Thanks for lighting a fire under my...well you know...

Dear Mutedmag readers,

I hope you enjoy this issue. If you notice there is a new gallery under the fashion/life section. I'm thinking of having the gallery this way from now on until we can find a better solution to the flash gallery.

So I recently got into a fight with someone who shouldn’t have been involved in the war to begin with. She decided to tell me about how she and an ex-friend will be starting a rivalry online magazine. All I can say to this is…BRING IT ON!!!

This did not bring fear to me at all. Instead it is only making me push harder to make Mutedmag even better than ever.

Next month expect a huge coverage of Warped Tour with interviews with some of your favourite bands and as well as some promotion of some local bands.

Things are shaping up to be pretty odd!

I hope you all enjoy the May issue, it’s full of fun and awesomeness. What’s really cool about this issue is that I updated it on my own! That’s right; the HTML challenged person has finally learned how to update the website.

Now usually this is the part where I’d start listing off a bunch of bands you should be listening to, although right now it would be a list of T.V. shows since that’s what I’ve been doing since my summer vacation began. But I’ve decided to shake things up a bit.

I’ve been doing everything I possibly can to change who I am: Change my wardrobe, trying to be more positive and try to be more responsible. In the end, however, how much of these changes are truly me? I mean I can try to smile more and dress more like an adult but then there are those days where I go back to my band T-shirt, self-loathing, emo teenager days that I thought I grew out of.

Is it really possible to leave your teenage years in the past?

I still go to concerts where I’m probably the only one in the line old enough to drink. I still like music that the majority of preteens still love and enjoy. I still slam my door and yell at my parents like I’ve done years ago. I still act like a 5 year old hopped up on sugar.

So is it really possible to step away from all of that?

I think it is. Even though some people still think I haven’t changed since high school, they can’t say I haven’t grown up a little. Mutedmag forced me to learn how to deal with problems and I’ve gone through so much in the past two years that I never thought I’d ever have to deal with.

So maybe the 14 year old acting like she’s 5 and the responsible adult have joined forced and created who I am today.

Like O, Like H

Wow, so sorry we didn't update at the beginning of the month. We've all been super busy with school. This is a GIANT ISSUE though. Interviews with The Donnas, Die Mannequin, The Cliks, Automatic Dub Riot, Dancing with Paris, Hello Operator. The amazement of it all!

So I had my first alcoholic beverage in like MONTHS! I usually refuse to drink at shows, usually cause I don’t like to be under the influence during interviews. Now that I have a bit more free time till September, I was able to celebrate Adriana’s bday! Happy 20th Adriana! I’m not going to lie, it’s nice to only have one exam and be free from lengthy essays. I’m venturing into the world of broadcast, so who knows what’s in store for me.

School work aside…let’s go back to Muted…

Next month is GOING TO BE EVEN BETTER!!! Bigger interviews, bigger bands, more behind the scene photos!

We were lucky enough to check out the AP tour featuring All Time Low and the Rocket Summer. Those who know me know that I pretty much adore Bryce Avary of the Rocket Summer, so I was excited to go this concert.

So next month, look out for an interview with All Time Low and Forever the Sickest Kids as we talk wands and pink flamingos!

Also get ready for an interview with the Never Ending White Lights and CHIODOS.

That’s right you heard it hear…CHIODOS!

So a nifty email floated my way this week about an amazing band called the Artist Life. Not only are they Canadian but let’s just say I’ve been dancing around my room to their single Waiting Room. Check them out on April 26th at Sneaky Dee’s. Check them out in next month’s issue as well!

So here’s the single that I’ve been playing over and over again!

Merry Christmas, I could care less...

Hey dahlings,

I hope you enjoy this month’s issue. It’s a bit short but still amazing. I’d like to thank my three editors for putting so much work into this issue. They are not only acting as editors this month, but editor in chiefs as well. I’m on vacation for Christmas, working on my tan.

So as it is Christmas here is two songs to get you guys in the holiday mood!



The animated version of 12 Days of Christmas by Taking Back Sunday. This is HILARIOUS, it’s like the original song, with commentary.



This isn’t the original version of the Fall Out Boy song “Yule Shoot Your Eye Out” but it will have to do. I’d rather give you a live version, than photo slides of Fall Out Boy pictures. This song is just simply beautiful and I’d rather hear this than Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer on my radio.

So now that we’ve got Christmas covered, let’s talk about the New Year for a second. I have YET to keep a New Year’s Resolution…EVER.

This year, I intend to keep this simple resolution: Be happy with who I am and where I am in my life.

It seems strange, but I’m tired of being so negative about myself, those who are friends with me know what I am talking about.

Merry Christmas (screw being politically correct) and a Happy New Year everyone from everyone at Mutedmag.com!

The Scarlet letter isn't black...

Hey dahlings,
Another month means another issue and I hope all of you enjoy this one. Lately, I’ve been having a serious case of depression. Whether it my lack of Vitamin D (oh where are you Mr. Sun?) or the stress of exams, I’d rather be curled up in my bed, sleeping and not talking to anyone.
So how does one get out of the winter blues? Shopping didn’t help, although I got some awesome tops and a new jacket out of it. Neither did staring at my wall and glaring.
So what exactly got me so happy again?
Well, thanks to a friend, I ended up picking up Feist’s latest CD The Reminder. It is the most interesting thing I’ve heard in awhile. It’s also become therapy to me. Nothing beats listening to Feist while falling asleep on the bus. The songs are mellow and upbeat, but it’s really her voice that soothes me. There’s something about it, it feels kind of like a motherly voice.
Anyways, I’m keeping this one short, just because I’m tired and there’s still so much work to do. I hope you like this issue, but next issue will be a bit shorter just cause…well there’s like barely any bands coming to Toronto. I mean it is the holiday season.
Don’t forget we’re always looking for local and Canadian rock bands to promote, so leave me a link to your myspaces in the comment box or send me an email: fwahking@mutedmag.com
I’ll see you next month!
Francesca W.

I came here to make you dance tonight

Hey dahlings,

So this is it. The first issue of Muted Magazine is coming out soon. I can't believe it! All my hard work and stressing has finally paid off. All I can say is, "Can't wait for the December issue!" The next issue will be filled with awesome interviews from the latest bands to hit Toronto and of course our wonderful fashion section. Wonder what will be in that section...another one of my hoodies from my growing collection?

Anyways, in honour of the first issue I thought it would only be appropriate for me to talk about 2 bands that you should be listening to. One who made Snakes on a Plane my favourite soundtrack in awhile and another who's power pop sound should soon be taking over the airwaves.

Cobra Starship's new CD Viva la Cobra! came out on October 23. I'm not going to lie, I haven't bought it yet. With my lack of money these days, and the fact that I hate downloading a band's CD, means I have to wait until a magical fairy gives me the CD as a present. Until then, I constantly watch their new music video for their first single "Guilty Pleasure". Let's get over the fact the video is HILARIOUS (dog humping its bed made me spit out my orange juice) and talk about the sound. It's catchy and melodic. Think teen movie soundtrack: The heroin wakes up and starts getting dressed. Grabs her hair brush and starts lip synching. Enter danceable background music and you've got "Guilty Pleasure". It's a great mixture of rock and club music. The other song I've come across is "The City is at War". It has a techno feel to it with a strong lead guitar. It reminds me of a pre-completely fucked up Britney Spears. Remember Toxic anyone?

Never underestimate the power of 6 boys and a keyboard. Forever the Sickest Kids hails from Dallas, Texas. All I can say is "Hey Brittany" is one of my favourite songs. They have an eclectic mix of power pop and rock that really make this band worth listening to. It's strange when I started listening to them they only had one song up and didn't belong to Universal Records. Oh how my boys have grown up. Won't be long 'till this band goes mainstream...my advice? Start listening to them before they become the next Fall Out Boy and their fans become divided between those who listened to them pre From Under the Cork tree and those who only know past "Sugar We're Going Down".

Until next week,

Francesca Wahking