Hi everyone,
Due to 2 very sudden and tragic deaths in my family over the last several weeks, I will be taking a short break from FPMN. I need some time to work through things, as well as support my family during this difficult time. I will be resuming posts on October 1st.
To all of the bands looking to send their press kits to me, you may still do so. I will be in touch sometime after October 1st. You may send your press kits to FPMNbands@gmail.com
Thank you everyone for understanding!
~Paige
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Emily's Army Releases New Album, Lost At Seventeen!
Two years after the release of their debut album Don't Be A Dick, Emily's Army releases their sophomore album, Lost At Seventeen, today. The punk band from the Bay Area recently signed with Rise Records to release the new album. Emily's Army (Cole Becker - Vocals and Guitar, Max Becker - Bass, Travis Neumann - Guitar, Joey Armstrong - Drums) will be on Warped Tour this summer from 6/15 - 7/11 and will be touring the UK from 7/15 - 7/25. I recently spoke with Joey about the new album, Warped Tour, and what band he would most like to open for. Check out his interview below!
"Avenue"
Be sure to download the album here! You can find tour dates and connect with the band on Facebook and Twitter. What do you think of Emily's Army's new album? Comment below!
~Paige
Friday, April 26, 2013
BTW: Bands To Watch ~ A Sound Of Thunder
Meet female-fronted heavy metal band, A Sound Of Thunder featuring Nina Osegueda on vocals, Josh Schwartz on guitar, Chris Haren on drums, and Jesse Keen on bass. They recently released a new single entitled "I Will Not Break" which is a song off their upcoming album, Time's Arrow. I recently spoke with Nina and Josh about their sound and their goals for the band!
Front Paige Metal News: How do you describe A Sound Of Thunder's music?
Nina Osegueda: I'd call us "traditional heavy metal", though there are times when we like writing songs in other styles. We've done everything from power metal, to hard rock, to our own take on death metal. I like being versatile.
Josh Schwartz: I'd agree "traditional heavy metal" fits the bill best, but as guitarist I'm also constantly trying to shoehorn in little nods to classic rock, to keep things organic, a little bit loose, and not too mechanical.
FPMN: What inspires you as a performer and a musician? When did you first realize that music was a passion for you?
Nina: I've been performing my entire life, so that has always been a big part of me. I am inspired by stories I hear and read about, both real and fiction. Sometimes I find that reality is much stranger than anything anyone could invent.
FPMN: What mark do you hope to leave on the music industry?
Nina: I hope that people remember us as a band that never took any shortcuts or tried to make it on anything other than who and what we are, both as musicians and as people.
Josh: I want to leave behind a large catalog of memorable, quality original music, and I want people to remember us as an honest band that came together, did our own thing, and never bowed to trends.
FPMN: What is coming up for A Sound Of Thunder?
Nina: Another album, of course! Plus some special additional releases, because we just can't seem to stop writing music.
Josh: We also have a few top secret projects, not all strictly musical, that we can't talk about quite yet. Let's just say we'll be branching out. Our drummer, Chris Haren, has written a short story elaborating on the title track of our next album, and that should show people that all creative doors are open to this band. Music will always be the focus, but there's a lot more that we want to do.
FPMN: Are there any interesting or funny stories that you can tell about you or one of your band mates? Maybe a story from the studio or being on the road?
Nina: One of my favorite moments happened when we were recording "Hello Nurse". I knew that I wanted this song to be funny, and I had always envisioned the chorus ending with a creepy man's voice saying "Hello... nurse", but we couldn't think of anyone to do the voice of the doctor. One day, as my husband came to pick me up, he spoke the line. It sounded interesting, so we put him in the studio for a test. Both Josh and Chris were having doubts but I told them, "trust me", and they did. We played chorus and suddenly Willy spoke the lines in this low creepy voice. Both Chris and Josh immediately burst into solid grins and I had a big "I told you so" moment!
Josh: Jesse and Chris both snore a lot on the road, and they tend to get into an alternating rhythm with each other, where they actually sound like one person snoring really loud at double speed! It's simultaneously hilarious and annoying as hell because it's impossible to get to sleep!
FPMN: What is something that you would like my readers to know about your music?
Nina: There's a little bit of all of us in every single song we write. There is no song on any of our recordings that doesn't illustrate some part of our personality. From the stories, to the goofiness, to the heartfelt ballads, every song tells you something about this band.
Josh: Just know that we write and play what we like and what feels good. We sound exactly the way we want to sound! That's why we love our fans so much. They've decided to come along on our ride, not vice versa. No pandering to radio or trends here!
"I Will Not Break"
Be sure to connect with A Sound Of Thunder on Facebook! Also, make sure you pre-order their new album, Time's Arrow here!
~Paige
Official Site
Personal FB
Personal Twitter
YouTube
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Interview with Vestibule
Front Paige Metal News: How do you describe Vestibule's music?
Greg Havilla: It's a mix of alternative rock, prog, punk, metal, jazz, classical, electronica, and Latin.
FPMN: What inspires you as a performer and a musician? When did you first realize that music was a passion for you?
Greg: I started playing music at a young age, but my first real inspiration was hearing the drumming of my high school music teacher, Alan Abraham. When he sat down at the drum set, he didn't really play beats but just kind of flowed around the set in a way that sounded amazing, yet seemed effortless. I'd never seen anyone play drums like that before. It was definitely a blessing to be able to learn the art of percussion from him. I'm inspired by artists who continually push the boundaries of their medium, anyone who innovates and strives to break away from the paradigm of normality.
FPMN: When can we expect to hear new music from you guys?
Greg: Right now we're in the midst of the songwriting process for our second record. Expect a new album by the end of 2013.
FPMN: What else is coming up for Vestibule?
Greg: We have a few local shows coming up and are planning a Summer 2013 tour of the northeast U.S.
FPMN: What mark do you hope to leave on the music industry?
Greg: Making records that stand up to the test of time and putting on a live show that captivates fans around the globe. Our lyrics are infused with positivity and optimism, and we always try to convey a message of goodness with our music.
FPMN: What is something that you would like my readers to know about your music?
Greg: We have a lot of fun making music, and we hope you enjoy our art!
Vestibule's debut album through_the_surface is currently available for free download here. Be sure to connect with them on Facebook!
~Paige
Official Site
Personal FB
Personal Twitter
YouTube
Friday, March 8, 2013
Breaking Down The Barricades
L-R/Top To Bottom : Set It Off, Crashing Broadway,
Kobra and The Lotus, Snowdonnya
People's views on music and its boundaries are no doubt changing. Whether it's a mainstream act or a lesser known artist, musicians are pushing the envelope more than ever and reaching out to other genres for inspiration. With people's minds being more open, I decided to get several artists' opinions on the topic.
Kobra Paige (Lead Vocalist of Kobra and the Lotus), Dan Clermont (Guitarist for Set It Off), Teejay Timms (Guitarist for Crashing Broadway), and vocalist Snowdonnya spoke to me about their feelings on labeling their music, artists' musical expansion, and what they hope fans take away from their own music.
Front Paige Metal News: As a fan of many genres of music, I know that I love hearing musicians who experiment with style and don't conform to a certain subgenre. As an artist, how do you feel about people trying to put labels on your music?
Snowdonnya: If you are a free spirit, there are no labels. I'd like to think that there are some of us still out there. Labels actually are part of the music business machinery. It gives the paper pushers (lawyers, music execs, managers) a guideline on how and where to put you. That's all! Frankly, I believe a real talent can do and does it all. Hard to put a label on conqueror!
Dan Clermont: I'm personally okay with people putting their own labels on our music, simply because our music affects people in all different ways and some favor certain nuances as opposed to others when hearing the complete product.
Teejay Timms: The first impression I get when someone labels our music in one specific genre is that he or she has not listened to the album in its entirety. We put forth a commanding effort in making sure that "The Words Crossed Out" covered a multitude of genres. We wanted to make sure there was something for everyone on the record, and I believe that we achieved that goal. Nobody in the band prefers just one genre of music, so we just write what comes to us and leave walls of genres out of the equation. It dissolves many limits of the writing process, and I recommend this for all bands!
Kobra: I'm actually not bothered by it because I think that music is so subjective and people should take from it what they want. If they hear something that is working for them and they title it a certain way, I feel it's not really a right to tell them it doesn't sound like that. I have a perception of what I think I'm creating, but as far as the taste of someone else goes, I don't know what they're hearing and what it sounds like to them. I actually don't care.
FPMN: It seems as though there are some current artists who are pushing the boundaries and reaching out to other genres for inspiration. How do you feel it's affecting the music industry?
Snowdonnya: I am insecure for the so called industry. Talent is always the leader.
Dan Clermont: I feel that it is the best thing happening to music right now. It's a huge challenge these days to be completely original and reaching out and incorporating genres outside your own is the best way to do that.
Kobra Paige: I think it's great. I think it's brilliant. I would go as far as saying it's necessary to evolve, to open your box and look to other genres. You don't even have to like it, but there is something to offer in every genre that you can learn from. I think it's necessary for evolution.
Teejay Timms: I believe the effect is a positive one. With the way the economy and music industry is today, having an artist who spans further than one genre lessens the risk that a record label has to take on them financially. With the cautious pretenses that are becoming of the industry of late, I believe that multi-genre artists will be more of a requirement than a privilege.
FPMN: Do you feel like people's minds are being opened to a more creative, artistic side of music?
Snowdonnya: When you play live, that is where artistry always lives. You command the attention of others; therefore they must be open. The focus is on you as a performer to create that doorway.
Dan Clermont: Absolutely! People are going to get bored hearing the same thing over and over, so keeping it fresh and mixing it up is completely necessary.
Kobra Paige: Yeah, I do. When I have conversations with people that are listening to a bunch of different things and are trying new things, I find it way easier to have a conversation with them because they don't have a wall up about the way something should be or a template for a song and thinking that that's the correct way for that to be. That's the definition of this genre. I don't really appreciate it when people block each other because who's to say what's right when it comes to art.
Teejay Timms: Absolutely! Take, for instance, bands such as Foster the People, Gotye, and Arcade Fire, just to name a few. The style of music they create is heavily on the indie side. It's my opinion that these bands would not have been successful 10 years ago with this same style. I believe people in general have gained a better understanding about what music is and, therefore, are able to appreciate the artistic value of the songs rather than the traditional "nod your head and sing along" type of song structure and point.
FPMN: What is the most important thing that you want your fans to know about your music?
Snowdonnya: That it takes you to a dimension beyond. Most importantly that it can set you free!
Dan Clermont: For us, the most important thing is that with every lyric, riff, and song, we are trying to tell a story and that it is completely honest and true for every single bit you hear. We want to make sure that listeners can relate to us, whether it be a struggle or a triumphant moment in our lives.
Kobra Paige: I want them to know that our music comes with great messages. If they pay attention to the lyrics, they'll find that, to me anyway, it's not very shallow. There are messages in the music.
Teejay Timms: The main thing our fans need to know about our music is that we will keep it coming. Sadly, a becoming trend in today's music business is bands who are here today and gone tomorrow. So many bands who seem prominent tend to fizzle out rather quickly. It's our main goal to never be that band. I hope and will try our absolute hardest to keep this going for at least the next 30 years!
Connect:
What are your thoughts on this topic? Comment below!
~Paige
Friday, February 15, 2013
Interview with Bret Von Dehl of The Relapse Symphony
The Relapse Symphony is, without a doubt, the band to watch! Together less than a year, this band already has die hard fans known as "Rebels", are signed to Standby Records, released an EP last December and are currently writing their first full length studio album. Last year's Time's Running Out EP showcased the band's rock n' roll style which lead vocalist, Bret Von Dehl, says will expand on the new record. The band (Bret Von Dehl - Vocals, JC Charles - Guitar, Alex Foxx - Guitar, Brandon Kile - Bass, Tyler Gloyd - Drums) recently opened for Black Veil Brides on 2 dates of their Church of the Wild Ones Tour and are continuing to build a following. I recently spoke with Bret about opening for BVB, the new record and his love for TRS's fans. Check out our conversation below!
Bret: It's really hard for a band to say "We sound just like this band". We've been told that our music is kind of like a mix between My Chemical Romance, Skid Row, and Green Day. I can agree with that. We're all very influenced by those bands.
FPMN: What inspires you as a performer and a musician? When did you first realize that music was a passion for you?
Bret: For me personally, it was at an extremely early age. My father was always into rock music when he was a teenager. As a kid, I always grew up on it. My dad still listens to rock music. We go to shows together sometimes. He's always at our shows and all that stuff. When I was about two years old, I had an Elvis Presley VHS tape that I watched religiously until it completely wore out, and I grew up on bands like Motley Crue and Poison and stuff like that. For me, it was like around that age that it just made sense to do that.
FPMN: What was it like opening up for Black Veil Brides a couple of weeks ago?
Bret: It was fantastic! Me and Andy have been friends for quite a few years. They were around on the East Coast, and he wanted us to play some shows. He likes the band and everything. We thought it was cool. I hadn't seen him in a while. It was good to see those dudes and everything. They were really cool to us and everything. It went great. The crowds were insane! They have a really insanely awesome fan base, and everything went well with us. The crowds loved us, and it was too cool.
FPMN: When can we expect new music from you guys?
Bret: We're actually in the middle of writing a full length. We've been writing and demoing our asses off. We've been really excited about all this new material we've been working on. The full length is gonna be really, really rad. I think with the EP, we were still kinda finding what we wanted to do. I'm really proud of what the EP has done and what it sounds like. It's probably my favorite piece of music that's been put out in quite a few years. I think we finally got a hold on what our sound is. It's gonna be really cool for everybody to see where this band is going, and we're really taking the bull by the horns this time.
FPMN: What mark do you hope to leave on the music industry?
Bret: We hope to leave a huge mark. We'd like to be remembered for a band that's just a rock n' roll band and a really damn good one. Sort of the way that a band like Guns N' Roses is, I guess.
FPMN: What is something that you would like my readers to know about your music?
Bret: First of all, it's fantastic so you should go listen to it. So, there's that. (Laughs) Not to be narcissistic at all! Obviously, we have a look, and everybody thinks "theatrics". People go "Oh, you're a theatrical rock band". I don't think so. A band like My Chemical Romance, you mentioned Black Veil Brides, they're very theatrical, and that's cool. We like what they do, but we're just a rock n' roll band. Our songs, we write about real life, everything, our experiences and all that. I think we look the way we look because of the bands we're influenced by. I think it was bands like I mentioned like Guns N' Roses and Skid Row that we grew up on as kids. It just makes sense in our heads. We're not trying to put on any kind of theater or anything like that. I just wanna be known for being a really good rock n' roll band. That's basically our aim.
FPMN: One thing I've noticed about the band is that you're really close with your fans. Would you like to say anything to them?
Bret: I definitely look at them like a big family. As for the band, we don't even like calling them fans. It just feels uncomfortable to us. They care so much about us, and we care so much about them that it doesn't even feel like a fan relationship. The fans write me on Facebook and Twitter, and I always make sure I get back to them. I just want to say to them thanks for all the support and they should get stoked for our videos and the record we're writing. I'm really, really excited about it, and I know that they're gonna love it also. I can't wait for them to see what's coming up.
Random Questions:
FPMN: If you could collaborate with one band or artist, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Bret: I always have trouble with these questions because there are so many people that I would just love to work with. I'd have to say- I'm actually looking around at the posters on my walls right now to answer this question. It would be awesome! (Laughs) I'd love to write with Slash because he's such a badass riff writer. I love everything the dude has done from GnR to Velvet Revolver. I think that would be fantastic.
FPMN: What is your biggest pet peeve?
Bret: Oh, I have so many. I'm your typical asshole lead singer. (Laughs) My biggest pet peeve though is probably wind. I hate being outside in the wind. It drives me insane. I don't know. It sounds dumb, but it just fucks your hair up, and it's annoying! I don't know, it drives me crazy. I also hate when you're texting someone and they're online on their Facebook or Twitter and they're tweeting and you're like "Wow, what a dick. I can text you, and you can tweet but not text me back." That's a big pet peeve of mine as well. Yeah, so wind and tweeting but not texting me back pisses me off so nobody do that to me.
"Burning Bridges"
Be sure to connect with The Relapse Symphony on Facebook and Twitter, and buy their EP here! What do you think of their music? Comment below!
~Paige
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Interview with Alexx Calise
Fans of Lifetime's show Dance Moms are probably already familiar with this accomplished singer, songwriter and guitarist. Alexx Calise's hit single "Cry" was featured on the show, and the track has no doubt gained her a lot of attention. (Click here to check out the video)
Late last year, Calise released her 3rd project, an EP entitled AC3. I'm fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to speak with her about the album.
Front Paige Metal News: How do you describe your music?
Alexx: It's been a little bit different throughout every album, but on the whole I would say that it can be best described as rock alternative. A lot of people have been saying that it's a cross between Alanis, Weezer, and the Foo Fighters, especially for this particular EP because it's really raw sounding and ultra 90s, which is my favorite. I'm kind of a grunge girl. That's what we were trying to achieve with this record.
FPMN: What inspires you as a performer and a musician? When did you first realize that music was a passion for you?
Alexx: First and foremost, I've always been a writer. I've been writing stories and poems and all kinds of stuff like that ever since I was in kindergarten. I went to a Catholic school since like 6th grade or so, and we would go to mass every Wednesday and obviously there would be singing. I really enjoyed that. I used to look forward to that part of mass. We always had a chance to sing and everything. That's where I discovered that I was able to sing, but I come from a pretty musical family. My father is a guitar player. He's a really, really good musician. My great grandfather played about 13 instruments, and I had a great aunt who was a classically trained violinist. It's kind of in the Calise genetic makeup. It's in our DNA. So, it's not entirely surprising that I went down this road.
FPMN: One of the things that I really like about you is that it seems like you wear your heart on your sleeve when it comes to your music. How do you feel other people relate to your songs?
Alexx: I'm Italian and by nature we tend to do that. We tend to wear our heart on our sleeve. We're hopeless romantics and very passionate. I think that that's what people grab onto. Not to say that everyone in the industry is in it for the money and the fame and all these different things, but often times you hear a lot of the same thing. I don't see and hear a lot of people that sing with a ton of heart anymore. I see a few bands that I think really do have that. Lzzy Hale from Halestorm is a badass bitch. You can feel it when she sings. I'm not too familiar with all of their albums or anything but I know from what I've seen of her, for example, live she really sings with a lot of heart. I really grab onto that. I think that when people listen to my stuff they kind of see that same thing that you told me. That it's full of passion and that I wear my heart on my sleeve. I think that a lot of people can relate to the things that I have to say. I like to write about human emotions. The things that I'm writing about are based on my life. They're my life experiences. I think that we tend to experience the same things as human beings, and I like to write about it.
FPMN: What mark do you hope to leave on the music industry?
Alexx: It's not to say that I'm out to change the world or anything like that or that I'm reinventing the wheel with what I do, but I like to think that the kind of music that I produce is a different approach or a different take on what does exist already. What I hope to do is inspire people. I think that's what we all aim to do as musicians. In so many words, I hope that I can be some kind of a comfort to people. For example, when my song "Cry" came out, it really started doing well, and a lot of people reached out to me saying "Thank you for making a song like this, for making a song that I can relate to so much." If I can do that for people, especially on a grand level, that would make me extraordinarily happy. That would be amazing. That's all we can really ask for and hope for as a musician, I think.
FPMN: What was the recording process of the EP like?
Alexx: It was kind of an interesting process. We did everything entirely at home except for the drums. We worked on it for about 6 months or so. We camped out at my apartment, and we just hashed everything out. It was very experimental. In terms of tones and everything we just kinda sat there and fucked with knobs and did all kinds of crazy stuff. One of the songs "Survive", which is the ballad on the EP, went through about four different incarnations, and the final incarnation was entirely different than when we first started messing with it. Now it kinda has this crazy, acoustic Pink Floyd thing going on. It was very experimental. I thought it really broadened my scope as a musician, as a vocalist and a guitar player. It made me a way better everything.
FPMN: What is something that you would like my readers to know about your music?
Alexx: I try to write with passion and heart and soul, and I think that's the most important element when you're writing. If you do it for any other reason, you're an idiot. (Laughs) Just write with your heart, and do everything in life with heart. That's all you can do. It's what's going to make you happy at the end of the day.
"Break My Heart"
You can also check out a documentary on the making of AC3 here! What do you think of Alexx's music? Comment below! You can buy AC3 here.Be sure to connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.
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