EXPOSED
Our Last Night is currently working on their new EP. A dual EP consisting of one EP in their original, high, energy style and the other EP will be acoustic.
Former front man for A Rocket To The Moon, Nick Santino, may be done with the band, but his solo career is only beginning. He released his EP a few months ago and is set to head out on tour. He spoke with us about the tour and the album.
Exposed: You recently released your solo EP “Going Home”. The EP has a very country feel to it and you’ve talked a lot in the past about your love for country music. Is that a direction you always saw yourself wanting to go in?
NS: This style I write in is just the sound I write. It's not really intentional and I can't explain it. I wouldn't say it's "country". Just a weird folky thing. Johnny Cash is my biggest lyrical influence, so I owe a lot to him.
Exposed: What do you like most about country music?
NS: The story telling.
Exposed: After being with A Rocket To The Moon for so long, what will you miss most about being in the band and what are you most looking forward to about your solo career?
NS: We had some good times together. Those guys were a lot of fun to play with. I'm looking forward to making the music I really want to make.
Exposed: You will be on tour with This Century in November and December. What are you most looking forward to about this?
NS: Just getting out on the road and playing all new songs. It's gonna be real personal and intimate and I can't wait. I'm gonna tell all my stories and secrets finally and it's gonna feel amazing.
Tim Urban, who placed 7th on the 2010 season of American Idol, talks to host Kelsey McDonald about his latest music, shows, and his time on American Idol.
The Swon Brothers finished in the Top 3 on the 4th Season of The Voice on NBC. They recently signed a record deal with Arista Nashville. Arista is label home to many country superstars including Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley.
Chase Goehring
Exposed: You placed 9th on this season of The X Factor. What was it like getting to work with and be coached by some of the biggest names in the music industry?
Tim: It was great being mentored by Paulina Rubio. She had some great advice for me. I also got to work with the amazing music producer, John Shanks. I also worked with vocal coaches Ruth-Anne Cunningham and Lil' Eddie Serrano! I made a lot of really great connections from being on the show.
Exposed: What is your favorite memory from the show?
Tim: My favorite memory would have to be hanging in Alex & Sierra's room with other contestants. Always a good time!
Exposed: During the 4 Chair challenge, you were initially eliminated from the competition. But Paulina Rubio brought you back. What was going through your mind when she called you back to the stage?
Tim: This was also a favorite memory of mine. I was out in the lobby and could hear the audience chanting "We Want Tim!" That was definitely one of, if not, the coolest thing I've ever had happen to me. It was such an adrenaline rush! I didn't know she had changed her mind until she told me when I got back on the stage!
Exposed: And Paulina was your mentor throughout the show. What was it like working with her and what did you learn from her, and from that show, that will help you as you move forward in your career?
Tim: She really helped me with my nerves. She worked on getting me out of my shell. She taught me to just leave it all out on the stage.
Exposed: Now that you are finished with the show, what are your plans moving forward?
Tim: Good question! I'm still working out some things. Not to worry though. Singing will for sure be my main focus.
Ariana and The Rose
The Swon Brothers
Warrant
Her Bright Skies
Nick Santino
Tim Olstad
Tim recently placed 9th on The X Factor on FOX
Our Last Night
Tim Urban
CW:
You can see Ariana and The Rose currently touring across the US with Heffron Drive, who is composed of Kendall Schmidt (Big Time Rush) and Dustin Belt. Last week, she released the first single off her EP that is due out in early 2014. She speaks with us about the single, the EP and working with David Kahne and Paul McCartney.
Chase finished in the Top 10 of the boys on Season 3 of The X Factor on FOX.
Josh Levi
A few days ago, I had the opportunity to do a phone interview with Robert Mason, lead singer of Warrant. As the call was coming to an end, he mentioned he was working in Nashville for the week, so we made plans to meet up while he was in town and finish the interview in person. I don’t generally get to spend a lot of one on one time with many of the artists I’m interviewing, so I didn’t really know what to expect going into it. But after spending around four hours with Robert, I can honestly say it was one of my favorite and most enjoyable interviews I have done this year. He was such a pleasure to be around. The entire evening, I didn’t feel like I was working or talking to someone I had just met. I felt like I was hanging out with a really good friend I had known for years. He was just a genuinely nice, down-to-earth, really fun guy.
We met up in the lobby of the Omni hotel in downtown Nashville. We then walked down to a restaurant on Broadway, where I got to hear his story of how he got his start in music, his very first band, touring stories from back in the day, and how he became the lead singer of Warrant. “I opened up for them in ‘92 and ‘93 for their third record, Dog Eat Dog. That’s when I was in Lynch Mob. Jani and I were genuinely good friends, and that’s why Warrant took Lynch Mob out as direct support that year. We stayed in touch and our paths crossed throughout the years. I bumped into them in July of 2008, and was in the band by September of 2008.”
He also talked with me about their plans for 2014, that include new music. “We are going to be writing and putting together something to release in 2014. We’re not sure what yet. We are kind of keeping that under wraps for now. I don’t think it will be a full length album, but there will be new Warrant music in 2014.”
Brian Bonds
We caught up with Brian Bonds, guitarist for Florida Georgia Line, Saturday during their last tour date of the year. After playing 230 shows this year, he catches up with us to reflect on their crazy year and why Florida Georgia Line is the perfect band for him.
Exposed: How did you get started playing for them?
Brian: I was playing for a few different artists when they approached me about playing with them. Something just felt right about them, and I really liked what they had going on. We would get in Brian's Tahoe and go out and play shows. We would play a city and there might be around 15 people there. We would come back a month later, and there would be maybe 40-50 people. Then we would come back two months later, and all of a sudden, there's 150 people there. It really started taking off and it's been a crazy ride ever since.
Brian: I really loved their energy. I'm a child of the 80's, so I grew up on Def Leppard and Motley Crew. I just love that energy. To me, a really good live show is something where the music is great, but it's also very entertaining. When I heard their songs, I knew if they could perform the way those songs were calling for, it was going to be great. After we played our first show together, I knew it was going to be great. What I liked about them the most is they let me do my thing as a guitar player. A lot of guys want their artists to wear all black, stand in the shadows, and not cause a scene. But they said to me, " When it comes time for your solo, run on top of the stage and do backflips. Just do whatever you want." When they said that, I knew it was the band for me.
Exposed: What was it about Florida Georgia Line that felt right to you?
Exposed: Was playing in a country band something you always saw yourself doing?
Brian: Growing up, I was torn between rock and country. In high school, I had plans of wanting to move to Nashville. Then, that faded away for a bit. It just eventually came to a point in my life where I knew I needed to move to Nashville or Los Angeles if I wanted to do this. I weighed out the options and ended up in Nashville. I'm very glad I did.
Exposed: You played a lot of shows this year. What is the most memorable show for you?
Brian: This year has been absolutely crazy. Today is our last show of the year. Looking at the calendar, we have done 230 shows this year, which has been insane. One of the most memorable shows for me this year was Cowboy Stadium in Texas. There were around 85,000 people there. It was surreal to see that many people standing up and singing along. Also, the very first time we did Jimmy Fallon was very memorable for me. None of us had ever done any live TV on that level before, and that was always one of my childhood dreams.
Light Up The Sky
Light Up The Sky, an up and coming hardcore band from Spokane, Washington, released their debut single, Bring It On, earlier this year. The band is currently managed by Crown The Empire guitarist, Bennett Vogelman. He spoke with us about the band’s next single and their plans for next year, which include touring and releasing an EP.
Exposed: The band is currently working on their new single. What can you tell me about it?
BV: We just finished it up. I'm sending it out in a couple of days to get mixed and mastered. The second single is a little bit darker and heavier than the first single. It's not like the same stuff you have been hearing. It's a very different song. I'm excited to release it and see how the fans react.
Exposed: For those who are not familiar with the band yet since they are very up and coming, how would you describe their sound?
BV: They have very pretty, melodic parts, but it's definitely heavy enough for hardcore fans.
Exposed: Are there any bands they might have a similar sound to?
BV: There's a couple of bands I would say they might have a similar sound to. I would say Pierce The Veil is the kind of vibe they have, but they are really starting to develop thier own sound and feel. I would definitely say Pierce The Veil is very close though.
Exposed: What are the plans for the near future?
BV: They are looking to tour in the spring. We are also trying to record an EP in that time as well with hopefully a summer release. I want to get them on the road and do as many tours as we can. And then we plan on doing a full length album after that. So at the moment, that's the plan moving forward.
Exposed: Who are their biggest influences?
BV: Bruno Mars, Alex Cuba, Panic at the Disco, and Avenged Sevenfold are the main artists these guys take from.
Exposed: You are the brother of Daniel, who plays drums for the band. What advice do you give him and the band, not only as their manager, but as someone who is in a successful band?
BV: From the beginning, the advice I have given them is to never stop working hard. It doesn't matter how far you get, you can always go father, do better and work harder.
The Neighbourhood
After releasing their first full length album in 2013, The Neighbourhood topped the charts reaching number 1 on Billboard's alternative chart with their single, Sweater Weather. We caught up with them to talk about their latest single and new album.
Exposed:On December 10th, you announced a new album, The Black And The White. The release date is TBA. What can you tell me about the album?
ZA: There's not too much I can say, but I would say it's more of a project than an album. You will understand what I mean by that once we put it out. We did the entire project on the road, on our laptops, and by ourselves. So, no recording studios and producers. Just by ourselves on our own time.
Exposed: Also your new track called Silver premiered on BBC Radio 1 on December 10th. Tell me a little about the single.
ZA: Silver is one of my personal favorites on the project. We thought that song felt the best to introduce the album. The whole thing has an eclectic sound, while every song is still cohesive with each other.
Exposed: You were recently nominated by MTV Buzzworthy as a breakthrough band of 2013. What does that mean to you?
ZA: It's really cool! MTV has always been something I've grown up with. So, to be nominated for anything having to do with it is a pretty surreal feeling.
Exposed: You played alot of shows this year including touring with Imagine Dragons, Jimmy Kimmel Live, etc. What was the most memorable show this year for you?
ZA: I think the most memorable show for us this year is when we played Coachella. That was a goal of ours to play it before the band really even formed. Being able to do that was definitely a special moment for us.
Exposed: What are your plans for 2014? What can your fans expect?
ZA: People can expect more music, more shows and just more of The Neighbourhood.
Tom Keifer
Tom Keifer, lead singer of Cinderella, made his debut as a solo artist in 2013 with the release of The Way Life Goes. He spent the year touring in support of the album on his first ever solo tour. He took some time this week to talk with us about his long awaited solo album that he began work on in the nineties.
Exposed: You made your debut as a solo artist this year with the release of The Way Life Goes. How would you describe the album?
TK: I think the album is a hard rock album. It's very much inspired by the things that have always inspired me. The things that have always inspired me are the more blues side of rock and roll and the American roots music. I've always had a little bit of blues, country, R&B, and gospel in my writing styles. It's very similar to what I've done in the past.
Exposed: This album was very long-awaited and highly anticipated since you started writing it in the 90's and cutting the tracks for the record in 2003. What does this album mean to you since it was your debut as a solo artist and you spent so many years working on it?
TK: It really feels like a new start. It feels like something I can look back at now and feel like I had the opportunity to leave no stone unturned when we were producing and recording it. We decided to produce the record on our own and not have a label involved in that aspect of it. We started production for the album in 2003. From the beginning, we decided there would not be a record until there was a record. That was a really great luxury to have, and not one I have had on previous records I have worked on. It was a lot of fun making this record, and we didn't put any pressure on ourselves at all.
Exposed: Is there a particular track on the album that is your favorite?
TK: It's really hard to pick just one. When I select songs for records, I try to have different varieties, styles, dynamics and feels on the album. There's some really hard driving stuff on the record, and there's some very acoustic, intimate feels as well. A couple of my favorite songs from both sides of that would be “Solid Ground” and “It's Not Enough. Those songs are the more heavy side of the record. On the extreme end, “The Flower Song”, “Thick and Thin”, and “Ask Me Yesterday” are nice examples of the polar opposite side of the record.
Exposed: You toured throughout the year on your first ever solo tour in support of this album. What was your first solo tour like?
TK: We had a blast! It was so nice to get out and play some new songs. With Cinderella, it's always fun to tour and play the favorite songs of the fans. I always love playing those hits. It was very cool to mix the Cinderella classics in the sets with some of the new stuff. Both set alongside very well and created a nice set. It really felt like a new beginning.
Ellona Santiago
Ellona recently placed sixth on the popular Fox television show, The X Factor.
Exposed: You placed sixth on the current season of the X Factor. You were also a contestant on season 1, finishing in the Top 12 in the group Intensity. What were your goals when you auditioned for Season 3?
ES: Honestly, I didn't think I'd make it to the top 6 of the X Factor. It's crazy! The competition was really tough and everyone was really great. I'm just thankful I got the chance to perform in front of the judges and on the X Factor stage again. Ultimately, of course, [I wanted] to win. But I believe I had a great run making it into the top 6. I've achieved so much more than I expected, especially gaining so many supporters in America and around the world!
Exposed: When you were eliminated this season, the public was angry and disappointed with the results. Thousands of people announced on their twitters that they thought the show was rigged and you never deserved to go home. What was your reaction to getting so much public support?
ES: I was very thankful and happy that so many people are supporting me and backing me up. It was extremely uplifting because it feels like I wasn't alone in the experience. I'm just so glad that so many people really believed in me.
Exposed: On Season 1, you were mentored by Paula Abdul and on this season, Demi Lovato. What did you take from both of them that will help you going forward as an artist?
ES: Paula said this phrase to us in the first season, "Break the rules, stand apart and follow your heart." It basically means to stand out and be different. Demi also helped me so much. From her, I learned that no matter how tired or exhausted you are, if you really want your dream to come true, you need to strive for it and keep working hard. In the long run, you'll look at all your hard work and be so proud of yourself that you accomplished them regardless of the circumstances and it'll pay off. Those are the two most important things I've learned from both my amazing mentors.
Exposed: What kind of album do you see yourself one day making and what kind of artist do you want to be?
ES: I want to be a pop, dance, soul, and R&B artist, and make an album that can sell millions! Hopefully.
Five years from now, where do you want to be and what do you want to have accomplished?
I want to be on a world tour, making music, and performing at award shows! And most importantly, make a significant impact all over the world by inspiring musicians, especially the young generation.
Nasty Habit
Exposed: You finished tracking your new EP Desperate Times, Desperate Measures earlier this month. What can your fans expect from the EP?
Tommy: Maturity in general. This EP is a new chapter for us as songwriters and individuals. Everything has been jacked up a few notches and we’re all VERY proud of how it came out. As per usual, you can also expect a lot of variety. While there’s only 5 songs, we feel each song has something different to offer. We definitely didn’t write the same song twice.
Exposed: Do you have a release date yet?
Tommy: At this point, we don’t have a release date. However, I can assure you that we’re trying to get this thing out and in your ears as soon as we can!
Exposed: You also released the music video for "Strut Your Stuff' on Christmas Day. Tell me about the video.
Kenny: Woah! So much to say! The making of this video was on a whole new level for us. It’s very professional compared to our usual DIY approach. There was lighting, makeup, set design, and all that jazz. It was very cool. We had a lot of fun making it and I think that shows when you watch it. Nasty Habit is a band that likes to have fun, and we wanted that to be apparent in our video. It’s scandalous and sexy and silly.
Exposed: You've said that some of the artists and bands you have been influenced by include Jani Lane, Sebastian Bach, Van Halen, and Tommy Lee to name a few. What is it about these guys that have influenced you so much?
Kenny: Well for me, the Van Halen influence is obvious. He pretty much invented shredding. I could never pick a favorite guitarist, but if someone put a gun to my head and MADE me, I would have to go with EVH. I’ve always explained it like this: before EVH nobody played like Eddie. After EVH, everybody TRIED to play like him. And just the overall fun attitude of that band has kind of influenced us to not take ourselves too seriously.
Exposed: For anyone who isn't familiar with you guys yet, or is just coming onto the band, is that the style of music they should expect to hear from you guys?
Tommy: I would say it’s a yes and a no. While we are majorly influenced by that era in regards to musicianship and theatrics, we also have a very diverse approach as of late in our song writing. We’re not afraid to use aspects of all genres and I think that really gives our music an advantage. We don’t want our music to be predictable or exclusive to one style.
Exposed: What are your plans for 2014 and what can your fans expect from you guys in the New Year?
Kenny: It’s looking kind of like this: finishing our EP and making sure it sounds the best it possibly can before we release it sometime in the spring, while simultaneously planning, funding, and filming another music video for a single we’ll choose from one of the 5 songs on the EP. That way we can hit the ground running upon its release, shop it around, and possibly get some label support from it. Then around May, we’ll do our spring tour halfway around the USA. We’ll go play the new songs out on the road and put them to the test in a live setting. And party down and visit our nasty friends and families in all different area codes. Then once we get back, our schedule is pretty much open to seize any other opportunity that could help further the band's success.
Exposed: You came into the band in 2008 after previously playing with other bands, including Lynch Mob. What was it like coming into a band that had been together for so long, and one that you actually opened for earlier in your career?
RM: On one hand, it felt really organic and natural because we knew each other very well. I opened up for them in '92 and '93 for their third record, Dog Eat Dog. That's when I was in Lynch Mob. Jani and I were really good friends, and that was the reason Warrant took Lynch Mob out as direct support that year. So we had a history. Jani and I were genuinly friends. We had a lot of fun. I cannot even tell you a lot of the stuff we did after some of those shows. So, essentially, really, when they needed somebody, we stayed in touch. Our paths crossed throughout the years. I bumped into them in July of '08, and by September of '08, I was in the band. It felt really right and like I'm going to hang out with my buddies. The ones who understand the history of the band that are welcoming to me are great. They understand I have kind of a legacy because I was around back then. We all came from the same place and Warrant now feels like a good ole American rock band to us.
Exposed: You guys released your 8th studio album Rockaholic a little over 2 years ago. Rockaholic was actually your first album with the band. How do you think your style as a musician has transitioned over the years?
RM: Well, everybody grows older. Your priorities change. Your life changes and you experience more things. Look at yourself 20 years ago. Are you the same person? If the answer is yes, that's a crazy answer. Or you haven't done anything in 20 years. You haven't experienced anything or lived through anything. We all did that. We lived through a lot of life. From the beginning until now, we are older. Some of us are wiser. It doesn't mean we are allergic to having fun because we still do a whole lot of that. It's just your styles and your taste change. So writing is a lot like that. And for me personally, Rockaholic was a great way to put my stamp on it.
Exposed: Just like so many of the other bands from the 80’s and 90’s, Warrant's music is still extremely relevant and listened to by many people today. What do you attribute to that?
RM: I attribute that to the fact that it was written in a time when things were simpler to our audience. Our audience, to some extent, has grown up with us. Some of them were there for the first album and now can go get Rockaholic and be like, "I get it". It still sounds like Warrant, but maybe a little more grown up. Some of those songs are being rediscovered by kids through movies, televison, and other things. If you are experiencing it for the first time, you have that commom bond with the people who were listening to it first. It represented a very good and happy time, and those songs were about mostly what that was like back then.
Exposed: What can we expect from you guys in 2014? What are your plans?
RM: We play shows as often as we can. In the States, it's stronger to just play Spring/Summer more often, which we do. We are gone a lot in the Spring and Summer and we plan on continuing that kind of touring model. We are going to be writing and putting together something to release in 2014. We're not sure what yet. We are kind of keeping that under wraps. There will be new Warrant music in 2014, and a surprise or two with some of the songs from the past.
Exposed: I want to talk to you first about the X Factor, since you just finished working on the show. What was it about the X Factor that made you want to audition and be a part of that show?
JL: I think out of all of the television shows for singing competitons, the X factor suited me the best. It focuses on full performance and for me, dance is essential when I'm performing. The other shows don't really focus on that, so I knew X factor would be perfect for me.
Exposed: For your audition, you sang "Come and Get It" by Selena Gomez. How did you choose that song?
JL: I was going down the list of songs on the website that they had for us. While I was searching through the site, I was like, "Oh! What about that new Come and Get It song?". I looked to see if it was available and It was. I used an acoustic track and changed it around. I changed the melody and lyrics a bit. It's a good song and I love changing songs.
Exposed: What kind of album do you see yourself making?
JL: A pop and R&b crossover album. Something like everyone saw on the show.
Exposed: Now that you are done with the X Factor, what are your plans and goals as you continue to move forward in your career?
JL: I'm telling everyone that this is the beginning of forever. I'm doing everything I can to take it to the next level. I've always wanted to sell out Madison Square Gardens, win many Grammys, and be number 1 on the Billboard Charts. I have such an amazing fan base and I know they are going to make that happen.
Exposed: You guys finished 3rd on the 4th Season of The Voice on NBC. You were on Team Blake. How has life after The Voice been?
Zach: Life coudn't be better. Very busy. Our dreams are coming true. We are very thankful and we are here because of the people who voted for us and downloaded our songs and we can't thank them enough. We recently signed with our label and start cutting our record next week. Our world has turned upside down.
Exposed: Tell me about the Label you signed with.
Colton: We really can't believe it. We signed with Arista Nashville. We get to join artists like Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley. It’s a pretty epic label.
Exposed: And you guys are expected to release new music in the Spring of 2014. What can fans expect to hear?
Colton: You definitely can expect to hear a lot of harmony written songs. We came from soul gospel. We can't help but write love songs.
Exposed: You grew up traveling with your parents, who were in a Southern Gospel band. How did growing up around music, and watching your parents perform shape you into the musicians you are today?
Zach- Well, ya know, we didn’t realize it back then. Sometimes we wished we could just stay home. We were gone on weekends, and away from our friends, but it definitely shaped us. We were learning everytime. They always had good musicians playing for them. Neither one of us has ever had a lesson. We really learned from watching them.
Exposed: What are your goals for yourselves?
Zach: Our goal Is pretty simple. We just really want to connect with fans. Our biggest influene is The Eagles. Theres a reason they are still touring. They have great songs and people can relate. They stay who they are. We want to develop a sound that sounds classic and belongs on the radio, and stay connected to people. The more hands we can shake and the more necks we can hug, the better. It would be cool to have #1 hits and to win CMA awards, but that all comes from the fans, and staying connected to people.
Exposed: Were you nervous for your first performance?
JL: I was extremely nervous before I got on stage. But once I planted myself in the middle of the stage and saw the judges, I was comfortable. It felt like home. Especially after I made eye contact with the judges.
Exposed: How did being a part of the show help you grow as a musician? You had the opportunity to get feedback and coaching from some of the biggest names in music.
JL: The whole process of the show was like an extreme bootcamp for the real world. Performing every week under a ton of pressure with not much preparation helped me in almost all areas of being a performer. The producers and vocal coaches really pushed me.
Exposed: Do you think you have more confidence in yourself now than you did before the show?
JL: I think I do. I think performing every week in front of judges under that much pressure with such little prepartion has made me so much more confident in myself.
Exposed: Musically, who do you aspire to be like?
JL: I aspire to be like Justin Timberlake, John Legend, Bruno Mars, Brandy and Jojo
Nasty Habit finished tracking their new EP Desperate Times, Desperate Measures earlier this month. They spoke with us about the EP and their latest video.
Exposed: You placed in the top 10 of the boys on the X Factor this season. What was it like getting to perform on that stage in front of Simon Cowell, Demi Lovato, Paulina Rubio, and Kelly Rowland?
CG: My first time performing in front of the judges was actually very intense. I was really nervous during the moments before going up on stage. I had never imagined performing in front of them or even being on the X Factor. It was probably one of the greatest experiences of my life so far! There was something special about it that convinced me music was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
Exposed: What is your favorite moment from the show?
CG: My favorite moment from the show was just performing for the thousands of people I had thE opportunity to perform for. I also loved getting the feedback from the judges about my singing and songwriting. It's actually really hard to decide on a favorite moment from the show because there's just too many to choose from. I loved meeting all of the X Factor contestants. They were really genuine and nice, not snarky or mean at all.
Exposed: Who has influenced you the most musically?
CG: I actually have not had any musicians influence my music. I grew up not liking music at all, to be honest. However, I think there are some musicians who have influenced me as a person. Jake Shimabukuro influenced me to pursue the ukulele and leave the rock band I was formally in during my middle school years. Eminem influenced me to pick up a bit of rap, because the way he rapped was different. He turned it into a form of poetry instead of manufactured rap. The success of other young artists like me also influences me to keep going. But as far as my music, I’m still in the process of making my own style.
Exposed: What are your goals in music?
CG: I really just want to have a successful music career. I want to have a good job so that I can provide for my future family, just like my parents have provided for me. I want to be able to help my future children pursue their dreams. I want to go beyond just being a singer and becoming an inspiration to the world. I want leave an impact.
Exposed: What can your very growing fan base expect from you in 2014?
CG: My fans can expect A LOT of hard work. A year ago I remember wondering where I would be a year from then and here I am. Since a year ago, I've performed for thousands, released singles, written over 25 songs, and participated on a national TV show, the X Factor. I cant wait to see where God and my amazing fans take me throughout the next year. But I know one thing, its going to be awesome!
Exposed: Your new album Rivals is out now. Tell me about the album. How do you guys feel about the results?
HBS: We're happy about it for sure. It's the best album we've done thanks to us taking some time off to write it. We really gave everything to make it as good as possible. We recorded it with Shep Goodman and Aaron Accetta in New York, and that had a positive impact on the record as well. Some of the lyrics were inspired by the environment we were in at the time.
Exposed: You just finished touring in the US on the Bryan Stars Tour. What is your favorite thing about touring in the United States? What was your favorite moment from the tour?
HBS: The crowd in America is just amazing. You get so much appreciation and the people there really know how music is supposed to be experienced. With hundreds of others jumping, singing, and having fun in front of a stage. Our favorite moments were when we played shows in cities we played on the last tour. We got to see how we've gained fans in that area, and how people there are really happy that we came back after hearing us for the first time a few months back.
Exposed: You guys are from Sweden. How did growing up there influence your music?
HBS: I guess we grew up listening to a lot of Swedish bands. That gave us a different way of thinking about songs and a new element that I think some bands lack nowadays. It helped us develop our own sound.
Exposed: If Someone was not familiar with your band, how would you describe yourselves and your music?
HBS: Our latest album "Rivals" is more rock oriented than anything we've ever done before. It pretty much goes back to the basics of what a song is all about. A lot more emotion and pureness, and less shortcuts, if you know what i mean. It's supposed to sound raw and direct.
Exposed: Who is your biggest influence musically?
HBS: Just music in general. We draw influences from so many artists. Its hard to pinpoint anything exact. But lately, we've been listening to a lot of rock' n roll from the 70' and 80's. As well as newer acts like Nico Vega and Rival Sons.
Exposed: What would be your advice to people who look up to you and want to pursue a career in the music industry?
HBS: Just go for it. Get a band together that you believe in and just give it your all. It's taken us several years of hard work to get where we are, and it feels like we've only just begun. Ultimately, it's all about dedication.
Exposed: You have a new single out titled Heartbeat. Tell me about the single.
Ariana: Heart beat came out last week. It's the first single off my EP coming out in early 2014. The song is about that moment when you're in a fight and you don't want to be anymore. You just want to call that person up and for everything to be okay again.
Exposed: For anyone who is not familiar with you or your music yet, how would you describe your music?
Ariana: I would describe it as altenative synth pop. Very singer songwriter lyrics and melodies.
Exposed: You recorded your debut EP with David Kahne. He has worked with and produced many great artists such as Paul McCartney and Lana Del Ray. What was it like working with him?
Ariana: It was an amazing experience! He is a genius. I really learned the nuances of what goes into creating a really good vocal. Even to the T of how puttting emphasis on certain words creates certain emotions. He really taught me so much about what it means to be a recording artist. I was recently in Paul McCartney's music video. I emailed him and told him, but he already knew about. It's really great to have worked with him and to now have him as a mentor.
Exposed: What can we expect from you in 2014?
Ariana: I'm in the process of working on my full length album, which I hope to have out by late summer/early fall. And I will hopefully be back on tour in the spring.
Exposed: Which song of yours is the closest to you?
TW: I would say the song that means most to me is Reason To Love. I wrote it about a relationship I was in that completely messed with my head. To the point where I didn’t even see the point of “Love”, or really didn’t even understand it anymore.
Exposed: Who is your biggest influence musically?
TW: I have a lot of influences for sure. But some of the bands that made me want to start OLN would be artists like: Finch, Sum 41, Good Charlotte, Linkin Park, and As I Lay Dying. I used to search videos of all the bands playing shows and just dream that one day I would be doing the same thing, and lucky enough, here I am now.
Exposed: If you could tour with any band, who would it be?
TW: My dream tour would be OLN, Deftones, Jimmy Eat World & Linkin Park.
Exposed: What are you guys listening to right now? Favorite band?
TW: Well, currently while answering this interview, im listening to Four Year Strong. But recently, i've been listening to The Story So Far, One Republic and The Neighborhood.
Exposed: Where do you see yourself and the band in a few years? What are your goals?
TW: I hope to continue writing music and releasing as many songs as we possibly can. I hope to have played all the countries we've been waiting to play, and to have what every band wants; To be able to headline big shows. We can only go up from here.
Exposed: And in honor of the NHL starting back this week and the MLB playoffs, favorite sports team?
TW: BOSTON! Celtics, Patriots, Bruins, and of course, the Red Sox. Even though I’m not the biggest fan of baseball.
Exposed: You recently launched a kickstarter campaign to raise money to record and release Tears for Hallelujah and The Real You. Tell me about the two songs.
TU: Tears for Hallelujah is a song that came about largely because of two tragedies. The Boston marathon bombing and the explosion in west Texas. I had no intention of writing a song about them, but I had the words "tears for hallelujah" stuck in my head afterward. Basically, it's a song about finding hope in the midst of a crazy and, often times, tragic world. And The Real You is one of my favorite love songs that I've written. It's about loving someone on their worst day and not just their best. It's about wanting to be with someone through both the good and bad and support them through it all.
Exposed: A few of your upcoming show dates include performing at Miss USA's Miss Connecticut, Miss Vermont, and Miss Pennsylvania state pageants. What are you most looking forward to about these performances?
TU: I've already done two performances with the Miss USA pageants and they have been a lot of fun. It's really a great time working with the crew who put on the events and also working with the contestants. I've really been impressed with the contestants at the first two pageants. They're incredibly smart and articulate, as well as beautiful. So, I'm looking forward to meeting the contestants at the upcoming states. I'm also looking forward to getting to meet different people from others parts of the country. I love to travel, so getting to go to these events is something I really enjoy.
Exposed: Most people got to know you when you were on the 2010 season of American Idol. What did you learn from that experience that has helped you as you’ve continued to move forward in your music career?
TU: I think one of the things I learned from the show is that even after being on a big show like American Idol, you still have to go out and make things happen for yourself. It's a great platform, but they aren't going to hand you a career afterward. That's up to you and what you do after the cameras aren't on you anymore.
Exposed: Who is your biggest influence musically?
TU: I've had a lot of musical influences. Everyone from James Taylor and John Denver to One Republic and Coldplay. I like a lot of different music and I get inspiration from different parts of a lot of people's music. So it's hard to say who the biggest inspiration has been.
Exposed: If someone was not familiar with you, how would you describe your music?
TU: I would describe my music as Top 40 style fun music. I want to brighten peoples day, and paint pictures with my songs that people can relate to. I also hope that my songs (specifically my love songs) give people a good picture of what real love looks like. Not just the momentary attraction that a lot of songs are about these days.
Damn Dice
Exposed: Your EP, Wild ‘N’ Ready is out. Tell me about the EP and the work that went into it.
Fransoa: Sure. We released our first EP called Wild ‘N’ Ready in October 2013. The EP contains 6 tracks which we recorded at Angry Bee Studio with the awesome Akis Kollaros. Akis managed to get the sound we wanted for this EP. He totally understood what we wanted it to sound like and what we wanted to do. We spent 2 weeks in studio with him, and that was a great experience. We are very proud of the result and the sound of the EP, and we are receiving great reviews about Wild ‘N’ Ready!
Exposed: You've said that the hardest part of making the EP was to only pick six tracks because you didn’t want to go for a full-length album. Do you see yourselves making a full length album anytime soon?
Fransoa: Yes that’s right. It took us a while to figure out how many songs and which songs should be on this EP (laughs). We didn’t want to go for an auto-produced, full-length album since we believe our debut album deserves to be produced, advertised, and promoted with more means, better conditions, and not on our own. But we really wanted to give our fans something as soon as possible to have, until we release the album. The release of our debut album is actually our big objective for 2014. We’ve prepared 16 songs in total and we are very proud of them.
Exposed: Of this EP, which song are you guys the most proud of?
Fransoa: It’s really hard to tell (laughs). We all have something for “Caught in the Ride” because it’s the first song we wrote. I’m really proud of “Bang Your Head” and its powerful atmosphere and speed. “Heart on the Run” is an anthem with a lot of harmonies. It’s actually hard to choose only one because of their sing along melodies and catchiness (laughs).
Exposed: If someone was unfamiliar with the band and your music, how would you describe it?
Fransoa: We get this question quite often, and we’re still looking for the right description (laughs). I’d say we play hard rock music with a modern and metal edge!
Exposed: If you could make your dream tour with any bands, still together or not, alive or dead, who would you tour with?
Fransoa: Wow the list is long (laughs). But, if I had to only pick one, I think it would be Metallica!
Exposed: What are your goals and plans for 2014?
Fransoa: Releasing our debut album this year is our main goal. We should also release in a few weeks a music video for “Bang Your Head” and a second one later on for “Take the Fight”. And of course, playing as many gigs as possible!
Damn Dice, a Hard Rock band from London, recently released their first EP Wild 'N' Ready. Exposed recently caught up with the band to talk about the EP and their plans for releasing their debut album, which is their main goal for 2014.
Five For Fighting
After the release of his sixth studio album Bookmarks, Five For Fighting's John Ondrasik speaks with us about the making of this album, the first single "What If", and re-partnering with producer Gregg Wattenberg.
Exposed: In September of last year, you released your sixth studio album Bookmarks. How is this album different than some of your previous albums?
JO: Bookmarks has a more modern production that the last few Five For Fighting albums, though it still starts with a guy at a piano.
Exposed: About the album, you've said that Bookmarks is a more modern record from a production and melodic standpoint than your last few albums. Can you describe that?
JO: Modern production covers everything from the engineering component to the album making (how it sounds) arrangement, and style of the music. One example would be using a keyboard on "What If" instead of my typical acoustic piano. Melodically, the melodies are a bit more contemporary as there are a few pop songs on the album. An example of that would be "Stand Up". That said, there are still some classic throw back songs which are a bit more of my signature sound.
Expoosed: For the first single, you released "What If". The song is a call to rise above what divides people. And some remarks you have made about the song include: “Americans are immersed in a shallow culture of instantaneous perception and rabid stereotype. What if we could truly understand each others experience and point-of-view? Walk in those proverbial shoes? It might not change our ideologies and beliefs, but perhaps we would have a bit more empathy and understanding for one and other or not What If?” What does this song mean to you?
JO: “What If” is a result of my frustration with modern discourse in America. Lots of screaming and not much talking.
Exposed: For the album, you re-partnered with producer Gregg Wattenberg. You've worked with him in the past including your platinum album America Town featuring your iconic song “Superman”. What was it like re-partnering and working with him again on this album?
JO: It was great. It's nice to close the circle. Gregg and I have both realized our childhood dreams together and going back to the well one more time was a gift.
Exposed: Outside of music, you have covered hockey for outlets such as Sports Illustrated. Now that we are halfway through the season, who's your favorite to win the Stanley Cup this year?
JO: L.A. Kings. It's over. Guaranteed.
