When you think “female rapper,” I’m sure you think of women along the lines of Iggy Azalea and Nicki Minaj. What you might not think of is a brown haired, punk rock chick with well-refined music tastes who has been performing on Vans Warped Tour for the last few months. Up and coming rap artist K. Flay left her major label last fall and released her newest album, “Life As A Dog,” independently earlier this year. I had the chance to see her incredible set at the Atlanta date of Warped Tour last week, and I am officially in love. She’s adorable, full of energy, and ready for her takeover. We spoke with her about her music and her experience on Warped Tour and trust us, you’re gonna love her.
K. Flay: It’s been amazing. We only have three shows left. I’m getting sad thinking about that.
VM: Is it weird being a female rapper on a tour with mainly male pop punk and hardcore bands?
K. Flay: Not at all. I like being a little left of center, and the stage I’m on is super diverse. We have everything from DJs to indie rock to hip hop to reggae. So in a way, it feels pretty normal.
VM: Who is the coolest person you’ve gotten to know on tour?
K. Flay: That’s a hard one. Some of the coolest people I’ve met this summer are the beatport stage crew — Myles, Jake, and Nick. They work their asses off, kill it every day, are crazy nice. We’ve also had Keith from Every Time I Die and Chris from Saves the Day join us a bunch on stage to sing. They’re pretty fucking cool, too.
VM: Where do you get inspiration for your music?
K. Flay: It’s really what i’m feeling and seeing at any given moment. A lot of what I write is me sorting.
VM: Who are your favorite artists who deserve more attention?
K. Flay: Right now, I’m digging on Marmozets pretty hard. Their first record comes out this fall. It’s gonna be a big one.
VM: How do you write your music? Lyrics first, music first, or a combination of both?
K. Flay: I usually start with some kind of musical riff, build a drum pattern, and then start writing lyrics. For me, it works best when the words and the music co-evolve. Also, I like to be in a dark room with maybe no one in it.
VM: You’ve seen some massive success online, especially on YouTube. Do you think of music video ideas on your own, or do you work with other creators?
K. Flay: The music videos have been collaborations between myself and some really talented directors. At least for me, creating a visual component for a song is the best when you get to work with another brain.
VM: What has the response been like so far to your new release, Life as a Dog?
K. Flay: It’s been awesome. I left a major label last fall and released this record independently, so it’s extra cool to see people listening and connecting with it.
VM: So I hear you’re playing Atlanta soon at The Drunken Unicorn! Are you excited to be on tour alone again?
K. Flay: I honestly just can’t wait to be back on the road. On warped, you have a 30-minute set, which means we can’t play all of the new record live. I’m excited to do that this fall. Also, The Drunken Unicorn rules.
VM: What is your biggest guilty pleasure album? We’re talking private session on Spotify guilty.
K. Flay: Selena Gomez’ Stars Dance. I actually paused mid-show last year in Columbus, Ohio to play a Selena Gomez song over the PA. Which was a strange, but I think ultimately good, decision.
VM: Do you design your own merch? Because it is awesome.
K. Flay: Thank you! Fuller Moehagen is the man responsible for the designs. He, like The Drunken Unicorn, rules.
VM: I don’t know if you remember, but we took a great mean-muggin’ selfie at the Atlanta Warped date. We looked pretty punk rock; what is one song that never fails to make you feel like a badass?
K. Flay: Right now, “Keep It 100” from Grandtheft & Keys N Krates.
VM: Final question – if you could assemble your dream music festival, who would you choose as your five headliners?
K. Flay: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kanye West, Gesaffelstein, St. vVincent, Tame Impala.
Weekly Playlist: Best of the Web
In an age where the Internet reigns supreme, musicians are getting more and more comfortable garnering success via views and followers. When I think about online artists, one thing comes to mind: YouTube. YouTube musicians are in a league of their own, holding some of the biggest and most passionate followings in the music community. This playlist gathers up the best of the web, musicians and artists from YouTube who are using their view counts to make it big. These artists range in age from teen to full blown adult, and range in genre from rap to a cappella. Check out the best of the web and see why YouTube musicians are the next big thing in music, and hopefully you’ll find a new favorite.
AthFest 2014: Stokeswood x Vinyl Mag
Imagine a group like Young The Giant on 80’s dance steroids. That’s kind of what comes to mind when I try to describe the incredible and unique sound of five-piece Atlanta rock group Stokeswood.
I had the opportunity to sit down with the guys before their set this weekend at AthFest, and let me tell you – they’re awesome. Sometimes speaking with bands makes you realize that the people you thought were cool aren’t actually that cool.
But man, these guys are cool. After a long buffalo wing and World Cup filled discussion, we got down to business discussing their newest single, their killer logo, and of course, Smashmouth.
VM: So, how did you guys meet?
Jon Joiner: A couple of us went to school together, you know, college years.
Justin Mullinix: Adam, Jon, and Mark went to college together, and technically Mike, too. So I’m the only one. I did go to elementary school with Adam, though.
VM: So you guys have a new single out – “Our Streets” – and a video. Tell me about the song.
Mike Roman: We were just writing songs one night. We’d just get together and say, ‘cool, we’re going to write songs on Wednesdays.’ We’d just clown out chords, hum along, and have our Pro Tools rig open. The song actually came together pretty naturally in one night.
VM: That must be super convenient when something just comes together like that.
MR: Yeah, the best songs always do.
Mark Godwin: They don’t always happen that way.
VM: So is this single leading up to a new Stokeswood album, perhaps?
MR: It is. But no official, ‘hey, we’re putting out an album’ or anything. We’re just writing and recording.
MG: We have enough songs for a new EP definitely, but we’re still working and writing. We also had the opportunity to go film the music video [for “Our Streets”] out in LA with Eli Berg, which was great timing.
MR: This single was just ready, and we hadn’t put anything out in a long time. We actually did the whole song as a ruse to get us to California.
VM: Will the new album sound a lot like the old one, or are you all moving in a new direction?
MR: I mean, how much do you miss Smashmouth?
VM: I mean, I miss Smashmouth everyday.
MR: More like Sugar Ray and Smashmouth.
MG: It’s definitely like the next evolution of the last album. It’s going to have the same soundscape that the new single does.
JJ: The first album was more rock-y, but it had some leanings into dance music, and we’re now even more on the dance side.
MR: We’re all 80’s kids, so I feel like it’s always going to have that 80’s retro vibe.
VM: Random technical question, but where did your logo come from? Because it’s awesome.
MG: We did that on a night we got together and decided to come up with a logo.
Adam Patterson: Show her your tattoos.
MG: On the first album, we had this song called “The Extraordinary Mr. Hit,” and this is back when Justin wasn’t in the band, and the song was written by Adam before we went into the studio. Justin had produced some hip hop tracks and was showing us some production techniques, and the sound wave image ended up resembling this guy which I tattooed on my forearm.
AP: The images are vocals, so it’s technically our sound waves.
MG: It wasn’t completely planned, but it turned out nicely and worked well.
MR: [Stoner voice] We all got together and-
MG: [Sarcastically] Oh yeah, we were all on meth!
VM: Oh, great! [Laughs] A lot of artists outsource that kind of thing, so it’s cool that it’s something you all came up with organically!
MR: Sean Kaminsky, he actually goes to UGA [University of Georgia], came up with the final draft of the one we use now though.
VM: So you all played Party in the Park, and now you’re playing AthFest. What’s your favorite part about playing festivals?
MG: I think the fans. Festivals are unique, because people save up money, they plan around it, and they’re there for one reason, and that’s to see live music. That’s the best part for me anyway, because you really get a group of people who are there for the same reason as you.
AP: Yeah, the campout festivals versus the one-day festivals are really awesome, because people are there to really let loose for two to three days in a row. We were lucky enough to play Aura Fest the last couple years in North Florida; we played the inaugural CounterPoint Festival, and the campout vibe is awesome.
VM: So this is a question I love to ask everyone, but if you could plan your ideal musical fest with any artists, dead or alive, who would play?
MG: Smashmouth and Sugar Ray!
MR: We were playing a show with Papadosio, and our third show with them, there was a guy who was very clearly on substances, and he wanted to bring a festival to Brazil, and he wanted it to be ‘avant garde and retarded,’ and he was going to call it ‘Avantarded.’ He was onto something, I think. He wanted us, Paul McCartney, Daft Punk, Papadosio, and U2, and I’m just going to go with him, because I think he is a visionary. Avantarded 2020, we’ll see you in Brazil.
MG: I think on my festy of the dead people I’d say Mozart, Whitest Boy Alive, Talking Heads in their heyday.
MR: Bernie Worrell.
MG: Just dueling pianos Mozart vs. Bernie.
JJ: Talk about Avantarded…
MR: Avantarded! Oh, Kilo Ali!
All: Kilo Ali!
MG: Kilo Ali, Mozart, and the Talking Heads.
JM: And DJ Khaled.
[Whole table laughs for about 10 minutes talking about Stokeswood’s hypothetical new side project, MethMouth]VM: To wrap up, what’s in store for you guys in the future? Obviously, you’re working on an album.
MR: We want to expand our touring to get over to the west coast. But at least for now is making sure we can just put together the best album we can.
VM: What’s the number one west coast city you guys want to play?
MR: LA.
MG: Portland.
AP: Oh, Portland [laughs].
JM: Seattle!
MG: All of them – ‘City of the West Coast.’
Stokeswood on Tour!
Jul 06 PARK TAVERN w/ Radio Birds Atlanta, GA
Jul 17 River Jam Concert Series Charlotte, NC
Jul 18 New Mountain Theatre Asheville, NC
Jul 19 Play it Forward Music Festival Atlanta, GA
Jan 24 The Rock Boat XV w/ Michael Franti &… Cozumel, Mexico
Jan 25 The Rock Boat XV w/ Barenaked Ladies Cozumel, Mexico
Jan 26 The Rock Boat XV w/ Scars On 45 Cozumel, Mexico
Jan 27 The Rock Boat XV w/ Sister Hazel Cozumel, Mexico
Jan 28 The Rock Boat XV w/ The Mowgli’s Cozumel, Mexico
Weekly Playlist: Fourth of July
Fourth of July Playlist
In middle school, I remember learning about the founding fathers and the Revolutionary War and thinking, “wow, this is completely irrelevant to my life.” These men shaped the America we have today and all, but I could probably recite the chapters of those American History textbooks by heart. Sure, I understand the obvious implications of their existence, and I am thankful for my oh-so American freedoms, but I never quite understood why the education system felt the need to drill that information into my head year after year. However, on sweltering Georgia days like today, I am thankful for the great American holiday at my patriotic fingertips, the Fourth of July.
Thankfully, the World Cup has re-instilled within we humble Americans a sense of patriotism that was previously buried below the tricky political landscape of the US. Enjoy our rare and predictably short-lived camaraderie this week, and go hard for the Fourth.
Here’s to barbecues, beach days, and the family and friend time that comes with the holiday that has for so long marked the mid-point of summertime life. We’ve created a playlist that will let you unwind, as well as celebrate the little things in life.
Take this playlist to the beach, to the BBQ, or to your cozy dark room and bask in your American independence. And if you’re not American, well, we’ll let it slide this time.
Athfest 2014: Wieuca x Vinyl Mag
Four piece “characteristically noisy” (their words, not mine) southern rock group, Wieuca, was founded in 2011 by frontman and guitarist Will Ingram and drummer Robert Smith. Three years, two new members and one full length album later, Wieuca takes the main stage at AthFest and kills it.
The chemistry onstage is incredible, and the group works a hot and sweaty 1 p.m. crowd with ease. The four shred through their performance and earn themselves a place in my ranks as one of the best groups in Athens to see live. These guys come from all around Atlanta and are somewhat new to the Athens area, so I think I speak for everyone when I say we’re glad they’re here.
We grabbed an interview with the boys before their set and asked them a little about how it feels to be performing on the main stage this year, and what plans Wieuca has for the future.
VM: I read that you guys describe yourselves as having a “characteristically noisy approach to the southern sound.” With such a unique sound, what kind of artists influence you as a group??
Will: When we started playing together, we were heavily influenced by 90’s college rock and midwestern alt-country, but we’ve started incorporating a little bit of everything. It’s fun to combine different styles in an unexpected way.
Robert: I think it’s always hard to pinpoint exactly who or what is influencing us at any point in time. Consciously trying to emulate any particular artist isn’t something we really do. Our everyday lives, our relationships, are really our biggest influences. But if I had to name an artist, I’ve spent the past couple of months listening to a lot of Todd Rundgren. And War on Drugs. They’re pretty tight, too.
VM: I saw you play at Rowdy Dowdy a few weeks back, and I was thoroughly impressed with your dynamic as a band. You have great chemistry and just all around good stuff going on on stage. You’ve had a few lineup changes in the past; do you finally feel really good about the group?
Robert: Yeah, the lineup seems pretty solid at the moment.
Will: The band is more collaborative and fun than it ever has been, but we’re open to adding more members to expand the potential of our live show.
VM: There Is No Balance, your most recent record, was released in 2013. Do you guys have plans for a new album in the works?
Will: The last album came out seven months ago, and since then we’ve been recording our next one. We haven’t decided whether to release it soon or to make it a double-length and record a few more tracks first.
VM: First of all, congratulations on earning yourselves a main stage performance at AthFest this year! Who are you all most excited to see?
Will: Elf Power. And DEGA was great last night.
Robert: Futurebirds are one of my favorite bands, and seeing them in Athens is always pretty radical, so them of course. And one of their openers, Woodfangs, are another one of our favorite local bands.
VM: You guys clearly have a sense of humor, from the fantastic Jesus Christ critique on your website to the name of your band, Wieuca. Tell us a little about why you finally decided on Wieuca as a band name to represent you all as artists.
Will: Wieuca is straight, so we wanted it to represent us.
VM: What is your favorite song from the record to play live?
Will: We usually play our new songs at shows and try them in front of a crowd before recording them.
VM: Who came up with the idea behind the music video for “Low Probability”?
Robert: Will.
Will: The video stars a handsome young man with a mustache.
VM: What’s your favorite activity, besides playing music, to do together as a band?
Robert: Scoping out new and exciting ethnic cuisines. Which goes pretty well with our other favorite activity of teaching O’Reilly how to correctly pronounce certain words.
VM: What’s in the pipeline for Wieuca? Do you have any exciting plans in the future?
Will: We’re looking forward to releasing our new songs.
VM: I have to ask you my signature question as well: If you could choose the headliners (dead or alive) for a new music festival, who would play?
Will: It would be really cool to see Bill Doss with OTC. Or Vic Chesnutt.
Robert: You could make a pretty awesome festival solely with Athens musicians who have passed away…
AthFest 2014: Party Dolls x Vinyl Mag
After making their debut on Valentine’s Day 2013, the local collaborative supergroup, Party Dolls, knew they had created something awesome. Exactly one year later, they had an album under their belt, and they haven’t stopped playing since. Party Dolls, a conglomeration of members from multiple Athens/Atlanta area acts including The District Attorneys and Tedo Stone, will continue taking the local scene by storm this weekend at AthFest
Party Dolls have a huge Athens following, and they are all about putting on a good show. The group masters their attempt at a “mini-Arcade Fire” sound, and really fosters and rekindles the collab-rock genre. Their debut album, Love Wars Baby, is an album of anthems that front man Drew Beskin says “had to be written.”
We caught up with them before the fest to chat about what it’s like to be part of such a big collab project, who would play their dream music fest and what’s in store for Party Dolls in the future.
Vinyl Mag: So there are quite a few members in Party Dolls; you’re a kind musical collage featuring members of multiple Athens/Atlanta bands. Do you all have a ‘the more the merrier’ philosophy when it comes to the band?
Drew Beskin: We definitely have a more the merrier attitude for Party Dolls. The band was put together in a very spur-of-the-moment kind of way. We all have or have had bands that fit a very specific structure, so this is everyone’s side pop band where we can just let loose and see how weird we can make it.
VM: Your record has been out for a few good months now – what’s that like? How has the reaction been?
DB: It is great to have it out there. We worked on it casually over a year, and we are very proud of the record. We have had some great press and premieres from some very cool publications. People seem to like it; I am proud of it. That is all that matters. The live version is a trip, because we have accordion, violin and a bunch of random instruments that I have never had on stage before, and I get a huge kick out of that.
VM: A lot of the record, Love Wars Baby, alludes to a bad breakup. I’ve always been curious about what it’s like for the rest of the band to play a song about someone else’s breakup. Is it hard to get into that head space?
DB: By the time the songs were recorded, the meaning behind them kind of vanished. They just turn into songs that happened to be about the past. When we play them now, we just enjoy the music and hope the audience does as well. There is no message or hidden meaning.
VM: Is it easy for you all to collaborate, having come from such varying musical backgrounds and groups? Do your styles all align when you come together to create something new?
DB: Yeah, for sure. We all just want to do the song justice and have as much fun playing as possible. We want to show each other off; we have a lot of amazing musicians in the band right now.
VM: What kind of artists influence you as a group?
DB: A lot of Whiskeytown and Rilo Kiley. We made the album with just four people, but we wanted to try and get a kind of ‘mini-Arcade Fire’ sound. A lot going on in 10 very short pop songs.
VM: Who are you most excited to see at AthFest 2014?
DB: Probably Dead Confederate and Kishi Bashi.
VM: Alright, this is my signature question: if you could choose the headliners – dead or alive – for a new music festival, who would play?
DB: Prince, Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, Rilo Kiley, The Smiths and Oasis.
VM: What’s in store for you all in the future?
DB: Not quite sure post-Athfest. We have some new songs and might record another album under the Party Dolls name or we might start a new project. Kind of playing it by ear right now.
VM: What’s the hardest thing about being in a group with so many members?
DB: Probably trying to write new songs off the fly, so we have stuck to listening to demos and learning from there. It’s never really that hard though; we all want the same thing, and if someone isn’t feeling it, they usually have a better idea. We are all friends with each other, so it’s pretty easy.
VM: What’s the craziest experience you’ve had at a show thus far?
DB: Our band usually floats between having seven or eight members, so whenever we are able to pull that off and get the sound right and everyone is locked in and happy, that is a pretty crazy experience.
*Check out Party Dolls at Athfest Saturday at Hull Street Stage at 4:00 p.m. See you there!