Sexual Assault Awareness Month: Songs I Saw Myself In

{trigger warning: mentions of child sexual abuse}

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month.  In the past, I’ve spoken out about my story of being sexually abused when I was 7 years old; which was both really hard and also healing at the same time.  This year, I decided to make a playlist filled with songs I felt I saw myself in through the years that followed my experience. These are all songs that I felt were a huge part of my healing process.

Starting off are a few songs by Demi Lovato including “Skyscraper”, “Warrior”, “Believe In Me” and a couple of more. Demi was someone I really looked up to in high school. So, these are some of the songs I saw myself in, especially “Believe In Me” because I struggled with self-esteem and insecurity after what I had been through.

Some songs were by Halsey, including one of her most popular songs, “you should be sad”. Specifically, the lyric “you would never ever touch me again,” hits close to home for me. I consider that line to be my “fuck you” to my abuser.

And because even now, I still worry about how people close to me view me after I share my story with them, I added a song by my friends, The Living Street: “Mean The Most”.  The lyric “you watch me as I fall, there you go. I’ve never felt so small,” hits me specifically when I think back to feeling like I wasn’t good enough and just wanting to mean something to someone.

Two other songs that I also feel so connected to when it comes to this topic are by singer, Birdy, “Keeping Your Head Up” and “Wild Horses”. When it comes to “Wild Horses”, one lyric that I felt spoke to me during the chorus is “I will move on and you should know I mean it. Wild horses run in me,” This became my mantra after I first listened and it is still my mantra to this day.

Other songs I included are by Lorde, Lana Del Rey, Melanie Martinez, Shinedown, Sia ,and more. If you’ve ever been through this, I hope these songs heal you the way they’ve healed me. I love you. I see you. I hear you.

Review: The Arcs Deliver Their Signature Musical Magic Captured in Time with Electrophonic Chronic

With their first (and last!) full release record playing on repeat in my headphones since 2015, The Arcs dropped their latest full-length release, Electrophonic Chronic, at the tail-end of January. A time capsule of sorts, musical magic captured in time, this record functions in many ways as a tribute to band member Richard Swift, who passed away in 2018. 

Electrophonic Chronic hearkens back, and not too terribly far, to the same sort of emotionally raw lyricism you’ll find on The Black Keys’ Turn Blue, heavy, but somehow emotionally rewarding. With the majority of tracks already scaffolded in 2015/2016, the only task keeping Electrophonic Chronic from being released as the unit it is today was the putting of pieces together. This process started in 2021, when vocalist/guitarist Dan Auerbach sent some Dropbox links of these old tracks to multi-instrumentalist in the band Leon Michels – they then started working. The end result is a very personal, bittersweet piece. 

Electrophonic Chronic is more than just a sophomore album, it’s a taste of what it might’ve been like to hang with the band. It feels very personal, like the listener is a fly on the wall through the band’s tour and studio adventures. Electrophonic Chronic is the perfect example of what The Arcs always were, a band of friends who just liked to play around with sounds and listen to music. That energy is evident here – it’s raw, but that kind of rawness that only comes from well-seasoned musicians just doing their thing, and doing it well, even when they’re just having fun. You can hear the love they had for what they were doing and for each other. 

Electrophonic Chronic explores all ends of the emotional spectrum in its 38-minute package. “Sunshine” is a bright blue-sky day in sonic form, “Behind the Eyes” is an introspective masterpiece on the two-sided nature of people. “Heaven is a Place” honors the grief and pain associated with loss while maintaining a sense of hopefulness, “Backstage Mess” is pure fun and happiness from the road somehow pieced together into a solid home-video-esque song. “Only One for Me” is a heartbreakingly relatable lament of loneliness (and acceptance, depending on your perspective), “A Man Will Do Wrong” (a gender-bent version of the Helene Smith soul number) is a beautiful aching description of love and the lengths we’ll go to for it. I could go on and on. 

Thematically, where Yours Dreamily seems to have its moments evoking that immediate and raw, yet poetic, response to hurt, Electrophonic Chronic feels like that years-later acceptance and healing. Despite these songs having not actually been recorded that far apart in time, there’s a maturity and growth to the theme of these tracks, still raw, but having started to heal from the experience. Several of the tracks delve into some really heavy concepts, almost dark at times, but the way the band executes it lends an air of hopefulness. There’s a feeling of acceptance and healing underlying these heavy themes. “Love Doesn’t Live Here Anymore” for example, has a focus on the unpacking of generational trauma and letting go of a toxic relationship, with the simple resolution of “I’ve got more love to give today / more than you could ever steal away.” There’s an acknowledgment and honoring of pain while simultaneously healing from it, and it feels especially fitting now in the context of the record honoring Swift. Much of the record functions this way, and it’s indicative of the group’s growth over the course of their time together not as musicians, but as friends, through talking and working through their own personal issues and being each other’s’ source of support, something Auerbach has mentioned in recent interviews. You really can feel the love these guys have for each other in this record; it’s remarkable. 

On top of being emotionally rich and eclectic, the record also exudes one of my favorite things about the Arcs, their inability to be closed into one genre. Even within a single track, you’ll find multiple expressions of various genres. Electrophonic Chronic explores elements of 60s soul and funk, classic country, indie rock, and even a touch of electronic. Couple that with one of the best voices in modern music delivering those gut-wrenching yet somehow therapeutic lyrics and you’ve got one of the best records of the last and the next decade.  

As a self-proclaimed Arcs superfan who genuinely never thought they’d see another release from the band, Electrophonic Chronic was worth every bit of excitement and hype it’s been given since it was announced last October. Though it feels in many ways like a new chapter for the band, it functions as a beautiful piece of closure, tying up loose thematic ends and honoring a musical genius and good friend in a way he’s sure to be proud of. It remains on track to be my favorite record released this year. I hope it’s not the end of the Arcs story, but if it is, what a damn good way to go out. RIP Swift. 

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FOLLW THE ARCS

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Rock ‘n’ Rollers Ready Revolution are Born Again with Let It Out, Their First Release in Eight Years

San Antonio born-and-raised rockers Ready Revolution have returned from hiatus with their brand new, heavy-hitting record, Let It Out. I sat down with Diego, Emilio, Matt, Kevin, and Shane over Zoom to talk about the record and their upcoming show in San Antonio this Saturday (3/25/23). We talked about the process of getting Let It Out into the world, our favorite tracks from the record, and how excited they are for their first show back in 5 years!

I found my way to Ready Revolution because of their close proximity to another of my favorite bands, The Last Bandoleros, who I’ve written about several times for Banded. Brothers Diego and Emilio Navaira are the connecting pieces, and together with their friends Shane Gamboa, Kevin Diaz de Leon, and Matt Zavala, they put together this kickass rock band before TLB was a solid thing, and they’ve been rocking all over San Antonio ever since. 

photo credit: Josh Huskin

With their last release, Ready Revolution, out in 2015, and their last live show in 2018, the release of Let It Out and their upcoming live show in San Antonio feels like a rebirth for the band. Let It Out really feels like a record for the fans. All of the sounds we’ve known and loved from the band since their inception still remain, but you can hear the growth in musicianship and brotherhood among the band when you listen; it truly feels like the second coming of Ready Revolution in a way. This music has more-or-less sat in the vault for years until recently, when the band decided to get back together to finish things up and make final cuts. Vocals were re-recorded, little bits were added and changed, and seemingly out of nowhere, Let It Out was here and in our ears before we even knew what hit us. 

The record feels incredibly cohesive despite its general pieced-togetherness, and I think that can only be attributed to the strong brotherhood this band embodies, a sentiment that was echoed by guitarist/vocalist Emilio during our interview. It’s clear upon first listen that these are more than just musicians placed together in a studio, these are the best of friends who know each other better than anyone else. They know how to get the best out of each other and out of the band as a unit, and that’s evident in the overall production – Let It Out is incredibly well-produced. That’s not something you find very often in self-made bands like this one. 

Let It Out is addictive. As I sit here listening to it while writing this review, I find myself jamming (and getting distracted by said jamming!) and wanting to start every song over for another listen. It’s a record that amps you up and leaves you feeling good. Starting and ending you on such high notes without a single filler track, it’s impossible to put down. Not to mention the phenomenal musicianship that shines through on every track; these are five of Texas’ absolute best musicians. It’s never even a question that they know exactly what a track needs and how to lay it down. They’re masters of their craft. 

Deserving a paragraph all his own is lead vocalist Diego Navaira. I’ve long been hyping up his vocal prowess, but never has that been more deserved than with his work on this record. He has complete control over his range and tone, and he demonstrates all levels of the spectrum on Let It Out. He leaves nothing to be desired; if anyone was born to lend their voice to rock ‘n’ roll, it’s Diego. 

Let It Out is everything you want from a modern rock record. It ebbs and flows heaviness and anger, softness and emotion, and everything in between. Rich with brilliant guitar tone, strong lead vocals and perfectly executed harmonies, and relatable lyrics to tie the whole thing together, the only complaint I could have about the record is that it just isn’t long enough! The thirty minutes of rock magic the band does give us though? Very much worth the aching for more. Give it a listen – you’ll thank me. 

If you’re local to San Antonio and the surrounding areas, check at their show at the 502 Bar this Saturday (3/25) night, and if you’re listening from afar, be on the lookout – they might be hitting the road soon!

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FOLLOW READY REVOLUTION

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INTERVIEW: Rock Trailblazer Hannah Wicklund Shares Her Story

It was an honor chatting with Hannah Wicklund this Women's History Month. Her story is truly inspiring, sharing stories of heartbreak and success. Wicklund has toured with the likes of Greta Van Fleet, The Pretty Reckless and many more. New music is coming soon so be on the lookout!    

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FOLLOW HANNAH WICKLUND

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INTERVIEW: RoZY Chats About New Single, "One For All"

It's been two years since I've last spoken with Houston-based rock band, Rozy. It was such an incredible time chatting with them about their latest single, One For All. We dove into the story of the single as well as what's on the horizon for Rozy. 

Stream One For All on all streaming platforms.

Red and The Rebels Gives Tom Petty And Stevie Nicks Vibes In “Pisces Moon”

If there’s anything I can say about Red and The Rebels, it’s the fact that they know how to make songs that stand out. Songs that are electrifying. Songs that will stay in your head for days and make you want more. 

Once again, they’ve released another song that will make you want more, “Pisces Moon.” 

Right off the bat, we’re being greeted with an incredible instrumental start to the song, which is something that already gives such a positive thought about the song itself. What’s a good rock ‘n’ roll song without an excellent instrumental beginning?

The heartland rock sound of the song is very reminiscent of Tom Petty’s Full Moon Fever album, while lead singer Deidre’s vocals give off the vibes of Stevie Nicks. Not only that, Deidre’s vocal performance on this track shows how powerful of a singer she is. She’s got the fierce sound of any badass woman in rock ‘n’ roll. She’s on her way to becoming a future star in the world of rock ‘n’ roll.

The lyrics of “Pisces Moon” will also stay with you and you’ll find yourself singing it. The beauty of the lyrics are nothing short of beautiful and lyrically, this may be their best song to date. One standout lyric is “no one’s light compares to you.” It’s an extraordinary and undeniably beautiful lyric on its own.

Everything about the song - from the lyrics, the instrumentals, the vocal performance - is extraordinary in every way. It will fill your rock ‘n’ roll loving heart with joy.Watch out, world. Here comes Red and The Rebels and they’re here to stay. 

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FOLLOW RED AND THE REBELS

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INTERVIEW: Trev Lukather talks New Music, Highs and Lows of the Music Industry, and more

Trev Lukather and Laura Kane sat down to talk about new music, the highs and lows of the music industry and what’s to come in 2023.

WOMEN FKN ROCK | Celebrating International Women's Day and Women's History Month

Did you know the Banded Staff is comprised of 99% women? Founded by Rebecca Potzner, Banded has flourished throughout the years because of women who are passionate about music and sharing it with the world.

Celebrate #internationalwomensday all day and every day with our playlist featuring 25+ hours of music by women.

Read about the women who inspired our love for music here.

Daisy Jones & The Six Becomes The Real Deal With Debut Album + "Regret Me"

Daisy Jones & The Six may be a fictional band, but they managed to get to a million streams on Spotify. Just over a month shy of the release of the new Amazon Prime Video series of the same title - based on the novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid - it’s been announced that they’re also bringing Daisy Jones & The Six’s debut album, Aurora to life. 

Featuring amazingly talented musicians from Phoebe Bridgers to Madison Cunningham to Jackson Browne and more; it’s no secret that this album will certainly have some brilliantly written songs in store for us.

Not only that, we’ll also be able to purchase Aurora on vinyl, so that way, we can all experience listening to the album and imagine ourselves living in a time where Daisy Jones & The Six are a real band and we’re figuring out a way to get tickets to see them on their world tour.

Oh yeah, did I mention that there’s already a song released on music streaming platforms? That’s right, folks! Daisy Jones & The Six has now also come to life by releasing their first single, ‘Regret Me.’  So, how is the song? Will this get you hyped for the series and the album? Well, let’s find out.

Right off the bat, the guitars in the beginning perfectly capture the vibe of a 70’s song. It contains riffs that will likely stay stuck in your head for days and are reminiscent of various 70’s bands, especially Fleetwood Mac.

Now, the lyrics and vocal performance? Between Riley Keough’s (who plays Daisy Jones) Sam Claflin (who plays Daisy’s love interest and bandmate, Billy Dunne), Riley’s vocals really stand out strong. She’s got a tone that is certainly fit for the 70’s; giving off a Stevie Nicks vibe while also very reminiscent of her mother, Lisa Marie Presley’s voice. 

Sam Claflin’s vocals are just as strong and because Fleetwood Mac has been mentioned, Sam’s voice also gives off the vibe of Lindsey Buckingham. Are we sure that this band wasn’t a real 70’s band? His vocal performance - combined with Riley’s - brings out a fiery duet in the song. 

The lyrics? Oh, my. The lyrics are powerful. The song captures the turmoil of the relationship between Daisy and Billy so perfectly, you can hear it through Riley and Sam’s vocal performances. If this song isn’t a perfect kind of kiss-off song, I don’t know what is.

One moment that will give you chills when listening to the song? Riley when she softly sings this lyric: “go ahead and regret me but I’m beating you to it, dude.” Instant goosebumps all around.

The song is fiery and powerful. It contains everything you love about the 70’s. Not only that, this song is bound to be what ‘Fever Dog’ by another fictional band, Stillwater is to hardcore Almost Famous fans: A classic. Daisy Jones & The Six will be this generation’s Stillwater. Mark my words. And the series will be this generation’s Almost Famous. Honestly? I’m living for it.

If you haven’t read the book, please do so before the series because it’s definitely worth the read. Catch “Daisy Jones & The Six” when it premieres on Amazon Prime Video on March 3rd.

You can stream ‘Regret Me’ on any music streaming platform. Aurora is now available for pre-order on Urban Outfitters’ website and Amazon.

Feed your angst this Valentine's day with POET The Band's “Miss Misery”

Are you tired of Valentine's day? Did your partner just walk out on you, steal all your life savings and your dog? If you answered yes then i'd like you to meet POET The Band. They call themselves an independent DIY hard rock band since they record and produce all their songs and music videos independently. Their latest single “Miss Misery” is for the folks feeling depressed and heartbroken this Valentine's season.

Bringing metal and pop elements together, POET creates a unique sound to alternative and hard rock. Including heavy lyrics such as “I've been searching for so long been stuck at the bottom”: at some point in life we will experience loneliness and heartbreak. As humans we have the ability to love but with that ability comes depression, anxiety and isolation. “Got me feeling fucked up like im ready to die”: everyone has demons their trying to overcome. Rejection cuts like a knife, we all want to be loved but unfortunately the more we crave love from others who don't love us back we become drained from the ability to love ourselves. The added vocal elements create the image of lead singer Aiden Shaw crying for help. Sometimes it feels like no matter how loud we scream no one can hear us. Sometimes screaming into the universe is the best therapy.

Love yourselves this valentines day and make sure to let the ones who love you know you love them back. 

If you or someone you know needs support, please check out the Suicide Prevention Hotline HERE.

INTERVIEW: Scotty Mik of Hollywood Nightmare

At the end of 2022, I caught up with fellow shedder from SoCal, sir Scotty Mik! He is a guitarist for local metal core band Hollywood Nightmare. We go into their newest album just released last September, band changes, his own personal rig, the future of modern guitar playing and more. Be sure to follow them for their show dates and stream their latest album on all platforms now and listen to this interview on Spotify below.

Your New Favorite Self Love Anthem: “You Wish by Trev Lukather

Starting off the new year with his debut song, “You Wish,” Trev Lukather expands his solo music career into the sonic depths of the 80s. Using wider and fuller sounding drum reverbs started this song off perfectly. Adding a more vintage display from the large sound of the synthesizer and complex guitar riffs are what make “You Wish” a banger. The production that went into the creation of this tune has a mix of today's pop almost defining it as glam rock. Self liberation is the message that lies beneath the surface on this track, or is it the sad reality of wanting to be something we’re not: “Cause you can’t be me and I know you wish”.

After many years of working with the likes of  Lindsay Lohan and Halestorm, Lukather started on his own projects. He formed the band LEVERA which unfortunately disbanded right after their first album release. “You wish” is his coming of age masterpiece or his way of becoming his own established artist which adds the message of being “Unapologetically Himself”: “Im set free when you're lying to yourself in the midst”. With the inspiration from his dad Steve Lukather of TOTO and his mom Marie Currie twin sister of Cherrie Currie from The Runaways. Trev had some tremendous help with creating “You Wish”,  from big names such as Steve Maggiora of TOTO and Jake Hayden of Dorothy. Keep a look out for Trev’s first solo album Invisible Friends coming soon in 2023.   

INTERVIEW: Jimmy Trigger of A Trigger Within

What better way to finish off 2022 than with his first performance in over 3 years!

It’s been along time since Jimmy Tigger from A Trigger Within has stepped on a stage and a lot has happened since then. We talk about his 3 year hiatus, what he’s been up to, his views on the music industry currently, the band’s new single released at the beginning of the year, and more.

Be sure to welcome them back and follow all social media platforms and you can listen to this whole episode on Spotify as well.

PLAYLIST: Celebrating Black History Month

365 songs to celebrate Black Music every day of the year - not just this month. Rock N Roll was invented by a black woman, after all!

BANDED Staff Deep Dive Into Their Spotify Wrapped

Tis’ the season for Spotify Wrapped! While there are people who will complain and say they don’t want to see your list, let it be known that the BANDED Staff would LOVE to see what you’ve been listening to all year. With that being said, we figured we’d share our Top Artists and Songs to get things started….

SARAH

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Four of my top five songs came from the same record, Waiting on a Song by Dan Auerbach, his second solo record.

This record became a real source of comfort for me this year. It’s a brilliantly light and summer-y record that is a remarkable mood booster. I’d put it on when I was feeling sad or grumpy and it would cheer me up, I’d put it on during those early mornings when I was up at 5am getting ready for school after not getting enough sleep and it would wake me up, I’d put it on when I was already happy and I’d feel even happier after listening; I have found it to be a perfect record to make any moment better. I listen to it in its entirety at least once a week, and most weeks usually more. It’s not new in 2022, but it’s certainly been my favorite thing this year.

Fun fact: One of the songs from this record (and one of my top five), King of a One Horse Town, is on Greta Van Fleet’s pre-show playlist. I heard it several times in the pit this year on the Dreams in Gold Tour and it made me smile every time!

With 566 artists listened to, I know there’s a plethora of artists that I listened to for the first time this year. I would have loved to see my new artists outlined in some way. In addition to knowing my top five overall artists, I’d love to see my top five new-to-me-in-2022 artists alongside them, especially to see if there’s any overlap in the years to come. 

Baylee

My Spotify Wrapped results were pretty much far from shocking and the results sum up my taste perfectly. My top artists were The Beaches, The Living Street, Taylor Swift, Harry Styles and The Aces.

All of those artists have been my comfort artists this year. After going through a rough time with my family this year, I’ve connected with all of these artists in one way or another. The Beaches with their badass punk sound that shows that women can rock, The Living Street with their acoustics and harmonies, Taylor Swift with her sad girl music on her “folklore” album, Harry Styles with his 70s disco-esque music and The Aces with their infectious indie pop sound.

All of them are my favorite artists and they all have been a massive comfort to me this year and for that, that’s why I felt connected to all of them. 

Cassie Irene

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

This year, I never realized how much time I spent listening to Halsey until Spotify Wrapped was released. As an avid Halsey fan I’m not surprised though! Halsey has been a constant in my life since her release of Badlands. Her latest album release, If I Cant Have Love, I Want Power, was an immaculate concept record. With my constant streaming of her songs “Whispers” and “Girl is a Gun,” no wonder she was my ride or die this year

It wouldn’t be my Top Artists without Billy Strings,  he will forever be a constant in my listening history. He’s joined by Harry Styles and Taylor Swift. 

I was shocked to see “Phyllis” by Lettuce make the 3rd slot in my top songs of the year. Their funky instrumental tracks filled my work week with good vibes. This is probably why one of their tracks eased their way into my soul and into my playlists. 

Finally my TOP song with them slowly creeping up to be my favorite band. Holding the 5th artist slot is Pigeons Playing Ping Pong with “Elephante.” This funky tune was THE song to blast in my car this summer. Pigeons Playing Ping Pong were my favorite band to photograph this year. They’re clearly working their way into my top slot. Who knows… maybe next year!!

BECKS

If we’re being honest, there were no surprises in my Top Artists this year. With a new album from Harry Styles and tour dates to support it…the top spot was spoken for. No questions asked. Since the album was new, it grew on me in the best way. We went from getting to know each other, to falling in love, to it bringing me pure joy; and who doesn’t need that in their life?

Greta Van Fleet returned once more. I truly never tire of their music and catching them live a couple of times this year only fueled that flame! Even on repeat, ‘Weight of Dreams’ STILL gives me goosebumps every time.

I was over the moon to see Halestorm and Dorothy make my top list. Two female rockers who truly stole my heart this year. While I had been familiar with both of them previously, seeing them live and hearing their new albums really sold me.

While I new I enjoyed Nothing More, it wasn’t until they played a festival I worked that I realized how incredible they are. Their singles were heart pumping and contagious and I ACHED for the release of their new album. It did NOT disappoint and is still on heavy rotation.

Along with Sara, I would have loved to see newer artists in my rotation spotlighted in some way. While Harry Styles stole my Top Songs, I can’t help but think about the few days I had Avatar (another festival find) on repeat. THAT is the kind of range I would have loved to see represented in our wrapped reviews.