Kyla Estoya

Arts and Culture | USA CHASING WAVES KYLA ESTOYA Cruising down the roads of sunny Los Angeles, you’re bound to hear your next summer’s anthem on the radio; it opens with a groovy bass line that gently builds up to where a guitar takes you by the hand and lifts you up to a rock-steady rhythm of the drums. Just when you think your day is getting better, you hear a soulful voice singing — you have fallen in love again M usic teleports you to places. When an exceptionally poetic flair is paired with electrifying melodies, suddenly you’re not just simply riding a bus home or working inside the office anymore. Elements come together and your anxiety falls apart. While writing this article, Vista Kicks’ songs are on loop and is being played in the background. I am somewhere safe and happy. Derek Thomas (vocals), Sam Plecker (lead guitar), Trevor Sutton (bass) and Nolan Le Vine (drums) are the men behind the spell I’ve fallen under. There was a six-hour time difference between me and the boys. Momentous occasions like these, however, did not withstand Skype’s mandatory way of greeting someone in a video call: can you hear me? Nonetheless, I was electrified and it grew even more when we finally started talking to each other. Growing up in the same neighborhood in Roseville, CA, these longtime friends have been making music since they were teenagers. It’s not surprising to believe that they even made a unified decision to drop college all together. Inside their crammed onebedroom apartment, this quartet has poured all of their creative juices into making notable songs like Gotta Get Away, Marceline and Chasing Waves. Press play and you are swept off your feet. The vocals are heartfelt, bass lines are funky, drums are punchy and guitar solos? They are satisfying. “I think the main thing that influenced us in music are the bands we listen to and how we were raised when we were growing up,” Sam says, “Our parents were always encouraging when it comes to music. In terms of that, I guess we were really lucky and that kind of inspired us in doing what we’re doing now.” Influenced by rock legends from the 60s and 70s, they experimented with pop beats, groovy rhythm and blues vibe into their tracks. A music reviewer even dubbed them as seriously talented musicians that very much stretch the boundaries of classified music. When I first heard of this band, I couldn’t get enough of their song Gimme Love. There was a familiar feeling in that song that I can’t put words to it. Unquestionably, I knew I wanted to dance, sing and have a wonderful time. “We like performing a lot of our songs live and seeing the crowd enjoy it is pretty cool,” Derek says, “We like to keep them entertained. As musicians, we believe that connecting people through our music is our main goal.” I interviewed VK during a time where they had just finished their UK Tour in June. For the past years, they have done numerous gigs and headlining appearances. This summer alone, they have opened for their heroes Bob Dylan and Neil Young in a sold-out concert in London’s Hyde Park. A few weeks after that, they played for Rolling Stones’ Stones No Filter Tour at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA. We feel like we’re not limited in expressing ourselves NEW READER MAGAZINE | 15 Artist Profile We make sure that everything you see about us is the real us They are living the dream. “We were very excited to watch them [Dylan and Young] play live. A lot of people— friends and family— have asked us what it’s like to have a moment like this and we always react the same way: we’re speechless. 16 | NEW READER MAGAZINE There’s no exact word to describe the feeling other than being speechless,” Derek emphasized. Evidently, getting to where they are now did not happen overnight. According to the band, a lot of dedication and sacrifice were put into their music career. “Everybody wants to be a rock star but no one wants to put in a little sacrifice like living in a small apartment with four other people,” Sam said and smiled to his co-members. Letting go of a comfortable life and taking big risks made these guys successful. Last year, they released two of their tracks in the public domain. This means that anyone can use the songs freely because no copyright comes with it. Exploring the power of releasing music for the love of art was one of the most consequential things they have done. And they made it possible by making their songs accessible to their listeners. This liberating act empowered them to keep believing in themselves and push their limit. “It’s nice having this kind of freedom in the music industry and to us that’s important. Being in a band, we get to do whatever we think is good for our growth or exposure. We feel like we’re not limited in expressing ourselves and I think we’re in good hands,” Sam emphasized. Arts and Culture | USA Another significant thing that sets Vista Kicks apart from the norm is their passion in letting their audience take part in their creative process and journey. Wholesome posts to and from their fans are all over their social media pages and it’s definitely heart-warming. In their YouTube channel, you can find an eight-part series of how they made their album Booty Shakers Ball. From witnessing how they record every component of their song to getting updates on their Vista Garden— they documented everything. “It’s something natural,” according to the band’s guitarist, “There’s something about capturing moments through a camera and we make sure that everything you see about us is the real us. Filming is something we do all the time because it’s one way to connect us to our audience and it’s also something that shows our growth.” By doing this, they reveal who they are as a band and as individuals— endlessly evolving. No one really knows what the future will be like for Vista Kicks. If there’s one thing I learned from talking to these talented people, it’s enjoying every moment you have in the present. “The thing is, we have our current records and we’re trying to wrap it up with Twenty Something Nightmare. For the rest of 2019, we’re looking into doing US tours and maybe try to make another record, we’re not sure yet. We like what we’re doing now and we’re enjoying the fact that we’re actually doing something.” When it comes to how they want to be remembered, the mere fact that people will still be playing their music would suffice. And although, Vista Kicks might want you to do the boogie or jam to their songs, it’s safe to say that the kind of thing they offer to the table is purely made with love. Yes, you sing along and yes, you are banging your head to the rhythm of the drums but know this—as silly as it may sounds— you are taken you to an oasis and you are enjoying every bit of it for sure. NEW READER MAGAZINE | 17