Fashion Fix #50 - Studs

Really into studs.

Drake - Behind The Scenes of 'HYFR'

OMG. Drake brings so much joy to my life.

Coachella 2012

Some crazy sets at this year's Coachella Festival of Music and Arts. A selection of my faves below.

A$AP ROCKY - Absolute Mayhem


A.$.A.P. Rocky (Live at Coachella 2012) by coachellasets

Frank Ocean - Talented Young Man


Frank Ocean (Live from Coachella, 2012) by coachellasets

The Weeknd - Feeling This

Watch here.

Fashion Fix #49 - Tie Dye

This Fashion Fix is about tie dye (which I always hated) and pastel colours (which I always hated) and unicorns (let's face it, who doesn't like unicorns?) Some fierce stuff below. Want, want and want.

A Place To Bury Strangers Announce New Album

Exciting times - A Place To Bury Strangers Announce New Album, Worship.

Guitars as jet engines; guitars as haunted electronics; guitars as filling-melting white heat: A Place To Bury Strangers' new album Worship is explosive, visceral, and dark. Worship will be out the 11th June 2012 in the UK and Europe on Dead Oceans. 

Listen/downlaod the first album track "You Are The One" here.

The DIY-braintrust of Death By Audio wizard Oliver Ackerman and bassist Dion Lunadon continue the evolution of songwriting that began with Onwards to the Wall, interweaving threads of krautrock, dream-pop, and 80s goth without ever losing the edge that is quintessentially Strangers. There are ambitious, trend-bucking choices at every turn.

"This album was written, recorded, mixed and mastered by A Place To Bury Strangers. It is our vision of what our music should sound like in 2012, not someone else's interpretation," says Lunadon. "Every sound on the album is made by us and our tools; tools created by us, used on no other recordings, and purposefully built for this project. This is real. Some of it is the band being in complete control — bending, shaping and building the songs and the sounds. Other parts are the band relinquishing control and letting the songs and sounds take over and produce themselves. We are not trying to reinvent ourselves, but simply push ourselves further in all aspects of our music."

"We made this, we recorded this, we did everything," adds Ackerman. "Yes, we chose to do this and no, we didn't have to but we think it is pretty cool. No producer made us. We didn't go to school for any of this and we don't have time for tutorials. We invented this and now we are sharing it with you."

An Interview with my BFFs - Part 3

Okay here we go once more with BFF time. Part one here and part two here.

Is life too short to play the long game?

Life's too short to play any games!

Describe your character in six words!

Compassionate, determined, loyal, sensitive, adventurous, witty

What’s the first thing that attracts you to a person?

If we're talking purely physical then broad shoulders and twinkly eyes.

Why is this romance shit so complicated? Is it complicated?

It's complicated because we're complicated (humans that is!)

Up until now, what’s the most important thing you have learned about relationships?

Try to have fun with them while they last.

How do you know someone fancies you?

It's in the way they look at you and pay you lots of attention.

Who or what inspires you?

The desire for new challenges and new experiences.

What life advice would you give to your 16-year-old self?

Be nicer to yourself.

What life advice would you give me?

Stop comparing your life to everyone else's.

What’s the difference between boys and girls?

Would you like me to draw a diagram?!

What’s the best way to be happy – enlighten me?

If I knew that I'd be rich.

Which qualities do you admire in others that you wish you’d possess yourself?

The ability to ask for what you know you deserve.

What are you listening to right now?

At work - the constant drone of keyboard tapping, at home the blissful sound of silence.

Is there a mantra / belief you live by? What is it?

I'm a big believer in Karma, so I guess just trying not to judge others too quickly/harshly.

An Interview with my BFFs - Part 2

Hiya, I chatted some more about love and life with great people. Part one here. 

Is life too short to play the long game?

Yeah I think so. I believe we are at an age now where we are starting to contemplate about life as an individual and about life in general as well as our belonging in society, so that we should create clear rules and live by them (if we can). I ALREADY have the feeling that time is starting to speed up. We are already in our late 20s, that’s crazy.

Describe your character in six words!

Emotional, in need of harmony and security, rather inflexible, methodological, cooperative.

What’s the first thing that attracts you to a person?

With men. Their physique.

Why is this romance shit so complicated? Is it complicated?

Yes, it’s complicated, because two different people (differently educated and brought up people as well as two different genders – men and women are different) are colliding and trying to get along.

Up until now, what’s the most important thing you have learned about relationships?

If you want it to work, you have to talk. Lots. Even if it’s difficult. Talking to each other is crucial to understand what’s going on in the other person’s head. It’s not about changing that other person or about wheedling him into your way of thinking, more about acceptance. It takes a lot of getting used to and overcoming your fears of authentically translating your feelings into words. Patience is also important!

How do you know someone fancies you?

It’s in the eyes. Long and longing glances tell you everything. Glances so intense that you get embarrassed and have to look away.

Who or what inspires you?

I’m fascinated by what happens between people. It’s just so complex and multi-layered. I don’t exclusively mean relationships, but also relations between all people. The little connections between everything fascinate me, like cause and effect type of things. The older I get the more I can see these things.

What life advice would you give to your 16-year-old self?

Stick with your family and friends and be nice to them. Try not to lose composure all the time and think before you speak. Words can hurt.

What life advice would you give me?

Be open and positive when you meet new people. Don’t dismiss some people from the get-go.

What’s the difference between boys and girls?

Boys don’t always have to text or call to show they like a girl. Girls on the other hand need that constant affirmation that they are in demand in order to feel secure. Weird, isn’t it?

 

What’s the best way to be happy – enlighten me?

DIFFICULT! I revert to my previous answer. Once you understand this little facet, you’re happy. I also feel happy when I’ve got work to do and when I can be productive / create something. That satisfies me. I also like to meet friends. When you’ve got something to do, you don’t have time to ponder problems too much. 

Which qualities do you admire in others that you wish you’d possess yourself?

The way to express themselves well. The way to translate feelings into words. Flexibility. Being able to take criticism.

What are you listening to right now?

Biffy Clyro

Is there a mantra / belief you live by? What is it?

Only if you look far ahead, you’ve got scope to move forward.

An Interview with my BFFs - Part 1

Oh hello blog lovers, I have interviewed random guys to find answers. I have done the same with girls. But I have never looked to the people closest to me. Surely they know what’s going down in life. So instead of talking about myself (again) I have talked to my BFFs and asked them to enlighten me and enlighten me they did. 

Is life too short to play the long game?

Yes, live for the moment!

Describe your character in six words!

Kind, shy, creative, adventurous, forgetful, twee.

What’s the first thing that attracts you to a person?

Their smile.

Why is this romance shit so complicated? Is it complicated?

We try to work out what the other person is thinking too much.

Up until now, what’s the most important thing you have learned about relationships?

They're about give and take - and if it's not right, don't stick your head in the sand - do something about it.

How do you know someone fancies you?

It's in the eyes!

Who or what inspires you?

My mum, my friends (and Zooey Deschanel)

What life advice would you give to your 16-year-old self?

Don't worry about the small things, they'll turn out well in the end (and travel the world while you're young and don't mind living out of a backpack)

 What life advice would you give me?

Try not to over think it - life has a funny way of working things out.

What’s the difference between boys and girls?

The ability to focus on and talk about [insert favourite sport/computer game/band] for hours.

What’s the best way to be happy – enlighten me?

Keep it simple and don't change yourself to fit in.

Which qualities do you admire in others that you wish you’d possess yourself?

Humour, extroversion, debating skills, a good singing voice.

What are you listening to right now?

Howler - I told you once.

Is there a mantra / belief you live by? What is it?

Life's too short - do something you love every day.

An Interview with Sam Airey

I interviewed Sam Airey for Think-Work-Play.

Sam Airey is a 22 year old folk artist, originally from the Isle of Anglesey. He released his debut EP Season's Change in March 2010 recorded and produced by Whiskas of iForward, Russia! fame. His new EP ‘A Marker and A Map’ is an exploration of lyrical themes inspired love and loss. We’ve caught up with Sam and asked him about inspiration, irritation and ideas.



Think-Work-Play: What does a day in the life of Sam Airey look like?

Sam Airey: That would depend upon the day. It can be anything from writing, gigging and rehearsing to doing stuff for the label I co-run, promoting shows in Leeds, and also occupying space on both sides of the bar. I can quite often be found pulling pints, but I sometimes like to drink them too.

Who are your top three influencers (music, literature, cultural provocateurs, anything)?

The three 'L's', of course. Love, Loss, and Leonard Cohen.

If you could have written one song, which one would it be and why?

I listen to songs everyday and think this. At the moment it's probably Northern Lights by Bowerbirds. I love that band.



In your biography it says: “He writes songs about the seaside and/or death, but never exclusively these things.” What’s so fascinating about these things?

That was more of a running joke to be fair, but also has some basis too I guess - I grew up by the sea so that fascination was kind of instilled in me. And who isn't at least curious about death? It's as ever present as life.

Are love songs overrated?

Not at all. Well I guess many are. The perfect love song is a fine art - the secret is striking that delicate balance between being brutally honest and sincere without being over-earnest.

Drake or Nick Drake?

Nick Drake of course. But throw Rihanna into the mix and it might change everything.

What’s your guilty pleasure? Music-wise?

Anything by Toto or Journey. Power ballad central.

Who’s your favourite person?

This weekend it's been Dan Lydiate and the rest of the Wales rugby team in the 6 Nations. Amazing performances.



Describe your world today in one word.

Restless.

Where are we most likely to find you on a Friday night?

Probably at a gig. Not necessarily my own, either. Or at home playing FIFA.

What do you like most about what you do?

New places, new people, the usual things I guess. Also the way in which new songs take shape and change course from the minute they leave your head to to the finished article. I like that, I like the possibilities - not just the roads that were taken but also the ones that weren't. It's all good.

What did really offend you recently?

The Sun on Sunday? Or actually the rest of the tabloids too. Who actually reads that shit?

What makes a good storyteller?

Conviction and consistency. Oh and maybe exaggeration too. The greatest ever stories are always embellished, no matter how true they are.

Any crazy gig stories?

I bled once, that was weird. I didn't notice until two songs later, so I got blood all over the strings and fretboard. There's been a few stories actually. One time I accidentally broke the PA so had to play the gig outside in the car park.

Where do you spend your time “thinking, working and playing”?

- THINK: Where do you come up with your ideas, is there a special place or do random places spring up best ideas - examples?

I like to retreat back to the countryside now and again, but to be honest I never really get the chance anymore. I usually have to think on the move - ideas will probably come regardless of whether I'm searching for them

- WORK: Where is your studio, or work place?

I record and rehearse with the band at a place called Mook Studios in Leeds. It's a fairly modest setup but it has everything we need and I like it there.

- PLAY: Unwind, party – do you have a favourite place?

The Brudenell Social Club in Leeds. It's the best venue in the world, don'tcha know?

Fashion Fix #48 - S.H.O.E.S.

Ohhhhhhh I love shoes.

All shoes from Net-A-Porter

Franco on Franco

Sometimes I wish I had a really cool older brother.

I heart Peeta

If you've read The Hunger Games you will immensely appreciate this. If you haven't, you won't have a clue what's going on. My tip? Read The Hunger Games, it's amazing!

Source: Crushable

I think it's finally happened.

Hello blog lovers, sorry for my long radio silence. I think it's finally happened. I've got nothing left to say about boys. I know, I can't quite believe it myself. Shocker. But basically I'm a bit bored of interpreting people (boys), trying to understand people (boys) and work out what they want. It's futile. Soz.

So instead I thought what else could I talk about? I have pretty much exhausted music and fashion. Plus I'm listening to a weird mix of angry riot grrrl pop and Usher’s ‘Climax’ exclusively at the moment, so that would probably turn off even my most hardcore readers.

But (!!!!!) I can talk about other things I like. There are a few.

I really like when you tell someone all your crazy, self-indulged thoughts in a moment of weakness and they say they've had all those thoughts before too.

I like when you think you have someone completely figured out and then they surprise you.

I like people who say they will do something and then actually do it, no pussyfooting around.

I like when you know you've made the right choice even if getting there was painful.

I like it when your face is telling me exactly what you’re thinking.

I like it when you can just sit in silence with someone and feel comfortable.

I really like this and this

Laters, Linda

Valentino Red Autumn / Winter '12

Valentino Red. OMG. 

There are two ways to look at life - Chuck Klosterman