Publisher: alchemical records
Editor: Daniel Hill Art Director: Alex Alavi contents Writer: kimberly shires page 14...... local page 3...... Alex Alavi artists + their music Featured Artists: (cont.) page 5....Ryan Wright Albino rhino alex alavi page 15...... Crooks The Bachelor And The Bad Actress Casanovela page 6...... Emma g and crows Crooks And Crows Emma g gabrielle zwi page 8....joan cooke page 16...... wake galen clark Harvey Nussbaum the ancient joan cooke page 10...... local mary celeste Robot Jurassic artists + their music page 19...... 5x5 Ryan Wright Shea showcase Squid inc. page 12...... Mary wolfelt Wake the ancient celeste page 22...... Letter Yellowtieguy from the editor
Alchemical Records ©2019 Alex Alavi
Alex Alavi is a cartoonist and musician from the DC area. Born in a hospital that is now a condo, he was bound to have a sense of humor. He’s been drawing since childhood and playing guitar since about 12, with songwriting coming not long after. If you ask him, he’s quite good. If you ask anybody else -well, why would you?
Last November, Alex combined his comics and music into a multimedia performance at The New Deal Cafe in Greenbelt, MD.He performed original songs while comics that complemented the story of the songs were projected behind him.
Nowadays you can catch him playing at various venues around DC, MD, and VA, namely Gypsy Sally’s, The New Deal Cafe, and Epicure Cafe.
Alex has released a myriad of singles on Spotify, Apple, and all those music streaming places and plans to release a full album in the Spring of 2019.
Homemade cover art for Alex’s frst two singles “Where Did You Eat Last Night?” & “We Are 2” occasionally asked questions
Some questions Alex has been asked only once or twice, but he still thought were interesting anyway
Q: Which came frst and which is more you get something from each? important to you: the comic book stuff or the music stuff? A: I do yeah. When I went to college I studied cartooning, and I think that really made me A: I don’t know if one’s more important than a better musician too. In cartooning you only the other. I’ve always liked comics since I was have so much space, you can’t say a whole little, it was how I started reading I think, and lot, and nobody wants to read a whole lot when I’ve always wanted to be a cartoonist. And they’re reading a comic. If you have more than then when I was like 11 or 12 I also wanted one sentence in a balloon, no one’s gonna to be a musician. And I fgured I could do read it. So compression is a big thing. Nothing the musician stuff when I was young and specifc but just the idea of saying a lot in a do cartoons when I got older, but then it just simple way, I’m just trying to do that as much as kinda happened to mush together. So they’re I can. both equally important. Q: So as an analogy, do you think there are Q: In songs you have to compress a lot of hooks in comics? ideas into little hooks and metaphors and the like. I imagine there’s something like A: Yeah. I think funny faces is a hook. And big that in comics. What are the similarities/Do spaces of black, things like that.
An excerpt from the comic music video for “I Want To Be Alone”. Don’t worry the meteor makes sense in the full thing. Well, at least more sense. See more of Alex’s art: alexthefunkalavi
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behind the art of Joan Cooke Joan Cooke has gone by many names. Today she goes by Joan Comics, and she was formerly known as “The Art Creature”. She is a self-employed freelance artist and graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design. Formerly a resident of Edgewater, MD, just south of Annapolis, Joan has often attributed her greatest infuence as Matt Groening of Simpsons fame, though anyone who has seen the scope of her work will realize that her talents are not at all limited to that particu- lar style. She has had a long-running collaborator with thermodynamics profes- sor, Dante Shepherd for their web comic, PhD Unknown. Joan has also provided cover art for writers including Gabriel Ricard, as well as musicians, including southern Maryland based recording artist, YellowTieGuy.
Alchemical: Other than YellowTieGuy, what are some other local music acts that you’re into?
Joan: I’m a big fan of Super City as well as Sam Cooper & The Sleepwalkers
What was it like when you frst started designing with YellowTieGuy?
I was so young and green when I frst made art for Danny [Hill]. We discussed the details while hanging out in the garage/ music studio. I had my sketchbook out, ready to quickly take down any ideas that occurred to us in the moment. We were bouncing ideas back and forth while also catching up about our lives and our creative endeavors. We have had a long friendship and love of fueling our creative outlets. At one point, both of us were starving artists holding on by the skin of our teeth.
How did you come up with the idea for the logo?
For the logo I wanted to design something that is simple and eye catching, yet communicates his brand in an instant. Danny is whimsical and silly and the swirling tie seemed to capture that, while the rest of the font references more classic comic book style fonts.
The artwork you did for “Play On Words” is a lot more refned than the artwork you did for the original demo.
By the time that we be- gan working on artwork for the second full-length album, we had evolved so much. The process for making the album art was more in depth, and there was a lot that needed to be incorporat- ed into the full album art design. Danny wanted a design that literally had children playing on the words, but also wanted to incorporate something more subtle for fans to fnd, which consisted of faintly hinting at the POW (Prison- ers of War) imagery. This not only tied in to Danny’s support of the troops visually, but also tied into his support of the troops with songs “War (Should I be So Sur- prised).” and “War (It’s You I’m Fighting For)”.
By the time of this publication, Joan will already have appeared at Awe- some Con 2019, and will be attending and showing off her artwork at East Coast Comic Con (May 17-19) and Big Easy Con (June 1-2).
You can support Joan through her Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ joancomics
You can fnd out more about YellowTieGuy at https://www. yellowtieguy.com Local Artists + Their Music The Bachelor And The Bad Actress (Anarchist Honky Tonk) GALEN CLARK
I say “Kill a Billionaire” Cocoon The Ransom Note Kill a billionaire We are quite prepared Woven silk immune Kill a billionaire To kill this billionaire Slumber awakens you They’re killing you they’re killing me We’ve got an inch of rope Morning sings a tune It only seems fair For every life he’s broke Inside a cocoon Kill a billionaire Man this ain’t no joke Can’t build a gallows that high A chicken in every pot and a guillotine in every square Gonna tie him to the tail of his own private jet Kill a billionaire And soon he will be dangling in the sky Kill a billionaire Kill a billionaire Well I die every day ten thousand deaths By the invisible hands of some billionaire man ...OR TAX THEM APPROPRIATELY!!!!! Yeah he’s choking my neck Makes my mama want to cry She just hangs her head and says “All the billionaires must die!”
Kill a billionaire, kill a billionaire Get him in your crosshairs And kill a billionaire
Well when you seek revenge They say dig two graves Well that’s A-Ok Kill a billionaire Then kill another billionaire (it’s a 2 for 1 special folks) They’re killing you, they’re killing me It only seems fair Kill a billionaire
Well now Quinton Tarantino took us half way there He said Kill Bill
ROBOT JURASSIC SHEA Insane & Incognito Not From You Light a candle for the dead Happiness is a feeting thought Through the smoke they will speak Happiness is a rabbit eaten by a fox Feel the crooked hungry branches Happiness is a warm hug Reaching over me Happiness is an old addicting drug GALEN CLARK ALBINO RHINO Cocoon Week In Review Woven silk immune The things we’ve seen and what we’ve been through Slumber awakens you Are just about to crack the sky wide open blue Morning sings a tune The sun will shine, or the horsemen ride Inside a cocoon The side with love is what gets me feeling high
SQUID INC. GABRIELLE ZWI I’m In Without A Label Bad thoughts come to my head Who you are, what defnes you I chased them away like you said Do we ever come without a label? I paint them with colors blue and green These days when we were younger Replace bad thoughts with good dreams These things didn’t matter anyway mary celeste a jack of all trades
A true renaissance woman, Mary Ce- skis. Mary enjoys the great outdoors leste has been actively modeling since and can often be found camping and 2010, and in just one year established hiking or even taking part in urban herself as a full-time professional. In exploration. addition to having an eye for lighting and photography herself, she also has Her background in theater has pre- experience playing upright bass in both pared her for the variety of roles she rock and roll as well as orchestral ar- fulflls through modelling in art, glam- rangements, is a profcient dancer, and our, pin-up, fashion, runway, and pro- most recently began expressing herself motional applications. Mary has also through sculpting. Mary has won nu- been featured in a number of galleries merous awards and is internationally and workshops in addition to a variety published, both in print and online. of other live events.
Originally from Annapolis, Maryland, You can follow along with the USA, Mary has established something adventures of Mary Celeste through of a base of operations in California her website at maryceleste.me while also travelling to Mexico, France, and Iceland for various shoots. When not modelling you may see her whiz by you on her motorcycle or water Jamie Rasmussen
Jamie Rasmusssen, owner of Random Pants Design, a full service media shop. Photography, Fine Art, Web Design, Graphic Design, Video editing and production, the list goes on. Jamie enjoys shooting live bands, but also does work in fne art, portraiture, headshots, boudoir, and special events. When not behind the lens, Jamie spends most of his time as current bassist for Alt Rock band YellowTieGuy (taking over duties for Mary Celeste). Jamie is also the sometimes bassist of Crooked Crow which initially formed in 2001.
For the most up to date shots, visit Random Pants on Instagram @ randompantsfoto
Local Artists + Their Music (Cont.) WOLFELT HARVEY NUSSBAUM Wedding Day Story of Anveledda You’ve got your dress She becomes amazed and inspired I’ve got a suit I’d wear anyway Forging the words in her book of fre My Sunday best Blacksmith of music creator of swords Is just not quite the same Telling the stories is her reward
CASANOVELA DATA RECOVERY PROJECT Knock ‘Em Dead Ice Princess When you’re in town I disappear I’ll be around This is my favorite trick I’m always around And I? I’m not even here A round is what I’m good for What you see…an illusion.
facebook.com/casanovelamusic casanovela.bandcamp.com crooks and crows Jake Warrenfeltz is a cartoonist and musician from the DC area. He often draws comics to promote the band Crooks and Crows, in which he plays bass. Below are some examples of showposters Jake has made. He is currently working on a silent graphic novel for a Crooks and Crows honky tonk concept album. Wake The Ancient Tells an Epic Tale by Kimberly Shires
Progressive metal band Wake One day CJ and Jason were a major theme in the story of the Ancient is closing in on talking about the story of Gil- Gilgamesh. the release of their frst EP, a gamesh. Gilgamesh was an concept album telling the story abusive tyrant who ruled over One thing led to another until of Gilgamesh, a mythological the city of Uruk, in what is now they looked at each other and fgure from ancient Mesopota- Iraq, over 4,000 years ago. Af- shrugged, “I guess we are doing mian culture. ter the death of Gilgamesh’s a concept album about the epic best friend Enkidu, Gilgamesh of Gilgamesh.” Tey drafed a Two years ago, vocalist Steve was consumed with being im- plan and wrote Immortal, the Schwartz got an itch to start a mortal. Gilgamesh realized frst song on the album. Inter- new project. Rhythm guitarist that he could become immor- estingly, neither Gilgamesh nor any other characters from the Gilgamesh was consumed with being story are mentioned by name on the album. CJ said their goal immortal. Gilgamesh realized that he could was to “tell enough of the story become immortal through his actions. so that it makes sense, but leave Whatever Gilgamesh did on Earth could it open-ended enough to where someone could interpret it.” leave a lasting impact on the world. Afer writing the song Im- Jason Trinidad responded to tal through his actions. What- mortal, the band posted a new Steve’s Craigslist ad, and then ever Gilgamesh did on Earth Craigslist ad for new members, they added Steve’s roommate could leave a lasting impact on and drummer Kevin Slappey, CJ Graham on lead guitar. the world. keyboardist Seth Rapkins, Tinking back to those early and bassist Amit Muntasir re- days, Steve said, “CJ and Jason As CJ and Jason discussed the sponded. Aferwards, vocalist rifed of of each other really story, Steve was pondering the Karly Ulrich was welcomed well and, before we knew it, concept of immortality, and the into the group. Te band had songs just started coming out three band members quickly wanted to do something dif- of the woodwork.” realized that immortality was ferent from many other metal each song runs “through the grinder of every- one’s personalities.” Te result is something greater than anyone of them could do alone. Kevin noted, “Sometimes it ends up just being a more polished version of the original. Some- times it’s something completely diferent.”
Amit added, “It kind of spoiled me. It’s going to bands and decided that Karly’s vocals would add be hard to work with someone else afer this ex- an interesting layer. perience.”
Wake the Ancient prides itself on innovation, Not only do the band members learn from each respectful communication, business-plan acu- other, but they bring experiences from their men, and the use of the latest tech- other projects. CJ plays with a local nology to break barriers and get Sometimes, if metal/progressive video game cov- things done. Jason explained how you trust your er band called Gunblade X. Amit the band mapped out a story line plays bass for local Bangla band, and defned the main themes. Kev- instincts and Kronedge. Tey both feel that their in described the album as a book, just do it, it experiences outside of Wake the where each chapter is a new song. Ancient improve the band and their Karly added that the band decided, might turn out experience with Wake the Ancient afer much deliberation, to focus on really well. feeds into their other projects. For recording rather than gigging. Te example, CJ likes to bring Wake the group maintained focus on the concept album. Ancient’s democratic style to other projects, and When rogue ideas surfaced, they briefy enter- Amit has learned that recording the bass and tained them, allowed them breathing space and drum lines frst “holds the groove” of the track. then slotted them into the plan for later use. We can expect a second EP later this year featuring Seth said, “Learning ways of doing things from many of these ideas. other people has been really valuable to me.” He continued, “Sometimes, if you trust your Every song that Wake the Ancient develops is a instincts and just do it, it might turn out really group efort. Te band designates Mondays for well.” songwriting. Seth refected that he was used to writing alone, and it was hard to share a song Wake the Ancient recognizes that it takes a under development. Te songwriting process community to be successful. Tey are confdent with Wake the Ancient feels diferent to him because everybody collaborates from the be- ginning. With Wake the Ancient, Seth doesn’t worry about the roadblocks he faces when writ- ing on his own. He trusts that his band will fll the gap. Jason described how you can’t be jeal- ous with your music and the best outcomes re- sult from being exposed to diferent ideas and genres. Jason, CJ and Seth generally seed the song concept and the band collectively adds their unique favor. Seth added keyboards to Im- mortal and changed the whole vibe. Amit add- ed a funky bass line, and Kevin transformed the original thrash metal feel into something more progressive.
Discussing the upcoming album, CJ said that We are better because we allow failure to happen. We do something with it, rather than let it cripple us. where they can deliver and admit where they their commitment and consistently having each need to outsource local talent. Wake the Ancient other’s back has led to an intensely creative and worked with Blue Room Studio in Herndon to gratifying project. record drums, and the band is seeking a local photographer and an artist to create images for the band. Te band used Fiverr, a service for fnding independent contractors, to source an artist to create the band’s logo. CJ feels strongly that if you pay a person what they are asking, “you will get something phenomenal.” Te band attributes their ability to work well to a good business plan and respectful communi- cation. Amit emphasizes that they all “have so much respect for each other as musicians and as humans”. Wake the Ancient recognizes that each CJ admits he has a high threshold for failure, band member has an arsenal full of experience, and he consistently reinforces trying new and they relish in the idea that each of these ex- things. “We are better because we allow failure periences adds a layer of interest to the music to happen. We do something with it, rather than they create together. let it cripple us.” Te band uses a democratic CJ sagely added that this diversity this allows approach when exploring ideas. CJ added that them to “express a wider range of the human ex- this approach means they “allow the worst part perience.” of ourselves to be set aside for the best part of ourselves.” Steve nodded that these diferences can be either “explosive or intensely creative.” Wake the An- cient has found that their ‘let’s try’ attitude and
Steve commented that they run the band like a business and are actually a lot better at it than some corporations. Karly laughed, “Our project management is really on point.”
Wake the Ancient’s frst EP is expected to be re- leased late spring of 2019. Te album’s working title, “Walls of Uruk”, pays homage to the band’s original name and the city where Gilgamesh ruled. Alchemical Records introduces its frst annual concert series called The 5X5 Showcase which will feature a variety of local artists. The 5X5 Showcase is a series of 5 concerts at 5 venues throughout the DMV area featuring 5 different local artists for each show. The 5X5 Showcase kicked it off April 14 at The Galaxy Hut in Arlington, VA.
Co-Producers Eli Lev, Daniel Hill, Ginny Hill, Gabrielle Zwi, and Justin Shaprio performed for the premiere event and are deeply involved, connecting with local artists and venues, to make the event series successful.
Each The 5X5 Showcase is being professionally flmed and developed for streaming or to be televised. Each performer will be featured in their own 25-30 minute episode.
The 5X5 Showcase creates greater visibility for the DMV scene and allows artists to share experiences and skills, leverage connections, and be really creative together. Each of the subsequent events in the series will be hosted by one of the fve Co-Producers, expanding the event’s sphere. The 5X5 Showcase series is expected to live on in perpetuity by engaging participants as future hosts under The 5X5 Showcase umbrella. Daniel said, “The success of the event is if it can maintain itself.” He would love for the event to land a successful series with Netfix or Amazon Prime. Who are the Producers for The 5X5 Showcase?
Eli Lev Eli will be the host for the premiere event. Eli is currently working on his Four Directions Project. The project is a series of four EPs which started with All Roads East and was followed by his second EP Way Out West. We can expect the fnal two EPs Deep South and True North to be released by summer of this year. Eli’s single “Chasing Daylight” won the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest this year. Eli is also nominated for several WAMMIE awards in 2019 spanning multiple categories. Eli says that he is “excited to share the talent that we have in our community with a broader audience” through The 5X5 Showcase. Read more about Eli and check out his frst two EPs at eli-lev.com
Daniel Hill Daniel is the owner of Alchemical Records and is driven by the objective to create international visibility for artists thriving in the DMV region. Daniel also leads the local band Yellow Tie Guy. Yellow Tie Guy is currently working on the “DMV Music Project”. The project is a series of singles all recorded in different studios around the region. The frst single is planned to be in our earbuds around Memorial Day. Upon completion of the tracks, the band will produce a mini-documentary which they refer to as “The DMV Sonic Highways”. The project is reminiscent of the Foo Fighters album and companion television series, “Sonic Highways”. Foo Fighters singer, guitarist and Washingtonian, Dave Grohl, traveled the country recording in different studios and documenting his experiences working with a variety of contributors along the way. Daniel is passionate about reinvesting back into the local community and that includes working with local studios, producers, graphic and web designers, directors, other artists and more.
Ginny Hill Ginny is active in two local original bands called the Ginny Hill Project, which has a country/blues vibe and rock band Higher Numbers. Ginny got her start in the local scene singing with cover band The Perfectionists. Ginny plans to retire from The Perfectionists this year however to make room to focus on original work as well as other professional pursuits. The Ginny Hill Project hosts a regular open mic night on Tuesdays at Sauf Hous, a beer garden in Dupont Circle. Ginny said The 5X5 Showcase is “a really good case study on collaborating to make something great.”
Gabrielle Zwi Gabrielle is in charge of all social media promoting the event. Gabrielle is a local singer/songwriter and ukulele player. Gabrielle recently debuted her album Without a Label. Gabrielle is passionate about social activism and is the founder of DC Teens Action, an organization that unites local teens in social and civic projects. Gabrielle’s single “See the Change” was featured in TIME Magazine and JR’s “Guns In America” project. Read more about Gabrielle at gabriellezwi.com
Justin Shapiro Justin released his frst album in 2018 and two of the songs from the album, “Inspiration Nation” and “Lost in Time” charted on internet radio. Justin is currently working on his second all original live album with his band. The band plans to hit the studio in the summer for a release in the fall. The release of the next album rides on the tails of one of Justin’s most proud moments as a singer/songwriter. Last summer, Justin was invited to perform at the 9:30 Club at the DC Music Rocks Festival. The annual event features fve local artists selected from a competitive pool of applicants. Justin Shapiro can be seen most weekends in the DMV but he is stoked to perform his frst festival, The Get Crooked Fest on June 1, 2019 in Annapolis, which is hosted by the Crooked Crab Brewing Co. Letter From the editor
September 2019 is Alchemical Records’s 10th news from the region, and highlight current Anniversary. It is celebrating as quietly as it can activities by local artists, and even contribute while simultaneously launching a campaign to promoting through ticket giveaways and or that is most certainly meant to draw a little event photo booth. attention to itself. My hope will always be that Alchemical Records would provide something Developed for television or streaming services of an umbrella that any genre of artist in the and our frst live event under the relaunch, Te Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia areas 5x5 Showcase, will allow us to test the waters could rally behind, but eforts to build that on a project aimed at highlighting the greater umbrella by way of indie record label seemed local music scene to an international audience. to convey the sense that the company itself Designing the physical publication in a comic was closed of in some capacity. Te resulting book format comes from a long-standing love impact was minimal and only afected a small of comics and the way that artwork and story- number of artists in contrast to our vision. telling have played intricate roles in cover art, posters, merch, and marketing for musicians.
Whether or not we build enough momentum to continue our eforts, is entirely up to you, dear reader. We want to excite you about all of the great creative energy that exists in all our backyards. We want to share the human element behind the art. Let us know your thoughts on the local music community, what you listen to, where you like to go to shows, and what we can do to share more about the music and the musicians you love. Tanks for all the love and support!
-Daniel Warren Hill (YellowTieGuy) Publisher, Alchemical Records LLC. By the time you read this, our updated website will be public. Te result is some incredible tools for fans to be able to engage with artists and be more aware of our connections with one another. Aside from a calendar of events for the three major metropolitan regions in this section of the I-95 corridor, there is also a streaming internet radio station that features music from around the world while highlighting DC area music, and provides a link where listeners purchase music directly from the artist. We are developing original content in video, audio, and printed mediums to engage music fans in the ways they currently enjoy engaging content. In addition, we actively share the major industry Your Ad Here Your source for all things music in the Washington DC, Baltimore, and Richmond areas
Unique articles, interviews, and artist media Concert calendars by region One of a kind live events Streaming radio station
For more information about how Alchemical Records is connecting artists with fans, please visit alchemicalrecords.com