As I was watching "Under the Gun" on Pretty Little Liars a few weeks ago, casually dismissing the insane mistakes Hanna always seems to make, I heard Anthony's voice and was instantly left wanting more. I took to Google to find out who this mystery man was, and was pleased to find that the catchy tune on PLL is called "We Need To Be Loved", by Anthony Starble.
On set of Pretty Little Liars
How did you wind up on PLL?
I'm actually good friends with one of the writers on the show, Lijah Barasz,
and when a part came up for a piano playing singer in The Brew, she submitted my info to the producers. Did you have this song in mind to perform? Or was it chosen beforehand?
I was booked on the show before we decided on the song. The producers wanted something uplifting that was just piano and voice, and I thought of this song because th
e hook can be internalized as both a positive or negative reaction to the idea of needing to be loved, and I think that makes it very relatable. I sent the producers a demo, since the song hadn't been released yet, and they loved it.
What was that day like on set? Did you get to meet any of the PLL cast?
Well I certainly felt like I was living life like a glamorous actor! They really spoiled me by giving me my own trailer and escorting me to and from set. Filming the scene made me a little nervous, since everyone in the room was watching me sing my song over and over and over again. We had to do a lot of takes for the different camera angles. All in all we probably did somewhere between 15- 20 takes. I got such positive feedback from the actors and the camera crew that my nerves quickly settled. I did get to meet some of the cast and chat with them a little bit between takes.
That's awesome! Who'd you meet?
Anthony and writer of the ep. Lijah Barasz
I got to meet Troian whoplays Spencer, Lucy (Aria), and Shay (Emily). They were all very nice considering they had probably been on set since 5AM. I definitely hit it off with Lucy, since she also has a music career. We chatted a little about the music business. The highlight was probably talking with Shay, who couldn't stop gushing over my song.
Was this your firsttelevision appearance?
This was my first big television appearance on a series. Getting the opportunity to sing an original song on a major network show was a dream come true.
I read you've done some theater in the past, what was your favorite play that you've been in, and who did you play?
I grewup doing musical theater in school and was always involved in regional productions as well. I'd say my favorite show was Spring Awakening. I played the part of Ernst. I love the musical sensibility and raw emotion of that show!
About your music...the piano completely struck me along with the jazzy tones in your voice. It's difficult for me to describe. How would you describe your music? I definitely write pretty melodies and catchy hooks, so at its core my music is pop, but I take a lot of influence from neo-soul vocalists and folk songwriters, so I usually describe my music as a hybrid of pop, folk, and soul. Your lyrics for "We Need To Be Loved" are equally as stunning. What kind of place emotionally do you have to be in when you write, and what is your process like? My process usually begins with a musical idea on the piano, which then sparks a lyric idea. Once I have the initial lyric idea, I come up with possible themes that relate to the lyric and base the rest of the song around which theme I decide to go with. I definitely indulge in a sense of heightened emotionality when I write, letting the feeling of the song kind of take control. It feels like I'm in a another world sometimes.
I can tell, that song has been added to my Summer playlist for sure. The lyrics just ring so true.
So glad you liked the song Lindsay! Are you getting ready to release any new music?
I am. "We Need To Be Loved" will be on an EP set to release this fall.
Top 3 songs on your personal playlist?
"Elusive" by Lianne LaHavas, stunning singer/songwriter from the UK. "Breathe Me" by Sia, super emotional power ballad, and lastly "Mirrors" by Justin Timberlake, I haven't been able to get that song out of my head for months.
I could so see you doing a cover of JT- just a suggestion! So if you could collab with any musician, who would it be? Elton John. He's had an amazing career and I'd love the possibility of collaborating with an iconic piano playing songwriter.
So what's next for you? Where do you see yourself going?
After the new release of my EP this fall, I'll put a package together and submit to labels. I see myself not only as an artist, but as a heavy-hitting songwriter as well. I'd say you're well on your way, already having been able to grab massive amounts of attention in under 30 seconds on PLL. I'm looking forward to your EP this fall!
Thank you so much Lindsay! It's been a pleasure!
You may know him as "That awesome Jokerguy!!11!" but with a little more research you'll find out that this "Joker guy" is more than a first rate cosplayer. Well, for starters, he's a man. With hopes, dreams, aspirations, and a life of his own (an obvious observation, right?). Tell that to the massive amounts of fangirls. His life was instantly changed by accidentally becoming an underground cultural phenom- and that is exactly what makes this so interesting.
With over 77,000 likes on Facebook, would he call himself famous? Not exactly. Read on for his reaction to his new reputation, upcoming projects, and just how much longer he plans on embodying the green-haired villain. Lindsay: We know by now that this unpredictable fame has all stemmed from a simple passion of yours. What impact has this had on your life, and the lives of your friends, family, and loved ones? Anthony: Nothing at all, really. The only change is that now I have to spend about an hour or two on Facebook every night "tending to the beast". Aside from that, it doesn't exist in my life. People who say I'm "famous" don't understand that it's a very tiny niche sub genre of nerd that I appeal to, haha. Also people don't tend to understand the HUGE difference between being popular on Facebook, and success. They are not one and the same.
L: I suppose being popular on Facebook doesn't pay the bills...so there's been no professional advancements that have stemmed from this? A: Not a one in any way whatsoever at all.
L: Hm, I think something has to happen if you keep at it. Clearly 77,000 people see something in you. That must be reassuring in some way. A good number of those people think you're a heart throb, what do you think of that? A: It's silly. I'm a noodley, goofy, mildly funny looking, furry muscle-less man. People
are sure to wake up from it all sooner or later.
L: You're working on a web series, The Batman Chronicles, how do you get into character as the Joker, aside from the two hour makeup job? A: Actually the makeup is closer to three and a half hours. We shot The Batman Chronicles film back in June. It was a fantastic experience. Getting into character is hard to describe, but it's similar for any role I think. In everyday life you're very aware of the world around you, or at least you try to be so that you don't die. When you're acting on camera, you have to almost zone out and erase from your mind the fact that there are cameras and technicians and lights and microphones and everything else, so that you can essentially play pretend very well and exist in the moment of the scene. With the Joker it was no different. The primary difference being the character himself is a bit emotionally unstable and extreme. So it required me to just really let myself go completely and stay worked up a little between takes depending on the context of the scene we were shooting. L: How does your interpretation of the character differ from your predecessors? A: Every actor brings a tiny slice of themselves to every role, no matter how big or small the role or the slice. I suppose the other reason every actor is different is because we all had different scripts to work with. I just hope that I successfully did my job of making every moment as honest and as true as possible.
L: I feel like you will have delivered the performance your fans (yes, fans) are looking for. When in character as the Joker, is there anything you wouldn't do? A: I don't think there's ANYTHING the Joker wouldn't do if it was a means to him achieving his goals, whatever they may be.
L: Do you see a light at the end of the tunnel? Planning on hanging up the Joker costume any time soon? A: Absolutely, I'll be hanging up the coat and tails in the near future.
Fresh faced
L: What personal projects are you working on currently? A: Right now the only project I'm working on is a web series called "Reel Butter". It's a comedy show I do with Ryan Cerutti on YouTube. We review movies, talk about entertainment news, etc. Aside from that I'm actually trying to avoid getting involved with too many projects
at the moment simply because of how invested I always get in anything I'm working on. Given my plans to move across country in a few months, I need to save every cent I can.
L: Are you going to continue as an actor, or would you like to get into directing? What is the ultimate goal for your future? A: I've been acting for fourteen years, and directing for about seven, I don't plan to stop either anytime soon. The ultimate goal I suppose would be making my living doing these things and not having to support myself otherwise.
L: A typical day in your life would consist of...? A: Waking up earlier than my body wants, going to work, coming home, eating, tending to the beast that is the Joker Facebook page, editing an episode of "Reel Butter", and sleeping. Then I repeat.
Messing around on "Reel Butter" - So educational! Sort of..!
L: On any given day, you can't live without... A: Oxygen.
L: Ahhhaa, yes I suppose I set myself up for that one. What are the top two songs in your playlist as of right now? A: "Downfall" by Matchbox 20 and "Starman" by David Bowie.
L: If you could play any character, who would it be and what actor would you consider to be your overall inspiration? A: Jack. No specific Jack though, there have been hundreds of characters in literature and film over the years named Jack, and most of them great parts. I would gladly take any of them on. As far as inspirational actors go, it's tough to say. For the sake of giving you an answer I'll simply name one of my favorite actors, Dustin Hoffman.
L: Anything you want to say to your supporters? A: You're all nuts. Keep up the good work, you sweet, silly, creative, talented, eccentric bunches of people with weird taste.
L: Thanks so much your time! Best of luck to you and all your future plans. A: Thank you!
I'll leave you all with this... seriously, this is in my apartment at home- in my kitchen.
Watching you.
Every. Time. You. Cook.
After like 15 years you barely notice him it.
I promise.
Being in London
for the Summer, my mind often drifts away to Neverland. I can’t help but think
of it when I pass Big Ben, or visit Kensington
Gardens. Peter Pan’s many
adaptations have become a staple part of my childhood, so seeing these landmarks
was kind of like a dream come true.
Peter Pan statue in Kensington Gardens
When I found out about East Of Kensington, I became instantly excited. Why?
Well, because it’s not a classic adaptation. It is
darker, colder, and harshly realistic- all of which appeal to me.
It has left the door wide open and full of
possibilities. However dark and malevolent this film will be, director Kellen
Moore is absolutely one of the sweetest people. Enthusiasm (as you will soon
see) simply radiates from him, and is sure to be felt by all he encounters.
Please
enjoy this in-depth interview with Kellen Moore featuring exclusive stills from his film
East of Kensington, as he answers questions on characters, production, casting, working with internet sensation Andrew Ducote (Spieling Peter),
and his personal journey in and out of Neverland.
Director Kellen Moore
LT: As a lover of all things Peter Pan,
when I found out about this production I was instantly sold. Since that day
I’ve been waiting for any scrap of information you could throw our way...where
are you right now in production and where have you been filming?
KM: We actually wrapped production
February 2012... which is just crazy to think, because we haven’t even started
submitting it to film festivals yet. The filmmaking process is really broken up
into three blocks- pre-production, production, and post-production. For East of
Kensington, physical production was actually the shortest of those three
blocks... we spent a tremendous amount of time in pre-production finessing the
script, casting the iconic roles, and doing a tremendous amount of planning for
our sets. It was really a matter to figure out how we were going to tackle such
a large production. Post-production was equally as difficult. The film took
months to complete with a team of visual effects artists to make our London set extensions and
the animation of Tinker Bell. Our film’s composer, Andrew Barkan, recorded East
of Kensington’s score with a team of talented musicians to create a live
orchestral sound, which was very unusual for a student short film.
Big Ben Production Still
LT: When did you first learn about
Peter Pan? What was it about that experience that made it memorable for you?
Andrew Ducote aka Spieling Peter
KM: Believe
it or not, growing up I wasn’t a massive Peter Pan fan, haha. Which is strange
to say considering the past 3 years of my life has been all about Peter Pan.
Making East of Kensington, I was surrounded by a very knowledgeable creative
team- one of my Producers, Grace Babbes, and my creative consultant, Andrew
Ducote, were both incredibly aware of the world JM Barrie created and his
characters. I was very much guided by them to make sure what we were doing was
Barrie-acceptable. But prior to working with Grace and Andrew, I started
writing drafts for EOK back in 2010 (that’s crazy), and my initial drafts were
just awful, haha, they really were. The story and the concept for what is EOK
now was in the early drafts of the script, but the early character of Peter was
scrapped. I initially wrote Peter as mish mash of who I remembered him being
from Disney and just my childhood understanding of the story. It created a
portrait of a very shallow character that was not engaging or interesting for
the story. It was then very apparent to me that I needed to do my homework, and
I threw out the early drafts and read both JM Barrie’s book and play of Peter
Pan. I was shocked to discover how incredibly wrong I was about who Peter Pan
was and what Disney made him out to be. Peter Pan is one of the most
fascinating characters I’ve ever encountered- he’s the epitome of innocence but
he is also very torn character who is unable to connect to humanity. Everyone
in the world grows up... aging is a fact of life, and it’s something that Peter
Pan has managed to escape. He distances himself from anyone who lives in
reality, because he does not want to accept that in life people grow old...
live has very natural consequences. He has put himself in a shell of innocence
to protect himself. To the Lost Boys, is just a little boy who wants to have
fun, but I believe Peter was just protecting himself for the inevitable sadness
that comes with growing old. There is just so much I could say about Peter Pan
(Andrew, Grace, and I would engage in hour conversations about him constantly,
haha).
LT: Taking on
a Peter Pan film is a huge, huge feat. Where did the idea for the dark plot
twist come from?
KM: That’s a
great question, and like most of my ideas, I don’t know exactly where they come
from, haha, they just sort of pop up and there they are. I know I was really
interested in expanding on the world of Peter Pan... I have my own personal
reasons for connecting to Peter’s story and everyone loves the dream of staying
a kid forever. To live in Neverland is to live in a fantasy... and the Darling
Children who are from a very real London
had an opportunity to live in a fantasy. I wanted to explore the consequences
the public would instill on the Darling Children for claiming they had a taste
of something the world would deem impossible. The idea of reality destroying
fantasy was very interesting to me. So ironically, the film’s darkest elements
just come from real life.
LT: How did
you go about casting these household characters? Was it nerve-wracking? How did
you know when you’d found your perfect Peter/ Wendy/ John? (who by the way is
so perfectly casted, when I saw that picture of him knew exactly who he was)
KM: The
casting process on this film was the most difficult casting I’ve ever faced.
Having to cast Peter Pan is a nightmare, haha, and I don’t mean that I didn’t
enjoy it, but it was such a daunting task. And going into the casting process I
had such a clear cut idea of who Peter needed to be... he had to have the
appeal that Jeremy Sumpter had, but with the confidence that Andrew Ducote
brought to the role. Peter Pan isn’t a character you can cheat, you really have
to embody that performance (that’s something I very much learned from getting
to know Andrew). There is a confidence and self assurance required in playing
Peter Pan, and we were so lucky to have found that in our Peter, Jack Griffo.
When Jack’s head shot came up in the casting process, I was instantly like,
“that’s him”. When casting a film it’s always important to not only cast your
ideal, but to always have a back up for insurance. There was never anyone but
Jack for this role. He was everything I was looking for. I’m so lucky to have
had the chance to work with him because he brought more than I could have asked
for to the part. He’s incredibly talented and I’m so happy to see all of the
current career success coming his way with Nickelodeon, because there was never
a doubt in my mind he was going to make it.
Peter Pan/ Future Nickelodeon Star Jack Griffo
The other roles were equally as daunting, just because of their iconic
nature. We auditioned over 80 Wendys... so many Wendys, haha. We saw such a
variety of girls wanting that role. We ended up casting Kelsey Lee Smith, who
did a fantastic job, but that poor girl had to endure so much in the audition
process. I would walk into the auditions and see her finishing up her reading,
with tears just streaming down her face... and that wasn’t the first time she
needed to do that (not to mention all the times she had to do it on set). She
was only 16 when we filmed and she handled the role like an expert- she brought
an elegance and a depth to Wendy that I really think shines on screen.
LT: What was
it like to see your characters come to life, and to have your very own Peter?
KM: Surreal.
Just a surreal experience overall. Overwhelming and magical at the same time.
The casting process was so much work, I just felt like I had won the lottery
with my cast in the end. Considering Jack was the only Peter we wanted, it
makes me dizzy to think if I hadn’t received his headshot... I have no idea
what I would have done.
LT: What kinds of things would you say to the cast to get them in the right
mindset for acting? Did they feel any pressure portraying such iconic
characters?
KM: Each
actor had their own process, which was one of the coolest things about working
with them on this film, was just learning what each of them needed. I learned a
lot about myself as a director by working with them.
As for pressure, I’m not sure how each of them felt knowing they were
playing iconic characters. I never wanted any of my actors to feel pressure
outside of just delivering an authentic and strong performance. They brought
their own spin on these characters, and I love what they did with them. And the
cast was also in good hands to make sure certain things were done
authentically- Andrew coached Jack on and off set with Peter mannerisms and
showed him the ropes. I specifically remember the day we were shooting in the
Nursery at night when Peter enters, and Jack’s movements as Peter were just
like a normal persons. I immediately called Andrew in, and Andrew gave us all a
major lesson on how Peter Pan would skillfully walk. Jack got it down
immediately and it made an incredible difference.
LT: As the
end draws nearer, what are your feelings about the film? Is there anything you
wish you could do over? What was the last day on set like?
KM: A
director’s work is never done... it’s so true. I would tweak this film every
day if someone let me. But I’ve been incredibly selfish with this movie... it’s
been beyond a passion project for me, and I’ve spent an unfair amount of time
tweaking it. My producing team, cast, and crew, waited an entire year longer
than promised to let me make the movie I wanted to make. So I am very proud of
the finished project. It’s my proudest and most personal work to date.
The last day of set is kind of a blur looking back, haha. It was almost
two years ago, but I just remember feeling this massive weight lifted off my
shoulders. That feeling of “Is that it? Did we do it?”. But the most memorable
thing that sticks in my mind from that day was Jack’s performance. We shot the
final scene of the film on the last day (mainly because it’s the most emotional),
and Jack just killed it. I was just in awe of him.
LT: What kind
of atmosphere was there on set? Was there any time to joke around or was it
straight to business? Were there any pranks pulled?
KM: The mood
was different every day based on the seriousness of the scene, or if we were on
schedule or not. There was a time to play and have fun... but there was money
and time on the line, so it was important to stick to the job at hand. But
overall it was a very loving atmosphere... we were just a team of good friends
having the opportunity to do what we loved. And Peter Pan was a story that was
important to so many of the crew members, so there was a lot of magical moments
for everyone. Seeing the entire Darling family in the Nursery or all the Lost Boys
in the Home Underground isn’t something that doesn’t make you pinch yourself.
LT: Where did you get your inspiration for costumes/ set design? The stills
are absolutely beautiful.
KM: Thank
you! At the time I would say visually my two biggest inspirations were American
Horror Story and The Women in Black. I wanted to bring a certain level of bleak
realism to the world of JM Barrie and I used those two worlds as references all
the time. I was so lucky to have such an incredible Art Department-
my production designer, CK Spitler, and set designer, Lexi Vanni, really poured
their hearts and souls to make the world of the film tangible and unique. I’m
incredibly proud of the work they did.
As for the costumes, I had an idea early on that I wanted to reference
the civil war for Peter. The Peter we meet in the film has destroyed Captain
Hook and has some war success under his belt... I saw him as a general to the
Lost Boys, so I wanted him to have an outfit that looked a bit like a military
uniform (that’s where the pinecone shoulder pads come from). Wendy was very
much inspired from the period of the 1920s, and I constantly referenced the
girls in the photos of the famous Cottingley Fairies. I thought those girls had
a very ethereal quality to them that was also appropriate to the same time
period that East of Kensington is set in. My costume designer, Danielle Cohen
Reitshtein, made the bold and brilliant decision of putting Wendy in white for
the majority of the film.
LT: Are you
going to have a red carpet premiere/premiere of some sort?
KM: We
premiered the film at Chapman University’s Dodge College
for Film and Media Arts in February. That was a full cast and crew screening
and just a wonderful night overall. If we were to have another screening with a
turn out like that, it would be for a film a festival I would imagine.
LT: How was
working with the “ultimate” Peter Pan sensation Andrew Ducote? What kind of
advice did he give you/ what did he bring to the production?
KM: Andrew
has become one of my closest friends. He’s incredibly gifted, an insightful
individual, and a well rounded filmmaker. I know Andrew’s name is synonymous
with Spieling Peter, but for me he’s just a close friend and my film making
partner in crime. Having the opportunity to get to know Andrew on this film was
one of the biggest gifts I could have received- my friendship with him has
really shaped my life these past two years.
LT: Where do
you want to go with your career/ What future plans do you have?
KM: I just
want to keep making movies, haha. I’m at my happiest when I’m directing, and
it’s something I will always avidly pursue. But a more immediate answer is that
Andrew and I have been recently selling spec commercials to companies. This
past year we sold commercials to 7up, M&Ms, and Airheads. We are about to
start our company, Kensington Creative (paying homage to our roots), where we
plan to offer a wide assortment of services from graphic design, to concept
development, and most importantly, film and commercial production.
LT: Is there
anything you want to say to your fans?
Official Movie Poster
KM: Just how
thankful I am for everyone’s support. I’ve been so lucky to have met so many
people through the process of this movie. All I can ever ask for as a director is
for people to enjoy my work. And I’ve received such a positive response from
everyone... It’s now my obligation to get the film out there and provide it as
many opportunities as I can. I owe everyone a chance to see it, and it’s on the
horizon.
LT: It’s just
so obvious how passionate you are about this project, it truthfully makes me
that much more excited to see the final product. You are such a visionary. Thanks
so much for you time, I’m looking forward to it!
KM: Thank you
Lindsay! Really great questions, glad I could help.
You should now be thoroughly excited for this movie. While you wait in anticipation the release, please, I highly recommend you fill your time with watching as many Spieling Peter Pan videos as you can within the next 5 minutes. I'll leave you with this one:
Welcome to the Peter Pan Fandom (the Pandom). We have pixie dust.
With his new EP "Back Tracking", Shirobon returns to his Chiptune roots. He's about to drop his new song "Trouble" feat. Brandon Marx which I was lucky enough to get a first listen to. The song is the perfect pump up track and i've had it on repeat. Read on for the interview, and official artwork for the new EP.
LT: So I’m just going
to come out and ask... since you’re making Chiptune, what’s your favorite Game
Boy/ Nintendo 64 game?
S: Gotta be Zelda: Ocarina of Time! I have
lost count on how many times I have played that game!
LT: Is there a theme for this
next EP?
S: Somewhat… the EP is called 'Back Tracking'.
I started out making Chiptune using a type of music sequencer called a
'tracker'. Since then I have explored some new sounds and used more common
audio sequencers for a few years. In this EP I am going back to using the
sounds of vintage game consoles and the use of trackers… hence the name 'Back
Tracking'.
LT: Who inspires you?
S: There are so many people who inspire me,
but to name a few.. She, Daft Punk, Amon Tobin, Boys Noize, Sabrepulse and Henry
Homesweet
LT: Tell me about your
creative process
S: I don't have any set rules. Most times I
start with either drums or a melody and then put in whatever idea's hit me.
Every song is different
LT: I know you’re returning
to your roots with this one, but how do you think your style has changed and
progressed?
S: Well seeming as I was 17 when my previous
chip releases came out and I'm 22 now.. my sound has matured quite a bit. I've
learnt a lot more about production and audio tricks on the way too! So it's the
same Chiptune style but with a more advanced approach on the production
process!
LT: So you’re bringing
Brandon on to be featured, how’d you guys meet?
S: He actually dropped me a message a while
ago saying the he loved my stuff.. after taking a listen to his music and
liking what I heard we decided it would be a great idea to work on a track
together! He's a fantastic singer :)
LT: What kind of feel does he
bring to the song?
S: The song I wanted him on needed a bit of
commercial touch but with more attitude rather then cheese.. he was the perfect
person for it!
LT: What challenges have
there been, if any, working collaboratively?
S: Only challenge is the fact that it's done
over seas. I wasn't able to actually be in the studio with him to express my
ideas so it took a bit of time sending ideas back and forth and getting it
right!
LT: What are your Summer
plans, what have you been doing thus far?
S: Release my EP and see more parts of the
world! I'm currently polishing of the release and finalizing plans.
Official EP Artwork
LT: I’ve checked out your
sound cloud and I’m super excited for what you have coming out in August,
thanks so much for your time!
S: No worries! :-)
I highly recommend checking out his Soundcloud to get a taste of what you're in for.
Get ready for the release of "Trouble" by liking hisFacebook Pageand following him on Twitter
I have to say that Johnny Mac brings the 90's funky fresh summer beat back hard. I feel like Will Smith on Fresh Prince of Bel-Air would be jammin' to this up in West Philadelphia. It just has that classic feel to it that brings on this overwhelming sense of nostalgia and carefree days. Check out the interview to hear about his inspiration, future plans and what songs he kicks it to in his free time, as well as a few exclusive behind the scenes pics.
LT: How would you describe your sound?
JM: My sound varies, I mean, the song I just released
was a fun sound to get everybody to know my personality and all but my sound
varies a lot. Big into the summer scene and feeling good, but I also make
songs addressing hardships and other feelings.
LT:Tell me about your personal style...
JM: Well I'm kind of a goofball, love to enjoy myself
really. I just do what I want. If I feel somethin’ I do it. I
love music and I’m a fan of sports as well, just love to have fun really.
LT: What got you into rapping?
JM: Well ever since I was like 12 I've always written
raps in my free time ‘cuz it always puts me in another place. Just me and
the beat- nothing feels better, I love music. Some events happened in my
life that have inspired me to live a life I wanna live, so I just took it into
my own hands.
LT: What was the inspiration for the music video/who else
was in it with you?/Can you dance? It seemed like some people could....
JM: Yeah I have a buddy named Lorenzo who can really
move. Those people in the shoot were some of my close friends, really good
guys, and I've been known to dance when the mood is right… haha.
LT: Guilty Pleasures?
JM: Just when nobody is home, crank some Usher and
embarrass myself.
LT: If you could record with somebody else who would it be?
JM: Thats a good question.... I think Mike Stud is a
cool dude definitely but he doesn't even know who I am.
LT: So you've graduated, what are you going to school for?
JM: My mind is set on broadcasting, but music is now
really interesting me. If anybody going to Arizona State knows how to
record music wel,l hit me up haha. But yeah I'm just going in college
with my chin up seeing what the experience is like, hopefully surrounded by
people helping me to create more tracks while out west.
LT: Top 3 tracks on your playlist now?
JM: Mary - 2am club, LA story - Sammy Adams ft Mike
Posner, Sammy's Shadow - Mike Stud
LT: Are you working on an EP right now? What is your next
big project?
JM: Just pumping out as many songs as I can before I
go to school, videos, interviews, all that fun stuff.
LT: Alright so between school and recording what are you
doing in your free time?
JM: Just writing, and trying to enjoy myself with my
best friends before I head to school..
LT: Hey well thanks for this, it was fun talking to you. You have
a seriously coolsound. Like, straight up fresh is the only way I can describe it…I love
it.
JM: Haha yea thanks, no problem, it was
great talking with you.
Special thanks to Miles at Freshview Filmsfor supplying me with the behind the scenes pics. So talented, makes amazing videos check out his site for more, and his Facebook page.
Last but definitely not least, I have to give a HUGE shout out to Lorenzo Manalo for being able to break it down like none other, simply put. Follow @lorenzomanalo I'm so excited for the next song to come out. I'll be looking out for it.
Just go ahead and add her to the Holy Trinity of “Lana Del
Rey, Frank Ocean and Florence & The Machine”. She will completely re-vamp
your summer music playlist.
At only 16 years old, she has a certain maturity and
darkness that’s simply all consuming. Her music is so incredibly refined with
the deep bass and striking harmony, and an incredible echoing range, it just
comes across so crisp.It is
seriously only a matter of time before she blows up, and one of her songs is featured a steamy episode of “The Vampire Diaries” (The song "It Feels Better Biting
Down" would be perfect). Or maybe an episode of “Girls” on HBO.
I can
completely see “Million Dollar Bills” in an episode.
Her lyrics are hard-hitting and whimsical at the same time
capturing the voice of the “get rich or die trying” generation. Her new song
“Royals” cleverly touches how we’re all linked through our non-royal status,
just “driving Cadillacs in our dreams”. She’s so fresh with this killer style and a ‘no fucks given’
kind of swag. It really makes you wonder what’s going on in the US…where are
the individuals? How does everyone just sound the same?
Her sound stands out in such an obvious way, I’m praying that through all of the predicted fame that has yet to ensue, she stays true to her truly unique sound.
*Sigh*
Having said that- you’re going to want to snatch her EP ‘The
Love Club” while it’s around $4.00 because I can tell you that it won’t be that
way for much longer.
Determined not to succumb to the phrases,"I really like this song" or "I love this album", I've been struggling for three days trying to accurately describe the implications the No World album has had in my life.
I want to get the answers right, becasuse what could be better than having Andrew and Daniel say to me, "Lindsay, you've got it. You understand what we're saying".
But the honest to God truth is, No World is doing things to me, and for me, that maybe Andrew and Daniel didn't' intend for it to do. Whether they knew it or not, this album is incredibly sexy. Not one night stand sexy, not hit it and quit it sexy- past all that. It mirrors the kind of sexy that stems from eager selflessness and vulnerability.
Just, do me a favor, imagine this. I promise it will be over in a second but try:
You lay there with your partner in an attempt to get them to realize your love past the point of sheer exhaustion. You tried, and it's not that you came up short, it's just that exhaustion will take you. And it will take you every time. You come to the conclusion that "love" will always be bound by the limits of emotional and physical exhaustion, and there's no getting past that. The song Lifetime comes on your playlist with its intricate and simply constructed lyrics, Too much to leave alone Too much to be unsaid All of the words are gone All of the time is spent
And it gives you a glimpse of what that would actually be like, giving someone more than the essence of yourself. The guitar and deep bass fill you and make you think it's almost possible again.
Alright so that break from reality lasted a minute-
If in fact you have no idea what I'm talking about, haven't experienced this in your life, and can't even begin to imagine it- this album makes you want to. Forget lyrics like "I will always love you" or "You broke my heart". That might be the end result of your situation but No World absolutely encompasses everything in between.
I definitely write pretty melodies and catchy hooks, so at its core my music is pop, but I take a lot of influence from neo-soul vocalists and folk songwriters, so I usually describe my music as a hybrid of pop, folk, and soul.
Elton John. He's had an amazing career and I'd love the possibility of collaborating with an iconic piano playing songwriter.
