltimelowband.com

Al T ime

31

FE

ST

IVA

LM

AN

IAby

Am

anda

Mor

ad

32

Where do an increasing amount of those live performances take place? Festivals. East Coast, West Coast, downtown, or out-of-town, these half-music-mecca-half-hippie-vacations are popping up everywhere between March and October. If you’re into music, you better get into festivals. Here’s a highlight of the best, tips for festival-going, and dates to get you started (time to start planning for spring 2012!). Happy head-banging!

wIth the musIc IndustrY eVolVInG BY the daY, Bands are dependInG less and less on musIc sales and more and more on lIVe perFormances.

33

////// MARCH

- SXSW:

Part festival, part mega-conference, South By South-west hosted 2,000 bands in 80 venues throughout Austin, Texas this year. The music festival is just one of three festival-conferences that take over the city for most of March. It follows a film festival-confer-ence and an interactive media conference. SXSW is known for both its stellar lineups and its reputation as the ultimate networking event in each featured industry. More than 13,000 industry reps showed out for 2011.

Website: www.sxsw.com

2012 Dates: March 14-18

Cost: $595-$750

////// APRIL

- COACHELLA:

Seen as one of the more exclusive mainstream festivals (how’s that for oxymoron?), Coachella brings the biggest names in music and celebrity together on a huge plot of land two hours east of L.A. This year, founder Paul Tollett shocked fans and the music busi-ness alike when he announced there would be TWO Coachellas this year, on back-to-back weekends, with the same lineup. The idea is to give more people the opportunity to experience the magic of the music and production without overcrowding.

2012 Dates: April 13-15, April 20-22

Website: www.coachella.com

Cost: $269

////// MAY

- JOSHUA TREE:

Held in the town of its namesake, Joshua Tree, California, the three-day Joshua Tree Music Festival is as much global symposium as it is jam session. It boasts artists from all over the world and the U.S. while giving attendees the hippie-commune feeling of solidarity, and tons of great entertainment.

Website: www.joshuatreemusicfestival.com

Cost: $75 + $15/night camping

////// June

- BONNAROO:

Calling all hippies! This one’s for you. Three days of camping out commune-style with music junkies from around the country. There are plenty of activities, food, drink, and merriment to be had. The music is a mix of folk, indie, rock, jam, and even a little hip-hop. Whatever your “ish,” you’ll be satisfied at Bonnaroo. As long as you’re okay with dirt, that is.

Website: www.bonnaroo.com

Cost: $250

- SUMMERFEST:

Big. We’re talking massive. For 11 days straddling the end of June and beginning of July, Milwaukee, Wisconsin succumbs to festival-goers for a music event that boasts the largest attendance in the world. That’s primarily because it’s the best deal for your wallet, but the lineup isn’t shabby either. It usually includes some rock vets (Meatloaf, anyone?) as well as more contemporary rock, pop, and indie artists. Between the venue, the city, and the Lake, Summerfest offers a one-of-a-kind all-ages festival experience.

Website: www.summerfest.com

Cost: $15/day

////// JuLY

- ALL GOOD:

There’s not much reason to spend time in West Virginia, unless of course you live there, but we make one exception for the All Good Music Festival on Marvin’s Mountaintop. Four days of camping, eating and music making totally justify the rugged trip up the mountain. The lineup features more than 40 acts that never overlap, so attendees get to hear it all.

Website: www.allgoodfestival.com

2011 Dates: July 14-17

Cost: $200

34

////// AuGuST

- LOLLAPALOOZA:

Held in Chicago’s Grant Park, “Lolla” is three days of sensory overload and this year, they’re pulling out all the stops to celebrate their 20th birthday. Un-like many of the other major festivals, Lolla doesn’t discriminate when it comes to genre. 130+ bands from hip-hop to folk and everything in between take over 115 acres in the heart of the city. There’s never a shortage of music, activities, or beverages.

Website: www.lollapalooza.com

2011 Dates: August 5-7

Cost: $215

////// SePTeMbeR

- AUSTIN CITY LIMITS:

They say everything is bigger in Texas, and the City of Austin makes no exception. Home to both SXSW and Austin City Limits, this town knows how to party. Headliners this year include Stevie Wonder, Arcade Fire, Coldplay and Kanye West. Add in all the extra activities, like the Farmer’s Market, a sports lounge, autograph sessions, and the SoCo Art Market, and you’ve got a total three-day vacation.

Website: www.aclfestival.com

2011 Dates: September 16-18

Cost: $185 or $90 single day

////// OCTObeR

- TREASURE ISLAND:

A fairly new festival on the scene, this year marks Treasure Island’s fifth festival on the man-made San Francisco Bay island. Booking plenty of national and local up-and-coming acts, this two-day festival is a West Coast favorite. The first day usually features electronic and hip-hop music, while the second day sees rock and indie rock bands perform.

Website: www.treasureislandfestival.com

2011 Dates: October 15-16

Cost: $120 or $67.50 single day

• Plan ahead. Many big festivals sell out months before.

• Pack to camp. Unless it’s a big city festival with plenty of hotels, think Woodstock without the politics.

• Schedule your days. Most festivals have overlapping sets. Check the lineup ahead of time to make sure you see the bands you really want to see.

• Network. Nothing brings people together like good music. Use the ca-maraderie between attendees during festivals to make new connections.

• Expand your horizons. Festivals are the best way to branch out from the bands you know and discover new music.

• Bring plenty of greenbacks. You may be camping on the cheap, but there will be tons of food, alcohol, art, and merch to purchase and nobody wants to leave a festival empty-handed.

FESTIVALTIPS

35

dEby John Mouser

www.devishot.comwww.twitter.com/devishot

36

As pop music continues to diversify, indie sub-genres seem to rise to fill the gaps. Indie electro-pop artist Dev is a perfect example of this. With her hit single

“Bass Down Low” and very popular features on the songs “Like a G6” by Far East Movement and “Backseat” by the New Boyz, Dev is a fresh face pop music.

Three years ago, Devin Star Tailes was just an average student in col-lege with distant dreams of making music.

“I had recorded a song or two on Garageband and put it up on the Internet with my friend who had a MySpace page with beats on it,” explained Dev.

Within a couple of months she had gained the attention of rising pro-ducer/artist duo The Cataracs (consisting of David “Campa” Benjamin Singer-Vine and Niles “Cyrano” Hollowell-Dhar). The Cataracs reached out to her, stating, “Your sound is kind of cool and weird. You should come to Berkley and we should make music.”

She began commuting to Berkley several times a week in between school and work, aiming to “record as much as possible and soak up as much as I could.” The pairing of Dev and the Cataracs proved to be a perfect match from the beginning.

“I hadn’t really even sung in front of anyone until I met them,” revealed Dev.

She also credits the Cataracs with helping her learn how to properly structure a song.

“I didn’t know what a bridge was, or anything like that,” stated Dev. “They also taught me how to paint pictures with my words and say what I really feel.”

The smash “Like A G6” by Far East Movement, with a properly placed Dev sample, proved to be the perfect formula for a number one hit. Her next big collaboration came when the Cataracs hooked up with pop/hip-hop all-stars the New Boyz.

Dev’s heavily anticipated debut LP is set to drop in September of this year, providing listeners with a wide range of songs. For the recording of this album, Dev and the Cataracs packed up shop and headed south to Costa Rica for a change of pace from the usual hustle and bustle of city life in California.

“It was amazing,” Dev shared. “We were literally in the studio every day, but whenever we took a break, we were right on the ocean. It was absolutely beautiful.”

The lead-off single on Dev’s album is an upbeat track that showcases her vocal capabilities and Latin background.

“Going into the album, it was important for me to make music that was really close to me,” revealed Dev.

The song also features a very catchy, borderline haunting saxophone line that floats throughout the song.

Dev’s most recent collaborations are with hit producer/artist Timbal-and, with one being on her new album and one on his new album. The two met through a mutual friend, and were able to hook up for a couple of tracks in a Miami studio back in January. She was immediately blown away by his production style.

“It was really cool. He is nuts. The way that he makes music is really dope…It was definitely an amazing experience.”

C H R I S T I N AG R I M M I E

by Alexa Spieler

38

Youtube has drastically changed the music industry—and that’s an understatement. Take, for instance, unsigned artist, teenager Christina Grimmie. With nearly eighty videos uploaded, Youtube has helped transform Grimmie from your average teenage girl to an artist touring the country with the likes of Selena Gomez. Grimmie just finished up her run on Youtube’s first ever tour, the Digi-Tour, and we had the opportunity to speak with her prior to a show.

Grimmie first caught my attention five months ago. Other Youtube celebrities Sam Tsui and Kurt Schneider had put up a brand new cover of Nelly’s “Just A Dream.” Rather than just having Sam sing and Kurt do the instrumentals, a female joined them—Christina Grimmie. Upon hearing her solo, I was hooked. On occasion you see or hear someone and automatically know they have that special “something.” That is exactly what Christina Grimmie has. It’s safe to say that in the next year, Grimmie won’t be just a Youtube star, she’ll be a superstar. Grimmie’s voice is powerful and passionate and you could not guess, just by listening to her, that she’s a teenager. Her piano-playing is fantastic, seeing as she learns everything by ear and is a quick learner. She learns the piano parts in one to two days tops. Her personality is bubbly and energetic, yet completely down-to-earth and you can tell that the fame she’s obtained hasn’t done anything to alter her attitude or outlook on life. If anything, it has made her even more confident, despite the haters who spend their days trolling the internet.

In response to what the haters have to say, Grimmie said “You got to stay true to yourself and that’s the most important thing.”

This confidence hasn’t come just on her own though, as she thanks her brother, and close-friend Selena Gomez for this as well.

“My brother and Selena have been like ‘Be yourself! Who cares about whoever doesn’t want you to be you?’”

With wise words like that, it’s incredible to believe that Grimmie is just a teenager.

On June 13th she will be releasing her own album. Management had advised her not to put out her originals on Youtube just yet, because she wanted fans to wait for the finished product on the album. When speaking of the album Grimmie said that she is “so excited” because this is what she’s “been wanting to do since she was a little girl.” If there is anyone who is as excited or as anxious to hear Grimmie’s origi-nals as herself, it’s her dedicated fan base. The internet and Youtube have transformed Grimmie into this star, with over 800,000 subscribers and 122 million views.

Following an interview replete with jokes about people asking for the “Christina Grimmie” hairstyle, the Justin Bieber hair flip, and her never

going to Disney, we had the opportunity to watch Grimmie’s sound check. Let me tell you, it may have just been a sound check, but if you think her voice is incredible on Youtube, you’d have your mind blown away hearing her live right in front of you. Her voice is enough to put the haters to rest and would most certainly shut their mouths if they heard her live.

After sound check, Christina came back out to take a photo with us and say goodbye. When she was coming up the stairs I heard her jokingly say that she “doesn’t do pictures.” Knowing very well that she was kidding, as she came up the stairs, I said, “Too good for pictures, hmm?” Of course she laughed along and said that’s definitely not her and when she meets fans she asks them if they want a picture. I told her that in a year when she’s huge and famous, I’m going to hold that statement against her and make sure she’s still living by that. A few days later, Grimmie posted a picture we took together on her official facebook. As a caption underneath the picture, Grimmie posted, “the awesome girl that interviewed me at the NY show.” Just based on that, it’s safe to say that Grimmie is appreciative of every single thing that has come her way.

B e s u r e t o p i c k u p a c o p y o f G r i m m i e ’s d e b u t a l b u m , a v a i l a b l e n o w.

O n o c c a s i o n y o u s e e o r h e a r s o m e o n e a n d a u t o m a t i c a l l y k n o w t h e y h a v e t h a t s p e c i a l “ s o m e t h i n g . ” T h a t i s e x a c t l y w h a t C h r i s t i n a G r i m m i e h a s .

39

The Dangerous

Summer

Mates of State

Other Lives

PHOTOS BY: ANNA LEE

40

Burning Hotels

Jacob Abello

41

ManchesterOrchestra With your latest release Simple Math, did you guys have

a goal in mind before you started making the record?

Yeah, we always want to make something far better than what

we’ve done before. I think that we knew with these songs,

we had something that we were really going to be proud of. I

think it definitely came out exactly the way that we wanted it

to come out. We definitely had somewhat of a goal when we

walked in.

Where did you guys come up with some of the ideas for the record, in terms of the musical content? I noticed that you guys had a lot of orchestral arrangements on this record, as well as a kids’ choir on one of the tracks.

Well, it went along as it did. All of the songs were written

without anything like that. All of that was added afterwards,

where someone was like “Oh, maybe we should do a kids’ choir

there!” A good friend of ours, Ben, did all the string arrange-

ments and that was pretty much it. We trusted him with the

songs; he made a whole orchestration and it sounded beautiful

so we kept it.

by John Mouser photos by Ryan Russell

Increasingly gaining popularity, the alt-rock outfit Manches-ter Orchestra released their third full-length record, Simple Math to rave reviews. The follow-up to the band’s ground-breaking 2009 release, Mean Everything to Nothing, aims to push the boundaries of their sound. A collection of diverse tracks that bring in new elements and instrumentation, Simple Math is sure to capture the ears of new listeners, while keeping the devout fans content. We had a chance to speak with Chris Freeman and get his thoughts on the new record before their sold-out hometown show in Atlanta.

42

Did you plan on it being a conceptual album, or is that just how it came together?

There is definitely a storyline in there. That’s kind of why we

see it as sort of an experience album, from the perspective of

Andy dealing with marriage and God. Those first couple years

of marriage are a very difficult time. Once we realized that

we had a conceptual storyline in the songs, it started coming

together. We had a lot of songs on this record and we ended

up not using a lot of them because these songs seemed to fit

together really well. Then we noticed that there was cohesive-

ness through all of them. It wasn’t musically, but it was lyrically

and thematically.

Do you think the songs that didn’t make the record will eventually see the light of day?

Yeah, we’ve talked about it a couple of times. Our band really

does like going in the studio, so once we get some time off

perhaps we can go in and “re-hash” some of those old songs.

Maybe make a b-sides album or something.

I’ve read that you are kind of the multi-instrumentalist in the group. Were there any instruments that you were excited to use on this album that you hadn’t used in previ-ous works?

A vibraphone, actually. At Blackbird Studios they have an

insane list of instruments that you are able to use. I knew that

they had a vibraphone there, and we weren’t able to use it on

Mean Everything to Nothing (previous LP). I think that it is a

very pretty instrument and also a very creepy one. So we were

stoked that we could use it on the record. (Laughs) And we

used it a couple of time, so that was very sick!

Who in the band is involved with Favorite Gentlemen Records? Any new releases from Favorite Gentlemen coming out soon?

Well, we are all part of it. Andy and our old drummer Jeremiah

are the spearheads of that whole project and the company.

O’Brother has a new record coming out soon. Andy and Rob

have just finished recording with those guys, and they are get-

ting mixes every day. We are kind of hearing them as we get

them, and it sounds awesome. It will be a great release for sure.

Will Bad Books (side project consisting of Manchester Orchestra plus Kevin Devine) come out with another release?

Oh yeah, we definitely have talked about doing another Bad

Books album. It was such a fun process, and playing those

shows together was so fun. It is really fun to put on a different

hat for the day, you know? I will do anything he wants to do

because hanging out with him is one of my favorite things in

the world. That’s kind of how that whole thing came together,

because we all like hanging out with each other.

Do you ever turn on the radio or hear a band that you feel has a “Manchester” sound?

The only time I ever think that is with friends of ours that

we have toured with for a long time and you can kind of hear

them turn up their guitars a little bit, or do a certain riff that

sounds like something we have done before. But, it is always

flattering. It’s rare, but it is always cool. We have had a few

times with friends where we are making a record at the same

time and they’ll hear our new song and be like, “Oh, crap! We

have a song that sounds just like that. We just wanted to let

you know now, before anybody says anything.” (Laughing) It’s

always really funny when that happens.

You mentioned that you guys have been together for so long. What would you attribute that to? There doesn’t seem to be a lot of drama within the band.

We have just been friends for a really long time. There defi-

nitely is drama, but we have a policy of not going to bed with

any “bad blood.” We usually fix whatever the problem is, that

night. We all like hanging out together too; we know what gets

on other people’s nerves. Once you know someone for eight or

ten years, you start to realize that. We just treat it like a family.

You can hear and buy the new album Simple Math at themanchesterorchestra.com powered by Soundcloud.

Follow the band at twitter.com/manchesterorch

43

It was perhaps two minutes into my interview with singer/

songwriter/actress, Kate Voegele, when she exclaimed, “I want

my music to be like your favorite pair of blue jeans,” and I was

immediately hooked. Her third solo album, Gravity Happens

(released May 18), digs into a deeper, more meaningful side

that displays so well the maturation that she and her music

have undergone. However, you learn quickly that the constant

balancing act between her music, her acting, and her personal

life is what keeps Voegele so welcoming and so comfortable.

I spoke with Kate the day after her latest album was released

and, as you can imagine, her previous 24 hours had been just

a few inches short of a circus. In the short time the album was

available, Gravity Happens had made its way into the top 10

most purchased albums on iTunes and had also been welcomed

to a wonderful response from her fans.

Those fans, according to Voegele, deserve all the credit. “I’m

lucky that my fans are truly some of the coolest people ever.

They’re inspiring to me and they have really amazing stories; I

write my music for them. At the end of the day, it’s all about

giving something to them rather than getting something for

myself.”

Speaking specifi cally about the iTunes list and selling records,

Voegele went on to say, “It’s nice to reach a certain point on the

iTunes list or to sell however many records but that’s not what

it’s about for me.”

In addition to the standard whirlwind that is a CD release,

Voegele had recently returned to the hit television show “One

Tree Hill”, reprising her role as the guitar-wielding Mia Cata-

lano. On this season’s fi nale, she performed the fi rst single from

the new album, “Heart in Chains.”

While the show admittedly adds more to her daily grind,

Voegele expressed how important of a role the show has played

in her career by saying, “The show has been incredibly accom-

modating for me and they’ve done an amazing job of helping

me be able to do both. It’s amazing working with cool, fl exible

people who are rooting for you. Luckily, everyone I’ve sur-

rounded myself with has been like that.”

When hearing Voegele describe her music, her acting and all of

the other projects she’s involved with (she has a signature series

of Oakley sunglasses being released this summer), you don’t get

the idea that she would have time to handle anything more.

However, amidst everything going on in her professional ca-

reer, she spends every chance she gets volunteering for different

charities and giving back at every given opportunity.

Voegele has taken interest in two different non-profi t organiza-

tions in specifi c, Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) and the

Young Survival Coalition (YSC), a non-profi t dedicated to

bringing awareness and research toward breast cancer in young

women.

While talking about YSC, she said, “We raise money and

spread the word for these young women because a lot of the

issues and challenges are different if you’re a young woman

rather than someone who is older. They’re just an amazing

group of people.”

She went on to mention that her work with TACA has

stemmed from her personal experiences with those affected by

autism and that she hopes to inspire others to talk about the

issue. Voegele said, “I’m really passionate about fi nding answers

and a cure. People need to be comfortable talking about it.

Awareness is the fi rst step.”

As my time with Kate ran thin but before she was off to her

next interview, I did get a brief idea as to what we can expect

from her in the near future. Her “Less is More” tour with Na-

tasha Bedingfi eld kicked off on June 5, and for the time being,

she’s just excited to be on the road with her fans.

“Being able to bring this music to the fans live for the fi rst time

is really exciting to me. These songs are really going to trans-

late because we went for a live feel in the studio with a very

straightforward and raw arrangement. I’m really excited to take

that to the road and meet my fans.”

When you stop to think about this singing, writing, acting,

budding superstar who also enjoys volunteering, you realize

her life is far more than simple and that it is possible she may

lose sight of her denim goals. But once the music begins, you

discover an artist who writes from her heart and allows you a

glimpse into her life that would have never been possible oth-

erwise. By the time the CD is over, you fi nd yourself a bit more

trusting and, believe it or not, you feel a bit more comfortable,

too.

Then, of course, you put it right back on.

KATEVOEGELE

the crazy yet comfortable world of

Written by Weston ShepherdPhotos by Erin Shimazu

Growing up, I had a favorite pair of jeans that drove my

mother insane. With scattered holes, assorted stains

and frays galore, I wore my favorite jeans at any given

opportunity and for all occasions. It’s funny the way

we attach ourselves to the things that make us most comfort-

able, isn’t it? I felt like I was mourning the loss of a family

member when I fi nally outgrew those jeans.

Those jeans were mine.

44

It was perhaps two minutes into my interview with singer/

songwriter/actress, Kate Voegele, when she exclaimed, “I want

my music to be like your favorite pair of blue jeans,” and I was

immediately hooked. Her third solo album, Gravity Happens

(released May 18), digs into a deeper, more meaningful side

that displays so well the maturation that she and her music

have undergone. However, you learn quickly that the constant

balancing act between her music, her acting, and her personal

life is what keeps Voegele so welcoming and so comfortable.

I spoke with Kate the day after her latest album was released

and, as you can imagine, her previous 24 hours had been just

a few inches short of a circus. In the short time the album was

available, Gravity Happens had made its way into the top 10

most purchased albums on iTunes and had also been welcomed

to a wonderful response from her fans.

Those fans, according to Voegele, deserve all the credit. “I’m

lucky that my fans are truly some of the coolest people ever.

They’re inspiring to me and they have really amazing stories; I

write my music for them. At the end of the day, it’s all about

giving something to them rather than getting something for

myself.”

Speaking specifi cally about the iTunes list and selling records,

Voegele went on to say, “It’s nice to reach a certain point on the

iTunes list or to sell however many records but that’s not what

it’s about for me.”

In addition to the standard whirlwind that is a CD release,

Voegele had recently returned to the hit television show “One

Tree Hill”, reprising her role as the guitar-wielding Mia Cata-

lano. On this season’s fi nale, she performed the fi rst single from

the new album, “Heart in Chains.”

While the show admittedly adds more to her daily grind,

Voegele expressed how important of a role the show has played

in her career by saying, “The show has been incredibly accom-

modating for me and they’ve done an amazing job of helping

me be able to do both. It’s amazing working with cool, fl exible

people who are rooting for you. Luckily, everyone I’ve sur-

rounded myself with has been like that.”

When hearing Voegele describe her music, her acting and all of

the other projects she’s involved with (she has a signature series

of Oakley sunglasses being released this summer), you don’t get

the idea that she would have time to handle anything more.

However, amidst everything going on in her professional ca-

reer, she spends every chance she gets volunteering for different

charities and giving back at every given opportunity.

Voegele has taken interest in two different non-profi t organiza-

tions in specifi c, Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) and the

Young Survival Coalition (YSC), a non-profi t dedicated to

bringing awareness and research toward breast cancer in young

women.

While talking about YSC, she said, “We raise money and

spread the word for these young women because a lot of the

issues and challenges are different if you’re a young woman

rather than someone who is older. They’re just an amazing

group of people.”

She went on to mention that her work with TACA has

stemmed from her personal experiences with those affected by

autism and that she hopes to inspire others to talk about the

issue. Voegele said, “I’m really passionate about fi nding answers

and a cure. People need to be comfortable talking about it.

Awareness is the fi rst step.”

As my time with Kate ran thin but before she was off to her

next interview, I did get a brief idea as to what we can expect

from her in the near future. Her “Less is More” tour with Na-

tasha Bedingfi eld kicked off on June 5, and for the time being,

she’s just excited to be on the road with her fans.

“Being able to bring this music to the fans live for the fi rst time

is really exciting to me. These songs are really going to trans-

late because we went for a live feel in the studio with a very

straightforward and raw arrangement. I’m really excited to take

that to the road and meet my fans.”

When you stop to think about this singing, writing, acting,

budding superstar who also enjoys volunteering, you realize

her life is far more than simple and that it is possible she may

lose sight of her denim goals. But once the music begins, you

discover an artist who writes from her heart and allows you a

glimpse into her life that would have never been possible oth-

erwise. By the time the CD is over, you fi nd yourself a bit more

trusting and, believe it or not, you feel a bit more comfortable,

too.

Then, of course, you put it right back on.

KATEVOEGELE

the crazy yet comfortable world of

Written by Weston ShepherdPhotos by Erin Shimazu

Growing up, I had a favorite pair of jeans that drove my

mother insane. With scattered holes, assorted stains

and frays galore, I wore my favorite jeans at any given

opportunity and for all occasions. It’s funny the way

we attach ourselves to the things that make us most comfort-

able, isn’t it? I felt like I was mourning the loss of a family

member when I fi nally outgrew those jeans.

Those jeans were mine.

45

FocusingoutwardHow actress/musician Caitlin Crosby is changing the world around her.Written by Amanda MoradPhotos by Ruel

Actress, Musician, L.A. native, and philanthropic wonder woman. Urban legend? We thought so until we talked with

Caitlin Crosby, who beautifully embodies the talent and drive

of an up-and-coming Hollywood star and the compassion and

generosity of a seasoned third-world missionary.

Crosby just wrapped up the second season of MTV’s dramedy

series, “The Hard Times of RJ Berger,” and co-starred in a

pilot fi lmed for NBC, “Mann’s World.” Her debut indie-rock

album, Flawz, was released in 2009, and her second album

is now in the works. What’s most impressive about Crosby is

that, though she’s grown up in the Beverly Hills culture and

had early industry success, she’s more interested in giving back

than looking out for herself.

Crosby maintains the non-profi t initiative LoveYourFlawz.com,

a site dedicated to teaching people to love themselves and

embrace their fl aws, with fellow actress Brie Larson. The girls’

message challenges the Hollywood image of physical perfec-

tion and promotes the beauty of being human. Celebrities and

common-folk the world over have submitted their “fl awed”

photos to their database, giving new meaning to the phrase,

“Nobody’s perfect.”

Crosby is also the founder of The Giving Keys, a charity that

gives back in more ways than one. Keys are made into jewelry

with words engraved on them like “Love,” “Hope,” and

“Strength.” The necklaces are sold for $30, but the catch is

that you can’t keep it. You have to give it away to someone you

feel needs the message on the key the most. There’s a commu-

nity on the website where customers share their stories of hope

through a little homemade jewelry. It’s all about “paying it for-

ward.” The proceeds from the $30 you spent on the necklace

go to support Cera and Rob, a young couple recovering their

lives from homelessness on Hollywood Blvd. The story of how

they became involved is both strange and beautiful. So we’ll let

Caitlin tell it. Since she was there and all.

For fun I used to wear this key around my neck and always got

compliments on it. Then for a friend’s birthday I engraved the

word LOVE on it from a locksmith and she loved it. Then I just

started making them for friends’ birthdays and gifts and it was just

a weird response how much people loved them. Then I started sell-

ing them on tour. I would make them myself and then pay a lock-

smith to engrave them and I tied it in with my Love Your Flawz

campaign. Every single key is one-of-a-kind just like you. So when

you buy one, when you wear one, I want it to make you feel like

you’re one of a kind and special and there’s no one else like you.

From there, they were selling like crazy, but I knew there was a

missing link. I still wanted it to be something else and I was just

kind of waiting on what that was gonna be. One day I went to a

church called Ecclesia, and I was watching a screening for Invisible

Children. I left so inspired and as I was walking back to my car, I

saw this homeless couple, Cera and Rob, sitting under an umbrel-

la. It was raining, and they were holding up a sign that said “Ugly,

Hungry, and Homeless.” It caught my eye because it looked like

a “Love Your Flawz” picture. The word “Ugly” was just so [bold],

it stood out to me and made me really sad. I went up to them and

asked their story. I thought they were so cool and just fell in love

with them. So I took them to this nice restaurant, and cancelled

my plans I had for that night. [Over dinner] I said to Cera, “I real-

ly like your necklace,” and she said, “Oh thanks, I made it. I really

like making jewelry.” I freaked out and was like, “Oh my gosh, this

is it. You guys are the missing link to The Giving Keys.” I [said],

“I would pay you to engrave the keys and help me make them, and

ship them out. You guys wanna be my business partners?”

I bought them a kit from a locksmith and it looked like we were

doing drug deals because I would meet them at random Holly-

wood streets and alleys. I’d give them money and they’d give me

a bag. They started making enough money to start staying in a

motel and have a roof over their heads. Rob just got his GED and

now he’s starting school at the local community college in August.

Cera just moved to San Diego to this amazing women’s transition-

al home, and she just got a job at the Zoo. It was one of the best

days of my life when Cera called me and asked if she could use me

on her resume as her boss. I tried not to cry. They’re some of my

favorite people on the planet now.

Between The Giving Keys, LoveYourFlawz, and other charity

work, you’re extremely involved in philanthropy. What moti-

vates you to keep reaching out?

It’s just in my bones and soul. I can’t not reach out. This is all I

think about. I have trouble sleeping because my mind is always

running with ideas and different creative ways to try to help people

and bring change and hope and love and positive things to the

world. And also I have a lot of amazing friends that think that way

too. My best friend is a social worker, so I think I’m just around a

lot of people that think that way too. It’s just normal.

What does paying it forward mean to you personally?

I think it represents more than just a cliché, trendy thing that peo-

ple say. It’s a trap and an unhealthy way to live when we’re focused

on ourselves all the time. I think the more we put our focus out on

trying to help others, it makes us feel more complete and fulfi lled.

GIVE

HOPE

I have trouble sleeping because my mind is always running with ideas and different creative ways to try to help people and bring change and hope and love and positive things to the world.

LOVE

46

FocusingoutwardHow actress/musician Caitlin Crosby is changing the world around her.Written by Amanda MoradPhotos by Ruel

Actress, Musician, L.A. native, and philanthropic wonder woman. Urban legend? We thought so until we talked with

Caitlin Crosby, who beautifully embodies the talent and drive

of an up-and-coming Hollywood star and the compassion and

generosity of a seasoned third-world missionary.

Crosby just wrapped up the second season of MTV’s dramedy

series, “The Hard Times of RJ Berger,” and co-starred in a

pilot fi lmed for NBC, “Mann’s World.” Her debut indie-rock

album, Flawz, was released in 2009, and her second album

is now in the works. What’s most impressive about Crosby is

that, though she’s grown up in the Beverly Hills culture and

had early industry success, she’s more interested in giving back

than looking out for herself.

Crosby maintains the non-profi t initiative LoveYourFlawz.com,

a site dedicated to teaching people to love themselves and

embrace their fl aws, with fellow actress Brie Larson. The girls’

message challenges the Hollywood image of physical perfec-

tion and promotes the beauty of being human. Celebrities and

common-folk the world over have submitted their “fl awed”

photos to their database, giving new meaning to the phrase,

“Nobody’s perfect.”

Crosby is also the founder of The Giving Keys, a charity that

gives back in more ways than one. Keys are made into jewelry

with words engraved on them like “Love,” “Hope,” and

“Strength.” The necklaces are sold for $30, but the catch is

that you can’t keep it. You have to give it away to someone you

feel needs the message on the key the most. There’s a commu-

nity on the website where customers share their stories of hope

through a little homemade jewelry. It’s all about “paying it for-

ward.” The proceeds from the $30 you spent on the necklace

go to support Cera and Rob, a young couple recovering their

lives from homelessness on Hollywood Blvd. The story of how

they became involved is both strange and beautiful. So we’ll let

Caitlin tell it. Since she was there and all.

For fun I used to wear this key around my neck and always got

compliments on it. Then for a friend’s birthday I engraved the

word LOVE on it from a locksmith and she loved it. Then I just

started making them for friends’ birthdays and gifts and it was just

a weird response how much people loved them. Then I started sell-

ing them on tour. I would make them myself and then pay a lock-

smith to engrave them and I tied it in with my Love Your Flawz

campaign. Every single key is one-of-a-kind just like you. So when

you buy one, when you wear one, I want it to make you feel like

you’re one of a kind and special and there’s no one else like you.

From there, they were selling like crazy, but I knew there was a

missing link. I still wanted it to be something else and I was just

kind of waiting on what that was gonna be. One day I went to a

church called Ecclesia, and I was watching a screening for Invisible

Children. I left so inspired and as I was walking back to my car, I

saw this homeless couple, Cera and Rob, sitting under an umbrel-

la. It was raining, and they were holding up a sign that said “Ugly,

Hungry, and Homeless.” It caught my eye because it looked like

a “Love Your Flawz” picture. The word “Ugly” was just so [bold],

it stood out to me and made me really sad. I went up to them and

asked their story. I thought they were so cool and just fell in love

with them. So I took them to this nice restaurant, and cancelled

my plans I had for that night. [Over dinner] I said to Cera, “I real-

ly like your necklace,” and she said, “Oh thanks, I made it. I really

like making jewelry.” I freaked out and was like, “Oh my gosh, this

is it. You guys are the missing link to The Giving Keys.” I [said],

“I would pay you to engrave the keys and help me make them, and

ship them out. You guys wanna be my business partners?”

I bought them a kit from a locksmith and it looked like we were

doing drug deals because I would meet them at random Holly-

wood streets and alleys. I’d give them money and they’d give me

a bag. They started making enough money to start staying in a

motel and have a roof over their heads. Rob just got his GED and

now he’s starting school at the local community college in August.

Cera just moved to San Diego to this amazing women’s transition-

al home, and she just got a job at the Zoo. It was one of the best

days of my life when Cera called me and asked if she could use me

on her resume as her boss. I tried not to cry. They’re some of my

favorite people on the planet now.

Between The Giving Keys, LoveYourFlawz, and other charity

work, you’re extremely involved in philanthropy. What moti-

vates you to keep reaching out?

It’s just in my bones and soul. I can’t not reach out. This is all I

think about. I have trouble sleeping because my mind is always

running with ideas and different creative ways to try to help people

and bring change and hope and love and positive things to the

world. And also I have a lot of amazing friends that think that way

too. My best friend is a social worker, so I think I’m just around a

lot of people that think that way too. It’s just normal.

What does paying it forward mean to you personally?

I think it represents more than just a cliché, trendy thing that peo-

ple say. It’s a trap and an unhealthy way to live when we’re focused

on ourselves all the time. I think the more we put our focus out on

trying to help others, it makes us feel more complete and fulfi lled.

GIVE

HOPE

I have trouble sleeping because my mind is always running with ideas and different creative ways to try to help people and bring change and hope and love and positive things to the world.

LOVE

47

48

Wakeboarding is on the rise, and Hy-perlite happens to be a main force be-hind that rise. If you’re a wakeboarder, chances are you’ve used Hyperlite

equipment or equipment that utilizes innovations pioneered by Hyperlite. Truly, this brand is ubiquitous in their industry! We caught up with Greg Nelson from Hyperlite and found out just what all the buzz is about.

If you ask Greg about Hyperlite, he’s always proud to point out how influential the brand is in a sport that’s become insanely popular across the nation.

“Hyperlite Wakeboards has been around since the sport of wakeboarding began and is sometimes credited with the birth of the wakeboard revolution,” he said. “Hyperlite has always worked with the best athletes in the game and is responsible for the majority of industry innovations used commonly today...Innovation and performance describe our commitment to producing the most advanced and techni-cally superior products.”

Innovation has definitely come to a head with what Hy-perlite calls “The System.” In a sport where bindings mean everything, they’re completely revamped everything wake-boarders have ever known when it comes to their binding systems.

Greg explained, “Speaking of Innovation, the System is our latest ground breaking wakeboard binding. We adopted a proven technology from snowboarding, a two part binding system; Comfortable Performance Footwear matched with a Durable Supportive Chassis delivers the best ride a Wake-boarder can ask for.”

48

49

For those of us who may not have any idea what that really means for a wakeboarder, Shaun Murray, a member of Hy-perlite’s A-Team, put it simply.

“Bindings are what you rely on translating what you are telling the board to do. The better all around fit, the better the translation. By moving the support of the binding to the outside of the boot, we accomplish two things pretty quickly. Comfort, since the hard parts are outside the boot, and support/fit. Since we are able to adjust the ratchets quickly on the fly, you can allow for a stiffer or softer feeling boot. If you feel like you can’t pan out your tail grab as much, just slightly loosen the top ratchet and there ya go. Vice versa for a stiffer feel.”

Speaking of their A-Team, it’s hard not to be intimidated by their roster! Check out their website and you’ll find names of the best wakeboarders around. As Greg is quick to say, that it’s not just ability to perform well, it’s also the great per-sonalities on the team that make them great. Team member Rusty Malinoski, who won the majority of the DoubleUp events in 2010 and won WakeWorld’s “Board of the Year,” proves that with his love of being able to not only be part of

the Hyperlite team, but also have the ability to influence the product that wakeboarders everywhere ride.

“It’s really cool getting to design and test new product,” he said. “You definitely get nervous when you sign off on that last prototype and the waiting game is hard when you want to ride the final product!”

Like Greg will tell you, wakeboarding is just plain addictive, especially with the new innovations Hyperlite is coming up with.

“Wakeboarding is constantly progressing,” he mused. “But I think its popularity has grown quite a bit in the past few years. Even through tough times, those who have the bug find a way to ride!”

One can talk all day about what makes wakeboarding and Hyperlite so great, but really it boils down to the camarade-rie and atmosphere.

“There’s no place I’d rather be than on a boat with my family and friends,” Greg insisted. “That atmosphere lends to the excitement of boosting off the wake and pushing yourself to learn new tricks. It’s a rush!”

49

Br

en

da

nJa

me

s Written by Jonathan RoblesPhotos by David Bergman

entertainment weekly and newsweek have sung his praises. His songs

have taken top spots on iTunes and Billboard. His music

has been featured on American Idol, Bones, and One Tree

Hill. He’s shared the stage with John Mayer, The Fray, and

John Legend. He was signed to Capitol Records and then

let go during a takeover by Virgin Records just before his

debut. Yet he fights on.

50

the very talented Brendan James recently took time to speak with Variance while finishing up his new album.

What’s it like having your music featured in a movie or on TV shows (like American Idol)?

It’s exciting. It gives you a feeling of validation and it makes you feel relevant. I know a lot of us as songwriters want to write great songs and have great production but we also want to stay current.

How did you get started?

When I was 19, I started playing piano and writing—mainly because my music teacher intervened and encouraged me. He said, you might just have the gift.

Was that when you knew what you wanted to do?

It took awhile for me to realize it might be my calling. And then it became a way of life. I don’t know, I think I’ll be 80 years old and still wonder what I’m going to do when I grow up.

You lived in NYC for seven years. Were you playing while you were there?

I was mainly playing open mics while working at Urban Outfitters—paying rent with my paychecks and going to open mics. I went to open mic nights because I didn’t even know how to perform yet. If you don’t have a following yet, you’ve got to wait before you move on to bigger gigs.

Speaking of Idol…In recent seasons, they’ve let people use instruments. Do you think that’s what sets you apart as an artist?

For the most part, Idol cultivates one kind of performer—an artist mainly known for their voice. I am trying to emulate people who write their own songs and perform them. I’ve had to pass up a lot of opportu-nities where I could perform in front of a large crowd without my piano or sing just a cover song in front of a crowd. And I said no because it’s important to me.

You’ve said regarding your songwriting that your heart is on your sleeve. Is it different for you to sing a song that you wrote?

I don’t think one is better. Some of us just don’t know how to do it any other way. I wouldn’t know how to get up and sell someone else’s song night after night.

If you could spend an hour with anyone, who would it be?

Probably Paul Simon. It’s interesting because all these guys are getting older. And soon it will be left up to us—this new generation.

You talked about when you’re 80 years old. But where do you ultimately want to be?

I think ultimately I’d like to have several albums out, touring with large venues. And I’d like to win a Grammy—yeah. And also having a family. And I like family being close. That’s my goal.

What can we expect from you next?

I’m working on a new album, so I’m very excited. And I can’t wait to get back on the road by the fall. It should be fun. The audiences are really growing. I’m not giving up. I feel like this is my time.

www.brendanjames.com

www.twitter.com/bjamesmusic

51

[ n e V e r m I s s I n G a B e at ] By: Shayla Eaton

52

As the runner’s footsteps pound on the ground, harsh puffs of air release from his body. Another few steps, and he pushes himself harder, faster, stronger — never stopping until he reaches his

destination. He’s in it for the long haul — nothing will hold him back.

Changing Pace is running, and they aren’t stopping.

A contemporary praise and worship band from Tennes-see, Changing Pace consists of members Tyler Bradley, Lee Kercher, and Christian Walton, along with temps Chris Vermillion and Jesse Parish.

With so many different genres out there, it’s dif-ficult to find your match as a band. But Changing Pace has a heart for the young and for youth ministry.

“When I would listen to contemporary Christian rock, I would see how their music would reach my heart in a different way and how appealing it was to this generation,” Kercher (drums) said.

There are so many dif-ferent obstacles to hurdle through while pursuing one’s dreams, and Chang-ing Pace jumped over them all with grace.

“Until about four years ago,” Bradley (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) said, “I was music illiterate. I could not sing or play an instrument. I was at a conference, and a guy was talking about chasing your dreams. I decided to chase [my] dreams and go for it.”

The band’s songs are written by Bradley and creatively influ-enced by the group. Walton (lead guitar, background vocals) received his first guitar at twelve—with no lessons.

“I played all the time and taught myself,” Walton said.

The band’s got a God-given talent, even if some people didn’t always see it that way.

“It has been a very bumpy road for me,” Bradley said. “I nev-er played music before. No one believed I could accomplish what I have. It was looked at as a goofy idea. But through God, I am here now and have a lot of people behind me.”

With all the bumps and deterrents, Changing Pace still broke through. They are scheduled to play at Atlanta Fest in Georgia and at Alive Fest in Mineral City, Ohio.

One surreal moment for the band was after they completed their recording of their album Set My Soul on Fire.

“In that moment, it all came to life to me,” said Bradley.

In their album, the powerful “Make a Choice” proclaims that there are so many complacent individuals afraid to step out for what they believe in and how it is a challenge for individuals to step out of the line and be a voice for Jesus.

Changing Pace continues to push through and shout out what they believe in, and they advise others to do the same.

“Keep pushing and always do everything with a full heart and not half-hearted,” Walton said. “Don’t wrap yourself in the world, wrap and fill yourself with God and truly keep him the center of your life.”

Changing Pace continues to run at full speed toward their goal — will you run toward yours?

53

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