As 2013 comes to an end, we are taking a look back at some of our favorite posts of the year by our guest editors.
Living in the moment—and figuring out where you are when you get there—is something of a shared philosophy between Joy Formidable frontwoman Ritzy Bryan and bassist Rhydian Dafydd, one that serves them well regarding their just-released sophomore album, Wolf’s Law (Canvasback/Atlantic). After a much-raved-about debut, 2011’s The Big Roar, and gigs that spanned from intimate clubs to opening for Foo Fighters and Muse, expectations from fans and critics are higher than ever. Yet Bryan isn’t worried about expectations. “The only pressure that we ever put on ourselves is to write music that we can completely stand behind,” she says. “That’s just keeping yourself alive and excited and inspired by this band.” Bryan and Dafydd will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our brand new feature on them.
Bryan and Dafydd: Although we are travelers in this band and love the variety touring brings, we do think of North Wales very often. It was a magical place to grow up. Ynys Llanddwyn reminds us of this magic. This small island off the West Coast of Anglesey was a regular recording break spot when we started the band. It is beautifully rugged and unspoiled, and the tidal island’s strong winds really blew the cobwebs away when you’d been recording for 12 hours straight. It leaves such an impression that the white lighthouse there probably subconsciously seeped into the artwork for what became our first single, “Austere.” A romantic and stunning place.
Video after the jump.
