THE PLUNGE: youbloom | HEADROOM #13 with Featured Artists from the youbloomLA 2015 Music Festival

09-Dec-2015 By Shannon Duvall

Take the plunge: Learn that instrument. Take the plunge: Head for the city. Take the plunge: Form a band. Record your songs. Go on tour.

All first steps are leaps into a vast, deep unknown.

From the moment you hold out your hand to introduce yourself to someone new…to the first note you utter onstage at your first show…to the time you decide that there’s no turning back and take that turnoff in hot pursuit of the career of your dreams.

The last installment of HEADROOM LA 2015 is dedicated to those ballsy times; the ones where anxiety and uncertainty have you backed up against the edge of passing out or puking, but you steel yourself, clear your thoughts, and go hell-for-leather anyway.

Because deep down you know there’s no other way. Despite the mistakes, the screw ups, the impulsive decisions: you took the plunge, now you own it.

The coolest part about all this? You make friends.

A little psychological phenomenon known as The Pratfall Effect sees to this; simply put, people like you more when you’re willing to show you’re not perfect. And as you know, there’s no better place to show the world how not perfect you are than in your very first band.

So we asked four of the artists playing this weekend’s youbloomLA2015 Music Festival, in Pasadena, to let us in on the awkward details of the first bands they were ever in. We’ve even made a special playlist just for the occasion.

Take the plunge: press play, read on, and make some new friends.

Danielle (lead vox, Aigua), THE PLUNGE: “I tried to form a band in 8th grade, but it didn’t last very long. I can remember sitting in my living room, everyone barely knowing how to play their instrument, and me discussing that my best friend was going to manage us…it’s all pretty funny looking back. I forget what our name was but I think it had something to do with bow-ties.”

A Turkish-Brazilian duo with a new twist on latin sounds firmly in their cross hairs, Aigua deliver sweet, sparse melodies in their signature laid-back way. Expect a set that will refresh your ears after a long day of gig-hopping. Beautiful work. For fans of: Sufjan Stevens, Maia, Rodrigo y Gabriela

Julián (lead vox/guitar, RendeR), THE PLUNGE: “My first band was called Sick Town Bastards. I was 11 or 12. We played cover songs from Faith No More, Papa Roach, System of a Down, Pearl Jam and others. The first time we played was in a talent contest at school. We were the best band, even though we were the babies. The music teacher took me (under his wing) from then on. I’m very grateful, because that small band made me take big steps: playing with older schoolmates in Aghast, recording my first songs in the studio, playing music venues in Valparaiso (a Chilean port town; beautiful but dangerous) with fake IDs, using being in a band as a chick magnet technique, or getting into trouble.”

All the way from Chile, with commercial sensibility coming out of their eyeballs, RendeR are polished, tight, and they know their genre like nobody’s business. Headbangers welcome. For fans of: Frequency 54, Underwhelmed, Staind

Carolina Plaza (composer/vox, Carito Plaza), THE PLUNGE: “My first band was call FunkReal. It was a Chilean G-Funk band, and actually, we were pretty good! I’m talking about the year 2000; we got some of our videos on MTV, and we played in big festivals such as Rock Al Parque (the biggest festival in Colombia). Good times, good memories.”

Jazzy and sensual R&B is given the latin treatment in the hands of the very talented Carolina (“carito” means little Carolina) Plaza. A capable collaborator, but strong enough to stand alone, the music is danceable, infectious, and smooth. For fans of: Aaliyah, India.Arie, a one woman TLC

Cooper, (bass & vox, Ultra Violent Rays), THE PLUNGE: “My first band was a punk three-piece called Bang Sugar Bang. We sucked when we started. I remember I was a ball of nerves before our first show because I really couldn’t play bass and I could barely sing. My bandmate was much more experienced than me. He could tell I was freaking out. He took me aside and said, “It doesn’t matter if you can’t play or sing. Rock ‘n’ roll is 99% attitude.” I got through that show on attitude alone. By the end of our seven years together we were a great band.”

Is this the noirest electro you can find? The Ultra Violent Rays aren’t exactly violent, but they do craft a masterful, cold sultry sound that promises something hot-blooded despite evoking a kind of endless chill. Lovingly produced, carefully communicated electro-class for the space rogue in all of us. For fans of: Joy Division, Gary Numan, Patti Smith

Artists featured will be performing this weekend THU-FRI-SAT 10.11.12 at the youbloomLA 2015 Music Festival, in northeast Los Angeles. There are three different venues, fresh giveaways, a photo contest, and more. Check out the lineup and come on down tomorrow to meet your new friends.

MY FIRST TIME: youbloom | HEADROOM #12 with Featured Artists from the youbloomLA 2015 Music Festival

08-Dec-2015 By Shannon Duvall

The last installment of HEADROOM for the youbloomLA 2015 Music Festival goes live tomorrow. The very next day, we clean the rust off our dancing shoes (and dance moves) and make tracks for northeast Los Angeles, where three of Pasadena’s finest bars will host over fifty of the choicest independent bands and solo artists in the world.

They’re coming from Chile. Ireland. Haiti. Hell, there’s even a Canuck in the mix, along with homegrown sounds from states far and wide.

Here at youbloomHQ, it’s regrettable to see the end of what has turned out to be a lively, illuminating outing on a kind of heavy metal hay wagon with bockety wheels and a passed out driver. HEADROOM is a unique space where artists who will be sharing stages also get to share stories about the one thing bringing you all together: sweet, sweet tacos.

Wait, what?

It’s not tacos??

Well, what on earth could possibly…can somebody get our source on the line?

I swear, one of these days…OH. Right. Riiight. It’s music. I knew that, think I was just hungry. Can somebody get a taco delivery on the line?

On the reals, though, it’s been dope. Much obliged to all the artists who participated in this digital confession box. (I mean, if you hadn’t, we’d have bugged your phones and gossiped about you anyway, but high five! You saved us an absolute fortune and raised eyebrows from the guy at the electronics store. So it’s win-win!)

This batch of performers have some pretty insightful things to say about the first time music made an impression on their tiny spongey minds – including one guy getting smothered in the name of soul (hint: it’s about boobies). Way to take one for the team, brother.

We’ll leave you to your reading, friends, and thank you once again for making HEADROOM LA ’15 the most fun yet.

Don’t forget to stop by tomorrow for the final goss, give us the thumb of approval on our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and/or Soundcloud, and, of course, get on down to the fest. It starts Thursday. Don’t miss it or you’ll be eating your sweet sweet tacos alone. Take it from someone who knows.

Kevin Proctor (songwriter/keys/guitar, Direct Divide), MY FIRST TIME: “I grew up in a sports dominated family that loved football. Every Sunday, football would be on and when the afternoon games were over, my family would blast some classic rock and alt rock as we wound down the day. Although I didn’t begin playing an instrument until after high school, hard rock and alternative 90s rock were always a part of me.”

Razz: (songwriter/vox/violin, Direct Divide), MY FIRST TIME: “My parents sang to my brother and I every night from the time we were born until we were teenagers! My dad still laughs at the fact that “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” by the Beatles was one of my favorite songs.”

It’s a curious thing, the electric violin. At once impossible to ignore and signature (what would The Who’s “Baba O’Reilly” be without it?), it’s a rarity in rock and pop music; it’s full range of sounds as yet uncharted in the more well-known genres. Putting it front and center are what Direct Divide do, which is both brave and intriguing, their unique sound complemented by tight rhythms, searing vocals, and intelligently placed guitar melodies. For fans of: Lourds, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, Andrew Bird’s darker stuff

Julian Schonscheck (guitar/keys, DENMANTAU), MY FIRST TIME: “I remember (doing) a tennis exchange with families in France. My family and I lived with a French family for a week. In the evenings when we finished playing tennis a few of our hosts took out their acoustic guitars and played wonderful cover songs; I was very fascinated by it. It was the first time I experienced live music and it was like magic for me. I immediately knew that I wanted to play guitar too, but my hands were still way too small at just six years old or so. It took me around three more years to really start playing the guitar and I’ve never stopped.”

They arrived in Los Angeles on a mission: to be the biggest band in the world. German born and bred, they’ve honed their chops and are stopping at nothing to share their tight, bohemian, insanely danceable music with every pair of ears from here to the moon. Set to be a highlight show at youbloom LA, you really need to see these guys. For fans of: the good Pearl Jam stuff, Jack Penate, Paolo Nutini

Anwar (guitar, Feli and the LemonShakers) MY FIRST TIME: “I remember going on fishing trips with my dad when I was about four or five years old. He would always be playing some Jimi Hendrix and old school R&B. It wasn’t until around 14 that I actually began playing guitar. After seeing one of my friends’ cousins play, I was hooked.”

They sound like sunshine and cocktails, and have no shortage of musical chops, with caressing vocals, dreamy pop guitar melodies, and infectious, hip shaking rhythms. Even the empty spaces have style. One to watch. For fans of: Goodbye Chanel, Bombay Bicycle Club, Blondie

Robert Blue Moon (poet/emcee/other vox, Crvscxnt Moon), MY FIRST TIME: “When I was young I heard The Fugees “Ready or Not”. (It) made a huge impression on me; by far it’s the song that drove me towards music the most. It had such a groove to it; I couldn’t help but try and learn the words so I could sing and rap along with it. A few years later two songs hit it out of the park for me: Jay-Z’s “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)” and Nas’ “I Can”. These two hip-hop artists showed the world that they were here to stay.”

Whip smart and acerbic, yet feel-good and uplifting, this is a group with cunning musical abilities and a tangible desire to venture beyond the well-tread environs of intellectual hip-hop. Crvscxnt Moon blend soul and gospel into a refreshing helping of music with something to discuss. For fans of: J. Cole, Blackalicious, Mr. Lif

BJ Smith (singer, composer, soul man), MY FIRST TIME: “When I was about four years old I went to a private school. I had a preschool teacher who used to play the piano and sing to us. She was a red-haired, well-built woman (I wasn’t aware of that kind of thing at the time, but I do recall every time she would hug me after I sang while she was seated at the piano, her large breasts darn near smothered me!) She used take me to convalescent hospitals, churches and other functions to sing. I remember (the) first big song she taught me: “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands”. I remember how happy these elderly people were to be entertained by a cute little boy with a voice and a big smile.”

Cool, clever, and impassioned, the masterly BJ Smith has the kind of industry chops you hear whispered about across the bartop when he walks into the room. He produces. He sings and plays. He writes songs. He tours with top brass; picks his own band members; slides an R&B song your way like passing a love note. He’s impeccable. Don’t miss him. For fans of: Luther Vandross, Freddie Jackson, your own heartbeat

MY FIRST TIME: youbloom | HEADROOM #11 with Featured Artists from the youbloomLA 2015 Music Festival

07-Dec-2015 By Shannon Duvall

“These are the songs…
these are my heart songs
they never feel wrong

and when I wake for goodness sake…
these are the songs I keep singing.”

– Heart Songs by Weezer

Milan Carl (drums, DENMANTAU), MY FIRST TIME: “I had my first experience with music when I was able to think. I listened to a lot of music with my parents and a guy who lived in the neighborhood. My older sister started with the piano and my little sister and I followed. I was six and couldn’t resist. Just one year earlier I had joined my sister’s piano teacher’s classical choir in a church. At 10 I got my first drum kit and lessons. After that I stopped playing piano and became obsessed with drums and rhythm. I loved drums but I was missing melody so I bought myself a saxophone at 23.”

Maddie (vocals, Polaris Rose), MY FIRST TIME: “(My) first memory of music is sitting in the backseat while my dad drove across Japan. He passionately introduced me to Meatloaf’s Bat out of Hell II. Soon (we) were singing the duets together. (Peter: “She still has bad taste in music to this day.”)”

Instantly friendly and infectious, with precise vocal harmonies, and an uncanny understanding of what makes a hook do its best work. (Seriously, how did you write those??) At times epic, other times unexpected, the group have alt-pop sensibility coming out of their ears, and they gel so well it’s hard to imagine they’ve only been on the scene two years. For fans of: 90’s stuff, Elvis Costello, The Black Keys

Rob Nakai (guitar/kick drum/vox, Quietly Kept), MY FIRST TIME: “The first real time I remember music moving me and getting me excited was listening to Richie Valens and Chuck Berry. Rock ‘n’ roll! I was probably seven or eight and a cardboard tube was my guitar as I jumped around playing along to the soundtrack of 1950s youth movement. It was about six years before I felt that feeling again when I got into punk rock.”

Calah Mae (vox/tambourine, Quietly Kept), MY FIRST TIME: “I actually grew up on a small farm in Wisconsin listening to only country!! Crazy, I know, but I used to be in the barn, mucking stalls and I would just be singing my heart out. My dad used to take me to karaoke nights at bars so that I could sing; I guess maybe I always knew that music would find me…some way.”

It must be that independent New Mexican streak running through the music like an unidentifiable fascination that keeps you hooked. Managing somehow to blend punk stylings with introspective acoustic americana and the clear, sweet vocals of pop, the duo behind Quietly Kept aren’t about to be put into a box and labeled; instead, they’re turning heads and winning fans everywhere they go. We can’t wait to have them in LA. For fans of: Blackbird Raum, Brook Pridemore, Lynched

Matthew Irwin (rhythm guitar/lead vox, Foreign Affairs NI), MY FIRST TIME: “I’ve always grown up with music. It’s hard to pinpoint an exact moment where I thought, ‘this is the most amazing thing’. My mum and dad always listened to music and I partook in that, too, but the big turning point was when I came home from a scuba diving lesson and Green Day American Idiot was there waiting for me. It changed my life; it’s the first album that made me want to be a musician. I got my first guitar that Christmas and it all went from there!”

An ardent, sincere take on a well-loved genre. Sounds are clean and tight. There’s energy and storytelling in spades. Foreign Affairs NI show up with their hearts on their sleeves, ready to sleep on your kitchen floor if you’ll let them play a gig. This is how the best pop punk should be. For fans of: The Ataris, You Know The Drill, The Get Up Kids

The second annual youbloomLA Music Festival & Conference is happening this weekend in northeast Los Angeles THU-FRI-SAT 10.11.12. We’ve got over 50 independent acts and a host of top drawer industry insight. Shall we make it a date?

#youbloomLA2015

THE PLUNGE X DOUBLE TROUBLE: youbloom | HEADROOM #8 with Featured Artists from the Los Angeles 2015 Music Festival

23-Nov-2015 By Shannon Duvall

There are some good quotes out there about doing things by twos.

“Two heads are better than one.” “There are two sides to every story.” “Take two for a better chew.”

Whichever way you do your sums, there can be no doubt that everything really is better with a friend. Especially true of first experiences. So we asked two members each from two different bands featured in the fast-approaching youbloom Los Angeles 2015 Music Festival & Conference to share with us their, well, side of the coin when it comes to reminiscing about that mack daddy of first experiences: the first band.

And just for fun, we’ve also got two solo artists to share their stories about the time they took the plunge.

It all adds up to double trouble.

Paul Weber ( Lead vocal / Trumpet / Percussion, DENMANTAU): “My first band is still the same one we founded 12 years ago called DENMANTAU. We (got together in) high school and have stayed together ever since. After graduation we went to Australia and New Zealand to discover busking, which quickly became our means of living. That enabled us to travel the whole world as I always have dreamed of. After touring two times in California we decided to move to the US, and have lived in Los Angeles over a year now.”

Julian Schonscheck (guitar/keys, DENMANTAU): “The first band I was ever in is still the same that I play in today, over 12 years later: DENMANTAU. We have quite a (history) behind us already. We started as school band, traveled half the world, played countless shows and street performances, and made the step to move from Hamburg, Germany to Los Angeles together, living off nothing but love and music. I feel so blessed to be in a group of friends that is so talented, loving and understanding. We live our lives so close together that this is not just a band anymore, it is family.”

Robert Blue Moon(poet/emcee/other vox, Crvscxnt Moon): “The first band or collective I can say I was a part of was (called) Cream of the Block. It included me, my current band members Menlo and Kwazar, and a producer of ours named Chris Felix (of Cloudy River Music). We were young, talented and naïve we knew nothing close to what we know now, but we tried our hardest to make a movement via Myspace. Now that I look back on it, those were fun and easy times, but I am so happy that we have grown since then.”

Menlo Black(vox/raps/guitar/piano, Crvscxnt Moon): “My first music group formed in the halls of my middle school. P$C was created by a gang of T.I.-influenced southern kids. Although our run only lasted until winter break, we filled our lunch room with breakbeats built with table tops and Bic pens.”

Felice LaZae, singer/songwriter: “I’m a solo artist, but I always perform with a band so I guess my answer to this would be when I first started performing with my own full band live at a public venue (excluding school performances in high school and college). The first time I performed with my own full band was a few years ago at El Cid in Los Angeles. It was my first big show in LA. I remember I had been sick the week before and had to go on vocal rest so I couldn’t sing during our rehearsal. I mouthed all of the words while the band played without me. It was the oddest rehearsal, but by the night of the show, I was ready to go and it went great. I loved it so much and I’ve been gigging ever since.”

Joining the ranks of powerhouse women in the music industry – the kind who know exactly what weapons they wield in the form of vocal might, presence, and prowess – comes Felice LaZae, a blaze of a thing; confident, sharp as nails, and already racing her way to the top. Which is right where she belongs. For fans of: The Black Keys, Betty Davis, Imelda May

Shira Yevin (frontwoman, Shiragirl): “My first band was my own; it was just me and a DJ (back in the day before I had my whole punk rock band), (and) yeah, we were pretty bad. (The DJ) had never sung before, and I needed backup vocals, so I kind of just threw her out there on stage with me. It didn’t help that a lot of the first songs were pretty bad too. But hey, we were inspired, and we had the passion!”

Not one to mess with, Shiragirl’s been doing her own electropunk thing and making no apologies whatsoever for over a decade. Striking out on her own from an all-girl band to make music at once gritty and groovy, she’s all of the party and none of the prissy. Bring your best dance partner and get ready to rock. For fans of: Candy Hearts, a less trite Ke$ha, Natalia Kills

BEFORE I DIE: youbloom | HEADROOM #6: with Featured Artists from the Los Angeles 2015 Music Festival

16-Nov-2015 By Shannon Duvall

So you’ve gotten this unweildy aircraft of a music career off the ground, and you’re – stably enough – coasting on the thermal currents. You’ve dealt with turbulence, and maybe even a storm or two. Respect.

It take serious cojones to launch yourself into the puzzling, seductive atmosphere of rock ‘n’ roll. But the point is you’re here. Each time you step on stage, upload a new track, or even just show up to practice…you’re flying, man.

But have you ever stopped to ask yourself where to? Who’s in the cockpit of this thing, anyway? You went to all this trouble to get aloft, so pencil your destination into the logbook there and set your course.

Cooper (bass & vox, Ultra Violent Rays): Before I die I need to:

1| Tour Europe.

2| Record with Brian Eno and Chris Coady.

3| Hang out with David Bowie.

Mirror, mirror, on the wall: who’s the noirest of them all? The Ultra Violent Rays aren’t exactly violent, but they do craft a masterful, cold sultry sound that promises something hot-blooded despite being surrounded by a kind of endless chill. Lovingly produced, carefully communicated electro-class for the space rogue in all of us. For fans of: Joy Division, Gary Numan, Patti Smith

Kevin Proctor (songwriter/keys/guitar, Direct Divide):

1| Play a HUGE European music festival with my own music.

2| Learn as many different instruments as I can. It really is the best way to appreciate the people around you.

3| Release an EP or album every year of my own music for 20+ years.

Razz: (songwriter/vox/violin, Direct Divide): “I only have one musical goal: to make people recognize that electric violins belong in rock music.”

It’s a curious thing, the electric violin. At once impossible to ignore and signature (what would The Who’s “Baba O’Reilly” be without it?), it’s a rarity in rock and pop music; its full range of sounds as yet uncharted in the more well-known genres. Putting it front and center are what Direct Divide do, which is both brave and intriguing, their unique sound complemented by tight rhythms, searing vocals, and intelligently placed guitar melodies. For fans of: Lourds, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, Andrew Bird’s darker stuff

Stefan Pomplun (bass, DENMANTAU):

1| I definitely want to explore more musical genres with and without the band. A different formation like a big band or a solo project are things I want to be part of one day. I would love to be able to play genres like jazz, electro, or even classical music!

2| I would love to be part of forming a festival. It’s a thing friends of ours have talked about for years and it would be great if our musical contacts could make it possible to form our very own festival!

3| My band set the goal to be the first band on the moon. (The Cardigans don’t seem ambitious enough to pull through on that one, so we’re taking over!)

They arrived in Los Angeles on a mission: to be the biggest band in the world. German born and bred, they’ve honed their chops and are stopping at nothing to share their tightly-woven, bohemian, insanely danceable music with every pair of ears from here to the moon. Set to be a highlight show at youbloom LA, you really need to see these guys. For fans of: the good Pearl Jam stuff, Jack Penate, Paolo Nutini

Robert Blue Moon(poet/emcee/other vox, Crvscxnt Moon): This is a tough question, but I think from now on until I carry out these goals they will always be at the top of my list.

1| Some of my biggest musical goals would have to start off with becoming a master in all things music; I will not leave this world happy if I am unable to master the piano, guitar, saxophone, as well as producing, singing, writing – the whole nine yards. I want to reach such a high level of skill that I will be remembered when it is all said and done as the one who did it all. I feel that if I set the bar pretty high with my first one, I will do my best to follow up.

2| A close second would be to use my musical platform to attack the “norms” of this world. We have been lead to believe it is okay for so many things that frankly shouldn’t be at all, such as a mother (living) on the street with her children; families where the father or mother have to starve themselves so their children are able to eat…I want to use my musical platform to fix things to show people the dark side of the world and be the person who begins a movement for real change. So much music out there these days may uplift people, but if the artists themselves do not get in on the ground floor with the people who they are uplifting, then how can we as musicians expect to make true change?

3| This leads me into my next goal: music is about feelings and I want the people who listen to my music to feel as if they belong somewhere. We all want to feel loved and know that we matter, but above all, I believe people primarily want someone who understands them. If I can do that, well, by the end of my career I will be the happiest man alive.

THE PLUNGE: youbloom | HEADROOM #13 with Featured Artists from the youbloomLA 2015 Music Festival

MY FIRST TIME: youbloom | HEADROOM #12 with Featured Artists from the youbloomLA 2015 Music Festival

MY FIRST TIME: youbloom | HEADROOM #11 with Featured Artists from the youbloomLA 2015 Music Festival

THE PLUNGE X DOUBLE TROUBLE: youbloom | HEADROOM #8 with Featured Artists from the Los Angeles 2015 Music Festival

BEFORE I DIE: youbloom | HEADROOM #6: with Featured Artists from the Los Angeles 2015 Music Festival

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