Wednesday, July 16, 2008

New article! Album, Music Video, and more news!

They guys are in the "STARS OF SUMMER" issue of Popstar! Magazine so be sure to check that out when it's on sale.

Here's a scan/article from a different magazine (Good Times, The Observer):

Sorry that they're so impossible to read. I didn't scan them but its the only quality i could find them in. Note: All the NEWS is in blue.

Here's the transcript:

There may be a general well of hysteria among the teen underground for the band Varsity Fanclub. But for the members of the five man pop group, the excitement of success is still shiny and new. Calling from Studio City, California bandmates Jayk Purdy and Drew Scott were clearly jazzed when they spoke about the first time they heard Varsity Fanclub's single "Future Love" played over the airwaves. On Jun 24, Varsity Fanclub - which is Purdy, Scott, Thomas Fiss, Bobby Ednr, and David Brandt - released "Future Love" for sale electronically. Asked how it felt to see their song by out on the world ready to be bought by fans, Jayk said "It's like surreal... You search on iTunes and it's on there. It's crazy." Jayk said he's seen success happen to other people but he said he never thought it would happen to him. "It's awesome," said Drew about the public release of "Future Love." He said, "We're getting a lot of good feedback. I'm totally stoked."

Jayk said the band was told when "Future Love" was going to be played on Radio Disney for the first time outside of the studio. Jayk said Radio Disney has a segment called "Music Mailbag" in which fans are asked to "pick it or kick it." The band was told "Future Love" was going to be aired on Saturday at 10 a.m. "We set our alarms for 9:50" said Drew. When the alarm went off the band all pulled arund the computer to listen to Radio Disney over the internet. Drew said it didn't seem right listening to the song on the computer. Varsity Fanclub's songs, he said, are written so they can be listened to in your car not on your computer.

So the five members all jumped into one car, a coupe with two seats, said Drew. They all squeezed into the tight space. "We... drove around the block to wait for the song," said Jayk. And when the notes of "Future Love" came on, said Drew, "It was exciting."

The song's presence on Radio Disney is just another example of Varsity Fanclub's continuing wave of success. The band is finding its songs played alongside Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers on AOL Music's Kids Pop Channel. On the band's official MySpace page, fans have streamed audio and videos from the band 1.2 million times. Varsity Fanclub's previous leaked track "Complicated Girl" has exceeded one million plays on Myspace.

The band's first album, tentatively called "Varsity," is complete. The album, produced by OneRepublic's singer, Ryan Tedder, is expected to be out in January 2009. Although if the single is as successful as anticipated, Jayk said that date may be pushed up.


"We just wanted to get the best songs we could find," said Drew, who writes a few of the songs to be found on the album. The band was looking to record something fresh, something with good melodies, and a good urban beat. Drew said his songs draw upon a mix of biographical material and storytelling. He said he tends to write songs that his fans could relate to and show that he has been through some of the same things.
For instance, he said the song "Complicated Girl" is about the girlfriend who one-minute is blowing hot and the next minute blowing cold - leaving him to wonder what's going on. And another song "Bad Habit" is about being in a relationship with a person when you know it's not the best for you. However, ou don't break up with them because they have become a "bad habit."


Asked about musical influences, Jayk said he was "totally raised on R&B." He said he's a big fan of Prince, Anita Baker, and Patti Labelle. As for the other guys, Jayk said Thomas is influenced by alternative music, as is Bobby. Dave is into pop and R&B.

And Drew said he likes Michael Jackson, Brian McKnight, and Elvis Presley. "I'm a big fan of the Fifties," said Drew. That love for that early rock and roll era can be blamed on Drew's father. "My dad's an Elvis impersonator," said Drew. Drew said he remembers growing up and watching people ask his dad for his autograph. Or they would ask to have their photograph taken with him. "It's pretty funny."

But Drew said learned so much from his dad about being an entertainer. His dad advised him to never turn down a fan who asks for an autograph or a photograph. Fans are what make you what you are as an entertainer.

Besides getting their music on Radio Disney, Varsity Fanclub also will be increasing their profile with an appearance as themselves on ABC Family Channel original series, "The Middleman." "It was crazy," said Drew, about filming the episode, which will be broadcast on Monday, July 21 at 10pm. "We had to be there early, at 7 a.m. but we didn't do anything til 3 p.m. We sat around eating food. We walked around taking pictures.. and getting in trouble but we learned a lot."

Jayk said the band played its own song, "Bad Habit" on the show. And then they performed a really bad song, which mocked the whole pop band scene. "It was the most ridiculous song called 'Scream Girl'" said Drew. "It's really funny but it's dumb."


In addition to "The Middleman," Varsity Fanclub is getting ready for a live performance on NBC San Diego.com's "Concert on the Square" show.
And the band will play a half-hour set for the Teen Choice Awards on Aug. 2. Also keep an eye out for Varsity Fanclub's first video, which Jayk said will start filming in August (There will be one version for the Disney Channel and another for other outlets.


Varsity Fanclub already has been mentioned in the same breath as legendary boybands such as Backstreet Boys and N*Sync. "It's very flattering," said Jayk. But he said "We're trying to do our own thing. We're trying to be Varsity Fanclub and hope people like us half as much as some bands!"

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