New Hollow

I'm a little late on writing this one. I've been a fan of this band for a while, but have never posted anything about them until now. If you haven't heard of New Hollow, I don't actually blame you. I would normally say that you've been living under a rock, but not in this case. New Hollow has been around for a while, 2010 to be exact. However, the group of three friends had been playing together since they were in elementary school. Their first single titled "SICK" was released in 2010 and promoted by the clothing store Justice. On Billboards Hot 100 Singles Sales Chart the single was able to beat out Katy Perry's "California Gurls" for the top single of the year. They also sang the National Anthem at the Thanksgiving Day football game between the Cowboys and the Saints. This was only the beginning for New Hollow. 

Chad, Evan, and Mookie

2011 was a major year for them. They became the first and only rock band in history to perform inside the Ohio State House. They also released their second single "Boyfriend". While it only peaked at #96 on the Hot 100 Chart, it climbed to number 1 on the Hot 100 Singles Sales chart. "Boyfriend" defeated "Born This Way" by Lady Gaga for the number one spot on 2011 Singles Sales Chart. They released "Airplanes", a cover by B.o.B and Haylee Williams, as a single that same year. Just like the two singles before it, it was able to be named number one on the Hot 100 Singles Sales chart. They became the first unsigned band without radio play to have three singles be #1 on the charts. "SICK" and "Airplanes" finished #3 and #4, giving them three spots out of the top 5. 

The first time they got airplay was in 2013. This is when I heard them. Sirius XM was playing New Hollow's fourth single "She Ain't You" while I was on my way to school. The unique sound of Evan West's voice pulled me in immediately along with the rock sound and interesting lyrics. I fell in love with the song instantly. I loved the song, but the band didn't really interest me at that point. They didn't have their other singles available on iTunes, so I was only able to get my hands on "She Ain't You". "She Ain't You" won the award for "Breakthrough Song of 2013" beating out songs like "Say Something" and "Let Her Go". (I cried from pride while typing that...) 

The frontman Evan West. (Click to hear his amazing vocals)

I heard their newest song "Why Don't You Love Me" when I decided to creep on their iTunes page. Like before, I instantly fell in love with the song and had to buy it that second. There was just something about their sound, their vocals. I fell even harder for the band when I learned more about them. After I heard "Why Don't You Love Me" I decided to have a little stalking session. I went on all kinds of social media sites to learn about New Hollow. The first place I went was YouTube. Judging by their sound, I had figured that they were an older group, but I was way off. I was left speechless when I saw how young of a band they actually were. As I watched the video for "She Ain't You" I struggled to comprehend the fact that the voice I was hearing was coming from Evan West. It didn't match his looks at all and took me by total surprise. So, my love for them as individuals and as a group grew.

They've only had one song get massive airplay, but they have managed to dominate the Singles Sales Charts and show the world how much talent they had. Mookie Clouse and Evan West are both 19. The youngest of the band, their drummer--Chad Blashford-- is 18. That means that they were about 14 and 15 when they released their first few singles and 16 or 17 when they came out with "She Ain't You". Does they sound like they're that young? If you say yes, you definitely need some help. I consider myself a music expert, and I never would have thought they were that young. They are amazing, talented, and mature artists for their age. You don't hear of a rock band that consists of teenagers very often. Their different, young, talented, and simply amazing. They deserve to get a lot more notice and I mean A LOT! I've seriously never thought that an artist has been so over looked before, except for Paradise Fears maybe. 

Anyways, New Hollow isn't so new anymore, but they are still a young band with a shit ton of potential. You can tell that just by what they accomplished on their own, without a record label.They deserve to get some recognition in the music industry. 

Chocolate, Girls, and Sex

Not to be confused with the year.... I should be kicked off the internet for that. Anyways, if you haven't heard of The 1975 you have definitely been living under a rock. Not only did their fans take over Twitter when they seemed to disappear off of social media and return with pink everything, but they also took the radio waves by storm with their songs "Chocolate", "Girls", and "Sex". Simple titles, great songs. The band left their social media and changed everything to pink to get people wondering what they were up to. Well, it worked. It could be a single, an album, or a tour. Whatever it is I guarantee you it will be epic.
The 1975 isn't exactly mainstream pop. They are an English Indie Rock band, but according to their members they try not to stick to just one genre of music. Their sound is so unique that you can't stop listening to them. Not only are their vocals so different than anything I've heard, but their sound is as well. The instruments that they used aren't used much in today's music, at least not in what you hear on the radio.
The members have great personalities, are relatable, and just adorable! Nobody can resist the sound of their lead singers voice! (Who could resist a British accent?) Members include lead singer Matthew (Matt/Matty) Healy, bass and keyboard player Ross MacDonald, guitar and keyboard player Adam Hann, and drummer George Daniel. They formed the band in 2002. They started by doing covers of punk songs in a local pub. From there they moved to writing and performing their own songs, which got them to where they are now. According the Healy they have been writing together since they were about 15 years old. They gained major respect from me for that. They started writing on their own at a pretty young age. You have to have a pretty good understanding of music and some talent in order to pull that off.
Since they started they have several successful EPs and their debut album. As I mentioned before the world fell in love with their singles "Chocolate" and "Girls", both from their self-titled debut album. They also got attention from their amazing cover of One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful". It's one of the best covers I have ever heard. They were even nominated for a Woodie Award for it. Not to mention they have toured with Muse, The Neighborhood, and have even supported The Rolling Stones. Of course they have gone on their own headlining tours as well. In April of 2014 they played at Coachella.

"What Makes You Beautiful" in the Live Lounge BBC Radio 1

I can't wait to see what The 1975 is up to. They are bound to come up with something genius that will end up being overplayed on the radio, but will still be amazing. Kind of like something Ed Sheeran does. They are an amazing band. I can't believe more people don't know who they are. They know the songs, but they don't know the band. I'll never understand how people do that. When I hear something I like, I do some digging on the band. The 1975 was a great discovery for me and I hope they will be for others. I know they will be. They are irresistible!

Paradise Fears

My newest obsession is with a band from Vermillion South Dakota called Paradise Fears. I absolutely love them. I heard one song and fell in love. Every single song is relatable and lovable. Their music style is classified as Alternative, but they are so much more. They can fit in to the pop-punk and pop-rock categories as well. That's just in my opinion though. I honestly don't think anybody could dislike this band. If you do, I say you're crazy. How can you possibly hate a band that came from a small state like South Dakota? Maybe I have a soft spot for them because I'm from South Dakota... Either way, they are still very talented artists.
The band is rather large with six members. Sam Miller- Vocals; Cole Andre- vocals, guitar, samples, and mandolin; Michael Walker- pianos, keys, vocals; Jordan Merrigan- guitars; Marcus Sand- Bass; Joey Russ- Drums. Lucas Zimmerman was a former member who played the drums. The band formed in 2007 while they were all still in high school. Instead of going to college, they all got full time jobs to pay for their recordings. Then they followed pop punk tours to hand out their debut album Yours Truly to fans waiting in line. They managed to sell 24,000 total copies which made the album peak at number 9 on Billboard's uncharted chart.
They have been on tour with many of my other favorite bands including All Time Low, The Summer Set, The Ready Set, Before You Exit, and The Cab. They have of course toured with many other bands as well. In 2012 they went on their own headlining mini tour. The band has released 7 albums/EPs and they have 11 singles available. They also have put up covers of popular songs on YouTube. Their most popular cover being "Payphone" by Maroon 5. The video racked up over three million views. For being a band from South Dakota they have quite a large following and a great fan-base.
I discovered the band through a friend of mine. I wanted to see what kind of music he was interested in. Paradise Fears was one of them. I had to look them up. Like I said before, I heard one song and fell in love with their sound and their lyrics. It all has meaning and moves me in different ways. Some songs give me motivation others make me feel emotions, brining me to the edge of having a crying session. It's hard to pick a favorite song from these guys. It seems like every song they have is beyond exceptional and I can't help but love it. Recently I've had their song "Fight for Me" on replay. I'm also loving "Yours Truly", "Home", "Sanctuary", and "Hear Me Out". Those are only a few though! Their Spotify is my favorite thing to listen to at the moment.

Anybody that loves emotional music and looks for meaning in what they listen to definitely needs to check out Paradise Fears. If you like All Time Low or even a more preppy band like Before You Exit, you will love them too. They have something for everybody. I think music lovers in general will love them simply because they are such great musicians and writers. They aren't exactly old either. They're fairly young. In case you haven't figured it out by now, I have mad respect for anybody that starts their music career young. It just shows how hard they work and how true their talent is. Paradise Fears should be played on the radio. I think they're great enough to become a household name if they get the airtime they deserve. 

Do you know MKTO?

MKTO! I'm in love. I've been in love! MKTO is an amazing band that has had quite a few hits. The first being an instant classic-- "Classic". They also released "American Dream" as a single which did fairly well on the airways. Their most recent is "Bad Girls". I can't get over this song. No, I can't get over this duo! Malcolm Kelley and Tony Oller are two very talented people who have a back-up band just as talented as them. Their bassist is David Dudley who was also the bassist for Emblem3. That's beside the point though. MKTO is such a talented duo. Just like every other band I've posted about, they should be getting more recognition. It seems like they're finally getting their name out there because they've been performing on morning shows and making other television appearances, but they're pretty much only known for their singles "Classic" and now "Bad Girls". They have so many other songs that should be climbing up the charts and being played on the radio.
What's special about these two is the fact that they met while filming a television show on Nick. So they didn't even meet through the music industry! They decided to form their group shortly after. Their band name seems easy to figure out once you know their names. It's their initials put together. According them it's more than that. To them it also stands for Misfit Kids and Total Outcasts, just like they were in high school. Wow. That speaks to you now doesn't it? They signed with Columbia Records and ended up releasing their first single "Thank You" in January 2013. I love that song and I wish I would have heard it on the radio as often as I heard "Classic".
They've been on tour with one of my favorite bands, Emblem3, twice and have also accompanied Demi Lovato. In the summer of 2014 they went on their own headlining tour. They have one full length album simply titled "MKTO". They don't really fall in to one genre of music. Most of the time it's a great mix between pop and hip-hop. Basically they have great music that will get you up on your feet and moving. They also have an awesome acoustic song ("Wasted") that features only the vocals of Tony and his awesome piano skills. The duo has been nominated twice for Radio Disney Awards.
I don't know what it is about these two that made me fall in love with them and their music so quickly. They are great people with awesome personalities and a butt-load of talent. I guess that's enough to catch my attention. They don't exactly fit in with a lot of the music that is being played on the radio now, but I think they are going to be part of a movement to change that. Just like almost everybody I listen too, they don't follow the mainstream. It seems like they actually try to stay away from it. That's what I love about them. They put in a lot of hard work and deserve the attention that they are finally getting and then some.

Are You Ready?

"I'm ready. I'm ready. I'm ready. I'm ready..." The ever so familiar sound of Spongebob flooded the air waves. But why? AJR decided to take a chance and mix that annoying, but catchy, Spongebob Squarepants sample with their own music to create the hit song titled "I'm Ready". It's the one that took the world by storm and turned the attention of the music world on them. They followed up their first single with another hit called "Infinity", which just so happens to be my favorite. They have also produced one full-length album titled "Living Room" along with several EPs.
It seems like these three brothers are on to something with their different and unique sound. It has been described as 'eclectic', which means deriving ideas, styles, and/or taste from a wide and diverse range of sources. Digging deeper in to their musical style you can tell that they have influence from many different genres including: pop, foo-wop, electronic, and dub step. They have said that their musical influences as far as bands go range from The Beach Boys to Vampire Weekend and Fun. I find that interesting and pretty cool for some odd reason.
AJR is composed of three brothers: Adam (24), Jack (17), and Ryan (21). Hopefully you can see where they got their band name from now. They started the band of brothers in 2006, so they're not exactly new to the music industry. They are simply just getting the attention now that they so rightly deserve. They started out as most bands doing, busking and doing covers of popular songs and posting them on Youtube. Since then they have performed on Good Day New York, Live with Kelly and Michael, and VH1's Big Morning Buzz. Both of their singles have been on Sirius XM radios hit stations and placed in their countdowns a number of times.
Other than the fact that these three are brothers and their sound is a little different, what makes this band so special? Well, for starters they are a completely do it yourself band. They write, record, produce, and mix all of their own stuff in their living room. I'm guessing that's where they got the title for their first album. Adam plays bass guitar and sings. Ryan plays the ukulele, keyboard, and vocals. He also does a lot of the producing. He has written and produced two songs with Andy Grammar. The youngest of the three, Jack, seems to be the most well-rounded when it comes to instruments. He plays guitar, melodica, ukulele, percussion, and the sample machine. On top of all of that, they all like to dabble in the making of their music videos. Apparently a majority of their music video for "Infinity" was directed and produced by the brothers.
These three have an endless amount of talent. It makes me so happy to see that the music world is actually recognizing somebody that is doing something different. They aren't following the crowd in any way, shape or form. Their songs aren't about drugs and partying. They don't do everything in a professional studio and have other people do all the hard work for them. They do everything themselves. I actually think that's something that not a whole lot of people know. They're not made of the same material as every other performer and artist. They're different. And I like it. Judging by their fast growing success, a lot of other people do too.

Hollywood Ending

Recently I've had a lot of sad songs on repeat, but after this album was released I had to switch it up. Hollywood Ending released their first full length, self-titled album. The album is roughly 38 minutes long with 10 amazing songs! If you're looking for something to play as loud as possible and lose control, this is the perfect album. Every song makes you want to get up and move, just rock out along with them. Most of the songs are upbeat, except for one. Every album needs that slower ballad though, right? 

They start out with a catchy song titled "Zero Gravity". It's fun, upbeat, and about heartbreak. They put a fun spin on it and compare it to being out in zero gravity, hence the song title. I believe that this track shows their creativity. It's a great example of the type of music they like to produce and gives you an example of what the rest of the album will sound like, which makes it the perfect opening track. 

The second song on the album is "Breakthrough". It's one of my favorite tracks. Once again, this is upbeat and a prime example of the type of band they are. It's one of the second longest songs on the album, but I'm alright with that because I love, love, love it! The song is about trying to get a girl that's with the wrong guy. The right one is obviously them and they give plenty of reasons why. 

"Courtney Love" is the third song on the album. It's my favorite song because it's fast, fun, and relatable. The first time I heard it, I couldn't wipe the smile off of my face! They showed a lot of personality in this song, which might by why I like it so much. When I say it's relatable, I don't mean in the normal way that song are relatable, like with feelings and what not. It's relatable because it describes a living with bad luck, which is my life! I almost forgot to mention the echoes in the back which are absolutely hilarious.

"Love You Now" has a slightly different sound than the first few. It just shows how flexible they are when it comes to their music. They don't stray far from who they are though. It still has that Hollywood Ending sound that a lot of people are discovering and becoming obsessed with. At this point in my life, I really relate to this song with what I'm going through. I have it on repeat with my other sad songs, but I'm at least able to jam out to this one like a mad women! 

Cameron, Chris, Tyler, Danny

"Perfect" is the song that they released a lyric video for in order to promote the album. It's like the single. I'm in love with this song to. I wish more artists wrote songs similar to this. A lot of songs are about how people look, but they're not like this one. The message is different in a way. You'll have to listen to understand. 

The 6th song on the album is "Fade to Blue". It's the favorite track for band member Dan Geraghty. This one also has a pretty different sound compare to the rest of the tracks on the album. It's not slow, but it's more of a chill song. You can still totally jam out to it, just not as hard core as the others. This song is yet another one that I can easily relate to relationship wise, which is probably why I love it so much. 

"Come on Come on" is the seventh track. To me it's definitely one of the jamming. It's something that I would play when I need to burn off some energy. The sound is similar to All Time Low. If you're a fan of ATL, you'll most likely enjoy this song.

I mentioned before that there was one slow song on this album. That would be this one. "Ghost" is considered the ballad of the album. I'm in love with this song. The first time I heard it, I was honestly shocked by the lyrics. They are deep and meaningful when you really listen to it. Some of it seems pretty simple, but if you look at the deeper meaning, it makes it so much better. This is just another song that shows how versatile they can be with their music and their lyrics. I love it soooo much. It's also the longest song the album. 

"Hypnotized" is their hard core rock song in my opinion. It has kind of a old school vocal sound to it in some parts, which makes it interesting to listen to. It's not hard to figure out what the song is about after listening to the first few seconds of it. It's a different kind of love song if you know what I mean. Every album needs one of those songs though too. It's still extremely fun! 

Always having fun and being themselves = Major brownie points

The last song on the album is the perfect song to close with if you ask me. Their is a tempo change that took me by surprise, so it will most likely take others by surprise too because of it's placement. The lyrics in this song are pretty blunt, which I like. It's a realistic break-up song. When you think about it, there's not that many of them out there. 

If you don't know who Hollywood Ending is, you definitely should go look them up. They have plenty of music out. You're bound to find something that you like by them. They started out on Disney's Next Big Thing, but they have evolved so much from them. They are an awesome, young band. I always think it's amazing when people my age are out doing stuff like this. They're aren't the most well-known band on the planet. I think they need some more recognition. They truly are amazing and deserve all the love they can get. They're true musicians and amazing people.

Soundtrack for the Brokenhearted

This isn't the best playlist of "break up" songs, but they're the songs that I have on repeat. A lot of them bring me to tears, but I always feel better afterwards. I know it's supposed to get better. I'm honestly starting to wonder if the pain really ever does go away...

1) Save Your Heart- Mayday Parade
2) No Good in Goodbye- The Script
3) Waiting for Superman- Daughtry
4) Fool's Gold- One Direction
5) Nothing- The Script
6) Half a Heart- One Direction
7) She Was the One- The Vamps
8) Everything I didn't Say- 5 Seconds of Summer
9) Heartbreak Holiday- MKTO
10) Drunk- Ed Sheeran
11) I Hate This Part- The Pussycat Dolls
12) Life After You- Daughtry
13) Drowning- Conor Maynard
14) Can't Let Go- Faydee
15) Distance- Jack and Jack
16) Bruised and Scarred- Mayday Parade
17) The Memory- Mayday Parade
18) Safe to Say- Playjerise
19) Stitches- Shawn Mendes
20) Hotel Ceiling- Rixton
21) Once in a Lifetime- One Direction
22) Party Girl- Dan and Shay