Manhattan Roar

www.myspace.com/manhattanroar

Hailing all the way from Florida, Manhattan Roar and prepared to invade and take over the musical airwaves with their unique indie sounding tunes and their smooth vocals. Having celebrated their one year anniversary of being a band together merely 7 months ago, the teamwork that they possess and the commitment that they portray is what keeps their music alive and what keeps their music so fascinating. Here at Sounds, we may not understand what it's like to be talented musicians but we were lucky enough to get in touch with the four 'strapping young lads' that are and that bring you the soothing tunes of Manhattan Roar.

S: How did you guys meet?

MR: we all met via future time travel of the past. so i guess in lamens terms we knew eachother before we were really aware of our own existence.

S: If you could tour with any rapper, who would you tour with and why?

MR: if we could tour with any rapper, it would most definitely be NOTORIOUS BIG. He was an old friend who also used quantum physics to take advantage of time and distance.

S: What was the best and what was the worst live performance that you've ever had, what was the crowd like? Why was it so intense/terrible?

MR: the best preformance we've ever had was our 2nd show in a smaller sized coffee shop. located in Orlando,Fl with a bunch of close friends. it's nice being close to people youre close with.

worst preformance ever was this past weekend at an awful nickelback esq bar.

we all met via future time travel of the past. so i guess in lamens terms we knew eachother before we were really aware of our own existence.

S: What is your biggest accomplishment as a band?

MR: our biggest accomplishment as a band would probably have to be the amount of work we do on a regular basis. i feel that there aren't enough people who know exactly what it takes to be a "functioning" band. other than that possibly winning the regional portion of COLLEGE BATTLE OF THE BANDS. [ we leave for Austin,Texas this wednesday to compete for the semi-finals].

S: Do you guys play covers? If so, what's your favourite cover and why?

MR: we dont preform any music that isnt ours.

our members stay consistent and because we have never changed the lineup we have grown together/apart as human beings. it's a strange relationship.

S: How long has your band been performing together?

MR: we have been preforming for 2 and a half years.

S: Have you changed your line up since you guys started? If so, what was the hardest part about saying goodbye to your other members?

MR: our members stay consistent and because we have never changed the lineup we have grown together/apart as human beings. it's a strange relationship.

we dont preform any music that isnt ours.

S: What's a song you wish you had written?

MR: we wish we wrote Halleljulah

S: What are some activities you guys do as a band?

MR: currently we dont really engage in too many activities together outside of band.

[besides individual dating]

S: Who gets the most girls/boys in the band?

MR: the order goes like this [to date]

Bryan-13 girls, 5 boys

Chad-27 girls,2 boys

justin-2 girls, 27 boys

Taylor-1 girl, 19 boys

Joel-3 1/2 girls,74,392 boys

Check out their song, Astronaut God via the YouTube video below!

SlowMotionNoise

www.myspace.com/slowmotionnoise

Hey guys! We're bringing SlowMotionNoise to your attention because...well, to put it simply, this band is kick ass. With their poppy and upbeat tunes constructed by a grouping of guitar, synth, and bass and their gorgeous vocals captured by the talent of their lead singers, they never fail to impress their listeners. Hailing from Burlington, Ontario, this local act inspired us to do things that we never would have thought of before, check out what Sean, Daniel, Kristin, and Jason had to say about some of the questions we asked! The band was awesome enough to send us their own individual answers, so enjoy the insight of everyone individually!

S: Beer or liquor or neither?

Daniel Wright: Liquor

Kristin Cavarzan: Liquor

Jason Haist: Both

Sean Sheridan: Liquor!

S: Do you guys get nervous before a show? If not, what other emotions go through your mind before a set?

Daniel Wright: I get super pumped and stoked before a show!

Kristin Cavarzan: Before a show i get nervous, but it's a good nervous. As soon as i hit the stage and get in front of a crowd it's the best feeling ever

Jason Haist: Nah, I got over getting nervous a long time ago. Now I just get really pumped when I'm about to go on stage.

Sean Sheridan: I don't get too nervous anymore, mostly just really excited to get up on stage and entertain the crowd

S: As a band, we're sure that money can be an issue sometimes. Do you have any advice on how to save/splurge cash appropriately?

Daniel Wright: I have a shopping addiction. My advice would be to not go shopping with me.

Kristin Cavarzan: Don't waste your money eating at Mcdonalds, i learned that the hard way

Jason Haist: Well, when it comes to gear and transportation, it's money well spent. Things like photos and myspace layouts are good places to cut down expenses. The best way is to look for up and coming designers/photographers/artists who are trying to develop their portfolio. Sometimes you can get great work for very little money.

Sean Sheridan: Always shop around before deciding on studios, graphic designers, photographers etc.

As soon as i hit the stage and get in front of a crowd it's the best feeling ever

S: Do any of you play video games? If so, what are your favourite games to play?

Daniel Wright: Not really. Only BrickBreaker on my Blackberry if I'm super bored.

Kristin Cavarzan: Need for Speed all the way!

Jason Haist: I just recently got my 360. Both CoDMW2 and Halo 3 dominate my free time right now.

Sean Sheridan: I don't really play video games much anymore. Mostly Mario Kart Wii haha

S: If you could take any bands music video and make it your own, whose video would you choose and why?

Kristin Cavarzan: Faber Drive- Give Him Up. It seems like a super fun video with all the people around as the band is playing, it's like one big party

Jason Haist: I really really want to make a gangsta rap video with slowmotionnoise.

Sean Sheridan: I can't really think of any specifically. I think any Lady Gaga video would be pretty fun haha

One that's a huge fun party... because I like to party.

S: If you could be a part of any music video, which would you be a part of and why?

Daniel Wright: One that's a huge fun party... because I like to party.

Kristin Cavarzan: A music video that you can show you're having fun :)

Jason Haist: no comment

Sean Sheridan: I really don't know a specific one, but any video that's fun and exciting

S: Are your parents musicians?

Daniel Wright: They sing along to the radio...

Kristin Cavarzan: My dad plays guitar and was in a band when he was a teenager

Jason Haist: My mom played classical guitar for 15 years and played the Canadian Classical circuit twice.

Sean Sheridan: My dad plays guitar a little bit, other than that, not really.

I think that we could, we all have experience in other genres and still make different kinds of music on the side.

S: Did/do your parents support your music?

Daniel Wright: Definitely. They know it makes me happy, and they're happy I'm not screaming in kids faces anymore.

Kristin Cavarzan: Sometimes, my dad bought me my amp.

Jason Haist: Yeah, they love it.

Sean Sheridan: They always have :)

S: We all know that at some point you all had to play Rock Band, who plays the best?

Daniel Wright: We've never played as a band... at least since I've been in.

Kristin Cavarzan: We haven't played as a band yet, but i'm on expert!

Jason Haist: Don't listen to what those other people say. I dominate. They're just embarassed.

Sean Sheridan: We haven't all played together, I can only play on medium though haha

Don't listen to what those other people say. I dominate. They're just embarassed.

S: Do you believe that if your band was to switch genres, would you all still make great music?

Daniel Wright: If we all put 100% into it, why not?

Kristin Cavarzan: Yes

Jason Haist: Yes! We're all very multi-talented people, and we all dabble in other genres already. Be sure to check out our other projects as well!

Sean Sheridan: I think that we could, we all have experience in other genres and still make different kinds of music on the side.

You can check out their tunes via the MySpace link above!

Goodbye Beatdown

www.myspace.com/goodbyebeatdown

Here at Sounds, we thrive on uniqueness and blending of music to make one giant bowl of 'amazingness'. Add a little reggae, a little rock, and a dash of urban hip hop and you're bake Goodbye Beatdown. These guys have limitless talent and their music constantly keeps you on your toes, enticed and enthralled to figure out what's coming up next. We all know that our readers are always excited to find out about new and upcoming musicians and to experience the funky and new music that they come out with. So here we are, read and enjoy!

S: What are some activities you guys do as a band?

GB: WELL !!! we are on tour alot so we find Shenannigans to keep us occupied !! we watch dvd's on our trips and go to movies and Brani, james and peaches get drunk. we are actually a five peice with a different guitar player who is a thousand times better and a dj that arent pictured !! haha so there is alot of minds trying to think of devious things to do. we basically just have fun. Skateboard alot!!

S: Who gets the most girls/boys in the band?

GB: haha Lead singers get all the girls!! Our drummer has a couple guys that have a crush on him too tho!! it must ne that european thing ...lol

we are on tour alot so we find Shenannigans to keep us occupied

S: Beer or liquor or neither?

GB: 4 out of 5 people in the band drink and do whatever else they can do. id say both but beer before liquor youve never been sicker, liquor before beer youre in for the clear !! haha so drink in that order people !!

S: Do you guys get nervous before a show? If not, what other emotions go through your mind before a set?

GB: No we dont get nervous. if we did then thats a problem cause its our job !! we all just get really pumped more or less !!! our shows are like parties!! so we are having fun !!

S: As a band, we're sure that money can be an issue sometimes. Do you have any advice on how to save/splurge cash appropriately?

GB: Well we make sure that there is always 5000 dollars in our bank and the rest we split up amongst us!! then if anything happens we always have money to save our asses !!!

liquor before beer youre in for the clear !! haha so drink in that order people !

S: Do any of you play video games? If so, what are your favourite games to play?

GB: Dizzy plays wii !!! we are actually gonna be in the new SHAUN WHITE SKATEBOARDING game so im surely gonna play that !! fave game is hands down SUPER MARIO Wii...soooo good !!! call of duty is amazing fun !! me and tommy from Hedley play that for hours on end !!

S: If you could be in any bands music video and make it your own, whose video would you choose and why?

GB: i would be in a RHCP video because they are rad !!!! or sublime....or Gym Class Heroes because all of those groups inspire me the most !!

S: What is your biggest accomplishment as a band?

GB: Our biggest accomplishement as a band would be winning FOX SEEDS PLATINUM award in 2009. previous winners were Nickelback,Default,Matthew Good, Bif Naked to name a few. its a good launch pad. But playing arena shows with Finger Eleven and Sean Kingston ( what a random bunch of bands huh??) were all pretty epic.

we have been together since st. Patricks day 2009 !!! Good times to be had in the future !!

S: Do you guys play covers? If so, what's your favourite cover and why?

GB: we play "Ain't no Sunshine" and thats my fave for sure !! its fun to sing and we put a reggae twist on it.

S: How long has your band been performing together?

GB: we have been together since st. Patricks day 2009 !!! Good times to be had in the future !!

Check out a video of them playing 'Whachagwando' at CFOX, LIVE!

Video courtesy of their youtube!

Fighting For Ithaca : Thanks For Waiting EP

www.myspace.com/fightingforithaca

We got such positive responses from the guys in Fighting For Ithaca that they asked us to review their EP, Thanks For Waiting. Enjoy, guys and gals!

Okay so here's the deal, we listen to music just as much as our readers do and just as much as the bands we interview do. We all know what it's like to crack open a music magazine and expect an extravagant review that will encourage us to purchase a certain musician's work. The only problem is that it's written in such an uninteresting context that we're most likely going to skip the page and find something else to read.

So here we are, us at Sounds are giving you an in-depth review, heart to heart, about Fighting For Ithaca's EP, Thanks For Waiting. The guys were nice enough to send us a digital copy and we immediately began to work on giving you guys a look into what we REALLY think about the EP, listener to listener. There isn't one lie in this entire review whatsoever, it is our whole hearted and honest opinion so read it with care.

We'll start off with the first few tracks on the EP (we don't want to give too much away) let's just say that it blew us away. We were expecting decent music since the guys are so down to Earth, but let us tell you, their first few tracks were the most unexpected amount of amazingness that we could have ever asked for. They all had a nice melody (alongside the rest of the EP) and the music constantly kept us guessing. It was kind of like a box of chocolates, you never know which one you're going to pick out. The first track, Draw the Line, was an amazing set up for the rest of the EP, it was fast paced and it reflected their music wonderfully. Cause and Effect (which you can also listen to on their MySpace) was the song that really caught our attention due to the fact that it reminded us of driving around in the summer with the top down and blasting tunes as loud as our speakers could go, such a great way to enter the summer!

Cityscape, another one of the great tracks on the EP was so good that we actually put it on repeat for a least 15 minutes. We got up and danced to it, not to mention that it definitely takes a lot for us to dance to something. It's one of those songs that you can listen to over and over without getting bored of it, it could never be overplayed. The chorus is ridiculously catchy and we dubbed Cityscape as our number one favourite song on the EP. Trial By Fire, another song that you can listen to via Fighting For Ithaca's MySpace was the first song that we had listened to when we first wanted to get some of the guys' time to interview them. It got us hooked within the first 30 seconds due to its catchy tune and the chorus that had us singing at the top of our lungs.

We don't want to give you guys too much information about the EP or else you won't go out and experience it for yourselves, but let us tell you that it is one of those works that will make you change your perspective on music entirely. The tracks that we featured in this article aren't the only tracks on the EP by any means and the other unmentioned tracks are just as flawless as the ones we described. We're seriously in love with Fighting For Ithaca's Thanks For Waiting EP and we couldn't have asked for a better combination of down to Earth guys and their passion for their music.

If you haven't already, give them a listen or go out and buy their EP via

www.cdbaby.com/cd/FightingForIthaca

Or you can go out to one of their shows if you live in the Vancouver/Lower Mainland area as they covered in their interview!

Once again, thanks to Fighting For Ithaca for letting us review this masterpiece and thanks to our readers for letting us into your minds and hearts.