Interview with Joshua Schiffman

Jason Mraz and Jon McLaughlin had a musical love child. True story, little known fact. In my journeys through the musical Amazon I’ve fought perilous procrastination, pits of uninspiring quicksand, and followed the customs of the MySpace tribe in my quest for this mythical love child. And at long last I’ve found the magic to be true and alive, in the voice and heart of Tennessee based singer Joshua Schiffman.

First, the most basic question. What genre(s) do you consider your music?

Pop/ rock

Why are you pursuing a career in music?

I've never felt more at home than on stage

Do you write your own lyrics and/or music?

I co-write with my incredible producer, Josiah Rosen

How long have you been performing professionally? And before that, how were you involved in music (school, church, etc)?

Ever since I can remember, I've been performing for whoever would be willing enough to be an audience. You'd be surprised how a conversation can turn into a performance, haha. I actually think it was a musical in high school that first got me singing from the stage. I’ve been pursuing performing as a career for 7 years or so.

Who are your greatest musical influences?

Writers and authors of love songs and fairytales

If you had to describe your sound in three random, non-musical words what would they be?

Romantic, passionate, inspirational

If I were to steal your iPod right now, would I find any embarrassing songs?

I definitely have the Moulin Rouge soundtrack.

What is your most memorable live concert experience, for better or worse?

Counting crows was the most amazing show I’ve ever been to. The way Adam Duritz expresses each story in every song is incredible. I listened in awe of how willing he was to share his heart.

I was listening your tracks on MySpace and I’m head over heels for One Last Wish. What inspired this beautiful song?

A few months ago, I was feeling completely hopeless, let down, and lost. Promises that were made had fallen through, and those broken promises eventually led to the end of a close music business relationship. That relationship was closely tied to the reason for me moving to Nashville, and my mind constantly flooded with discouragement. I had to make a decision to embrace the challenges, act on my faith, and continue forward in pursuit of my dreams. After making up in my mind to ignore my feelings and trust my heart, greater things than ever before began to fall into place in perfect timing. Through this situation, I thought about all the people that have "grown up" and lost site of their dreams because of difficulties and set backs in life. I believe that no matter where you're at in life, you can still accomplish your dreams.

Many acts are known to have nicknames for their most loyal fans. If you had to nickname your dedicated following, what would you call them?

I think the perfect name might just be, "my favorites"

If you weren’t making music what would you be doing?

You know, I’ve stopped asking myself that question. It's too distracting.

In the past few years, there’s been a rise in bands using social media and networking to reach out to potential fans and producers. How has the glory of technology aided you in your quest for musical fame?

It’s been great! Every website has been a great avenue to promote. The more I put myself out there, the more potential I have in becoming heard.

What is the biggest risk you’ve undertaken to help advance yourself in the music industry?

Leaving the place of security-- chiropractic college in Atlanta-- and moving to Nashville.

What is the best bit of advice anyone has ever given you?

I've been given so much great advice from my parents, family, and friends; it's really hard to just pick one. I think my favorite most recent advice is that, "There is nobody that can stop you from reaching your dreams but yourself." - Steve Munsey

Do you have any advice for all the other up-and-coming local scene acts?

Write out your goals, visualize your dreams, and speak positive words

And any responses to those who tried to hold you back, or said you couldn’t do it?

I forgive you.

Your EP “Where Dreamers Go” was released on February 2^nd of this year. So far what has the overall feedback been for your first effort?

Thankfully, it's been really great!

Fast forward five years. What will you be doing?

Touring arenas

Rewind back to now. Where will be seeing next?

I’ll be playing with the bands "Starlume" and "The Future" at 12th and Porter on Friday night, May 21st.

To experience the greatness for yourself head over to http://www.myspace.com/joshuaschiffman :)

~Juno

'GLEE ' Takes Television by Storm

What do Amy Winehouse's "Rehab", Wicked's "Defying Gravity", The Beatles' "Hello/Goodbye", and Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" all have common? Give up? The answer is: Glee.

Glee is a weekly television show on Fox that has cannon-balled into a form of entertainment never tried before. The show is basically a jukebox musical—a musical using all music from other sources (like Mama Mia and Across the Universe). However, unlike any other jukebox musical before it, Glee is a TV show. It is set up like your average high-school drama show: you've got the self-centered, egotistical Rachel, the out-of-the-closet Kurt, the star of every sports team Finn, the stereotypical African-American Mercedes, and the pregnant teen Quinn. These characters, alongside many other talented actors and actresses, find support for their troubles from each other in the Glee club. Run by the Spanish teacher turned Glee coach Mr. Shuester, they put on fantastic song and dance numbers that will keep you on the edge of your chair until the very end.

Glee features an extremely talented cast with a variety of backgrounds. You have Matthew Morrison and Lea Michele of Broadway fame, all the way to Corey Monteith who comes from practically nowhere. Every episode, they are paired up with famous guest stars such as Kristin Chenoweth, Molly Shannon, Idina Menzel, Neil Patrick Harris, even Olivia Newton-John makes an appearance.

The coolest thing about Glee is that there is a song for everyone. For the musical geeks like me, songs such as "Mr. Cellophane" (Chicago) and "Don't Rain on My Parade" (Funny Girl) appear. More of an R&B person? How about Jaime Foxx's "Gold Digger" or Beyonce's "Single Ladies"? Even songs like Madonna's "Like a Virgin" and Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" are added into the mix.

Overall, the show is fantastic. From Rachel Berry's show stopping performances to hilarious Sue Sylvester's attempts to silence the music once and for all, it is a great show. Look for it on FOX Tuesday Nights at 8pm CT (right after American Idol)!

Here are some YouTube links to just a few of their hits:

DEFYING GRAVITY: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dBW4pViRTU

DANCING WITH MYSELF: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWHmn7W2AjQ&feature=related

MY LIFE WOULD SUCK WITHOUT YOU: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGf6wlxq4qE&feature=related

DON'T STOP BELIEVING: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ffuCVLECpY

~Ryan

The Evolution of Miley: from Preteen Pop Queen to Sultry Siren

Miley Cyrus has successfully evolved throughout her short, yet accomplished, career.

Miley burst onto the scene in 2007 as pop star Hannah Montana/Tennessee native, Miley Stewart and since then she's grown into quite the astounding young woman.

With a Grammy, a few film credits under her belt, not to mention multi-platinum albums and sold-out world tours, Miley Cyrus has quickly become a Living Legend--a status which few have achieved before the age of 18 (whaddup, Britney?)

Now, her 3rd studio album astray from Hannah Montana, entitled "Can't Be Tamed," is quickly becoming another success to add to her list. Just like Britney Spears 3rd studio album, Britney, which featured the legendary "Slave 4 U"--Miley is also becoming more risqué with the album-titled single. It features lyrics that openly admit, without modesty, that Miley knows she's a hot ticket-- "they always give me a 10, 'cause I'm built like that."

Although I had high hopes for Miley that she wouldn't succumb to the now clichéd adding-the-producers-name-into-the-song or the fad of using Autotune as a crutch-- she does. But she makes it work for her. And it just adds to the sex appeal of the song.

The evolution of Miley has been a phenomenon viewed worldwide, and if her album (which is set to be released June 22nd) is anything like the first single, then I can't wait. Mature Miley is what I've been waiting for, and the girl delivers.

~Dyllan

Dance Your Exams Away

Yup, itʼs that time again ladies and gentlemen. Time for exams. Time for pulling allnighters,

pulling out your hair, checking your facebook every 20 minutes in order to see

how all your friends are doing, and hysterically laughing at nothing at 3:30 in the

morning. What do I find helps relieve the stress? Chocolate Chip cookies sent from

home....and DANCE PARTIES!! So when the stress gets to you, just crank up these

tunes, invite some friends over (or donʼt) and dance it out!

1.) Alejandro-Lady Gaga

2.) Bulletproof-La Roux

3.) See You Again-Miley Cyrus

4.) Straight Through the Heart-The Backstreet Boys

5.) I Gotta Feeling-Black Eyed Peas

6.) Good Girls Go Bad- Cobra Starship and Leighton Meester

7.) Boten Anna-Basshunter

8.) Shake It- Metro Station

9.) Generator (First Floor)-Freelance Whales

10.) Spice Up Your Life- Spice Girls

11.) Lay All Your Love On Me-ABBA

Good luck on the exams and enjoy your summers!!

-Ally

Shout-out to The Boss

Sorry for being out of touch for a while, guys.

I just have a quick shout-out to leave: to the song "Thunder Road" by Bruce Springsteen.

There are few songs that evoke feelings of desperation, loneliness, hope, and freedom all at once, and this is one. I would particularly recommend the version by Hayward Williams, which feels as lonely as the road Bruce describes, but in a softer, reminiscent sort of way. Whichever version you listen to, the song is a classic, and one that I believe nearly everyone can relate to in some capacity (unless maybe you hate driving—or *ahem* can't); I think I can assume everyone has wanted to run away even for a little while to avoid the problems in one’s life; this song captures the essence of this yearning for something new and better, somewhere else.

Instructions for the reader:

1. Unearth your parents’ Boss CDs (or your own; I’m making assumptions here)
2. Burn a copy (in case step 3 goes poorly and said CD gets wrecked)
3. Go for a long drive, turn it on, and breathe. A lot.
4. Revel in the sheer greatness of The Boss.

I mean, c’mon.

“Well now I'm no hero

That's understood

All the redemption I can offer, girl

Is beneath this dirty hood

With a chance to make it good somehow

Hey what else can we do now?

Except roll down the window

And let the wind blow back your hair . . .

Heaven's waiting down on the tracks”

Do lyrics really get any better than that?

~Libby

INTERVIEW: Miles Apart

Lately we’ve putting the spotlight on post-hardcore, metal, and hardcore bands. Our latest is no exception. From South Carolina, here’s Miles Apart, a melodic hardcore band that’s all music and no nonsense and hype.

You’re just 1/5^th of the outfit Miles Apart. Tell us what your role in the band is.

I play guitar and write some lyrics from time to time.

Now tell us about your band mates, who they are and what they do.

Randall plays guitar, Justin plays drums, Lukas sings, and Matt plays bass.

How did all of you meet?

Justin, Lukas, and Matt started the band with different members and a different style I guess around a year ago, and that's how I got hooked up with Matt and Justin, me and Lukas have been friends for like three years and Randall was another acquaintance that everybody shared because he'd been in a bigger local band awhile back.

How long have all of you been playing your instruments?

I know I've been playing guitar for about seven years, Justin's been playing drums for like five years or so, Matt's been playing bass for three years, and Randall's been playing guitar for like seven or eight years too. Luke started screaming about a year and a half ago I suppose?

What inspired the name Miles Apart?

It's a lyric from a band called Polar Bear Club, minutes away but miles apart.

What genre(s) would you consider Miles Apart, or are you not a fan of labels?

Melodic hardcore is a pretty good description of our band.

Why are you guys making music?

Mainly just to deal with all the different stuff we deal with on a daily basis. We started it for pretty selfish reasons but it's nice seeing people relate so much to what we're doing.

Who is the primary songwriter in the group?

I used to be the primary songwriter because our old drummer quit and Justin used to play guitar, so I became the only guitarist. But after Randall joined the band it's become a lot more of a group thing. Someone will come in with an idea and we'll work on it until we like what we have. Lukas writes all the lyrics.

If you could share the stage with any band/singer (just one!) who would it be and why?

I'm not sure about everybody else, but I think sharing the stage with other like minded musicians, whether they sound like us or not, is a pretty awesome feeling. It's a cool perk to watch awesome bands for free, but we try not to idolize any of the people in bands we like. They're just normal dudes too for the most part.

Some musicians state that where they’re from has shaped them as an artist. How has South Carolina contributed to who you are as a band as a whole, and your individual growth as an artist?

I think it's kept us well grounded, there really isn't much a music scene here, and what we do have is something I feel that our friends have put a lot of work into so we're constantly reminded that having this is a privilege. Greenville (where we're from) is rapidly expanding and tons of new people are coming in every day, so it is a pretty exciting time to be where we are.

Who are the primary influences for Miles Apart?

The Carrier, Defeater, Modern Life Is War, Glassjaw, Hopesfall, Taken, and a lot of nineties screamo stuff.

Who do you cite as your personal influences (not those of Miles Apart)?

Uhmmmm, musically, Jeff Buckely, Thomas Erak, Kurt Ballou, Greg Ginn, and anybody that tries to make their guitar sound like something completely different.

What’s the strangest thing that’s ever happened to you at a concert?

One time we played at a bar here in town and the floor was wet and I fell on my back and somehow Luke fell over top of me. This is all while we're playing.

What do you think makes your band worthy of media attention? In other words, what sets you apart from everyone else?

We don't do this band to get media attention or to get girls or money or whatever. We just play the music we would want to hear and if people dig it, that's cool. I don't think there's any "unique" bands anymore.

No band is immune to internal conflict. Sometimes it’s enough to tear the band apart. How do you and your band mates keep the conflict from breaking you guys up?

We bust each other's balls on a regular basis, just to remind each other that we're all still good friends.

Some bands engage in a pre-show ritual to ensure a success performance. Do you have any pre-show rituals?

Nope.

This is my favorite question. Let’s pretend that, through my ninja powers I am suddenly in South Carolina and I just stole your iPod. What’s the most embarrassing song I’ll find?

U2.

Some bands use their success to promote a particular agenda, like animal rights/welfare or raising money for impoverished areas. If Miles Apart had to do a benefit concert for an issue, what would it be and why?

At this point it would most likely be for marriage equality. We've already been part of a compilation where all the money went to the same cause, we have lyrics about it, and we're actually coming up with some new shirt designs with some different images speaking on that topic. The why is because we don't think that any religion or political system should affect what two lovers, male or female, can do legally. Obviously there are going to restraints, but nobody should say that you can get married to the person you love because you aren't like them.

Let’s play another game of pretend. You are granted the power to go back in time and alter Hollywood history so one of your songs could be featured on a soundtrack. What song is it, what movie would your song be featured in, and why?

It would be Stagnant in the scene of Road House where Sam Elliott and Patrick Swayze get in the fight behind the bar. R.I.P Swayze.

For now what are you next big plans for Miles Apart?

I have no idea, we kind of take everything one day at a time. We'd like to get signed and tour more, but realistically right now we're just focusing on doing what we love and all that other shit comes second.

To check out their tunes, head to http://www.myspace.com/milesapartsc. There happens to be an indie pop band that shares the same name, but these guys are the only Miles Apart band to carry the Juno seal of approval. So show ‘em some love!

~Juno

Battle Studies: An Exploration into the Art of the Breakup by John Mayer

I've been listening to this album for about 5 months now and I knew from the minute I heard it that I’d have to share it with you all. But this album has so many layers and facets to it, that it’s taken me awhile to feel acquainted enough with this album to do it justice in a review.

John Mayer’s fourth album, Battle Studies was released in November 2009. It has 11 tracks and is only 46 minutes from start to finish. And in my humble opinion, it’s his best yet. Alright, I’ll admit that the only John Mayer I had on my iPod prior to this album were the big five (his old stuff that seems to always be floating around the airwaves), so I guess I don’t have a whole lot of authority on this subject. But this album is something new and different from Mayer and shows a musical maturation.

Although Mayer is known to be something of a womanizer and a jackass in general, the lyrics of this album show a depth of character I didn’t know existed. They tell the story of the ending of one relationship and the beginning of a new one. The album gives us a glimpse into the life of the main character as he begins a tumultuous quest to find himself again after a break-up. He dabbles in drugs and serial dating for several songs and has something of an epiphany at a crossroads and emerges throughout the rest of the album all healed and looking for love again.

A melancholy, almost numb feeling encompasses the entire album and the raw emotion that fueled it will peek through on occasion. Mayer incorporates new musical styles into this album along with his famous rock songs and guitar solos. The song "Crossroads" has a heavy Blues influence and "Assassin" begins with an electronic tribal drum thing that is completely entrancing.

But the innovation doesn’t end there. The music video for "Heartbreak Warfare" is the first augmented reality music video ever! And it was really cool . . .when I could get it to work. To view it, you need a copy of the “magic symbol” and you have to hold it in front of your webcam and voila! The music video starts. Don’t ask me how. I’m not the most tech-savvy girl out there. I ran into troubles early on. If you don’t hold the magic symbol in just the right spot, or completely still, it won’t work. And it was kind of hard to watch said video while I was holding a piece of paper up in front of my face. But I got it after three times and it blew my mind! Coolest thing I've ever seen! It was worth the trouble I went through to get it to play.

Screen capture:

If you’re a John Mayer fan or if you simply enjoy life (as my professor would say) then you need to buy this album.

Favorite Tracks: "Half of My Heart," "Heartbreak Warfare," and "Assassin."

-Ally

Battle Studies - John Mayer