Jacklyn Citero

It all started when a much younger Jackie dove into her parents’ record collection, grabbed that trippy Magical Mystery Tour album, and played “Strawberry Fields” over and over again until it was engrained into her soul. She grew up on the dreams and stories of Simon and Garfunkel, “Bleeker Street” being one of her favorites, the seduction of The Doors, Van Morrison, because “Brown Eyed Girl” is definitely her song, and the likes of Jefferson Airplane, The Who, Jimi Hendrix…you get the picture. It may not show on the outside, but Jackie has a hippie heart, and that reflects in her musical tastes today. While some of her favorites may or may not be jam bands, her taste in music feeds into many genres. From alternative, Brit, and indie rock - OK, maybe all rock - to pop, to rap, to electronic, she loves it all. As a northerner, she thought she would never understand country until she found herself on a Georgia farm in cowboy boots watching Luke Bryan shake it for her- yeah, she got that. She is a chronic wanderluster, she doesn't believe in guilty pleasures, enjoys a great Moscow Mule, and is an absolute music festival fanatic- you’ll find her wherever the music takes her.

Electric Forest 2017: Artists Not to Miss

Posted on June 18, 2017June 18, 2017 by Jacklyn Citero

After six Electric Forests, 2017 marks the first year the festival will take place over two weekends. While there is much lineup crossover between the weekends, there is promise that each weekend will be unique and special in its own right. Electric Forest’s move to offer two distinct, back to back weekends (at a lower capacity) strives to nurture the evolution and growth of the EF community while honoring the much cherished Forest experience.

As far as headliners go, The String Cheese Incident, Bassnectar, Big Gigantic, Dillon Francis, The Revivalists, and Lotus will all be playing both weekends. First weekend festival goers will also get to see ODESZA, My Morning Jacket, and Above & Beyond, where as attendees for the second weekend will be treated to Flume, DJ Snake (please don’t cancel on us), Thievery Corporation, and RL Grime.

We’re counting the days, hours, and minutes until we’re back at the legendary Double JJ Ranch frolicking to a musical backdrop from all these artists. The headliners are impressive, but in your excitement for the big names, don’t overlook some artists who find themselves further down the lineup poster. Check out some of these artists, who you may or may not already know, that we believe deserve your attention.

BOB MOSES – 1st & 2nd Weekends
Bob Moses – comprised of Tom Howie and Jimmy Vallance – grew out of the underground electronic dance scene, playing in abandoned Brooklyn warehouses and as part of the Marcy Hotel collective alongside the likes of Soul Clap (EF 2nd Weekend), Wolf + Lamb (EF 2nd Weekend) and Nicolas Jaar. You may recognize Bob Moses’ by their debut album, Days Gone By (2015), which included the Grammy Award Winning “Tearing Me Up.”

CBDB – 1st & 2nd Weekends
The hype and intrigue around CBDB is growing, and for good reason. The Alabama jam band fuses southern progressive funk rock with blended vocals. Their onstage energy is incomparable; no wonder their music is spreading from the southeast across the nation like wildfire.

EDEN – 1st Weekend
EDEN’s 2016 released i think you think too much of me found the 21-year-old Jonathon Ng channeling his passion for innovation into a guitar-heavy take on electronic pop. The hypnotic and heavy “drugs” is honestly raw; giving just a taste of EDEN’s vision and musical abilities.

FLINT EASTWOOD – 2nd Weekend
Detroit’s firery songstress Flint Eastwood is a true powerhouse that commands your attention. Her latest work, Broke Royalty (2017), has production support from fellow Detroit-native and Electric Forest veteran GRiZ, along with MUTEMATH’s Paul Meany and a track with principle BØRNS collaborator Tommy English. Her debut single “Queen” is a compelling indie-pop record is filled with urban percussion and orchestral instrumentation, while her track with GRiZ is promisingly uplifting.

THE HIP ABDUCTION – 1st & 2nd Weekends
The Hip Abduction formed over a mutual appreciation for West African and early Jamaican reggae/dub music. It all began through informal jam sessions and quickly coalesced into a sound that immerses listeners into dreamy far away lands. Their third album, Gold Under the Glow (2016), engaged an indie pop vibe alongside a highly emotive and roots driven sound.

JAI WOLF- 1st & 2nd Weekends
The young NYC-based producer erupted into the scene a few years ago after gaining recognition for his remakes of tracks from Skrillex and ODESZA. Soon there after he released his distinguished massive hit, “Indian Summer.” With drenched synths and an immersive euphoric sound that was boundless, “Indian Summer” is a track that’s hard to ignore and leaves you wanting more from this artist.

WIN AND WOO – 1st & 2nd Weekends
Chicago’s own production duo, Win and Woo, is comprised of Nick Winholt and Austin Woo. Their music is an electronic pop blend of heavy melodies & driving bass lines. Their 2016 debut debut single “Recognize” featuring Ashe received national recognition. If you’re looking for a Forest set that is upbeat, energized, and absolute complete fun, don’t miss Win and Woo.

Bonnaroo 2017: In Review

Posted on June 14, 2017June 14, 2017 by Jacklyn Citero

It was Sweet 16 for Bonnaroo this past weekend. The nonstop party hosted some of today’s biggest names in music and was home to over 65,000 attendees during the four-day festival. Some highlights from the weekend included U2’s legendary performance, the addition of the new Other stage that played host to thousands of dancing revelers all weekend long, and beneficial organizations like Hugh Acheson’s Seed Life Skills.

We’re reviewing some of our favorite performances, and not so favorite moments, of this year’s Bonnaroo:

Biggest Surprise of the Weekend: Marshmello

This weekend we were not only surprised, but jaw-droppingly impressed by the man in that iconic white marshmallow helmet. Mixing everything from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ “Heads Will Roll,” to Papa Roach’s “Last Resort,” and everything in between, it didn’t take long to see and hear why there’s so much love for the masked DJ. His remix of Adele’s “Hello” closed out Saturday night as it sent the crowd into a euphoric sing-a-long; a perfect ending to a long day on The Farm.

[mixcloud]https://www.mixcloud.com/luis-rs/marshmello-live-bonnaroo-music-festival-100617/[/mixcloud]

Most Legendary Performance: U2

When a band has 41-year history, they are undoubtedly legends. U2’s two-hour Bonnaroo set was the band’s first first headlining appearance at a U.S. music festival. The performance was part of their world tour celebrating the 30th anniversary of their Grammy-winning “The Joshua Tree” album. The band played the full album, as well as some of their other hits, including “Sunday Bloody Sunday”, “New Year’s Day” and (of course) “Beautiful Day.” At the end of the set, Bono spoke to the crowd, “What an extraordinary thing Bonnaroo is, thank you for naming it after me.”

Photo Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for Bonnaroo Arts and Music Festival

Biggest Disappointment: The Which Stage – Flume & Cage the Elephant

The lack of sound quality at The Which Stage this year can only be described as a disgrace. For both Cage the Elephant and Flume – both which were Saturday performances – the volume was severely lacking. At no fault of the artists, the inadequate sound was nearly ruining for these two sets in particular. Standing close to the soundboard for Flume, attendees could whisper to one another with ease. We’ve stood at a lot of festival stages and can honestly say this was the quietest stage we have ever been at. Also…what happened to the question mark on top the stage Bonnaroo??

Rock Solid Set: Umphrey’s McGee

The guys of Umphrey’s McGee are no stranger to Bonnaroo (nine times to be exact). Saturday night they took over the late night spot in the That Tent, filling in for Shpongle (Simon Posford ran into some visa issues and was unable to make it to the festival). The hard-rocking, jam filled set included the favorite “Frankie Zombie,” blending White Zombie, Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Pink Floyd.

Courtesy: Umphrey's McGee — Courtesy: Umphrey’s McGee

Best Afternoon Set: Cam

Brightening up the stage with her yellow flowy shirt, amazing sequin designed jeans, and a backdrop of sunflowers, Cam was a pop of happiness and positive energy on a hot Sunday Bonnaroo afternoon. Fan favorites of “Burning House” and “Mayday” were of course played, but overall the set was a perfect display of her own style and take on pop and country.

Best Addition to Bonnaroo: The Other Stage

Previously called “The Other Tent,” “The Other” was an entirely new open air stage dedicated to hip hop and electronic music. This stage was not only one of the best additions to Bonnaroo this year, but it was much needed. The Other was also the late night stage for the festival this year closing out the nights with the likes of Big Gigantic, Marshmello, and Yellow Claw.

Biggest FOMO Set: Lorde

Lorde’s Sunday set was one not to miss. While there was an almost 30 minute delay due to technical difficulties and Lorde’s monitors not working, when everything was finally a go, she returned to own the stage and bewitch the crowd. As the old adage goes, “the show must go on.” And on it did. Joined on stage with interpretive dancers and a string quartet, Lorde moved through old favorites and fresh new hits from her sophomore album that will be released this Friday. You could definitely see the awe in her eyes looking as she looked out into the crowd and stated, “Bonnaroo, I am so in love with you…You’ve made this unforgettable.”

Favorite “Giving Back” Organization & Experience: Hugh Acheson’s Seed Life Skills
Chef Hugh Acheson (you may know him from Top Chef and his Georgia restaurants) was on site this year with his nonprofit Seed Life Skills. His organization and team are dedicated to teaching underserved kids home economic skills. Over the course of the weekend, Acheson provided cooking classes at the Academy, was interviewed by Oxfam, and his non-profit did demonstrations throughout the festival from their booth. All activities were centered on Seed Life Skills whose mission is to create and share a living curriculum dedicated to empowering youth to be sustainable stewards of food and financial resources.

Bonnaroo 2017: Artists Not to Miss

Posted on June 7, 2017June 7, 2017 by Jacklyn Citero

We’ve packed up our bearded bandanas, we’re mentally preparing to bask in that Tennessee sun, and we’re planning out when we’re going to the What Stage after the Which Stage, but only after we go to This Tent, and before we go to That Tent.

That’s right everybody, it’s Bonnaroo week; the most positive, musically filled, and sweaty weekend of the year. And we cannot wait.

Not only have we made an inclusive Bonnaroo 2017 playlist (below), but we’re also taking a look at some artists we do not want to miss at Bonnaroo this year.

AARON LEE TASJAN
East Nashville-based musician Aaron Lee Tasjan has always considered himself a songwriter first and foremost, writing his own off-kilter folk-inflected songs since he picked up his first acoustic as a teen guitar prodigy. His New West Records debut, Silver Tears, shows his artistic ambitions and solidifies him as one of the most intriguing singer/songwriters to emerge in sometime.

ANGÉLIQUE KIDJO
Three-time Grammy winner Angélique Kidjo will perform her interpretation of The Talking Heads’ classic 1980 album, Remain in Light this Friday. Often considered the band’s greatest work, Remain in Light pushed sonic boundaries, and dazzled fans with sampled and looped grooves, an innovative technique for the era.

BADBADNOTGOOD
Known for their appreciation of hip hop and instrumental covers of artists such as Gucci Mane and Earl Sweatshirt, Canadian quartet BadBadNotGood is an act not to miss at this year’s Roo. Stay tuned for their upcoming works, Late Night Tales (July 28, 2017), which is a selection of tracks from their own record collections.

CAR SEAT HEADREST
Car Seat Headrest began in 2010 in Will Toledo’s hometown of Leesburg, Virginia. Needing a place of solitude (and soundproofing) where he could record vocals undisturbed, a 17-year-old Toledo set up shop in the family car. Toledo’s catalogue is sharp, literary, and culturally omnivorous as it touches upon youth and death, love and depression, drunken parties and 2nd century theologians. Ever surprising, his lyrical imagery ranges from playful to sexually frank to sorrowful, often within the same song.

CHANCE THE RAPPER
Chicago’s own Chance the Rapper will hit the What Stage Saturday Night for his anticipated headlining set. Riding high on the success of his 2016, three time Grammy winning, third mixtape, Coloring Book, these days Chance is in high demand.

COLD WAR KIDS
Cold War Kids released their sixth studio album L.A. Divine, and first on Capitol Records, on April 7th. The band first previewed songs from their latest work on their North American headlining tour which started with the Okeechobee Festival in Florida. Cold War Kids will take the stage early evening this Friday.

DUA LIPA
You may recognize Dua Lipa from her release with Martin Garrix, “Scared To Be Lonely.” The 21-year old London-born songstress is you next favorite pop queen. Growing up on the sounds of Destiny’s Child, Tupac, Bowie, and Dylan, Dua Lipa pulls her inspiration from contemporary and classic pop and hip-hop to reshape her own voice and sound in the pop revolution.

ED HELMS
Ed Helms…you know, Stu from The Hangover, Andy from The Office…he’s also one helluva banjo player. This year, Helms is back again with his merry bunch of banjo strummin’, foot stompin’ bluegrass legends for another edition of The Bluegrass Situation Roots SuperJam. They’ve been gracing the Bonnaroo stage since 2013 and this year special guests include The Bryan Sutton Band, Martina McBride, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Greensky Bluegrass, Mandolin Orange, River Whyless, Gaby Moreno, Baskery, Lillie Mae, and more!

FLUME
The atmospheric downtempo vibes of Flume are mesmerizing. His second album, Skin (May 2016), is a meticulously crafted, vivid universe of big emotions woven into a densely cinematic whole. Heavy hitting songs from the album include lead track ‘Never Be Like You’, featuring Canadian singer Kai and Flume’s third single, ‘Say It’, featuring Tove Lo. Tove Lo is set to play Bonnaroo Friday evening and Flume hits the stage the following (late) night. Maybe, just maybe… Tov Lo will stick around and grace us with a second appearance this weekend.

GLASS ANIMALS
It was love at first listen when Glass Animals’ released their debut Zaba (2014). The album was a cerebral euphoric experience with dark tribal beats and tropical vibes. Their new LP, ‘How To Be A Human Being,’ is about people. It’s a multi-layered, nuanced album that uniquely splices together 40 years of sonic history in a way that’s emphatically forward-sounding. In the characters and themes explored, the record creates a bigger, bolder, and more ambitious world for fans to inhabit.

LEMON TWIGS
With their debut release of Do Hollywood last October, Lemon Twigs is finding themselves in the same musical realm of artists that bring such originality that they change the very nature of their art. Lemon Twigs fuses tightly constructed pop, sophisticated orchestration, and British invasion melodies into a ten-song masterpiece.

LUCY DACUS
Sharp lyrical observations, playful turns of musical phrase, hooks that’ll embed themselves in your frontal lobe for days is what you’ll experience at Lucy Dacus’ set this Saturday afternoon. She has a keen sense of self and that shines clearly on her debut No Burden.

MICHAEL KIWANUKA
Soulful and raw, Londoner Michael Kiwanuka’s critically-acclaimed debut album Home Again (April 2012) staked his claim on the list of great British singer-songwriters. This album was a genre-defying nod to the heritage names of soul, and reinforced the real strength of young British music talent. His eagerly anticipated second album packs a powerful punch. If his last album was about returning home again, this is about leaving it behind and stepping out – and finding himself outside his comfort zone. Love & Hate is an outward-looking, drenched with emotional density and rich, soulful production at the helm.

PORTUGAL. THE MAN
Next week, Portugal. The Man’s eight studio full-length Woodstock will be released. BUT, if you’re at Roo this weekend, fear not! There will be no need to wait those seven days to hear the new and anticipated music. This Friday at 3:15PM at The Gring in Pod 7, Portugal. The Man will be hanging out for a Woodstock album listening party, in addition to hitting the stage late night Friday.

RAINBOW KITTEN SURPRISE
We’re here to tell you that Rainbow Kitten Surprise (RKS) could possibly be the next big thing. Not only are they dominating the festival scene this summer, but their growth and popularity seems to have bloomed organically. With chilling harmonies, dynamic instrumentation, and introspective lyrics, their distinct sound takes influence from artists like Modest Mouse and Kings of Leon. Don’t miss RKS belt out “Cocain Jesus” this Saturday.

WELLES
Jehsea has no problem giving it to you straight. It’s in his nature to pull no punches. Ask him about the current state of rock music and the rock singer, multi-talented musician and creative mastermind behind Welles will tell you how few things in life make him so equally prideful and angry as people bemoaning its death. He’ll readily tell you that despite others constantly talking up his once-in-a-generation, jarringly emotive voice, one that recalls Kurt Cobain by way of John Lennon, to him it often sounds like nothing short of “burnt toast.”

WHITE REAPER
White Reaper makes good ol’ fashioned in-your-face rock ’n’ roll. Boasting textured melodies, layered guitars and more seasoned lyrics, White Reaper’s latest The World’s Best American Band finds the quartet busting out of the basement sound established on their previous full length (2015’s White Reaper Does It Again) and setting their sights on the arena.

BONNAROO 2017 VINYL MAG PLAYLIST

Countdown to Candler Park Music + Food Festival

Posted on May 30, 2017 by Jacklyn Citero

It’s only Tuesday and we’re already looking forward to the weekend. Maybe it’s because we have the after Memorial Day Weekend blues. Or maybe, just maybe it’s because Atlanta’s annual Candler Park Music + Food Festival returns this weekend and we couldn’t be more excited.

This year’s festival lineup is impressive, to say the least. Over the course of two days, one main stage will host the likes of Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Railroad Earth, Matisyahu, The Motet, The Marcus King Band, Lake Street Dive, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Ripe, and others.

“We’re taking it up a notch this year. Our goal is to deliver a bigger and better festival that still fits comfortably within the community-centered landscape of Candler Park,” says Festival Producer and Rival Entertainment Partner Josh Antenucci.

While attendees enjoy in the delights of this weekend’s music, they will also be able to feast upon twenty local restaurant vendors and food trucks. Just to name a few, The Pup Truck, Swet Auburn BBQ, and King of Pops will all be there. Check out the rest of the food lineup here!

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
Friday, June 2 | Day Performance Schedule
5:00 p.m.    Chelsea Shag
6:00 p.m.    Ripe
7:00 p.m.    Matisyahu
9:15 p.m.    Railroad Earth

Saturday, June 3 | Day Performance Schedule
12:45 p.m. Webster
2:15 p.m.    Pigeons Playing Ping Pong
3:45 p.m.    The Marcus King Band
5:15 p.m.    Lake Street Dive
7:00 p.m.    The Motet
8:45 p.m.    Joe Russo’s Almost Dead

Courtesy of Candler Park Music + Food Festival (2016)

Hangout 2017: Good Vibes, Good Times

Posted on May 29, 2017May 29, 2017 by Jacklyn Citero

Each year, Gulf Shores, AL, turns into the ultimate beach party. This year was no exception.

Hangout Music Festival 2017 was no doubt a success when it comes to good vibes and good times. Then again, how could not have a good time at the beach?

This year’s line-up included heavy hitters Mumford and Sons, Twenty One Pilots, Chance The Rapper, and Phoenix (replacement for Frank Ocean, who cancelled another festival appearance for this coming week at Primavera Sound in Barcelona, Spain). Other notable Hangout sets came from Young the Giant, Weezer, and our personal favorite Lawrence.

Lawrence slaying the BMI Stage on Sunday at Hangout.

Phoenix took to the main stage Friday night. We had hopes that their set-up would resemble that of what we saw at Shaky Knees the week prior – a slanted mirror suspended to reflect the stage below, with the floor projecting visual effects. While the mirrored backdrop was lacking, their energy and finesse were not.

It was a race against time and the encroaching weather for Twenty One Pilots as they hit the stage Saturday night. A set highlight was when MUTEMATH joined TOP for “Tear in My Heart” and “Lane Boy.” TOP managed to get one and a half more songs in before the sound was cut by the festival during “Car Radio” due to the inclement weather and all attendees were told to get to shelter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvXmDrI1IJ0

One of the best, if not the best, set of the weekend went to Mumford and Sons. A mix of old fan favorites from their earlier works (2009’s Sigh No More and 2012’s Babel) were nestled in the setlist along with some sing-a-long anthems from Mumford and Sons’ last album Wilder Mind. Their new (projected) single “Blind Leading the Blind” (first played last October) was fresh and enticing; a sneak peak to what is yet to come. With their thunderous emotional lyrical roars coinciding with melodies of spiritual awakenings, the audience was in awe. As attendees caught their breath from stomping in the sand and jumping around like children, the Alabama night sky lit up with fireworks to mark the end of the weekend.

While there were some gem sets, the remaining performances ranged from lackluster to downright atrocious. One of the worst sets of the weekend was from the peculiar nautical themed rapper Lil Yachty. On stage antics, the absurd amount of “Lil Boat” shoutouts concurring with that awful DJ airhorn sound, and the flat regurgitation of songs made for a quick disbursement of the young crowd.

In comparison to years past, the lineup of Hangout 2017 left much to be desired. Each year it seems we meet more and more attendees who freely claim they aren’t there for the music; they’re just there for the beach party and a vacation. And that’s OK, in a sense…to each their own, right? Whether it’s for the music or not, Hangout keeps doing it right year after year, and that’s apparent with a constant sell-out crowd.

Shaky Knees 2017: The Record Company x Vinyl Mag

Posted on May 17, 2017May 25, 2017 by Jacklyn Citero

The Record Company's Vinyl Mag Instagram Takeover — The Record Company’s Vinyl Mag Instagram Takeover

Love it big, and lay it out there. That’s The Record Company’s motto. From their Grammy Nominated music to their captivating live shows, it’s easy to hear and see that this power trio (Chris Vos, Alex Stiff, & Marc Cazorla) love what they do…big.

Ahead of their Shaky Knees performance, Chris Vos (guitar & lead vocals) had a quick chat with us..Vinyl Mag: A belated congratulations on your Grammy Nomination for Give It Back to You! Can you share what it was like when you guys found out for the first time that you had been nominated?Chris Vos: Thank you very much. It was very unexpected, none of us saw it coming. I live on the West Coast so the nominations came out really early, like 6:00AM. I was actually at home on a brief brake form the road. I was dead asleep and my wife was up and looking around online and saw we were nominated. She starting screaming and it woke me up. I thought the house was on fire or something. She says, ‘Chris you guys are nominated for a Grammy,’ to which I replied with silence because I really couldn’t absorb it. Then I called my Ma and Dad back in Wisconsin and told them the news.

VM: On the heels of your last album and many successes, you guys released the single “Baby I’m Broken” this past March. Where did inspiration come from for this single?

CV: When we wrote that song we just wanted to do something that had some space to it. A riff that had space and the melody kinda wove in and out. When we had the form of the song completed we felt there was something missing, so we added a harmonica part to round out the song. We felt it was done once that harmonica was on there.

VM: The song delivers a similar rawness and energy heard on Give It Back to You. Will we be hearing more new music from The Record Company in the upcoming months?

CV: We are currently on tour, but we have been writing the new album and every time we are home (which hasn’t been the often). We will be taking the end of the year off the road to finish the record.

VM: What does the behind the scenes creative process look like for The Record Company?

CV: We are a collaborative band. Everybody contributes. We split everything equally from work, to creativity, to money be it gain or loss.

VM: How would you describe the band’s chemistry?

CV: We are very close as friends. It’s not uncommon for us to get off the road and be hanging out on the back porch listening to records and having drinks the night after we get home. We enjoy each other as people as well as musicians. That comes in handy when times are tough or you have to make decisions together.

VM: The band’s onstage presence is absolutely captivating. How you would describe your live performances to someone who may be interested in seeing the band for the first time this weekend at Shaky Knees?

CV: We see every performance as one less time not one more time. So why not play your guts out? You only get so many times to do the things you love in this life so love it big and lay it out there is out motto.

VM: Are there any artists you are excited to see at Shaky Knees?

CV: LCD, Sylvan Esso, The Revivalists, FIDLAR, Shovels & Rope, Fantastic Negrito, and The Growlers.

Screen Shot 2017-05-17 at 12.23.40 PM — The Record Company’s Vinyl Mag Instagram Takeover

Countdown to Hangout 2017

Posted on May 17, 2017May 21, 2017 by Jacklyn Citero

Live music and the beach, does it really get any better than that? In a few hours, fans will be flocking to the white sandy beaches and the turquoise water of Gulf Shores, AL, for the annual Hangout Music Festival.

This year’s line-up boasts the likes of Mumford & Sons, Phoenix (who has replaced Frank Ocean), Twenty One Pilots, Chance the Rapper, Weezer, Major Lazer, MGMT, and many more.

Hangout kicks off tomorrow with an annual Thursday Kickoff Party featuring Migos, Cherub, Tchami, DJ Jazzy Jeff and special guests.

So whether you’re stuck at your desk the rest of the week or prepping to make the journey to the Gulf, give our Hangout playlist a spin to get you weekend ready.

See you on the beach!

Shaky Knees 2017: Lo Moon x Vinyl Mag

Posted on May 11, 2017May 25, 2017 by Jacklyn Citero

Lo Moon is somewhat a mystery. And it’s that allure and intrigue that’s captured our attention.

In a day and age where audiences are bombarded with high amounts of digital content, Lo Moon has kept it simple. One song. That’s it. We’ve only heard one song, “Loveless,” from the LA trio (Matt Lowell, Crisanta Baker, and Sam Stewart), and it’s left us wanting more.

We sat down with Matt Lowell ahead of Lo Moon’s first festival performance at Shaky Knees this weekend. Check out what he had to share…

VM: There’s a lot of mystery and intrigue surrounding the band. But beyond the mystery, there is a trio that is all about the music and doing the music ‘right.’ I would love to talk about that process of doing that music right.

Matt Lowell: As a band, I think music is so important and integral to our lives. When we decided to start rolling out music, back when making the record and songs, we wanted to take our time and make sure after a certain amount of time passed that we still like what we did and we still had a feeling about it. For us it’s not about just getting it right in terms of getting it right in the way we present it. It’s important to us in the way that we feel about it and I just think now that sometimes music is just rushed out because it’s easy to put it out. We just wanted to go against that grain a little bit. We felt that just because SoundCloud exists and just because we can put it up whenever, and we can get a reaction and put clips up here and there…

Everything right now is very instant, especially with the scrolling culture; you can like and move on and you can like and move on. We just said, what happens if we put something out and we take our time on it, and then we let that live and its own space for a while. Let’s see how many people can find it and let’s see what it does. And eventually it just starts adding up and then it becomes a little bit more real overtime. Then it’s up to us to then decide what the next move is and how we feel about it, because now we’ve got a larger scope. Especially with a song like “Loveless,” we just felt like it was going to take time for people to find it. People are still finding it, and it’s not done. We’re kind of into this idea that song live on and that’s kind of the basis behind my song writing style. It’s trying to make songs that emotionally connect and hopefully live for a longer time than a month on SoundCloud and then replaced by another song the next week or something.

VM: You mentioned taking time in this day and age, because everything today just feels so instantaneous.

ML: Everything is. From ordering food..

VM: Exactly, we can just Uber food now on an app.

ML: And I think that’s great. But I think there’s something to be said about artists having control. The fact that today you don’t necessarily need a label and they can put music out whenever they want. But for us, it took time to find the voice and we then wanted to give that voice some time to find its way.

VM: I think it’s so great, especially in this day and age, that your label and Chris Walla have this understanding of the need for time time and giving you the time to experiment as a trio. I know you guys have been working on an album that it’s been said it’s set to be released this year. What has the creative behind-the-scenes process looked like for that album?

ML: This record was an interesting one. You know, I started working on “Loveless” a long time ago and then move to LA and met Crisanta and Sam, and I had a bunch of songs that we’re just really basic demos. We just started working from the ground up and becoming a band and jamming them, spending hours and hours on one song in my back house just trying to figure them out. The beautiful thing about this band is that everyone, even if it’s something that I wrote, everyone brings their own connection to the music in the way that they approach the song. Everyone is really conscious of trying to feed the song and feed the emotion. With that it just starts becoming apparent when everything feels right. A lot of it is an experiment. When we did have the songs to a point where the band felt really good about them, we then went into the studio and started on the process. Chris then took that and deconstructed it even one step further. There were times when we were just listening to the vocal and then the drums for hours and days. We had to just figure out where the emotional quality was going to fit. Frank Tetaz who also co-produced the record, Frank and I spent months going over lyrics and just him getting inside my head and figuring out what I was talking about, why it was important, and connecting to it emotionally. So when it came out out of the speakers it felt like that. I think that’s what we’ve hoped we’ve achieved with the album and the songs.

The reaction on “Loveless” has been very emotional which is kind of a beautiful thing. That’s kind of the whole point. But behind the scenes there is a lot of jamming, and tweaking, and moving, and building the knocking it down, and building it again until it feels like a thing. I think that’s true with any great art, you just need to work it. I think what we’ve made reflects a time and we’ve put everything we have into it. We gave it the time again, and that feels like the essence and the ethos of this band.

VM: And that’s a beautiful thing for a band.

ML: It really is.

VM: You mentioned being able to experiment. Does that mean experimenting with sound?

ML: All kinds of experimentation, arrangements, sounds. “Loveless” was four minutes at one point, then it became five minutes at one point, then it became seven minutes at one point, and we finally made it to seven minutes because of the arrangement, the feel, and the emotional journey. That song was built over five years. At times the bridge didn’t feel right, ya know, ‘ why doesn’t the bridge feel right? Let’s get into a room and jam it.’ Crisanta would come up with a piano part, Sam would start a drone, I’d be playing a synth, and then all of a sudden it was a thing. It’s all over the map. That song, Chris and I spent over 5 hours arranging it in different ways, moving pieces around, finding out with the second versus trying to say, rewriting lyrics… it’s a lot of whatever it needs. And I think that’s the thing, whatever it needs, you just have to commit yourself to doing it.

VM: For someone who hasn’t seen your live show before, and may only know the song ” Loveless,” what can we expect out of a live performance? I know we’re going to get a taste of new music from you guys, but what does that feel like?

ML: I think it’s a little bit heavier and hits a little bit harder. It’s a little bit more rock. I think the bones of everyone in the band is rock – we were rock kids, we’re children of the 90s. I think a lot of the beauty is that it has a lot of space and it’s just heavier in a way that comes with the nature of just playing live. Anyone who has already heard some of the recorded versions and they come to the show have been really excited about that. I think it’s going to be really interesting putting out the studio versions and seeing what it’s like when people come to the gig.

VM: And we are very excited and looking forward to your set this weekend at Shaky Knees.

ML: This will actually be our first festival.

VM: That’s amazing, and you guys are on some really big festival names following Shaky Knees, like Gov Ball and Lolla. We’re excited to have you in Atlanta, and you’re playing the Earl for a late night show with Temples which will be awesome. Are you excited to see any of the performing artists this weekend?

ML: I think we’re really excited to see LCD and the Pixies. Those are the two we’re most excited for, and to just see some other bands.

VM: Well I know Atlanta will be happy to have you this weekend and like I said, we are just excited to see more music live from you guys. Now, is it possibly the fall, maybe, for some new music?

ML: I hope so. We’re looking towards the fall, but we’re also coming out with a new single right around the corner. So something is coming out soon and then we’ll go from there. We’ll see how that goes and if everything is right, it will be the fall.

Lo Moon plays Shaky Knees on Friday at 1:30 PM at the Criminal Records Presents: Ponce del Leon stage. Don’t miss it!

Shaky Knees 2017: Flagship x Vinyl Mag

Posted on May 11, 2017May 25, 2017 by Jacklyn Citero

Life is a rollercoaster. The ups and downs, the twists and turns, the celebrations of the lighter moments, and the facing and surviving of the darker ones.

Flagship’s singer/guitarist Drake Margolnick and drummer Michael Finster take listeners on such a life journey, from light into darkness and back again, with their latest album, The Electric Man.

The duo sat down with Vinyl Mag prior to their upcoming performance at Shaky Knees this weekend. Here’s what the guys had to share…

Vinyl Mag: I would love to start off by talking about your latest album, The Electric Man. You’ve talked about the album being this journey from light into darkness and back again. How would you personally describe this light and dark?

Michael Finster: For me, it’s just kind of how my life is as of late. Trying to experience the good things while also accepting that bad things will happen too. Seeing the light and not being too distraught if the dark happens.

Drake Margolnick: Being comfortable with the reality of life.

MF: It’s just the principle that there can be light and darkness at the same time. You accept all of it and then you can try to find the peace in that.

VM: I think that’s how life is anyway, it’s this roller coaster of ups and downs and you can’t have the light times without some of the dark times. I think you guys capture it really well on this album; I’ve really enjoyed listening to it. This is your first full length as a Duo. How would you describe your chemistry now as a Duo?

MF: I will say it’s easier to make music with less people. Say you have a band with 6 or 7 people and you want to go to the studio. You are the drummer and you have an idea for a piano part in the song, and you’re like, ‘well I don’t want to go in and try to play the piano part when we already have someone playing the piano.’ Everyone has their part, but as a duo you got more chances.

VM: With the writing of songs and putting them together what does your creative process look like?

DM: It changes often. It’s kind of different for each song. Sometimes I’ll come up with a skeleton of an idea and bring it to Michael and we’ll put it together. That’s kind of how it usually goes, but sometimes we’ll write in a room together if an idea captures our imagination.

MF: It’s always different. For this album we spent time with our producer Joey Waronker We kind of just hung out at his place in LA. I remember we just kind of put a mic in a room and jammed out. We jammed ideas and listened back later to see if there were 5 second snippets that should be expanded upon. There were songs that were premeditated by Drake and there were some that we just kind of built. Some of them were a big hunk and we had to shape them down. And that’s kind of how we approached this record.

DM: And and sometimes ideas come to me in dreams.

VM: There are two songs that really stick out to me from this album. The first being “Midnight,” with a music video with Kate Bosworth in it. I think we can all agree that Kate is an absolute babe. How did that video come about come about? It’s absolutely beautiful; it’s black and white it’s cinematically interesting. How did that all come together?

MF: It was actually our director who put all the ideas together – his name is Michael Polish. We met up with him, and he’s Kate’s husband. We were actually making a few videos at once with him and he kind of surprised us. He mentioned that we’re gonna have a female lead. He didn’t tell us who it was, and then surprised us with Kate. That was a nice surprise. It was great that he orchestrated that. In the video we went around town, kind of guerrilla style, very minimalistic, and filmed everything. It was from his brain, so we owe a lot to him in that respect.

VM: I think the video came out really great. The other song that sticks out to me from this album and I can really personally relate to is “Burn It Up.” I just really like it and it sums up this album; as you said, going from the light to the dark, and in this song finally getting fed up with the dark and just moving forward. Where did the inspiration come from for “Burn It Up?”

DM: I wrote that song a long time ago. I wrote it when I was watching one of my best friend’s families kind of fall apart, to be honest. It was a very important family to me, and it was very interesting to just watch them fall a part. I kind of wrote it for them, thinking, ‘it’s ok, you just need to move on.’

VM: I think it’s just a absolute great song. Now, you guys are based out of Charlotte, and Charlotte isn’t too far from Atlanta, where you’ll be heading this weekend for Shaky Knees. Is there anything you are looking forward to doing in Atlanta or any artists you are looking forward to seeing at Shaky Knees?

DM: We really like Atlanta. We actually made our first full length album there and that was really my first time spending time in Atlanta. We have a lot of cool friends there and we have gotten to know the city a bit. There are definetely a few restaurants we want to re-visit.

MF: We’re all going to be at Shaky Knees, so we’ll all get the opportunity to see some really incredible bands.

DM: I’m really looking forward to seeing Ryan Adams. I’ve never gotten to see him live so I’m really looking forward to that.

Flagship is set to play Shaky Knees this Saturday at 12:00PM EST on the main stage, Peachtree.

Countdown to Shaky Knees 2017

Posted on May 10, 2017 by Jacklyn Citero

Last weekend we were shakin’ our beats. This weekend we’ll be shakin’ our knees.

In its fifth year, Shaky Knees returns to Centennial Park in Atlanta, GA, for three days and nights of the finest indie rock acts around. Topping the lineup are the likes of LCD Soundsystem, The xx, and Phoenix.

This year’s stellar lineup also includes: Cage the Elephant, Pixies, The Shins, Nick Murphy (fka Chet Faker), Ryan Adams, Third Eye Blind, Portugal. The Man, Sylvan Esso, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Shovels and Rope, Bleachers, Warpaint, Car Seat Headrest, and many, many more.

We only have three more days until the weekend. To help get you through the rest of the week, check out a few of VM’s favorite tracks from some of this year’s Shaky Knees’ artists.

GA 3-day passes are still available, as well as some late-night shows. Don’t miss out!