The Underground Experience: Scream Infamy

It's finally the moment we've all- well, I know I have, anyway!!- been waiting for... the first review of The Underground Experience!! I'm really excited about it!! And away we go!!

First up, we have a great little band from Sydney called Scream Infamy!! They are absolutely amazing!! Think catchy, pop-punk guitar riffs and tons of energy. Yet another one of my unsigned lovelies; the music these guys make is pop-punk magic!! If you hear their single, Scene Kid (which you should all go and buy on iTunes right now!!), you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. For those of you too lazy to look it up, watch it now!!

Scene Kid- Scream Infamy



Bet you understand me now, huh?!

Another reason I adore these guys is how lovely they are. The lovely Josh was sweet enough to play twenty questions with me especially for you guys!! My first time interviewing anyone, so hope you love it as much as I do!!

20 Questions With... Scream Infamy!!

1. Where did you all meet?

Mutual friends and me (Josh) and James have been cousins since birth! 

2. How did you decide to become a band?

Me and James have been jamming since we started playing our instruments (really badly!) and we eventually decided to start a real band!

3. Where did your name come from?

I just put two words together, Scream and Infamy, and it fit and holds a really important meaning. Most of our lyrics are pointing out people that are in the wrong, or are 'infamous', so the name is pretty fitting to our music.

4. What bands inspire you?
Say Anything are personally my favourite band; we're seriously influenced by anything from Parkway Drive to Lady Gaga to Blink-182, as well as local/obscure bands.

5. How would you describe your sound?

Pop punk with a touch of indie, emo, alternative rock. We like to think we sound a bit like Fall Out Boy, All Time Low and Good Charlotte, so if you like those bands you need to check us out.

6. What do you like doing better; covering songs or writing your own music?

Covering songs is always fun, but people singing along to your lyrics, rather than a Blink-182 cover is an amazing feeling too. The best singalongs we get are to Scene Kid and Cool Story Bro!, hopefully our new material is 150% catchier so we can get more singalongs!

7. Who does most of your song writing?

I (Josh) write all of the lyrics and most of the music; the other boys usually come in and change parts to how they please. I'm pretty much the evil dictator when it comes to songs though; my kids are like my babies!

8. What inspires your single, Scene Kid?

Honestly, most of the Sydney music scene. Hardcore/metal kids and 'hipster' scene kids really annoy me a lot. They act like they are better than everyone when in fact, they are just not. The song is about getting rejected by a girl cause she would prefer to date one of these 'scene kids', obviously, and the music is inspired by old school punk rock.

9. How long have you guys been playing your instruments?

Throughout high school we've been learning and perfecting our musicianship. I've personally been playing for 4 years.

10. What are your favourite subjects at school?

Music class is always fun! I love multimedia too, great way to let out my other creative streaks.

11. What do you get up to on the weekends?

Playing shows, or just going to local shows trying to support the scene!

12. What other hidden talents do you have?

Haha I don't think I have any talent at all! Awkward!

13. How long have you all been playing together?

November 2009, nearly two years!

14. Where can we hear your music?

Screaminfamy.com is your best bet, but if you like us on Facebook you automatically get a puppy (Facebook.com/Screaminfamy). 

15. What is your favourite song ever?

Definitely. Friday - Rebecca Black. Either that or something by Adele, what a babe.

16. What’s one thing you look for in a girl?

Awesome personality! And if she likes the same kind of music as me, I wouldn't complain either.

17. What’s the craziest thing you guys have done?

Probably some of our shows have had some crazy stuff happen, like jumping into the crowd, swearing at people to mosh or dance. One time we got paid a lot of money for a show we literally brought two people to, haha.

18. What’s your biggest ambition musically?

To get signed and tour the world! And also to learn how to sing, hahaha.

19. Your debut release is set for early next year… what can we expect?

Expect something as pop punk as pop punk can be in 2011, catchy hooks, fun rhythms, intense breakdowns, techno beats to pump up the bass for, bass drops to destroy subwoofers, I could go on forever...Oh yeah, sexy guitar solos and a s**tload of autotune.

20. Any messages to people of general cyber space and your fans?

THANK YOU x infinity for supporting us and keep on supporting us because you ARE Scream Infamy! Without y'all, we have nothing. Except our boyish charm and stunning good looks. [You got that right!! :P] But in all seriousness, we love each and everyone of you, y'all are beautiful xoxoxoxxo <3

So, who else can't wait for the next release?? If Scene Kid and Cool Story Bro! are just  the beginning, just wait until what comes next!! Exciting?? I think so!!

Once again, here's where to find them:

Facebook.com/Screaminfamy

Screaminfamy.com

Twitter.com/Screaminfamy

Screaminfamy.bandcamp.com <-- FREE ACOUSTIC EP FOR DOWNLOAD!!

Yes, you read right. Free music, people!! Get on it!! And support them and their awesome epicness by buying Scene Kid on iTunes!

Sayonara, fellow ninjas!! xoxo

The Underground Experience

Pop-punk lovelies of the universe; WHO LOVES NEW MUSIC?!?! Pretty sure that's all of us! Well, your wishes are being granted!! I've decided that I want to do a series of reviews called "The Underground Experience" on some of the most hottest talent around who don't get nearly enough credit for their sound!!

For as long as they keep coming to me, I'm going to have a post a week- or as often as I can post- dedicated to a great little band I just so happen to have the sheer luck to come across.

I already have one lovely band already organised for the first review; very excited!! They've even agreed to do an interview, so I'm really pumped!! This will be coming very, very soon, so sit tight and get ready to be cramming your iPods full of some fresh tunes!!

Sayonara, fellow ninjas!! xoxo

Lauren Kate

Last night, as I may or may not have said in my last posts, last night I went to listen to an author speak. Anyone who knows me will have noticed that I can rarely be seen without a novel, a notebook or both. And if they haven't noticed... they need their eyes tested.

Anyway, I'm very obviously a writer as well as a reader, and I was thrilled and excited to hear in the school notices that author Lauren Kate was giving a talk locally on Wednesday night. And that it only cost $2 to go to.

Those of you who don't actually know who I mean by Lauren Kate: I'm talking about the author of The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove, which was her first (and less known novel). No; she's an international best-selling author now, with her books translated into over thirty languages. That's one hell of a lot. I'd say you've probably heard of her highly popular series (you get let off not knowing if you're not a teenage girl), Fallen? The series consists of three books so far: Fallen, Torment and Passion, with a fourth book coming next June called Rapture.

Obviously, I went to the talk. I bought a copy of Fallen beforehand and got it signed afterwards. I stayed behind and talked to her for a little while after everyone else had left and got some photos! It was really cool getting the chance to say hi to her and getting my book signed!

Anyone who hasn't actually read the Fallen series yet, and likes books that are a bit dark, paranormal with a few teaspoons of romance, they will be the best additions to your bookshelf ever. And if you needed any more reasons to go pick them up: Disney has the rights to make them into movies and the script is almost done!

Happy reading!!

Sayonara, fellow ninjas!! xoxo

Day Thirty: My Favourite Song At This Time Last Year

So, it's taken one heck of a long time to get to day thirty, but I made it; we're here! We're finally at the end!!

The thirtieth and final post of the challenge is a song that was my favourite at this time last year. Like I always say, I don't ever really have just one favourite song. It's extremely difficult to only love one amazing piece of music more than all the rest at one point in time. I usually have about a top five.

It's now early August. What music did I like in August 2010? Hmm. I don't remember. August is usually a pretty quiet month for me. I only know one person who has a birthday in August- my host sister. I don't really do very much in August generally. Makes it hard to remember what I loved so much then. However, I do remember one particular song that I loved.

Last year seems so long ago! It seems like several years ago I pre-ordered Short Stack's This Is Bat Country album and downloaded it as soon as my eyes were open! That would be one of the fastest wake-up times I've ever had. Usually, when I wake up, it takes at least five minutes for me to get my personality back. I don't ever remember actually waking up in the morning- like who woke me up, turning my alarm off, etc- but that morning my eyes were wide awake the second my static-ky radio turned on and I leapt out of bed across to my laptop. I downloaded the songs and listened to them, happy as a pig in mud while I got dressed for school.

This time last year, I would have absolutely adored a song I believe I have given credit to before. A band I have posted several times before on this blog, and have appeared much, MUCH earlier in the thirty day song challenge. Remember me raving about a brilliant little band called Amy Meredith? They're back, baby. Their song, Lying, was my crazy-amazing song that I played on repeat all August.

Lying- Amy Meredith

And that does it! That ends the challenge!! I took my sweet time to do it, that's for sure!! Now it's over, I get to blog about lots of random stuff. I definitely have an idea in mind for my next few blog posts!! Stay tuned for some hot new bands coming your way soon on Ninja!!

(God, that would be amazing to say on live radio!!)

Sayonara, fellow ninjas!! xoxo

Day Twenty-Nine: A Song From My Childhood

A song from my childhood- there's plenty of those. Music has always been a big part of my life and, as I said, has always been a thing I shared with my dear, darling daddy. We have a lot of songs that are special to us.

There was the first CD I ever owned- Sweet Like Chocolate by Shanks and Bigfoot, which I believe I've already posted. There was the second one- another song that I adored and thought was funny- Shalala (Lala) by Vengaboys. The song that I want played at my wedding when I dance with my daddy- Butterfly Kisses by Bob Carlisle. The song dad and I used to dance around the room to- and still do, whenever we hear it- when I was really little: Miss Otis Regrets by Bette Midler. A bit of an odd choice for a little kid, but it was upbeat and cheerful, and that was all that mattered.

You don't really hear much of either of those songs anymore. But there were- are!- two songs that you still hear on the radio sometimes. Not on your pop radio stations; it's nowhere near Top 40... anymore, anyway, and those are the ones I want to post.

The first actually wasn't one I shared with dad- it was one that was special to mum and my sisters and I. You may have heard "Man! I Feel Like A Woman" by Shania Twain. Mum had her CD with this song on it and when we were little, she played it all the time. Whenever that track came on, she'd crank up the volume and her three little blonde Barbie brigaders (that was the nickname we used to get all the time- blonde hair, blue eyes and dressed in pink) used to get up and dance with her. As mum said, it was our theme song. That was good fun.

The other song that really means something to me from my pre-double-digit days is She's So High by Tal Bachman. I don't know of any other songs by him besides what's on the She's So High single. Dad and I used to really love this song, for as long as I can remember, really, and we still do.

Just last year, I was going through the CD cabinet of all mum and dad's old CDs, and I happened to pull out the single that I never even knew Dad had. I took it into dad's office and we had a listen and then he gave it to me. Now it sits with the two other singles that I've always loved, and they're on my iPod so I can listen to them whenever I feel a bit homesick.

Here's the songs; I hope you love them as much as I do:

Man! I Feel Like A Woman- Shania Twain

She's So High- Tal Bachman

Tomorrow- or maybe not tomorrow... will be the last post of the much-longer-than-30 Day Song Challenge, which will be a song that was my favourite at this time last year. And then I can post random stuff and more reviews!! I definitely have some bands in mind!!

Sayonara, fellow ninjas!! xoxo

Day Twenty-Eight: A Song That Makes Me Feel Guilty

Hey guys,

Sorta been putting this post off for a while, plus I've been busy making friends like every teenage girl likes to do. You will be pleased to know that I have been successful in making friends, and my two weeks of holidays, New Zealand time, have been awesome. I have met some really awesome people here in New Zealand- despite the cold and my craving for sunshine as opposed to frost, I'm really going to miss it when I get back to Australia. I know I'll be coming back as much as I can to visit all my amazing new friends!

Look at me, I'm still putting it off. Well, actually, I don't really have a song that makes me feel guilty. Well, I don't really have one that makes me feel guilty as such. However, upon going through my iPod library I found a song that could work in that situation. It's by one of the world's most amazing bands- Paramore!

Feeling Sorry- Paramore

I guess this song doesn't make me feel guilty as such, but it makes me think about questionable decisions I've made in my life and whether or not they were the right choices. I'm happy to admit that not all of them were sensible and there are many that I regret, but I don't feel guilty. You need to make mistakes in order to learn from them. I'm proud to say that I've never made the same mistake twice, and that's because I realised they were a mistake in the first place.

I'm going to head off now. I won't be posting tomorrow as I have school, and in the afternoon I shall hopefully be hanging out with the best friend that I've made in New Zealand. But when I do post- most likely Thursday- I shall post a song from my childhood. I already know what song I'm using. And that will be my second last post of the thirty day (that lasted a very, very long thirty days) song challenge!

Sayonara, fellow ninjas!! xoxo