Tag: Mayday Parade

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Haulix New Music Recommendations for October 16, 2020

New Music - October 16

Whether you’re looking for breakdowns of the musical or emotional variety, these new music picks have something for you.

Life will probably never be the same as it was before the COVID pandemic took the world by storm. Mourning the loss of the world we knew is normal, but it’s important to recognize all the good that continues to exist. Each new week brings us music that has the potential to change countless lives, and this week’s batch of new releases is no exception. There are too many good records for us to mention, but here are four we believe everyone should experience.

Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown – Pressure (Snakefarm/Spinefarm)

Tyler Bryant has nothing left to prove. After a decade of constant touring and recording, the rock meets blues talent has built a fervent following that any artist would desire. His marketing talents are only outmatched by his musical output, which has been consistently inspiring. Pressure finds a perfect balance between old school aesthetics and a modern outlook that understands our collective yearning for freedom. It’s a fitting soundtrack for quarantine, combining the frustrations of the year with inspiring anthems that will make you want to drive fast and break laws. We wouldn’t blame you for getting into trouble while this plays, but please, don’t blame us for whatever happens next.

Mayday Parade – Out of Here EP (Rise Records)

Emo icons Mayday Parade refuses to rely on the successful output of their past to define the people that they are today. No one would blame the Florida-based rockers for becoming a modern legacy act, touring into irrelevance with greatest hits sets, but the band continues to push forward. As the title infers, Out Of Here plays like the blueprint to an escape plan that listeners will hatch as the EP unfolds. We expect every song on this release to appear in the band’s 2021 setlist, so you better start learning the words now.

Molasses – Through The Hollow (Season of Mist)

Through The Hollow is a constant reminder that the search for artistic greatness is never-ending. The first full-length release from a group of industry veterans, the record revels in the journey that is creativity. The record is both haunting and enchanting, pulling listeners into a world wherever anything is possible, and everything is on the table. It’s the kind of immersive listening experience that all artists strive to deliver, and we imagine anyone who partakes will have a hard time walking away. Through The Hollow will stick with you like muscles to bone.

Lost Symphony – Chapter II (XOFF Records)

Every corner of music has reached a saturation point where virtually any new artist falls in line with someone or more than one talent that came before them. Finding something boldly original is the dream of any genre fan, and the answer for hard rock fans lies in Lost Symphony. A supergroup of sorts, the band combines metal and classical music styles to create a wholly original sound. It’s symphonic, yes, but it’s also far more commercial than any group typically carrying that title. When listeners put on the band’s latest work, Chapter II, they embark on a sonic odyssey they won’t want to quit.

Chapter II is an essential record. Not for metal fans, but everyone. Don’t think twice. Dive in and let Lost Symphony carry you far away from the hellscape that is 2020.


Discover even more new music from Haulix clients by streaming our essential fall playlist on Spotify.

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News

11 Alternative Music Photographers You Should Follow Right Away

(Photo by Thomas Falcone)

We have dedicated a lot of blog space over the last two years to helping make you, the reader, a better music photographer. Those efforts will no doubt continue in the future as we believe the role of education in someone’s life is one that lasts from the cradle to the grave, but today we are turning our focus from the ins and outs of the industry to those who are currently setting the standard for professionalism. There are probably hundreds, if not thousands of photographers covering the world of alternative music right now, and in time we hope to highlight as many of them as we possible can. Right now however, we want to focus on 10 people with unique perspectives on the current music scene that we feel everyone should know and follow online. You can learn from them, or you can just enjoy their work. Either way, please support these hard working people:

Adam Elmakias (Website, Instagram, Twitter)

At the risk of overstating his current level of influence, Adam Elmakis pretty much sets the bar for photography in the alternative music scene. He has photographed everyone you can think to name, but he’s best known for his work with A Day To Remember, Of Mice & Men, and Pierce The Veil. 

Ashley Osborn (Website, Instagram, Twitter)

Harnessing the power of social media to further her presence and influence like few have been able to accomplish, Ashley Osborn is an innovative photographer with a perspective on life like no other. If anyone works harder than her to make photography their life I have yet to meet them.

Grady Brannan (Website, Instagram, Twitter)

Sometimes photographers rise to popularity by capturing dozens upon dozens of artists at every level of stardom, but that is not the case for everyone. Grady has been around the music industry, as well as the modeling world, but he’s probably best known for capturing the rise of rapper G-Eazy from underground clubs to sold out stadiums, both on stage and off. His notoriety rose right along with G’s stardom, and today it’s hard to talk with anyone in photography or music without one of their names coming up.

Thomas Falcone (Website, Instagram, Twitter)

If you’re a fan of Mayday Parade there is a good chance you have swooned over the talent of photographer Thomas Falcone once or three dozen times over the last few years. Thomas can capture any artist in a way that makes you drop your jaw, but his time on the road with the men of Mayday has allowed him to work with them on an entirely different level. It’s both personal and professional, making you feel as if you’re right next to the band no matter where they happen to be around the globe.

Molly Louise Hudelson (Website, Instagram, Twitter)

Most the photographers on this list so far have become synonymous with artists who are currently able to headline all over the world. Molly Louise Hudelson works with that level of talent as well, but her best work is done when capturing the artists still trying to cut their teeth in this crazy business of entertainment. If you want to see the artists who will be headlining in one or three years from now, Molly’s work is a good place to start.

Vince Dwyer (Website, Instagram, Twitter)

Vince Dwyer spends a lot of time on the road with The Word Alive, which offers him unique access to the world of hard work and metal that (lucky for us) he then shares with people around the globe using only his camera. Like others on this list, his talent has grown along with the artists he’s dedicated his life to capturing, and with each new tour it seems he only gets better.

Nick Karp (Website, Instagram, Twitter)

It’s not easy making it as a freelance music photographer in 2015, but Nick Karp has somehow found a way to make it work while also living full time in New York City. His ability to hustle day and night, show to show, is right up there with the hardest working bands in music today. On any given date he may be capturing anywhere from one to ten bands at one or more shows in various corners of the city, and once summer arrives with festivals every other week his schedule only grows more hectic. Nick also has a heart for education, as anyone familiar with this blog has seen through his numerous columns on music photography basics, so really there is no reason for you not to follow his work from this point forward.

Sedition1216 (Website, Instagram, Twitter)

We hate not being able to use someone’s real name in a feature like this, but the photographer most commonly referred to as Sedition has chosen to keep his identity a bit harder to come by than most. What we know for certain is that he spends his days driving your favorite bands from show to show, and at night he uses his Canon 70D to capture moments that will make your heart skip a beat. His work with models is pretty incredible as well, and with Warped Tour fast-approaching, you can expect a wealth of new images to be produced in weeks ahead.

Mike Wilson (Website, Instagram, Twitter)

You would be hard pressed to find a single person in music, maybe even the planet, with a bad thing to say about Mike Wilson. The world may have a shortage of truly good people, but Mike is a hard working guy who also happens to be incredibly kind and ridiculously underrated. He spent the beginning of 2015 with Cartel, and the work he came back with will make you fall in love with the band even if you know understand why everyone lost their mind over the release of Chroma. His work is that good, and even though he has a few years of experience under his belt it’s clear he’s nowhere near reaching the peak of his abilities. I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if Mike found himself where Elmakis is at today within five years time, if not sooner.

Teri Cwiek (Website, Instagram, Twitter)

Originally a name synonymous with PupFresh, Teri Cwiek has become a brand all her own over the last two or three years. She can currently be found touring around in vans with bands on the cusp of taking the scene by storm, and all day everyday she shares scenes from her time on the road through her various social networks. As the average age of our team here at Haulix is around 30, we are not always familiar with the artists Teri is working with, but that doesn’t really matter when you see the beautiful images she is able to produce. Like the hustle shown by Nick Karp, Teri has the kind of driven, business-oriented mindset to actually make her passion her life, and we encourage everyone to seek out her work as soon as they are able.

Matty Vogel (Website, Instagram, Twitter)

There is something about the way Matty Vogel captures live performances, especially those of rapper Hoodie Allen, that defies explanation. Regardless of the place where the photo was taken, Vogel finds a way to make every concert photo look as if it captures a once-in-a-lifetime moment. His behind-the-scenes work is no different, offering intimate access to some of the biggest names in music today. He’s a favorite of our entire staff, and we cannot wait to see what he produces while on tour with Wiz Khalifa, Fall Out Boy, and Hoodie Allen all summer long.

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News

My Favorite Photo Of 2014: Thomas Falcone

Greetings! With 2014 quickly coming to a close, we wanted to find a unique way to present the best moments in music from the previous year to our readers without falling into the stereotypical routine of posting list after list detailing events and releases we never covered in the first place. We don’t really weigh in on music in general, so why try and do so now?

After much thought and debate, we settled on a new concept that we think everyone enjoy. Together with a group of our favorite music photographers, we have compiled a collection of images that showcase some of the best and most intimate moments in music from 2014. The images shared in this series were chosen by the photographers who captured them, and the only guidelines they were given was to choose the one image that meant the most to them. Some included an explanation for their photos, while others did not, but everyone chose images that are sure to linger in your mind for days to come.

First up, professional music photographer Thomas Falcone.

This image means the world to me. This is an image of Derek of Mayday Parade (alternative rock band-frontman) sleeping in his bunk on our tour bus on the last day of our tour in Orlando in 2014. Throughout the last couple years of touring and traveling with this band, I’ve seen it all. They’ve taken me across the world to places I never even heard of to watch and document them playing music. We’ve hiked mountains, played with koalas, taken photos all over historic places in England, have stayed up till 5am drinking wine on a hill in front of the Coliseum, one of the members getting married, and even lived in a house with them as they wrote and recorded multiple records. The growth and creativeness of Mayday Parade have led me to who I am today with my art and personality. They’ve showed me what I love, and who I truly am.
I took this photo of Derek sleeping because it was the end of my second full record cycle with the band. They are about to write album #5 and taking some time off on the road after the recording process. I am not fully sure if I will return so I wanted this last photo ever taken of them to mean something special. I’ve documented them everywhere, except where they rest. It may mean that I am putting this long term project to sleep, or it may mean some time apart from the band. Who knows. But it will forever be one of my favorites taken until I head back out with them again.
Thomas Falcone is a professional music photographer whose work has appeared in a number of influential publications. He shares work regularly on Twitter and Facebook, so if you like what you see above we highly encourage you to follow him on other networks. We hope to share more of Thomas’ work in the months to come.
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News

Industry Spotlight: Thomas Falcone

Hello, everyone. Welcome to the latest installment of our ongoing industry spotlight series. In an attempt to continue evolving we’re using today’s interview to highlight an area of the business we’ve only briefly touched upon in the past. If you like it, let us know and similar columns will following in the weeks ahead. You can email james@haulix.com with your thoughts, or reach out through Twitter. We look forward to hearing from you.

For many young creative minds, Thomas Falcone lives the music industry dream. He wakes up in a new city almost every day surrounded by his closest friends and spends the entirety of each afternoon and night taking pictures with his camera. Yes, he’s a professional tour photographer, and today we’re going to learn how he found his place in the business of music.

As far as I know there has never been a photographer who attended a single show and instantly found themselves working within the music industry on a regular basis. Like anything worth doing, making a name for yourself behind the camera in music takes time, and Tom Falcon has dedicated his life to mastering his approach to photography. He now finds himself on tour with Mayday Parade, one of the biggest bands in the alternative rock scene, and his future looks brighter than ever.

If you would like to stay in touch with Tom and follow all his activity on the road, make sure you bookmark and frequent his photo blog. Additional questions and comments can be left at the end of this post.

H: For the record, state your name, occupation, and who you’re currently working with/for:

TF: Tom Falcone, Touring Music Photographer. Currently on the road with Mayday Parade on the Glamour Kills Tour

H: Let’s start at the beginning. When you think of your earliest memories with music, what comes to mind?

TF: Backstreet Boys. Arguring with my brother on who’s Backstreet Boys album we purchased was going to be. We fought over who was going to be the one holding onto it and listening to it non stop haha.

H: Do you recall the first album you purchased with your own money?

TF: Backstreet Boys.

H: This spotlight is a bit different from others we have done because you’re not necessarily a journalist. You can be, and at times have been, more than anything you’re a professional photographer. To whom or what do you attribute your interest in photography?

TF: I love capturing documentary style photography. What people are doing, in places that others have never seen. We are lucky enough to travel the world and see things a lot of people don’t get to see, so that’s what I like to capture. A lot of my most recent work is very candid, and I love it

H: What was your first camera, and how did you acquire it?

TF: I used my moms Kodak Easyshare camera for random things like photos of flowers and self portraits. I told my parents I wanted to work and purchase my first DSLR. I worked with my father at a auto repair shop for $100 a week for about 7 weeks and purchased my first Canon Rebel DSLR with a 50mm 1.8

H: Do you remember when you first considered pursuing photography as a career? If so, can you tell us a bit about the time leading up to that realization?

TF: It was more when I first started getting paid, and getting the opportunity to work with bands on a personal level. I started meeting local bands and hanging and shooting around with them when I was really young and eventually built a portfolio to pitch to record labels and managers etc.

H: When it comes to music photography, did you start with concert or promotional work? Who was the first band you worked with?

TF: I started with concert. I didn’t think that I was good enough for promo photography just yet. I worked with bands in my local scene called The Showcase, Kick Over The Traces, Moraine etc. I still love them

H: You now find yourself on the roads with bands for a living, something I’m sure every aspiring music photographer reading this would one day like to do themselves. When people ask you how you reached this point in your career, what do you tell them? It clearly was not an overnight occurrence.

TF: I tell them to just be themselves. Shoot something different. So many people take live photos and so many people capture the same thing. Be different and be yourself, I mean, don’t act different around bands, or people on the road. Everyone is normal.

H: At this point in your career, how do you measure success? What would you consider failure?

TF: I know it sounds lame, but I find myself somewhat successful. I have a band that I tour with full time and create images that I love as well as inspire other people.

H: A lot of people believe great photography requires great gear. Do you agree?

TF: No. I just bought a small little Fujifilm camera that does amazing work, and it isn’t even a DSLR.

H: What is the biggest misconception people have about life as a photographer?

TF: That I most likely just party and take photos of them. I’m not sure. A lot of people can think what they want but…we just have fun haha

H: A lot of the photographers we’ve researched maintain online stores. Do you have a place people can buy your prints? (feel free to plug anything you like)

TF: Smugmug is great

H: Networking is key to success in the music industry. What advice would you offer young photographers about navigating the business from a networking standpoint?

TF: Networking is amazing. Conferences, meetings, social networks. It is all the ingredients you need to become successful

H: What is your ultimate career goal?

TF: To build a portfolio of one band over a span of years to see progress, growth, passion and love.

H: If you could change one thing about the music business, what would it be?

TF: I don’t really deal with the “music business side of things” haha. I’m a photographer.

H: Thank you for taking the time to speak with us, Tom. Do you have anything else you’d like to share?

TF: Just keep on trucking, make images you love and share them with everyone.

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