issue 12 / volume 41

Just the beginning for Virginia to Vegas

» ‘Volume I’ EP review

Cheryl Minns
Arts Editor

M arts
@theotherpress.ca

 

irginia to Vegas’ (VIIV)

debut EP Volume 1 is full of
catchy pop tunes and danceable
club beats, closing with the
standout ballad “Beautiful
You Are.” From start to finish,
Volume 1 is a musical journey
that’s sure to puta smile on your
face.

Derik Baker, 24, who

“They’re all love songs in
one way or another and they all
come from very real moments,”
he said. “I wanted it to have a
certain feeling to it.”

The second track on the
album is VIIV’s first single, “We
Are Stars” featuring Alyssa Reid,
which was released in January
and became a certified Gold
single. The song has an uplifting
pop sound filled with insightful
lyrics such as “Pretending to
be who youre not/Is a waste
of what you got” and “Life is

impossible/So believe that youre :
: actually staring at the computer,
: working on music right now. I’m
: planning on having a new album
: come out very soon.”

unstoppable.”

When Baker first heard
“We Are Stars” on the radio, he
described the moment as “crazy
because that’s the moment that
you don’t think is real and you
don't really ever expect it to

happen, but when it did happen,

it was remarkable.”

Baker and Reid are currently

: on Reid’s Time Bomb Tour,
: which concludes in Ontario on
: November 21.

“Tt’s a small tour, but we

: played a bunch of different

: Cities. It’s cool because, scattered
: in with the tour, I have a bunch

: of my own shows, which has

: been awesome,” he said.

“Working with Alyssa is

: super easy and fun, and we work
: together a lot anyways because

: we're on the same label so we

: write together. The tour’s been

performs as VIIV, spoke with the : good, the band is all awesome

Other Press on November un, the :

day his six-track EP was released. : has been a great experience,’

: Baker said.

guys, and meeting all the fans

He hopes fans enjoy Volume

: Tand can connect to it in their
: Own way.

“T have records that I’ve

: listened to that I'll play and

: Pll always think of that one

: moment that I lived with that

: record,” he said. “Hopefully

: everyone loves it and it becomes
: apart of their life. And if it

: does, I’m humbled and think

: it’s really amazing. So thanks for
: listening.”

When asked about future
projects, Baker said, “I’m

Volume 1 is the first release

of VIIV’s two-part album
: project, with Volume 2 to follow.

arts // 9

 

Ty

Foflume sr

 

 

An homage to ‘80s action classics

» ‘John Wick’ movie review

Megan West
Contributor

he latest action flick to hit

the big screen is John Wick,
a film focussed on an ex-hitman
played by the ever-elusive
but always impressive Keanu
Reeves. Wick loses his wife, but
she leaves him a beagle named
Daisy. But when a group of
thugs break into his home, steal
his Mustang, and kill Daisy, he
comes out of retirement to serve

Ona mission to kill the
gangster who led the burglary,
who also happens to be the son
of his ex-boss, Wick takes post
at the Continental, a hotel that
serves as a sort of assassin’s club.
No business is to be conducted
on hotel grounds, but Wick

: ignores the rules in order to get
: revenge on the man who took
: everything from him.

00000

: first in a major film franchise,

: something Reeves is no stranger
: to. The plot isn’t half bad, but

: the draw of the film definitely

: comes from the fact that bullets

: are flying in almost every single

: scene and the body count rises

: faster than you can keep up with.

As Reeves’s returning role,
it is interesting that John Wick
is set up perfectly to be the

Reminiscent of an ‘80s

action classic, this film is sure

: to thrill the vintage movie lover

oe : . : while still appealing to the

up justice one kill-shot atatime. : ” ,
P) : modern crowd. Asa bonus, I'd

: also say it’s the perfect date flick

: with an ideal mix of suspense

and heart.

All in all, John Wick was

worth the money and more than
: exciting enough to keep me
: watching the entire time.