Quick Hit Band Interview: French Mouth

French Mouth at El Cid

Interview with the band. Enjoy:

What's the story behind how your band started? The project has always been between my twin brother (Daniel - drummer) and myself (Dee - Vocals), it has gone under many different names and styles, but finally solidified itself last summer/fall with the addition of our bassist (Brandon Reyes) and lead guitarist (James Parras). Our catch phrase has become, "Do you like French Mouth?" We are all Los Angeles natives and we got love for our city and France as well
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Are there any unique, funny, high jinks, mundane, etc tendencies that the band is known for – during sets, band practice, otherwise? We like to call our fans 'Cake Eaterz' . . . so by default; we also absolutely love cake, cake, cake!!! We promise if any fans or show goers bring us a cake, WE HAVE TO EAT IT during our set. Mandatory. No questions. Unless its a razor cake . . . but even then some exceptions may apply. (We love ice cream cake!!)

Own final Q&A. What would be your dream set/show and why? - Well, we are all fans of the Bhagwan Shree Rajnesh who had that cult going up in Oregon. French Mouth would love to go back in time to the 80's and play a solid set for the Bhagwan and his Wild Wild Country white folk. Shit would be lit as hell.

Quick Hit Artist Interview: Lauren Rocket

Lauren Rocket at The Mint

Interview with the artist. Enjoy:

When did you know you wanted to be a singer/musician? Since I could talk, I guess. I would lock myself in the bathroom and sing and hum for hours. Then I discovered the musical “Cats” and it was over. I was probably three. I would sit at the piano and play and sing every song, albeit without knowing what I was doing. Musical theater was my first love.

From the outside looking in, it looks like you’ve taken a very strategic approach to the launching of your new music. Can you share your approach? I am definitely being more strategic this time around, trying to navigate through the new world of music as well as make sure I love and adore every single song I release as well as resonate with it authentically. I want each song to be completely me, without any Outside influence. I don’t really care about following trends or being cool, I just wanna make stuff that I love. I’ve been in the music industry for over ten years now, experienced a lot of heartbreak and learned a lot about what I want to do and what I don’t want to do. My main objective with this project is to have fun, and experience joy again though writing songs and being creatively inspired. Without attachment, without ego and with complete abandonment of past fears. I am really happy with this project so far.

Of your songs, is there a backstory to one of them that you’d like to share? Sharks is probably my favorite of these recent singles, because I think the music and the lyrics fit the concept so perfectly. Being a girl in music...is well... interesting. Sadly my experience has felt like I’ve been working in a male dominated industry, and it’s pretty gross. I wanted to express that in this song, and honestly, I think things are changing: the world is waking up. Women rule and we shouldn’t be allowing anyone to dictate what we do or how we get where we are success wise. We as a species need to learn to always listen to our intuition. Intuition is real, authenticity is key and it’s the pathway to personal success. Follow it and you will be free!

Final unique piece of information: I’m half alien.

(Originally appeared on CaliforniaRocker.com.)

Madame Siam: Kevin, Cuffed Up, Tom Speight and Asa Ey

I went to Madame Siam to catch Kevin and Cuffed Up. Why? I'm pretty sure I'm addicted to Kevin. And one of the members of Cuffed Up is Sapphire Jewell who I first came across in the band Gypsum and I'm addicted to all things Gypsum.

Though those were the bands I went to see, I have to say that I was also blown away by the first artist up, Tom Speight. He was joined on stage by Lydia Clowes. As I was listening to his set, I immediately started to think of the movie Once. The music was just that beautiful. Unlike the movie, Tom mentioned that Lydia and him are not dating.

There were plenty of references to pop culture. He mentioned that his music was featured on Love Island in the UK and the Bachelor in Germany. And when he had some guitar strap issues, he told the crowd, "I wish I had one of those Men in Black zappers so that you could forget the last 3 minutes."

Tom Speight

Cuffed Up hit the stage with some sped up rock sounds. Lyrics are spit out quickly. Music is like being in a car that has the horsepower to push you back into your seat. And then the best moments are when Sapphire takes her fingers and just slides up and down her guitar strings.

Cuffed Up

Kevin plays their sets in different configurations. Sometimes Kimi and Quincy play next to each other and other times they play on different parts of the stage. I think I love them most when they're playing next to each other. There's just a joy with how they play off each other. They both brought out the synths for this set and there were a couple times when they stretched over, playing the other's synth -- with their shoes.

Kevin

Asa Ey had the sex appeal going. Two female friends showed up, dancing away throughout the set.

Asa Ey

Tom Speight, Cuffed Up, and Kevin stepped off the stage for their sets - a nice trend for the night. Tom Speight had the early crowd surround him and turn the lights from their phones on. Cuffed Up and Kevin danced in total abandonment.

Non Plus Ultra: Kevin with Cryogeyser and Gal Pal

It was off to Non Plus Ultra for the first time ever. That might be hard to believe as I'm out and about in the Los Angeles music scene so often. Okay, up front, I took a random route to Non Plus Ultra. I first went to an old location (or maybe a purposely false address) where a handful of other people were hanging out. We figured out rather quickly that we were all at the wrong location and one individual was able to nail down the correct spot. Off we went to the new spot that is near DTLA. I suppose I shouldn't say where as it is a secret address. I guess I should have just messaged one of the bands for the correct address.

This was Kevin's EP release night. I first came across this band at Echo Park Rising and quickly become a big time fan. Their electronic sounds are fast pace and fun. They played a 7 song set. Quincy was on guitar and spent a short moment crashing into the crowd. She also thanked the LAPD for not showing up and shutting down their set. Kimi on the synths wore a smiley t-shirt with a bullet in the head. It was also her birthday.

Kevin

Opening up as a last minute replacement was Gal Pal. The band started late, which was good for me as I ended up in the wrong location initiation, because the lead singer had to work later than expected. Though they were a last minute replacement, the band's name was still prominently displayed via the projection that shown against the wall behind the band. Perhaps it was done to make sure that people were aware of who they were seeing as many probably were expecting to see another band.

Gal Pal

Cryogeyser was the middle band with sonic sound and a lead singer who was quick with a smile.

Cryogeyser

Quick Hit Artist Interview: The Swells

The Swells at The Smell

Interview with the band (with Wyatt). Enjoy:

How would you describe the band's sound? If I had to call it something I would say “Indie-Jazz.”

What is one of the band’s high or low moments and what makes it stand out? We just played SXSW, which was our first real festival performance!

Own final thoughts: something interesting is that we started as a two piece (drums/ guitar) and now our line up consists of five (sometimes six) members!

Quick Hit Artist Interview: Savannah Sgro

Savannah Sgro at Madame Siam

Interview with the artist. Enjoy:

What is currently inspiring you when it comes to music? A lot of lyrically-driven girl pop artists right now are very inspiring to me at the moment. Julia Michaels, Lennon Stella, and Sasha Sloan all could play their songs with just an acoustic instrument and don’t need a big track because the songs are all strong on their own, which is so cool to me.

What thrills you about performing live? I think one of the most thrilling things of performing is that a lot of the ideas of the songs started in my bedroom like a diary entry, and are now being sang to people I’ve never met! It’s terrifying a lot of the time, haha, but I feel like it’s helped me be a much more open person :)

The Smell: Liposuction and Pure Shit

I decided to head off to The Smell to catch a couple bands I'd never seen before. That's something I like to do every so often. I also have to admit that I decided to head off to The Smell to try a new photography technique. Yes, I've been doing photography for years, but I'd never tried double exposure photography. That is a strange thing to admit that I never tried that technique. (See photos for a couple examples of what resulted from the night.)

I got to see Liposuction and Pure Shit. Liposuction came out as doctors ready to perform liposuction. They also used an old-school elementary desk to hold their keyboards. The band's lead singer took advantage of the fact that the band played on the floor of The Smell versus the stage. He took command of the floor, roaming The Smell throughout the set.

Liposuction

Pure Shit started out the set by handing out overhead transparencies to everyone. Was there a theme going on between Liposuction and Pure Shit? Old school elementary desk and transparencies. The transparencies had some written words on them, "Only love is real. God doesn't believe in us. Forgetting is essential . . . ." I'm pretty sure these were the only words that were written or sung throughout the set. Their lead singer spent the set in a sonic mode.

Pure Shit