It has been a while but hey, I’m checking in!

So basically I haven’t been on here for a few days – no posts, eeeeeeeek! But I haven’t really had much to talk about recently. So instead I’ll just give you a basic summary of what I have been up to for the last few days.

I have seen my aunt, who lives in Portugal but recently visited, three times.

I ate two ice creams – one Nobbly Bobbly (my secret beach favourite) and one strawberry Cornetto (I personally prefer mint but I won’t complain).

My beautiful baby brother clearly said ‘I fell down’ to me yesterday and then blew me kisses for understanding his words which was adorable. The comment was in response to me asking him ‘what are you doing down there?’ after me finding him casually flat on the ground.

I have finished watching the final season of Desperate Housewives. I have started watching Awkward and I have been working my way through Criminal Minds season 4 (currently on episode 11).

I managed to offend a pro-choice blogger. I sincerely believe that the author had misinterpreted my views when really my opinions were reflecting on abortion in the UK rather than the US where it is naturally a much bigger debate. Abortion should not be relied on – pure and simple. If you don’t want to have a child but do want to have sex then there are many other options out there. The author of the rebuttal claimed that I was “slut-shaming” which I have come to understand means shaming people who engage in pre-marital sexual encounters (I never mentioned marital status) and promiscuity (I never mentioned that either) and using such terms as “if you don’t want to have kids, don’t open your legs” (again – definitely did not say anything of the sort). I support abortion and I feel that women should be entitled to it as an option but having it there is not an excuse not to be neglient. As I said before, if you don’t want to have kids, you don’t need to abstain and you definitely do not need it to go as far as to require an abortion – there are pills, implants, injections, condoms (both male and female), coils, other treatments and even operations to completely wipe out the possibility of you ever getting pregnant. The long and short of it is that said author rattled my cage a little bit.

Um… other than that. I don’t think anything has really happened. Oh, I can’t remember if I posted or not to say that I had gotten my stewarding job back. It’s subject to a six week probation but I’m really glad to be back in the team again this year and am really excited for the challenges of Freshers.

- H

Getting f-i-t not f-a-t.

The decision to fully take control of my life was a much needed one and hopefully one that I end up regretting. From what I gather, people who eat healthily and are active tend to be less stressed, able to achieve targets, etc than the average joe who doesn’t do themselves any favours.

I am your average joe.

I watch more than the recommended number of TV viewing hours. I eat more than is recommended both in calories, carbs and portion sizes. My diet is almost strictly carbs, fats and sugars. My BMI claims that I am overweight. I have several issues with my body image although not to the extent that I desire to be stick thin. I just want to stop feeling rubbish all the time. Sure a large number of these feelings are down to the way I see myself and my body but I feel sluggish, tired and demotivated all the time. I get stressed and I overeat. I want that to end. I want to be good to my body and live a long, healthy and fulfilling life.

So…

I am here declaring to you wonderful people of WordPress that I, Hayley-Jade Cass, am fully committed to my body and my health.

I will document my journey here.

-H

M-A Promotions presents...

Reblogged from METRO-ARMADA PROMOTION:

Here at Metro-Armada Promotions, we strive to promote the newest and hottest musical talent around the world across multiple genres.

Currently, our founder Hayley-Jade Cass (of thehayleyjadecass) manages the UK street teams for Boston band STAY and the band New County from Philadelphia. She also manages the European street team for critically acclaimed Dayton, Ohio band dangerkids. A lot of the promotion here on this blog will be focused around these three bands though there will be frequent one-off promotions as well as the opportunity for more acts to connect with us to run their street teams either in the UK/Europe only or globally.

Read more… 33 more words

Here I Am Alive

The release of Yellowcard’s official music video for the second single off their new album Southern Air has left me in very high spirits. The song is about following your dreams and not listening to the people who try to put you down and make you someone that you don’t want to be.

I first got into Yellowcard when I was twelve years old so ten years ago this year and I’ve never stopped being a fan. They were the first non-pop band I saw live, I have now seen them live six times across the space of six years – the first one was their headliner tour in March 2006 and the last five were all last year; three on the All Time Low tour, one acoustic intimate show and one headliner.

The last six years in particular have been monumental and the lines ‘they say you don’t grow up you just grow old, it’s safe to say I haven’t done both’ really sum it up perfectly. So… here is a list of all the things that I have done in the last six years that the fifteen year old version of me with my black dead-straight emo-fringe hair, skinny jeans and thick black rimmed glasses who was just getting ready for her first ever gig could only imagine doing.

I say: Life is for living. If you’re not having a good time, you’re doing it wrong.

So yes, if I could write to the kid I was before, I’d tell her…

1. You will make mistakes but you learn so much from them.
2. You will meet Drake Bell and get your photo taken with him.
3. Sean Mackin will touch your hand.
4. You will see over 200 bands live in the space of six years.
5. You will make friends who really understand you because they are of the same mindset.
6. You will travel to New York City.
7. You will travel to the Caribbean.
8. You will travel to Germany.
9. You will get a thumbs up from Gabe Saporta.
10. You will get a high five from TJ Milici.
11. Ryan Dunson will hug you.
12. You will make Alex Garcia laugh.
13. You will embarass yourself in front of Eric Halvorsen.
14. You will almost die indirectly at the hands of Derek Sanders.
15. You will hide behind bins from Jerry.
16. You will meet All Time Low four times.
17. You will meet Allstar Weekend.
18. You will make strong international friendships.
19. You will work in a venue.
20. You will still be wearing thick rimmed glasses when you are 22.
21. You will have several boyfriends but don’t let them change you.
22. You will have your photo taken with Devin Oliver.
23. You will dance to Parachute in front of 3000 people and not care even slightly.
24. You will make many new friends.
25. You will embark on adventures alone.
26. You will talk to Adam Lazzara about the weather.
27. You will meet Armor For Sleep.
28. You will meet Hit The Lights and talk about Midtown with them.
29. You will be serenaded by one of the A Loss For Words guys to The Starting Line’s Best of Me.
30. You will find your path and follow it.
31. You will never stop being who you are inside.
32. The lyrics may stop flowing but the music never dies.
33. Gregg Sulkin will wave at you in a bar.
34. You will pat James Bourne on the back.
35. You will attend the UK premiere of The Hunger Games.
36. You will be inches away from the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato.
37. You will intern for a great record label.
38. You will sing along to LIGHTS in front of random strangers and not care.
39. You will lose your voice screaming along to Boys Like Girls.
40. Jimmie Deeghan will wish you a happy new year.

There are probably so many more things but seriously… I can’t even express how incredible I feel like my life has been. There are people out there who do still see me as a failure, who has taken a long detour before finally finding my way back to being myself and getting on the right career path but what they think genuinely doesn’t matter. I have been blessed with great friends and so many wonderful opportunities and I am grateful for them all.

- H

Reviews: 14/08/12

There’s a lot of awesome music floating around my social networks today so I figured I would post a multi-review. So here it goes…

(Note: Videos can be accessed by clicking on the title link for each song)

Disaster – Sparks The Rescue

Not my favourite Sparks track in their discography but definitely one that will be a hit with their fanbase. The style of the song is very similar to the majority of Young Guns’ songs – energetic, catchy enough to cater for not-so-heavy fans but with strength and some screaming that caters for heavier audiences. If you were expecting something similar to We Love Like Vampires or Worst Thing I’ve Been Cursed With, you might be a bit surprised as the sound has definitely developed and doesn’t have the same ‘stuck-in-your-head’ kind of vibe but it is still worth checking out as it is a good song.

If you like this, check out: Young Guns

You’ll Never Know – The Maine

The Maine are one of my all time favourite bands and are genuinely about making the music that they want to make and having a strong relationship with fans. The band moved away from their heavily pop-based pop-punk vibe for their most recent full length release, Pioneer, which was more mellow, classic rock’n'roll/country in its sound. This new track feels like it has come from the past rather than the present. It is a slow and meaningful track which really explores the full range of where the band’s music can go.

If you like this, pre-order: The Pioneer and The Good Love (UK) or Good Love (The Pioneer B-Sides) EP (Rest of the world) by The Maine – due for release September 11th

Here I Am Alive – Yellowcard feat. Taylor Jardine

Today Jacksonville, Florida’s pop-punk legends Yellowcard have released their latest album Southern Air. This track is the second single from the album and truly is a breath of fresh air. Co-written by lead singer Ryan Key and Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump, this song is an anthem of youth and of hope. As far as collaborations go, it isn’t quite a duet but more harmonising than anything. Still, it is one of the catchiest songs to have been released this year by anyone in any genre and can be enjoyed and appreciated by people who aren’t necessarily fans of pop-punk or even any alternative genre.

If you like this, buy: Southern Air by Yellowcard out now

We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together – Taylor Swift

Now this track is top of my ‘what’s hot right now’ list. As much as I enjoy deep, meaningful songs or the pop-punk vibe, I am still a bit of a pop princess inside so I’ve had this on repeat since I first heard it.

The song is the first single from new album Red and is a catchy Avril Lavigne-esque track which really breaks from T.Swift’s usual style. Despite the song being about an on/off relationship, it is really fun and poppy and is guaranteed to be a huge hit on the radio. Definitely a feel good track and as a girl who can relate with the lyrics of the song quite substantially, it is the kind of song that is relatable. Sometimes you just reach that point where you can’t carry on dealing with someone and all the drama they put you through and you have to say enough is enough, we are never ever getting back together. It is a wonderful song and as I do believe it will go straight into the charts.

If you like this, pre-order: Red by Taylor Swift – to be released October 22nd

Ranting and Raving: Losing Faith in a Band

Losing faith in a band that you, as a fan and consumer, have supported for years isn’t uncommon. I tend to be loyal by nature anyway so very rarely stray once I am a fan and especially if I am a fan within the inner circle.

However, recently there is one band, who shall remain unnamed for this post, that has pushed me away rather significantly. Even harder to admit is that said band not only respect me and have allowed me into their inner circle where my opinion and knowledge of both music and the live sector is highly valued but are also my friends. I have enjoyed working with them designing merch, listening to rough demos of tracks and talking about how to make them sound better and what works and what doesn’t, knowing about lineup changes in advance of some of the band members, sourcing new band members for them as well as promoting them on a regular basis.

But the thing is this band seems to be making more enemies than fans.

In my opinion, it is not acceptable to ask fans to send abuse to anyone. It is not okay to post negative remarks about music industry professionals on social networking sites and if you genuinely are hiring the service of someone for a tour where they will be away from home for a week, it is not fair for you to say ‘not only are we not going to pay you, we want you to fund your own expenses including travel’. Even most internships will cover expenses. You’re basically asking someone to work for you for a week at a significant financial loss to them.

I won’t go into the fact that said band has been on several UK tours over the last few years but has apparently not been paid for a single show and all members of the band are unemployed with some members saying that they do not want to pick up a part-time job out of fear that they will get stuck in it. If you want to make a career out of playing music then you need to have a stream of income. At the end of the day, everyone needs to make money to live. A lot of bands do pick up temporary jobs while they are on not on tour because a lot of the time, they don’t make enough to live off from touring and making music. If they toured for free constantly, they would probably have retired as musicians by now because it just would be beneficial to anyone.

The final straw to me really was not the way that they fail to manage themselves efficiently or the way that they treat other people but their pledge project. I am completely in favour of these pledge systems like Kickstarter and Pledgemusic and if I have the funds available to me then I usually will donate. (The most I ever donated was around $40 which was for Holiday Parade who are an outstanding band that I would highly recommend.) Usually these pledges start at £1/$1, some of them maybe £5/$5 if you are a more established act with a supportive fanbase. This band are starting their pledges at £8 and their financial target is unknown. Even for me, someone who has supported this band for the last few years, £8 is pretty steep. Some of their additional pledges that are higher in price again might work for bands with a larger following. Despite having a substantial amount of likes on Facebook, this band only has a strong-fan* fanbase of less than twenty people.

As a result of these factors, I am losing my faith in them. This isn’t a band that has just started out, this is a band who have been touring the UK for over a year now and playing more intimate one-off shows for even longer. A band who genuinely do not have a real sense of what direction they are going in. Realistically, they need to hire a manager, they need to stop touring for free and they need to work on building better relationships with fans, other bands and industry professionals or they will inevitably fail. Music is a business afterall.

- H

* – ‘strong-fan’ meaning core followers/consumers who are actively involved in supporting the band on a regular basis.

Wise words of wisdom

Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be.

- John Wooden