Andrew Belle

Black Bear Tour

House of Blues, Dallas

March 11, 2014

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              I want you to take a moment and think of the optimal place to meet someone for the first time. What’s the mood like? Is there music playing in the background? Are you at the local Starbucks, aromatic coffee beans filling your frost-bitten nose? Do you have your place? Good. Now I want you to imagine walking into an empty Office Depot, employees suspiciously on the heels of you and a group of guys you met minutes ago headed towards the furniture section. It may have not been my first choice for an interview with Dallas-based band Vandfald, but it’s definitely an experience I will never forget.

            The band originally consisted of brothers Matt and Josh Lucas (lead vocals/keyboard and guitar/vocals), but has since welcomed bass player Asher Gleason and drummer Allan Torres. Although the four are still trying to work out the kinks as a band, the group was so comfortable around each other that it was hard to believe that Gleason and Torres have been members for less than a year. All four grew up around music and started playing their respective instruments at a young age. Their families have been supportive of the boys’ musical talents from the beginning, as they all received instruments as gifts (with the exception of Allan, whose parents originally bought him an electric guitar because they didn’t want drums in the house).

            After a creative process of about two to three years, the band released their first album, titled Fall Out, on June 25, 2013. The album draws inspiration from the loss of the Lucases grandfather and friends. As Matt puts it, the album is really about “falling out and escaping from everything, even if it’s just for a brief moment in time.” To put it simply, Fall Out is basically a collection of songs about life. It’s about the people that mean the most to you- friends and family, as well as the places you go and the people you meet. Recently, the band opened for Switchfoot at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington and had the music video for their song “Kingdom” featured on Coldplay’s website.

            As the band looks forward to the future, they want to make sure they stay true to themselves and write music that means something to them. Unlike many of the bands we’re exposed to nowadays, the band seems to just be happy playing music. Whether they make it big or not, it’s clear from their love of music that they’ll be playing for quite some time. Vandfald wants to be known as “being guys you can hang out with and that are humble about their music”, and I have no doubt that they will be just that. I mean, who else do you know that would be down with spending their Saturday afternoon talking about music in an Office Depot?

These days, it seems all too common to find shallow pop songs that repeat one line, rather than offering a myriad of meaningful lyrics, cluttering the charts.  Every once in a while, the public will latch onto a song with real depth and squeeze it between the latest Nicki Minaj and Katy Perry tunes, finally offering us a glimpse at what more the music world can offer us.  Even then, there are so many hidden gems waiting to be discovered; so many musicians not receiving the attention and adoration that they so deserve.

It seems peculiar that the songs that occupy our cities' radio stations, created solely with the goal of making money, are all written by groups of people.  This particular trend makes finding a song with real lyrics and emotions invested in it all the more magical.  Imagine our excitement when we were introduced to Brett Steinberg - a singer/songwriter who does everything himself, from his raspy vocals to the intricate instrumentals - and his album "Until We See The Sun." Steinberg spent eight months delicately crafting his 14-track album, investing precious time and emotion and pumping it full of his signature heartfelt lyricism.

The album starts off strong with "Not Turning Back", a soulful song with hints of blues and rock.  The opening track features an electric guitar intro that evokes a John Mayer vibe, backed up by some stand-out vocals.  With lyrics like "No more worries for tomorrow, hit the open road today, not gonna stand here and wait for sorrow to knock me down when it's too late", Steinberg motivates his listeners to go out and live today- carefree and without worry.  Following the album's intro song is "Saturday Night" - a playful song infused with an upbeat tune and a little bit of spunk.  In this cute love song, Steinberg's serenading is sure to make any girl swoon.

The album then moves on to "Until We See The Sun", an inspirational song about living your life even though you don't know where you're going or what kind of impact you'll have.  Life may be confusing and treacherous, but it's worth it.  As Brett says, "faith in something good leads me onward."  Sometimes, we just need to have something to believe in that's worthwhile to propel us forward.  Next up is the über relatable piano-rock hit, "Gone By Daylight (She Is)".  Steinberg puts his emotions and experiences on display for all to hear in his vulnerable lyrics.  This song tells the story of somebody who is completely head-over-heels for a person who toys with their emotions and doesn't reciprocate their feelings. "This love is something I don't understand," Steinberg states, a line that nearly anybody can identify with.  So often we get caught up in a love that makes no sense to us and makes us absolutely crazy.  We can't figure out why, but we can't get enough whether we know that it's an unhealthy relationship or not.

"Gone By Daylight (She Is)" then leads into the album's fifth track, "Made Me Feel Alive".  This song contains hints of it's predecessor, with both mentioning intense feelings and referencing dream-like states.  The slow ballad is about waking up to an illusion-shattering reality after being controlled and consumed by your feelings and passion for somebody.  It depicts somebody who is stuck in a place where things have been left unresolved and not knowing where they stand.  The next addition to the album is "You Want Her" - a funky, slow tune about being afraid to go after somebody you so terribly desire. It's bluesy-rock vibe is one anyone can groove to. Lines like "you want her, but you just don't got the nerve to say it" push us all to realize that we all have or have had someone in our lives who we crave so much that it hurts us to the very core, and we should pursue them.

The perky piano intro into "For You" immediately changes the mood.  A sweet track about doing anything for somebody you feel strongly about, this addition to Steinberg's collection of love songs could melt even the coldest hearts. "What if I said that you're the only one I see?" he croons. "My words might not convince you, but my actions give them meaning." Take note, everybody. If you want someone, you have to keep showing it, not just telling them.  Things slow down a tad when the album transitions into "Come Back Home", a ballad with an interesting blend of piano and drums.  This song, about learning from your mistakes and pleading for your other half to come home after things got rough, is sure to tug on your heart-strings.

"In Control" and "Twenty Years" are two additions to Steinberg's collection of upbeat, piano-driven tunes.  The former takes us to a place where we can all take control of our own lives and heal from our pasts. The Christmas bells in the background give the song a cheery mood that anybody is sure to appreciate.

Without a doubt, the most unique track on the album is "Hopeful Wanderers." A song without lyrics, it is both relaxing and inspiring.  This beautiful track stirs something up inside of you that cannot exactly be explained.  A nice break between songs, the song displays Steinberg's signature piano skills.  Following the stellar instrumental is "Teach Me", a slightly upbeat track with a faint air of darkness.  This song is about learning to be stronger and missing a part of you that you need to find again.

Closing out the album are "Come Clear" and "We'll Be Okay."  "Come Clear" plays out the difficulties of loving somebody who can't be close to you.  "Nothing that's worth fighting for is easy," he sings, reminding us to keep fighting for what we believe in.  "We'll Be Okay" ends the album on a high note - somewhat literally.  This track displays Steinberg's impressive vocal range.  In this final song, he assures us all that things WILL be okay.

"Until We See The Sun" takes us through the mind and experiences of its creator.  We go on a journey with Steinberg, witnessing a range of highs and lows, from adventuring with your closest friends to the aches that come with so desperately desiring somebody.  The fact that the artist writes and records all of his music on his own displays the honesty and sincerity he focuses on in his songs.  The amount of time and effort Steinberg invests in his music is refreshing and is apparent in every song.

While clear that he is a fairly new artist whose work and vocals could still use some development, the work he has put out is quite impressive. Keep an eye out for this singer/songwriter- he has a huge amount of potential. 

            Five years ago, Brett Steinberg sang the National Anthem at his middle school’s field day. Since then, he has not only learned to play both the piano and acoustic guitar, but has also been a part of a band in addition to his current solo project. Over the last two years, he’s written and recorded over 50 songs, 13 of which were recently released as part of his album Until We See The Sun.

            Although Brett didn’t grow up singing or playing instruments, music has always been a big part of his life.  He grew up in a musically inclined family as his mom played piano and his dad frequently showed him songs by artists such as The Beatles and The Eagles. When he started singing around fourth or fifth grade, his mom had him sing along with her while she played. He credits these moments with his parents as being what brought him out of his shell in regards to singing and playing music. Shortly after realizing his love for singing, he discovered John Mayer and Coldplay, both of which “made [him] feel something [he] had never felt before with music.” Like most of us just discovering the incredible world of music, at first he isolated himself from most of what was out there. Today, however, he’s a fan of finding new music from all reaches of the industry, whether it is someone no one’s ever heard of or an extremely well known artist.

            Unlike most artists nowadays, Steinberg recorded his album completely on his own. Being new to the recording process, he was more comfortable doing everything on his own rather than in a big studio with a producer. This not only saved costs, but also allowed Brett to go through the entire process of writing and creating the album alone so he could make something he was really proud of. After a year of writing, he recorded all of the instruments and vocals on his computer over a period of eight months to produce the 14 track album that is Until We See The Sun. The album, which was released on December 17, 2013, has received amazing support for a fairly new artist.

            One of my favorite things in the world is meeting artists and being able to tell just how much genuine passion they possess for what they do. No question about it, Brett Steinberg is one of those people. The look of complete elation on his face when he talked about the rewards of creating a song, no matter if it’s terrible or great, is one that I’ve seen in very few people. Another rare quality he possesses is his capacity to accept feedback and grow from it. Negative feedback is fine, he says, “as long as it’s said with good intent to help you grow.” Steinberg also likes feedback because it makes the experience less isolated since the recording process was extremely disengaged. Whether he experiences success or not, he wants to make sure he remains himself and is still good person by being modest when he stumbles upon success and not being bitter when things don’t work out.

            Some of my favorite artists found their way into my heart by instilling an authentic sense of hope in me through their music, and Steinberg wants to do just that. He not only wants to take people on a journey with his music during the light and dark times of their lives, but also wants to provide a sense of realness. Like everyone, his life hasn’t been perfect, but he hopes that by the end of the album people realize “that life is still beautiful and it’s worth every second of it.” By seeing that he’s been there too, he aspires to give people a sincere sense of hope instead of the sort of false, “bubblegum” hope songs today have.

            In 2014, he hopes to consistently book shows around his hometown and possibly book a small-scale tour around Connecticut when he gets out of college for the summer. In regards to recording, he wants to spend the year varying his writing style and creating a wider range of songs that could hopefully lead to his next album. Whether you’ve been a fan for a while or this is your first time hearing his name, hop along for the ride. I have a feeling that 2014 is going to be a very big year for Brett Steinberg. 

Since we’ve never done something like this before, I figured I might explain what the heck we’re doing. This segment is what I like to call iTunes Roundup, which is basically a few newly released albums on iTunes that caught my eye, and I thought were worth sharing! I hope it’s something you’ll enjoy, and that we’ll get to do more of.

-A Great Big World: Composed of not-so-newcomers Ian Axel and Chad Vaccarino, the pop duo formed in 2010 while studying music business at New York University. They have released 2 EP’s, and their full length album is expected later this year. They’ve reached top charts recently with their song, Say Something, featuring Christina Aguilera, but fear not—their sound is full of upbeat, feel-good songs that will make you want to dance around your room and sing into a hairbrush. From the heart-wrenching ballad, Say Something, to the upbeat and easily relatable, I Really Want It, A Great Big World’s songs are about things people can easily relate to. I expect big things from them! Definitely an artist to watch!

-Bastille: Also another recent chart-topping artist, the London-based Bastille has released a new album, All This Bad Blood, to follow their 2013 album, Bad Blood. I was very excited to hear about this, because I’m a big fan of Bastille’s sound. All This Bad Blood is a collection of songs off of Bad Blood, including their top-40 hit, Pompeii, title track, Bad Blood, as well as a handful of new tracks. These new tracks stay true to the Bastille that we have come to love, with their synthetic beats, plenty of chanting, and layered harmonies. All This Bad Blood features many upbeat songs, with almost Ed Sheeran-esque “rap” stylings, quick paced beats, and a beautiful and chilling “cover” or inclusion, really, of Oh Holy Night in the track Tuning Out. With their unconventional methods, Bastille has carved themselves a unique niche in the music business that I believe will allow them to stick around for a long while. All This Bad Blood just dropped yesterday (January 14), so definitely pick it up on iTunes!

-Painted Palms: Unlike the previous two bands, I had never heard of Painted Palms before, so bear with me as I stumble through this research and review. If you haven’t noticed, I tried to go with a “theme” this week, as A Great Big World and Bastille, are in the “alternative” sound grouping on iTunes, and Painted Palms is no different. Painted Palms is a group from San Francisco, California, often described as “psych-pop”. Although the group has released several EP’s previously, this is their debut LP. Ironically for the band, the January-released LP feels a bit out of place with its summery feeling album with it’s lustrous harmonies, and radiant reverb. With mostly upbeat tracks, this LP is great to play to pull you out of a gloomy winter mood, and prepare for spring break and summer! With surf-rock feeling melodies, it’s a sure-fire way to bring some sun into your day. Definitely worth picking up!

            It’s Saturday night and I’m tucked up in the corner of a cozy coffee shop in Deep Ellum with one of my best friends. I take a gulp of water to wash down the divine French toast I just ate as two guys walk in, scan the room and head towards our table. As I look up from my plate, I’m greeted with smiles from two people that look as if they don’t mind spending the time before they hit the stage tonight talking to two teenage girls about their music. They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression, that people never forget their first impression of you, and rightly so, as that night was a first impression I will never forget.

            In just under two years of existence, The Vantage has accomplished things most unsigned bands only dream of. Although the band went into the recording process for “On My Way” lacking a serious attitude, it was obvious that the pop-rock duo had potential for something great. After playing SXSW without a released album, they released the Summer EP and then spent the summer filming the flipbook music video for “On My Way”. The Vantage then decided to re-release the songs off the Summer EP as This Time Now in order to properly put themselves and their songs out there for the public, as the first EP wasn’t pushed as much as they wanted it to be. Clearly, this strategy worked well for the band, as they’ve appeared on the iTunes Ahead Of The Curve section twice since the release of their two EP’s. “On My Way” was also featured on ABC’s The Vineyard in July 2013. Since the release of This Time Now, the band has recorded a full-length album set to release sometime this year.

            As guitarist and vocalist Jackson Wise put it, this new album will be “an evolution from what you’ve already heard.” He and James Mason (vocals) believe that the EP they put out was more of a sampler of what they wanted to sound like at the time- a rough sketch of who they were, but not as defined as they would have liked. The full-length, however, is more of a complete body of work. The new album will also have less of an acoustic feel compared to the light, summery feel of This Time Now. In the process of recording, the duo has grown up and established their identity as a band, which will no doubt be strengthened as time goes on.

            The two have always been hard working, but in 2014 they plan to work even harder to get their music out there. I could tell even from the twenty or so minutes that we sat with The Vantage that their music is extremely important to them. Beneath the carefree and jovial exterior are two men that believe in the words and stories they create and want to see them last. Many people in the music business want to be remembered for fame or how many number one hits they had, but this duo wants something even more important: longevity and a ride to remember. The ups and downs are what make life interesting, and the two welcome the idea that you can’t always be on top. Like Mason says, you can’t always be Batman. “Sometimes you’ve got to be a little bit of a Dark Knight” and hit those lows. The Vantage wants to be the band that you keep coming back to no matter how many times you’ve listened to their music, not one of the one hit wonders; with down-to-earth personalities that make you feel like you’ve known them forever and songs I just can’t seem to get out of my head, I have no doubt that people will do just that.