Written by Ellen Marie Hawkins

According to their website and facebook, Mistakes were Made was written about the demise of relationships, both romantic and within (or out, since they’re no longer part of) the band.  On first listen, it’s difficult to get to the meat of it all.  MK4 is high energy, in your face, addicting.  They’ve got a tight sound, a cohesive one, and the faster tempo songs are made for singing along to, specifically with the windows down and the volume really, really loud.

Upon closer inspection of the lyrics, though, these aren’t happy tunes.  I lost track of how many times I heard the word hate.  But here’s the thing…that’s what I loved about them.  These songs are reflections of some terrible moments, but there is not a lot of wrath or even anger.  They just are.  All the phases of grief have been experienced, and it’s like they’re in the acceptance phase.  And so they tell their story with a little distance, enough to explain how things were.  Or are.  The emotional glasses fogged with pain have been lifted and they’re seeing it all clearly.

This was an album I listened to repeatedly and wasn’t tempted to skip any of the tracks.  I didn’t care for the lyrical content of “Digital Voice,” and its subject matter didn’t necessarily seem to fit in with the other ten, but there was something about the music that kept me listening.

As for a favorite, it was difficult to narrow it down to a few.  I loved the opening song, “Down Is Up,” a song about someone is always the victim, often by her choice.  It set the stage for the tracks that followed, all of which kept my attention.  There’s something about the song, “Sleeper Hit of the Summer” that makes it stand out, but what that “it” is is undefinable.  And, oddly enough, the one song that I wanted to repeat was “I Don’t Want You to Want Me.”  The anti-thesis to Cheap Trick’s “I Want You to Want Me,” it is that lovable.  While it does feature the full version of bs in the chorus, it’s the closest I got to hearing that there’s a little emotion simpering in the fire.  I also appreciated that these words were said to them, not the other way around.  What better way to get revenge than take what was meant to be hurtful and turn them into one of the best songs recorded here?  I have a weakness for a good kiss off song, but this one is memorable on a different level.  Oh, and there’s a rhythm to clap along to on this one.  I dare you to not get your hands up in the air.

What may be a soundtrack to the last few months or years of their lives, this really does play out to be a movie in your own head.  Well produced and well written, I enjoyed the crispness of this, that fact that there is little murkiness here.  Whether I was totally into the rhythms that the drums and the guitars played off of each other like in the latter half of “Born to Explode” or the longing riffs in “Love to Rust” or the texture of the vocals throughout, I was always entertained.  I didn’t always agree to the cynical viewpoint sometimes like in “Love Takes A Toll,” but I did appreciate that they accept their own blame for their failures like in “Mistakes Were Made.”  And really, if the disappointments in life always led to albums like this one, they’d be far from “mistakes.”

Please visit www.mk4music.com for more information and be sure to download legally from iTunes or cdbaby.

Written by Ellen Marie Hawkins

According to their face book biography, Garden Window was created with two purposes.  The first was to merge all their influences which include, but are not limited to, Blonde Redhead, Sigur Ros, and Radiohead.  Their other goal was to reflect on who they are as people and let what surfaces describe who they are and what they believe in.

Regarding the first purpose, O’Brother succeeds victoriously at making a record that escapes the walls of genres.  Sometimes writhing with anger like Metallica, sometimes ambient and illusive like Sigur Ros, and sometimes simply satisfying rock, they excel at being unique.  I don’t even begin to understand how they make this work.  But it does.  And while they strive to be the “loudest band ever,” don’t be fooled.  This isn’t a mess of noise thrown together.  It is anything but.

As for their influences defining who they are and what they believe in…this is not so easily explained or understood.  The album begins with “Malum” where they demand, “How great is my debt that my penance should be endless?”  The very question saddened me, the perspective that life is nothing but trials and tribulations and can be considered nothing more than a “penance.”  They respond to their own asking with the repeated vow, “Lo, my eager eyes will behold the truth.”  The song then softens somewhat into a more upbeat “Lo,” the mood transitioning from one of wrath to one that is a little more eager, as if they are searching with more urgency rather than with so much despair.

That search and the questions they have for God are never far from their focus.  “Lay Down,” appearing almost halfway through the album, has the chorus that repeats, “So abba, father, are you sleeping/As we toil through your gardens keeping/I’ll lay down and begin to grow/Right beneath your garden window.”  Coupled with the music and the vocals, this is a band that doesn’t question God’s existence.  They question His abandonment.

In the last song, aptly titled “Last Breath,” they have yet to come to any real conclusions.  They label G.O.D. as an acronym-giver of damnation and then demand to know why He has even bothered with human existence.  As a Christian, it hurt to hear this, for obvious reasons.  And often times, it felt personal.  When they finish the song with the lyrics, “You are the only thing I hope is real in a dark world,” all I felt was confused.  While they acknowledge that sin is rampantly running amok, their picture of God for the entire album is this entity who has become despondent and isolated.  If O’Brother’s real vision of God is something they hope they will see in the end, they’ll open their eyes to a different perspective.  He is alive and around us, and while sin is out of control, He is the light to the believers that makes it all worth it.

This, really, is my opinion and my perception of an album that is very wide open to interpretation.  And, I accept a questioning, even doubting reflection every now and again.  But, as my thoughts wondered, the music encouraging my own exploration of what I think and believe as this album is so much more than their philosophy forced down the listener’s throat, I often felt defensive and even angered.  Not by their vision, but by their overall conclusion.

He is not sleeping.  We are.

If the music alone was being evaluated and recommended, I would say O’Brother’s Garden Window is one of the most creative albums that I’ve heard in awhile.  The lyrics, however, and the darkness of what they believe, shed very little light on what I believe.  In essence, it only weighed me down.

Written by Ellen Marie Hawkins

Francesca Battistelli wrote on Facebook that “Kari Jobe is anointed, anointed, anointed.  Amazing worship,” after seeing her at Winter Jam in Atlanta just this past weekend.  I don’t know about what Kari offers live, but considering she’s the worship minister at Gateway Church and has lead conferences across the country, my expectations are high.  Based, however, on what I’ve experienced from listening to this latest release, her sophomore effort but first with Sparrow Records, I’d agree with Francesca.  Anointed is the perfect word to describe Kari.

Merging worship and radio friendly pop, Kari has released an album that is pleasant and stirring. Wanting to create a record that reflected all that God is, has done, and will continue to do, she succeeds in shining a light on His glory.  This is an album to listen to when perspective is gone and reminders about who He is are needed.  These songs help put the problems and distractions of this world into their proper places.

Where I Find You has a balanced mix of faster tempo songs to worshipful ballads.  “Love Came Down” sounds like a love song, and it is, but it’s praise and worship for the One who should receive all of our devotion.  “Stars in the Sky” reminds the listener that He truly has control while “Find You on My Knees” is about seeking Him for the grace and the healing that He provides, even when there’s “nothing left to offer You/But my brokenness.”

The most powerful song for me, every time I listened to the album, was “What Love is This.”  While it may have be difficult to imagine what that Centurion who was “standing here beneath the shadows of the cross” was feeling when he realized the identity of the Christ, trying to reconcile the magnitude of what Jesus did with our unworthiness is not a stretch.  This song takes those conflicting emotions and puts it into perspective:  “You made a way for me to know you.”  It’s all about seeking that relationship with Him.

“We Are,” the first single, is also a personal favorite, reminding me of the childhood song, “This Little Light of Mine.”  Calling us to our responsibility to be a beacon and representation of Christ, I am motivated and encouraged by this anthem.  Other highlights include the song, “Savior’s Here.”  Also a faster tempo, this song is a celebration, and I love the listing of what He does for us, including erasing our fear, breaking our chains, and freeing us to live a new, more meaningful life.  I enjoyed the added emphasis of the piano in the second half of the song.

“Here” finishes the album on a memorable note.  This song is all about finding rest in Him.  I loved the piano as I felt myself guided to a vision of what He truly is.  Refuge.  Comfort.  Peace.  Just as Jesus healed with His hands before His crucifixion, the Spirit heals with His presence.  “Come and rest here/Come and rest your burdens down.”

Kari often took breaks while recording this album to have a few minutes with Him.  She sought His guidance and His vision through the process, and these songs reflect that focus.  Where I Find You reminds me that God is everythwere.  He’s never further than a heartbeat, a breath, a tear, a smile, and a thought away.

Please visit www.karijobe.com for more information and be sure to download on January 24 from a digital retailer of your choice.  She is also currently on tour with Winter Jam so be sure to see her in venue near you.

Written by Ellen Marie Hawkins

Burning River Ramblers

Burning River Ramblers is a band from Ohio, formed by a few guys who create music when they’re not in class at Ohio University.  Doesn’t tell you much, does it?  What if I was to add that they were named one of the “Top 25 Bands to Watch” by Cleveland Plain Dealer?  It might raise your eyebrows.  But would you want to listen?  How ‘bout I add that they’ve got a Latin flavor (think more Santana, less Ricky Martin), and that they’re incredibly infectious?  If you’re listening while studying, you’ll be chair dancing, and if they’re playing while at a party, your feet will moving (And your hips.  Probably your shoulders, too.  And, oh, why not, your hands will join in the fun as well).  Interested enough to at least read on?

This young band has got a great funky vibe, creative enough to throw in some western flair (yes, as in the Wild West-“Two Guns”), so much that you’ll be ducking for cover behind the bar at the saloon while holding on to your hat, and then taking you to the local carnival for a ride on the carousel (adequately enough, named “Carousel”).

While fun, I think these songs are slight detours on the album; the real standouts are the opening track, “See Ya Soon,” “Redwood,” and “Stranger on the Street” that put their creativity, soul, musicianship, and storytelling abilities front and center.  I was impressed with the flow of “See Ya Soon,” the light heartedness of saying goodbye to someone because sometimes, it’s just time, and really is there always a need to get so dramatic about it?  I loved “Redwood” for the fact that the song is about suicide, but it’s not the melancholy tune that I expected, yet it made me think, and “Stranger On the Street” took me on a journey.  I pictured everything in my head as the song unfolded, and I love that.

But the most impressive thing about these guys is that they’re just getting started.  Listening, I would have expected to read a biography about a much older band.  They flow so well, and the vocals, the guitars, the harmonica, they work together seamlessly that creates this very distinctive and lovable sound that you would think would take years to develop.  While one song, “Russian Roulette” earned them an explicit lyric warning and “Drink Now” is about the obvious, the talent and the strength of the above mentioned tracks make these imperfections minimal and easily avoidable.  My one word of caution?  Be prepared to become addicted on first listen.  This is a fun and really great debut.

Be sure to visit www.revernation.com/theburningriverramblers for more information and be sure to purchase from iTunes.

by Crystal Kelly

Introduce Christian Music

Sometimes it may be hard to share your faith and still be considered cool. There are many creative ways that can be used to share your faith and what you believe in. Just because you are a Christian believer does not mean that you are boring, dull and void of fun. That is what most young people associate with the Christian lifestyle. In all actuality you, Christian, are the most blessed on the earth and you need to show it to your friends associates in a way that they can relate to and not run away from.

A very cool and fun way to do this is to have a party airing a television show that displays Christian values yet still has the romance with the gorgeous guy, action, adventure and leaves your guests with wholesome thinking instead of sensual feeling. There are many ways to make your party unique and fun. You can require a dress code that is casual or dressy, you can have themed food, you can have pictures taken and given to your guests at the party and you can have cool giveaways during breaks of the show.

There are several television series and movies that come to mind; Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman series, Love’s Enduring Promise Series, the Thief in the Night series, and The Left Behind Series. A great idea for an excellent Valentine’s Day themed party would be to show the movie “Belle and the Beast”. This movie is made in excellent quality, the storyline is truly romantic and encompasses the message of God’s love and forgiveness. “Belle and the Beast” is a film that is sure to become not just a Valentine’s day favorite but an everyday romantic favorite.

Another creative idea is to have a music sampling party. Find a Christian artist whose music speaks in a way where it is not hard to relate. Such as Toby Mac, Josh Wilson, Barlow Girl, or Mandisa. There are so many fun and cool ways to share your faith grab hold of them and enjoy who you are, what you believe in. Help others be a part of the Jesus movement in a way that will have them wondering what took them so long to have this much fun without regret.

Written by Ellen Marie Hawkins

2011 music year-end review

2011 has been such a great year for music.  I have dreaded writing this recap because I don’t want to leave anyone out.  If a musician released an album this year and isn’t on the list, that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy them or that I no longer listen to their music.  But when I look back, these are the albums that instantly come to mind.  So, in no particular order…

Kelly Clarkson-Stronger:   I feel as if I should add a “duh” here.  Because if you read my review, you had to know she’d be here.  If you’re surprised that I listed her, then you need to reread the review.  And then go purchase the album.  You’re missing out if you haven’t.

Chad Jarnagin:  Again, this seems obvious to me.  He has a slight advantage because I hear him at church every week, but “I Am Here (My Heart)” from his EP is untouchable.

Jake Hamilton-Freedom Calling:  He shocked me out of my slumber.  I didn’t know worship music could be like this.  I never want to be complacent.  Jake helps make sure that I am not.

Ida Jo-Singer in a Band:  Because in a world saturated with music that sounds the same, she stands apart.

Hannah Miller-O Black River:  There are a few records that I don’t realize how good they are until I’ve written the review.  Sometimes, music has to grow on me.  This one will continue to grow with me.

Mat Kearney-Young Love:  This album never gets old for me.  I’m still listening and loving it as much as I adored it when it released this past summer.

Christina Perri-lovestrong:  “Jar of Hearts” opened the door for her.  While none of the other songs from this album are quite as good as Jar, I am eager to hear what else is stirring in this artist’s heart.  She is far from over or reaching her potential.

The City Harmonic-Introducing and I Have a Dream:  18 songs by them, released in one year.  Each song as good as the next.  They are phenomenal.

Switchfoot-Vice Verses:  I feel as though I have listened to this band for years without hearing them.  I am in love with falling in love with these songs.  “Restless” is my new “Dare You to Move.”  Both of these songs make me look at myself and the possibilities in life with a new perspective.

I just made a mistake by scrolling through my iPod to decide who gets the last position.  Too many good bands, and I couldn’t pick just one.  So, this is an honorable mention for Red, Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors, Set it Off, and Matt Hammitt.

Frustrated that your favorite isn’t on the list?  Yeah, me too.  Undoubtedly, I will hear a random song in the weeks to come and be annoyed that I didn’t make a place for them.  Regardless, it’s been a great year.  There are so many songs that have made me cry, made me worship, made me feel alive, made me run (thank you, Red), and most importantly, made me look at myself and moved me to make better choices.  That, my friends, are all the reasons why I listen and write and share the love of music with you.  May 2012 be just as great of a year.

Written by Ellen Marie Hawkins

Jesus Culture: Awakening- Live from Chicago

When I think of Jesus Culture, I think of counter-culture, and contrary to what most people associate with the word (the “free spirits” of the 60’s), I think of John the Baptist.  He didn’t exactly fit in.  I love how in John 1:35, he points out Jesus as the Messiah to two disciples, and they went to follow Him.  If you read on, Andrew is so excited about what he’s learned, he tells his brother (Simon) about who he has found.  Our faith can’t be contained.  It spills over.  We should be excited about our relationship with Christ and should be excited about sharing it.

The Jesus Culture doesn’t exactly fit in, either, and they are passionate about their faith and getting a generation of believers ecstatic about their relationship with Christ.  Yes, I said ecstatic.  No more hiding in the shadows.  No more passive believers.  Jesus Culture’s passion for God is undeniable.  Other bands have energy, but these worship leaders are Spirit filled.  There is no other way to describe them.  When they beckon God and the Spirit, I feel His presence all around me, when they urge me to pray, I know that I am heard.  Listening to worship albums like this isn’t like listening to other albums.  These sixteen tracks aren’t just songs; they’re experiences that draw me closer to God.

Highlights for me included, but aren’t limited to “Dance,” “I Surrender,” and “The Anthem.”  My body loves “Dance” on a sluggish morning when the treadmill is my worst enemy, but my soul loves this song even more.  No more stifling the Spirit. Cleaner and clearer than the 2008 version appearing on Everything, I find myself wanting to hear this song every time I turn on my iPod. And while “Dance” is about releasing inhibitions, “I Surrender” is more about releasing control and fears.  One of the slower songs, it is no less powerful and moving.  And, as a relatively newer fan of Jake Hamilton, I was happy to see he’s on this record, drawing it to a close with both his vocals and his infectious passion on “The Anthem.”  The 16 tracks prove that God isn’t dead.  Neither is this generation’s love for Him.  This unabashed praise, unapologetic worship, and unstoppable energy is influential and powerful.

Since this is Jesus Culture’s sixth release, there are certain standards that listeners expect from them:  passionate and genuine, invigorating and raw, inspiring and enthusiastic.  This newest release doesn’t fall short on any of those criteria.  If anything, they are only getting better.  I look forward to the day when the Christian music genre is so saturated with worship music at this level that Jesus Culture no longer stands apart but blends in.

Please visit www.jesusculturemusic.com for more information and be sure to download from a digital retailer of your choice.

Written by:  Jill Sheets

Picture credit: Haim Bargig

Recently I had the honor of interviewing singer/songwriter Jackie Scott.  Continue to read on and learn more about Jackie and about her music.

R:  Tell us a little bit about yourself?

J: I’m a cat loving, glitter wearing, booty-shaking pop singer/songwriter based in New York City.

R:  How did you get into the music business and how old were you?

J: My first real recording session was when I was sixteen. It was in my hometown, Cinnaminson, N.J., with songwriter/producer Andy DiTaranto. I was on the same swim team as his daughter and told him I wanted to sing. After listening to me, he gave me a chance. I was in the studio for several months for hours and hours after school. It was a great experience. He really believed in me and encouraged my songwriting. When the demo was done we went to Philadelphia and New York and tried to shop it.

R:  Tell us a little bit about your journey to getting signed by a record company?

J: The demo I made in high school was fun, but never went anywhere. We didn’t record my original songs and I always regretted it. So about a year and a half ago I decided it was time to do it my way. At the time Lady Gaga was getting really popular for her songwriting and I thought, “I can do that too!”

I started by researching a ton of producers online. Honestly, I didn’t know how I would pay for it or where to start so I did a lot of Google searches, browsed MySpace and looked on Craigslist. When I found producers who seemed good, I emailed them and tried to set up meetings. When I met my producer, Lior Magal, I knew he was the right guy.

We just clicked. And it didn’t hurt that he’s a fan of Britney Spears! (She’s been a favorite of mine since I was a teenager.)  So the first time we sat down, I sang him a bunch of songs I just had in my head. One of them was “Superstars” and that’s how we started.

Trying to get signed by a record company is tough business though. I’m just working on building my fan base, booking shows and trying to put myself out there. I also try to network with other musicians. Hopefully my music will fall into the right hands sooner or later and things will really take off. Already I’ve made a lot of progress. Independent artists can make a lot of things happen without record companies these days though, so I’m not too worried about it. Where there’s a will there’s a way. Heart really counts.

R:  For those who have not yet heard your music, how would you describe it to them?

J: My music is very current sounding. It’s radio-friendly electro-pop ─ not so different from Britney Spears, Ke$ha, Lady Gaga or even Pink. Some songs are pretty vampy and push some limits. I just try to keep it honest and I happen to be pretty bold person. Also, from an instrumental standpoint, I want it to be fun and stimulating. My music is pop but I draw a lot of inspiration from electronic stuff like dubstep and moombahton. You’ll hear more of that influence on my upcoming tracks.

R:  I read that you are currently working on an album.  Is that true and if so, when is the estimated release date?

J: I want to release an album, but it’s taking so long! Right now I’m undecided. I might just release some of the new tracks as singles. We’ll see. If that’s the case, I could have a new song out by next week! Decisions. Decisions.

R:  Tell us about your singles “Superstars”, “Love Sick” and “Train Wreck.”

J:  What is there to tell? To me, songs are like paintings. There’s no point in describing them. It’s all there.

R:  You are also a writer.  What is your wiring process?  Do you start with the words?  How did you come up with the ideas for “Superstars”, “Love Sick” and “Train Wreck.?

J: Usually words and melody just come to me together. A lot of times I think of them when I’m driving or in the shower. Sometimes I record ideas on my phone. Then I take these ideas to the studio and Lior adds some guitar or synth to start. We’ll record rough vocals and overtime, we add layers of instruments and perfect the vocals. Some of my new stuff we did the other way around though. Lior wrote the tracks first, then I came up with the rest. It’s good to do it both ways. It challenges me as a writer.

My friends were my inspiration for “Superstars.” I don’t even know how I came up with “Love Sick.” I was on the New Jersey Turnpike. I’m sure it’s a collection of experiences and fantasies. “Train Wreck” was the result of a daydream I had after I met a perverted guy.

R:  What is your favorite song to perform on stage and why?

J: That’s a tough question! My favorite song to perform is probably “Train Wreck.” I have also been singing two new songs (meant for my upcoming record) at some shows in New York. They are edgier and people’s reactions are priceless. Cover songs can be a fun too. They give me a chance to do something either unexpected or very heartfelt. For my first show I sang Lil Jon and the Eastside Boys “Get Low” and Lady Gaga’s “Edge of Glory.” The audience was really into both!

R:  Where can people get your music?

J:  iTunes, Amazon, eMusic, Rhapsody. It’s also on www.facebook.com/JackieScottMusic.

R:  Who has been your biggest influence and why?

J: In some ways, I have to say my dad. He was always singing when I grew up. Because of him, just belting my lungs out around the house seemed very natural to me. My mom also sang me lullabies, encouraged me to be really creative and taught me discipline and tenacity.

R:  It is not easy growing up.  What advice would you give teenage girls?

J: That is really hard. Some of those years were tough for me. I think girls should be true to themselves, honest with others and they should know that life will get easier! When you’re a teenager you’re going through all this weird stuff like getting your period for the first time, growing boobs (even if they are tiny!), sweating too much, zits, figuring out stuff like shaving and make up, falling in love, dealing with gossip, dealing with friendships. It’s overwhelming. First of all, go easy on yourself and joke about that stuff if you can. Number two, go easy on others. Be compassionate. Be open-minded. Try to give other people the benefit of the doubt because it’s a confusing time for a lot of people.

R:  Other than this one, what is the strangest question you have ever been asked?

J: A friend asked me if they could borrow my cat.

R:  Are you on any social networking sites?  Do you have an official websites?

J: www.facebook.com/JackieScottMusic
www.twitter.com/Jackie_Scott
www.jackiescottmusic.com

R:  What is the nicest thing a fan has said or done for you?

J: I get really excited when people come to my shows, “like” me on Facebook, comment on YouTube or rate/comment on iTunes. I know those sound like small things, but they are a big deal to me! Every single comment means a lot!

R:  Is there anything else you would like to add or say to your fans?

J: Thanks for getting to know me and my music. I really appreciate when people take the time to discover new pop and support up-and-coming artists.

R:  Jackie, thank you for the interview.  Have a great day.

J: Thank you!

Written by:  Jill Sheets

Olivia Dikambi

Recently I got to interview Olivia Dikambi, who is the founder and President of I AM PR Agency, LLC.  Continue to read on and learn more about her agency and about how she got her start in the PR business.

R:  Tell us a little bit about yourself?

O: My name is Olivia Dikambi. I’m the Founder and President of I AM PR Agency, LLC, a PR & Brand Management agency.
R:  How did you first get interested in PR?  How long have you been working as a PR?

O: I first got interested in PR while working on Quai 54, Europe’s biggest basketball tournament.  I was assigned to work in the PR department.  I have been working in PR for 2 years now.
R:  Tell our readers exactly what PR does?

O: A publicist is the liaison between the clients and the media. We secure media opportunities for our clients so they can discuss their products or services. These interviews/ features we secure can be scheduled with the online press, radio, magazines and TV producers.
R:  What is a typical day for you?

O:  I don’t really have a “typical day.” The activities of my day vary depending on the type of project I’m working on. Sometimes, I’m on the field to coordinate a photo shoot for a client, or assist to a video shoot. Other times, I’m responding to emails in the office and pitching the media, or simply running the day-to-day activities of running a PR agency.

R:  It has to be crazy running a PR Agency.  How do you balance work life with personal life?

O: I force myself to take breaks during the day and I usually take one day off during the week end just to relax and recharge my batteries.

R:  Tell our readers about I AM PR Agency.

O: I AM PR Agency is a PR and Brand Management agency based in New York. We specialize in all forms of entertainment; specifically music PR. We work with musicians and emerging businesses to help them rise and break thru the noise.

R:  Why did you decide to start your own PR Agency?

O: I wanted to provide my own perspective of PR and work on projects that I really like, not projects I would be assigned to work on.
Also, I’ve always dreamed of being my own boss.

R:  What kind of services does I AM PR Agency offer?

O:  Brand building & management, media relations, event planning/production, consulting, creative services (web design / photography).
You can a description of our services via http://www.iampragency.com/p/services.html

R:  Who are some of the people that you represent?  Now and in the past.

O: Right now, we represent several rock, rap, folk, punk, electro and alternative artists. We are working with a Grammy nominee artist Cathy Richardson, she is the lead singer of the legendary Jefferson Starship. We are also representing bands on the rise such as urban rock outfit White House Band, experimental rock band Ellis Ashbrook, Pop-punk band Midnight Mob. As well as emerging emcees including Lerix from Brooklyn, NY, Aerias from Chicago, Roro from Japan, The Redd signed to Wuli Records and many more.

We are also working with the owners of an online eco- friendly retailer store called Green N Brown, and Earl A. Gray, the creator of the cartoon series called “Kung Fu Kintae”.
In the past, we’ve represented DJs, concert series and more independent acts.

You can find a list of our clients via http://www.iampragency.com/p/clients.html

R:  How do you find people to represent or do they fine you?

O: We received lots of business referrals, or usually I receive inquiries from musicians directly in my inbox.

R:  If any of our readers are interested in becoming a PR, what should they do?  Do they need to take certain classes in college?

O: It’s always good to mix theory and practice. They should major in communications, take PR & advertising classes, and definitely some English/writing classes.
Then they should look for internships while they are still attending college and read trade magazines to stay up-to-day with the field.

R:  Where can people get more information about I AM PR Agency.

O: You can visit our world via www.iampragency.com, like us on facebook.com/iampragency, or follow us via Twitter.
Also, they can email me at olivia@iampragency.com

R:  What is the best advice you have ever gotten and by who?

O: Go hard or go home. I’ve heard it from several people.

R:  What are your future goals?

O: I want the agency to represent artists in every music genre, I want to expand to other states and over to Europe in a few years.  My biggest goal right now is to constantly be listed among the top PR firms for indie acts!

R:  Is there anything else you would like to add?

O: Thank you so much for the opportunity Relate Magazine. Keep pushin’ because sky is limit and only g-d can judge me! Let’s go!

R:  Olivia, thank you for the interview.  Have a great day.

Written by Ellen Marie Hawkins

Switchfoot: Vice Verses

I didn’t love Hello Hurricane.  I liked it, but it wasn’t an album that stayed with me.  And for a band that has played through the last decade and a half of my life, I want to love them.

Therein is the reason why I waited to review this album:  I felt like I was protecting myself.  If there was anything disappointing about Vice Verses, I didn’t want to know about it.  But after listening, I discovered that I have another problem altogether.  I don’t have words to describe how good this record is.

Vice Verses starts with “Afterlife,” a song about wanting to feel alive in the here and now and not waiting until we get to heaven to appreciate our existence.  The album closes with “Where I Belong.”  “On the final day I die/I want to hold my head up high/I want to tell you that I tried.”  They go from earnestly appreciating the life that we have on earth to looking at that final moment and knowing that they did their best.  With no regrets.  And tucked neatly in between are songs about searching and struggling and reaching for more that life has to offer.

Musically, this album is all that Hello Hurricane wasn’t.  I don’t get tired of listening to Vice Verses.  And while they haven’t lost their signature sound, if anything, they rock harder than ever, this album is full of something new for them.  Front man Jon speaks some of the lyrics.  I wouldn’t quite call it rapping, but it’s close.  And the most surprising thing about it is that these songs flow with a natural tide, as if Switchfoot has been doing this all along.  In fact, I’m often left wondering why they haven’t done this before.

But my absolute favorite part of Vice Verses is the way the shadows are highlighted by the light.  This album is all about conflict, and not just with the exterior influences of this world, but the very struggles that pervade the soul.  And while all the murkiness of the heart is examined, not once do they relinquish hope.  Just for an example, the song “Restless” is all about yearning, and while it begins with some very dark and lonely lyrics, by the time the song ends, Jon is earnestly singing the lyrics “I can feel you reaching/Pushing through the ceiling/’Til the final healing/I’m looking for you.”  Coupled together with the music that builds throughout the song, I found it to be one of the most uplifting tracks on the album.  “Blinding Light” reexamines doubts again, but their faith is stronger:  “Deep down there’s a hope inside/Brighter than the fears in my mind/I keep looking for the blinding light/It’s the hope that keeps me alive.”

Vice Verses is exceptional.  Switchfoot uses both lyrics and music to reveal the shadows and the light that exposes them.  Whether they are rocking out or singing beautiful melodies, whether they are shouting out their pain or whispering truth, whether they are being introspective or analyzing the world outside, Vice Verses is an honest achievement.  I am left marveling at how well they wrote about my pain, but rather than feeling melancholy, or at best, comforted after listening, I feel inspired and invigorated by the revelations.  While this is an album of contrasts, oddly enough the hurt doesn’t get deeper.  Instead, the hope only shines brighter, the victory that much more possible.

Please visit www.switchfoot.com for more information. Purchase the album on Amazon or be sure to download legally from a digital retailer of your choice.