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WAVES (N.), YOUR FIX OF EMERGING TALENT WITH A DOSE OF THROWBACKS HERE & THERE. LET'S RIDE.
xx CHRISTINE JANE
(INTERVIEW) FALL 2014 ARTIST TO WATCH: KNOX HAMILTON
After nearly owning the Alt Nation charts and making themselves known to America, Little Rock, Arkansas’ very own, Knox Hamilton made their way to Southern California. Personally, I could not wait for this show because I’ve been wanting to see these guys play in California for months. If you’ve heard the song “Work It Out” off their EP Great Hall, you’ve most definitely heard of Knox Hamilton.
WAVES got the chance to chit-chat with them at their first L.A. show ever, where they opened up for Colony House @ The Satellite. Learn more about the band, including their fascination with lettuce and their dream tour with Cher.
Members: Boots Copeland, Brad Pierce, Drew Buffington, and Cobo Copeland.
WVS: What was the start of Knox Hamilton?
KH: (Cobo) Boots and I met Brad in church about thirteen years ago. Then Drew hopped on about four years ago. So we’ve been going for about 4-5 years.
WVS: We know you guys are from Little Rock, Arkansas. What’s the music scene like over there?
KH: (Cobo) It’s a lot of top 40 and country music. If it’s not that then it’s classic rock. That’s usually what it is depending on what station you’re listening to. As far as bands, we’re ten years behind everything. *laughs* So we’re still into like hardcore, emo stuff. You ever heard of the band Dashboard Confessional? We just heard about them. We just got their first album.
WVS: So, why the name “Knox Hamilton”?
KH: We were working at our church’s thrift store and going through yearbooks, when Boots saw the most rock-and-roll lookin’ dude in the 70’s. Like—comb over from one ear to his other ear. His name was “Knox Hamilton” so we took it.
WVS: Can you explain the song titles? What inspired you to name your songs [from Great Hall] “Lechuga”, “Diet Love”, “Ameritown”, etc.?
KH: (Cobo)Well, lechuga is lettuce in Spanish. *laughs* I don’t think we had a name for that one [song] so we were group texting each other and I was like, “What about lechuga?”
WVS: We’ve read that your influences range from Phoenix to Two Door Cinema Club and Chicago. Do you have any other influences?
KH: (Brad)I like America. The 70’s band. *laughs* I mean, I like the country. But them too. I also like The Strokes a lot. I hate to be completely cliché… but I like Coldplay. I can’t name a band that you’ve never heard of. I’m pretty mainstream. I know me and my brothers (Cobo), The Killers were pretty big influences too. They opened up with Hot Fuss. That is one of the best debut albums ever. Incredible.
WVS: What’s it like touring with Colony House?
KH: (Drew) It’s been a lot of fun. We didn’t really know these guys prior to meeting them and our first show in Colorado Springs. But they’re really good dudes. They’ve been doing this a little bit longer than we have so they’ve been kinda coaching us through it. Yeah, they’re good.
WVS: Do you have a dream tour?
KH: (Brad) Cher. In Vegas. *laughs*
WVS: What about Britney?
KH: (Brad) Who?
WVS: Britney Spears.
KH: (Brad) Is she going by one name now? I’d headline for Britney Spears.
WVS: Ohhhh
KH: (Brad) I’m kidding. (Corey) He doesn’t know how rabid her fans are so he didn’t mean that at all.
WVS: What is one thing we must absolutely know about Knox Hamilton?
KH: (Brad) …that we are extremely boring people. *laughs* As you can tell. (Drew) One thing you must know about us as a band is that… (Cobo) as a whole, sorry [Drew]… (Brad) that we love to interrupt each other. That’s the one thing. (Cobo) *laughs* no, we realize not a lot of people get to do what we’re doing. It may be their dream. So we’re very thankful to be given the opportunity. We realize how lucky and how blessed we are. So we’re very humbled by it.
WVS: What’s next for Knox Hamilton?
KH: (Brad) literally San Diego is next. Just kidding. We’re recording our album right now. (Cobo) Festivals, Canada… hopefully Europe.
WVS: Where do you see yourselves in 5 years?
KH: (Brad) Retired. Just kidding. *laughs* Hopefully playing in arenas and selling out. Not selling out our souls *laughs* but selling out venues and other things.
WVS: Do you have a favorite thing about California so far?
KH: (Corey) We’re used to like, deep South. So everything’s like muggy and hot. I haven’t seen the sky cloudy all day. It’s been beautiful. We’ve been walking around and it’s gorgeous. (Cobo) my favorite thing is that you guys have Cactus Cooler. If you could let me know where I can find some… (Corey) he has it ordered online and shipped to him. (Cobo) I’m not even kidding, I paid fifty dollars for a twelve-pack.
WVS: Next time you guys are in L.A., we’ll be sure to throw you a Cactus Cooler party.
KH: *laughs* (Brad) That would be like the lamest party ever. But you know, “Ask and you shall receive”?! *laughs*
(INTERVIEW) FALL 2014 ARTIST TO WATCH: ROMÉO TESTA
If you’ve never heard of the name Roméo Testa before, here’s your chance to get informed and in the know, NOW. Pronounced “ro-mayo”, Roméo Testa gives a refreshing spin on today’s typical young artist in the alternative music industry. Currently signed under Columbia Records, Testa released his first EP “The End” this past summer that deserves to be listened to in its entirety. Testa consistently delivers smooth, soulful runs uniquely his own that is evident with his music. Don’t let his age fool you—dare not listen to his music and say you don’t feel every emotion crafted perfectly in each song.
Read on to get the 411 on Roméo Testa—you’ll thank me later.
WVS: How long have you been in LA?
RT: I have lived in LA since I was about 2 years old. I moved here from Costa Rica. I was born in Costa Rica—my mom, Dad, and I came back here for a little while and then moved back down there. And then came back up here for me. So by the time I was 2 we were here.
WVS: Do you go to a lot of shows in LA?
RT: I try to as much as I can when I’m not working. Hotel Café is always a good place to go because they always have music every night. Especially, School Nights(http://www.itsaschoolnight.com ) at Bardot.
WVS: What inspires you?
RT: The things that inspire me the most is just life. I really gravitate towards artists that base their music off of what’s happening in their lives. Whether it be how great their life is, or [how]difficult their life has been. I think it’s really important for every artist to pull from their life experiences.
WVS: “The End” came out this past summer. How does it feel to finally release that?
RT: It feels incredible. I’ve been writing and working really hard to do this record—it was nice to finally put out a little sample platter of the album. So I feel really ecstatic about releasing the EP and having my music out there for people. Because there was a lot of build up to that.
WVS: When did you know you wanted to become a musician?
RT: My whole life leading up to me starting actually be a part of music and stuff. I never really thought it was an option to be a musician as a professional, you know. I started singing and writing when I was 11. Started playing guitar and violin about 7-8… so I think between the ages of like 8-10 I was like, “OK I think wanna do this”. After I started writing and stuff like that, I started getting more and more into it, and started recording stuff. So I think that was the real point where I was like “Oh I can actually do this”. It was less of a want and more of something I could actually do.
WVS: Where do you see yourself in five years?
RT: I’d love to be touring. Hopefully working on my second record. Music’s everything to me so as long as I’m doing that I’m happy.
WVS: I’ve read that you listened to a lot of blues and jazz as a child, do you intend to keep that musical flavor in your music?
RT: Always. I think that’s one of the biggest things that influence me. As far as music that I listened to as a kid, every Saturday night I’d listen to Nothing But The Blues on K-Jazz with my Dad and it’s always been a really big part of my life, and it always will be.
WVS: How’d it feel having “Light It Up” on the 7UP commercial?
RT: Not a lot of artists get that opportunity very often… I was very, very grateful to be able to get my music on such a huge platform. It was incredible for me. I’m so happy about it and still kinda buzzing from it.
WVS: Do you remember where you were when you first saw the commercial?
RT: I was sitting on the couch at my friend’s house, watching TV and I was like “oh wait that’s me right now” It didn’t really register in my head. But it was really surreal for me ‘cause it was a very new thing, forsure.
WVS: What is your message to fans?
RT: I think the most important thing that I want to give to my fans is a way of kind of creating whatever they feel necessary to treat. Life is a very, very interesting thing. I make music for people to listen to while they’re going through whatever they’re going through. And to help them [get] through whatever they need help [getting] through. I always want to be a form of therapy to people. And I always want to be a form of comfort.
7 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT ROMÉO TESTA:
DOB: March 16, 1995
What is your ethnicity? Honestly—I’m a mutt; Chinese/Italian/Mexican/Irish.
Dream venue: Red Rocks [Colorado]
Favorite color: Gray—dove gray.
Favorite food: bacon
Last song played on your phone: “Attak (ft. Danny Brown” – Rustie
What would people be surprised to know about you: I don’t to listen a lot of music other than hip hop as of right now. Most of what I listen to is a lot of aggressive rap music. Yeah like, Danny Brown and T.I.
If you could collaborate with anyone (dead or live), who?
Dead: Otis Redding. Alive: Adele.
If you could tour with anyone who would it be: John Mayer.
What was your first username? chickenloser09
What is your road trip playlist essential? Vanessa Carlton “A Thousand Miles”, I like to drive to Snoop Dogg. Album: Doggy South
Grab “The End” EP. Available on iTunes now.
CONNECT + @romeotesta; Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
11/1/14 9:24a.m: post-show depression with a side of a pumpkin waffle.
Reverse back to Halloween night, October 31, 2014:
It’s Halloween night and I found myself getting my treat-on.
What did I do for Halloween, you ask?
This year I spent Halloween with New Politics, Bad Suns, and Somekindawonderful at the House of Blues Anaheim—and it was RAD.
Rad, not bad* Autocorrect gets me this time.
“New Politics”? Don’t think you’re about to enter some kind of political debate meeting. If you’ve never heard of New Politics before, they’re a three-man group from Denmark(minus the drummer, whom is American) who knows to rock [properly]. David Boyd, Søren Hansen, and Louis Vecchio are currently on their “Everywhere I Go” tour, gaining support from local Angelenos, Bad Suns and East Coast wonder men(and woman), Somekindawonderful.
Lights dim shortly after Lorde and Wednesday Adams walks in, aka. my friend & I.
The show begins and Somekindawonderful graces the stage to play an eclectic set of songs from their EP. Having never heard any of their songs prior to the show, I was quite impressed with the leadman’s ability to pump up the crowd. They even threw in a little cover of Tupac’s “California Love” that really got the crowd going.
Bad Suns kept the night alive by showcasing songs from their debut album, “Language & Perspective” which was released this past summer. To my surprise, there were a handful of Bad Suns fans in the crowd jammin’ along (including myself). They were definitely the pre-treat to the treat of the night.
The build up to New Politics set was real—so real that there wasn’t a single person in that sweaty little room both screaming and completely ill-prepared for what they were about to see. Sound effects were cued. Spooky noises blared out of the speakers. What appeared to be (at the time) a monkey, tiger, and finally, a pig took the stage. Their hit single “Tonight You’re Perfect”, perfectly started off the set. New Politics gave a delicious array of songs from both their self-titled album New Politics and A Bad Girl From Harlem. The energy in the room was insane and electrifying. There was no way you could find yourself bored. Every song performed was done with passion and perfection. If lead man, David Boyd, wasn’t singing he was showing his fans how expert level he is at break dancing. Wow factor: 100 times 100. I’m serious.
Loyal New Politics fans got their fix from both albums—they even received a sneak peek track, titled “Loyalties & Thieves” from their upcoming album Vikings, due out early 2015. After a soulful, intimate performance of “Stuck On You” from Hansen, Vecchio and a shirtless Boy were welcomed back to the stage to perform their latest single, “Everywhere I Go (Kings And Queens)” and their first hit single, “Yeah Yeah Yeah”. The trio returned for an encore to cap off the night with glorious performances of “Fall Into These Arms” and “Harlem”.
I was in wow.
One of those concerts that left me wanting more, to be honest.
By far one of the greatest Halloween’s ever. No tricks here.
I’m telling you now, do yourself a favor and see New Politics in concert when you get the chance. You’ll be anything but sorry that you did.
11/2/14 3:49a.m: browses through concert pictures/videos on phone.
11/2/14 4:03a.m: vows to see New Politics in concert again.
LOCAL NATIVES @ Way Over Yonder Festival, 09.26.14
Local Natives put on a magical show on the Santa Monica Pier this past Friday. I've seen them about 4 times now and they never disappoint. Who else went?
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