Photos courtesy of Greg Leddy. Click image to view in full.
Camplified made a stop at Camp KinderRing in Hopewell Junction, NY, back on July 18, and it looks like the campers had an absolute blast! Featuring performances by Thomas Fiss, Cody Simpson and Josiah Rea, the concert completely rocked and the Meet & Greet after the show was equally enjoyable. Campers also got to decorate Stardoll T-shirts and sip on Juicy Juice — sounds like my kinda party!
Photos courtesy of Greg Leddy.
Hey everyone! Tori, here. So towards the end of our summer 2010 tour, I got the chance to check out the guitar clinic, sponsored by Epiphone Guitars! It was so awesome that the kids at the camp really got a chance to interact with the bands… and while learning how to play guitar! At each camp, groups of kids would get together for a guitar lesson which is instructed by one of the bands or musicians on tour. Each kid was able to learn a few chords on an acoustic guitar courtesy of Epiphone and jam away with some of the artists performing on tour, such as Josiah Rea, Rachel Platten, Michael of Michael and Marisa, Highbench and more. Some of the kids even learned a few chords to the theme song of Camplified sponsor EdisonLearning titled, “The Power of You.” It was a great opportunity for the campers, and I hope it inspires kids to take up a musical instrument back home… maybe even start their own band. Who knows, perhaps they’ll be playing on the Camplified tour a few years from now! -Tori
Pop (with a Rock Edge) Singers, Michael and Marisa
Written by: Jill Sheets
Recently Relate had the honor of interviewing singers Michael and Marisa. Continue to read on about them and their music.
R: Tell us a little bit about yourself?
Marisa: I’m happy energetic, like to be on the go, love physical activity. I’m loud, outgoing, fun and funny.
Michael: My name is Michael. I’m 12 years old. I play guitar and am very creative. I love computers and pretty much anything that has a plug on it (or batteries). I love music. I can’t function without it.
R: How long have you been singing and writing songs?
Michael: I wrote my first song by myself when I was four and recorded it on my Fisher Price cassette player with microphone. I have been performing gigs playing guitar and singing since I was 7.
Marisa: I’ve been singing all my life and started writing songs when I was 8.
R: What is your song writing process? Do you start with the words?
Marisa: We start with an idea and then write words and last the music. I (Marisa) like to write meaningful lyrics that will make people think or inspire them. Michael comes up with creative ideas so easily and then we write the song together.
R: How would you describe your music for those who have not heard it yet?
Marisa: It’s Pop with a Rock edge or you can call it Pop/Rock. The lyrics usually have a message that other kids can relate to. We write songs hoping that we will get the listener to think or feel something or take some kind of action. Read the rest of this entry »
One of Ashlyne Huff’s guest reporters shot this super-cute video of Ashlyne at Rolling River Day Camp on August 6! The featured song in the video is called “Comeback,” off Ashlyne’s self-titled debut album. Ashlyne also just announced that she will soon start writing and recording her album and will be doing a live video chat with fans this Friday, Aug. 27 at 5pm EST, so be sure to check it out!
Hello everyone! My name is Tenia, and I was fortunate to have the opportunity to be a crew member on Camplified this summer! I’m from Omaha, Nebraska, and touring throughout much of the Northeast was such an amazing experience — I would not take it back for anything. Tour just wrapped last week, with our last show at Camp Veritans in Haledon, NJ. So, where do I start?! There is so much that goes on with a production such as Camplified, that I could write for days… but I will do my best to give you a little summary. Our days consisted of executing various events such as T-shirt designing with Stardoll, relay races with Juicy Juice, and even watching this awesome TV show, Unnatural History, courtesy of Cartoon Network. The crew then helped out with the rock concert, taking pictures and videos, and helping with the Meet & Greets afterward with the musicians, like the adorable Cody Simpson (that’s me and him in the photo above!)
If this is something that looks like it could interest then you, then get as much experience at home as you can. You can work at your local concert venue, intern in radio/TV, or get into promotions. Touring with other people teaches you a lot about yourself, and you will grow more than you know! I have to say that this is true with anything that you do, but getting away from your normality at home can help with that. I hope everyone enjoyed their summer, and maybe I’ll meet some of you out there on the road one day! 
-Tenia
Check it out — there’s a huge two-page spread on Camplified in the current issue of Billboard magazine! Click the image above to view in full.
Photos courtesy of Greg Leddy.
Hey guys! As you know, I’ve seen a lot of talented bands these past six weeks but out of all the artists on tour with Camplified, one really stood out to me — that’s Alex York. He brought a whole new vibe to the tour. His music and persona is a cool mix of David Bowie and Billy Idol meets Lady GaGa. But make no mistake, Alex York most certainly has his own sound, which is what really grabs the attention of the audience. Well that, and of course, his wild stage outfits, like this all-white studded getup, along with his signature bleached hair to match. With songs like “Heartbeat” and “Push and Pull,” it’s apparent that Alex runs the gamut between pop and rock music. And with a magnetic stage presence that can draw anyone in, you’re bound to leave the show with a song or two stuck in your head. And though he has that ’7os glam rock feel about him, younger generations have taken a great liking to Alex on the tour. The kids are always excited and having a blast during his set, and there is a lot of interaction between Alex and the crowd — he’d even pull kids up on stage and have them dance and sing! He even let some campers strum a few strings on his guitar during the show! Alex is a true artist, and in my opinion, he has what’s been missing from the pop music scene for while. Listen to some of Alex’s tunes on his website. -Tori
Camp Crew member Tori again — so here I am in NYC, with just one day left of the tour. So sad! Let me tell you, Camplified has been quite the experience! I’ve spent the summer traveling throughout the East Coast and Midwest, and I’ve seen some amazing places along the way. I didn’t even know camps like this existed, to be honest! The musicians I’ve met are all so talented; I definitely plan to put a few of them on my iPod when I get home. Experiencing the energy exchanged between the bands and kids was just exhilarating! What I love the most, though, is being apart of what may have been these kids’ first concert experience ever. I remember mine, and it’s one of my favorite memories that changed my life. I know that a lot of kids left the concert with a whole new perspective on music, and maybe even a new favorite band. I’m so glad I could be a part of that. Just knowing I helped put on a great show and put smiles on the faces of thousands of kids gives me a great feeling. Everyone had such a blast with the activities, too — Juicy Juice relay races, Cartoon Network trivia, Stardoll T-shirt design, luggage-tag making sponsored by Penguin Young Readers, sports, music, contests and prizes! There was so much to keep the kids busy and having fun all day.
Camp Crew member Holly here reporting one last time from the road. *tear* Just wanted to write a short blog about our touring buddy — and one of my favorite artists on the tour — Thomas Fiss. Thomas was lucky enough to join us on every single tour date, and I’m so happy to have met him and have worked with him!
Not only is Thomas easy on the eyes *swoon* — but all his songs are rockin’ and have very catchy lyrics. Thomas even performed his own version of *NSYNC’s “Bye Bye Bye” a few times! The crowd explodes and campers (and myself) join in every time. My favorite original song by Thomas is called “Waiting.” It’s about a girl that has been hurt in a past relationship, and Thomas tells her that he would treat her better. Awww.
Also, a fun fact about Thomas that not everyone may know is that he can do the worm. One day while on tour, he stopped, laid down on the floor, and wiggled his way across the room! That takes talent right there. So if you’re lucky enough to see him in concert, ask him if he will do it for you and say Holly sent ya!
I’m looking forward to seeing what Thomas does in the near future. Hopefully he’ll continue dancing and singing. I also hope he ends up with the girl that he has been “Waiting” for! -Holly
Singer/songwriter Ashlyne Huff spent a couple days at camp last week on the Camplified tour — she had such a blast! She even sent the Camp Crew the sweetest email, saying, “Thank you so much! Camplified is such a great idea, and I personally loved getting to do a different kind of show for a change. The campers were awesome, and I loved every minute. I hope to do a lot more in the future!” After reading that, I just had to ask her to write a guest blog on her experience at Rolling River in Oceanside, NY, and Camp Westmont in Poyntelle, PA:
Dear childhood, Why did I never get to go to camp? What I saw at Rolling River and Westmont made realize what I was missing all those summers! Don’t get me wrong, I loved all my dance competitions and everything, but it would have been great to have attended either of these camps at least one time! Camplified was just icing on the cake for me, personally. I could go to camp and play with every child, every teenager, and hang out with all the counselors and be JUST fine but no, I get to perform and sing for them! The music I write is for everyone young and old. It’s not about the words, it’s about having fun and dancing around and singing along. It may be my “job” but it’s not serious business — especially when you get to be around such cool kids! I got to decorate Stardoll T-shirts at Westmont and spend some quality time with the campers signing lots of autographs at Rolling River, and I wouldn’t have changed a thing. All I can say is that I BETTER BE BACK SOON! Kids, remember every moment… these summers you get to spend with your best friends and the best counselors! Life is good!
Love, Ash
Click here to watch Ashlyne’s music video for her hit single, “Heart Of Gold,” and/or purchase her debut album on iTunes. We’ll miss you, Ashlyne!
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