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who is blü founder/publisher/photographer nico amortegui nico@blu-magazine.com founder/fashion editor/creative director camila amortegui camila@blu-magazine.com copy editor laine dedmon contributing writers kacey bradford myk pate matthew brown street team/art assistants myk pate contributing photographers drexina nelson robert august nicole maria winkler ron hill andy photography quân mai meagan long
14 art_hannah stouffer 18 local art_mr. totem 22 art_pepa prieto 26 fashion_double or nothing 30 local art_ zach wolfe 34 fashion_edge of darkness 39 music_brittany bosco 40 fashion_weronika 44 lotus look winner 46 cool kids_blü summer parties
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Issue no.8 October - December 2009
3644 card st. charlotte, nc 28205 www.blu-magazine.com www.myspace.com/bluimage Photo by Robert August
contributors
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.01 name: nicole maria winkler occupation: photographer where are you from? austria. but i am living in london now. what did you contribute to this issue? my fashion story with the lovely weronika. favorite visual artists? egon schiele what music has inspired you lately? soap & skin who or what inspires you? my love, my friends, my family. describe your style? i like black a lot these days and i love long hair. if i only could afford it, i would wear chanel from head to toe. best thing about fall? coats, hats and scarves. what do you do in your free time? i spend a fair amount of my free time on skype. other than that, reading books, watching films, horse riding and flea market shopping. .02 name: myk pate occupation: co-owner of street local, writing, brand marketing, and consulting for some folks. where are you from? salinas, california what did you contribute to this issue? brittany bosco interview and the connection to zach wolfe favorite visual artists? some locals… chalkboard, kiser, jasiatic, meesh flowers, dax, smackhound, and dosa kim what music has inspired you lately? i'm
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still on broken, afrobeat, afro-latin, nu-jazz, hip hop and soul classics. who or what inspires you? life, my family, real friends, music, and 180 no-comply pivots describe your style? it's an honest unique identity of quality and authenticity. best thing about fall? street local fall 2009 what do you do in your free time? enjoy life .03 name: matthew brown occupation: data trafficker where are you from? i try to focus more on where i’m going, rather than where i’m from. what did you contribute to this issue? totem interview favorite visual artists? wk interact, barry mcgee, os gemeos, and dave kinsey to name a few what music has inspired you lately? lots and lots of reggae, sam cooke always finds a way to inspire me as well. who or what inspires you? people who are true to themselves, and don’t let other peoples’ opinions influence or stand in the way of what they’re trying to do. describe your style? a couple friends have told me i’m stuck in 1994, which i don’t necessarily find to be a bad thing. best thing about fall? everything’s great about fall. lack of humidity, the smell of the air at night, the leaves changing, being
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able to do things outside without melting. what do you do in your free time? i enjoy music production, and the overall manipulation of sound waves to create what’s in my head. i also like watching skate videos and documentaries. .04 name: drexina nelson occupation: fashion photographer where are you from? atlanta, ga what did you contribute to this issue? fashion editorial favorite visual artists? there so many that i have no one favorite! what music has inspired you lately? old r&b/soul classics who or what inspires you? life inspires me. there is so much ever changing and evolving... how can you not be inspired by it? describe your style? simple with a slight edge best thing about fall? the temperature and style, my favorite time of the year! boots are my fav! what do you do in your free time? think. my mind is always working on what’s next. i want to continue striving to accomplish my goals. after one is complete, i am on to the next one!
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HANNAH
STOUFFER Snakes, skeletons, demons and darkness don’t necessarily represent the typical “chic”, but Hannah Stouffer finds comfort and nostalgia in what she defines as familiarity and beauty. A recent L.A. transplant, Stouffer’s illustrations can be found on T’s, sneakers, album covers, skateboards and even 1800 Tequila. Her ink works transpose the viewer into an underground dream world like being caught in the most amazing, fluid tattoo – the kind L.A. Ink fans envy. Find out how Stouffer spends her days and why she garners such a fascination with darkness.
Tell us a little bit about yourself. I was raised in rural Colorado by two very supportive parents. My father is a wildlife documentarian and my mother is an amazing homemaker and craftswoman. From a very young age I was taught to be an entrepreneur and to find a career that satisfied me. I went to a few different city colleges and universities, but consider myself to be virtually self-taught. I’m 28 now, living in Los Angeles. I drive an old black Cadillac and I love the shit out of this game. How would you describe your artwork? Psychedelic, satanic, and classy. Do you remember at which point in your life you decided you were going to make a living from being creative? Totally. Well… not completely. I knew ever since I was a little kid what I wanted to strive to do, but I didn’t really know the details, or on what terms that would be until I was 22 or so. I almost remember the exact day I discovered it though, for real. I remember sitting in my studio in San Fran, the upstairs loft of this beautiful warehouse space, looking down over a bunch of big canvases that I was working on. I shared a beautiful dark wood desk with a friend of mine; it was maybe the longest desk you’ve ever seen. (I think he made it that way on purpose.) I remember all of a sudden deciding “F-ck it, I’m going to be an illustrator”, and while it seemed like such an ancient direction to take while everyone was focusing on technology and information arts, I kind of liked it. I see hints of traditional Japanese line work in some of your illustrations; from what sort of things do you pull inspiration? I think I’ve heard that before and I don’t really know what it means. Actually, I was asked in an interview with IDN China if I used salt in my work like they did with traditional
"Pray For Me, Evening Frights" ink on paper 20" x 20"
watercolors. I don’t remember my response; the language barrier was pretty awesome. I’m highly affected by just about everything; I love browsing old paper goods at flea markets and exploring the far corners of the Internet. I also spend a lot of time staring at my fishes, or a blank wall. I get tons of ideas that way as well… so, I think it’s just permanent. It must be something inside my brain. What’s the process you go through to make a piece? Well, I like to think I’m getting better at the initial planning phases, like actually thinking about a piece in terms of a series and trying to keep some of the themes relevant - but normally I just have at it. There is a certain feeling that goes along with whether or not I decide to start with watercolor, pen and ink, or acrylic ink, or gouache; and I’m sure this is all starting to sound super boring so I’ll save you that. I don’t really sketch anything out. I choose my favorite color of the moment and make a mess – a hot mess. What are some of your favorite media? Black Uniball Vision Exact pens, Micro, Fabriano watercolor paper, and Bristol drawing sheets. You were traveling through Europe last year, how has that affected you and your work? I got so much amazing imagery and ideas over there. I’m just now starting to take advantage of everything I absorbed. I’m starting a new series of works with all of it. New everything. There is a lot in store, a lot in the making… get ready! What is your fascination with darkness and animals – especially snakes? I wouldn’t really call it a fascination. Animals and snakes kind of just represent childhood nostalgia to me; it’s all really familiar.
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"Bonne Nuit Crystal Cave" ink on paper 20" x 20"
For more information on Hannah visit grandarray.com 16 bl端 magazine
"Darkness Falls Forever" ink on paper 20" x 20"
The repetition is really consuming and I love that part of it. I definitely have a fascination with darkness though. It’s one of those unknowns… fate, destiny, death, uncertainty, the beauty in the cycle, lust, gore… I find a lot of it to be extremely gorgeous and hard to shake. I read of your obsession with making lists and using sketchbooks, can you tell us about how that forms your art? I am actually really bad at keeping sketchbooks, but I’m REALLY good at making lists. I have a couple Dr. Katz style sketches here and there. Everything kind of turns out looking like a 3 year old’s rendition of an alligator at a water park, but I know what I meant. With most of my work, I am going with a feeling anyways – something that has some previous thought basis behind it – but when I’m working, I don’t want there to be rules or guidelines I have to follow. Rules are so boring. You started exploring more with photography and installations; tell us about your latest efforts with Obsessive Combustion. I started expanding and exploring mainly as a way to translate my work into more tangible terms. It’s all very real. Obsessive Combustion was directly based off an illustration I did entitled ‘Black Roses Tell a Story’. While the photos look like me and just a gang of friends lighting off fireworks and smoke bombs, (which it is), there was also a really heavy, distinct base behind it. I was attempting
to address the exact same themes and emotions that my illustration portrayed by re-creating something abstract into an event that exists in real life. Along with the challenges and the outcome of producing Obsessive Combustion, it felt amazing. What are some future projects for you? I’m about to start on a bunch of work for some upcoming shows. I have a lot of aspirations, a lot I want to accomplish, as always a lot of secrets and a handful of commercial jobs. Why did you decide to move from S.F to L.A? There were a lot of reasons. Mainly I just needed a change of scenery – nothing personal. I love S.F. I love all my friends up there, the lifestyle, the dive bars, and how comfortable it all is. It was just time for a change for myself, for my work, for everything. What do you feel is the difference between S.F’s art scene and L.A’s? It’s always kind of funny for me to talk about the art ‘scene’ because I feel like I’m biased for one reason or another. LA is just a lot bigger, a lot of the same stuff going on, but the scale obviously adds to the variety of everything, including caliber or work, in both directions of course. It’s just refreshing for me to be somewhere that I don’t know quite what to expect much of the time. You seem to be all over the place and constantly busy; if you had one day to do whatever you
wanted, how would you spend it? Honestly, I spend most of my days this way, starting with a leisurely morning and some tea. I like to sit outside for a bit, watch my fish, check my email and get some good drawing in. I’ll ride my bike to get a mani/pedi or eat some ceviche. Then I’ll sit and think and plan for a little while, ride my bike some more, catch a drink with friends and listen to some R ‘n B thug jams with my love. I recently started working at home, so that’s kind of TBD - but I’m thinking an average day will be pretty similar to my usual: wake up; hustle, hustle, hustle; try to get outside and find some form of human interaction; drink, play, relax, love and hustle in my sleep. Besides an artist/designer, did you ever see yourself going down a different career path? I tried to be a personal trainer once (ha-ha). I think I’m pretty hopeless as an employee. I’m terrible at the standard job with a boss. I could think of a handful of things I’d probably be good at, but they’re all probably illegal or not quite invented yet. Who or what inspires you? The darkness within the light, human emotion, and contrast. What do you hope to get out of life? Seriously? I think I’m kind of doing it. I feel really lucky. I love this life.
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MR. TOTEM Interview by Matthew Brown
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To whom it may concern, this is Mister Totem of Atlanta. My job title is Graffiti Writer. How did the name Totem come about? I came up with the name on accident. Many writers play with different names and juggle back and forth with aliases. I happened to have a dictionary one day and cut the pages right to the T's. The first word that came up was "Totem". It means ‘to represent a clan or family’, which was what I felt was a big part of who I am, and still am to this day. When was the first time you used a can of paint? I started writing graffiti in 1990 in the humble city of Atlanta. Who or what got you interested in the art of letter formation? Local gang members and street skateboarding. Loads of time spent rolling around on the streets of Atlanta led me to find what now means so much to me. At first, I was into characters and learned the art of character painting in the early days with just tags and solid readable letters. Then, I slowly realized the truth of what makes graffiti art different than other known arts... simply put, it was all about the name and what you could do with it. Are you left or right-handed? Funny that this question came up… I’m notorious for being both. I paint with both hands, I break dance going both rotations in power and style, and I also brush my teeth with my left while wiping my arsh with my right. How interesting, right? Can you tell us about your affiliation with the Seventh Letter Crew? They are my brothers in paint from the West. I have been affiliated with the clique for seven years now. We have done many trips and painted together all around this beautiful earth. What are your thoughts on those who say graffiti artists "sell out" when they start doing commercial work? I’m no artist; I’m a graffiti writer and as writers we do what we want. There are no rules in our game; if you want to write on someone’s house, you can. If you want
to write in a gallery, you can. If you want to stay broke and write in the street, you can. As writers we are not bound by what "people" deem as "selling out", we simply don’t care. Would you consider yourself an excessive doodler? Hmm… not sure what ‘doodler’ means – not a popular word in the hood. My guess is it’s the same as scribbler – so, yes, I would say so. I LOVE tags – love them dearly. My love affair with scribbling has eventually brought me to this career. What is the biggest piece you've ever worked on? By myself? Probably this mural I did in Chamblee, GA. It’s 250 ft. wide and 40 ft. tall – big! What do you like about Atlanta? It’s my home. I’ve walked these streets, skated and fallen, written my name, fist fought, got drunk, clubbed hard, got laid, got money, made it rain, re-upped, robbed toys, got golds, rolled dice, lived the life in these Atlanta streets. If there were a human who would be ATL, I would be close to what he looks like. Anything you dislike about Atlanta? Nothing... ATL stand up! However, if I had to say something, it would be the faults with the geography of Georgia. I wish there were more mountains, streams and rivers and the like. I’m as roadway as you can find, but I love the simple things that God created. If you had to live somewhere besides Atlanta, where would it be? Yamanashi, Japan. I have a house and farm there already and it’s only a matter of time before I’m there. What’s the last live music show you've seen? The last live show I’ve seen was Bjork in Atlanta in 2008. That was a bullet point scratched off my bucket list. Other than your interests in art/design, what else occupies your time? Building hotrods. I’m a gear head all the way down to the marrow. I have about six projects going at the same time. My best
For more information on Totem visit, mr-totem.com
one is the one from my "perfect day" short story. It’s a 1967 Chevrolet Camaro with a built LS7 motor out of a 07 ZO6 Corvette. It is wide bodied and paddle shifted with C5 Art Morrison Corvette suspension underneath the car. Carbon fiber parts all through it, big Wilwood brakes and full cage, 18x10s in front and 18x12s in the rear to keep me stuck well to the pavement. What would your ideal, perfect day be like? Cruising and enjoying the Yamanashi Mountains’ twists and turns in my 1967 Camaro (powered by a 650 hp LS7 motor) with my wife, Juri in the passenger seat and my son Rehza laughing in the backseat. Bonobo's Days To Come album is playing through the speakers, but I can still make out what my son is saying. The windows are down and the cool fresh mountain air is rushing inside the cabin while I take a sharp right hand turn, all six gears being fully utilized. Parts of the road are single lane, but dual direction. I am cautious, but still slightly reckless. Not to loose the enjoyment of the moment, knowing full well that it will never happen again and the only way to prolong its existence is to speed up and catch it. My wife hands me an Onigiri her mother made us for this trip. I take a big bite to find Umeboshi plum in the center – my favorite. My hand is sticky now from the rice as I make a left onto a small bridge. Signs on the sides of the road I cannot read nor do I care to. I turn to look back at my son briefly only to see his face wrecked with Nori seaweed and rice. Eyes back on the road, Juri is talking about what we are going to be like when we are old, yet in my mind no promise of that time is made to me or my family – only now. Is there anything that truly motivates and/or inspires you? The love of my family, friends, crew and sheer beauty that is obvious under every living human’s nose in plain sight. I’ve been many places, many dangerous places, desolate and barren, but have found beauty in all of them. Even if it takes a little effort to see, there is hope and wonder waiting to be seen. Peace Mr. Totem
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PEPA PRIETO Interview by Kacey Bradford
Born in the south of Spain, Pepa Prieto is a well-educated artist with a love for color and texture that can be seen throughout her lively pieces. Prieto has worked on a variety of projects with well-known companies like MTV, Pony and Element Skateboards.
Where did you go to school? I got a B.A in Painting in Madrid, and then I got an M.A in London and Barcelona…crazy because I have never been into studying! How long have you been making artwork? Since I was a child I have enjoyed doing creative things. It’s a need for me. No matter the medium, your projects are always so vibrant and eye-catching; how important is color in your work? It’s very important for me. I think colour is part of everything in our daily lives; so for me, it’s something that I cannot detach from my work. I love to combine colour. It just makes me happy. What kind of medium have you been working with in your newer drawings? I just did a poster for kids to colour in for a French company; it’s full of details I think children will go crazy for. I currently have an exhibition in Barcelona at Iguapop Gallery, a little collection of organic clothes for Element, some sneakers for the Pony campaign, Keep a Breast…and some other things to finish that I still have not. Do you have a favorite medium and is there a medium that you haven’t worked with that interests you? I love working with any medium. I always try to look for diversity in my projects as I think I work better when I work in different mediums. I would love to do something in a nice space or with some furniture products or pottery…but the most
important thing is to work with people that are enthusiastic about the projects.
am influenced by – so for sure Barcelona is one of them.
Tell us a little more about the work you've done for Element Skateboards. As a freelancer I work for many companies and Element is one of them. With them I am also in an artist network program; so it’s great as I have the chance to meet other people that are involved in the same program from other parts of the world.
Do you have a favorite piece you've created or a favorite project that you've worked on? At this point I am pretty comfortable with most of the projects I get involved in. That’s one of the first things I “try” to take care of when someone contacts me. Will I feel happy with the job? For me that’s really important, but if I had to choose one it would probably be my personal work – exhibitions – and I really like it when I get commissions to paint a large mural.
Your Three Little Pigs’ installation was really amazing, how hard was it to adapt a story as an installation piece? Ha-ha, thanks! The worst part was the timing. I had just two days, so I really had to push it. When the client told me the theme, the first thing I thought was not to be scared as you sometimes are when you have been “bombed” by information about a story – as was the case of The Three Little Pigs. It’s kind of difficult to do something spontaneous that kind of works ….not easy. Do you have a favorite place to work? Studio? Home? Well my home is my studio; it’s a big space, so it’s great. I travel a lot; so everywhere I go I take my pens, paintings, laptop and camera. It’s part of me and probably my favourite studio is where I am in that moment. How has Barcelona influenced your work? Well, Barcelona is this amazing little city full of energy that everyone would love to live in. It’s full of treasures! Every city I live in or pass through, I
For more information on Pepa, visit pepaprieto.com 22 blü magazine
If you could collaborate with one artist, who would it be? Umm, that’s a difficult one, there are so many amazing artists I would love to meet and work with. If it were a musician, I would love to do something with Cornelius and if we were talking about fine art, I would love to do something with Anish Kapoor, Clare e Rojas, or Barry McGee. There are so many. Do you have favorite artists, living or dead? There are too many to choose, but if I had to say one, I would think of Pieter Brueghel. Tell us a favorite book or song you've enjoyed lately. Short stories from Haruki Murakami and a song by Wanda Jackson, Funnel of Love.
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Mixed media on paper 30 x 30 cm
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This page: Dress: Twinkle by Wenlan Cowl neck top: Christopher Fischer Necklaces: Orly Genger by Jaclyn Mayer Tights: Fogal Shoes: Kathryn Amberleigh Opposite page: Dress: Karen Walker Necklace & bracelets: PONO by Joan Goodman Tights: DKNY Arm warmers: Stylist's own
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fashion
Double orNothing Photographer- Robert August Stylist- Blair Jenkins Makeup- Elizabeth Lakomsky Hair- Takashi Yamamoto Model- Euphrasie @ New York Models
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Cardigan: Christopher Fischer Blouse: Daryl K Pants: Zero + Maria Cornejo Socks: Betsey Johnson Shoes: Kathryn Amberleigh
Vest: Twinkle by Wenlan Top: Karen Walker Pants: Kerrigan Socks: Ralph Lauren Shoes: Kathryn Amberleigh
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Dress: Kerrigan Catsuit: Bodkin Cardigan: Christopher Fischer Socks: Ralph Lauren Shoes: Kathryn Amberleigh
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ZACH WOLFE 30 bl端 magazine
Three 6 Mafia
Janelle Monae for Trace Magazine
Iowa native, Zach Wolfe, could not be further from his roots when it comes to his passion and appreciation of music – hip-hop in particular. Now an Atlanta resident, Wolfe, has photographed some of the biggest names in the music industry like Outkast, T-Pain and Lil Wayne. With vivid and bold imagery, Wolfe shows us the real and fresh side of those he photographs. Read on to find out what makes his perfect picture.
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art Yung Ralph
Where are you from? Mt. Vernon, Iowa (pop. 4000). Where do you reside? Atlanta, GA. How long have you been photographing and why photography? For 14 years, 5 professionally. I grew up painting; once I grabbed the camera I was hooked because of spontaneity. Did you study photography in school? I did photography for two years in high school, and then I attended the Colorado Institute of Art for two years. I was young and wanted to have a good time, but photo school is so serious that I just grinded it out. Thank God I did; I’m 31 and still working towards going bigger. I can only imagine starting later in the game. What was your first photo shoot? I shot my friends in high school as a fake rock band, the photos were complete garbage, but the feeling was there. Nikon or Cannon? If we are talking film, then Nikon, but since digital came out, there is only one choice – CANON.
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Who would you like to photograph that you have not and why? Mos Def and Jay-Z. These two guys have helped me make it through some shit in my life. I can listen to reasonable doubt and black on both sides any day and feel better. B/W or color? Black and white when there is no color around and you want to make a statement that is timeless and classic. Color is also appropriate when the person you are photographing has a larger than life persona, gotta go with color on that. But, when I shoot bigger artists, I always try to do a classic black and white portrait as I want people to look back 20 years at the photos and think about the person and not the time period they were shot in – very important to me. What do you think about the move from film to digital? I think there is no choice but to embrace digital. If I had it my way I would still shoot more film than digital. The quality of film is still my favorite. You can match the quality of film with 40,000 digital backs, but they are not spontaneous at all, so I keep it to the Canon 5d mark 11. I have a dream of helping bring back film one day by opening a boutique film lab. And one last thing about digital, it’s much
quicker during the shoot, but about 10 more times the work after…. Where do you get your ideas? My ideas come from music and movies, and everyday situations; but for the most part, I am inspired by music. If I shoot a musician I definitely like to get my hands on their music and sit back and let my mind go places. If you don’t send me your music before a shoot, more than likely it will be less of an inspiring situation let’s say. Who are other photographers that you admire? That list is so long you would have to print a whole separate magazine, but I will give you a couple big ones in my book: Jonathan Mannion, Mary Ellen Mark, Ben Watts, Christian Lantry, Nadav Kander, Platon, Annie Liebovitz, Gordon Parks, Ricky Powell (which believe it or not I have his camera in my office now - the one he used to shoot all his famous photos, courtesy of the dirty doctor, DAX), Patrick Hoelck, Anthony Mandler – this is a good start for that, but there are many more. Who’s the most difficult person you have ever photographed? Who was the coolest? Most difficult, hmm let me lump them into a bunch
The Black Lips
and call them ‘new artists.’ Not all new artists per say, but many new artists think they deserve or are owed something right out the gate, like they are already 10 albums deep. The best, again lump into a category and call them the ‘big artists’, funny how that works, right. How did you get involved in photographing musical artists? I moved here in 2001 and met Lil Jon’s secretary, and it all went from there. I moved to Atlanta with the goal of shooting musical artists, but didn’t think I would get connected so fast. It happened fast, but slow at the same time and took me four years to start getting paid to do it. Trust me, you need really thick skin to make it in this biz. How has living in Atlanta affected your work? I live in Atlanta, and what I mean by that is, I am not in one particular scene – I am a part of all of them. I feel Atlanta is very diverse. I go all over and just take it in. I am an observer and no doubt out of any place in the world, the A is my most inspirational. Have you ever assisted another photographer? If so, who and do you feel that they have been a big influence on your style? I have assisted well over 200 photographers
in my day, and every kind imaginable. Without question, I am here today solely because of this. They all inspired me in many ways, and in return I feel my style has lots of dimension because of it. I could be a good architecture shooter if I wanted to, or name another genre, I can shoot carpet, but I focus on my passion, which is music! All you kids out there – you need to assist, stop asking me “what I should do to make it”, just assist! When do know you have a good photo? I just know. If you ever see me shoot, there is usually no formula except to make people comfortable. Some people have a hard time grasping my way of shooting because there is nothing they can latch onto. My assistants are always going crazy because at some point they think they have me figured out, and at that point I flip it on them. I never shoot one particular way, I’m kind of like a Lil Wayne with the camera, I don’t write shit down, I freestyle shoot. Other than photography, do you have any other artistic passions? I am not sure if this counts, but I am really interested in archiving other artists’ work that have not been approached the right way, and get their art in a room to make sure if they die tomorrow it will be archived. I’m doing that with
Dax as we speak, and trust me, that guy has a diamond in his hands waiting to give to the world. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? I’m gonna shoot for the stars on this one…I would like to be sitting at a café in Barcelona sipping on some sangria, smoking the local flavors reminiscing on my Oscar for directing some movie with my hot super model girlfriend. Then head out of for a night out with all my art friends. I want to start an art collective like Andy Warhol. That will happen, watch! Any quotes that you would like to share? “No I will not shoot you for $200! Get the f-ck outta here!” What advice do you have for a young photographer who is just starting out? ASSIST! In one word, what’s a perfect picture for you? Spontaneity. Most recently, Wolfe stepped outside his musical box and did the cover for TIME Magazine; check out his blog at zachwolfe.com/live/ to see the outcome.
For more information on Zach Wolfe, visit zachwolfe.com
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fashion
EDGE OF DARKNESS Photographer: Drexina Nelson www.drexinanelson.com Wardrobe Stylist: Hayden Makeup: Stephanie Dawn Hair: Lee Barnes
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Coat: Vintage Top: Gryphon Skirt: Anna Sui Ring: Kenneth Jay Lane Earrings: Betsey Johnson
Vest: Haute Hippie Top: LaRok Pants: Helmut Lang Gloves: Portolano Earrings: Rachel Roy Hosiery: American Apparel Shoes: Report
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Vest: LaRok Top: Robert Rodriguez Pants: Robert Rodriguez Gloves: Rag & Bone Earrings: Betsey Johnson 36 bl端 magazine
Coat: Alice & Olivia Top: BCBG Skirt: Haute Hippie Hosiery: DKNY Shoes: Report Necklace: Elizabeth and James Earrings: Rachel Roy bl端 magazine 37
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music_atlanta
Brittany Bosco Interview by Myk Pate
Meet Brittany Bosco – soulful, funky, jazzy, and full of energy – is what can be said to describe her personality as well as her music. With inspirations from nature, old films and literature, Bosco tells us what she’s working on and what we can expect from a live performance.
Where are you from? I’m from a little city where I found my best friend Penny in Savannah. How long have you been singing? I’ve been singing for about 126 full moons. Who are the members in your band? Alex Goose (producer/designer), Omar Ferrer (producer), and Branden Collins (designer/art director/illustrator/painter). How's the touring experience been so far? It’s been all I can imagine and more. I’m learning about myself more and more in each place and the people are so freaking great! I love making mistakes now so I don’t have to revisit them later down the line. Do you have some tour dates lined up that requires a passport? Sure do, Paris, London, Rotterdam, and Japan. Back in March of this year, you opened for J Davey – how was that? That was an interesting show. It was an experience and one of my best shows to date. The crowd’s energy was amazing; I’m definitely a different person from then to now. You soon released Spectrum thereafter, how have you grown in between those two experiences? I’ve listened, failed, loved, been heart-broken, depressed and all of the above in the same time
period of these projects. You can change in a day; so I could’ve released City of Nowhere and Spectrum in the same month and became a totally different person. It’s about the mentality and the “process of life”.
What does Brittany Bosco do to relax? Wine (red full body, but Trader Joe’s ‘Two Buck Chuck’ works well also), music, and biking. I’m a pretty simple girl – doesn’t require much to make me happy
On September 1st, you re-released Spectrum; what extra goodies should we expect? Bille’s Song, It Was you (live), and Black and White remix.
Who are you listening to? A lot of indie bands right now and underground artists too, Sufjan, to name one.
Are you working on any new projects? Yes, which I am so excited about I might piss my pants talking about it. Black …coming soon! I love the song Blues for Blue; it feels like it's a scene from a 1930s Harlem club. How did that come about? I told my producer Alex Goose that I wanted my fans to know that jazz music is my roots. We immediately began working that same night and the next day and the song was done just like that. Do you write your own songs? Yes I do. What image do you think your music conveys? What people can see right now is “soul”, funk, blues, jazz, and soul-experimental. Soon time will reveal and unveil all things.
For more information on Brittany, visit brittanybosco.com
From where do you find inspiration? Nature, biking (you find so much that you thought never existed), people’s life stories, and the novels, Where The Wild Things Are and Where The Sidewalk Ends. My heart, my dreams, hopeless romantic people, and my insecurities. What are fans in store for at a live performance from Miss Bosco? Ace Ventura with a voice! How’s that? Where can fans find your music? Myspace.com/brittanybosco; Facebook.com; Brittanybosco.bandcamp.com; Brittanybosco. com & Twitter.com/brittanybosco. If you had a vision of what the future holds for you, what would it be? Bringing back “The Factory”, where all things of the arts were created and accepted while being naked singing on top of the hill trying not to get arrested in the mean time.
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fashion
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Trousers: Stylist's own Shirt: Vintage Goggles: Emma Hedlund
WERONIKA
Photographer: Nicole Maria Winkler Model: Weronika G @ Select Stylist: Caitlin Milne Make up and hair: Martin Wieser
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Shirt: Emma Hedlund Trousers: Emma Hedlund Shoes: Topshop
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Blazer: Emma Hedlund
Parachute Gown: Maggie Barry
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lotus look winner showcase
Lotus Look Winner
Heather Boos This year’s Lotus Look Campaign took place earlier this summer at Suite at the EpiCentre in uptown Charlotte. Participants in the three-night event signed up to show off their fashionable creativity with Lotus wear. The 2009 Lotus Look Winner, Heather Boos, won a Lotus shopping spree, an editorial spread in Blü, plus a photo shoot and contract with a local modeling agency. Lotus Boutique is located on East Blvd. in Dilworth.
Why did you enter the Lotus Look Contest? I have been shopping at Lotus for years, ever since I moved here from Virginia and fell in love with the store. I always knew I wanted to do something with fashion and thought this was a great opportunity to show off my own personal style. How would you describe your personal style? I like to make a statement when I go out. I like to stand out, if that's painting peacocks on a simple dress just to spice it up... then that's what I'll do. But my style is always different; when I'm at work, I try to be a little more conservative. Name some of your fashion icons. Rachel Zoe, Roberto Cavali, and Versace. What are some of your favorite magazines? Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Women’s Wear Daily, and Time Out New York (weekly magazine of events, arts, fashion, etc. of what’s going on). How often do you go out shopping? At least once every two weeks. However, when I lived in Charlotte, Erin Finnegan, my favorite wardrobe stylist would call me
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every week telling me they had new stuff in and I couldn't resist.
make it something that they would love to wear.
What is your favorite and least favorite trend? Right now my favorite trend is the use of feathers. I just love fashion and if it is a trend it means that people are enjoying it; so there are not too many trends that I don’t like. However, I have to say I never understood young men wearing jean shorts.
Can you tell our readers what the winning outfit for the contest consisted of? I wore a bright yellow three-tiered dress with peacock feathers that I painted on. To complete the look, I cinched in my waist with a paten leather, navy blue belt. I also removed the bottom tier and reattached it with Velcro so it was removable.
What does your closet look like? I have two closets in New York City, most of it is Lotus - lots of dresses. I love dresses and funky unique pieces. Are you a shopaholic? YES... I love clothes. Shopping is my therapy. How did you feel after you won Lotus Look? SHOCKED! What has been your favorite purchase yet? A tulle Lotus skirt Ipurchased years ago. It looks like something out of Sex And The City. I wear it all the time. What made your look different than others in the contest? I wanted to make something that people hadn’t seen before, but at the same time
What was your thinking process behind putting it together? I love to paint; so when I saw the bright yellow dress, I thought it was a perfect canvas. With my new obsession with feather inspired looks, I decided an abstract look of peacock feathers would bring in the perfect colors as well as a great theme to the outfit. Because it was the final round of the competition, I felt I needed another element of change. When I saw the three tiers, I immediately thought of making the bottom tier easily removable so I could transform the dress into a skirt while modeling it for the judges. With some cutting and Velcro, I made it happen.
Round one of Lotus Look competition
Final round, winning dress
Lotus Look '09 Winner Heather Boos at Lotus bl端 magazine 45
cool kids
bl端 magazine fashion show at the blake hotel 46 bl端 magazine
bl端 magazine party at the forum bl端 magazine 47