Make Way For The Kings

EMBLEM3 IS BACK BABY! The band reunited late last year. This meant this dismemberment of The Balcony (Wesley and Kenny Holland), Never Getting Older (Keaton's band), and the end of Drew's solo career. They made it clear they were going to come back and be better than ever when they released their first cover, "Hello", in October with Drew back. They proved themselves by dropping their first single in almost 3 years. Yesterday they released "Now" and blew up social media. They were the number one trend on Twitter for most of the evening. They interacted a lot with fans. I even managed to get the band account to follow me. The only follow I need now is Drew's. That's not the point though.
This is the realest song they have ever done. They really did pour everything they had in to this. They captured the bond that they have between each other and the bond they have with their loyal fans. The lyrics apologized to the fandom. The trio also touched on how people were labeling them without understanding them and that "their business plan" was the real reason why the band had split. Drew spits fire in the versus. Keaton's amazing vocal range allows for a great chorus and amazing back up/acapella style in the versus. Wes' voice smoothly belts out the chorus. "Now" is simply a musical masterpiece.
 I am SO in love with this song and the meaning behind it. Nobody that's not an Emblem will fully understand this. They might not even understand it at all. This song was written for them and for the fandom. It definitely shows how much they care about what they do and the people that have been there to support them. This is there comeback. They're better and stronger then before. I can't wait for them to release an album! And there is an album coming. Stay tuned!

Ooh ooh ooh

Make way for the kings

When E3 steps back in the scene

Just a couple bros, a guitar & a dream

Everything we need to achieve anything

'Cause we got lil' Keats on the Mac making beats

Got Wesley on the mic, he can sing

Me on the side, been banging these strings

Pretty much the same kids since sixteen

But NOW we're back making waves like the typhoon

Couple kids and a million dollar tychoon

Climbing up the Billboard,

Climbing up the iTunes,

Screaming baby, baby

Baby, we're back,

Did you miss me? miss me?

Here on this track

Are you listening listening?

I'm in the stars, yeah

And I'm never coming down 

Oh ooh

No one can stop us now!

Ooh ooh ooh

You see, certain people tried to brand us

Without taking the time to understand us,

I get the fact there's a business plan but,

That shit damn near broke the band up

And this might seem random

But I got to give a shout out to the fandom (I Love You!)

Been a couple years and you all stuck around and

It means more than you'll ever understand 

'Cause we do it for the buzz when we get up on the stage

High like a drug straight shot to the veins

We don't do it for the money, we don't do it for the fame!

We do it for the love and it's never gonna change!

Baby we're back,

Did you miss me? miss me?

Here on this track

Are you listening listening?

I'm in the stars, yeah

And I'm never coming down 

Oh ooh

No one can stop us now!

Ooh ooh ooh

No one can stop us now!

Ye-yeah,

And I'm never coming down,

No one can stop us now!

Open Letter to One Direction

Dear One Direction,
5 years, 3 months, and 17 days ago the five of you were put in to a group. At the time you didn't have any clue how that moment would change your lives. You didn't know that that moment would change the lives of thousands of people, including my own. You walked in completely clueless, with no idea what you were doing. You walked out with more knowledge and life experience than most people will ever get. The 5 of you were more than happy to share it all with hundreds of people you've never met. You guys were and still are an inspiration, friends to many, family to others, and a constant comfort for thousands. One Direction kept going after losing the X-Factor. You became the biggest band on the planet. You kept going after losing family, friends, and eventually your freedom. You literally gave up everything to give your fans everything they ever needed or wanted.
I'm the fan that never saw you in person. I didn't spend hours trying to gain your attention. I listened to your music instead and realized that I already had your attention. I didn't pay attention to the amount of awards you won. I paid attention to all the good you did in the world. By finding meaning and inspiration in the band and in your individuality, I was able to find a little light during a dark time in my life. Ever since then One Direction has been a constant in my life. I was always able to escape with a song or a video. I gained the false impression that you would always be together, always be there. Now I'm saying thank you, good-bye, and letting go.
Thank you for being an escape. I know you still will be. This isn't really good-bye either. You promised to never really leave us. Your music will always be there no matter what. That will be there whether you're together or apart. The meaning in the music and behind the band will still exist. I will still have an escape. It will just be nothing new. Thank you for 5 years of new music, videos, concerts, interviews, and other random means of escape for me and many others. Thank you for giving me a huge family of people that feel similar to the way I do, that understand and relate. Thank you for giving up your lives to make me feel better about my own. Thank you for giving me hope. Most importantly, thank you for helping me find happiness again. Thank you for helping me become me. Thank you for being there when no one else was. This isn't good-bye. It's more like see you later. But I am letting go and moving on. Thank you!
You loved the time you were together. Now enjoy the time you have apart. Take the break that you all so well deserve. Just make sure that you don't forget about us because there is no way that we will ever be able to forget about you.
Love,
The Directioners

SOUNDS GOOD FEELS GOOD

Sounds good. Feels better. The new 5SOS album is pure gold. Granted, I am a little bias because I am a huge fan of the group, but I am not the only one praising the work produced by these fine young lads and a few of their friends and idols. Many people admire the fact that, yes, the album is a little "soft" for being considered punk, but they are still able to channel that genre clearly in certain songs and with certain lyrics. While doing this, they also managed to gear all of their songs towards their audience lyrical wise. The band is well aware of the struggles that their fans go through and who is in their fan base age wise. They did a great job making the album appropriate for them while still making it enjoyable for those that don't exactly fit in to the group.
I'm not going to take a huge musical stance on the album. They showed off their instrumental talent by crushing guitar solos and mastering difficult, yet catchy riffs. Don't even get me started on the imperfectly perfect vocals provided by every member of the band. My judgement is a lot more based on the meaning behind it all. Every single song on that album has a meaning in it that is clear to find. The title of the album fits it very VERY well. You definitely feel something after listening to it. If you can't catch the overall meaning of it or the messages in the songs, then it's time to exit their fandom.
This album has a lot of meaning to the four Aussies. It's literally their life. You can hear the emotions they were feeling when they wrote the songs through the vocals. Every song tells a story of some kind. You just have to listen and find it. Some of them are more clear than others. "Broken Home" was a major shout out from drummer Ashton Irwin. Fans caught on to this immediately after the album was released and got the song title trending on Twitter. Invisible easily puts the focus on feeling like you don't belong and don't really matter to the world, but at the same time it delivers the message that you've got to stay positive. The longest song on the album "Outer Space/Carry On" is basically about the same thing, but it focuses more on the message of carrying on.
It's obvious to me that this album was also meant to start a movement within their fandom. They've got to start somewhere, right? They were able to rally their fans in to the New Broken Scene before the record was released. Then in the first single "She's Kinda Hot", they delivered the explanation for The New Broken Scene. "They say we're losers and we're alright with that. We are the leaders of the not coming backs." "Hey Everybody" is an uplifting song that screams at you to realize that you don't have to live your life the way people want you to. "Hey everybody, we don't have to live this way." My favorite? "Permanent Vacation". This is the first song that comes to my head when I think about this movement that the band is starting. Every verse in that song is a diss towards the way we live. The end verses Michael sings, "Congratulations, your imitations are taking over the radio stations. Corporations, calculations. We're the voice of the new generation." A bold statement for the band, but needless to say, a very true one. This song is the anthem for The New Broken Scene. (In my opinion anyways.)
Okay, this has gotten lengthy enough. Bottom line is that this album means a lot to me and the boys themselves. If you're in to the whole lyrical meaning things, you'll love this. If you like punk-pop, then you'll find something to love on here. More of the "She Looks So Perfect" type? No problem. You can probably find your new favorite song on here. Sounds Good Feels isn't the best album, but it's pretty damn amazing. They are progressing greatly as a band. I can't wait for their third album!

The Summer Set!

The Summer Set has been a band since 2007. I've listened to them for a few years now, but obsession with them didn't start until this year. I honestly can't blame you if you haven't heard of them. However, you are missing out on an amazing band! The Summer Set is considered to be a pop-rock/pop-punk group, but power pop and alternative rock can be used to describe some of their songs. They have a unique sound. Most of it comes from the vocals of their lead singer Brain Logan Dales. The band also consists of John Gomez (guitar, piano, back-up vocals), Stephen James Gomez (bass), Josh Montgomery (guitar), and Jess Bowen (drums). Dillon Morris was a former member who played the guitar. The band is associated with many of my favorite bands like Paradise Fears and All Time Low, which is how I got so interested in them this year.
The band has released 8 albums and has gone through 3 labels. Their first EP, "Love The Love You Have EP", was self-released in 2007. They were picked up by the label, Militia Group. After they were signed they released two more EPs in 2008, "In Color" and "Meet Me on the Left Coast". They switched labels to Razor and Tie and released a fourth EP, "Love like This". In 2010 they expanded the album and re-titled it "Love Like Swift". In 2011 they put out a full length album, "Everything's Fine", along with another EP, "What Money Can't Buy". In 2012 they were picked up by their current label Fearless Records. Under their new label, they released their second full length album, "Legendary", in 2013. They band is currently working on a third album. All information about it is yet to be announced. It's rumored that it will be released in 2015, if so, they're running out of time!
The band refers to their fans as Half Moon Kids. This name was given to their fandom after "Legendary" was released. With the Half Moon Kids in mind, the band started the Legendary Moments Campaign. They helped various fans along with their own band members achieve life long goals. During this time, they were also awarded with Macy's iHeartradio Rising Star award. Their performance of "Lightening in a Bottle" during Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was televised. Clearly 2013, was a huge year for the band!
The Summer Set has constantly put out music throughout their years as a band. It also seems like they've constantly been on tour since 2009. They opened for Alternative Press's AP Tour that year and have been touring ever since. In 2010 they payed Bamboozled Festival and Vans Warped Tour. 2001 consisted of the free OurZone Magazine tour in the UK and the Dirty Work Tour with All Time Low. They took a break from touring in 2012 only to pick up again in 2013 when they did another Vans Warped Tour. In 2014 they toured across the UK with Paradise Fears. (I would've killed to go to that tour!) They also did an acoustic tour to promote their "Legendary" album and played Vans Warped for the third time.

For not being very well known, they have accomplished a lot as a band. I'm proud to say that I am a Half Moon Kid. I love, love, love this band. Their sound is so unique that it always gives me goosebumps. If you're seriously looking for something new, you need to check them out! I almost forgot to mention that they are very entertaining people. Brain Logan Dales is extremely nice to look at and his personality will draw you in immediately. They personalities reflect in their music, which is probably why I love them so much. If you want to know what I'm talking about, I recommend listening to "Legendary" first. That is where the addiction starts! One listen and you'll be hooked. Good Luck! :)

The End of the World.... Tour Starring 5SOS

I am drowning in tears of emotion because my four young boys from Sydney Australia finished their first ever headlining world tour. I think I'm taking this harder than the end of their tours with One Direction. And that was the end of an era! It was two years of 5SOS and 1D. Now 5 Seconds of Summer are off on their own, headlining their own shows around the world. They went from filming in a bedroom with pink speakers, to playing gigs with 12 people, and ended up with a headlining world tour, playing to hundreds-sometimes thousands-of people every night.
If you don't know who 5SOS is, you're going to have to use this awesome thing called Google. I could go on forever over these boys. The basics I can handle. Despite their name, their are only 4 members. Luke Hemmings (guitar), Ashton Irwin (percussion), Calum Hood (bass), Michael Clifford (guitar). All four contribute vocals, but Luke is the front man. Ashton is the oldest at 21. The rest are 19. The band started out with just Luke, Calum, and Michael. Ashton joined shortly before their first gig. The band has released multiple EPs and two full length CDs. They have won plenty of awards in the short amount of time they've been in the spotlight. Most recently, they won MTVs Song of the Summer for the second year in a row. The first was because of their first single "She Looks So Perfect". This year the fuss was all about "She's Kinda Hot". The band has also started their own record company called "Hi or Hey Records". Also, they are punk-rock. Punk-pop is acceptable, but they are NOT a boy band.

As many people already know, they got a huge helping hand from One Direction when they were asked to open for them on their Take Me Home tour. They asked them to come back for parts of their Where We Are tour. So, yes, a good portion of their fan base are Directioners, but 5SOS still has a die-hard fandom that I'm proud to be a part of. The fans are what makes the band. The boys realize that. It's one of the reasons I love them so much. They know they owe everything to their fans and they give back everything they have. They are such down to earth amazing musicians. I honestly can't imagine my life without them in it. They have had a huge influence on me and the person that I am today. I have a lot to thank them for. They always tell their fans that they have a lot to thank us for, but really it's the least we could do.
I was lucky enough to attend one of their concerts for this tour, Rock Out With Your Socks Out. (Amazing name btw!) It was literally the best night of my life. The only time I have ever cried from joy was when my purchase went through for my tickets. The second time I cried because of happiness was when I saw the four of them walk out on to the stage in front of me. They put on the best show I have ever seen. They were bouncing all around, interacting with each other and the crowd, and they never missed a beat. They performed songs that haven't been released yet, their most popular ones, and for the ones that have been there since the beginning they played a few of their originals. They managed to make everyone feel welcome and comfortable. The best part was that they didn't hold back and hide who they really are. They were on stage doing what they love and being their weird, funny, adorable selves. They have a special talent that not many people posses.
The best part is that they're using their talent to spread a message, to show support for people who are struggling. They are using their name and talent to raise their voices and shed some light on issues and people that get over-looked. Towards the end of the tour, they announced that they are releasing their second full length album "Sounds Good Feels Good". Along with that, they started a new age. The age of the New Broken Scene. It's something that their fans can get behind, support, and allows them to be themselves according to the band. How many people create something just so their fans feel like they belong to something important? Actually, to show them that they are a part of something important. So, not only was it the end of their first world tour (cue tears), it was the start of something new, exciting, and meaningful. I wish that these boys could've stayed my little secret, but I am overwhelmed with joy that they are making a name for themselves and doing something to make a difference. They deserve the world. They've come so far and learned so much, but we still don't know if it's hi or hey.

Fandom Mania!

This month has been super crazy for anyone in a fandom. There was drama, tours, music releases, and celebrations. I've never been so overwhelmed with so much musical news. It seemed like no fandom was safe. Some of the trends on social media weren't even music related, but instead connected to Vine stars and the drama in their world. I love Vine and music, so this month has been completely mental. I'll start off with the drama and not so good news. I figure it will be nice to end this on a high note! 

First, I'm going to mention something/someone not music related. Carter Reynolds. If you haven't heard of him then you won't be reading this because you don't have access to the internet. Carter has been in the middle of an Oral Sex video leak followed by death threats which led Carter to have suicidal thoughts. It's impossible for anyone to state their opinion on this topic without offending someone. I am going to say that I feel for Carter. He doesn't deserve what he's been through and still dealing with. Everybody makes mistakes. He has apologized for his repeatedly and has been trying to make things better. This "sexual assault" on his girlfriend at the time was hardly a sexual assault. That's coming from someone who was been through over three of them. You can dislike Carter for what he did and said to Maggie (his ex-girlfriend), but sending him death threats and telling him to kill himself was and still is completely unnecessary. Maggie said that she was sent to the hospital under suicide watch, but yet she was posting videos of her dancing on Snapchat and staying active on other social media platforms. As I have stayed a couple days in an institute before, I can personally tell you that she was just winding people up. You are not allowed to have cells phones while there. If you are in the hospital, you would not be "whipping" around your room to entertain your Snapchat followers. This caused Carter to get more backlash and push him to the point of trying to commit suicide. People said he was faking and continued sending hate. If you did that, you are just as much of a low life as you think Carter is.

Kenny and Wes' first single together

Keaton performing with NGO live

The drama in the music industry isn't quite as serious as that. Taylor Swift and Nikki Minaj started a Twitter war over the VMAs music video of the year award. Honestly I couldn't care less because I'm not fond of either artist and I don't think either of them deserve to be nominated for the award. More important news for me would be the fact that the me members of Emblem3 have decided to work on separate projects. Wesley Stromberg has started a project called The Balcony with Kenny Holland. Keaton Stromberg has started his own band, "Never Getting Older", and they've already had their first live show together. (It was amazing by the way) The two say that Emblem3 is still together, but fans are starting to think that they are approaching the end. Just yesterday, a majority of the Emblems found out that Wesley and Kenny were moving to Washington together, Wes' hometown. Keaton remains in Cali along with Tyler Case as far as I know. Neither of them have spoken about the change. I'm waiting anxiously waiting on the edge of my seat for one of them to mention the future of Emblem3.

He'd be a good dad though!

Let's talk about Daddy Directioner now. And no, I'm not talking about Liam Payne.  Mr. Louis Tomlinson is rumored to be expecting a child. I don't want to touch on this subject too much either. Not because it's a touchy subject, but because it's as I said, a rumor. Neither the supposed mother Briana Jungwirth or Louis Tomlinson have spoken about the baby. Louis' band mates haven't said anything publicly either, however "sources" say that his bandmates are happy for them. An interviewer also asked the members of 5 Seconds of Summer what they thought of the baby news. All four them didn't have much to say because they didn't know much of it and Louis hadn't told them anything, but either way they are happy for Louis.

BYE and The Vamps having a night out

On to the happy news! I'll continue on about the biggest band on the planet. One Direction celebrated their 5 year anniversary together yesterday. 5 years of that band. Amazing. I'm going to start crying thinking about it. They have been through so much together and are obviously still going through a lot. It was heartbreaking to be celebrating the huge accomplishment without Zayn Malik, but the Directioner's still made the day a huge success.
Want some more music news? Before You Exit has joined The Vamps and The Tide for a tour. So many bromances are starting to form! On top of that, they signed on to their first real record label and released a single titled "Model". The band claims that it is the song they are proudest of and couldn't have imagined a better reaction from their fans. I personally believe that "Model" is a great song with an awesome message in it. At the moment it's one of my favorite songs. Two more of my favorite artists have released new music. Conor Maynard's single "Royalty" has been out for a while, but not available for download on American iTunes. Finally, it was released in America and I couldn't be happier. It's quite a tune. Check it out!
Last but not least, "She's Kinda Hot". I didn't think that I could fall more in love with 5 Seconds of Summer, but I was completely wrong. This song is literally my anthem. It's says everything that I've ever thought about society and my own life. They are one of the few bands that aren't afraid to go against the mainstream crap and the pattern everybody else set. This song is lyrically genius. A lot of people are overlooking the actual meaning behind the song. I find that sad because that's what makes the song so amazing. It's not the band going full on punk/pop rock or Ashton's kick ass vocal solo the whole fandom has been waiting for. It's the message in the lyrics.
So yeah! July has been epically hectic! I'll be ending it on a high note though with my 5 Seconds of Summer concert! Hopefully nothing too upsetting happens before then, but with fandoms like these, you never know what will happen next!