1,2,3 adds up to success for former Takeover UK members

A local band is making some major waves in the indie music world. Pittsburgh duo 1,2,3 -- whose debut album, "New Heaven," will be officially released at a Friday evening show at Bloomfield's DIY venue The Shop -- is drawing rave reviews and hoping its international success directs eyes and ears to Pittsburgh's sometimes-under-the-radar music scene.

The group -- composed of vocalist/songwriter/guitarist Nic Snyder and percussionist/everything else performer Josh Sickels, both formerly of the Pittsburgh outfit The Takeover UK -- incorporates an arcing range of influences and styles into its first compilation, pulling from the classic psychedelia of The Beatles to the more recent ambient confusion of Animal Collective, and mixing washed over, surfy walls of sound with Mr. Snyder's dreamy but sincere lyrics.

If 1,2,3 is anything, though, it is dynamic and eclectic, as the singer explained in a phone interview while driving between Minneapolis and St. Louis that the band was born out of a desire to expand past Takeover's louder, more limiting sound.

The track "Heat Lightnin," he explained, came about when "I was having a conversation with a roommate of mine, and I was kind of strumming on these two chords and I stopped paying attention to what he was telling me and conjured up a melody in my head and started recording it on my little home rig, and after I got about 70 percent done with it, I kind of knew that I had to quit [Takeover] because I knew that it would never work, and I was really excited about it."

If 1,2,3 has a goal, other than drawing acclaim and growing musically, it is to be unconventional and illusory. Even the name, they said, is meant to give listeners no tip-off of what to expect.

"We wanted something that was kind of ambiguous," Mr. Sickels said. "With the name 1,2,3, what would be the first thing that pops into your mind, you wouldn't have anything."

"New Heaven," on Frenchkiss Records, certainly achieves that sweeping ambiguity. Slow, fuzzy guitars complement Mr. Snyder's high-pitched falsetto, as self-doubting lyrics cut through sleepy tracks tinged with the sounds of traditional Asian wind music. The dreamier, more ethereal pieces are juxtaposed against roaring, electric tracks like the standout "Confetti," where Mr. Snyder's voice picks up, seguing from subdued to commanding. Even the album's title itself references confusion, but it is also a nod to taking a chance on heading to a new direction and perhaps finding happiness.

FEAR of Success…? Really? Why? : CatchFireUniversity.com

Have you ever sat and watched children play on a playground? If you haven’t, next time you have the opportunity, take it! There is so much for us adults to learn from those small tikes.

As I sat in observation the other day at the park, there were children laughing and playing and for the most part the moms and dads were watching. But some were playing on the swings and slide. That would be me.

There were a few exceptions. One parent yelling at a child “DON’T DO. THAT YOUR ARE GOING TO FALL” “ DON’T TOUCH THE DOG IT WILL BITE. “ DON’T DON’T, DON’T…” Then that child falls off the slide, he cries, he is hurt and says “I am NEVER going on that slide again.” All of this is now stores in the child’s mind and a new FEAR sets in.

FEAR: False Evidence Appearing Real.

Speaking from my own experience, I think most people have FEAR of something. What I found to be true is it that FEAR is the anticipation of pain from past experience, or rejection. And FEAR can stop us if we let it. FEAR showed up in many forms for me, from emotional stress to sickness, insecurities, and being shy just to name a few.

Sounds sort of weird doesn’t it… getting sick because of FEAR!? Well for me it was a way to stay SAFE and not take the action. But the real question was safe from what?

Through Catch Fire University I GOT IT! Through this INCREDIBLE program I’ve had a number of BREAKTHROUGHTS and a new amazing awareness. I am making changes in my life. And through the support of Catch Fire’s Master Coach Brad Freeman we uncover my FEAR! The fear of Success!

The NEXT question posed to me by Brad is “What is attached to success?” At the moment I do not have a clue…but by implementing the faculty, team and tools provided through Catch Fire University Pandora’s Box was opened yesterday. WHOOHOO! Oh my gosh! Thank you CFU!

You see previous to my current, wonderful husband I had been married before. My ex was not the supportive type. When we married I was timid, shy and an insecure individual. As I grew and he did not, I became very successful in Corporate America. I earned double his income. This was not acceptable to him and we grew further and further apart, until it was decided a divorce. Through the Divorce I lost what I thought was my life, my identity. Subconsciously, a lot of pain and suffering was attached to my ‘successes; which subconsciously I saw as the root cause to my divorce. I didn’t want another divorce so I have been sabotaging my current efforts for success and financial freedom, what a realization!

The Independent

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