I'm starting a website called TheAtomRack. com which is for the promotion of local and introduction of international artists. Show reviews, artist interviews, photos and archives are meant to serve both the fan and the performer/ artist.
WE are in need of a street teamers /artist photographers. If you are interested this blog and the photos on my Flickr is a BRIEF subject reflection of what we will review on TheAtomRack.com.
The site has a lot of potential to grow to other subjects as well, although our main focus will be band/ and music coverage, we are open to innovative ideas to bring to the table. We will extend our topics to art coverage, fashion reviews/ and event writing, as well as film, once we get going. If you hold any interest in online publication with credit where credit is due. This is your chance!
Positions for reporters are still open but limited, if you have any samples please send my way via email.
Positions on the Atom Team, are accepting Interns, for One: to gain experience in the online publication world for beginning and freelance reporter/ photographer/ and graphic design positions. Two: Learn the process of the music reporting world, as well as interaction and creating contacts with band's/ artists, public relations, managers, and venue's. Three: Allow a place to start a freelancing career either in journalism or photography.
Please email me with some attached form of work or resume at amandaschoepflin@gmail.com for more information.
Kathleen or "Kathleen Balloon", is an all-around artist, with interests in not only photography, art, she manages to turn to music as another form of self-expression. Reaching a point in where she can finally remove herself from the work force, and do what she really loves in her spare time. Instead of working behind a bar, or in a cubicle all day Kathleen now frequents New York to help produce at a Rock n Roll Music Camp during the summer. Aside from helping the youngens, she has embarked on a solo project entitled "Balloon" which holds as her own personal escape from her other band Tsk Tsk, a morePsychedelic / Soul project.
Currently recording in the home base of her bedroom, Katherine is putting out her album "Knee Socks and Lollipops" in her own time making sure to include a large variety of special guests within her music. Although she has recorded her song "corney Island" in a dorm room at a University at New York and has plans of recording at a friend's studio Shabbey Road. Recording is the underside of her goals with project Balloon--what she really cant wait for is to get on the road and playing shows.
I lurked her myspace page and dug up a little info on her, then asked for some more. To get to know her a bit more check out our Q&A. Enjoy.
AM:How long have you been doing music? KB:I have been singing since I was a wee little girl. I sang in choirs and musicals... that sort of thing. I started messing around with the guitar and writing songs when I was 14. Those songs sucked, but I kept going at it.
AM:How had your project "Balloon" begin?
KB:I sing and play in a heavier rock band, Tsk Tsk, so I needed an outlet for exploring other avenues musically. Some time in 2005 I fell in love and started playing weird chords and singing about sunshine and unicorns and shit, and recorded it all to four-track. Thus Balloon was born.
AM:Where are you originally from? Where did you grow up?
KB:I originally hail from Texas...my mother gave birth to me on an air force base when she was 18. I was moved around a lot due to my stepfather being a fighter pilot. The place that left the biggest impression on me was my great uncle's farm. My brothers and I would climb on haystacks and we'd pick dewberries, which my mom would use to make the most heavenly pies. I would walk in the forest a lot and go fishing in lakes and hang out with the horses. I also lived on this other farm where I had a secret treehouse and a whole lot of land to explore. All the while, I would visit my father in California a lot, and he loved to surf and would always take me to the beach, so the ocean is a big part of my life too. I moved to California when I was 14.
AM:Do you think you had any major influences now or growing up that turned your tastes a specific way when it comes to music?
KB:Absolutely. Gospel choirs. Films. I am enamored by the cinema and find a lot of inspiration in that, as well as in the scores. I was also a dancer and choreographer, so that probably factors into the music as well somehow. Also, simplicity and authors such as Dr. Seuss stuck with me. And hip hop. Much to my mother's dismay, I started bumping Dr. Dre and 2 Live Crew in the 6th grade.
AM:Do you perform live? If so tell me about the last few places you've done gigs at?
KB:Balloon debuted with a live band at the 1269 6th Street Warehouse (in LA), which was an incredible venue and space that I also worked at behind the bar sometimes. I guess it's going down now and that's a damn shame. I believe the last gig I played was either at the Scene with Crystal Antlers, or on KXLU.
AM:What genre would you try to use to explain or describe your music?
KB:I have no idea. How would you describe it?
AM:What is most of your music about?
KB:Life.
AM:Tell me about your existing album (s)? The tracks that are online.
KB:I will be releasing those tracks, as well as some others, on a self-titled album shortly. They were all written between 2006 - 2008.
AM:How do you go about creating that melodic and original hallow-flowing sound, is it where you record? or editing? Are your tracks live? Tell me about your other members.
KB:For the songs that are online, that is all me....I've written, played and recorded everything. Sometimes my best friend Nancy plays viola. Oh yeah, this young lad named Henry played melodica and sang for Corney Island in NY. He is a bit of a genius. He is actually going to do a music video for one of my songs. In the past, I would play with a live band, and we'll hopefully record a few songs together in the future, but they're all kind of scattered about. It was pretty free flowing though. I like to experiment. Some of the sounds you may hear on a song are actually my vocals. I sang in my friend Bron's group, Crooked Cowboy and the Freshwater Indians, for a while, and Katy and I would emulate moogs and other things with our voices. It was haunting and ethereal. I actually learned a lot about my pipes from that experience.
AM:Tell me about "Knee Socks and Lollipops"? What is the album all about?
KB:I am writing the songs for that as we speak. I actually tend to always wear knee socks, if not leggings, because short socks get on my nerves... and I love lollipops because they keep my hands busy and give me sugar. It's playful, and... weird.
AM:Who are these "special guests" that are starring in the upcoming album?
KB:They are some of my really amazing and talented friends. The age ranges from seven to one hundred and one. If I could get an infant to make some noise, that would be sweet.
AM:What are some of your favorite bands/ artists?
KB:My favorite groups are the Beatles, Funkadelic, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Creedence Clearwater Revival... there are so many, it's hard to narrow it down. My biggest influences are Janis Joplin, Stevie Nicks, Odetta, Bessie Smith, Mama Cass, Nick Cave, Tom Waits, Dr. Dre and Andre 3000.
AM:Do you implement any specific mind frame within your music whilst writing or composing? (what is most of your music about)?
KB:No, nothing specific....I just climb into the corners of my imagination. I'll write when I'm moved, inspired, or broken. Sometimes I'll come up with a melody or a lyric when I'm walking the dog or taking a shower. Lyrically, I love metaphors. Ya never know what a button or a rocket ship might really be.
AM:Do you hold any other occupation, or are you full time artist?
KB:I am a writer, and every now and then I am a nanny or behind a bar. As my friend Calixto said (when he was my manager at the Scene Bar), I am "insubordinate". Tis true. I can't stand working or having someone else tell me what to do. I do like working with youth and/or education, because that never gets boring. I used to have this amazing job in the fashion industry but I had to give it the heave ho because being in an office all day took the color away from my cheeks and I ended up a lifeless, blue little bunny. If you're not loving life, you have to figure out what makes you happy and get to it.
Katherine's tour is of now unannounced, but in due time will kick off, for right now she plans to simply write, record, play then tour. Look out for her, keep yourself posted.
Two doors down from Lestats is a little gallery and framing place called Art of Framing, right there in Normal Heights.Today and tomorrow they are holding a fundraiser for the one and only Obama tell yo Mama that we see some CHANGE in America's wallet. The 33 piece exhibit is called "Art for Change" and is the exhibition of both male and female, amateur and professional artists who are welcoming a new hope for our country. The exhibit's pieces are expressions of grassroots activism towards environmental action, gay rights, racial tolerance, as well as images and paintings of Senator Obama. Not only are the works hangable but they are also wearable thanks to silkscreen art work. All works are for sale and50% of proceeds will go to DNC's Victory Fund to help Obama's advertising campaign. Check them out tomorrow night, for a politically correct event. Ten dollars at the door. Help them reach their donation goal by giving their website here.
Lestats coffee house 3343 Adams Avenue "In the heart of Normal Heights" www.lestats.com ______________________________________________________________________
AFTER: Okay so I went to see this guy, and the majority of his performance was auto loop, he reminded me of Elliot Smith a tad, but I think if he just played his CD and sang the songs on a stage, he must of been working hard in the studio, cause the tracks sound good. I don't know maybe I'm old fashioned but when go to see a show I'm going to see them show their stuff. Agh. My review: if you like his music download it keep it on your ipod. There is a song about cutting a bitch's finger--it's worth it for that alone.
Talented guy.
His eyes in this photo, pierce me like I'm sinning against the lord himself. LAWL
This is a subliminal message, or perhaps a clue. Crystal Castles, and you would miss this WHY? I think you'd be insane to spend your Halloween any where else. *will remind you later* testing this post is a product of excitement
I know all you Indy Sw33tH3rtz are just studying away learning as many lyrics before SEPTEMBER 19th for Street Scene. So to add to your constant searching and discovering, I will provide one of my new favorites Hot Chip; they're pretty funky fun. Makes me wanna ride my jelly skate shoes on a kitchen floor where there are just baked cookies on the counter, yes that's what it gives to me. That...feeling. Presenting, Hot Chip another electro-britpop addiction to add to your collection.
This should be familiar to you.
For some pending updates of what I'm TRYING to do is book some more good Q&A's for you guys, just be faithful, and they will come. The PR's and managers of today have lives too you know. I'm not going to let out any names of which bands im working toward but you'll see. Stay tuned. Thanks guys.
The other night, In the heat of the moment, I didn't even think twice about going to the car to get my recorder, but i did see the show, what could be seen since it was so packed and kids were climbing on the stage almost completely hiding Matt and Kim.
A lot of peepz came out, but that was a weird show for me the entire time I felt like i was high...I was getting weird for only sleeping two hours the night before.
So last night Matt and Kim was awesome, as for today I met some kidz in Oceanside to see tropic thunder which btw, is one of the most intensely hilarious to any extent of which our minds can fathmon movies I've seen. All tyler could say was that he couldn't accept the fact that it was actually the Scientology God Tom Cruise dancing to Ludacris at the end. I actually thought he wasn't too bad at it. Judge for yourself. But once you see Tom Cruise on BET, you know thats the end.
So, anyhow, today's train ride was the best, that route accompanied by music always nearly brings tears.
Their site is interesting, an actual updated blog by a band?
Adam and Juan have been raving about the glory of Matt and Kim, and since I've heard the self titled album, again this reinforces my love for background synth music--because there's something about that melodic synth that makes you undoubtedly move, regardless of your mood. Here's a favorite song, Yea Yea. My personal fave is Frank.
Maybe I'll bring my tape recorder to the show, and put something up here later if they can share a word with me.
The Faint, an electronic punk paranoia attack, sending impulses to the nerves in your body to move or as they say "danse" to. First emerging in the nineties, all raised in Omaha Nebraska the boys Joel Petersen, Clark Baechle, Dapose, Todd Fink, and Jacob Thiele have reached an independent high with the recent relase of thier new album Fasciinatiion; (Aug 5th). Find out more about the boys athttp://www.thefaint.com/
For all you kiddies who wore neon, polka dots, and stripes, all you girlies who wore clip on bows in your hair as you walk down the school hallways with the faint on your mp3 players..your green ipod mini. This is for you. I remember what it was like to really be a cat's shadow, and how walking to first period math wasn't so bad if you were jamming to "Worked Up So Sexual" at 7am.
And now, the moment you've all been waiting for...
The Q&A with Jacob Thiele, synth god of The Faint. Just in time to read before their show this Saturday at Soma.
Enjoy.
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A:How is the tour? What places have you hit up so far, and where are some hot spots you’ll be playing soon?
J:We've made our way up to the Pacific northwest and now we're heading down the west coast. Des Moines, Sioux Falls, Denver, Boise, Vancouver, Spokane, Portland, San Francisco and Pomona tonight.Los Angeles and San Diego are definitely hot spots for us, and they're up next!
A:Returning to SD, your shows at Soma always sell out fast—are you excited to come back? Your fans missed you!
J:Yeah, Soma is always a great place for us to play. I know some adults wish they could drink there, but whatever! Take a night off!
A:Speaking of your fans, the dedicated ones are fully aware of the upcoming album, tell me aboutFasciinatiion.
Is there any theme tied in with this new album?
J:There are a few themes -- Science, philosophy, relationships between the two, relationships between people.
A:What is your favorite song on the new album, and what is it about?
J:Lately I have been liking the song Mirror Error a lot. It's about self-perception and self-expression. It can be very deep, but fundamentally it's a pop song, so it's great for just rocking out or dancing to. I really like the way it turned out, production wise, and the melodies are lovely!
A:What were your last two albumsDanse MacabreandWet from Birthabout in comparison to the upcoming album?
J:Danse Macabre was about living and dying, or dansing and working and the dichotomoy between those two halves of life. Wet From Birth was about all sorts of different things. We really just wanted to make an album that sounded like a mixtape of all the different styles we like to play in. There are songs about love, pharmaceuticals, propaganda, and pirate radio stations! It's quite a grab bag.
A:August 5this your release date! Your first self-released full length album outside of Saddle Creek Records, how do you all feel about that?
J:We feel great about it! We like to do things ourselves and this is just an extension of that. I think we get more out of everything by trying to do be in control. Or maybe we're just control freaks!
A:Ten years and now it’s the entire bandwritten, recorded, produced, art directed and released, was this more challenging than you thought?
J:Yeah, I suppose it is. We finally hired a manager, which we did without for way too long! But we enjoy every aspect of it, whether it's writing or touring or doing interviews!
A:Its been a good four years since the last albumWet From Birthin 2004 with Saddle Creek Records, has self-recording given you due time to focus on the music?
J:Yeah, that's part of it. We also built a studio which took a lot longer than expected, which gave us more time to work on the songs and make sure that we liked the ones we were going to put on the album.
A:How is working and recording out of ENAMEL compared to your previous location The Orifice? (From what I was reading was actually a rented warehouse.) Explain.
J:Well, Enamel is a space that we renovated, as opposed to just making due with the Orifice space. We hired a designer named Wes Lachot who was already in town doing the new studio for Bright Eyes. So everything is acoustically engineered to sound nice. The building Enamel is in is 100 years old, so we stripped the carpet and asbestos off the floors and there were these really thick maple wood floors underneath. You can't buy a floor like that these days, and I think it gives the sound and look of the place a lot of charm and character. The building was once a morgue, and one of the engineers we recently rented the space to thinks that it's haunted!
A:What made you guys decide to record the new album in this new space you call ENAMEL? From what I understand, it’s your own studio? Tell me about ENAMEL.
J:Again it's just that DIY attitude. We're punks at heart. But we also like being able to work on our music all day and all night if we feel like it. You know, when you're on a roll you just want to go with it!
A:Do you think the new album in a way reflects the change in studio in other words what has self-recording done for your music or yourselves for that matter?
J:I think it's more rewarding. And we know every little detail of how the album came together. Plus, if anything didn't turn out right, we only have ourselves to blame!
A:Was it much more enjoyable if at all less stressful to be on your own terms recordingFasciinatiion?
J:It was completely more enjoyable, but recording is always kind of fun and stressful at the same time. The only way it was less stressful was that we knew we didn't have to be done by a certain time because the next band was coming in or whatever, which is what you deal with when you hire an engineer at somebody else's studio.
A:What brought on the desire for your own label? The blank.wav imprint instead of your previous label Saddle Creek Records? (& the title “blank.wav”?)
J:Well, I don't think we're technically an imprint. We're completely independent. We knew we wanted to do something different for this album, and Saddle Creek knew this as well. We figured that since we did everything else on our own, we might as well put it out too! Plus with the music industry in the state it's in, and digital sales growing as they are, it seemed like the right time to start something for ourselves.
A:Describe what you feel when you play your music.
J:Personally, I feel creative and expressive. We have a lot of fun playing together and trying to play off each other in ways that make all the individual parts sound cooler than they do on their own.
I love just making noises with synths too. I'm about to head over to Noisebug and stir up a racket!
A:What genre is The Faint, or if none how would you describe your music?
J:We usually say that it's electronic rock for punks to danse to, or something like that.
A:Tell me an exciting, funny, or interesting story you remember encountering while on tour or with the band.
J:Well, usually these stories end up with somebody being naked. Which is not the way it should be! Why is nudity funny or interesting? It should just be natural and commonplace. Anyway, yeah, once Todd got arrested for getting naked on No Doubt's stage. Also, once the singer of the band Services got arrest for getting naked on stage before we played! In our hometown, no less! My parents didn't know what to think.
A:Did you ever think you’d ever be this famous starting out? (What about those first albums? What were you thinking about your music then?)
J:Fame was never a motivation. We just wanted to make music that hadn't been made before, and explore new and interesting sounds.
A:What music/ bands/ artists do you feel influenced you?
J:David Bowie.
A:Which are your current favorites?
J:Late of the Pier, MGMT, Sissy Spacek, The Kills, SebastiAn, Boys Noize, Mr. Oizo. There's so much good music being made these days!
A:Talk to me about your lyrics, who writes your lyrics? Is it collaborative?
J:Well, it's mostly Todd's job. But he likes to feel as though what he says represents the band as well. So he'll ask us what we think about a line, or if we have a word that fits the meter.
A:What’s your favorite song to perform live?
J:Paranoiattack is really fun for me. I get to twist a lot of knobs and play the big riff!
A:What song are you most satisfied with out of all the albums you’ve done?
J:That's tough! Right now, it's Mirror Error or Fasciinatiion. Or maybe Fulcrom and Lever.
A:Anything else you’d like to add?
J:Come to the show, and bring your dancing shoes! It's going to be fun.
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You hear the man be there Aug Sat 9th Night @ Soma San Diego
