FOR FANS OF: The XX, All Time Low, Taylor Swift gilmmers, a 5-piece pop rock band from Atlanta, GA released their new EP, Worlds Apart, this past April. They're a fantastic band who make music suitable for coming-of-age film soundtracks, and are a band of friends making music that they love together. Read on to learn more about the band from their lead singer Maggie Schneider! 1) Who are the members of glimmers and how did all of you meet? What made you decide to join together as a band? We are Maggie Schneider (vocals/keys), Alex Downtain (lead guitar), Alex Norrell (rhythm guitar/vox), Ari Patwary (bass) and Jeremy Russell (drums). We all met playing in different projects throughout the Atlanta music scene! The Masquerade venue is how we started getting to know each other, and we became friends seeing each other at different shows. In July 2019, we played our first show altogether in this lineup, and it just felt right. It was a fun gig in New Orleans, and we all truly clicked in that moment. March 2020 was when we decided to become glimmers officially, and we are so happy we made that decision! 2) Who are some of your musical influences? We are inspired by early 2000s pop punk and emo music, but we also have a lot of indie/pop influences. I (Maggie) grew up listening to everything from All Time Low, to My Chemical Romance and Taylor Swift. I'm also a huge fan of bands like The Band Camino, Nightly, and Julia Michaels. We definitely try to blend these differing styles into our songs. 3) How would you describe glimmers’ sound in your own words? I'd describe it as nostalgic pop/rock. We write music that could be added to the soundtrack of your favorite rom-com. 4) Your latest EP, Worlds Apart, can you tell us about the process of making it and the story behind it? I am so proud of Worlds Apart. It is a concept EP that tells the story of a complicated relationship. I'm a huge musical theatre nerd, and so creating the narrative of these songs was a really fun challenge. "Not Good at Goodbyes" is the first song off of the project and my favorite track I've written thus far. It's really close to my heart and captures the feelings I hope people take away from it while listening. Some of these songs were written two years ago, and were produced by our lead guitarist Alex Downtain, as well as Ben Humkey at their studio here in Atlanta. I got to work on this EP with my best friends, which makes it so much more special. 5) What was it like recording music videos for each song on the EP? What do you hope viewers take away from them? Our videographer and best friend Deanna Elise directed and edited 5 music videos for each song of the EP. We worked together to create a story that flows through each video, and were heavily inspired by John Hughes movies. Sixteen Candles and Pretty In Pink were two of our biggest influences. It was so fun having the ability to add a visual story to the EP, and we really hope viewers take away one major theme: that love is weird. Relationships aren't linear. Finding a deep connection with someone is hard to find, but it is worth fighting for! 6) If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why? It would be a dream to collaborate with Alex Gaskarth of All Time Low. He is my favorite songwriter because of the imagery he uses in his lyrics. His words inspire me everyday to become a better writer. 7) What can viewers expect from your upcoming livestream? Viewers can expect a high-energy show with crazy production unlike anything we've done before! It's technically our first show back since March 2020, and we got to perform in Heaven at The Masquerade. We've only dreamed about playing this stage, so having the opportunity to do so was surreal. The ticket proceeds also benefit the venue, after the rough year that was 2020. We are doing this for them, and we hope that you tune in! Note: you can buy tickets here, it's happening on June 11th, 2021. 8) What’s next for glimmers in 2021? We are currently working on new music and planning shows for 2022. We can't wait to play both of our EPs live, and are gearing up for when touring is safe again. 9) What's your zodiac sign? I am an Aquarius! Makes a lot of sense :) 10) What do you love about music? I love that music has the ability to connect people. I've made some of my best friends through music. I've found love through music. It's my favorite way to express myself. Follow gilmmers on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

It's a collection of blues covers. The Black Keys released their tenth studio album, Delta Kream, on May 14th, 2021, and it's a fantastic record, classically in the style of The Black Keys, and it's all blues covers. What I love about The Black Keys is how with each record, they never fail to deliver a product that's fully formed, a brilliant work of music and it makes you feel good. Delta Kream doesn't falter on that statement one bit. It's a record of covers Dan Auerbach (vocals, guitar) and Patrick Carney (drums) started off learning when they were young. It features eleven tracks of Mississippi Hill country blues by R.L. Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, and others. Delta Kream takes its name from the photograph by William Eggleston that is featured on the record's cover. Along with paying tribute to Mississippi blues legends in Delta Kream, the band is working with Visit Mississippi to create individual markers for R.L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough on the Mississippi Blues Trail (you can find more info here). It'll help tell their stories for them through pictures and words - both musicians are currently acknowledged on a group marker in Holly Springs entitled "Hill Country Blues," but this will tell more about them specifically. The new markers will be in the locations of Holly Springs and Chulahoma, MS, places closely associated with Burnside and Kimbrough, as a tribute to them for their impact on Hill Country Blues and for further recognition of their everlasting contributions to American music. My favorite covers on it are "Crawling Kingsnake," "Stay All Night," and "Going Down South." Overall, what can I say — it's a Black Keys record, and their music has stood up over the years strongly. They know what they're doing and I love each record they put out, original work or otherwise, I'm here for everything this band does.

FOR FANS OF: PUP, All Time Low, The Dirty Nil Meet latewaves, 3-piece punk rock band from New Jersey, who recently released tracks "Enough Is Enough" and "Sympathy (& Validation)" - two songs full of explosive guitar and self-reflective lyrics. latewaves are sure a band you'll love if you're into music that is honest and real. latewaves are made up of Shawna Grabowski, Mike Pellegrino, and Howie Cohen. Read on to learn more about them and their music, and be sure to give their guest playlist a spin! 1) How did you meet, and why was latewaves formed? Mike and Shawna have known each other well over 10 years. Mike (vocals, guitar) is actually married to Shawna’s (drums, vocals) sister, Ashley, and they have been friends since the very beginning of that relationship. The two of them had always had a pact to start writing music together, and once Mike’s previous project disbanded, they got right to work in 2016. About a year later after writing their first EP, Partied Out, Howie (bass, vocals) joined in just before their first ever show. 2) What is your songwriting process like? While the easy answer would be “it’s never the same process twice,” we normally have at least a skeleton of a song before the three of us get together to really hash things out. That being said, plenty of songs off our upcoming album just came from a quick riff before a practice, that turned into a track we were sure we wanted on the record just a few hours later. I’d like to think that we go into each song with no intention other than writing something fun that we too would want to listen to with the windows down in the car blasting for everyone else to hear. 3) Can you tell us a bit about your two latest singles, "Enough Is Enough," and "Sympathy (& Validation)?" Both of these songs are great examples of the tone of the record. They both attempt to play armchair psychiatrist to some degree. Enough is more or less a commentary on how full of shit we all are. It’s about seeing a loved one in a downward spiral and how we all like to give advice from our high horses but who the hell is anyone to tell someone what they’re doing is wrong? We act like we don’t live in glass houses when we give advice because it makes us feel better to be the one in the “better” situation than the person receiving the advice. The message is that we should shut up and just LISTEN to the person instead of trying to make ourselves feel better, that’s what Mike means when he says “maybe we’re the ones that are fuckin’ up.” Sympathy is another attempt at psychoanalysis but more self-reflective. If anyone’s experienced a panic attack, they can relate to the machine gun rapid fire of thoughts that zap our brains. The verses act as the inner monologues when we’re trying to tell ourselves what to do to feel better. “I gotta sober up replacing alcohol with weed.” You know, super compulsive thought processes. The chorus that reads like a love song “if you say I love you tonight then I will be right there by your side” is actually pointing out the selfish and needy behavior we enact when going through an episode. Latching yourself onto anyone that accepts you and says you’re worthy of love because we’re so desperate to feel ok. But in the end we have to be ok with ourselves as someone else validating you is only a band aid on a bullet wound. 4) What do you miss the most about live music? EVERYTHING. Seriously. There is no connection and experience comparable to that for us. Truthfully, we miss seeing our friends and favorite bands (some of which are the same) play music just as much as we miss playing it. 5) Who are some of your musical influences? Mike - I’d have to say my roots are in melodic and anthemic punk like Bouncing Souls, NOFX, and Rancid mixed with a lot of 90’s era rock like Weezer (mainly Blue Album and Pinkerton, Green Album has some sleeper hits in there) Green Day, Nirvana etc. But I’m influenced by people that think and do things for themselves. People that stay true to their roots and don’t pander to anyone. I don’t like artists that think I’m too stupid to understand that they’re going after my wallet. There ain’t nothin in there so play me some god damn good music, bucko. Shawna - It’s hard for me to pinpoint musical influences because for me they are collected from everything I listen to. Whether it’s fast paced punk rock or funky head nodding hip hop beats I try to incorporate these different sounds to what I play. Howie - I’m a sucker for true storyteller lyrics. Regardless of genre, that’s just what I’m always drawn to. The Get Up Kids, The New Amsterdams, Thrice, Into It Over It, The Weakerthans are huge ones for me. 6) Who was the first band each of you were obsessed with? Mike - It’s gotta be Green Day. My cousin showed me Dookie in his room and when we went downstairs for dinner “Welcome to Paradise” was in my head and I was head banging to nothing but the memory of the song I had just heard and my mom thought I was having a seizure. Shawna - The Used was the first band band I can remember that I was really into. Still surreal we got to share a bill with them. Howie - This might be a bad look, but I gotta say it was The Ataris. I was at that Asbury Lanes show when Kris threw the drum set at the drummer and off the stage. But Blue Skies, Broken Hearts… Next 12 Exits, that record did something to me that can’t be undone. 7) Do you have any advice for budding bands? Be who you are. Don’t look at streaming stats (yeah, okay we do too but don’t). Make music YOU are proud of creating, and your following will follow, one way or another. One of the most important things though, albeit cliche, is make friends and network. I (Howie) moved to Asbury Park knowing no one, in a very established scene and community. Truthfully, I felt like a bit of an outcast at first. I went to every local show I could, befriended bands, fans of bands, and venue’s staff. Before I knew it, I was immersed in that community and have dozens of lifelong friends and industry connections I can ask anything of. Turns out just being a nice person and talking to people can get your band a lot of opportunities. 8) If you could tour with anyone, who would it be? Mike - I’d live to watch Minus the Bear every night for the rest of my life. I’d also say PUP but I’d be concerned with spiking my adrenaline to such high levels back-to-back nights. Shawna - Foo Fighters/Charly Bliss/Pup. No need to explain why because they all rip. Howie - Jimmy Eat World. They can’t write a bad song and I want to see them play them all. 9) What's the rest of 2021 looking like for latewaves? Welp, our debut full length record Hell to Pay comes out on June 4th on Know Hope Records. We definitely see some real-life face-to-face shows in the near future throughout the summer and fall. Keep your eyes peeled for those announcements coming out soon! We’re ready to hit the road (safely) to support this record baby and are looking forward to hitting our favorite spots and new cities soon all around the US. 10) What do you love about music? It’s why we do everything we do. There is a connectivity with people seeing, hearing, and enjoying music together that we are for lack of a better term, “addicted” to. We write music for ourselves, sure. But experiencing others have a positive reaction to that music, that’s what it all boils down to for us. Follow latewaves on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

FOR FANS OF: Aerosmith, Joyous Wolf, Greta Van Fleet On April 23, Dirty Honey released their very anticipated self-titled debut album. After spending two years binge listening to their self-titled EP again and again, this album is something that I waited with bated breath. Finally, the album dropped. So what’s the verdict on the album compared to the EP? Well, I can certainly say that this album is one of those albums where each song gets better and better. This album feels like an unreleased Aerosmith album, and I can really hear the Aerosmith influence on the album’s second track, "The Wire." Marc LaBelle brings in a fiery set of vocals in each track and it seems like it only gets stronger and stronger as the album progresses. If he were a musician in the 70’s, I can say that he would be this ultimate rock ‘n roll king, although that title would also suit him for the 2020’s. This album also shows off how much of a guitar god John Notto is. Each riff, each guitar solo, it’s chef’s kiss to the max. It’s safe to say that he could be noted as a guitar hero in the future. I mean, have you seen him using an IPA beer bottle on the guitar? What a legend. One song in particular that really stood out to me was "No Warning." The song itself made me think I was listening to "When I’m Gone" at first, but overall, that track could be a crowd favorite whenever they do sing it at a future show one day. Maybe they’ll sing it at one of their shows in their upcoming tour. Dirty Honey brought in a fantastic rock ‘n roll flavor to this album. If you think rock is dead, then you need to take a listen to this album. Dirty Honey keeps proving that rock is very much alive and is not dead. They’re the future of rock ‘n roll. Dirty Honey will be on tour this summer with first Joyous Wolf, and then later on, supporting The Black Crowes. You can find tickets on their website here. Follow Dirty Honey on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

FOR FANS OF: Yes, David Bowie, The Doors Get to know The Suede Hello, a rock duo from New York City who are bringing you fresh, vibrant, and mystical rock music. The Suede Hello consist of members Nicolette Wilkey and Jonathan Rosado, and their most recent release is a brilliant track called "Soul Offering," the first single off of their upcoming debut LP. The Suede Hello are a rock duo that I love, they make music that's fresh and exciting. Their music has everything cool about rock 'n roll: the liveliness, the raw, fuzzy and strong guitar-driven sound, and the mystical, & honest lyrics. Read their interview down below to get to know them in their own words, and be sure to give their guest playlist a spin! 1) How did you meet? What made you decide to create music together, and "The Suede Hello," - where did you get that name from? Essentially, we met over our music taste. We both liked the same records so we could share our collections with each other. As far as deciding to create together, we really wanted to pursue something with conceptual art, and music has always been around in our lives so it made sense to double down on it. The band name originated from a river boat captain we met a few years ago. 2) Your sound, which I adore, is obviously very reminiscent of 60s and 70s rock 'n roll – why that particular sound? It’s a visceral force- I look at it as being the zeitgeist of American culture. Coca-Cola, Marilyn Monroe, and Elvis. However, I don’t view our music or other records from the 60’s/70s as a relic or vignette at all. Historians will retrospectively group it all together anyway so it’s quite contemporary. It’s really a blink of an eye in the cosmos. 3) Who are your influences, musical or otherwise? We love Todd Rundgren, Black Sabbath, Bowie, Iggy Pop, Carole King, Brian Eno, lots of 70’s prog, Peter Gabriel era Genesis, Pink Floyd, Yes, King Crimson… I could go on and on. Big time non-musical influences are Dalí, Alejandro Jodorowsky, and Hunter S. Thompson to name a few. 4) Where do you draw inspiration from? Generally speaking, we draw just as must inspiration from film and visual art as we do from music- possibly more so. We have been obsessed with this movie “El Topo” which helped to inspire the concept for this album tremendously. It’s definitely the best movie of all time, and I’d die on that hill any day. 5) Your latest release, "Soul Offering," can you tell us a little about that? “Soul Offering” is the lead single off our upcoming debut LP. We recorded in Woodstock, and used all vintage hi-fi equipment. I got my hands on this phase shifter pedal from the 70’s that was previously owned only by Yes’ Steve Howe. We recorded everything straight to tape on a Sony TC-850 reel to reel, and utilized my lovely new double neck guitar. 6) You're from New York City – my favorite place out of the entire state (I'm from NY too!). What do you love about the city? It’s like a medieval city stuck in time. There’s no place more honest and confrontational. It has a certain edge to it that I’ve never felt anywhere else quite the same. In the twentieth century, New York City became the indisputable epicenter of art and culture- taking the place of Paris previously. Ordinary people here inspire me. 7) Top 3 favorite records? Ah, that is tough! How about top 3 at the moment? Fragile by Yes, Taking Tiger Mountain by Brian Eno, and Larks’ Tongues in Aspic by King Crimson. 8) If you could collaborate with any artist, living or dead, who would it be and why? Alejandro Jodorowsky because he’s the greatest filmmaker of all time. Hendrix is probably an obvious answer, but for good reason. Others that come to mind are Chris Squire, Syd Barrett, Roky Erickson, Charles Bradley, and Jesus Christ. 9) What's the rest of 2021 looking like for The Suede Hello? Hopefully, we’ll make a bunch of f*cking money because Spotify f*cks over all of their artists. Either that or we win the lottery. We will also be pressing vinyl, which is definitely a serious landmark for us. 10) What do you love about music? It’s better than commercials. Follow The Suede Hello on Instagram and Twitter.

FOR FANS OF: Cream, The Lovin' Spoonful, Fever Tree Electric Looking Glass, a baroque pop band from Los Angeles, California, released their debut album, Somewhere Flowers Grow on April 30th, and it's a wonderful, fresh record. The band is a foursome consisting of members Arash Mafi, Brent Randall, Johnny Toomey and Danny Winebarger. Their sound and aesthetic is very reminiscent of 60s pop-rock, of the psychedelic sound you'd find on records such as The Beatles' Rubber Soul, and Cream's Disraeli Gears. Somewhere Flowers Grow is truly a record from another time but surprisingly just released, and it's a record that I love completely. Their sound is a vintage one, but to a listener unfamiliar with psychedelic rock, it's new. It's harmonious, full of guitar, and of peace & love. It has the sounds of the past, but visions of a more peaceful future, which is definitely something everyone if not enjoy, can surely respect. This record makes you feel good, it's a very fun, warm record, perfect for spring. It's pleasant and joyful. My favorite tracks are "Dream A Dream," "Rosie In The Rain," and "Daffodil Tea Shop." We need more music like this out in the world. Electric Looking Glass' debut is strong, wonderful, and promising. Follow Electric Looking Glass on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

FOR FANS OF: The Black Keys, cleopatrick, Greta Van Fleet Zach Person, a 24 year-old indie rock singer/songwriter from Houston, Texas, released his self-titled debut album early last month. Keep reading to find out about him, his musical process, influences, and more! And, be sure to give his guest playlist a spin! 1) Tell us about your debut album — what was the recording process like? How long did it take to put it together? It's a brilliant record, I love it from start to finish. About half of the record was written during the pandemic. My songwriting process always starts with just me and a guitar, bass or piano. Once I have the foundation of the song built, I then will start adding in other electronic sounds and layering more guitar parts. My musical partner and drummer, Jake Wyble, always finds the perfect groove to lay down on top of the track I have created. During the process of recording this album, our studio was struck by lighting twice over a 45 day period. This set us back in our schedule as much of our gear was damaged. However, we were able to overcome those hurdles and finished the LP! 2) How did you get into music — what made you pick up a guitar? When I was a kid I was heavily into skate culture. I would always hear these heavy rock and punk bands that would come out to my local skatepark, so that naturally peaked my interest in the electric guitar. 3) Who are some of your influences? Musical or otherwise. Early on I was listening to artists such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. As I got older and moved to Texas, I became more aware of the pop world. Then I began listening to artists like The Black Keys, Jack White, and John Mayer. Nowadays, I find myself listening to people like H.E.R., Beck, and Chris Stapleton. 4) What are four of your favorite-forever albums — aka albums that always bring you comfort, no matter what. Hmm…My four favorite albums have to be Where the Light Is: Live in Los Angeles by John Mayer, Brothers by The Black Keys, Traveler by Chris Stapleton, and Live at the Ryman by Jonny Lang. 5) Who would be your dream collaboration? I would love to collaborate with The Black Keys for their production style and sense of melody, Chris Stapleton for his soul and lyrical genius, and John Mayer for his pop-guitar sensibilities. 6) Do you have any advice for young, new musicians? My advice for young artists just starting out is to focus on songwriting! Its never to early to start honing your writing skills. The quality of your songs will have the biggest impact on your success in the music industry. 7) Outside of music, what do you do for fun? Outside of music I love to hike, play competitive games with friends, draw, and run. I run almost daily. One could say, "I can’t stop running!" 8) What are some of your favorite tracks off of your debut album? It’s hard for me to pick which song is my favorite from the album, but some of my favorites to play live are "All Shook Up," "How Long," "Back to Me," and "Can’t Stop Running." 9) Do you have any plans for the rest of 2021? As everything is slowly opening back up, more and more shows are being booked here in the states. I’ll be going on my first European tour in early fall this year, and then coming back hopefully in time for some big festivals towards the end of the year. 10) What do you love about music? I love how powerful music can be. It can move people, change lives, save lives, and be the catalyst for entire movements. With the right intentions, music has the potential to be one of the strongest and most powerful positive forces on the planet! Follow Zach Person on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

FOR FANS OF: Rage Against The Machine, Phoebe Bridgers, cleopatrick deepsix, a 4-piece punk rock band from Toronto, Canada released their EP, kerosene/hollow on April 23rd. It's a brilliant, solid example of the music deepsix create, and of what they believe in. deepsix are Nate Hobor as lead vocals and on guitar, Scott MacDonnell on lead guitar, James Finlay on bass, and Karl Damus on drums. They're young but mature by beyond their years, full of passion & skill - which all shows throughout these four songs. The EP opens up with "kerosene," a song deep in a classic deepsix style - a guitar-driven sound mixed with lyrics that are honest and a bit angsty. "kerosene" speaks of a dying relationship - one that's soaked in anger and frustration, ready for that final spark to set it all on fire, to let it finally burn up and fade away. It's a relationship that went down the bitter path of breaking trust without feelings of remorse, without room for forgiveness and communication. "hollow" follows "kerosene," a vicious commentary on the state of rock music today - which they believe is overrun by the corporate (labels, nepotism, product-over-genuine art), rather than the honest and self-made (found in DIY spaces, ones like New Rock Mafia, which deepsix resides in). deepsix are not a band to choose what will surely sell the most, but rather to choose what is the most authentically them, what is honest, what is real. deepsix are here to make honest music, and with this EP, they have gotten that message across well. "bloodmoney" is the third track on the EP, a criticism of systems of power, a social commentary. It is the angriest song on this EP, rightly so, given the topic of the track. Final, fourth, and fan-favorite (also my favorite as well), is "cobain," a powerful & deeply vulnerable alternative rock anthem. It speaks of growing up listening to the greats, such as Nirvana, and struggling with mental health while eventually getting older and becoming one of the greats, but...unfortunately feeling how they felt. The pressure of fame and trying to not lose yourself while creating for others. Feelings of anxiety and depression. "cobain" borders between the fictional & fact for the band, making it a very interesting & a dark track, lyrically. Nate himself said about the EP, "This project is the most authentically ‘deepsix’ release yet. Every song sees us exploring a different facet of our sound and influence, from the harder punk sound to the stripped down, confessional, raw side of it. Every single piece of this project was written, recorded, assembled, and mixed by us in a basement. We take a lot of pride in doing things our way and writing the songs we want to write and exploring the sounds we want to explore. We’re part of a scene that prioritizes authenticity and honesty over all else, and that’s what we’re trying to put across with every piece of music we put out. Just honesty and relatability and authentic songwriting, not being tied down to anything." This EP and deepsix overall, are fantastic. Bands like deepsix are the future of rock, are what will last for years to come. They don't make easy, swallowable music, but music that makes you choke on what you believed in and makes you think. They make music for mosh-pits, for people searching for something real and honest, something that is full of that raw, alive & aching guitar-driven rock sound that is slowly but surely making it's way crawling up the charts with all of it's bloody knuckles & broken strings right now. We are at a turning point in rock music, and deepsix are one of many bands pushing the tire swing that the music industry plays on, spinning and spinning it until the big heads will have no choice but to jump off and land in the scratchy wood chips, coming to their senses while finally staring at the clear sky above them, which was there this entire time but they were too busy sitting pretty in the burning sunshine to take a glance. Follow deepsix on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

"I’m definitely influenced by DIY artists - we wear all the hats: writing, recording, performing, booking tours, doing our own press, creating our own merch." Read on to learn about Alyssa Joseph, a candid and confident singer/songwriter, and give her guest playlist a spin as well! 1) What's the story behind your latest single, sadboy? “sadboy” is just a fun song and a light-hearted look at my past relationships and who I've been in those relationships. It's less about one particular guy, and more so a general look at the dating scene, my experience in it, and the cycle of guys that you meet out there. It's sort of a tongue-in-cheek look at my dating history and the expectation vs. reality of it all. It’s cheeky. And we all need to learn that we don’t actually want the sadboy... 2) What made you interested in music? Music was always at the center of my house growing up. My older brother had special needs and loved Disney movies and all of us singing together. Our road trips were always filled with all of us singing his favorite songs - very loudly. I always loved performing. I would have bi-monthly recitals just for my family - I’d make them sit through an hour of special performances of me playing piano, singing, and dancing. I had piano lessons from a young age and was always encouraged to pursue my musical passions. 3) When did you start making your own music? I wrote my first song in 7th grade! I learned how to play guitar a year after that, and just started writing my own music. I was so scared to share it with anyone, but my mom finally coaxed me on stage at a local open mic night. Since then, I’ve loved sharing my own music with people. 4) What artists are you influenced by? I’m definitely influenced by DIY artists - we wear all the hats: writing, recording, performing, booking tours, doing our own press, creating our own merch. As for more well-known artists: Big Thief, Angie McMahon, Taylor Swift, Carole King, Manchester Orchestra, Angel Olsen, etc. 5) How has the pandemic impacted you creatively? At the start of the pandemic I was writing so much, playing every day and producing my record. As it’s gone on, it’s allowed me to focus on releasing that record. Work on marketing and growth strategies. Because I’m not booking shows and tours, I really can focus my energy on releasing music, which is cool. 6) Do you have any plans for future releases — if so, can you tell us about them? Yes! I have a new single coming out Friday, April 16th 👀 7) What do you do for fun outside of music? I am a serious plant mom :) I also love hanging with friends and family. I like cooking and trying new vegan spots in town. 8) What's one thing you want listeners to know about you? Independent artists work their asses off for no short-term benefits. There are so many barriers of entry in the current climate of the music industry. So, supporting them in any way you can means so much - whether that’s buying music or streaming their music or adding it to a playlist. We notice, and we endlessly appreciate it. 9) What were your favorite releases of 2020? folklore - Taylor Swift Punisher - Phoebe Bridgers Saint Cloud - Waxahatchee 10) What do you love about music? How it connects people. How it can encompass a feeling. How it can make you feel less alone. And seen. And heard. Follow Alyssa Joseph on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter.

FOR FANS OF: Blink 182, All Time Low, Simple Plan Ryan Scott Graham is the bassist and backing vocalist of New York pop punk band, State Champs. He also has a solo project called Speak Low If You Speak Love. It’s clear that Ryan is very passionate about his interests and it shows not only through his music but also through his creative lifestyle. Continue reading to get to know a little more about Ryan Scott Graham and listen to his guest playlist! 1) How did State Champs get started with music? State Champs actually started in 2010, just a couple of friends from high school wanting to play in a band. I didn’t join until around 2014 when they were looking for a permanent bass player and someone who could sing back up! I met the guys through a mutual friend and the rest is history - 7 years later, we’re about to drop our 4th studio album! 2) Who are some of your biggest influences? I’ve always been extremely inspired by Third Eye Blind, from the musicianship to the lyricism. It would be hard to find a band that I’ve listened to more than 3eb. Never been a massive pop punk listener, so I know a lot of people ask me this question expecting Blink 182 or Green Day, but I think the reason I bring a different flavor to the band is because I’m approaching the genre with a total outsider's perspective. Any band or songwriter that can pull me in with a great lyric has my respect. 3) What is one of your favorite memories with State Champs? I think one of the most memorable shows I’ve had with the band was opening the main stage at Reading and Leeds festival in 2016. R&L is one of those iconic English fests that has been going on since the 90’s, thousands of people just out on the grass in the middle of nowhere watching an always incredible lineup. I used to read about it in magazines, so to play on the main stage for about 10,000 people was a massive honor. 4) What can you tell us about State Champs most recent release, "Unplugged - EP"? I can tell you that it kicks ass! The fans have been asking us to do some more acoustic material for a handful of years now, so we went into the studio for about a week to write and record a few new songs and put a spin on some old favorites. I love writing songs on an acoustic guitar, and since it’s such a different approach to songwriting than Champs usually takes when writing for a record, it felt refreshing and fun. We wanted to try our hand at writing songs that lean a bit more pop. 5) What is one of your most favorite songs to play live with State Champs? From our last record cycle it has to be Frozen. It’s definitely one of the highlights from the record for me, so whenever we play it live I get excited. I’ve got a little dance to go along with the intro and the fans have become savvy to it, so there’s definitely quite a few videos floating around out there if you want to see what I mean! 6) What is your zodiac sign? I’m an Aquarius! I hope that’s alright… 7) I see on social media that you are really big on vintage fashion. What's one of your favorite pieces you've gotten your hands on? Yeah! I’ve been into vintage for as long as I can remember, shopping around at thrift stores in high school for the goofiest t-shirt I could find - but I’ve really started taking it seriously the past couple of years. I’ve got a decent collection going, but my favorite piece is this Lemonheads tee from their album “Lick.” The fit and wear is really amazing and it’s a pretty rare one in general, so all that factors into why I personally love it so much. Listen to the Lemonheads if you never have! 8) What is the rest of this year looking like for you guys? Any big plans? The year is looking big! We’ve got a new record coming soon and a tour planned for the fall, hoping that becomes a reality. We’ve already had to reschedule it behind the scenes a number of times due to COVID. 9) Is there anything you would like to mention about your solo project, “Speak Low”? I’m also working on new music. It’s a pretty big departure from the sound of State Champs, so if you’re into more mellow, indie-rock, you might wanna check it out. I’ve been recording some poppy solo songs, as well as writing for another full band full length LP. 10) What do you love about music? What’s not to love? Follow State Champs on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

FOR FANS OF: All Time Low, State Champs, Neck Deep Looking back on any time of life, it’s difficult not to only see the good sometimes. Especially when we fail to adequately document for ourselves the rises and falls, the triumphs alongside the trials by fire, our minds inevitably focus on the more positive aspects of the past. It’s that naïve feeling that makes us long for the past because, in hindsight, things appear much simpler than they really were at the time. This is exactly the kind of inner conflict explored with braveweather’s latest track “rosecolored”. Hailing from Orlando, Florida, braveweather speaks on the issues of love and loss in a way that is relatable and real for anyone who has ever had to cut someone out of their own life. The band’s pop-punk track “rosecolored” delves into the internal struggle of leaving a past relationship behind when it is no longer beneficial to hang on. The song focuses, in particular, on the pain inherent in recognizing that, although you may have had good moments with this person, you cannot afford to let those moments cloud your judgment when it is time to let go. The music video for “rosecolored” features the band members drinking and hanging out together on a snowy Colorado mountainside. As the video goes on and the band members drink more and more, their own visual perception, as well as the viewer’s, becomes distorted. It’s a fitting illustration of the song’s theme—the feeling of losing yourself by losing someone else, of having a distorted or skewed image of your life with them and what it was really like. While “rosecolored” does explore letting go of the past, the track’s clear influence from pop-punk’s early 2000s golden years proves that some features of the past are here to stay. With a rising following on TikTok, coupled with pop-punk’s current resurgence in mainstream interest, braveweather is definitely one emerging band to keep your eyes (and ears) on. Follow braveweather on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Wild Honey, at the most basic level, is a rock magazine. Hello! As I said in my last letter, we've gone through a rebranding. We're Wild Honey Magazine now and have a bright, 70s aesthetic. I'm quite proud of it. I've moved to Colorado from New York early April, so I'm running things two hours behind than usual. It's been nice here. The thing about Colorado, it's a lot of open sky, and as a New Yorker, everyone's noticeably friendlier, so both of that is very nice...Though I will miss New York wherever I go. I've been reading a lot & writing even more, and trying to take each day slow, trying to not take any moment, thing, or person for granted. Another new addition to the magazine - our Instagram feed posts have a slightly new format, something that focuses more on the topic of the post and less what the writer themselves says...so you'd simply have to go to our website if you're interested in it. About writing...I've added "ruminative, not reactive," to our social media bios. I got "ruminative" from the introduction of The Essential Ellen Willis, a collection of her work. Ellen Willis was a writer — a political essayist, a journalist, activist, feminist, and pop music critic. She wrote for Rolling Stone Magazine, for which she is famously known for her essay on Bob Dylan, and right before that in 1967, she had a rock magazine named Cheetah that only lasted for one year. I read the collection a few weeks ago. She's an extraordinary writer, very vibrantly, intelligently, and passionately spoken. "Ruminative" means, by definition, "expressing or involving deep thought." That's always been one of my intentions with Wild Honey, but I believe it hasn't come across as very obvious. I feel as though every month I am trying to explain what Wild Honey is and it's intentions, and it shouldn't need such explanations, especially when next month is the 1st anniversary of it, it should all be established by now. Wild Honey, at the most basic level, is a rock magazine. I got into music journalism because I was inspired by the film Almost Famous, the fictional-but-biographical story of Cameron Crowe's start of becoming a renowned writer for Rolling Stone Magazine, and the inspiration I get from that film paints all over everything Wild Honey has ever been. But — we're not your typical rock magazine and I'll explain why that is so, but first I need to tell you a bit about how I came to that conclusion. In the past three months, I've been trying to change myself, trying to grow as a person, as a young person in this world, especially in the one of music journalism. I don't believe I've been the best kind of person, and I know that because I've had many long talks with close friends and with acquaintances. I have been looking at myself in retrospect, and have been reading a copious amount of self-improvement/self-help/wisdom books. I came to the conclusion that I've been very blind to the person I was. I believed too much in who I thought I was, in who I expressed to others, but I wasn't the most self-aware of the person I expressed outwardly...and it didn't match up to what I believed in, didn't match up to what was inside me. I'd gone against myself and the people around me, gone against what I loved, what I believe in, what I put into this magazine. I believed myself to be a person who was warm, kind, giving, open-minded, selfless, and empathetic, but I wasn't. Or, at least, I did not have those traits at the level I thought myself to have. I found myself to be cold, mean, arrogant, not very giving, close-minded, selfish, and angry. I found myself to be a person who built walls between herself and the entire world, even between who and what she loved. And none of that was okay with me. A friend from BANDEDPR's team, one that I'm also apart of, said something that really resonated with me - "No man (woman, non-binary person, etc) is an island. We do not go through life alone. We simply can’t. The human experience is one that is meant to be shared. This includes the love and the pain and the heart aches and everything that comes with being a human being that perceives existence," and she's right. It can apply to life, all aspects of it, such as music. Music is meant to be shared, I love rock music so much and I am not the only one who does. That's why I made this magazine, and that's why, a few years ago when I was 17, I decided what I would do with my life would be to work in radio — "supporting artists, helping out, keeping the music alive," an ethos I thought I had put into this magazine, but unfortunately earlier this year I ended up losing it a bit, along with myself. I've made progress on changing my personality, have changed my perception of life and of other people, have made progress on fixing my flaws and failings, and on treating everyone better, including myself. I have listened to others words, really listened, and put their advice & opinions into action after careful consideration. Essentially, I've begun to try to bring peace to myself and to this magazine. I want the pieces on here to be ruminative, not reactive, not causing any kind of controversy or hurt at all, in ourselves (the writers) or other people (the readers). I want the pieces to dig & think deeper, to read as unique, personal, special pieces of music journalism, but not ones that incite anger in any reader. We, as singular human beings, can't control others emotions, only the self can control one's emotions, but, we can very well be conscious of how our emotions, our words, and our actions might make others feel. We have an unspoken duty to treat everyone with respect and kindness. I believe that because music is meant to be shared, and therefore, we all exist in a community with each other, regardless of genre, regardless of any label. The last thing I want to do is inadvertently cause more division, especially in these current heavily polarized times. We are all connected, everything is, sentient beings or not, and no person is an island, especially not me. When I write on Wild Honey, about anything at all, there's a bigger picture I have to keep in mind, there's love which I owe to myself and everyone else to express, rather than disdain over trivial matters. That's what Wild Honey is - a rock magazine with ruminative, not reactive, reviews, playlists, interviews, and more. A place of peace and unity, not anger and division. I can't go back and change how I or this magazine was in its brief past, but I can do better in the present moment and in the future that will follow this moment. So, we're not your typical rock magazine. We don't simply publish press releases word for word, and we don't intend to post negative pieces. We do what we do out of passion and genuine love. Wild Honey is an outlet for anyone to write about the rock music they're passionate about, and that's it. We're all with the band and loving every second of it. Lastly, I read Ben Fong-Torres' book, Not Fade Away a few weeks ago. It's a brief collection of his work in music journalism. Ben Fong-Torres is a rock journalist, author, and broadcaster, best known for his work with Rolling Stone Magazine and the San Francisco Chronicle. He was a writer and editor for Rolling Stone Magazine from the very early beginnings of the publication. The introduction to the book is a letter from friend and coworker at Rolling Stone Magazine, Cameron Crowe. At the very end of the letter, he recites a bit of advice Ben Fong-Torres gave him when he was just starting out in music journalism, and it's honestly some of the best advice I've heard. It changed how I viewed music journalism, and I only wish someone would have said the same words to me last year when I first got into it, so I'm going to repeat Ben's words and pass them to all of you. I hope it will land on the right ears, and I'm sure Ben and Cameron wouldn't mind it: "Be informative, but also be personal. Write as if you were writing a letter to a friend." Here's my top ten favorite tracks from April, not in any specific order, like always: 1) Long Enough - Zach Person 2) FAMILY VAN - cleopatrick 3) Built By Nations - Greta Van Fleet 4) The Wire - Dirty Honey 5) Wake Up - LOBSTERBOMB 6) Lavatory Li - Paul McCartney, Josh Homme 7) Mermaid - Lizzie and The Makers 8) Crawling Kingsnake - The Black Keys 9) Cut & Run - Lifehouse 10) hollow - deepsix Stay safe and stay loud. with love, Cherri Cheetah. p.s. We have merch now for Wild Honey Magazine - a sticker, a t-shirt, and a mug, you can purchase it here. ♡