CDMX: A Spotify Playlist
We’ve had this list on repeat… it reminds us of walking down the streets in La Condesa or Roma Norte and exploring new places, but also, enough pop to keep us dancing in our day to day lives. The perfect playlist when you are craving some latin flare with some up-to-speed music love.
We’ve had this list on repeat… it reminds us of walking down the streets in La Condesa or Roma Norte and exploring new places, but also, enough pop to keep us dancing in our day to day lives. The perfect playlist when you are craving some latin flare with some up-to-speed music love.
Wind Turns Cold - SAENS
Pale November Dew - The Dead Tongues
The Few Things - JP Saxe ft Charlotte Lawrence
Dejala que vuelva - Piso 21 ft Manuel Turizo
Beyond Today - James Gillespie
Oil and Water - Rationale
Outnumbered - Dermot Kennedy
Mountains - Robbie Wadge
Wildest Ones - Eves Karydas
The Descent - Bastille ft Jacob Banks, Lily Moore, Craig David and Kienja
Lungs - Jake Howden
Goddess - Cobi
Con Calma - Daddy Yankee
Bright Lights - Ziggy Alberts
Otro Trago - Sech, Darell
All my Love (Acoustic) - Imaginary Future
Depth Over Distance - Ben Howard
bad guy - Billie Eilish
MIA - Bad Bunny ft Drake
I Don’t Want Your Money - Ed Sheeran ft H.E.R.
Those Nights - Bastille
Too Late - Tadhg Daly
Oh, Mexico - Jeremy Zucker
EST. SPOTLIGHT: Madi Diaz
One of our favorite artists this winter is Madi Diaz. This indie pop singer has had quite the fall. She released her new album, Phantom, in late September (it also premiered on KCRW the week of release), toured the country with X Ambassadors, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. and Echosmith.
Photography by Lindsay Vacek
One of our favorite artists this winter is Madi Diaz. This indie pop singer has had quite the fall. She released her new album, Phantom, in late September (it also premiered on KCRW the week of release), toured the country with X Ambassadors, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. and Echosmith.
“One of my favorite feelings is the sense I get from pouring over parts of my past before lighting them up and leaving it all behind me to start over again.” Madi Diaz
Madi Diaz packed up her Nashville home and drove across the country to L.A. “It took five days to drive to Los Angeles by myself. I listened to Abbey Road for six hours at a time, and watched the desert open up before me again and again. I saw the sun set and rise at the Grand Canyon, and I sang out over the cliffs, picked up tumble weeds along the way and threw them in the back of my car. When I got the Pacific, I just ran straight into ocean.”
After much time on the endless road, three tiny apartments, and one big heartbreak, she buckled down in LA, pushing for something true to herself and who she wanted to be. The result is Phantom, an open-faced and undeniably honest chronicle of falling down, getting back up, and heading to the horizon.
While headlining a show at the iconic and historic, Troubadour, we were able to catch up with this awesome gal and chat more about her life in LA.
How did you end up in California?
I was born in Connecticut. I lived in Pennsylvania. I went to school in Boston. I lived in Nashville and then I moved to California. Never New York though. New York is a "one day" -- far in the distance.
How long have you been here now?
I've been here for a couple years now. It'll be my 3 year anniversary is coming up. Not sure how we'll celebrate though! Maybe go on a nice long walk.
What's your version of a "Golden State of Mind"?
The thing i love about living here most is the open air.. which I know is kind of funny because for the pollution and such. I feel really fortunate coming back from a lot of travel and a lot of road and wear-and-tear and being able to outside and in the elements. LA is the most amazing city to be in because it allows you such a great quick escape option. I mean it's 30-45 minutes to the mountains or the ocean or the desert. That keeps me in my state of mind.
Do you have a favorite place to write?
Not really. I like going up on my roof a lot. I bring a blanket and my guitar up there. I write a lot in my apartment. My apartment gets a lot of really great light and it faces west, so I can see the sunset from there which is amazing thing - those LA sunsets. There's also something so amazing about the sunset evening light out there than other cities.
What keeps you inspired?
A little bit of everything! It changes. It's never the same and it never stops surprising me.
Favorite Brunch spot?
I've been really into Sqirl recently. That's a great place.
If you could have a perfect Saturday, what would it include?
Well, I can't usually sleep past 8-9 o'clock. I love going for nice long runs so that would probably be the first thing I would do. I like to try and get lost a bit, which is getting harder since I've been here for a little bit, but it still happens. I would want to surrender expectations and ideas and plans and be whisked away. Maybe camping? That'd be a pretty perfect Saturday. I still haven't done a bonfire on the beach - that's definitely on the checklist.
What was it like to have a song on ABC's hit show, "Nashville"?
I don't have a TV (haha) ! I found out in kind of a round-about way. My friend Sarah Siskin, who I wrote the song with, told me that it was on the show and I kind-of had to YouTube it to watch it. The thing I loved the most was that the characters do a "Writers in the Round" type thing - and Connie Britton, who is my famous TV Mom crush, and Charles Esten, sang the song - I loved seeing them on the stage and introducing the song.
You have a new album out - and you just got back from touring for it - do you have a favorite song on it?
No. haha. You have to love the whole thing.
Do you have a preference playing festival type shows or smaller, more intimate settings?
I really love playing old theaters the most. They are just beautiful and haunted and all just sound super different. Those are my favorites.
Did you have a venue while you were on this last tour that stood out to you most?
Actually, the Tower Theatre downtown is a beautiful and old LA venue. I think we were sound-checking and a piece of the theatre fell down. Hahah - aside from that, there were a lot of beautiful rooms. I loved the Fillmore in San Francisco. And I love Schubas Tavern in Chicago and Mercy Lounge in Nashville is just like a family room.
Are you excited to play here at the Troubadour??
I love the Troubadour. My Dad used to play here!
If there was someone you could collaborate with, dead or alive? Who would it be?
That's so hard because I'm so afraid of meeting my heros haha! I wish I could be a fly on the wall when Bjork is writing something and doesn't know anyone else is there. I'd love to sing with Maynard of Tool. And I would love to drink a bottle of wine with Paula Abdul. We would giggle, I can tell.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lindsay Vacek has a passion for style, details and design. As a Fashion Editorial Photographer, she's worked in the Entertainment Industry for over 10 years and has a love for adventure and travel. She spends her spare time globe-trotting her way through foreign countries and loves new cultures, food, music and the arts.
Being a California Native, Lindsay loves meeting new people and sharing her version of life with others. With an infinite list of things-to-do, places-to-go and sights-to-see - she believe everyone can have a little more California in their own lives.
MEZCAL COCKTAILS WITH MUSIC ARTIST, LISSIE
With Halloween upon us, we can't wait to celebrate festivities all over the state and one we can't stop talking about is "Noche De Agave". The evenings festivities will begin at 7pm on Saturday, November 1, 2014. Starting wiith an Agave bar where patrons will be able to sample Lissie's signature Metl Mezcal and Reposado Tequila, each product has Lissie's stamp of approval.
With Halloween upon us, we can't wait to celebrate festivities all over the state and one event we can't stop talking about is "Noche De Agave".
The evenings festivities will begin at 7pm on Saturday, November 1, 2014. Starting wiith an Agave bar where patrons will be able to sample Lissie's signature Metl Mezcal and Reposado Tequila, each product has Lissie's stamp of approval. She even serenaded the in-fermentation barrels of Mezcal, so every sip is infused with a bit of her soul. The rest of the nights activities include Day of the Dead traditional face painting, flower crowns, artisan booths, traditional Mexican food and live music from Lissie and her band, George Stanford and Dan Wilcox will be DJing.
NOCHE DE AGAVE
November 1, 2014 at 7PM
At the Paramount
2708 Cesar Chavez Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90033
Tickets Available : HERE
Fans first fell in love with Lissie’s sun-and-tequila-soaked voice from her five-song EP Why You Runnin', produced by Bill Reynolds of Band of Horses. Lissie’s debut album, Catching a Tiger, co-produced by Reynolds and Jacquire King (Kings of Leon), earned Lissie a Q Awards nomination for Best Breakthrough Artist, the Best New Solo Artist nod by Paste Magazine and a coveted spot as a VH1 “You Oughta Know” artist. For her second full length, 2013’s Back to Forever Lissie teamed up with producer Garret "Jacknife" Lee (R.E.M., U2, Weezer, Snow Patrol, Silversun Pickups). Her music has seen numerous placements in Film and TV and her live performances and recordings have received praise from Rolling Stone, American Songwriter, Los Angeles Magazine, Relix Magazine, Under the Radar Magazine, Spin Magazine, Pitchfork and more. Videos of songs from Lissie’s two cover EP’s, 2011’s Covered Up With Flowers and this year’s Cryin’ To You, have collectively racked up over 15 million views on YouTube.
The evening’s festivities will be hosted at the Paramount, located in the heart of the Boyle Heights community. The building, previously known as the Paramount Ballroom was designed and built in 1924 by Los Angeles architect Gregory R. Evans. The building’s history is deeply rooted in association with Jewish social and cultural history of Los Angeles. Since it’s inception in 1925, the venue has hosted thousands of musical performances. Just this year, the Paramount completed a major renovation into a state of the art all-ages event space, including a full restaurant and bar with multiple floor configurations.
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We wanted to give you something a little extra to get you excited for the event, so we were able to chat with Lissie and she gave us her favorite Mezcal Inspired cocktails.
In theory a high quality, 100% agave tequila or a pure mezcal should be sipped and savored straight but there's a few ways I like to dress them up.. - Lissie
We can't wait to check it out for ourselves, will you be there? If so, make sure to share by using #estcalifornia.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lindsay Vacek has a passion for style, details and design. As a Fashion Editorial Photographer, she's worked in the Entertainment Industry for over 10 years and has a love for adventure and travel. She spends her spare time globe-trotting her way through foreign countries and loves new cultures, food, music and the arts.
Being a California Native, Lindsay loves meeting new people and sharing her version of life with others. With an infinite list of things-to-do, places-to-go and sights-to-see - she believe everyone can have a little more California in their own lives.
Catching Up with Australian Indie Rock Band, Boy & Bear, at the Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles, CA (Video)
Are you in a music rut? You know.. when you have played out every band you've been vibin' the last couple weeks, the radio seems to be constantly on repeat and you wish that you could discover something new to stimulate your musical eardrums? Well, you're in luck because I have just the band for you: Boy & Bear.
Are you in a music rut? You know.. when you have played out every band you've been vibin' the last couple weeks, the radio seems to be constantly on repeat and you wish that you could discover something new to stimulate your musical eardrums? Well, you're in luck because I have just the band for you: Boy & Bear.
I've been following these Aussie native's for quite some time and they do not disappoint. Their classic indie-rock-meets-Americana sound is ever-evolving.. paired with heartfelt vocals and a genuinely solid group of guys, you can't go wrong.
Formed in 2009, the band consists of David Hosking (vocals and guitar), Killian Gavin (vocals and guitar), Timothy Hart (drums and vocals), Jonathan Hart (vocals, banjo, mandolin and keyboards) and David Symes (bass). The band has released two albums, Moonfire (August 2011) and Harlequin Dream, (August 2013) both reaching the top ten of the Australian album charts.
Currently, the band is on their third lap (this year!) around the globe and kicked off their most recent tour in Los Angeles at the Fonda Theatre (Don't worry - If you missed it, they are playing in San Francisco November 1st!).
We were able to catch up with Killian Gavin and Dave Symes before the show (after the guys took a quick walk around the bustling Hollywood streets, grabbing snacks at a nearby Trader Joe's). Take a peek at our video & interview below.
Want More? YOU CAN READ THE WHOLE INTERVIEW BELOW:
Welcome to California!
D & K: Thanks! We’re happy to be here.
So it’s been a year since you released Harlequin Dreams. How has this last year been for you?
K: It’s been pretty far out – We left, literally, about a year ago to start touring and this is our third lap of the globe right now. It’s been long, it’s been fun and it’s been great. It’s been so awesome to travel through here and Americas and all over Europe to play shows. We've been busy! It’s sorta like a blink and then you blink again and it’s a year later.
Are you guys looking forward to going home after this tour wraps up?
D: Ya, sorta – but it’s exciting to be here. We just arrived again [to the States] yesterday - and before that we were just touring all around Australia for a whole month, so we were able to go home. It’s great to have a change of scenery and actually be back to America.
This is your third time back to the States, right?
D&K: This year. Yea. [laughing]
That sounds exhausting [laughs]. Well, I know when you are playing for crowds, the energy is different from place to place. Is there a place that sticks out to you more than another?
K: I hate to give some credit to your North American friends up in Canada but they are a great audience. They’ve been really supportive – not that America is not by any means – but they are a particularly, different kind of crowd. They are in their own little category of "Happiness". I don’t know what it is.
Do you prefer playing festivals or more intimate settings?
D: I think the difference is good for us, as a band. I think we have a show that actually suits theatres and more intimate gigs but it's also really great at festivals. We really enjoy the variety and I think it’s important for us to play both of them.
Well, seeing this is your third lap around the world - what are some of your favorite venues that you’ve played?
K: Well, I’m biased being a Sydney boy and because I grew up in Sydney. There’s a particular room called the Enmore Theater – which is the kind of a venue that I went and saw all my favorite bands growing up. We’ve played it four or five times now and it was always my goal in life to play there so I’m stoked to have been able to tick that box off the bucket list. Other than that, what was really cool, although a smaller venue here, the Troubadour. It’s a really cool room with the sorta of U-shaped crowd and there is so much history there. [Dave agreeing]. Another one we love is the Paradiso in Amsterdam. It’s pretty famous and really old and cool. I think it’s an old church actually.
Do you have a favorite song off the new album?
D: I think it changes for me. I think in terms of playing live – we allow our songs to keep growing so I have different favorites all the time but I really like the song called “Stranger.”
K: "Old Time Blues." Although, all year I’ve been saying “Real Estate” and I think it’s just finally switched.
How about on the first album, Moonfire?
D: I like "Big Man", personally.
K: "Part-time Believer."
Do you have a favorite place you like to write?
K: It’s sort of an odd process. The writing, we don’t really do on the road. I know Dave (the other Dave) he’s always coming up with some ideas and little melodies but hardly a complete idea. When we finish touring, we’ll get together as a band and hire a house for a couple days and try to start the process. Try to get into a different headspace. Also, on tour, you don’t really get your instruments with you often. It’s always with the crew and the venue and traveling around to it’s definitely a different process, different world – so when we finish touring, we’ll start that again.
D: The last time we did that, we hired a house about an hour an a half north of Sydney, near the beach up there, and just played all day. We'd go for a swim in the morning, cooked a big dinner at night. I think for us, just being all together, food, a bit of exercise – it’s always really helps our writing.
K: Ya, getting out of your own space – getting out into the sticks or the beach – is really helpful for our productivity. It just goes through the roof and we have so many more ideas. Opposed to being in a rehearsal studio somewhere – that usually has a boring, bad vibe – it’s not very inspiring, by any means. I feel like if we put in the time to go somewhere and set up a nice place – it’s good for us. That’s how we did the first and second record.
I think I could find some inspiration off a beach in Australia!
K: Absolutely
D: It’s not a bad place to end up. We’re very lucky.
I always hear about the surfing there.
K: Love Surfing.
D: Oh yeah. Big surfing culture there. Me – very basically – but I always love to get into the water.
Have you guys tried surfing here yet? In California?
D: We got a swim in yesterday! We didn’t surf, but we went down to Santa Monica and jumped in. It was really refreshing.
K: Yea, it was beautiful. I haven’t surfed ever in America though. I tend to go over to Bali a lot (in Indonesia) – there’s some really great surfing there.
Do you guys ever get sick of each other?
K: Never. [laughs] Sort of.
D: We’re pretty good actually, considering we spend so much time together. I think everyone really understands each other’s space and what they need – but we do a lot together. We all hang out eating, going around and seeing space. We’re a pretty good group of guys.
K: It’ll be about a year and a half on the road by the time we finish, you gotta be able to get along to make that happen.
Have any advise on how you stay balanced while you are touring?
D: I’m not sure if there is one piece of advice. I think it changes all the time and it’s different for everybody but I think as long as you are enjoying what you do and you keep yourself inspired to make your life better and better – then you’ll be happy in your career which makes dealing with your personal life that much easier.
K: It’s definitely difficult. But we put a lot of effort into exercising, even if we don’t quite look like it, we try. Going for a run, or anything like that, definitely does help to keep your head sane. It helps you manage everything else when you are feeling good about life. There is definitely a learning curve and you are always learning how to do it better. And sometimes, what works one day, might not work another. But we’ve had about six years now of practicing and trying and we’re in a pretty good place.
Where do you find your inspiration?
D: Musically, there are lots of things out there. Lots of music and stuff from many decades ago – there are so many things to check out on the internet. I, personally, really love seeing other bands play around the world. It gives me an amazing amount of inspiration. Apart from that, I think trying to get out and see some of the cities we are at. I always feel better when I get out and can walk around and take in the culture.
I know you guys just came back from Trader Joe’s (before we met up) – what’d you buy?
D: We bought some Vanilla Essence actually – extract is what you call it here. We’re going to clean the fridge because it’s our first day on the bus and it doesn’t smell that amazing. So we are gong to clean the fridge with a little vanilla extract. It’s the Aussie way of cleaning things.
We, at Established California, are all about the pursuit of a "Golden State of Mind". What does that mean to you?
D: It sounds like a great name for an album! [laughs] I think it’s about lifestyle – which is similar to the Australia lifestyle with health and swimming and good food.
K: I feel like “Kale” sums it up for me. Not to tease anyone about their city [laughs]
D: Kale and Quinoa.
K: and Goji Berries. I think that’s a big thing for LA – or at least that’s the stereotype.
Is that what the world thinks of us? [laughs]
K: Mediation, Tattoos, Yoga… Kale – that, for me, sums it up. To be honest though, Sydney’s pretty similar.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lindsay Vacek has a passion for style, details and design. As a Fashion Editorial Photographer, she's worked in the Entertainment Industry for over 10 years and has a love for adventure and travel. She spends her spare time globe-trotting her way through foreign countries and loves new cultures, food, music and the arts.
Being a California Native, Lindsay loves meeting new people and sharing her version of life with others. With an infinite list of things-to-do, places-to-go and sights-to-see - she believe everyone can have a little more California in their own lives.
The Gospel-Inspired, Blues-Infused Music of Irish Musician, Hozier
The 24-year-old Irish singer-songwriter Hozier (born Andrew Hozier-Bryne) has definitely caught my attention. His gospel-inspired music, paired with his unique and raspy vocals, instantly made me want more. And with his self-titled album "Hozier", I was able to get just that! What I didn't expect to discover was how deep and passionate his message for equality and love truely lies.
The 24-year-old Irish singer-songwriter Hozier (born Andrew Hozier-Bryne) definitely caught my attention recently. His gospel-inspired, blues-infused music, paired with his unique and raspy vocals, instantly made me want more. And with his self-titled album "Hozier", I was able to get just that! (Listen here on Spotify) What I didn't expect to discover was how deep and passionate his message for equality and love truely lies.
Last year, he released his video for, "Take Me to Church" and although the song (and album) have been released for quite some time now, his popularity is just now starting to steamroll it's way onto music-lovers' radars all over the States. Whether listeners realize it or not, the song sends a strong message about human rights as the video shows two men embracing, followed by brutal gay-bashing by masked vigilantes - all while the lyrics of "I was born sick, but I love it / command me to be well / Amen. Amen. Amen." played over the video.
In a recent interview with NY Mag's The Cut, Hozier explains a bit more about the meaning behind his "Take Me to Church" video:
"Well, it's about sex and it's about humanity, and obviously sex and humanity are incredibly tied. Sexuality, and sexual orientation — regardless of orientation — is just natural. An act of sex is one of the most human things. But an organization like the church, say, through its doctrine, would undermine humanity by successfully teaching shame about sexual orientation — that it is sinful, or that it offends God. The song is about asserting yourself and reclaiming your humanity through an act of love. Turning your back on the theoretical thing, something that's not tangible, and choosing to worship or love something that is tangible and real — something that can be experienced.
But it's not an attack on faith. Coming from Ireland, obviously, there's a bit of a cultural hangover from the influence of the church. You've got a lot of people walking around with a heavy weight in their hearts and a disappointment, and that shit carries from generation to generation. So the song is just about that — it's an assertion of self, reclaiming humanity back for something that is the most natural and worthwhile. Electing, in this case a female, to choose a love who is worth loving."
Images by Dara Munnis.
Hozier is currently on tour and I just happen to have tickets to his show, TONIGHT (October 16, 2014) at The Cathedral Sanctuary at Immanuel Presbyterian in Los Angeles, CA. I, for one, can't wait to hear this controversial song in a real church (and maybe swoon a bit over his sexy, untamed hair.)
What do you think about this song? Let us know in the comments below
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lindsay Vacek has a passion for style, details and design. As a Fashion Editorial Photographer, she's worked in the Entertainment Industry for over 10 years and has a love for adventure and travel. She spends her spare time globe-trotting her way through foreign countries and loves new cultures, food, music and the arts.
Being a California Native, Lindsay loves meeting new people and sharing her version of life with others. With an infinite list of things-to-do, places-to-go and sights-to-see - she believe everyone can have a little more California in their own lives.
Singer & Songwriter, Cameron Ernst | Established Sessions (Video)
When we first met Cameron, he recently moved back to Los Angeles after spending six months traveling all over Australia - Established California sat down with this singer-songwriter to give you an exclusive performance of "Underneath This Sky".
Video shot and edited by Adam Johnson.
Sometimes people stumble into your life and you can't really understand why. When I first met Cameron, he recently moved back to Los Angeles after spending six months traveling all over Australia - hired by Virgin Australia, for a campaign called "The Best Jobs in the World" (read more about his experience here)
We got to chatting and Cameron mentioned he was off to play a show in Hollywood that evening and extended an invitation. I had other plans, so I politely declined - but we exchanged information and I promised to listen to his music. And listen i did. I loved his singer-songwriter sound and I knew I wanted to share him with you all. I was able to sit down with Cameron to discuss more about his music, what brought him to California and an exclusive performance of "Underneath this Sky" for Established California.
Tell Us A Little About Yourself! Where are you from? What brought you to California?
I'm a small town boy from Kansas. I left my roots upon graduating high school and went to college at USC to study theater and communication. After graduating as a Trojan, I moved to Dallas to live at home for a bit and pursue my music (my parents had moved while I was away at school). Now I'm back in good ol' sunny California!
Do you have any musicians or bands that have been a big influence for you as an artist?
In high school, I was really influenced by Aussie singer-songwriter Missy Higgins, and to this day, her music still inspires me. I've always loved The Fray as well. I'm really a fan of any singer-songwriter who writes and sings honestly from the heart. It's my goal right now to dig back and listen to some older singer-songwriters and see how that influences my music.
Where’s your ideal place to write music?
Well, I grew up writing on my piano at my parents house, and pretty much all of my songs until recently have been written there. That piano room definitely feels like home to me. Although, now that I'm living out here, I'm curious to explore some other good places to write. If I could take a piano to the beach, that might be the perfect spot.
If you could tour with any musician (dead or alive) who would you want to tour with?
Coldplay puts on some pretty epic shows, and I can only imagine what it would be like to be on that tour. Although I'd love to jump on with some more indie acts like Missy or The Lumineers.
How was it having the “Best Job in the World?”
Landing The Best Job in the World with Virgin Australia still feels like a dream. My life was unbelievable insanity for six months straight in the land down under. I flew on around 55 flights to over 40 different cities and saw many parts of the country that even Australians haven't seen. I went skydiving, swam with sea lions, camped in the outback, rode camels along the beach...it was all pretty magical, and I'm so thankful to have gotten the once in a lifetime opportunity to experience it. Definitely something I'll be sharing with my grandkids someday.
If you could do it again, where would you want to travel to?
It's pretty difficult to top Australia, but I think if I could do another crazy trip, I would travel to the top 50 beaches in the world (including the resorts on them -- ha, why not?). Sounds like a pretty tough job to me.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lindsay Vacek has a passion for style, details and design. As a Fashion Editorial Photographer, she's worked in the Entertainment Industry for over 10 years and has a love for adventure and travel. She spends her spare time globe-trotting her way through foreign countries and loves new cultures, food, music and the arts.
Being a California Native, Lindsay loves meeting new people and sharing her version of life with others. With an infinite list of things-to-do, places-to-go and sights-to-see - she believe everyone can have a little more California in their own lives.
Keep Your Head Up with Singer/Songwriter and Surfer, Ben Howard
I still remember the first time I ever heard Ben Howard. One of my best friends [and fellow music and food junkie - Hi Adam!] frequently trades with me new music over Spotify. Anytime we stumble upon something new, we always hit the "Share" button
I still remember the first time I ever heard Ben Howard. One of my best friends [and fellow music and food junkie - Hi Adam!] frequently trades new music with me over Spotify. Anytime we stumble upon something new, we always hit the "Share" button - because that's what you are suppose to do, right? Sharing is caring. Ha!
It was the beginning of 2012, Ben Howard had just completed his first album, Every Kingdom - and Adam sends me a song titled, "Keep Your Head Up". Instantly, I was hooked.
“Keep your head up, keep your heart strong.
Keep your mind set, keep you hair long.
Keep your mind set in your ways,
Keep your heart strong.
’Cause I’ll always remember you the same.
Oh eyes like wild flowers within demons of change””
This song struck a chord with me. It instantly reminded me to stay strong, keep moving, embrace change but stick to your guns. I still play it in moments that I'm feeling down and it always helps me to put things into perspective. That's the great thing about music too - we can all take away what we need from it.
I've talked previously about musicians who play percussion with their guitars (We featured the Los Angeles singer-songwriter, Lisa Haagen, this month who caught my ear with her guitar percussion while I was walking down Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica). Percussion Guitar is when you hit and slap different areas of your guitar and strings to make fun and unique sounds. I absolutely adore it and Ben Howard is the reason why.
Video via Amoeba Music
The 27 year old from South Devon, England developed a passion for acoustic folk songs from his mother's records collection (which included folk musicians Joni Mitchell, Richie Havens and Donovan). When he wasn't playing music, Howard developed a love for surfing and spent most of his time at the beach. When going to school for Journalism, in Newquay (the surf capital in the UK), he ended up dropping out of school six months shy of graduation to pursue music. The surf community pushed him and believed in him to follow his passion for music and he has since really flourished init. He released his first full-length album in August 2011 and he is scheduled to release his second album on October 20, 2014, titled "I Forget Where We Were."
The first single off the album is scheduled to be released tomorrow, September 9th.
Ben Howard is listed on our September playlist this month. Be sure to check it out here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lindsay Vacek has a passion for style, details and design. As a Fashion Editorial Photographer, she's worked in the Entertainment Industry for over 10 years and has a love for adventure and travel. She spends her spare time globe-trotting her way through foreign countries and loves new cultures, food, music and the arts.
Being a California Native, Lindsay loves meeting new people and sharing her version of life with others. With an infinite list of things-to-do, places-to-go and sights-to-see - she believe everyone can have a little more California in their own lives.
EST. SESSIONS: Singer & Songwriter, Lisa Haagen
It was a beautiful Sunday night in May when I had just walked out of a movie theater located on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica- Enter musician Lisa Haagan. Click through for a special performance by Lisa! You can thank us later!
It was a beautiful Sunday night in May when I had just walked out of a movie theater located on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. Third Street is home to many different shops and restaurants but more frequently, I’ve been seeing musicians gather there to busk and play their preferred instruments. Growing up in Los Angeles, I’ve been to Third Street many times and usually walked by and laughed at the strange performance artists that perform on the busy street – anything from K-Pop Break Dancers to 60-year-old Opera singers. It was never a place in my mind to discover musicians. Well, until this night.
As i continued to walk to my car, I heard a young female vocalist with a full sounding acoustic guitar. She had just finished her song and I paused in the street because I wanted to hear her next song. She began to sing and I thought to myself, “Wow, she has a great sound.” but then continued to walk to my car. Until I heard her begin the chorus.
Few people practice and play percussion with their guitars. It’s a fun way of using the body and strings of the guitar as a percussion instrument as you tap and hit the guitar in different places creating fun and new sounds. Whenever I hear it, I get really excited and this young female musician was killing it on the streets of Santa Monica.
I turned around and listened to her finish her song and took down her information. I had to talk with her and share her music with you all. Enjoy!
Video Shot and Edited by Adam Johnson
I had a chance to sit down with Lisa Haagen and talk a little more with her and her story. Here’s what she had to say:
Why California? What about this state drew you to it?
The draw was all very much interlaced with my decision to pursue music as a career. There was a couple of layers to the decision to move to California, but the core of it was that I have always been a really content person- I loved my home town and never felt any need to leave. Santa Monica however worked it’s way into my mind and the persistence of it stuck with me and I thought I should listen to that. I had been to California a number of times in my youth, but I had never spent a significant amount of time here.
Do you have any musicians or bands that have been a big influence for you as an artist?
I grew up listening to a really broad range of music, and I think that the spectrum had more of an effect than any specific artist on my style. I always was drawn to lyrics, and really love artists that can be silly and serious at the same time- like Regina Spektor and Ingrid Michaelson. The thing that got me started writing however was definitely the people I was around…the everyday life of those close to me. Even now they are who I look to for inspiration.
What was the first instrument you learned to play? How old were you? Do you have a favorite?
This answer gets complicated. I started piano lessons when I was 3, drum lessons at 4, and guitar lessons at 5. At the time, I was much more interested in sports so I definitely didn’t take full advantage of the cool opportunity that it was. My siblings were much better at capitalizing on it at the time. Even though the technical aspects didn’t stick I do think it helped me develop a good ear for music. When band started in school I transitioned to the bass guitar and continued to play the drumset for jazz band through the end of high school. When I was 17 I brought an electric guitar with me to college with the intent to learn it, and found myself being completely sucked in by songwriting. One of my buddies had an acoustic guitar that they lent me for a while and that marked the point where I got really into it. I was messing around on the piano a bit during that time frame as well, and have recently started writing a little more evenly across the two. I can’t say I prefer one- guitar has definitely had the biggest effect on my songwriting, especially as I’m getting more into the percussive styling. I’ve really enjoyed getting a chance to continue with all of them in arranging my songs, but playing live with a band I tend to stick with the acoustic guitar and have other musicians play the additional parts with me. Because of that, I really love playing with other musicians as well because I get a chance to jump on the other instruments live. For instance, I am about to do a west coast tour with another singer-songwriter and we are providing backing support for each-others sets- in this case I get to play percussion and I’m really looking forward to it.
If you could tour with any musician (dead or alive) who would you want to tour with?
Oy. Ben Howard, Andrew McMahon, Mat Kearney, Sara Barielles, Brandi Carlile…… there are so many!
What kind of advice would you give to other musicians that want to come to California to pursue their dreams?
I don’t know that my advice is specific to California – but I think I’d just say wherever you are at, try to play in front of people as often as possible. It helps you hone your craft – live audiences help you figure out what works and what doesn’t. Failure is a huge part of artist growth. You can’t be afraid of it – now is the time to get that all out before anyone knows who you are. Playing live often also lets you form a lot of good connections. One of the best things you can do is be around other musicians because those are people that you can learn from and also the people you will be building shows with.
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You can also check out her new album, With Honey available on iTunes.
Do you know or are you a musician or band we should know about? Contact us! We would love to hear from you.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lindsay Vacek has a passion for style, details and design. As a Fashion Editorial Photographer, she's worked in the Entertainment Industry for over 10 years and has a love for adventure and travel. She spends her spare time globe-trotting her way through foreign countries and loves new cultures, food, music, and arts.
Being a California Native, Lindsay loves meeting new people and sharing her version of life with others. With an infinite list of things-to-do, places to go and sights to see - she believe everyone can have a little more California in their own lives.
FOLLOW HER ON: INSTAGRAM / TWITTER / PINTEREST
