Interview: Young & Sick

Hailing from LA, and with quite an attitude and swag under his belt, Nick Van Hofwegen has taken the creative industries by storm. Not only has he been illustrating for some of the most successful artists of the past five years, but his illustrations have become intimate aspects of image and branding for bands like Foster The People & Maroon 5. Beyond that Nick has also dabbled in fashion with Urban Outfitters and Rag & Bone, but it’s his project Young & Sick that raises Nick to public awareness and qualitative highs. A collaborative effort from his two creative brains, Young & Sick is the “music and art project” that dons a stylish sound with a distinctive and enigmatic front man.

It’s a story as old as time- actors becoming singers, models becoming pop stars, we’ve seen it before- but a transition from visual artist to R&B crooner? It’s a little more rare, and it was Nick’s unmistakable album artwork that crafted a bridge. “Since I was young, I’ve drawn all over things. I always really liked doing it. When I was in design school in Holland, a teacher encouraged us to make some art for one of our favorite bands. I sent a single idea to ‘The Velvet Teen’ from California. One day they wrote back asking if they could actually use it for some merchandise. Through their manager, I was connected to Mark Foster (of Foster the People), and Andy Dick. More requests for art came in, and it kind of just happened from there.” On the other side of the project it was the Dutch Punk scene, with little fourteen year old Nick playing guitar in several bands, that led him down a musical rabbit hole. From Punk bands to a guitar mentor to the discovery of Jazz and Soul, Young & Sick is the beautiful result of a very specific course through life.

Marlene – Indian Summer EP

Kaiotic has been gagging on Marlene‘s debut Bon Voyage for way too long now, and finally there is something substantial to gratify that tickle in the back of our throats.  Recorded in LA, Marlene’s debut EP, Indian Summer, is a delightful collection of Pop songs and powerful vocals.  Featuring previously shared tracks Bon Voyage and Stay Awake, the real selling points here are Indian Summer- a great title track pop ditty, the kind that makes you feel all alive and stuff, and I Do This For You, a minimalist R&B/Pop track with some Timbaland-esque production and intense belting.

ALLIE X – Bitch

 

This girl Allie X is kind of gettin’ it.  She’s released her third single, Bitch, and it incites mixed emotions.  On the one hand it starts out as the strongest and most original song of hers so far, but I find myself a little turned off by the effects on her vocals during the chorus.  I love what’s going on underneath her vocals there, and I absolutely adore the rest of the song.  It’s dark and cheeky, and it shows substance and continuity within her short but satisfying track listing.   Lyrically the song is a brilliant double entendre where she is both dominant and submissive- a game of power and control, where both things seem to be fluid.  Check her out, you’ll probably be seeing her around.

Paris Carney – Run and Hide (feat. D-WHY)

 

Paris Carney is a woman making her way in the world of Pop- finding her way to revel in the schema of a catchy melody but remain memorable.  There have been aspects in Paris’ first two releases that stuck with me- the innocence and approachability in her voice, and the vocal layering and harmonies in the background.  It’s all very bright and textbook Pop.  A little Ellie Goulding with a little California Katy Perry production.  Now the true challenge will be continue honing that sound and elevating her unique strengths.  With this new track the production is even better, and Paris includes some oohs and aahs in the background that make me think of Oh Land, and that draw me in so deeply  she has me envying her sunny LA disposition- she just needs to match it with some NYC conviction and we may have a winner.

Introducing: Paris Carney

Hailing from LA, Paris Carney is breaking expectations by being herself.  You may think, from her glimmering gold album art, that she is glitz and glamour, synthetic over synth and beauty over moody (this IS LA right?), but you’d be wrong.  Paris is a full fledged woman, proud of her own ordinariness and extolling her own extraordinariness- like the fact that she’s married and sports her bling loud and proud.  Here’s the kicker- Unlike her antithesis, the OTHER Paris (and one who embodies the LA I personally find completely perturbing), Paris Carney writes her own tracks and then records and produces them in her own home.  Less than a month ago she released her debut single, It’s Always the Quiet Ones- a slight criticism of the music industry while also a masked and nuanced power anthem.  Paris has described herself in Nylon Magazine, “as if Ella Fitzgerald and Joni Mitchell had a baby raised by Andre 3000 + a laptop”.  I can see that, but if I were to do my own artist hodgepodge comparison I’d say Paris Carney is if Jessica Simpson and Imogen Heap were lesbian lovers who borrowed Ben Gibbard’s and Justin Bieber’s semen and had a well adjusted daughter flourish into beautiful womanhood.  Basically she’s a beautiful combination of indie juggernaut and commercial underrated talent (underrated due to media stigma)- which is all part of Paris’ battle, no?

It was really Paris’ second single that sold me though.  She released Astronaut 4 days ago and I personally can’t stop. Enjoy her two tracks below.

Young & Sick – Glass

Buzzworthy band Young & Sick (fashion, illustration, and music project) is combining a rock band vocalist with chops and charisma and some of the most insanely incredible synthesizer and production ever.  It’s so exciting to listen to -the arpeggio glitching and glittering behind lead vocalist Nick is the money and the selling point for me personally, and when I saw this song performed live, the synth player was giving me LIFE.  I was a little uncomfortable about Nick himself (PS his last name is an elusive find on the internet, but this is HIS *nick’s* project- a little god complexy, no?).  His appearance was Beetle Juice meets Jared Leto & his style slightly narcissistic and overly confident, but I was so enthralled in the harmonies, synths & production that I closed my eyes to remove the disarmingly unattractive visual component of the performance and indulge in the fantastic music.

It’s no surprise that vocalist and mastermind Nick would create something this good.  It’s a thoughtful and modern take on R&B and Soul in this electronically saturated musical climate.  His sensual and old school singing style is mostly successful, too.  It’s also no surprise that he is this confident (it’s part of the sale of the music itself), given his extensive success as an illustrator for album art, fashion houses, and brands (his illustrations are phenomenal).  It’s the kind of runs like at minute 2:04 that turn me off.  It’s part of this trend where any white person interested in doing R&B & Soul influenced music thinks breaking down the riffs is enough.  But soul and runs are not something that translate well as overly prepared.  Inherently in the genre’s name is Soul, and this kind of singing has to have real soul to it.  I’d argue this is the weakest point in the Young & Sick’s presentation, HOWEVER, the music is fantastic and this first cut from the full-length debut is stellar.  Besides, I’m the only person who seems to have this disaffection towards Nick’s persona, so maybe I’m mistaken or my own perspective is jaded.  I suppose I’ll have to watch and see.

Introducing: Y N G C U L T

There are times when formulaic artist emergences teeter on distasteful.  I get it- shrouded in mystery, an artist has more control over orchestrating their own image, sound, and reception.  That being said, maintaining anonymity and having a name where all the letters are capitalized and spaced has been done.  It’s been done a lot, but when it comes down to it I don’t give a flying fuck if the music can support that approach.  In the case of Y N G C U L T it so awesomely does.  LA based duo have chosen not to reveal their identities (yet), but while remaining blurred visions they are a sonic sight.

Introducing: Saol Álainn

Coming out on No Recordings, L.A. artist Saol Álainn releases his debut track.  The basis for the masterfully produced finished product is intrinsically romantic- Nostroke is an immersion into a fractured moment.