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Photographer of the Week: Daniel Robson *What’s in your bag/what gear do you own? What would you like to purchase next? At the moment I’m using a Canon 500D, my lenses include an 18-55mm (3.5), a 50mm (1.8) and a 75mm-300mm (3.5). My most recent purchase is a 35mm (2.0). I would guess a wider lens will be my next purchase in the future. The 500D is my first DSLR. *How long have you been involved with photography? What inspired you to do concert photography? I first started photography at sixth form college. At the beginning there wasn’t a photography course available but a few of us suggested that we would like to study photography and they added a course for us. It provided a good opportunity to get to know the basics of the subject, at the time I didn’t own an SLR. I would never have thought that just a couple of years later I would be shooting gigs on such a regular basis. I have always been interested in music and have been going to gigs for many years. I remember getting a Kevin Cummins book a few years ago and from seeing his work, thinking it would be something I would like to do as a hobby. I particularly liked his images of Joy Division, they really provide a visual representation of the band. *Who was the first band/artist you shot? The first photo pass I had was for a boy band that were featured on Britain’s Got Talent. You’ve got to start somewhere. *If you could give any advice to newer concert photographers what would you tell them? Make mistakes and learn from them. *What did your first time in the pit feel like? There was no real pressure on me so I just enjoyed the experience of shooting from the pit. *What is your dream band/artist to shoot and/or tour with? I recently got to shoot Johnny Marr at the Ritz in Manchester, that was a big deal for me. He is one of my favourite musicians and to shoot him in his hometown and in such a significant venue was a real privilege. Having shot Marr, it would be great to shoot a Morrissey gig. Being just a few yards away from your favourite bands is a pleasure. *Do you edit your photos? If so, what software do you use and how much time and effort do you put into your editing? I think post-production can be just as important as shooting. I use Lightroom or Photoshop to make adjustments, it depends on each photo with regards to how much time is spent editing. It is important not to over-edit though, I try to keep it to a minimum, there is nothing worse than a totally over edited artificial photo. Less is more. *Do you think you have a particular quality about your photography that sets you apart from other photographers? I try to capture the overall feel of a gig, sometimes the stage show and the crowd are aspects that are just as important to be in frame than the band itself. I always try to get a good range of different shots. It’s important to experiment and not to have a set style of work. * How do you feel your photography has changed since you first began? Do you expect it to change in the future? At the beginning I would almost shoot constantly and at times just hope that a good shot would be achieved. As I’ve done more and more gigs, I have become more aware of what angles are most effective and how best to approach a gig. I would not have the portfolio I have without the support from fellow local photographers, I have been given some great opportunities and I am constantly learning through experiences. I have only been shooting gigs regularly for the past 2 years so I still consider myself new to photography.  Get social with Daniel: Flickr

Photographer of the Week: Daniel Robson

*What’s in your bag/what gear do you own? What would you like to purchase next?

At the moment I’m using a Canon 500D, my lenses include an 18-55mm (3.5), a 50mm (1.8) and a 75mm-300mm (3.5). My most recent purchase is a 35mm (2.0). I would guess a wider lens will be my next purchase in the future. The 500D is my first DSLR.

*How long have you been involved with photography? What inspired you to do concert photography?

I first started photography at sixth form college. At the beginning there wasn’t a photography course available but a few of us suggested that we would like to study photography and they added a course for us. It provided a good opportunity to get to know the basics of the subject, at the time I didn’t own an SLR. I would never have thought that just a couple of years later I would be shooting gigs on such a regular basis. I have always been interested in music and have been going to gigs for many years. I remember getting a Kevin Cummins book a few years ago and from seeing his work, thinking it would be something I would like to do as a hobby. I particularly liked his images of Joy Division, they really provide a visual representation of the band.

*Who was the first band/artist you shot?

The first photo pass I had was for a boy band that were featured on Britain’s Got Talent. You’ve got to start somewhere.

*If you could give any advice to newer concert photographers what would you tell them?

Make mistakes and learn from them.

*What did your first time in the pit feel like?

There was no real pressure on me so I just enjoyed the experience of shooting from the pit.

*What is your dream band/artist to shoot and/or tour with?

I recently got to shoot Johnny Marr at the Ritz in Manchester, that was a big deal for me. He is one of my favourite musicians and to shoot him in his hometown and in such a significant venue was a real privilege. Having shot Marr, it would be great to shoot a Morrissey gig. Being just a few yards away from your favourite bands is a pleasure.

*Do you edit your photos? If so, what software do you use and how much time and effort do you put into your editing?

I think post-production can be just as important as shooting. I use Lightroom or Photoshop to make adjustments, it depends on each photo with regards to how much time is spent editing. It is important not to over-edit though, I try to keep it to a minimum, there is nothing worse than a totally over edited artificial photo. Less is more.

*Do you think you have a particular quality about your photography that sets you apart from other photographers?

I try to capture the overall feel of a gig, sometimes the stage show and the crowd are aspects that are just as important to be in frame than the band itself. I always try to get a good range of different shots. It’s important to experiment and not to have a set style of work.

* How do you feel your photography has changed since you first began? Do you expect it to change in the future?

At the beginning I would almost shoot constantly and at times just hope that a good shot would be achieved. As I’ve done more and more gigs, I have become more aware of what angles are most effective and how best to approach a gig. I would not have the portfolio I have without the support from fellow local photographers, I have been given some great opportunities and I am constantly learning through experiences. I have only been shooting gigs regularly for the past 2 years so I still consider myself new to photography. 

Get social with Daniel:

Flickr

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We sat down again with our old Artist of the Week, Joe Brooks, on the last show of his tour with The Rocket Summer. We talked about tour pranks, pet peeves, and TV shows!

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Photographer of the Week: Nikki Bardlebon What’s in your bag/what gear do you own? What would you like to purchase next? I shoot with a Canon T2i, and for concert photography I usually use my Canon 50mm f/1.4 and 17-55mm f/2.8. I also have a Canon 70-300mm f/4-5.8 that I use at festivals and a Canon AE-1 I use for film. I’m currently saving for a 5D Mark III, but in the more recent future I’d like to get a Canon 85mm f/ 2.8 and a Canon 40mm f/ 2.8. How long have you been involved with photography? What inspired you to do concert photography? I took a photography class my junior year of high school and got my first DSLR for it. I went to local shows in Mississippi, and I’d always really been into music. It just made a lot of sense for me to bring the two things together. Who was the first band/artist you shot? Besides a few local bands, the first bigger show I took my camera to was Conor Oberst and Jenny Lewis. I used flash on them and thinking back on it now it’s really embarrassing, but a learning experience nonetheless. If you could give any advice to newer concert photographers what would you tell them? Like anything, taking good photos at shows isn’t going to come to you overnight. Concert photography isn’t easy, you’re never guaranteed good lighting and your subject is rarely still/not blocked by a mic.When you first start out I think one of the biggest things is to try not to get discouraged when your photos don’t end up as good as others. Comparisons are a good thing, if it’s a means to improve, but I have been shooting shows consistently for a little over three years now and as cliche as it sounds, I figure new stuff out all the time. It’s always a learning experience! A kit lens and an entry level DSLR is only going to allow you so much, but it’s a good place to start. What did your first time in the pit feel like? Though I’ve been allowed photo passes in the past, I have yet to have a conventional experience in a photo pit. If I can, I prefer to shoot in crowd because there’s no time limit and you can stay close the whole time. Most of my experiences with being granted a photo pass have resulted in me shooting side stage or somewhere not in front of the barricade. While I’m sure this allows some the comfort of being close and the ability to move around, I’m perfectly happy waiting in line or managing up front with my camera and shooting from there. What is your dream band/artist to shoot and/or tour with? The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, definitely. Do you edit your photos? If so, what software do you use and how much time and effort do you put into your editing?  I use PS CS4. I only recently started doing a lot of post processing, and even now I do very little. While I know it’s necessary to sometimes enhance work, I also like for it to be in as natural a state as possible. I don’t want to change the mood I originally captured. I usually spend a couple of minutes on each photo to resize/even out/watermark and move on. Worse photos might have me editing for five minutes, but I rarely spend more time than that. Do you think you have a particular quality about your photography that sets you apart from other photographers? I think all photographers like to think they have their own style, myself included. I’m still developing that, but I think when you see a lot of my work together it’s a little more obvious than looking at individual photographs.  How do you feel your photography has changed since you first began? Do you expect it to change in the future? There’s no question I’ve improved, and I hope that I continue to do so. Like I said, I’m always learning and I hope that I can keep that up. I expect that it will change, but for the better!  Get social with Nikki: Facebook | Tumblr | Flickr | Website

Photographer of the Week: Nikki Bardlebon

What’s in your bag/what gear do you own? What would you like to purchase next?

I shoot with a Canon T2i, and for concert photography I usually use my Canon 50mm f/1.4 and 17-55mm f/2.8. I also have a Canon 70-300mm f/4-5.8 that I use at festivals and a Canon AE-1 I use for film.

I’m currently saving for a 5D Mark III, but in the more recent future I’d like to get a Canon 85mm f/ 2.8 and a Canon 40mm f/ 2.8.

How long have you been involved with photography? What inspired you to do concert photography?

I took a photography class my junior year of high school and got my first DSLR for it. I went to local shows in Mississippi, and I’d always really been into music. It just made a lot of sense for me to bring the two things together.

Who was the first band/artist you shot?

Besides a few local bands, the first bigger show I took my camera to was Conor Oberst and Jenny Lewis. I used flash on them and thinking back on it now it’s really embarrassing, but a learning experience nonetheless.

If you could give any advice to newer concert photographers what would you tell them?

Like anything, taking good photos at shows isn’t going to come to you overnight. Concert photography isn’t easy, you’re never guaranteed good lighting and your subject is rarely still/not blocked by a mic.When you first start out I think one of the biggest things is to try not to get discouraged when your photos don’t end up as good as others. Comparisons are a good thing, if it’s a means to improve, but I have been shooting shows consistently for a little over three years now and as cliche as it sounds, I figure new stuff out all the time. It’s always a learning experience! A kit lens and an entry level DSLR is only going to allow you so much, but it’s a good place to start.

What did your first time in the pit feel like?

Though I’ve been allowed photo passes in the past, I have yet to have a conventional experience in a photo pit. If I can, I prefer to shoot in crowd because there’s no time limit and you can stay close the whole time. Most of my experiences with being granted a photo pass have resulted in me shooting side stage or somewhere not in front of the barricade. While I’m sure this allows some the comfort of being close and the ability to move around, I’m perfectly happy waiting in line or managing up front with my camera and shooting from there.

What is your dream band/artist to shoot and/or tour with?

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, definitely.

Do you edit your photos? If so, what software do you use and how much time and effort do you put into your editing? 

I use PS CS4. I only recently started doing a lot of post processing, and even now I do very little. While I know it’s necessary to sometimes enhance work, I also like for it to be in as natural a state as possible. I don’t want to change the mood I originally captured. I usually spend a couple of minutes on each photo to resize/even out/watermark and move on. Worse photos might have me editing for five minutes, but I rarely spend more time than that.

Do you think you have a particular quality about your photography that sets you apart from other photographers?

I think all photographers like to think they have their own style, myself included. I’m still developing that, but I think when you see a lot of my work together it’s a little more obvious than looking at individual photographs. 

How do you feel your photography has changed since you first began? Do you expect it to change in the future?

There’s no question I’ve improved, and I hope that I continue to do so. Like I said, I’m always learning and I hope that I can keep that up. I expect that it will change, but for the better! 

Get social with Nikki:

Facebook | Tumblr | Flickr | Website

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Band Of The Week: Blind Autumn

Hey guys! Last week our interviewer, Bridget, caught up with part of Blind Autumn, our new Band-Of-The-Week, for this great interview.!

Hope you enjoy! If you like what you hear, be sure you…

Get Social With Blind Autumn:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube 

P.S. Reblog this post and you’ll be entered to win a copy of their CD!

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Photographer of the Week: Priti Shikotra What’s in your bag/what gear do you own? What would you like to purchase next?  At the moment, I use a Crumpler backpack which is specifically for camera kit. It’s so comfortable to wear  - It’s really durable and it even came with me when I was travelling abroad. It really protects your kit super well. I currently use a Canon 5D Mark II body and my lenses I work with at the moment at a 50mm f1.4 Canon, f2.8 24-70mm Sigma and a f2.8 70-200mm Canon. I got a Yongnuo Speedlite and have a basic lighting set up also. Oh god… I really want to upgrade the 50mm to a f1.2 and also get a Profoto lighting kit and a 16-35mm would be amazing. Their the bits I REALLY have been eye-ing up recently ! Oh and a fun fisheye lens!  How long have you been involved with photography? What inspired you to do concert photography?  I have kinda always took photos on a point on shoot from a young age. It was just around 2009 I got my first DSLR, I was working at Apple and my fellow colleagues and I were talking about photography. It only dawned to me at that point that I should learn. It was a hobby at first but it’s turned into a lot more. Friends and family were encouraging. I went travelling in 2011 and was just shooting whilst I was out and about. I’ve always been fascinated with gig photography from a young age. I remember seeing Spice Girls for the first time and being fascinated by the lighting at the arena! Every gig I went to I was always taking photos on my phone or point and shoot, trying to capture the light on the artist and just thinking wow that’s so cool. I’m a huge music buff, always have been and I’ve been lucky enough to be surrounded by friends & family who have similar interests and growing up, I use to read a lot of Kerrang! magazines and NME and things like Smash Hits (oh god this is so old!) My walls were plastered with music posters too. I guess it’s in my blood somehow?  Who was the first band/artist you shot?  I started right down at the bottom shooting local artists. I work with unsigned artists in Manchester as i’m still fairly new on the scene and I’ve only really been shooting ‘professionally’ for just over a year. One of the first artist’s I had a pass for was Brendan Benson and Dan Le Sac VS Scroobius Pip. Can’t remember which came first to be honest. I love working with sort of ‘underground’ artists though - There’s something about the intimacy at the shows and them as people. However the lighting is AMAZING at the bigger shows so easier to work with and kinda more fun as you have alot of space to play around with. I’m still working my way up though :) If you could give any advice to newer concert photographers what would you tell them?  I haven’t been in the industry for too long, but from what I have learnt, I’d say to just practise practise practise. Music photography isn’t a quick buck. Infact no photography is, if you’re doing it for the right reasons.  I’ve been lucky enough to work with some awesome artists locally and also shoot others live but it’s been very challenging. If your passionate about photography or your subject, do it. There’s alot of people out there who won’t be willing to help you - So keep your head held high and keep going, where there’s a will, there’s a way. Just focus on where your at and don’t be worried about what other people are doing. Everyone’s story is different and everyone learns at their own pace. Also, try and remember these musicians are still people, you know?  What did your first time in the pit feel like? It was awesome! I love being in front of it all. It sucks though cause now at shows, when I’m not shooting, I still want to go hang out at the front and I can’t! Haha It’s awesome each time though, it’s so nerve wracking! What is your dream band/artist to shoot and/or tour with? Oh god! I’m such a HUGE fan of Korn that it has to be them. I met the guys last year and it was fantastic. If Sebastien, their current guy, ever leaves… they need to call ME! The other artist is P!nk. I think that she’s an absolute inspiration, not just through her music but her interviews and what she’s about - Plus she’s BEAUTIFUL and my lens would LOVE her! Korn and P!nk without a doubt!   To be honest there’s some bands I’m eyeing up right now that are on the rise from here in the UK…It would be FANTASTIC to work with them. Incase your reading….You know who you are!! Haha.  I think it’s amazing to work with artists who you actually connect with via their music, I think if you can connect with their  music, you can connect with them as PEOPLE. Certainly when I’ve done promo shoots, it’s difficult to portray what an artist is about if you don’t get what their about. Sorry if this doesn’t make sense! Last year I went into the studio with The Rubys ( www.therubys.co.uk do check them out!! They’re heading state side hopefully this year) We started off on a promo shoot and then we hit the studio and they ended up being signed to a record label over here. At the end of it, the whole journey (so far) has been visually documented and turned into a book. To spend that much time with a band or an artist, and to not really get what their about or what their music is about, well that’d be painful and I think i’d hate the job! It’d be worse than a 9-5 I think & you just wouldn’t be passionate, you know? Do you edit your photos? If so, what software do you use and how much time and effort do you put into your editing?  My music photography I try not to edit too much. It’s just my style of work - I like for it to be as raw as possible and for it to have captured the essence of the gig / atmosphere. The little bits that I do edit I tend to just use Aperture and Adobe Photoshop CS5. Do you think you have a particular quality about your photography that sets you apart from other photographers?  I really have no idea! Some how, since i’ve been shooting, I’ve naturally gone down the Black & White route. It’s not something I really think about, like I never think to myself when I’m sat at my Mac ‘Maybe this will look better in a B&W. Seems my brain instantly shoots with a b&w image in mind. I’ve been told that I shoot quite low, and a friend of mine who’s opinions and thoughts I respect tells me my work has a sense of ‘isolation’ to it. I do love coloured photos from gigs though because the lighting is EVERYTHING and it’s amazing to be able to capture that through a photo. Again, I think when I hear certain songs and videos etc, some just register in my mind as B&W and some in colour. Kinda have found that my work leans towards totally B&W or shoots with heaps of colour. I draw inspiration from the likes of David La Chapelle and Warhol and even Stuart McAlpine Miller but then on the other hand photographers like Kevin Cummins and Helmet Newton which alot of their work is B&W. Must be a bit bi-polar with my work. Come to think of it, The Rubys brief was to work in B&W…. How do you feel your photography has changed since you first began? Do you expect it to change in the future? I think i’m realising my style and every shoot I do, be it for practising or for a client, I’m getting closer and closer to having a signature look and feel to my work. One day it’ll be nailed! I think with photography you can evolve so much, it’s such a huge ‘thing’? You can never stop learning, never stop developing, you could die and still not have reached your peak- It’s just amazing to work with something like that which has no limits , you know? No doubt about it - Everything changes. everything evolves - nothing is consistent - apart from music! Hopefully it’ll be changing for the better :) Get social with Priti: Facebook | Tumblr | Flickr

Photographer of the Week: Priti Shikotra

  • What’s in your bag/what gear do you own? What would you like to purchase next? 

At the moment, I use a Crumpler backpack which is specifically for camera kit. It’s so comfortable to wear  - It’s really durable and it even came with me when I was travelling abroad. It really protects your kit super well. I currently use a Canon 5D Mark II body and my lenses I work with at the moment at a 50mm f1.4 Canon, f2.8 24-70mm Sigma and a f2.8 70-200mm Canon. I got a Yongnuo Speedlite and have a basic lighting set up also. Oh god… I really want to upgrade the 50mm to a f1.2 and also get a Profoto lighting kit and a 16-35mm would be amazing. Their the bits I REALLY have been eye-ing up recently ! Oh and a fun fisheye lens! 

  • How long have you been involved with photography? What inspired you to do concert photography? 

I have kinda always took photos on a point on shoot from a young age. It was just around 2009 I got my first DSLR, I was working at Apple and my fellow colleagues and I were talking about photography. It only dawned to me at that point that I should learn. It was a hobby at first but it’s turned into a lot more. Friends and family were encouraging. I went travelling in 2011 and was just shooting whilst I was out and about. I’ve always been fascinated with gig photography from a young age. I remember seeing Spice Girls for the first time and being fascinated by the lighting at the arena! Every gig I went to I was always taking photos on my phone or point and shoot, trying to capture the light on the artist and just thinking wow that’s so cool. I’m a huge music buff, always have been and I’ve been lucky enough to be surrounded by friends & family who have similar interests and growing up, I use to read a lot of Kerrang! magazines and NME and things like Smash Hits (oh god this is so old!) My walls were plastered with music posters too. I guess it’s in my blood somehow? 

  • Who was the first band/artist you shot? 

I started right down at the bottom shooting local artists. I work with unsigned artists in Manchester as i’m still fairly new on the scene and I’ve only really been shooting ‘professionally’ for just over a year. One of the first artist’s I had a pass for was Brendan Benson and Dan Le Sac VS Scroobius Pip. Can’t remember which came first to be honest. I love working with sort of ‘underground’ artists though - There’s something about the intimacy at the shows and them as people. However the lighting is AMAZING at the bigger shows so easier to work with and kinda more fun as you have alot of space to play around with. I’m still working my way up though :)

  • If you could give any advice to newer concert photographers what would you tell them? 

I haven’t been in the industry for too long, but from what I have learnt, I’d say to just practise practise practise. Music photography isn’t a quick buck. Infact no photography is, if you’re doing it for the right reasons.  I’ve been lucky enough to work with some awesome artists locally and also shoot others live but it’s been very challenging. If your passionate about photography or your subject, do it. There’s alot of people out there who won’t be willing to help you - So keep your head held high and keep going, where there’s a will, there’s a way. Just focus on where your at and don’t be worried about what other people are doing. Everyone’s story is different and everyone learns at their own pace. Also, try and remember these musicians are still people, you know? 

  • What did your first time in the pit feel like?

It was awesome! I love being in front of it all. It sucks though cause now at shows, when I’m not shooting, I still want to go hang out at the front and I can’t! Haha It’s awesome each time though, it’s so nerve wracking!

  • What is your dream band/artist to shoot and/or tour with?

Oh god! I’m such a HUGE fan of Korn that it has to be them. I met the guys last year and it was fantastic. If Sebastien, their current guy, ever leaves… they need to call ME! The other artist is P!nk. I think that she’s an absolute inspiration, not just through her music but her interviews and what she’s about - Plus she’s BEAUTIFUL and my lens would LOVE her! Korn and P!nk without a doubt!  

To be honest there’s some bands I’m eyeing up right now that are on the rise from here in the UK…It would be FANTASTIC to work with them. Incase your reading….You know who you are!! Haha.  I think it’s amazing to work with artists who you actually connect with via their music, I think if you can connect with their  music, you can connect with them as PEOPLE. Certainly when I’ve done promo shoots, it’s difficult to portray what an artist is about if you don’t get what their about. Sorry if this doesn’t make sense! Last year I went into the studio with The Rubys ( www.therubys.co.uk do check them out!! They’re heading state side hopefully this year) We started off on a promo shoot and then we hit the studio and they ended up being signed to a record label over here. At the end of it, the whole journey (so far) has been visually documented and turned into a book. To spend that much time with a band or an artist, and to not really get what their about or what their music is about, well that’d be painful and I think i’d hate the job! It’d be worse than a 9-5 I think & you just wouldn’t be passionate, you know?

  • Do you edit your photos? If so, what software do you use and how much time and effort do you put into your editing? 

My music photography I try not to edit too much. It’s just my style of work - I like for it to be as raw as possible and for it to have captured the essence of the gig / atmosphere. The little bits that I do edit I tend to just use Aperture and Adobe Photoshop CS5.

  • Do you think you have a particular quality about your photography that sets you apart from other photographers? 

I really have no idea! Some how, since i’ve been shooting, I’ve naturally gone down the Black & White route. It’s not something I really think about, like I never think to myself when I’m sat at my Mac ‘Maybe this will look better in a B&W. Seems my brain instantly shoots with a b&w image in mind. I’ve been told that I shoot quite low, and a friend of mine who’s opinions and thoughts I respect tells me my work has a sense of ‘isolation’ to it. I do love coloured photos from gigs though because the lighting is EVERYTHING and it’s amazing to be able to capture that through a photo. Again, I think when I hear certain songs and videos etc, some just register in my mind as B&W and some in colour. Kinda have found that my work leans towards totally B&W or shoots with heaps of colour. I draw inspiration from the likes of David La Chapelle and Warhol and even Stuart McAlpine Miller but then on the other hand photographers like Kevin Cummins and Helmet Newton which alot of their work is B&W. Must be a bit bi-polar with my work. Come to think of it, The Rubys brief was to work in B&W….

  • How do you feel your photography has changed since you first began? Do you expect it to change in the future?

I think i’m realising my style and every shoot I do, be it for practising or for a client, I’m getting closer and closer to having a signature look and feel to my work. One day it’ll be nailed! I think with photography you can evolve so much, it’s such a huge ‘thing’? You can never stop learning, never stop developing, you could die and still not have reached your peak- It’s just amazing to work with something like that which has no limits , you know? No doubt about it - Everything changes. everything evolves - nothing is consistent - apart from music! Hopefully it’ll be changing for the better :)

Get social with Priti:

Facebook | Tumblr | Flickr

Avatar

We got the chance to interview Nicholas Francis of For The Foxes at the Houston date of the Wake Up and Be Awesome tour! It’s a little noisy, so we’ve transcribed the interview below:

Harmonic Series: So, introduce  yourself.

Nicholas Francis: I’m Nick. I play for the band For The Foxes.
HS: What is a hidden talent that you have?
Nick: I make lyric videos for other bands when we’re not on tour, or even when we are on tour.
HS: What videos have you made?
Nick: Just recently, I did one for the band Anarbor: “Damage I’ve Done.” I did another one for Action Item recently, called “Brave.”
HS: How did you decide that you wanted to tour as a musician?
Nick: Oh, man. Well, I started playing drums when I was seven, and I got into songwriting by the end of high school. Then, we just gathered a bunch of friends and tried to do this thing. There’s no looking back, and we’re still going strong.
HS: How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard you before?
Nick: Okay, so I’ve gotten this question before, and this is how I like to put it in one sentence: Picture a New-York-City-vibe band going to Las Vegas for a weekend, and just going out and going crazy.
HS: You guys recently covered Death Cab for Cutie’s “I Will Follow You into the Dark.” What made you decide to cover that particular song?
Nick: When [Death Cab for Cutie’s] record Plans came out, that was just one of those songs where I was like, “Okay, this is a timeless song. It sounds so good.” It’s always been such a romantic song for me. We were doing Hopeless—our record label’s—Valentine’s Day sampler, and I thought this would be perfect for that. It’s always been such a great song for me.
HS: Do you plan to make any more covers in the future?
Nick: There are always a couple covers that we like. Last tour, we did an iPhone sessions thing; I did a couple covers by myself, and I did some with the band. We covered a few different things, like Imagine Dragons, as a band, in our van, and we just played on the ground, with one microphone into an iPhone.
HS: Is there a specific song that you want to cover?
Nick: I’m trying to think of some; I know there are a lot. My favorite one that I’ve recently done is Phoenix’s “Rome.” I’m trying to think of bands that I listen to…get back to me for the next interview. I will let you know.
HS: How does the songwriting process work in the band?
Nick: I usually write all the songs, and the band is super supportive of that. Then, we go into the studio and work out some stuff and try to do compression things.
HS: Do you tend to write about personal experiences or stories?
Nick: It’s a little bit of both. Everything that I write about usually has to do with my life or things that I’m dealing with.
Someone opens the door behind us, which hits Nick in the back of the head, so we move locations.
 
So, what was I saying? That was crazy. Usually [songs] just have to do with relationships I’ve had or people that I’ve met or things that I’ve done while on tour, really anything. It’s usually all based on life experiences.
HS: What do you guys do on your off days?
Nick: We actually had two really awesome off days recently. We were in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and we stayed at this really nice family’s house. She had one of those “Cribs”-like pools, and it was like a grotto with a hot tub. We kind of just hung out on the beach and did that for two days. We try to just relax and gather ourselves.
HS: So you’re not the type to do anything crazy on your off days?
Nick: We’ll do some crazy stuff. One time we went to this crazy water park in Ohio called “The Kalahari.” It was a hotel-slash-water-park. That got a little crazy for a little while.
HS: What is the craziest tour experience you’ve had?
Nick: We’ve had some really weird ones. I mean, the water park was a pretty good one. We just hung out and went on slides all day. We got super drunk at night in a place called “Reserved,” so there’s that. There’s a bunch of inappropriate ones that I’m not sure to say, but if you hang out with us, you’ll know.
HS: What is the most frustrating thing about being on tour?
Nick: Bad drivers. Danny, our drummer, does all the driving for the most part. He has a short temper with drivers on the road. He has pretty bad road rage. I really love being on the road, so there’s not much that pisses me off about it.
HS: Do you miss home a lot?
Nick: I do miss home sometimes. My family’s there, and I do a lot of songwriting at home. I don’t really write too much on the road. It’s mostly when I get home, so there are sure things I like and miss about being home.
HS: Who outside the band have you gotten closest to on his tour?
Nick: We’re vibing out really hard with the Go Radio guys. All of them are really cool, and we have a similar sense of humor. We’ve been getting along really well. We’ve been chilling out with Steve and Alex. All of the dudes in Go Radio are really cool.
HS: What did you think of each other in the band when you first met?
Nick: Me, Jimmy, and Danny knew each other from high school, so I’ve known them almost my whole life. The other guys are from New York, and we met them on tour. It took us a while to get to the lineup that we’re at. It’s more about the hang; if we can hang with each other, then we can learn to deal with each other as musicians. We all got along really well for the most part.
HS: What has been the most memorable moment of your career so far?
Nick: There are so many things, but the other night, we played a sold out New York City show  at the Gramercy. For me, that’s always been a super amazing thing, playing a sold out show in New York City. We’re from New Jersey, so it was really close. It was a very fulfilling moment for me, being able to do these tours. We’re doing Warped Tour for the first time this year, and it’s super overwhelming in a good way. Watching yourself grow as a band has been the most amazing thing for me.
HS: Are you guys ready for Warped Tour?
Nick: No, we’re not ready at all. I got a call from my manager the other day, and he said, “What do you guys want to drive in?” I was like, “I don’t know. What are we going to do? We don’t have any money.” We’re trying to figure it out now; there’s a lot of stuff we need to figure out, like where we’re going to sleep every night, what vehicle we’re taking. It’s a lot. We’ve heard some crazy stories. We’re working things out now, but I’m really excited for it.
HS: Is there anything else you want to say before we end?
Nick: I just want to say thank you to all of you guys for coming out to the shows and being so supportive of For The Foxes and watching us play every night. Thanks to all the bands for taking us out on this tour. It’s been amazing. We’ll see you guys on Warped Tour.
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Band of the Week: Cape Canyon

Cape Canyon is a local band in Dylanne’s college town of Bowling Green, Ohio. We got to sit down with Kyle (and then Kyle and Dan) to talk about their inspirations, their time spent in Colorado last summer, and their EP.

Get social with Cape Canyon:

Facebook | Soundcloud | Wordpress

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Artist Of The Week: Joe Brooks


Hey everybody! As promised, here’s our live interview with the one and only, Joe Brooks. If you’ve yet to listen to him, you can start by checking out the introduction to this video, with a clip of one of his new songs, “Island,” from last night’s show at Jammin Java in Vienna, VA. His presence is undeniable in Asia (#1 Song in all of South Korea, anyone?) and he’s currently on tour with The Rocket Summer. 

Be sure you check out his music and stay tuned here at The Harmonic Series for our Artist Of The Week posts! We may have some exclusive news for you in the next few days…


Get Social With Joe:

Website | Twitter | Facebook

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Photographer of the Week: Lainey Taylor What’s in your bag? What gear do you own? What would you like to purchase next? I own a Canon mark2, and a 60d, as well as a t4i as far as bodies go, and I have numerous lens, but my favorite is my 50mm 1.4! I’d love to purchase some new lenses, you can never have enough! How long have you been involved in photography? What inspired you to do concert photography? I’ve been involved with photography for about 3 years now, and concert photography only about a year and a half now. I was inspired by many different photographers like Danny Todd, Christopher Blincoe, and Todd Owyoung. Who was your first band/artist that you shot? The first artists I photographed were Alesana, Sleeping with Sirens, Memphis May Fire, Attila, and Serianna. It was an amazing first show to shoot! If you could give any advice to newer concert photographers what would you tell them? Some advice is to never give up. There is a huge amount of competition in the industry, but never give up on fulfilling your dreams. There are people who will knock you down, but always pick yourself up and prove your talent to the people who disrespect you. What did your first time in the pit feel like? The first time in the photo pit was amazing. I was shooting The Devil Wears Prada. The amount of space and different angles was overwhelming! I absolutely love it, but even shooting from the crowd or sidestage is fun too! What is your dream band/artist to shoot and/or tour with? My dream band to photograph is definitely the Red Hot Chili Peppers, or AFI. More or less once in a lifetime opportunities! Do you edit your photos? If so, what software do you use and how much time and effort do you put into your editing? More or less I don’t edit my photos much, but when I do make small adjustments its using GIMP; pretty much just a free version of Photoshop! Do you think you have a particular quality about your photography that sets you apart from other photographers? I’m still new at what I do, and my style is still developing, so I wouldn’t say there is a distinct quality to my photos. I just am still enjoying the fact that people like my work! It’s an amazing feeling! How do you feel your photography has changed since you first began? Do you expect it to change in the future? My photography has bettered itself. When I jumped into shooting shows I still hardly knew how to work a camera. I feel confident in my camera controls now, which is a good feeling! I’d also love to start integrating more video into my portfolio as well! That would be an awesome change! Get social with Lainey:  Facebook | Tumblr

Photographer of the Week: Lainey Taylor

What’s in your bag? What gear do you own? What would you like to purchase next?

I own a Canon mark2, and a 60d, as well as a t4i as far as bodies go, and I have numerous lens, but my favorite is my 50mm 1.4! I’d love to purchase some new lenses, you can never have enough!

How long have you been involved in photography? What inspired you to do concert photography?

I’ve been involved with photography for about 3 years now, and concert photography only about a year and a half now. I was inspired by many different photographers like Danny Todd, Christopher Blincoe, and Todd Owyoung.

Who was your first band/artist that you shot?

The first artists I photographed were Alesana, Sleeping with Sirens, Memphis May Fire, Attila, and Serianna. It was an amazing first show to shoot!

If you could give any advice to newer concert photographers what would you tell them?

Some advice is to never give up. There is a huge amount of competition in the industry, but never give up on fulfilling your dreams. There are people who will knock you down, but always pick yourself up and prove your talent to the people who disrespect you.

What did your first time in the pit feel like?

The first time in the photo pit was amazing. I was shooting The Devil Wears Prada. The amount of space and different angles was overwhelming! I absolutely love it, but even shooting from the crowd or sidestage is fun too!

What is your dream band/artist to shoot and/or tour with?

My dream band to photograph is definitely the Red Hot Chili Peppers, or AFI. More or less once in a lifetime opportunities!

Do you edit your photos? If so, what software do you use and how much time and effort do you put into your editing?

More or less I don’t edit my photos much, but when I do make small adjustments its using GIMP; pretty much just a free version of Photoshop!

Do you think you have a particular quality about your photography that sets you apart from other photographers?

I’m still new at what I do, and my style is still developing, so I wouldn’t say there is a distinct quality to my photos. I just am still enjoying the fact that people like my work! It’s an amazing feeling!

How do you feel your photography has changed since you first began? Do you expect it to change in the future?

My photography has bettered itself. When I jumped into shooting shows I still hardly knew how to work a camera. I feel confident in my camera controls now, which is a good feeling! I’d also love to start integrating more video into my portfolio as well! That would be an awesome change!

Get social with Lainey: 

Facebook | Tumblr

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Band of the Week: Luke James & the Thieves

Say hey to our BOTW, Luke James & the Thieves. The band is from Dylanne’s college town, Bowling Green, and they just released their first album. Over her spring break, Dylanne was able to catch up with Luke and ask him about the album, touring plans, and his favorite songs to cover. 

Check out the interview and let us know what you guys think! And be sure to check the page for songs from Luke James & the Thieves throughout the week!

Get social with Luke James & the Thieves!

Facebook | Website | Luke’s Facebook

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