Category: My Showcase

Album Anatomy: Overexposed by Sleep On It

Album Review of Overexposed by Sleep On It

This album is everything I didn’t know my life needed!

I mean, I went and got my first tattoo with lyrics from one of the songs on this album so that says a lot. It’s easily become one of my favorite pop punk albums of the newer generation and I cannot wait for more from these guys.

Overexposed encompasses so much you can relate to; from love to finding a place of contentment, old and new perceptions, and a kick-ass collaboration with lead singer Derek DisCanio from State Champs. The order of songs is also perfect! It has a strong start and a finish that reminds me of the way Blink-182 finished their self-titled album with, “Lost Without You,” a beautifully written track that lingers instrumentally with just enough grit. It’s one of those albums you can easily listen to from start to finish.

Overexposed starts with my personal favorite track, “A New Way Home.” It’s everything you want from a lead-off hitter, especially since it’s applicable to a common life theme you can relate to. It has to do with finding your way when you may be feeling lost or uncertain, and to remember life still has good things to offer amidst any darkness. The song has two verses that boost my mood every single time. First, the chorus:

This is the heart of every word

(I’m singing, you’re hearing)

This is the soul of every line

(And you’ll find)

The grass is always greener on the other side

And I’m looking out the window trying to find

A splash of color in this grayscale life

That last line is what I now officially have inked on my body forever. It speaks to me so much and always reminds me to find the glimpses of color when I’m lost in what can feel like a mediocre life at times. These guys nail the build-ups and vocals and putting this song first sets the tone for the rest of the record.

The second verse that is on a need-to-mention basis comes right before the chorus is sung for the second time:

And I felt the weather change for the better

The kind of cold you fall in love to

And we could fall in love, too

Ugh, everything about this part makes me feel so much! They paint this picture perfectly with lyrics and a subtle break in sound to build it right back up. It is incredibly poetic to say the least and Zech, the lead singer, delivers it so well!

The track, “Distant,” is another favorite of mine. After the chorus is sung the second time, this part describes a thought process that I believe most of us have had as human beings, navigating our way in and out of relationships:

Maybe it’s all true
I’ll never find somebody like you
Or maybe I should really be alone

Maybe it’s all true
I never wanted someone like you
It’s finally time you make your way back home

I mean… come on. We’ve all been there. You’re with someone that you thought was everything, then you split for what could be a variety of reasons. You go through this whole whirlwind of thoughts see-sawing their way through your brain – “I’m never going to find another person, I’ll be alone forever. This person was everything to me,” which gradually transfers to a new, fierce mindset after you’ve been on your own for awhile and realize you are capable of living a life without that person. The mindset of, “Maybe I never even wanted to be with someone like you in the first place,” and that is so f***ing powerful.

Yes, guys! We’ve been there time and time again. This is a breakup song that we all know too well – we feel stuck, lost, pour our heart out wishing he or she would have stayed, and then hit ’em with the, “I don’t need you anymore,” line. I’d insert two middle fingers here if I could because that’s the gesture I want to make during the end of this verse.

So I’m obviously pumped about this album and listen to at least a handful of their songs everyday. The band recently put out their newest single, “Disconnected,” that will be on their next album they’ve been working on and I cannot wait for it!!!! This song is also a major hit with the very relatable opening line, “I feel so disconnected from everybody but myself.” What gold! They obviously know what’s up and I am trusting they’ll make magic once again with their new set of tracks.

Please check this album out ASAP! Overexposed is available on all music platforms. Find it here, listen, and fall in love!

Jackson LeBeau & Co.

My first artist interview ever is with the amazing Folk-Pop Singer/Songwriter Jackson LeBeau member of the band, Jackson LeBeau & Co., from Virginia Beach, VA. For awhile, he played the guitar in a band alongside his siblings which consisted mostly of them playing at open mic nights at a local bar in his home town. After some twists and turns taken amongst the band and its members, Jackson took a risk and dove into songwriting and began teaching himself to sing – it’s safe to say he loved it and hasn’t stopped since.

Website – Jackson LeBeau & Co.

(Interview was done via email – I sent Jackson some questions to answer and he kindly responded with some interesting and thorough answers)

jackson

What has been your most difficult experience/setback on your journey as an artist?

The most difficult experience has been distance. The three steady members of the band have lived in different states at times and it creates an interesting set of challenges. Luckily we have the technology to be able to work together wherever we are.

What is your favorite experience you’ve had as an artist thus far?

I got a chance to put together a show and share the stage with some friends in my hometown.  I’m a fan of their music, so I started the night as an audience member and then got to perform about an hour later. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Where is your favorite place to write songs?

I try to write outside as much as possible, but when an idea hits you, it doesn’t matter where you are. Your current location becomes your favorite place for that moment.

You wrote a song called, “Things I Never Said,” on your EP also called, “Things I Never Said,” which is something we can probably all relate to as there are always situations where we wish we said some things but never did. How has the theme of “Things I Never Said” played a role in your life?

It was a crutch I used to try to protect myself.  In hindsight, it turned out to be an extremely limiting defense mechanism.  I have to be able to step back and appreciate it though, because that lack of a voice sent me down the path of songwriting.  I needed an outlet to solve a problem I had created for myself.  That’s why I used that phrase as the title for our first EP. It was my way of finally getting a chance to express those ideas.

If you could play at any venue in the world, where would it be and why?

I would love to play at Red Rocks. I imagine the environment would add something special to the experience for the band, as well as the audience.  It’s a level of connectivity that you’d share even before the music starts.

What is your favorite song you’ve written?

That would probably be a new (unreleased) song called “Wishful Thinking”. It’s a simple song, but it aims to capture a lot of what the darker moments in my life are like right now. I’m always looking to find a perspective that adds a productive spin to those experiences, even if it’s just simply the act of acknowledging them.

I know it can be hard to depict one person as a major musical influence on you in your life so if you had to choose three, who are they?

This answer is always changing, but right now my three biggest musical influences would be “Dawes”, “The Head & The Heart”, and “Passenger”.

If you could collaborate with any artist in the world who would it be?

I would like to write with Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes. He has a very unique lyrical perspective and I’d be interested to witness/participate in that process first-hand.

What is your favorite lyric of all time?

This is a tough one. Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about a Passenger lyric – “All I need is a whisper, in a world that only shouts”.  It resonates with me because I often struggle with relating to the “connected” world of social media.  I think it really only separates us further from each other.  It creates a culture that rewards the volume of a voice, instead of the substance or content of what’s being shared.

The most important question of all (not really but kind of), puppies or kittens?

I feel like I should say puppies, but I’m going to have to go with kittens. They look like miniature tigers and they’re born vicious/evil. I find that entertaining for some reason.

 

You can get the band’s first FULL LENGTH ALBUM, “Start A Fire,” which is now available for $1 (or however much you are willing to pay) at www.jacksonlebeau.com/startafire and please follow Jackson’s social media links to keep up with their musical journey:

Twitter – @JacksonLeBeau

Facebook – http://facebook.com/jacksonlebeauandco

Instagram – @jacksonlebeauandco