We Outspoken

We Outspoken have been banging around the Canadian pop-punk scene for some time now, gigging with the likes of Pennywise, The WeOutspoken-PicAtaris, Gob, Die Mannequin, and others.

Since 2008, the band – Anthony Mascarin (lead vocals), Alex Mascarin (drums), Chris Andrews (bass), and Joe Manchisi (guitar, vocals) – have released a pair of albums and an EP, but next week (November 13) they will officially unleash their latest rocking effort, Musicomania.

We Outspoken has chosen Riffyou.com as the exclusive home for a pre-release stream of Musicomania. You can listen to the EP below, as well as read Anthony’s thoughts about it.

RY: Most bands usually have a direction that they really want to pursue and achieve on each record. What direction were you hoping to go on this one, and do you think you achieved it?

Anthony: “Yeah, we definitely achieved what we wanted this record to sound like. We went with very organic sounds. We took it as far as recording the drums up north at a cottage with cathedral ceilings. We wanted this recording to suit the music and current writing style. We also wanted a lot of clarity and depth in the master, so we hired Leon Zervos (303 Studios in Australia) to help bring out the sound we were going for. We can’t wait to release these songs to the world. We wanted a rocking album, in your face choruses; songs that people will remember.”

RY: How would you guys say that you’ve evolved from 2008’s Hear We Go to Musicomania?

Anthony: “I think each album we have evolved as song writers and musicians. On Hear We Go, you can hear some of our earlier references and bands that we wanted to emulate. We were very young on that recording. Naturally, from each release, we were able to find our own voice and sound to build upon. Musicomania is our most current and up to date sound. Also, being able to tour and travel, you get to write songs on the road and take those experiences with you, so each recording has those elements.”

RY: When making an EP, I guess the real challenge is picking the best handful of songs you have and pushing them out into the world.

Anthony: “For us, it was actually easy to select the songs for Musicomania. We are always writing, so we had a library of songs to choose from. We had some current material that had a certain sound so we wanted to pick ‘like’ songs that fit. We were also really proud of the songs and liked the similarity that they had. It made sense. Sometimes we bring back really old songs that have never seen the light of day. It all depends on what we are going for.”

RY: What do you hope listeners get from this EP?

“Our hope is that listeners get an experience. We wanted these songs to sound big and rocking, with high parts, low parts, etc. We want to take the listener on a journey, to fall back in love with music as the EP title states. Musicomania and its definition, is the entire music experience. It is why we all listen and need music in our lives. We wanted this EP to have great hooks and memorable melodies. All the elements of great music.”

RY: Before the critics and fans have their say, we’d like to know this: what does this EP mean to you?

Anthony: “We are really proud of this EP, we wanted to create something that means a lot to us. We have created something that we all know is true to what we are doing currently.”

-Adam Grant - Riff You

Interview with We Outspoken
If the new EP, Musicomania, was an Ernest P. Worrell movie which one would it be and why?
Ha! I think it would have to be Ernest Saves Christmas. Music is something you feel, and understand. Christmas, and all of the feelings that surround it, is the same thing. Musicomania should help people fall back in love with music as it's definition suggests, it is the feeling you get when you listen to music. It is why we listen. It is why everyone on this planet taps their feat to their favourite tune. The feeling is not tangible, but exists within everyone of us.

The video for “It’s Not Alright” was shot in one take, what made you guys decide to shoot it that way?
It was actually the producer, Alex Colthart of Raw Footage productions who suggested that we shoot this video in one take so the desired effect of people changing in and out of frame would be more spectacular. It actually was the only way too shoot this video.

How fucking hard was that to pull off, how many times did it take to get it right?
It was really tricky in the beginning. We had to choreograph our switching and movement with all of the extras. It took us about 12-14 times to finally get it right. By the time we were finished, everyone was sweating. You can see this throughout. This made the performance more believable as well I found.

Where was it shot?
The video was shot in Nobleton, Ontario at a hertiage house owned by Jeremy Wayda of Mushroom Media. Jeremy has been a friend and mentor of the band for years. We approached him with the idea and he gave us the go ahead.

What’s more nerve-wracking, playing for a crowd or playing for a video like this where if you fuck up you have to start over?
Good question, the video! Some takes we were all in the groove and everything was perfect and than someone's guitar strap would come loose, or extras would trip over each other while trying to change spots. It was very frustrating, I kept saying to myself. " are we ever going to get it"?

This is your 5th video with Rawfootage Productions right? Tell me a bit about them and how you hooked up with them.
Raw Footage Productions is a music video production company based out of Toronto, Ontario. They have some of the industries best film crew. We did our first music video with them and took a liking to their style and work ethic. They originally did Dead Celebrities "Miss you" music video. We are friends with Dead Celebrity, so when the time came to do our own, we knew who to call. They always push the limits for us, and that is what counts.

So many bands struggle with the whole touring thing, especially when they don’t have much material released, how did you guys end up opening for bands like The Ataris, Pennywise, Gob etc.?
Another good question. With a little bit of luck and perseverance we landed those tours and shows. We either wrote to the bands directly, or got a hold of their agents. Some concert production companies in Toronto asked us to open for some of those bands as well so the hard work was already done. We are good friends with many of those bands today.

What made you start Outspoken Entertainment and what exactly do you guys do?
We needed to look after ourselves. Management was number one. At the end of the day no one ever hands things to you, you have to work for what you want to achieve. We knew that the music industry is suffering and labels and management companies ( big and small) are not taking as much risk. We decided to take matters into our own hands and create Oustpoken Entertainment as a way to release all of our records, manage the band and business. It has been a lot harder this way, but very beneficial for us in understanding how this business works. We are still learning, it never stops.
The goal and idea is that we are able to survive on our own. The second that you rely on someone else to take care of your investment you have already given up the fight.

Do you have more bands on the roster?
No, just us for now. We have been asked this question before and it's a great idea to possibly work with other artists and offer up our knowledge. This may be something that we do down the road. For now, we are trying to get it right for us first.

On top of the awesome show opportunities you’ve had, you’ve also made it into international press AND a bunch of songs featured in video games too, which I find so fucking cool, how did all that come about?
Thanks! Yeah the video game market for us has been amazing. We continue to get opportunities in this market as well! Song licensing is another way for bands to make money. It is a very important step in anyones music career. For us, we got very lucky.
Distinctive Designs out of the UK approached us a few years ago after hearing our music on-line and wanted to use it in their video game, Downhill Xtreme. Of course we said yes! This was our first entrance into a market that can be very difficult to penetrate.
From this point on, and because of the the game success, ( it was downloaded over 3 million times), other companies took notice, and it was a lot easier for us to approach other companies for song placement.

Do you play the games regularly and is it awkward when your own song comes on?
Yes we do play the games regularly. Growing up, we found a lot of bands through video games, many of which have become our favorites. So for us, to be playing a video game that our music is in is a dream come true. We are on the other side of that coin now.
When our music comes on it's the greatest feeling in the world. We feel like we have accomplished something, just like our heroes. Dave Mirra's Pro MX was a big game for us growing up, we actually got to meet Dave and we are great friends now. We explained to him that his video game got us into a lot great bands and really helped shape our music interests.

Do you think people are more willing to book you guys or cover you guys etc. because you have the label/management company attached to your name?
Yeah, it helps. They see a sense of professionalism and they are willing to make that commitment. Also, Outspoken Entertainment keeps things in line and focused for us, this really helps.

What advice would you offer to bands having a hard time with getting their name out there at an early stage?
We are still trying to figure that out, ha! The best advice I can give is that you need to get out there, you need to fail, you need to succeed, you need to see what works and what doesn't. You need to feel scared, excited, and happy. It really is all about the music. I would focus on song writing, and benchmarking what your favourite artists are doing. I would play as many shows as you can, I would venture out of your comfort zone. I would tour in places that you have never been before.
I would have a game plan, on paper, that states your goals and how long it will take to get them, month to moth, year to year etc. Also, practice, practice, practice. There is no right or wrong way in this business. You just have to "do"! - Music She Blogged

With Downhill Xtreme community growing daily with new riders, we wanted to take this opportunity to introduce you all to the artists behind the soundtrack. We are stoked to have had the opportunity to work with our favorite indie artists: We Outspoken, Kidd Russell and The Clench, and now we get to share their stories with DHX Music Spotlight.

The first artist to hit the spotlight is We Outspoken. - Downhill Xtreme

By Mark Pavilons

The message is integral to
the medium. And while pondering the
meaning of life, “don’t think,
feel!”
That’s the underlying
theme that drives We Out-
spoken, a local alternative
punk rock band that’s poised
to take Europe by storm.
Hot on the heels of their
second, self-tilted album, We
Outspoken will embark on
a 25-day European tour that
will expose them to other
bands and hungry music-
lovers in nine countries.
That’s quite an accom-
plishment for a group of
musicians who are relatively
new to the scene, most with
roots in Nobleton.
You won’t find songs by
We Outspoke on the top 40
pop charts. And you won’t
find them on stage in any TV
reality show.
The reasons are simple
– We Outspoken is not a
cookie-cutter band churn-
ing out music for mass con-
sumption. It’s a group with a
message and a genre that will
perhaps one day be called
“outspoken.” A lofty goal to
be sure, but that’s exactly the
point. Aim high, work hard
to achieve your goals, but
stay grounded. This is part of
the philosophy and driving
force behind the foursome.
Brothers Anthony (lead
vocals, guitar) and Alex
(drums) Mascarin, together
with Joe Manchisi (guitar,
vocals) and Jason Sutton
(bass), formed We Outspoken
in 2009 with the intention of
embarking on a serious music
career. They’ve come incredi-
bly far in three short years and
the upcoming whirlwind Eu-
ropean tour will only acceler-
ate their momentum and help
“convert” more music fans to
their inspirational lyrics. You
could say they’re leading a
revolt of humanity and indi-
viduality in a sea of plastic
people in a plastic world.
“We need hope and
guidance we need this
disturbance ... tell us
that you care”
– Consciously Aware
The band is already sell-
ing well in Europe, a con-
tinent that loves foreign
exports like Canadian artists.
We Outspoken is the only
import on the tour’s itiner-
ary, and they’ll be sharing
the concert stages with local,
European bands and quite
likely, learning a few things
along the way.
The group will be per-
forming 14 shows from Aug.
28 to Sept. 15 and hitting
England, France, Italy, Swit-
zerland, Austria, Germany,
The Netherlands, Belgium
and the Czech Republic.
Sparked by the success of
the CD release and tour, the
group is optimistic about the
future.
“Right now, this is
it,” Anthony said, adding
“we’re going to do it as long
as we can.”
The CD is a story and a
journey about being outspo-
ken and the “phases” on the
song list are like moments or
stages in our lives. The band
is calling on their fans and lis-
teners to be outspoken in their
lives; live their dreams and
fulfill their goals. It’s about
individuality and persever-
ance – timeless messages.
The songs are also meant to
be a call to action, and moti-
vate people to get up and do
something, even fight (or at
least question) the “system.”
Alex said they wanted
this CD to be different and
stand out from the rest of the
mass-produced music. The
music industry, he observed,
has lost some of its soul. The
CD package is artistic and
contains some reading ma-
terial, almost like a book, to
complement the theme.
We Outspoken is also gen-
uine and they regularly keep
in touch with their fans on
social media and respond to
letters and emails. They also
listed a bunch of them in the
CD jacket, much to the fans’
surprise and delight.
Their audience, mostly
in the 14-20 age group, are
an intelligent demographic,
looking for messages and in-
sights along the way. Given
the times we’re in, We Out-
spoken can offer a bit of light
in the dark, Alex says.
Their road to success has
been bitter-sweet, accord-
ing to Anthony, who says
they’ve been forced to do
everything themselves. The
group spent those early years
getting their feat wet and un-
derstanding all aspects of the
business in their “do it your-
self” approach.
This hands-on climb up
the ladder helped build char-
acter, skills and confidence,
putting them ahead of the
curve among their industry
colleagues. Alex admitted
you improve through life’s
“learning experiences.”
Alex also handled the
design and photography el-
ements of the CD jacket,
inspired from a street in
downtown Toronto.
Their parents – Livio and
Lena Mascarin – have been
behind them from the very
beginning, exposing them to
music at a young age.
Alex enjoys bands like
Led Zeppelin and The Roll-
ing Stones and he appreciates
the “old school stories” and
tales of personal struggles.
Anthony takes some cues
from Green Day, The Beatles
and other indie bands they’ve
encountered.
They love what they do
and if they can earn a decent
living at it, they’re happy
with it. At the moment, and
during their European excur-
sion, the - KING SENTINEL

Hey readers!

I am stoked to share with you my interview, via email, with frontman, Anthony Mascarin of Toronto-area based
L-R: Chris, Alex, Anthony, Joe.
band, We Outspoken! Ever since I saw them play back in June with Belvedere, I was floored by their performance! Great live band, great performers. Check them out!

-------------------------
JGIC: Who are the current members of the band?
AM: Anthony- Vocals/Guitar, Alex-Drums, Joe- Guitar/Vocals, Chris- Bass

JGIC: How did you get into music?
AM:There is a quote, “you don’t choose music, music chooses you”. That basically sums up how we all got into it. We all had an attraction at an early age. Music was always around us growing up, being introduced by our parents, friends, and media such as MTV, Much Music, FM Radio etc. Music made us want to learn an instrument.
JGIC: How did you form the band?
AM: In 2001 my brother, Alex and I decided that we wanted to start a band. I was 12 and Alex was 10 years old. We didn’t know much about our instruments so we both enrolled in guitar and drum lessons. We practiced with our child hood friends and it wasn’t until I was 16 that we played our first show. From that point on we started to play more, tour, songwrite, release records, open for bigger bands, these were some amazing years. We learned a lot about each other.
JGIC: What musical influences inspired your sound?
AM: A lot of music and bands from the early and late 90s such as Green Day, Blink 182, Stone Temple Pilots, Ever Clear, Pennywise, and even newer bands such as Jimmy Eat World, Biffy Clyro and The Swellers.
JGIC: So you have a new EP- tell us about it. What's it called and where can we buy it? What is the first single off it called?
AM: We just released our Musicomania EP on November 13, 2014! You can pick up the album at all digital stores such as iTunes, Deezer, Spotify, Google Play, Amazon, Beats Music, Sony Music Unlimited, XBOX, and many more. Physical copies will be made shortly after. The first single is “ It’s Not Alright”. We wanted to create an album that is would make people fall back in love with music as the definition of Musicomania suggests. We all have an attraction to music and we all fall under its beautiful spell. This phenomenon is called Musicomania. This was exactly what we were after when we started to record these songs. The feeling of music, if that makes sense?


JGIC: Absolutely! Great music is just like love= the universal language. Your band has a very seamless sound. How often do you rehearse?
AM: Thank you. That means a lot. We do work hard. It depends really, when we were younger we made it an effort to practice at least 3-4 times a week. Now, we only practice that much if we have a tour or show coming up, sometimes more depending.
JGIC: I've noticed on social media that you have toured around Europe and South America a few times. How did you guys land these amazing tours?
AM: Yeah, we have been all over the world, its been a blessing for us to be able to tour, travel, see different parts of the world, and play music. We booked all of the tours on our own. Speaking with bands and clubs
EP Cover
all over the world, offering show trade offs, it really is amazing how much we have accomplished.
JGIC: If you have significant others, how do you keep them close while you're on the road? How do you make time for them with your busy schedules?
AM: Yes, some of us do. They all understand. I mean, this is what we want to do. This is who we are. It is hard at times, especially when we are gone for weeks at a time, you can become very homesick but we have each other on the road so it really helps having your friends with you. I guess on the other side of that coin, it is hard for our loved ones at home, but we try and communicate with them every day while we are on the road. In a way, it feels like home isn’t so far away after all, especially with some of the technology that is already out there, Face Time, iChat, Skype etc. We make the time to see them as well especially in between tours and records.
JGIC: That's great! Any advice for new bands?
AM: Just keep at it. You need to focus on song writing and getting tight. Practice, practice, practice. Start to play more shows, venture out on tours, show trade off with other bands. Learn how to fail and succeed—you will learn from your mistakes and become better for it. There is no right or wrong way on how to do succeed in this business. The biggest thing is the music. It always is about the music. Focus on songwriting, see what your favourite artists are doing. Write with other songwriters, write with your band members; all of this will help.
JGIC: Upcoming shows you want the readers to come out to?
AM: We will be playing our cd release party as soon as our physical CDs are ready. We will have more information up at www.weoutspoken.com
JGIC: Oooh- Looking forward to that! Any shout outs?
AM: Thank you Krystal and Jamsterdam for doing this interview with us! I want to say hey to all of the bands that we have toured and played with, our friends and fans. We love you guys.

JGIC: We all love you guys too! Thank you for your time, Anthony! Looking forward to hearing and seeing more from you guys! - Jamsterdam Radio