The Return of The Starting Line

The Starting Line
Jason Tate

Kenny from The Starting Line talked with The Aquarian about their new album:

Those three records were made in a five- or six-year time span. It’s really messed up to think about. Then it took us 18 years to record another one! Time seems to be a weird accordion. In that very short amount of time a lot happened in my life. Then in the next 18 years it got spaced out in terms of events. Making Say It Like You Mean It memories are attributed to being in a professional studio and working with a professional producer for the first time. Also, I was working with one of my idols [Mark Trombino] who had made so many of my favorite records up to that point. It was hard not to be intimidated by it. 

A lot of that process I was going with the flow. It even frustrated Trombino a little bit. I remember there were times he would say, “How does this sound?” I would say, “Sounds really great!” Then he would say “What do you think of this?” And I’d say “That sounds so good!” [laughs] “Okay just get the fuck out of here and I’ll actually do work” because I was no help at all. I guess I have to start having opinions about these things. 

It was just big wide eyes taking it all in! I wanted to sound like Blink 182 and Jimmy Eat World! This would be cool if we could have a record that sounded as good as Clarity. I remember I was listening to very little pop-punk by the time we got to making Based On A True Story. I was trying to fit more of that style into the songwriting and moving away from general punk aesthetic. It was closer to our philosophy now. This is who we are and this is what feels good on the stage. Let’s try and concentrate on that good stuff. 

Vimeo Acquired

Jason Tate

Vimeo has been acquired by Milan-based app developer Bending Spoons:

Vimeo, once the internet’s most prestigious stage for independent filmmakers and animators, is being acquired by Milan-based app developer Bending Spoons in a $1.38 billion all-cash deal. The sale, expected to close later this year, will end Vimeo’s turbulent run as a public company.

For the creative community, the news is hardly shocking. Vimeo’s cultural influence has been fading for years, its pivot away from entertainment and towards enterprise software leaving behind the innovators and filmmakers who built its reputation.

Foxing Announce Hiatus

Jason Tate

Foxing have announced they are going on indefinite hiatus.

This band has been completely inseparable from us as people for our entire adult lives up to this point. It is so much of our identity and our sense of self worth in the world. But it has become clear to us that in our pursuit of our dreams and making the most honest and genuine art we can, our relationship with music, each other, and our sense of self without the band has eroded. We have decided to prioritize these things and need to step away from the band to do so.

These shows in Chicago and St. Louis will be our last for the foreseeable future. Know that if you ever saw us at a show or listened to our records, you were getting the most from us that we could possibly give in that moment. We will come back if/when we feel that we have more to give.

Thank you for everything over the years.

Review: Ray and Paul – Fading EP

Ray and Paul - Fading EP
Adam Grundy

An indie band, comprised of the San Francisco-area brothers of Ray and Paul, have released their latest taste of music called Fading. The EP is brimming with the stylistic choices of surfer rock, paired with garage rock, all shimmering under the careful eyes of producer John Goodmanson (Weezer, Pavement), with additional tracks produced by Jarvis Taveniere. “These six songs reflect the past five years of our lives—love, heartbreak, sadness, doubt, confusion, and pain,” the duo of Ray and Paul shared. “They’ve shaped who we are and changed how we see the world and our music. We’re so grateful to finally share this with you and excited for what’s ahead.” With a slick sound that fits well in the same realm as Phantom Planet, Ash and Rooney, Ray and Paul showcase why they’re turning so many heads in 2025 and beyond.

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Halsey Talks With Zane Lowe

Halsey
Jason Tate

Halsey sat down for a new interview with Zane Lowe. She talks about why she’s not releasing new music yet:

And that’s the hardest part, I think, of having been a pop star once. Is because I’m not one anymore, but I’m being compared to numbers and to other people I don’t consider lateral to me! You know what I mean? I mean, a couple years ago, yeah, it was me and Ariana quote-unquote fighting for #1 on the Billboard chart. And we weren’t fighting. We were texting. We loved it. It was like the best time ever, that era. The “Without Me,” “thank u, next,” “7 Rings” era, that was amazing. It was an amazing time. But if my record comes out and sells 100,000 copies first week with no radio play, no real support, and the comparison is, “Well why isn’t she doing Taylor Swift numbers?” Are you fucking kidding me? I made an experimental concept album about how I almost fucking died. I’m not gonna do those numbers. But I’m doing pretty damn good! Those are strong numbers! I’m still in the top 10 of female artists’ first weeks. But it’s not good enough because it’s not, you know, “the pop star I once was.” Even though I’m actively making the choice to not be.

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More Than 400 Artists Announce “No Music For Genocide” Boycott

Spidey-Protest
Jason Tate

Over 400 artists have signed on to the “No Music for Genocide” project:

No Music For Genocide is a cultural boycott of Israel. Over 400 initial artists and labels have geo-blocked and removed their music from that territory in response to Israel’s genocide in Gaza; ethnic cleansing of the Occupied West Bank; apartheid within Israel / ’48; political repression of Pro-Palestine efforts wherever we live; and the music industry’s own ties to weapons and crimes against humanity.