#— ✿ i’m your biggest fan i’ll follow you until you love me. › rockstar verse.

[dearestagonya]

— ✿ TAG DUMP. › JILLIAN NAKAMURA.

— ✿ i'll bring you to life i'm a holy fuck. › jillian's main verse.

— ✿ she’s dropping out of school ‘cause she don’t need the grades the colors in her hair don’t seem to fade. › jillian's high school verse.

— ✿ and all you wanted was somebody who cared. › jillian's yugioh gx verse.

— ✿ you say i'm complicated that i must be out my mind. › yugioh 5ds verse.

— ✿ i’m your biggest fan i’ll follow you until you love me. › jillian's rockstar verse.

— ✿ step right up to watch the freak go crazy. › jillian's naruto verse.

— ✿ she's a novice a beginner i'm the sexorcist the sinner. › jillian's noragami verse.

— ✿ what's wrong with being confident. › jillian's ohshc verse.

— ✿ oh please let me warn them don't you come here don't bring anyone here. › jillian's ancient egypt verse.

— ✿ jillian nakamura. › in character.

— ✿ came from the trauma stayed for the drama. › jillian's aesthetics.

— ✿ i can guide you i can teach you honey this is just a preview. › jillian's headcanons.

— ✿ try to be sexy but don't be too sexual. › jillian's appearance.

[hclyfvckcdaa]

— ✿ tag dump. › JILLIAN NAKAMURA.

— ✿ i'll bring you to life i'm a holy fuck. › main verse.

— ✿ she’s dropping out of school ‘cause she don’t need the grades the colors in her hair don’t seem to fade. › high school verse.

— ✿ and all you wanted was somebody who cared. › yugioh gx verse.

— ✿ you say i'm complicated that i must be out my mind. › yugioh 5ds verse.

— ✿ i’m your biggest fan i’ll follow you until you love me. › rockstar verse.

— ✿ step right up to watch the freak go crazy. › naruto verse.

— ✿ she's a novice a beginner i'm the sexorcist the sinner. › noragami verse.

— ✿ what's wrong with being confident. › ohshc verse.

— ✿ oh please let me warn them don't you come here don't bring anyone here. › ancient egypt verse.

— ✿ jillian nakamura. › in character.

— ✿ came from the trauma stayed for the drama. › aesthetics.

— ✿ i can guide you i can teach you honey this is just a preview. › headcanons.

— ✿ try to be sexy but don't be too sexual. › appearance.

[hclyfvckcda]

— ✿ tag dump. › JILLIAN NAKAMURA.

— ✿ i'll bring you to life i'm a holy fuck. › main verse.

— ✿ she’s dropping out of school ‘cause she don’t need the grades the colors in her hair don’t seem to fade. › high school verse.

— ✿ and all you wanted was somebody who cared. › yugioh gx verse.

— ✿ you say i'm complicated that i must be out my mind. › yugioh 5ds verse.

— ✿ i’m your biggest fan i’ll follow you until you love me. › rockstar verse.

— ✿ step right up to watch the freak go crazy. › naruto verse.

— ✿ she's a novice a beginner i'm the sexorcist the sinner. › noragami verse.

— ✿ what's wrong with being confident. › ohshc verse.

— ✿ jillian nakamura. › in character.

— ✿ came from the trauma stayed for the drama. › aesthetics.

— ✿ i can guide you i can teach you honey this is just a preview. › headcanons.

— ✿ try to be sexy but don't be too sexual. › appearance.

[dearestagonya]

Hands are placed onto Jillian's hips sassily. The audacity of this guy. Didn't he know a musician when he saw one?! "Do I look like I work here in this outfit?" she asks, pointing to her cropped black t-shirt and short pleated skirt. "No, I'm here to record with my BAND. Idiot." She rolls her eyes and stares down at her phone, sending out another annoyed text to one of her bandmates.

"Apparently, nobody else got the memo that we were supposed to meet here at THIS time." She let's out an annoyed huff, stuffing her cellphone into the side pocket in her skirt. "Usually I'm the late one." Jillian sighs deeply. If they don't hurry up and get here, the band might loose it's recording spot. And Jillian worked hard to set them up with one.

@dearestagony Came to the Dueling Ring~!

"Oh-- You look a little bit lost there, everything okay?" Jabari inquired, having just walked through the door to find someone who was looking rather...Lost. Perhaps they had walked into this building by mistake, it happened more often than most would think.

"This is the recording studio, are you looking for something different? Or are you a new hire perhaps?"

[wallstagram]

january - march fic recs

this might be a long one, so hold on for the ride! below are some of my favorite, favorite, favorite fics that i’ve read so far in 2019 - some are new works, some are tried and true ones that I always come back to for inspiration, and some just make my heart so happy, that they made it on this list! 

all authors are listed by their AO3 name but linked to their tumblr, if I could find it!

:: J A N U A R Y ::

honestly, such a busy month for me! i spent most of that month focused on school and working on my own fics, but after having a look at my history, these were the works that stood out as favorites!

like an endless summer by objectlesson 

Or, Louis is a riding instructor at a summer camp, and Harry is a fellow counselor who he’s been successfully managing his crush on for the last two summers. That is, until Harry shows up this year leveled up and lethal, and all Louis’s formerly perfected veneer of nonchalance melts like a popsicle in the sun. 

OKAY. This story is wonderful. I’m such a sucker for summer camp AU’s, and this one is so drawn out and well done. At 87k, it gets slow burn right without becoming boring. Sweet and sexy moments about facing fears and finding love with all your best friends around. I’m also here to rec the sequel palms reflecting in your eyes because YES.

hymns for restless stars by turnyourankle

Every Holiday season Louis has his pupils write down their Christmas wishes for class. He's read almost every wish under the sun, but one girl's wish takes him by surprise. It's for her uncle not to be alone anymore. It's not a wild wish by any means, but Louis had no idea that former teen idol Harry Styles was lonely in the first place.

this is such a sweet, sweet work that is so near and dear to my heart. It touches on some themes that I feel are downplayed by the fandom (but that rant is for another post, haha) so it was lovely to see it done so well. I just love the characterization and how the whole thing flows from beginning to end. It may be ~38k, but as a 25-chapter fic, I’d consider it an easy read over time, and a story I fully recommend. 

:: F E B R U A R Y ::

a firm believer and a warm receiver by objectlesson

a few months ago, Louis had his first heat. It was no big deal, aside from it being awkward and weird and all the other things it was supposed to be. He figured he would present as an omega, so he wasn’t exactly surprised or anything.

But then, last week, Harry had his first heat, too.

---

Or, the omega/omega sleepover fic no one asked for but y'all really, really need.

so - i’m all about non-traditional pairings, and the ABO verse has been full of amazing ones! While this story is shorter than a lot of my recs (at ~ 11k) it is wonderful and the characterization of H and L is wonderful. Highly recommend this one for anyone who likes ABO.

leave your mark on me by fullonlarrie 

When Chef Harry Styles’ unbonded Omega designation threatens to derail his career, he does the only thing he can, and goes in search of a black market bond.

wow. okay. so this is one of those stories that - it just blows my mind that more people aren’t talking about how amazing this is! it weighs a bit more heavy on the oppressive realities of ABO for omegas, and i love falling into a version of ABO that I could really envision being an alternate reality. I love the style of it, and the pace is exactly what it needs to be. About 32 k, nice slow burn. (if you haven’t seen a theme, I love a good slow burn!)

from, your secret admirer by flicker_album

Or the one where Louis is Harry's Tumblr crush so he sends him secret admirer messages for Valentine's Day

I really love the idea of fanboys!H&L. I loved the real-world touches, and I think the prompt is so stinking cute! It’s a nice, light read. I thoroughly enjoyed the style and just the dialogue set. 

fugue by iwillpaintasongforlou

Harry falls asleep a 17 year-old who lives in Cheshire and is probably rockstar Louis Tomlinson's biggest fan. He wakes up 24 with a wedding ring on his finger, two kids, and Louis Tomlinson attempting to wake him up with a blow job. The doctor calls it organic retrograde amnesia, says he might never get back the last seven years of his life. The only thing that feels the same is how he feels when Louis touches him, and maybe that's enough to make him fall in love all over again

i really think of this fic a lot more than i’d care to admit. there are a few (in my opinion) classics in the fandom that I think everyone should read, and this is surely one of them. there’s the perfect blend of angst and falling in love, dolloped with domesticity, learning to trust each other again, smut, and happiness. i often get so lost in this work that I imagine it’s much longer than it really is (at 17k) but it’s enough to really sink your teeth into and get lost inside of. when i need to be filled up as a writer, these are the kind of works i go to - the ones that have stood the test of time and still are wonderful every single time I come back to them.

:: M A R C H ::

somewhere between a minute and a lifetime by dinosaursmate

“Is your passport definitely in your bag?” “It’s definitely there,” Harry huffed. “I’m not stupid.” “I never said you were, love. I’m just asking from experience.” “It happened once.” Louis pressed his lips together and wheeled his suitcase towards the front door. “And… you really aren’t wearing a plug? You swear?” Harry finally cracked a smile. “I swear.” --- Harry and Louis go on their first big holiday, and they have a few surprises for each other along the way.

so I recommend the whole series, but this third installment is surely my favorite, and the one I come back to. i love holiday fics, and there’s something about this spunky couple that has me following every single word the author has written. I love how witty Harry can be in this, and how nothing about their holiday is picture perfect. all to say - for a smut-centered fic, it knows how to balance an amazing plot and really keep me wanting more. it’s also a nice length at 20k, that I feel satisfied but not like i’ve been reading for forever. i’m really hoping a part four is on the way!

the second hand unwinds by fullonlarrie

Louis Tomlinson is one of the first members of NASA's top secret Chrono Exploration Program. When things go wrong and he's sent further back in time than planned, he has no other option than to show up on his ex-boyfriend's doorstep.

this story fucked me up in the best way possible!!! I really read it all in one go, set it aside, and came back to it. Skimmed for the parts i needed to read again, read the entire thing again, and since I read it, it always comes to mind as one of the first fics I’ll recommend out to someone. i already babbled about my adoration for this fic in the comments, so i’ll let you go see for yourself! it’s ~52k of pure gold.

tell me this is paradise by quickedween

Harry Styles has been lucky in love but unlucky in the bedroom with all of her previous boyfriends. When her best friend Niall finds out that she's never had an orgasm, she knows just what Harry needs: Louis Tomlinson. Niall sets Harry up to get sorted out.

if you asked me five weeks ago if i’d ever have a girl!direction fic in my list, I would’ve laughed. for some reason, i’ve never been able to fully immerse myself in the plot, really get into it. I just - I couldn’t take it seriously. until this. this fic rocked my entire world. it’s the shortest fic on my list at ~ 5k, so i’ve read it multiple times and would seriously recommend based off the characterization, amazing smut, and the fact that it turned me into a girl!direction believer. (AND it inspired me to go on a similar journey to the one Harry has - but that’s for a different post!) but thank you for converting me to girl!direction, quickedween!

like a siren in the night by whoknows

“There is an infestation in my home,” Louis hisses, righting himself quickly and pushing his way past Harry, heading directly for the kitchen. He’s rather haphazardly dressed himself, a coat thrown on over a loose flannel shirt and black pants, slippers on his feet.

Harry resists the urge to sigh, closing the door and trailing behind him slowly. “What kind of infestation?”

For all he knows, Louis is going to claim that there’s a ghost infestation. Harry has no idea what the end game is here – all he knows is that Louis has found at least three complaints a week to bring up since he’s been living on Harry’s property, and he’s been living here for six months.

It’s way too many fucking complaints, is what Harry is saying. Especially when most of them are ridiculous to start with.

oh, my heart. i love this fic so much. it’s ABO, and it has the perfect level of angst, love, and everything in between. i love the imperfect relationship between H and L - and i’m sure you will too! such a darling, sexy, and wonderful work! (~25k)

salt and the appetite by sadaveniren

Aka Harry, a popular BDSM blogger, writes a negative review about Louis’ club. Louis wants to have a chance to make it up to him.

so i’m a huge fan of anything sada writes, but the no control club series itself is so amazing! i always come back to it for something that I know won’t let me down, that is steamy and perfect! this work that starts off the series is 14k of smut and all sorts of fun, sexy stuff that H and L get up to. if you haven’t already read it, you must be living under a rock. go check it out!

so, that’s the list! thank you to @sadaveniren, @becomeawendybird, @fullonlarrie, @dinosaursmate, @canonlarry, @flicker-album, @horsegirlharry, and @turnyourankle for writing such masterpieces! stay tuned for my next rec list! if you survived reading this entire post, you deserve a medal

[ofdaiisyflowrs]

tags for jillian nakamura.

don’t let me get me i’m my own worst enemy (jillian nakamura)

i do bad things for the sake of good times (jillian aesthetic)

rule number three wear your heart on your cheek but never on your sleeve unless you wanna taste defeat (jillian’s main verse)

i think i did it again i made you believe we’re more than just friends (jillian facts)

she’s dropping out of school ‘cause she don’t need the grades the colors in her hair don’t seem to fade (jillian’s high school verse)

for all the time i can’t reverse for all the places where it hurts (jillian replies)

and all you wanted was somebody who cared (jillian’s gx verse)

i’m your biggest fan i’ll follow you until you love me (jillian’s rockstar verse)

[azaleastormcd]

here is the tag dump for one Jillian Eden Nakamura!!

don’t let me get me i’m my own worst enemy (jillian nakamura) i do bad things for the sake of good times (jillian aesthetic) rule number three wear your heart on your heart on your cheek but never on your sleeve unless you wanna taste defeat (jillian’s main verse) i think i did it again i made you believe we’re more than just friends (jillian facts) she’s dropping out of school ‘cause she don’t need the grades the colors in her hair don’t seem to fade (jillian’s high school verse) for all the time i can’t reverse for all the places where it hurts (jillian replies) and all you wanted was somebody who cared (jillian’s gx verse) i’m your biggest fan i’ll follow you until you love me (jillian’s rockstar verse)

[williamsjoan]

DualShockers Game of the Year 2018 Staff Lists — Tomas’ Top 10

I consider 2018 to be one of the best years for gaming in recent memory, even when compared to the lofty heights of 2017. No matter what genre you are a fan of, there was likely a great game for you to enjoy. I played a ton of games this year, both for review and for leisure, and the following 10 are the titles that stood out to me the most as favorites.

Keep in mind that I didn’t play every game that came out this year, so you won’t see titles like Octopath Traveler or Monster Hunter: World on my list. There were also a lot of great games that I would still recommend but didn’t make the list, including Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido, SoulCalibur VI, Dragon Quest XI, and Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden. 

On that note, here are the 10 games I consider to be the best that 2018 had to offer:

10. Dragon Ball FighterZ

A Yamcha-only tournament mode exists…10/10.

2018 started very strong with a weekend that was home to two games present on this list, as well as Monster Hunter: World. One of the games to release on this weekend was Dragon Ball FighterZ, a 2D fighter from Arc System Works. While I’m not the biggest Dragon Ball fan, I couldn’t help but to be in awe of this game’s utterly gorgeous visuals that really make it feel like the anime has been brought to life and is playable in your hands.

From a gameplay standpoint, Dragon Ball FighterZ is still just as strong, being accessible to newcomers while still having the depth to satiate the hardcore community. After the disappointment that was Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite, it was nice to kick off this year with a fast paced 3v3 fan-service-y fighter, albeit one from a different franchise. I’ve returned to it time and time again during 2018, and the fact that it still sticks out in my mind so vividly long after release really solidifies it as one of the best titles of 2018.

Check out the DualShockers review of Dragon Ball FighterZ.

9. Sonic Mania Plus 

Ray the Flying Squirrel, my son. We are united once more…

Is it unfair that Sonic Mania has made my GOTY list two years in a row? Maybe, but that’s just a testament to how great the game is. I’m sure everyone and their mother has told you how this game, made by fans-turned-developers, brought the series back into a positive light for the first time in years upon its release due to its great visuals, music, and level design. Leaving it there would’ve been fine, but the developers knew the Sonic fanbase needed to wash Sonic Forces out of their minds and released some hefty DLC alongside a physical release.

Sonic Mania Plus added several quality of life improvements, slightly redesigned levels, and most importantly new playable characters with two of the series’ most notorious MIA characters: Mighty the Armadillo and Ray the Flying Squirrel. Both of them add unique spins to the gameplay with their abilities. That, coupled with the redesigned Encore Mode, adds more content for die-hard fans to sink their teeth while also cementing Sonic Mania Plus as the best Sonic the Hedgehog game to date, in my eyes.

Check out the DualShockers review of Sonic Mania Plus.

8. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Remember Geno? I sure do. 

Despite what I may have said just above, I’m still in awe of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate‘s roster. If you had told me that Ridley, King K. Rool, and Pichu all would’ve been playable in a new Super Smash Bros. with characters like Piranha Plant and Joker from Persona 5 on the way, I wouldn’t have believed you, but here we are. I’ve always loved the Super Smash Bros. series, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate delivers pretty much everything that fans would want and then some.

I’ll admit that the reason Super Smash Bros. Ultimate isn’t higher on this list because I’ve spent comparatively spent less time with it than the other entries. That being said, I’m sure I’ll only fall in love with this title even more once I beat World of Light and unlock the last couple elusive characters. Now just add Geno, Sakurai, and we’ll talk about Super Smash Bros. Ultimate making it onto my 2019 GOTY list as well.

Check out the DualShockers review of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

7. WarioWare Gold

The whole game is set-up for a poop joke…really!

If there’s one title on my list that won’t be getting much attention during this awards season, it’s WarioWare Gold. This series usually either begins or closes out a Nintendo system’s library, with this game doing the latter for the 3DS. WarioWare Gold was also actually quite refreshing as we hadn’t gotten a traditional microgames package like this in years. While it may be a bit too short for its own good, the microgames and various modes present are still a ton of fun to return to whenever I decide to boot up my 3DS.

It’s fairly clear that the 3DS is on its way out, with the only major releases on the horizon including ports and western releases of Japanese titles. Fortunately, WarioWare Gold was one last great original title to see the 3DS off with, topping off the library of what may be my favorite handheld of all time. While titles like WarioWare Gold and Ever Oasis that came later in the system’s lifespan may have been ignored for GOTY consideration, I’d still vehemently recommend them if you don’t mind dusting your 3DS off.

Check out the DualShockers review of WarioWare Gold.

6. Tetris Effect

I can’t think of a joke for this game because it’s just so damn mesmerizing.

Those who know me are aware that I’m not into music at all. I didn’t pay enough attention to music-related things to notice that the Beatles’ name was a pun until this year. Despite all that, I was instantly hooked the first time I played Tetris Effect, and it wasn’t just because I’m a sucker for the classic puzzle game.

Tetris Effect engrossed me in a way no other title did this year and for reasons that are quite hard for me to put into words. The soundtrack was great and the way it blended its gameplay and visuals to create a euphoric gaming experience will make Tetris Effect a title that is seared into my brain for a long time, despite my milquetoast nature towards music. Also, the traditional Tetris is just really dang fun.

Check out the DualShockers review of Tetris Effect.

5. Valkyria Chronicles 4

Squad E, to the Beach! is one of the greatest DLC titles ever. I didn’t really have anywhere else to put that.

Valkyria Chronicles 4‘s existence makes me immensely happy, and the fact that it is one of 2018’s best games makes it all the better. This series’ unique take on the typical strategy game formula still feels as fresh as it did 10 years ago and the game’s amazing level design only bolsters its quality. While it may strip back some features from Valkyria Chronicles 2 and 3, that allows it to be the most refined and focused entry in the series yet.

The story of Valkyria Chronicles 4 also managed to be the best in the series yet, focusing on a group of well-fleshed out characters on what seems like a suicide mission. While 2018 was home to some really great strategy games like Into the Breach, the engaging story, refined gameplay, and excellent level design helped cement Valkyria Chronicles 4 as my favorite strategy game this year, as well as one of my favorites overall. I hope SEGA continues to pay attention to this series, as it seems to have come back strong from a mainline series hiatus.

Check out the DualShockers review of Valkyria Chronicles 4.

4. Celeste

From here on out, the games git gud. Like really good.

Celeste was a very special game for me this year. When I initially played the game for review pre-launch, I wasn’t expecting anything more than a tightly-designed platformer reminiscent of Super Meat Boy from the developers of Towerfall. What I ended up experiencing was something much more than that. Not only was it one of the most tightly-designed platformers I had ever played, it had an excellent soundtrack and masterfully wove themes regarding social anxiety into both the story and gameplay to make Celeste immensely relatable.

I couldn’t wait for this game to be exposed to the world and was happy to see it get such a warm reception out of others that same busy weekend as Dragon Ball FighterZ and Monster Hunter: World. Like all of the aforementioned games, Celeste has stuck with me since that first magical playthrough in January. I had a bigger connection to its story than any other this year and its tight gameplay design cements it as one of my favorite 2D platformers of this decade. The fact that Celeste is only at the #4 slot really speaks to the quality of the games released this year.

Check out the DualShockers review of Celeste.

3. Red Dead Redemption 2

DualShockers gave this a 10 because the horse poops realistically. 

Despite the controversy surrounding it, Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption 2 remains a remarkable achievement for gaming. It features a world with a scarily thorough attention to detail throughout every inch of its enormous map, and tons of unique events and interactions to populate it. On top of that, gameplay has been vastly improved from the already-great original, and an amazing story highlighting the decline of the Wild West kept me captivated throughout with great characters like Arthur Morgan, Dutch Van der Linde, and Sadie Adler.

On a technical level, I would say Red Dead Redemption 2 is probably the most impressive game that has ever been made. While its pacing was a bit too slow in some parts, especially considering its lackluster fast travel systems, Red Dead Redemption 2‘s intricate design means I’ve only scratched the surface of what it has to offer, even after putting over 50 hours into it.

Check out the DualShockers review of Red Dead Redemption 2.

2. Marvel’s Spider-Man

I’m just going to plug Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse here. It’s really good too.

While Red Dead Redemption 2 my be a better game on a technical level, Marvel’s Spider-Man just clicked with me on so many other levels. I’ve had a long history with Spider-Man video games and even have a soft spot for some of the more mediocre titles like Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions. Fortunately, Insomniac truly delivered with this game on both the gameplay and story fronts.

The story, while surprisingly reserved with its villains, understood the character and world of Spider-Man so well that it has become the most definitive portrayal of the character since the early days of Ultimate Spider-Man. The open world design of Marvel’s Spider-Man may be a bit too formulaic for its own good, but the web-swinging and combat are more than satisfying enough to make up for that.

Physics-based web-swinging had been a heavily requested feature in Spider-Man games for year, so to see it implemented so well meant I could spend hours just swinging around (and I have). Combat also remains fun, mixing Batman: Arkham-style combat with Insomniac’s classic gadget setup to create a really fluid and enjoyable experience, even when you aren’t experiencing the great story or swinging. That being said, THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE.

Check out the DualShockers review of Marvel’s Spider-Man.

1. God of War

Kratos is DualShockers’ honorary Best Husbando: just look at that face. 

Wow. Even with all the great games mentioned prior, Sony Santa Monica’s God of War has still managed to come out on top. With the exception of a few annoying combat sections, it’s a nearly flawless package that knocks it out of the park with an unexpectedly personal story, brutal yet satisfying gameplay, and stellar visuals to top it all off. There’s a reason it got our Game of the Year Award.

By making Kratos a damaged father attempting to connect with his son in order to prevent him from making the same mistakes, the developers managed to make a previously belligerent character sympathetic and surprisingly relatable. Combat was also fine-tuned to be more focused and engaging; not even the web-swinging in Marvel’s Spider Man came close to the satisfaction of pulling off a devastating kill with the Leviathan axe, or to throw it and have it come back instantly.

God of War has refined itself to the point where it might be the best game of the generation just because of how well it does everything it set out to do. I’d go as far to say it’s one of the best games ever made, and that twist ending has only left me wanting more. God of War 2 (or 5?) can’t come soon enough.

Check out the other DualShockers’ staff Top 10 lists and our official Game of the Year Awards:

December 17: DualShockers Game of the Year Awards 2018 December 18: Lou Contaldi, Editor in Chief // Logan Moore, Reviews Editor December 19: Ryan Meitzler, Features Editor // Tomas Franzese, News Editor December 20: Scott Meaney, Community Director December 21: Reinhold Hoffmann, Community Manager // Ben Bayliss, Staff Writer December 22: Ben Walker, Staff Writer // Chris Compendio, Staff Writer December 23: Eoghan Murphy, Staff Writer // Grant Huff, Staff Writer December 26: Iyane Agossah, Staff Writer // Jordan Boyd, Staff Writer December 27: Max Roberts, Staff Writer // Michael Ruiz, Staff Writer  December 28: Noah Buttner, Staff Writer // Rachael Fiddis, Staff Writer  December 29: Steven Santana, Staff Writer // Tanner Pierce, Staff Writer December 30: Travis Verbil, Staff Writer // Zack Potter, Staff Write

The post DualShockers Game of the Year 2018 Staff Lists — Tomas’ Top 10 by Tomas Franzese appeared first on DualShockers.

DualShockers Game of the Year 2018 Staff Lists — Tomas’ Top 10 published first on https://timloewe.tumblr.com/

[chorusfm]

Sherri DuPree-Bemis of Eisley

I had the opportunity to interview Sherri DuPree-Bemis from the band Eisley.  We chatted about how she has developed as an artist, her family life on the road, and took a deeper dive into their upcoming acoustic record, I’m Only Dreaming…Of Days Long Past, available everywhere on July 20th via Equal Vision Records. Thank you for the opportunity to interview you today. Tell me a little bit about what you and the group have been working on since the release of 2017’s I’m Only Dreaming? The acoustic record is the biggest thing we’ve worked on since then but I’m about to start writing for the next album… just for fun. We won’t be recording this year, but hopefully in 2019! I’m so excited. Sherri, you have become a vocal leader in music for not only female artists, but in this scene in general. What have you learned about your evolution as not an artist, but also as a role model for other aspiring artists? My husband (Max) is always telling me I’m a role model and I shoo him off. It’s humbling to think that people look up to me just for being myself and following my passions. I guess the biggest thing I’ve learned about myself is that I can never stop doing music. There was a time when Eisley went through a bunch of changes and members left to pursue their families and other dreams and I was really concerned about the prospect of losing what I had helped build since I was 14… forever. I was devastated. But I soon realized there was no way I was going to let it go. I learned that no one can take music away from me but myself. That was a pretty cool revelation I guess. I decided that if I wanted to do it, I would just DO IT – circumstances be damned. I understand you have three children with Max Bemis (from Say Anything). How have you been able to juggle being a parent as well as fitting in time to devote to your music? It’s funny you ask… just today we hired our first personal family assistant to help us juggle all of it! She’s amazing! But for the past 5 years we’ve worked really hard and been 100% committed to making both of the bands work while always making the family the priority. It’s the driving force in all of our decisions and choices. Also, you just have to ask for help! Don’t be afraid. People are always willing to hold a baby while you work on a song, or respect the fact that you need to do an interview at midnight because you have a newborn baby. It helps that my dad manages both of our bands. Also, the fact that we’re both in bands has only ever been a blessing. We work out our touring schedules so we can travel together because, honestly, that’s key. If we couldn’t be together, we wouldn’t do this. How would you describe your approach to songwriting? How has this evolved over your career? It honestly hasn’t evolved much since I started writing at age fourteen. I’ve always just picked up a guitar or sat down at a piano… would just start messing around. The first thing I usually do is to sing a bunch of nonsense until I hone in on a melody I love and the lyrics are typically inspired by how the melody makes me feel. When we go into the writing cycle for the next album, I plan on trying some new approaches. I’m hoping that will shake things up in a good way. I always want to push myself and not just play it safe by defaulting to my same old tricks. I have a really hard time writing in front of people and I’d love to get past that. I also believe I heard that Eisley and Say Anything plan on doing many more tours together. What have you learned about each of your fan-bases and how would you describe each? Definitely! Fans have been so supportive of our relationship and how we have both, somewhat, incorporated our own thing into each other’s music. I guess that’s bound to happen when your biggest musical crush is your husband or your wife. We seriously have the best, and most loving fans. I know everyone says that, but ours are really something special. They love our whole family, not just the music that we create. How have the kids enjoyed being on tour with their rockstar Mom and Dad? What memories do you and Max hope they will remember and cherish over the years? They LOVE it. They eat it up like candy. It’s really a family dynamic on the bus, whether it’s a Say Anything tour or an Eisley tour. We go find parks or children’s museums in every city… plus let them run around the venue, watch the shows. Touring has really helped us nurture amazing social skills in the kids as well as helped them with self-confidence. We love that they get to watch their parents working super hard, following their dreams and expressing themselves creatively every night. I can only imagine and dream about what they’ll accomplish in their own lives. Let’s transition now to your new acoustic album, due out on July 20th via Equal Vision Records, entitled I’m Only Dreaming Of… Days Long Past. What was it like work with a great producer such as Will Yip and how did he push you creatively? Will is my hero. I’ve never worked with anyone that pushed me as hard as he did – both as a songwriter, and as a vocalist! Also, we’ve gained a lifelong friend in the process. But yeah, seriously, he would nearly drive me to tears trying to get the least flawed, best vocal takes. But that’s why he’s the best; he sees the highest potential in people and pushes them until they let it out. It’s my favorite Eisley album to date and so much of that has to do with his amazing production/engineering skills. Why did you pick this particular album (2017’s, I’m Only Dreaming), or moment in your career to record a full acoustic album? I think it was just fresh on our minds and we felt inspired to reinvent it. Garron was the mastermind it. He had so many brilliant ideas and knew how to see them to fruition. The first single, “A Song for the Birds” is beautifully composed and sung. Can you tell me a little bit more about this song in particular and what it means to you? It’s a love song to my husband in one sense. On the original track on ‘I’m Only Dreaming,’ he helped pen some of the lyrics and sang the second verse as well. But I was also writing it as a love letter – a thank you to our fans for always being there, for always singing with us and letting us into their lives. They inspire me so much. Do you intend to tour in support of this acoustic album, and what can fans expect when they come to see these songs? Do you have any other song arrangements planned for other songs in your back catalog? We don’t have any tours planned for this particular album, but definitely – yes, more tours are in the future. Always! I had our first son in February so we decided to put 2018 touring on the back burner. But we always plan on doing new and fun stuff and incorporating old fan favorites in new ways! Last question for you, Sherri. What has been your greatest professional accomplishment at this point in your career, and what do you see in the future for yourself and your music? Honestly, I feel like one of my greatest accomplishments is our ‘I’m Only Dreaming’ record. It was the most self-empowering experiences of my musical life. I had TONS of self-doubt. After we went through all of the band changes, I honestly felt like, “how can I ever write an album without my sisters and brother!? I’m not good enough. I can’t do this…” But with Garron and Will’s help, we made my favorite album to date. I could NOT have done it without them, and really everyone around me encouraging me (including my family). I learned a lot about myself through that process; I pushed really hard and learned what I was capable of accomplishing as an artist. I don’t think I ever really believed in myself until I finally sat down and listened to the entire, completed album. That was huge for me. I hope I’ll have even more confidence and passion on the next album! Thanks for your time, and we look forward to hearing what’s in store for Eisley in 2019! --- Please consider supporting us so we can keep bringing you stories like this one. ◎ https://chorus.fm/interviews/sherri-dupree-bemis-of-eisley-2/