Lights Resolve

Popcosmo loves discovering music! We stumbled upon our latest band crush on the lineup for the upcoming Deluna Fest Music Festival in Pensacola, Florida. The minute we heard Lights Resolve, we KNEW we had to find out what these guys are all about. And not because they are totally cute. Or that they’ve (reportedly) wrestled a bear once. Their music ROCKS! But being totally cute and (reportedly) wrestling a bear once are added bonuses. Lights Resolve formed in Long Island, NY in 2006. They have since been named one of 2009’s “Breakout Bands” by Rolling Stone, played with the likes of Panic! At the Disco and Dashboard Confessional, had a song featured on Season 1 of The Jersey Shore AND logged some major downloads for their song “Dreaming of Love,” from the Rock Band video game. Representing Lights Resolve are:

Matthew Reich – Vocals, Guitar; Neal Saini – Drums; Luke Daniels – Bass

We caught up with Matthew who was awesome enough to answer a few random questions for us.

Age: 29

Always has: Drive

Proudest of: Music we've created and shows we've played.

Is thankful for: Music we've created and shows we've played.

Wants to: Write more music

Is afraid of: Not being able to write music and also snakes.

Believes everyone should: Hydrate properly.

Is embarrassed by: Voice cracks on stage...make sure you warm up properly all of you vocalists!

My style is: Better than yours...actually, probably not.

Pet peeve: Smoking and BO.

What are 3 things people probably don't know about the band?

We are one of the most diverse bands in terms of race and religion, we like the movie Twins (featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito) and we wrestled a bear once.

Were any of you in band or Glee Club in high school? Was it considered geeky or cool? I was a leader in my marching band. I taught the marching band how to play hip hop songs at the football games. I was cool as shit!

Do you guys get along all the time? Anyone have annoying habits? As with brothers, we are constantly bickering and making fun of each other...but all in good taste. Annoying habits? Where do I begin...I possess a bunch as well.

What book is on your nightstand? Reading for Dummies

If you could only take 3 things on tour with you (besides absolute essentials) what would you bring? An avocado, a snorkel and an ice pick.

Do you hang out aside from the band? If the weather's good.

Coffee, Red Bull, Soda or Water? Red Bull because they are fantastic and ship us cases to keep us energized.

If you were a girl, which of the others would you date and why? Neal seems to be the sweetest guy in the band, plus he's got those long locks of love!

What musician/band from the past would you want to work with? The Partridge Family Band would be pretty wild.

Do you follow back on Instagram or Twitter? Absolutely! Follow us now: @lightsresolve

You can catch Lights Resolve at Gramercy Theater in New York, NY on 09/29/12

Check their website for upcoming events, album downloads and other fun stuff here

“With the Pieces”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLW5jaBNxwc&feature=relmfu

“Another Five Days”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pbt-ayxUkUM&feature=relmfu

Miriam Bryant: Finders Keepers

It's all too easy to compare any up-and-coming female artist with a strong voice to Adele. And although she finds it flattering, comparing Swedish singer/songwriter Miriam Bryant would just be a cop out. Sure... she possesses a powerful voice but her single "Finders Keepers" has that "something."  In fact, since our interview, she's been named an MTV "Artist of the Week," which is an enormous deal for any artist, but especially when you only have one single out.  And what a single.

It starts with a soulful, gut wrenching melody and builds up to an intense ending with electrical overtones that hint at dubstep. The combo works in a powerful way. We think Miss Bryant is going to have to soon face her fear of flying because this chick is about to take off in a major way. Popcosmo rapped with Miriam recently to find out more about her singing/songwriting with her childhood friend Victor Rådström and what inspires her.

Age: 21

Always has: a lot of things going on

Proudest of: little brother

Is thankful for: life in general

Wants to: be cool and noisy

Is afraid of: planes

Believes everyone should: be cool and noisy

Is embarrassed by: nothing at all

My style is: my own

When did you first start singing and writing songs? Singing has always been a big part of my personality and it´s my way of expressing myself. I first started writing my own songs in November 2011. It´s something that´s still very new to me and it makes me happy and I love it.

How has your life affected your music? In every way possible.

Who inspires you musically? Nobody in particular, inspiration is so random. Friends, family, situations in life, everything around me inspires me... When I grew up I listened to The Backstreet boys and I pretended that they were all in love with me. I had posters of them all over my walls!

You've been compared vocally to Adele. Do comparisons bother you or do you take it as a compliment? Adele has a stunning voice and I take it as a compliment to be compared to someone so talented.

What's it like working with Victor? What sort of dynamic do you have? We always have a great time, we're close friends. He is extremely talented and we never set any rules at all. Usually I write all the lyrics, he writes all the music, and we do the melodies together, but as I said, we don't like to set any rules!

I read that you are fearful of flying. With your career taking off (no pun intended!) how do you plan to conquer your fear? I guess I'll just have to get over it. Life is short, I could get hit by a bus tomorrow, and I don't wanna have any regrets in life. Think I will be flying to Germany next month!

What is your favorite thing about performing? Everything about it is awesome... When you’re sort of in it and you forget where you are and you just mean every word.

Do you prefer the performing aspect or the creative process of writing music? Both, in different ways! Performing is giving and writing is taking. When I perform I give bits and pieces of myself to the audience, and when I write I take bits and pieces of myself and my surroundings and try and make a song/lyrics about what I feel, or see. Writing is therapy, and at the same time it's a puzzle.

What advice would you give young women today? Follow your impulses. Be your amazing self. Never let anyone tell you how you should live your life.

Although she might have appeared on the music radar of the world from Gothenburg Sweden after coming out-of-nowhere, we expect to see and hear a lot more from Miriam Bryant... hopefully very soon! Follow here to stay up to date: http://www.facebook.com/miriambryantmusic

Songs About High School: The Ultimate Playlist

A back-to-school playlist with songs about high school helps with the big questions, like what outfit should I wear on the first day? Earphones or headphones, curl my hair or wear it straight?  Backpack on both shoulders or hanging loose on one, is it shameless or savvy to loudly call dibs on the new hot guy? Like it or not, it's the time of year that those questions are starting to push past the nothingness in your summertime mind and take over your entire being. While you're busy with your plan of attack, put on these songs about high school playlist for inspiration.... Simple. One guitar, one voice, one hot guy singing about school. If that doesn't make you want to throw on your backpack and wait for the bus, I don't know what will.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKfD8d3XJok

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kgjkth6BRRY

Yep...celebrity gossip is kinda like high school...and Reese Witherspoon does look like a Homecoming Queen. Definitely in our "songs about high school ultimate playlist" list!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrxI_euTX4A

Can I go to this high school? Please? I'll borrow my mom's 80's clothes. I'll fit right in. (Bonus...Rent the movie by the same name for your back-to-school party. Wonderful 80's cheesiness!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5vh0QHUA1w

For those of you headed off to college. Or those of you when that day can't get here fast enough...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmAi_qJoPbU

Here's the one that started it all...RIP MCA!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBShN8qT4lk

With lyrics taken from the 1964 teen advice book Penny's Guide to Teen-Age Charm and Popularity and sung in a deadpan voice with a sprinkle of bitterness, this song is hilarious. Remember ladies...wash your hair at least once every 2 weeks and tell Johnny Football Hero that he had a great game!

Nada Surf- Popular

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNc45FTenhg

Great pump-up song from the girl who taught us all how to spell bananas!

Gwen Stefani- Hollaback Girl

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kgjkth6BRRY

But wait! There's more for your songs about high school ultimate playlist...

Modest Mouse- The Neverending Math Equation

Vampire Weekend- Campus

The Clash- Mark Me Absent

Gym Class Heroes- Scandalous Scholastics

Jackson Five- ABC

Eminem- Brain Damage

Pearl Jam- Education/Jeremy

Barenaked Ladies- Grade 9

Katy Perry- Last Friday Night

Nirvana- School

John Mayer- No Such Thing

Taylor Swift- You Belong With Me

Dar Williams- End of the Summer

Emily Osment- I Hate the Homecoming Queen

Kanye West- School Spirit