TAMSYN | December 2016 Artist of the Month Winners!

By CA Marshall

Probably one of the newest, coolest, and most talented ofIndie Artists to hail from Manchester as of late are our December 2016 Artists ofthe Month: TAMSYN. This is a band who defied all odds in our fan voting panelon our December 2016 Starlight Music Chronicles event page on Facebook and werevoted in by our judges for the win. Why? Because they are insanely talented! We often find Indie Artists fare better on our judge voting panel because the panel consists of professionals who have vast knowledgein the music industry. Our decisions are not primarily based on social medianumbers and fan votes, they are focused on the Artists history, musical background, branding,and talent. This month was incrediblytough to decide a winner for December and will probably result in a carry over for our2017 AOM events. With that being said, TAMSYN seemed to have that ‘somethingspecial’ about them that stood out for our Judges. Their sound evokes a time when the discovery of IndieArtists in Manchester was like finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow: the punk-rock-Brit-pop period of the 1980’s. Bands like New Orderwere discovered in this same time period and TAMSYN has that New Order sound yet, they are completely stand alone and original in their make-up.

The band consists of Alexander Anton (vocals), MichaelPenfold – (rhythm guitar & lyrics), Phil Hammill (lead guitar), JoelCheetham (percussion), and Zacharia Taylor-Fray (bass). Michael, Joel, and Phil(brothers) originated the band and the addition of Alex, Joel, and Zach completethe epic sounds of TAMSYN. The bands self titles EP released this year andsince, they have been aired on BBC Introducing, made it to the top 10 in theSoundwaves Music Competition 2016, and now have our Starlight Music Chronicles Artistof the Month win under their belt. We assure you, this is a band that iscaptivating in its execution, completely original in sound, and dynamic inpresentation and presence. If I had to describe this band in one phrase it would go like this: the haunting and romantic sounds of TAMSYN are the New Order of the millenium - their sound, look, and vibe will enrapture you instantaneously even after only hearing one song it will leave you wanting more. There is no end in sight for this band and there is no doubt that they will absolutely go the whole distance with their music career! 

Here is our *Exclusive Interview* with the band:

SMC - Hello TAMSYN! Welcome to the SMC AOM Alumni! Wherewere you and what was your reaction when you found out you were our DEC 2016AOM winners?

TAMSYN - Hello! We were delighted to be chosen as yourartist of the month for December! As an unsigned band, it really is lovely toreceive recognition for our work so thank you very much. We were actually onour way to a radio interview when we got the news so it was an excellent gee upbefore we went and performed live on air!

SMC- So let's get into the chronological history of theband. Can you tell us how TAMSYN came to be?

TAMSYN - We started life as just Michael, Joel and Philjamming away in various projects a few years ago. Once we built up a collectionof songs we felt could lead somewhere we needed to recruit a singer and bassistwhich is where Alex and Zach came in! Alex had just arrived in Manchester fromAthens with the purpose of finding a band to emulate his idols from the citysuch as the Smiths and Oasis. Zach has recently started at Salford Universityto study music and was looking for a band to join, luckily, he found us!

SMC - We see you were on BBC. Tell us about how that cameabout for you.

TAMSYN - The BBC here in England have a brilliant set upwith their Introducing shows giving unsigned artists the opportunity to havetheir music heard. We had been trying to upload ours to the Manchester one fora while with no luck so decided instead to try Merseyside. Thankfully for usDave Monks heard ‘Want You To Care’ and played it on his show. For us it’s sorewarding to have our music selected for such a prestigious platform and we’revery grateful to have these outlets supporting us.

SMC - Your song 'Things Change' was launched on YouTube inSeptember. We LOVE the video! You have that Grease T-Birds Bad-Boy thing goingon.....is this your everyday image?

TAMSYN - Thank you! Ha-ha our everyday image isn’t quite asT birdy! We felt with we needed a costume for the video that reflected thetimeless, classic nature of our music combined with our modern tastes. We chosethe stripey tops as they seemed a bit more fun and cheeky than plain tees orshirts with our TAMSYN jackets. Our everyday image is more relaxed and casual!

SMC - The song itself is gorgeous and reminds me of NewOrder.....it's a very fresh sound! Tell us what the song writing process for'Things Change' was like for you.

TAMSYN - Thank you very much! The song underwent a lot ofchanges in the writing process, which influenced the name! It originallystarted life as a very basic track called ‘Lost To Be Found’ but it just seemedto keep evolving. We began trying the riff with a slide before experimentingwith dynamics and a swing beat. Even in the studio we added parts on a lapsteel and included some keys too until it all just seemed to come togetheruntil we were left with the finished song which we are all very proud of.

SMC - The whole self-titled EP 'TAMSYN' is actually abeautiful work of art....you have made a HUGE fan out of me! I am looking at possiblycoming to England next year too....can you tell me where I might find youperforming live?

TAMSYN - Thank you! We’ve got a huge gig at ManchesterAcademy 3 in December this year and are currently in the process of bookinggigs for 2017. We can’t say too much just yet but we have some exciting thingsin the pipeline which will hopefully be announced soon. We aim to play twoshows a month if we can so you will definitely be able to come and see us!

SMC - What do the next 3 months look like as far as careergoals for more video content, touring, etc?

TAMSYN - We are in the process of planning a new video forour next single ‘Want You To Care.’ We’re aiming for a release in the New Year.We’re teaming up again with our director from ‘Things Change’ Jack Dearsleywith a view to making this one even bigger and better than the last! Not onlyare videos a lot of fun to shoot, they really are a fantastic way to get yourmusic out there. We have also opened discussions about recording either a newsingle or EP next spring and will absolutely be booking as many gigs as we can.

SMC - Tell us about your spot as finalists of the SoundwavesMusic Competition....

TAMSYN - It was an incredible experience! We applied onlineand were invited along to an audition which we passed. There were two moreauditions to get through before the final and we believe nearly 400 bands originallyapplied so to make the last 10 for us was crazy. The final took place at the O2Academy in Leeds with an audience of around 500 which was a massive show for usat the time. It was a real pleasure to play on such a large stage so early inour career!

SMC - Can you tell us some fun facts about yourselves thatyou would like to share with our fan base?

TAMSYN - We have a few! We do all have a band tattoo (it’sthe skull and cross bones found on our jackets) which serves as a symbol of ourbrotherhood. Alex was once an academy footballer for AEK Athens, a formerschool choir boy and is currently a model for Manchester based modelling agencyMaverick Models. Our drummer Joel is also an accomplished actor and show tunesinger, currently starring in a local production of Alfie.

SMC - I saw that you are connected with some of the notablesin the music industry here in North America. We have a few friends in common onsocial media.... can you tell us about who of these industry connectionsinspires you?

TAMSYN - Absolutely. We believe we are mutual friends withyourself and music writer Rebecca Singer. Rebecca was one of the first peopleto find us and gave us a brilliant interview on her site. Getting heard is oneof the hardest things for unsigned bands so we are extremely grateful to havepeople like Rebecca and Starlight out there working hard and taking the time tosupport what we’re doing. It’s the greatest pleasure for all artists to receivesuch fantastic backing and it gives us great confidence moving forward, helpinginspire us to release more songs as soon as we can!

SMC - If you could tour with anyone of your choice who wouldthat be and why?

TAMSYN - We would love to tour with acts Radiohead,Morrissey or the Libertines as they are some of our favorite artists and aswell influencing us they are accomplished musicians and performers. Morecurrent bands like the 1975 would be a lot of fun to tour with also. They havedone really well to create their own style and sound and audiences seem to begoing wild for them!

SMC - What kinds of collaborations would you like to do inyour career?

TAMSYN - We would love to collaborate with some of ouridols. Johnny Marr for example has played with both the Cribs and the LastShadow Puppets in recent years and having his experience and expertise can onlyhelp improve us as a band. However, we might also like to push our boundariesbeyond our genre and collaborate with artists with vastly different styles.People like Lady Gaga or Bruno Mars are doing brilliant things and it would befun to see if we could come up with something interesting with them.

SMC - I see you are from Manchester! That's a reallyhappening music scene! I also know that it can be competitive too. Can you tellus what your experience is like in the industry there?

TAMSYN - It is a fantastic scene here in Manchester. There’sso much history and support for indie music. Our experience has been very good.Promoters here are great for organizing live music nights and there are plentyof brilliant bands to help sustain the scene. Festivals like Sonder, which weplayed recently really brought the whole music community together here and wasa shining example of the talent and interest in music around the city.

SMC - What is a 'Day in the Life' of TAMSYN like?

TAMSYN - We’re incredibly busy but it’s great! We all jugglework, uni and girlfriends around the band but we still find time to rehearseand gig. We all socialize together too which helps, we’re a band of brothers.Whilst we are highly dedicated to what we do we still manage to keep things funwhich is very important.

SMC - Can you tell us the inspiration behind the band name?

TAMSYN - The name just seemed to choose us. When wedissolved our old band, we were trying to come up with a concise, catchy name.We noticed a lot of our songs were about girls and at the time there was a girlcalled Tamsyn around. We didn’t name it after her but Joel and Phil alwaysfound it an intriguing name and something about a group of boys with a girl’sname seemed to fit the general themes we were writing about. We wrote it downand we felt like it looked good on a poster. We tried the Jools Holland test onit too (where you have to introduce your band with your best Jools Hollandimpression) and it passed so TAMSYN it was!

SMC - What would you say is your most challenging thing whentrying to break into the music scene?

TAMSYN - Getting your music to people who would be your fansis always a challenge. Luckily for us social media helps us find like mindedmusic fans to share our songs with. Instagram and Twitter are great to discoverpeople who love the bands we do and thankfully lots of people seem to bechecking us out which is fantastic. Hopefully we can keep building and reachingout to people and writing songs that matter to them.

SMC - Our Artists of the Month will all go into an annualArtist of the Year competition in June of 2017. Now that we have three Artistsalready in our AOM Alumni, and 4 more months to go (February - May 2017) howwell do you feel you will fare in this annual event?

TAMSYN - We hope we fare well! We know you folks haveexcellent taste so we understand it will be a strong category. We just focus onourselves though and don’t worry too much about awards (as lovely as they are!)We just want to keep improving and really being considered at this moment intime is award enough in itself for us! If we win we’ll be delighted but we’resure whoever you pick will deserve it!

SMC - How do you feel about music competitions in general?

TAMSYN - They’re fun and it’s nice to be recognized butwe’re not hugely invested in them. For us music is more about community thancompetition. We have still enjoyed the competitions we’ve been in and they havebeen invaluable experience for us. They’re also a great way to see what otherartists are doing, current trends and give us ideas of things we should bedoing ourselves.

SMC - Okay, final question: If you could give one piece ofadvice to anyone beginning a music career what would that be?

TAMSYN - Don’t be afraid to fail. Just keep experimentingand trying things out and if things go wrong (which they will) trust thatyou’ll get them right next time. It’s taken us a lot of gigs to understand howto make our live show work and as well as the last EP went there’s so manythings we’ve learnt in the process to make the next one better. It’s importantto remember that you do this because you love it so when you are lucky enoughto be on stage or in a recording studio it’s vital to enjoy the moment. Theharder you work, the better you get which is something we’ve found has stood usin good stead. Be patient, trust your judgement and make things happen foryourself.

____________________

TAMSYN Social Media Links (click to view):

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

YouTube

Spotify

iTunes

After The Calm | June 2016 Artist of the Month Winners!

by CA Marshall

Well it has been a Wonderful First Season of the Starlight Music Chronicles Artist of the Month Competitions! We couldn't think of a better way to round it out with such Enigmatic, Electric and Talented Indie Artists like After The Calm who literally are our highest recorded votes of the 2015-2016 Season! This is a band who recently came off tour alongside many of their industry peers such as Chunk! No, Captain Chunk!, Palaye Royale, I See Stars, Get Scared, and The White Noise and are working on their NEW EP! 

Here is our Exclusive interview with the band:

*Interview*

SMC – Hello Boyz! Epic win for the Artist of the Month Competition! Your band has had the highest amount of votes ever in this competition! Of course, you were at a bit of an advantage since this was also the first month that we opened voting up to the public along with unlimited entries. How do you feel you will do in the Artist of the Year Competition in Late June?

Kody: We were stoked to hear we broke the record for votes, regardless of the limitations set previously. To us, that simply translated to being able to share a stepping stone in Starlight's growth! I have no idea what to expect with the AOY competition, but I will say that we have the competitive mindset fresh in our minds!

Logan: I was honestly shocked when I found out how many votes we actually had. I think this just pumps us up more for the AOY Competition.

Henry:  It’s tough to say. We are the new kids on the block and have some stiff competition. We have a strong fanbase who believe in what we are doing, their voices will be heard.

David: I feel that we will be a tough competitor. We have this momentum going for us that we haven't let go. It's fresh in our fans heads and we will push hard.

SMC – So let’s go to the beginning....our readers who are just discovering ATC on our platform will want to know more about the band....can you tell us each of our names and what position in the band you are?

Kody: My name is Kody Rattler, I play the drums in the band!

Logan: My name is Logan Miracle and I'm the vocalist.

Jon: Jonathan and I play rhythm guitar.

Henry: I’m Henry and I am the bassist extraordinaire.

David: Name is David Nunez and I'm the Lead Guitarist.

SMC- What kind of musical background do you all come from?

Kody: I played in band throughout grade school, but as for the drums I'm self taught.

Logan: I got stuck having to join choir in the 5th grade cause I couldn't draw and couldn't play an instrument . I didn't even want to sing then. But after that, I did choir from then on till the end of high school.

Jon:  I started by going to guitar center and buying a small amp and electric guitar at the age of 16. Since then I taught myself the last 10 years learning and playing songs I enjoy.

Henry:  Learned guitar while in high school but always had a strong connection with bass and rhythm so when I had the money I bought a cheap bass and went all in. Taught myself by ear from listening to my favorite bands and started creating music with my friends.

David: I've been playing music since my middle school days. Back then I was playing clarinet in Band. Music tastes range between Incubus and Deftones.

SMC – Is there anything cool or quirky that fans would like to know about each one of you?

Kody: Whenever people ask me why I started playing the drums, I usually respond with an unexpected answer: Rock Band. I seriously bought my drum set because of Rock Band. I had always been into percussion through grade school, dabbling in guitar during high school. But yeah, Rock Band.

Logan: Fun fact- The band found me on Craigslist!

Jon:  I really enjoy math and science, especially space!

Henry:  I am the only father in the group.  I have a 4 year old son name Henry Jr and his legal middle name is Danger. He loves the band and tells people he plays guitar in the band.

David: I would consider myself a multi-instrumentalist. I started out as the bassist of the band.

SMC – So we saw that you were on the Light In The Cave tour recently with quite a few notables such as ‘I See Stars’, ‘Chunk! No, Captain Chunk!’, Palaye Royale, `Get Scared`, and `White Noise`. How was that experience for you all?

Kody: The experience was surreal. We have been doing this for a solid two years now, playing local shows and slowly establishing relationships. When it came to the Light In The Cave Tour, K And Z Entertainment had offered us a slot on the Arizona date. Our dear friend Kenny Johnson had played an important role in getting us this offer, as he vouched for us prior to K And Z ever hearing our name. They took a risk by letting a random local band play that show, but boy did we make sure to leave our mark! We ended up breaking our personal record in ticket sales, somewhere just over 100 total. The show was sold out, which was an unbelievable first for us. Then meeting the bands themselves made everything so much more worth it. It's one thing to listen to these bands on Spotify every day, but another to be able to shake their hand and share the stage with them. Palaye Royale led us in finding Starlight, so that show was a huge stepping stone for our development!

Logan: Just the fact that we were able to set the tone for that night before the other bands was amazing. During our set we were all in our element, but after the other bands came up I was another fan in the crowd.

Jon: It was by far the best concert I have played at. All the bands put on an amazing show and just meeting and talking with them was a great experience.

Henry: (In the comic book guys voice from the Simpsons) Best experience ever. Getting that opportunity to speak with them and seeing how many fans came to that show  was eye opening. Showed us that we really can reach for the stars.

David: That whole experience was eye opening. That's the first sold out show we've played. The line was so long some of our fans didn't even get in until after our set was finished. We hosted and played a free house show for our fans because of it.

SMC – So how do you feel going into an Artist of the Year event so soon after your AOM win? Do you feel you are at an advantage compared to the other Artists who have won, say, since August or September of last year?

Kody: All I can say is timing seemed to be perfect for us. To win the 12th AOM and automatically dive into the first AOY.. talk about luck. We were very stoked to hear we could enter out first competition, but then even more excited to find out that winning meant we could be in our second competition directly afterwards! We are fired up with excitement, which I imagine is an edge over winning the contest several months ago!

Logan: I think it's good for us cause now our fans will still be amped from the AOM competition and go full force into the AOY.

Jon: I feel very confident going into this competition. I know every person in the band is very motivated and hard working

Henry: Being in people's mind at the moment could be good and bad, can't leave it up to chance, have to be in the mindset that the other artist are in.

David: Yeah I feel we are somewhat at an advantage since it still fresh in people's minds but the advantage I see other bands having is time. They had time to develop their career and add a following that could be in the thousands.

SMC – So we see that there is some new music on the horizon! Can you tell us when we can expect that to release?

Kody: New music indeed! We are so blessed to have made it this far with our music. Two years of practice, and two singles later, we were finally ready to record our first EP. Recording will be done by the second week of June, from there it’s just a matter of doing the artwork, presenting the actual package and printing copies! We are about to fire up our first kickstarter page this week, which will tell us how fast we can get the EP out to everyone! Realistically, I'd say everything will be wrapped up by July!

David: Anything before the end of summer is what we are currently shooting for.

SMC – Does the band have any plans to tour in the next 6-12 months?

Kody: We set the goal to record our EP this summer, and we are doing so now. After that, we envisioned setting up a small west coast tour before 2017 to hit up the surrounding states. We're hoping the EP makes the waves required to capture the attention of those outside AZ! :D

Logan: Once the EP is released we plan to play lots of shows throughout the Valley in AZ. There are plans for a small West coast tour towards the end of the year.

Jon: Yes!! Our goal is to do a small west coast tour before this year ends.

Henry: Its always in the back of our minds. One thing at time.

David: Probably a mini west coast tour. We still need to figure out all the logistics. 

SMC – What do you think is the recipe for success in the Music Industry?

Kody: The recipe is recognizing that it’s not a competition of who can play better, or who has a bigger following, but rather enjoying your music for what it meant for: self expression. You've got to appreciate everything that comes your way, good or bad. Go to local shows, support your friend's band who is also trying to achieve the same goal. Networking with one another is how this industry thrives. People remember the encounters they have with you, and they'll recite them to their friends later. Leave a positive story to tell.

Logan: Just be real. Not only to others but to yourself. This isn't a competition. Music is an art. An art form for anyone and everyone to express themselves in different ways. I think just being genuine is a major key to moving forward in this business.

Jon: Basically like everything else in life which is to work hard and do your research and never give up.

Henry:  Risk and Reward.  We took a risk just making music, playing shows and entering this competition. So far so good.

David: Believing in your music no matter what and finding others in the industry that do too.

SMC – We hear all the time how difficult it is for Indie Artists to tap into new fans...do you feel that’s because of Social Media?

Kody: If anything, I believe social media is a fantastic way to make new fans. It's great to meet new faces you wouldn't be able to otherwise. I’ve personally used social media to make friends in states I've never been to. These friends keep up on our day to day, so I'd say that suffices as making a new fan! ;D

Logan: I believe social networks have only broadened the reach for artist to communicate with their fans. I mean we have a few fans on our page from other states! I think it's cool how someone can spread a band to their friends who can easily you home and find that artist and become a fan themselves.

Jon: Social media is a great help in today's world. We are able to keep every notified about everything going on in the band.

Henry: I think it’s the internet in general. Bands think by posting a flyer online about a upcoming show that people will go. They lose the person to person interaction. 

David - I feel it's quite the opposite. It's because of Social Media that we are connected to everyone on the planet that has an Internet connection. What I think is difficult is standing out amongst all the new artists out there. I think there is thousands of great artists that just don't know how to connect to people. There's a lot of talk out there and what people want is artists that walk the walk. Put on a great show that gets the audience involved and literally figure out things that the fan can benefit from. We always try put ourselves in our fans shoes whenever we make any decision because we actually give a s**t.

SMC – Let’s hear about some of your greatest influences in the industry and why they have helped shape ‘After The Calm’....

Kody: We've leaned our sound to other bands that we fancy such as A Day to Remember, The Story So Far, Neck Deep, etc.  We all really like the writing, message, and progressions of these bands, and we tend to look into their successes. We study what these bands do while they're both on and off stage, how they proceed to handle their business. There's always more to learn.

Logan: Me personally, I am all over the board when it comes to music. I listen to different genres ranging from Pop, Rap, Metal to even Jazz.

Jon: My influences has been System of a Down, Slipknot, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Incubus, and so many more.

Henry: Watching I See Stars and the crowd participation was influential for us. Getting off the stage and into the crowd really stuck with us.

David: Cory Spotts (Producer) and Kenny Johnson (Photographer). Cory took our music and pushed us to make it better. He's not an order taker where we ask he serves. He educates us and we are better for it. Kenny took us under his wing and helped guide us to understand there's no mountain high enough. If we have the will, we can make it happen. These lessons are invaluable and speak loud to the idea of surrounding yourself with good people.

SMC – What is the image that the band hopes to project in terms of ‘Branding’?

Kody: Honestly, we're just here to have fun with our music and make new friends along the way. If we have a crowd going wild with us, that’s all we need to go on! If there’s any branding going on, it’s just five goofy dudes from Phoenix Arizona who want to prove that nothings impossible.

Logan: I wouldn't say we're trying to make a "brand" as much as just being us. We're five crazy guys who love to play music. No matter where or to however many people, we're there to jam out and have a great time.

Jon: To show that your dreams will come true with hard work and dedication and that it is always a team effort.

David: Branding is a tricky thing because we don't want to put ourselves in a box. We have five very different people in the band. Our ages range from 21 to 31 but there is a thread that runs through all of us. We are decent human beings that love music. We show our appreciation where it is due and try to make every experience a good one. As long as we keep doing that then we are projecting an authentic us.

SMC - Can you tell us about any funny fan moments?

Kody: We played a show at the Nile Theater in Mesa Arizona a while ago, and had met this young man named Kittrell. He's from Tucson Arizona, which is a solid two hours south of Mesa. His band was supposed to open that night, but they hadn't showed. He didn't let the absence of his band stop him from playing his set though. Instead, he took his time slot and rocked out some intense guitar solos. We watched in awe as he still gave it his all. He appreciated the fact we encouraged him to keep doing what he's doing, regardless of the others bailing on the show. When we had been a few songs into our own set, Kittrell came flying on stage and danced around like it was no one’s business. He was truly there to have fun, and that he did!

Logan: I think when I was at a Circle K one night and the employee was listening to Get Scared and remembered our band from the Light In the Cave Tour.

Henry: Kittrell.

SMC – How about fan moments that really touched the heart?

Kody: I feel the most touching fan experience I've had so far was with our friend Rosalina. She was one of the many we had met through Palaye Royale, of which she had one of the more direct responses I've seen. I introduced us, explained to her that we opened for Palaye when they came through our town, and offered her our YouTube channel. Her directness was when she told me she liked what she heard, but it wasn't enough: she wanted more. I realized at that point that she was right. It was hard to show people who we are with only two singles. Of course we had already scheduled to record the EP, but it sure fired the desire to get the new tracks recorded that much more! It was nice to see the honesty in her response.

Logan: In our music video for Cups there is a scene where one of my best friends Keenan is crowd surfing in the tiny living room we were playing in. He came right up to me and shared the microphone with  me. Every time I look back at that I just smile. Cause that's a moment we'll be able to share forever.

Jon: At one of our shows a new fan that saw us for the first time came up to us after our set and asked if he could get one of my picks and have us sign it. We talked for a bit and it was so nice seeing how just 20 minutes of our time meant so much to a stranger.

Henry: I was hanging out at the bar after a show with my family and friends and lady who typically was not in our demographic came up to me. None of us knew her but she had the courage to come up and start a conversation. She brought her daughter and her friend to the show to see another band that night and she really enjoyed our set. After speaking for a bit she drew up the courage to ask for a picture with myself, I wasn't expecting that. Made my day.

SMC – In terms of the June 2016 AOM competition – you boys really shared the info on it! How do you think the social media awareness is on the part of SMC?

Kody: From a fan standpoint, it was very clear and concise. We simply said follow this link and vote here! Of course we made sure to let everyone know the purpose of the competition, but the process made it an easy request on their end.

From the SCM team's standpoint, I’d say they did a great job at promoting! The bios were easy to find, you could follow links to each artist and do your research accordingly. You guys were great at keeping  everyone excited!

Logan: I think the way SMC went about gathering info for each artist was very easy but professional at the same time. Fans that like SMC but don't know any of the artist can get right to their pages from SMC.

Jon: The entire website and way this competition works is amazing. I've thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience.

SMC – How do you feel your new music will be different than your previous releases?

Kody: Valor and Cups are both dating back to when we first started playing music in my bedroom. Valor happened to be the very first song we wrote, and at the time we had a slightly different line up. Cups was also covered during this time. We knew Anna Kendrick was a very popular pop culture icon, and that tons of people watched her in Pitch Perfect. Our goal in covering Cups was to both catch her attention and shoot for a slot on Punk Goes Pop, a series of cover albums ran by Fearless Records. (Neither of which has happened yet. Key word being yet. ;D)

As for the new tunes, there is much maturity in our writing process. We have gone from typical garage band to studio champions. 👍

Logan: Valor was the first song ever for us. The riffs were written even before I was in the band! And with a small lineup change in the recent past, these new songs are so different. But I wouldn't say sound wise. I think it's a greater representation of what ATC is about. The music and lyrics on this EP hit home hard for me. I poured my heart into all of these songs. And I'm hoping we can transfer that emotion to the listener. Be ready for it.

Jon: We have grown a lot in the past 2 years and everyone has gotten a lot better at writing and collaborating as a team. This new EP will really show our growth as a band.

Henry: Prior to recording our current E.P we sat with our producer and he gave us some feedback about where to go with the new music.  Since then the music has been grown and really matured.

David: Our two singles currently only highlight our pop-punk side. This E.P. will surprise a lot of people. There is something for everyone on this album and we can't wait to share it with the world. I will say that two songs will showcase our growth as songwriters.

SMC – Okay, Last question: If you had to tie with any one of our Previous Artist of the Month winners, who would that be and why?

Unanimous: Malaya. It would be nice to tie with another full band that shares the same concept that we do!

_____________

Facebook
Twitter
Website
Instagram

MALAYA | February 2016 Artist of the Month Winners!

Interview by CA Marshall

Well we certainly feel that after reading this interview for our February 2016 Artist of the Month (AOM) Winner's Malaya that this is truly an ethical band who deserves not only a win but a definite place in our AOM Alumni. The fact that they worked as hard as they did to earn the votes from loyal friends and fans in the 11th hour of this competition speaks volumes of their determination, teamwork and positivity in spreading good cheer and good vibes to their top rival Kaylin Roberson (who held top place for most of the competition). In fact, only 5 votes apart in winning, it was so nice to see Malaya recognizing the dual accomplishment and then chose to share the win. Hats off to such a classy move!

Here is our intimate interview with the band about this win, their future goals, and thoughts on being our February 2016 AOM winners:

SMC - Hello Malaya! We would first off like to congratulate you on this epic win for the Starlight Music Chronicles (SMC) February 2016 Artist of the Month (AOM)! Can you tell us a little bit about your thoughts on this win?

MALAYA - Thank you, oh my  gosh Thank You Starlight Music Chronicles!!  Well it was an extremely close win, so for that we are truly thankful to everyone who supported us and kept going even after voting closed, lol. We are completely stoked for the opportunities to come following the win.  We are very glad we are able to share the spotlight with Kaylin considering she too broke the voting record within the contest! It'll be cool getting to meet such an inspiring person, going thru everything she has and coming out stronger. We hope to inspire people along our journey as well.

SMC - We know that the voting throughout the competition and number were very tight between Malaya and Kaylin for the duration of this competition. How do you feel about your supporters in comparison to your competitions supporters for Kaylin Roberson?

Malaya - I think we answered above, lol all of that Love was and will be all-around!

SMC - So tell us in your words about your musical timeline, how the band came together and who plays which instruments?

MALAYA  - Adam Irizarry (guitar) and Robin Lynn (vocals) just came out of working with another group when we found Daniel Reitmeyer (drums) on Craigslist. We immediately began writing and preparing to record, which we did just a few months later.  Along the lines we met Daniel O'Neil who auditioned and filled the 2nd guitar position during recording. We shortly after met Clayton Prather (bass) who was in the drum line at USF.  Before long, Malaya, recorded its first album, The Pieces That Make Us. Getting a local artist and fan to paint the album cover.  After a couple years Daniel O'Neil parted ways from the band leaving it a quartet. Not long after Clayton would be graduating college and off to graduate school, so we began the search of another bass player. A friend informed me he knew someone who played guitar, and wanted to audition. Daniel MarcAntonio came to audition, and during this he mentioned that he had more experience playing bass then guitar. A couple weeks he sealed the deal and Malaya was officially ready to hit the road!  We then began touring in THE GREEN LANTERN thru small portions in the East Coast, then next to the Mid East.  During last spring we recorded our most recent EP, called "Pop Fiction", and set off on our most recent tour up the East Coast, and back down thru the Middle Eastern US. 

SMC - What is the family support systems like for the band?

MALAYA - All of our family members have been really supportive, always offering a place to stay, free food and showers, and of course LAUNDRY!  Which is big when you pack the way Robin does! They have been extremely helpful keeping us comfortable on the road.

SMC - How do you feel about your accomplishments at this time?

MALAYA - We are really proud of ourselves for sticking with it, and not giving up when things get bumpy. We all work full-time jobs by day and follow our dreams to be Rock Stars by night! I, Robin, had a pretty tough couple of years battling reflux, and I couldn't have done it without the support of the band.  I feel that most people would have given up on me by now but they stuck by me and I couldn't be more thankful! So any progress we make feels extremely rewarding to share it.

SMC - Can you tell us about one of the most satisfying moments in your music careers to date?

MALAYA - We have had the opportunity to open for some pretty big artists, and we've gotten to play a few big venues. But really meeting Jeff our Manager at Frisc² Productions, has been a blessing, he has made such a difference in the band so far like giving us hope and helping get onto this competition in the first place.  Now we get to travel internationally, which is something we are all SOO STOKED TO DO!

SMC - Where would you like to go with your career - meaning: What is important for you to personally accomplish as a band?

MALAYA - We would love to support ourselves comfortably playing music, as well as inspiring other people at the same time. It would feel like a solid win being able to do that and help our families out.

SMC - We love the camaraderie for the dual win for this month's competition. Can you tell us your thoughts about your decision to share first place?

MALAYA -  It started with Jeff, our Manager, and us celebrating at 2 am!!  We looked at the computer and it really hit, when we realized by just how close of a win we had!  SMC announced that both artists broke the record of most votes during the contest. So we discussed how much that blows accomplishing then "losing" by such a small amount. We all agreed we should see if it was possible to share the spot.  We felt she deserved it just as much as we did!

SMC - In the history of our AOM competition there have never been any two artists/bands that were actually only as little as five votes apart when the clock struck midnight. Were you or your family awake to see what was happening all the way to the end?

MALAYA - We all had work the next morning, and to say the least we are all pretty competitive. So the week prior to our win, we were talking about how we can get more votes. So we posted to our facebook pages, and sent out personal messages to friends and family! As we were getting down to the wire Robin told Jeff "Oh, we're gonna do this!!"(all for one). So we gave it our best effort and the day before and the day of, we sat on our computers and started personally messaging people all over facebook. Needless to say we went bug-eyed messaging people 'til we won!

SMC - Does the band have any associations with charities and if so, what is the level of involvement?

MALAYA - We work at schools for kids with special needs, so we're associated with the events that the school has held, playing at it and such.

SMC - We often hear how music has saved many people whether they are a fan or an Artist. How has music helped the band grow as a collective?

MALAYA - At the beginning we started out as your typical musician, "I wanna write music for me". As time passed, playing for our fans and new followers, we realized how much we wanted to play for people, and to give them music that they want to listen to.  We wanted to entertain, relate, and be role models for friends and fans! To inspire not only the people dreaming and but to show them it’s never too late to follow your heart.

SMC - Who among your music peer group do you admire?

MALAYA - We feel that Malaya is not just a band.  We come with the whole package (family, friends, fans for being there for us always and truly getting our backs), they are who we deeply admire! 

SMC - If you could do a collaboration with your dream Artist(s), who would that be?

MALAYA - Wow, that's tough haha.  Hmm, there's Yellowcard, Stevie Wonder, A day to Rememeber, Led Zepplin, Paramore, Randy Rhoads, PVRIS, Michael Jackson, Zakk Wylde (just off the top of our heads).

SMC - What does the next six months look like for career plans?

MALAYA - Hopefully onward and upward, that's the plan anyhow! We see ourselves doing a couple more tours, music fests, a music video, and well getting to see California, and Canada for the first time ever!!

SMC- What have been some of the challenges you have faced in the industry and how did you overcome them?

MALAYA - Unfortunately, as a band starting off, you don't get to play at the best venues.  You don't always get a hard working Manager, or a decent Booking Agent. So having to do all of that yourself is pretty exhausting.  We booked 3 solid, 3 week tours ourselves, then paid $150 in tolls at one time (CRAZY)!  But you start to learn as time goes on, what's good and what's not. People are always trying to get you to "pay-to-play", but that's a NO, so we studied more ways to gain better shows. Then we worked really hard to keep going and going.

SMC - What has been your most flattering 'fan' moment to date?

MALAYA - At a few of our more recent shows, we've had people coming up, taking our picture, asking for autographs, and really just being excited to meet us. As well as walking around Citrus Park Mall, and people being like, "Hey, are you in a band?"  Then we're like yea, 'Malaya'.  And they go "OMG, we've been to your show, you guys are awesome!"  I later went home and cried myself to sleep with joy! Kinda kidding, lol but seriously it's really humbling to have people like what you’re doing!

SMC - Are there any venues the band loves to perform at?

MALAYA -  The State Theater in St Pete is a pretty awesome venue, it’s a big venue for smaller acts to really gain experience and a chance to prove themselves. Plus, the people that help run it, J and Patty are totally sweet!

SMC - Where has the band performed to date?

MALAYA - Well that's a list!  Cities played: Orlando, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Panama City, Gainesville, S and N Carolina, Virginia, Washington, Philly, NY, Cincinnati, Nashville, Memphis, Michigan, Chicago, Little Rock, all over Texas, New Orleans and more.

SMC - Any interesting stories about live performances?

MALAYA - Well we like creating memes out of the funny pictures from our shows.  At the "Warped Tour" someone took a horrible photo of us looking like we were on the brink of death. It was hot as can be, we were in this dome like thing with no fans or anything.  All the equipment was like spewing fire, and we were in the middle of recording so we were staying up late all week, and tired.  On top of all that, we drank 5 hour energy drinks like "cracking us out" for a hot minute and as we're lugging our stuff for a mile.  But it was still SO MUCH FUN! lol

SMC - Rumor has it you are going to be attending the Starlight Music Concert in June for Morgan's Mission (www.morgansmission,ca) what are your thoughts on MM?

MALAYA - It hits close to home, being bullied as a child, and luckily having people to lean on and help me thru it. The old saying words don't hurt definitely implied to the literal sense, because unfortunately they do. But growing up into adulthood, and working with young adults with special needs gives us a chance to help others get thru the hard times and teaches them to stand up for themselves and for others. We want to be influential and hopefully we're being role models for others not to Bully as well.

SMC - In correlation to the last question, can you tell us what it means to support organizations that deal with something as serious as Teen Suicide Awareness?

MALAYA - Your teens are a hard time in your life, especially during these times.  Your hormones and anxiety seems at an all time high. Your mind and body is ever-changing, and you're still trying to figure out who you are and who you want to be. So to have the chance to show them that there are loving and caring people there for them to help along the way is very rewarding.  Life is really important, you only get one, so don't waste it!

SMC - Final question and we always like to ask this of all of our Artists because each answer is so diverse: if you could give advice to anyone starting a career in the music industry, what would that be?

MALAYA - Well first thing I'd say, if you’re in it, you're in it for the long haul! It’s going to be an uphill battle, don't dream and forget to live though. Practice A LOT, because there is no such thing as perfect. Stay modest and stay true to yourself, friends, and family.  Watch what you sign!!! Get a lawyer before signing a contract, there are too many problems that can happen along the way. Also, even if you're playing some rinky dink venue, have them sign an electronic contract regarding payments. And last but not least, "If you think you can, you will, if you think you can’t, you won’t".

___________________

Social Media Links (Click to view):

February 2016 AOM Winners on SMC 

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Website

YouTube

Olivia Penalva | January 2016 Artist of the Month Winner!

by CA Marshall

Happy New Year! We can\t think of a better way to begin the Starlight Music Chronicles year other than showcasing our January 2016 Artist of the Month (AOM) Winner, Olivia Penalva. This young lady hails from Vernon, British Columbia with strong French (father) and German (mother) roots. In fact, at the time of this interview, she was in Lyon, France celebrating New Years Eve with her Father’s Family there.

Since discovering Olivia via the Reverbnation Contest hosted by Bongo Boy TV (www.bongotboytv.com) and sponsored by Starlight Music Chronicles, it has been a steady uphill climb for this young Recording Artist. She won a spot on the Television show in October 2015 and then participated in our December 2015 AOM competition. After her defeat for the December competition, Olivia applied again for the January 2016 AOM and won. We have to say that it is a testament to this young lady’s already positive and sunny outlook for her to have gotten right back up on that success train and give it another go. To see her win was even more thrilling as we have had Artists compete more than once and not make the cut as AOM. Suffice to say, Olivia is more than a winner, she is a leader in many respects, paving the path for other Artists in her demonstration of sheer determination and belief in herself.

Here’s the scoop:

SMC - Wow Olivia! You are truly a remarkable story and everyone is talking about your win for this month's Artist of the Month(AOM) spot. We are happy to host you as our First Ever AOM of the Year! How do you feel about this win as compared to other contests that you have participated in?

Olivia - Thank you so much Candice. I am super happy to have won Artist of the Month for January 2016.!!!  I was already excited to participate last month and was up against some great talent, so I was definitely not disappointed to have come in 4th. I have been fortunate to have been part of several music competitions over the last few years and of course it is always great to win, but I have learnt early on to enjoy the process and that not coming first does not mean I did not gain something from the competition. Last month, contributor Randy Wayne Belt, interviewed me for Starlight Music Chronicles magazine and he was so supportive and complimentary about my music, that new fans started to discover me and communicate with me. So I really think part of why I won this time was thanks to your support of me and these new amazing fans. It sure feels great to win and for so many reasons. It is nice to see my fan base growing and have my music liked and appreciated by new people, and it is also super cool to be part of Starlight Music Chronicles blog and website that comes from winning this competition.  

SMC - Olivia, can you tell us a little bit about your musical timeline to give our readers a fresh perspective on what made you the Artist you are today?

Olivia - Well I always loved singing and dancing but it wasn't until I started singing lessons at age 11 that I realized how much I loved music. I loved it so much I took lessons a couple times a week and then entered a local music talent competition. After placing in the top 12, I started to get little gigs around my community, and fell in love with performing as well. I did not want to just be good at singing other people's music, and so decided I should try to write my own. It was pretty hard at first, but by age 12 I released my first two singles, and by age 13 I released my first album called Rainfall. It felt amazing, one of the songs on that album even won top 15 in the Teen category of the International Song Writing Competition. I decided to host a CD release concert here in Vernon to introduce my album and myself to my community, and was blown away when it sold out! I was hooked. By then I was so lucky to have caught the attention of Sony/ATV writer Andrew Allen and his wife Julia Allen, who became my managers. They are amazing and thanks to their guidance over the last 2 years, I have been fortunate to work with and song write with so many amazing musicians like Brian West (Maroon 5, Nelly Furtado) who produced my last single, Ferris Wheel in LA, and Josh Cumbee (Madonna, Janet Jackson) with whom I co wrote a song called Forgettable which was released by Canadian DJ duo DJ Project 46 on their album Beautiful. I am very grateful for each and every opportunity that is put in front of me and I know how fortunate I am able to be where I am doing what I do.

SMC - When I congratulated you on the 28th of December, you mentioned you are in Paris! What's happening there?

Olivia - Right now I am actually in a beautiful city called Lyon in France. My dad is from here and all of his family still lives here so I love coming back here and visiting with everyone and eating all the amazing food and looking at all the old buildings and pretty things. Just before we arrived in France, we made a week long pit stop in Edinburgh, Scotland to spend Christmas with my cousins who live there. So needless to say it has been a truly wonderful holiday!!

SMC - How old are you?

Olivia - I am now 15 and soon to be 16 in April, which I am pretty excited about because I can get my learners license and start driving!! Not sure if my parents are excited about that though!!

SMC - Do you have any wishes for your future you'd like to personally achieve before your next Birthday?

Olivia - Yes!! I always have goals I am setting for myself whether it is with music or school. This winter I have lots of cool music stuff happening.... So stay tuned because there just may be the most awesome single coming out before my birthday.

SMC - How about your Music Career in the next 6 months? What’s happening in that time?

Olivia - I have a bunch of cool music stuff happening this winter which includes producing and releasing some new singles. I am very excited about that. I will be working and song writing with my amazingly talented friend Robin Ghosh who co-wrote on Ferris Wheel and my Christmas singles, Christmas for Two. I also have some cool gigs coming up including a francophone festival and working in a super cool studio on the island with a Grammy winning producer.  I also have some cool video and photo shoots coming up.

SMC - How about the next Year?

Olivia - Well I am pretty sure I know what I am up to in the next 6 months, as for after that, I guess I can say that I will continue working and go where the music and opportunities take me. I love making music and performing music, so whether it be making new covers for my YouTube page, or singing at private events, concerts, or festivals, I am sure you can find me somewhere!!

SMC - What is your long - term goals for you personally and in your career say, 5 and 10 years from now?

Olivia - I could answer and say music, music, music, as that is the future I see for myself. I would love to make a living writing songs and performing. If I could do that I would be set. I am excited to see where my music takes me.

SMC - Speaking of travel, what places have you traveled to and which are your most favorite and why?

Olivia - I love travel, but I also love coming home to Vernon. I have been super lucky to have a dad from France and a mom whose family comes from Germany, so I grew up spending a lot of time in Europe. My parents love to travel, so they dragged my sister and brother and I all over.  We all love going to Hawaii as well as it feels great to put your feet in the sand and smell that sweet Hawaiian air. Hard to say where I love it the most as each destination offers sow thing different. I guess I love the food and culture of Europe and the hot beautiful weather of Hawaii. Music has brought me to new places in Canada which has been really cool as well as a lot of people don't purposefully travel in Canada. Everyone seems to want to elsewhere. But last year I was invited to perform in Ottawa and had so much fun, and then went to Toronto and around BC on a radio tour and loved that too.

SMC - What song of your own is your favorite and why?

Olivia - I really really love the song Forgettable that I co wrote last year in LA, which was released in July by  DJ Project 46. It is a very emotional and uplifting song that I think is really relevant to people and especially teens who feel a little lost and alone. Everyone matters and I think this song makes people feel that. I am also crazy about one of my new ones that are coming out this winter. It has such an uplifting message as well. It just makes you feel important.

SMC - This AOM competition is now in its 6th month and we will be competing for Artist of the Year with all of the winners from Last August 2015 until July 2016. You are placed halfway through the competition at this point. What are your thoughts on, say, an Artist from the beginning of these competitions to the winner in July 2016 as far as advantage for winning the Artist of the Year title?

Olivia - Hard to say but I think it is awesome that we all get to be in a competition together! At this point it probably won't matter who comes out on top.

SMC - There has been a string of successes that have followed you as of late. Can you tell us a little about those achievements and what they mean to you?

Olivia - I have been so very lucky. I am so aware of all of that. I have songs that have been recognized by song writing competitions, songs that have been added to albums being released by well established musicians, worked with amazing musicians, been nominated for several competitions such as radio emerging artist for my song Ferris Wheel, YouTube artists of the month by an Australian magazine, top 10 female in she's the one Competition at the Ottawa Blues Fest, top 20 song on the Canadian Radio charts for Christmas For Two, Ferris Wheel being chosen do by Bongo Boy TV to air on NBC TV in the US... So many amazing things!!! I am especially proud of my team of supporters which include my managers Andrew and Julia Allen, my Publicist Sera Roadnight of MT Press, my radio tracker Oscar Furtado, my parents...

SMC - As you know we have affiliations with Morgan`s Mission (www.morgansmission.ca) and we see that you have also joined the Page on Facebook for Morgan`s Mission. What are your thoughts on combining the Music Industry with a sensitive subject like Morgan`s Mission and what it stands for (Here is the Page`s Mission Statement from the Dunbar Family: Morgan's Mission was created after we lost our daughter to the effects of cyber bullying. We are bringing awareness to bullying, mental health and suicide.`)

Olivia - I think Music is a great way to bring attention and awareness to these issues. Music brings people together, makes people feel better, and can uplift you when you feel down.  It is already hard enough to be a teen, let alone struggle with cyber bullying, mental health issues, and suicide. So if music can have a place in helping people, then definitely I am all for it and being a part of that process.

SMC - We are also hosting a Starlight Music Concert in June of 2016 where many Artists from all over the globe will be participating. We hope to help raise money to brighten and strengthen the talent that many youth and teens suffering with depression, PTSD, mental illness, and suicidal thoughts by channeling through the Arts as a means to cope. What are your thoughts on this?

Olivia - I think this is wonderful. Art is such a great way for us to express ourselves and our emotions, and I think it is awesome that SMC is hosting a concert to support that. If I can be there and help out, I will definitely make that happen.

SMC - What organizations, if any, do you support and why?

Olivia - When I wrote Fight For You I was thinking about some struggles that people must be going through in their lives. I was only 13 but remember seeing homeless people in my city during a really cold spell and was really affected by that. I checked around my community to see who was helping provide food and shelter and approached the Salvation Army of BC. So 100% of the proceeds of the sale of Fight For You on iTunes go to the Salvation Army of BC. I have being doing this for two years now and will continue to help as much as I can.

SMC - What do you believe to be the biggest accomplishment a Recording Artist can make in their Career. Meaning: what is most important to you? (other than the obvious: getting signed by a label)

Olivia - Getting signed by a label is definitely an achievement for any artists for sure. And of course that would be pretty awesome, but if I can make a living making and performing music, then I think I will be pretty happy.

SMC - Which leads to our next question: Do you prefer to remain an Indie Artist or would you prefer to be signed to a label? We have heard positives and negatives from Artists on both sides of the spectrum...

Olivia - I am pretty happy with the progress I have made so far without the help of a label. I have an amazingly supportive family, super awesome managers, an amazing publicist and radio promoter, and have so many talented and wonderful people who believe in me. So for now I can say that being an indie artist has been great for me. I am sure it would be great to have a label back your career, but that could be pretty stressful too as then it would feel like I had to live up to goals that I did not set for myself and not sure how I would feel about losing some control over my own career.  I am being patient and enjoying each stage of this industry and at 15 am pretty content right now with the balance between music, school, family and friends. Fun to see what the future holds!

SMC - What is a most recent `Greatest Moment` from one of your fans?

Olivia - I love getting messages from my fans!!! It is always so nice to get positive and supportive comments from them. I have some really great fans. I guess some cool moments recently came from people who heard Christmas For Two on the radio and looked me up or shazamed me then messaged me on YouTube to tell me they loved it and became a fan!! It feels so good to have your music get out there and affect people in a way that makes them want more of it.

SMC - Are you originally from British Columbia, Canada?

Olivia - Yes I was born in Vancouver BC and moved to Vernon BC when I was 9. I love living here. It is so beautiful, especially in the summer. 

SMC - Last Question: We always like to ask this one - What advice would you give one of your peers or a youth entering the Music Industry and hoping for a fruitful career?

Olivia - Well from my very short lived experiences so far, the best I can say is shoot for the moon but have a couple back up plans. Be prepared to work hard and don't quit when things don't go your way. You can't please everyone and you may not always get what you want, but often you get other cool things instead. If you love it, do it!

SMC- Thank you Olivia and Congratulations again!

Olivia - Thank you so much Candice and SMC for these opportunities, for this competition, and for all your support! 

_______________________

For Olivia Penalva's Social Media click on the links and it will redirect you:

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

YouTube