Liquid Rootz – Kelly Milano, DC Student

Band Review

If you’ve ever been at Joels Tavern and been lucky enough to hear Liquid Rootz, you know what a great band this is! The band was formed in the summer of 2009 and has grown into a unique combination of contemporary music with an island twist. Another thing that separates this band from other bands on campus is that it represents virtually every program of study that Life University has to offer. The original members, Tui Osborne (Exercise Science), Benny Mateialona (Business) and Colton Cariaga (Business) have added Arthur Driver (Business) and Marc Chianese (graduating from the DC program this quarter.)  While the group has created 12 original songs and is in the process of recording their first album, they also do a lot of cover music at their shows.  Tui states, “Most of our inspiration comes from just being together a lot, hanging out in my man cave garage, having a few brews while listening to great artists on the radio and just enjoying each other’s company.”  Lead Vocalist, Tui, believes that, “we stand out because of what each person brings to the table music-wise in terms of cultural backgrounds; I grew up around reggae, Arthur and Ben grew up around rap/hip-hop and Marc and Colton listened to more contemporary stuff and rock, so we try to have a touch of each genre in our songs.” Each member brings their own unique flare to the group, and when meshed together, the sound is Liquid Rootz! Make sure to check them out at any of their local venues – Joel’s Tavern, Red Sky Tappas, Party Chic, The Vineyard Winemarket and V2 Room and be sure to find them on Facebook at Liquid-Rootz.

Introducing Insidious Interference – Alexandra Gerdel, DC Student

An interview with Life University’s new band

On a chilly November evening, Life students gathered in the courtyard behind Cool Beans Coffee Shop on the square. With warm drinks in their hands and midterms behind them, they settled in to listen to the sometimes sweet, sometimes rough, and sometimes insidious sounds of Life’s new band, Insidious Interference. The band—a group of hard working DC students with a somewhat mysterious and creative side—formed over the last year and has just begun playing local gigs, with Cool Beans being their first full length headlining show.

Jordan Wolff, the lead vocalist and guitarist, is joined by Antonio Rodriguez on bass, Vital Source’s own layout editor Jamie Foster on drums, and Nevin Ramona on bongo. Their talent is both surprising and refreshing. Wolff can more than just carry a tune, Rodriguez has perfected the art of “slappin’ the bass”, and Foster keeps a mean beat for what seems to be hours on end, with an occasional soft accompaniment from Ramona. Vital Source sat down with Wolff to get some details on the band and what we can expect from them in the future.

VS: How did you guys meet and start playing together?

JW: Jamie and I were in organic chemistry together about a year ago and started jamming at Joels. We decided to start writing music and around that time Antonio joined the crew.

VS: Where did “Insidious Interference” come from?

JW: We were in philosophy class with Dr. Koch and he kept using the term “insidious interference.” When we heard it Jamie and I looked up at each other and both had “the look.” We knew right then that that would be our band name.

VS: What made you all decide to start a band?

JW: We enjoy doing it. It gets us in touch with our innate. We’re not adjusting yet, but music gives us the ability to get to that place, to feel a collective conscious between each other and the sound we’re producing. It’s the same feeling and state I hope to have between my patients and I when I start adjusting.

VS: You both write your own music and play covers of other bands. What are some of your musical influences?

JW: We’re heavily influenced by Umphrey’s McGee, Phish, John Mayer, 311, Bob Marley and Sublime. We’ve been writing some of our own stuff too. The best way to describe it is, somewhat insidious.

VS: Anything else you’d like people to know about you?

JW: This is the beginning for Insidious Interference, so be on the look out for our shows! We play the best when friends come to hang out and support us. We hope to see our fellow students there!

Insidious Interference is ready to get the name Life University out around the community and rock coffee shops and other venues all over the area. Be on the lookout for their shows. In the meantime, you can check them out on myspace.com/insidiousinterference or on YouTube.com/insidiousatl.