ELECTRIC MAGAZINE Electric Magazine is a publication that hopes to inspire the artist in all of us. We seek to define our own terms of luxury, and open the minds of the reader to new generation of talent emerging. More than anything, we aim to change the faces you‘d normally see in a magazine into the faces of artistic revolution. We don‘t just want the teens to read this…we want to inspire the ―weird‖ kid in the small town whose only hope comes from reading magazines and the thought that there are other people like him who dream, and sing, and dance, and love, and breathe art. Our concepts are our own, our motives are genuine, and we only say and feature what we mean and believe in. Showing our features in their best light is something we list as a top priority. We see through every detail from beginning to end, thus ensuring there is no missed avenue we could have explored in the making of each issue. We don‘t discriminate, and we don‘t talk down to our readers. We give full credit to everyone who has contributed to each issue, and we make sure we have permission to use what we use in our issues. Overall we want people to fight convention, and embrace rebellion. Buck against the things you‘re told and don‘t justify what you love. Point blank. That‘s what Electric is about. ―There‘s a thousand you‘s, there‘s only one of me.‖ - Kanye West
Letter From The Editor I‘m going to keep this brief, and this will probably be one of the very few editor‘s letters I ever do. I think they‘re disclaimers, and I wouldn‘t want to make anyone read that. And I don‘t read them. I want to thank the people who put their neck on the line to help us pull this issue together. It has truly been a long time coming. I created the magazine about a year and a half ago, when I realized how completely unsatisfied and uninspired I was feeling due to a lack of proper outlet for my creative vision. What started out as being a tiny side project with a shitload of people on board, turned into a fully fledged magazine with two people contributing. Long story short, Electric had its ups and downs before it even launched, and we‘re still here…this time fully prepared to share with the world what we have created. With that said, I would like to thank Steph Gibbs. She is the supportive, brilliant, hilarious, ginger-haired Creative Director and without her I would probably be on the shoulder of a busy highway holding a sign that says ―Will Trade Concepts for Shelter‖. Putting our minds together has been a great experience for me, and I look forward to learning and growing with her. I would also like to thank Kathleen Snyder, and Tiffany Kildale for the Electric staff and collaborating and helping to make an issue we can be proud of. Thank you. -Emmy Owens
Black Luna Vintage Admiring the beautifully cohesive vintage collection at Black Luna Vintage is like stepping into the coolest grunge spot in the world with a bit of gaudy-chic Vegas attire sprinkled in. Each piece is in pristine condition, every fringe and/or sequin firmly in tact, guaranteed to make anyone who wears it look like a spitting image of Fran Drescher‘s Fran Fine and Courtney Love‘s unstable lovechild. Nurtured by the inspiring Lidia Luna, Black Luna Vintage is an evergrowing online vintage shop that has auctioned off everything from vintage Lanvin to numerous 90‘s floral playsuits and several 80‘s garments. ―I look for fashion forward unique pieces that inspire me. Drape, avant garde, well cut garments; designer vintage is what I mainly look for. I always have a new thing I'm obsessed with and searching for.‖ She says when asked her aesthetic for collecting vintage. Would you say you‘re passionate about what you do? ―I'm absolutely passionate about vintage clothes. A fresh new find can fuel the flame just when you think you've seen it all.‖ Drawing a lot of inspiration from her music tastes, Lidia usually gravitates towards acid wash, denim, ―trashy‖ dresses, fringe and western style vintage. During the winter she usually listens to more dance electronic or very moody music. That's when dramatic pieces start appearing in my shop, she says. Her ideal customer is, ―Someone fearless who wants to stand out from the crowd. I love when people do a high/low fashion mix.‖ You can visit her shop on Etsy, and you can follow her blog at www.blacklunavintage.blogspot.com
-M. O.
Klewism An Artesian, from the Italian term artigiano, is a skilled manual worker who crafts items that may be functional or strictly decorative, including furniture, clothing, jewelry, household items, and tools. Lindsey Bucklew, an Artesian jeweler and Washington D.C. resident cites “birds and bugs” as an inspiration for the color scheme of a lot of her pieces. Of the birds she says: “Specifically their feathers- vividly iridescent and ever-changing in movement and light. The very structure of the feather enhances the depth and brilliance of the colors perceivable in it. I have had a mania for peacock feathers since I was a young child. The jeweled tones of a peacock feather have been motifs in my paintings from the first, and now in my jewelry as well.” Crafting a lot of her pieces out of wire, and random dissected vintage costume jewelry, Lindsey pulls together one-of-a-kind pieces that she sells through Etsy, and seduces jewelry lovers with the quality of the designs and the well thought out craftsmanship. She is a jeweler’s jeweler, making each piece cohesive, without making them uniform. “Seeing my finished product is always a surprise to me on some level. Though expecting nothing specific, I'm still astonished, and usually pleased, at getting the unexpected. One of the best things about a freeassociation process is the fun of analyzing the 'meaning' of the composition in retrospect. Hindsight is 20/20, or, if not, it at least makes a juicily-outlandish reading seem almost plausible.” Her items can be purchased on Etsy, and you can visit her site: www.klewism.com
-M. O.
1. Lace Body Suit, $24, oli.co.uk/ 2. Tiger Knit Body Suit, $15, Forever 21/ 3. Lisa Marie Fernandez The Leigh Maillot, $445, net-a-porter.com/ 4. Halle Body Suit, $53, generalplants.com.au/ 5. Rose Print Body Suit, $19, newlook.co.uk
1, Mixed Chain Necklace, $8.80, Forever 21/ 2. Mike and Chris Trevor studded leather vest, $805/ 3. Spike Combat Glasses, $148/4. Draped Cross Pendant Necklace, $5.80, Forever 21, 5. Stud Trim Belt, $9.80, Forever 21/6. Studded Metal Clutch, $625, Kirna Zabete,/7. Philippe Audibert $620/8. Azzedine Alaia $1,826/9. Alexander McQueen studded skull ring, $217/10. Jeweled Zip Front skirt $11, Forever 21/11. Kat Von D Painted Love Lipstick. $18
Sylvia Lizarraga ―I grew up in Eagle Rock, Los Angeles as a young artist always ditching class to draw,‖ Sylvia Lizarraga revealed of her early love for art, ―also staying in my art class through lunch break. I have always wanted to perfect seeing every single attribute in an object rather than seeing it as a whole. This helps me learn to change my visual perception of every object I subconsciously dissect, and study.‖ The L.A. native, horror movie buff, ―modern-hippie‖ mom is an artist‘s artist. Not only does she manage to capture the very essence of her collections in each piece but she fully understands the importance of creating art by your very own aesthetic, a virtue that is displayed in her body of work. When it comes to critics and how they can affect an artist, she quotes a close friend of hers, ―First in all essence – NO real artist has learned or has been intelligibly enriched by these critics. It is a fundamental shame that these so called critics are the excrement in the afterbirth of ART.‖ A sentiment that, in an age where art is torn apart for a living, is inspiring to say the least. Instead of cowering behind half-concocted collections, she allows her concepts to shine through and shares them fearlessly. Over time she has developed a love for oil paints over the acrylic paints she started out using and had used for years, as well as switching from canvas to wood. ―I once had a friend, who is a master painter and he told me if you want your artwork to last then paint on an organic surface, so my choice is wood. He also mentioned moths eat canvas, and no real masterpiece will be remembered if bugs are eating your artwork.‖ In her work she makes it clear to us that she is particularly drawn to eyes, and the female form. Eyes are the window to your soul and she isn‘t afraid to try and explore that. She seems to be connected to the darker side of art, Gothic, Outsider, and Classic Renaissance shines through each stroke.
“Art is everywhere guiding me through life, and can guide you to if you let it. I believe everyone is born with some sort of natural talent whether it's in the arts or music, poetry, sports, even the art of business careers, or even being a good mother/father to your children,‖ Sylvia declares honestly, ―Natural talent is your calling, and if you let it just dissipate as time passes you by, then most likely you'll look back as I have, and have regrets for not starting to do something with it sooner. I am trying to push forward in hopes of creating nothing but my best in the year ahead of me, someday even make gallery worthy art, as some of my fellow artist have successfully accomplished.‖
**Sylvia Lizarraga‘s work will be worldwide before you know it, her art inspiring millions as it has inspired me. She was gracious enough to allow us to use her Geisha Collection in the issue. And with that, I present…Sylvia Lizarraga‘s Geisha Collection:
Silver Shoes, Sailor Moon, and How Loving What‘s on My Skin Helped Me Love What‘s in It At the age of twelve, I entered the Catholic school system. After years of wearing whatever I wanted, suddenly I was presented with a dress code that didn‘t just involve ―no hats, make sure your underwear isn‘t showing, and for the Love of God, if you have a tattoo, we don‘t want to know‖. Khaki or blue trousers, certain sorts of polo shirts, minimal jewelry, and hair that was not in any way ―unusual‖—I remember one girl with multiple braids in her hair being chastised for it a year later by another teacher who was astonished she hadn‘t been punished for it—was out of the question. But the rule for shoes was interesting; it more or less simply said that sandals, flip-flops, and high-heels were not allowed. So I went in my Catholic School Outfit to my classes— with shining metallic silver sneakers on. (Before you snicker too much, I do remind you that it was the late 90‘s; look back at some of the things the Spice Girls wore, and put it in that context.) Perhaps surprisingly, none of the authority figures objected to it. In retrospect, I think it was because they knew that I was having a hard time fitting in; there was one class per grade in that small, Catholic school, and the class I entered was a very, very cliquish one. I had the misfortune to be smart and unused to viewing anyone in any clique as ―better‖ than me, and that did not go well for fitting into a group that nearly had a caste system. The members of that class, though—and the one above us—didn‘t let the shoes pass so easily. They were one of many things I liked that, once found out, because ways to insult or tease me; one older boy in particular for years after shrieked, ―Sailor Moon!‖ at me on sight, upon learning I enjoyed the anime. Most of the girls within my own class giggled and pointed at the shoes, and the ones more inclined to bullying made remarks. My parents raised me to not care what others think, especially those who are bullies, but I was still 12; soon enough the shoes found their way into the back of my closet. I don‘t actually know what happened to them, and that- saddens me, in a way. They were comfortable, it must be said, but they also just made me happy; it reminded me of Dorothy‘s silver slippers in The Wizard of Oz, and I thought they were beautiful. Eventually, I entered the realm of being able to wear mostly what I wanted again, years older and somewhat wiser. The problem then, I began to realize, was that very little of what the sales-women informed me (and my poor parents, who tried to buy me clothing as gifts) was ―in‖ was attractive to my eyes. For a while, I tried to mix what was ―in‖ with what I liked, and I suppose it worked well enough.
Thankfully, a few years later yet, I‘ve grown out of that, too. My style is mine, and I fully realize that it‘s not one that you‘re going to see in any photos from a runway or Hollywood. Open my closet, and you have jeans, t-shirts, nicely-tailored dress slacks and beautifully cut blouses, long, sweeping skirts, peasant-sleeve shirts, and items that look like they belong in either a fairy tale or another decade. (In the case of my well-loved cavalry coat, I suppose it‘s another century.) Not all of it fits in every situation, and I know it; I may wear the cavalry coat over my dress slacks to something work-related, or an interview, but I certainly won‘t wear my t-shirt that declares, ―Shakespeare Hates Your Emo Poems‖. (For the record, it‘s from Threadless, which is a wonderful shirt company.) But each individual piece is one that I like, and each one will be acceptable into one situation or another, socially. The blouse I end up wearing with my dress-slacks may be a silk tunic that reminds those who look at it of India, but it‘s not inappropriate. No one else may be wearing it, I may be told that it‘s a few years out of date, and I know that. But I also know that I‘ll be comfortable in it, that I won‘t feel like I‘m playing dress-up as someone else, and that anyone who shouts anything mockingly at me over it will just get a laugh. Being comfortable in what you‘re wearing affects your features, your stance; to be frank, most people will look more attractive when they are wearing something they feel is ―them‖, that is comfortable to them, than they will dressed up in the latest style. (And, if you‘re comfortable, that‘s not going to hurt your shots at an interview.) These days, I wear what I want, and I love it. The attitude developed because of clothing, since I was so uncomfortable in so many ―fashionable‖ items, but it spread to all areas. I‘m as proud to watch anime as I am to watch Dr. Who, and I‘ll enjoy talking about the more ridiculous aspects of celebrity news as I will talking about politics, another interest of mine. Learning how to be comfortable with one aspect of yourself, even if it‘s just your clothing, is a step towards learning to be comfortable with all aspects of yourself—your physical features, your likes, your dislikes, and all the rest. So I suppose I, in a way, owe the guy who yelled, ―Sailor Moon!‖ at me a thank-you; he added to my ultimate frustration and pushed me to deciding that I‘d wear what I liked, which spread to comfort with myself in all areas. But I‘m not about to tell him that.
By: Kathleen Snyder
What Came First: The Fashion or The Gays? A Look into the Homosexual Reign Over Fashion ―Oh honey, your ass is a dream in those jeans!‖ The salesman was breathlessly satisfied in his observation. Standing with his arms crossed over his chest, he stared at well – my ass. I craned my neck in the dressing room mirror wanting to see what he saw. I was on a birthday shopping spree trying on an expensive pair of jeans that otherwise would have gone not unnoticed but untouched. My salesman was gay, and I bought everything he had to say – literally. Did I walk out of that store financially destitute but rich in my possession of magical denim because of the gay salesman? Or because of the gay salesman? He was convincing regardless, and I still have those same jeans that were purchased over five years ago. They still fit and they still make my ass look like a dream. For that I am forever grateful. It‘s a common assumption that all gay men dress well. All gay men are chic and all gay men yearn to provide scathing yet constructive fashion advice to straight women willing to listen. Where did this stereotype originate? What makes gay men so fashionable? Are they fashionable because they‘re gay or are they gay because they‘re fashionable? And do they ever want to, just once, walk around in baggy sweatpants and an old sweat stained tshirt? Grace had Will. Carrie had Stanford. The list of straight females coupled with male homosexual bestie‘s is a familiar one. I recently read an article solely devoted to one woman‘s relationship with her gay friend, and why every woman needs ―a gay‖ (the author‘s words, not mine). One of the mentioned benefits of having a gay bff was of course fashion. Articles like this coincide with other mediums of pop culture (movies like My Best Friend’s Wedding, TV shows like Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, etc.) in personifying gay men as the most coveted fashion accessory. But the ideal seemingly originated straight from the industry itself. Gay, male fashion designers are both famous and infamous. Tom Ford, Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, just to name a few, are all notable industry giants who also happen to be gay. The notorious Mr. Blackwell set the fashion bar, admonishing those who failed to meet it and applauding those who met it head on in his annual best and worst dressed lists. Gay. Being the Editor-At-Large for Vogue, Andre Leon Talley plays a significant role in the fashion industry. Gay. And Bob Mackie- designed for Cher for God‘s sake, need I say more? Gay men not only dress us, but also set the standard for which we dress. And there goes my baggy sweats and t-shirt idea… A 2005 New York Times article cites several reasons for the gay male dominance in the fashion industry. To begin, women struggle to balance a career with the desire to get married and raise children, unable to invest the time and passion that is essential in getting ahead in the fashion world. This leaves the door open to men, specifically gay men, who may not (or simply cannot) share these same priorities. As time progresses, hopefully opening the minds and hearts of politicians and the people that vote for them, will these priorities take precedence? More simply put, if gay men were able to marry and
-start a family with the same relative ease as straights, would the industry level out? For In this same article Tom Ford is quoted as saying that gay men are better suited (no pun intended) to design fashion for women. ―Of course there are many more gay male designers, I think we are more objective. We don‘t come with the baggage of hating certain parts of our bodies.‖ The article goes on to reason that women are more open to the fashion suggestions of gay men because gay men are less threatening than women. Women view other women as competition while there is no competition with gay men. This does not mean there aren‘t successful female designers (um hellooooo, Stella, Donna, and of course Coco). Some would argue that women designers are more capable of dressing women than men (gay or not) because they understand the female body and the insecurities that come with it. The thought is that women designers can better disguise one‘s physical hang-ups, while a male designer will simply create pieces regardless of what they do or don‘t do for saddlebags and cellulite. My designer of choice is male, and straight (I‘m looking at you Ralph…). One would surmise from the above statements - that a gay man designs with a fantasy of how a woman WANTS to look, and women design more pragmatically, with the thought of making a woman look her best regardless of her insecurities – that there is little room left for the fashion inspiration of a straight, male designer. But Mr. Lauren has yet to send a belted burlap sack down the runway so I have confidence that at least some of them know what they‘re doing. Perhaps it‘s the industry itself that welcomes gay men. Lacking in homophobia, gay men feel they are not only accepted but appreciated. They can strive, they can succeed, and they can be open about who they are. Now this is not to say that gay men should seek out fashion for the sole reason that they will be accepted. Nor is this to say that fashion is the only industry that will accept them. But if there is a certain level of comfort and acceptance, then it‘s popularity can be understood. Not only understood but hopefully applauded and relished. If couture is what makes gay men happy, then congratulations to them. If they have found a niche that is all their own, a market that they‘ve got cornered, that‘s even better. One can only hope that some day we all will feel the same happiness and contentment of a gay man at Fashion Week.
By: Tiffany Kildale
JADE<3 Jade is the type of girl who uses smiley faces in her emails. That characteristic is as sweetly refreshing as her voice. It‘s also the type of attribute that belongs to a girl who claims Beauty and the Beast as her favorite fairy tale. ―Belle isn‘t satisfied with the standard of living and that makes her weird to everyone else. And she loves a beast, even though no one else can see what she sees in him.‖ Like Belle, Jade saw something in herself that no one else saw, which is exactly why she left Pharrell‘s Star Trak label within a year of signing. She wasn‘t satisfied with that position in her career so she struck out on her own. Now Jade is writing and singing what Jade wants to write and sing. Her latest solo ep It’s My Heart, Cookie is endearing and crisp. Listening to her song ―Up And Out‖ inexplicably makes me feel like I‘m on an episode of The Hills (that‘s not intended as an insult, just an observation). The comfort in her voice makes you feel as though you‘ve been listening to her all your life. She sings tales of love and heartbreak with emotional openness. ―I love the concept of songs, which affects me the most. The visual painted makes me so hype I can‘t breathe from excitement! In turn I just want to be a part of that,‖ she says. And while her music doesn‘t mimic her life, it is something that she can admittedly relate to. Her and anyone else who has ever been in a relationship. The motives behind Jade‘s musical ambitions are selfishly driven. ―It wasn‘t ever a conscious thing to me. I just enjoyed it and like everything else in my life, I only did what I enjoyed. I‘ve matured since then,‖ she insists. This coming from the girl who digs Beauty and the Beast and uses smiley‘s in emails. For our sake let‘s hope Jade doesn‘t mature too much. To lose her sweetness would be to lose her appeal and in turn lose herself as an artist. She‘s perfect just as she is.
HEAVY YOUNG HEATHENS If you‘ve ever dreamt of a Barbie, Jesus, Paul McCartney super group, then give a listen to Heavy Young Heathens. The group is made up of brothers Aron and Robert Mardo who, according to their MySpace bio, are not foreign, Vegan, nor do they own iphones. While they don‘t sound like Paul, Jesus, and Barbie (that reminds me, has there ever been a Jesus Barbie? Something to look into…) they do have a definitive indie rock sound that is dizzyingly catchy. Mismatched dreams and poor reading skills helped lead them to that sound. ―We saw an ad when we were kids that said ‗Be a musician.‘ We thought it said, ‗Be a magician‘ so we checked it out. We wound up in a music store and now, here we are… Magic!‖, says Robert Mardo. Their rapid-fire songs are drawn from their own life experiences. Robert shares that the groups most personal song – A Day Lasts Forever #53 – was written about a childhood friend who spent the last 11 years in prison for a crime he was accused of when the two men were teenagers. ―Thinking about all that has happened in my life since he has been locked up, that song poured out in a matter of minutes,‖ Robert claims. And while HYH is inspired by the music that the Mardo brothers listen to, they‘re careful not to let it influence their own musical creations. ―Otherwise, we would be making records that sound like Tammy Wynette albums,‖ explains Robert. A recent album review at music blog Guilt Free Pleasures describes their self-titled album as ―gritty, frenzied, bluesy dance rock‖. As much as I love Ms. Wynette, she needn‘t be gritty or frenzied, so it‘s best we let perfection rest and encourage HYH to keep on with what works. And their sound is working just fine, thankyouverymuch. ―Anytime someone new comes up after a show, or sends us a note that says ‗Your music sounds like nothing else out there‘ or that they have been ‗waiting for a band or record like HYH to come out‘ it really makes our day,‖ says Robert. So check ‗em out kids, and keep on making their day. Their illiteracy is our gain. By: Tiffany Kildale
Max Factor
Miss Jillz seems so sweet when we are working with her, but her music tells a different, much sassier story. While her sound is inventive and embodies the future of her genre, her lyrics are full of brazen attitude. Completely fun and danceable, any iPod is sure to feel incomplete without this hip hop legend of tomorrow‘s sound. Myspace.com/missjillz Name: Miss Jillz aka Lola Maxwell Age: 20 Earliest Memory You Can Recall: Performing at the camel last night for the Sudan charity event.. great line up, great show! Music Inspirations: Eve, Missy Elliott, Outkast, A Tribe Called Quest, MC Lyte, Lauryn Hill, Kanye West, B.I.G., Common, Erykah Badu, Jay Z Fashion Inspirations: Wow I get my fashion inspiration from everywhere pretty much, I wouldn‘t say that I follow trends but I just rock whatever I think is hot, and of course had my little twist to it.. I love shopping at the thrift because you wont find many people with items you found there In three words-What does music mean to you?: Every possible thing Craziest show you can remember? I guess my first real show was my craziest show and that was at my school for this little end of the year freshmen party. I aint really have that much of a fan base at that time because I‘d just started rapping and nobody had really heard my music so all the people that was down in the front partying and shit was my friends. I had two of ‗em on stage with me dancing and acting a fool. I was too nervous *laughs* I had never performed in front of so many people before. But for real I wasn‘t that scared once I got up on the stage and grabbed the mic. I was comfortable after that.. I had students and even teachers rocking out to me. It really blew my mind when one of the instructors came up to me and asked me for a CD *laughs* it was so much fun and I would do it all over again. Best Show? My best show so far would have to be the one I did last night at The Camel in Richmond, VA.. the crowd was really into it and everybody just had a great time! I got a acquainted with some really cool people (shouts to Rob from No Limitations & Intalek)..
And it wasn‘t just your ordinary hip hop, if there‘s even such a thing. You had rock bands there and poets, and people just bringing different styles to the stage. I loved it! I just wish I had more mixtapes on me to give out! Any Funny Fan moments? I have a friend who says she‘s my biggest fan and is gonna become my biggest stalker when I make it *laughs* like I just got my fifth tattoo and nobody really knew how many I had, except for her, because I only show two or three of them. So when somebody asked me how many I had she didn‘t even give me a chance to respond she yelled out ―FIVE! I know everything about Miss Jillz, I‘m her biggest fan!‖ it was crazy and funny at the same time *laughs* How do you connect with fans? Any way possible really.. either they hit me up or I hit them up on Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, YouTube, Grungecake, or whatever site I‘m on. I personally think I'm rather ―dry‖ when it comes to making video blogs so I try to add special effects to the ones that I make. I mean I'm not a ―dry‖ person, I just get lazy sometimes. I make sure my fans are appreciated and loved, I tell them all the time how grateful and appreciative I am of them. They‘re the best! Any pre/post show rituals? Not really, I just take some deep breaths and tell myself ―I got this!‖ When did you realize and/or decide music was your future? About two years ago. I've loved my music entire life and I was always a good writer so I just put one and two together. I also love creating something from nothing so I‘m going to eventually learn how to make my own beats. I‘m a kind of do-ityourself kind of chick. What were the deciding factors? I‘m an artist and I always have the urge to express myself and for others to take notice. I love to perform and the adrenaline that I get when I‘m up on the stage with those spot lights. It‘s my passion and nothing comes between me and my passion. One thing people don‘t know about you? I‘m shy *laughs* a lot of people don‘t believe for some reason, but I am. Well I am at least when I'm not that comfortable in my surroundings or with people I don‘t really know or getting to know. My shyness is wearing off slowly but surely, though. Can‘t have it in the entertaining industry!
One thing you‘ve always wanted to try: Graffiti.. it‘s a beautiful thing! I‘m gonna have somebody come in and spray paint my entire room in graffiti. What do you hope to accomplish in the next 5 years? Living my dream! It‘s not even my dream it‘s my reality. I‘m just waiting for it to unfold before my eyes. It‘s your last day on earth- Give us a 5 song playlist that you‘d go out with: B.I.G. – Juicy, A Tribe Called Quest – Check the Rhyme, Bill Lee – Nola Vocals, Apple Juice Kid ft. Yahzarah and Raheem DeVaughn, and UGK – Int‘l Players Anthem Any regrets? I don‘t believe in regrets, everything happens for a reason. Words to live by: [*Stay Fabulous*] By: Steph Gibbs
Keep Talking Le Corps Mince de Francoise are an all girl group taking techno-pop by storm; with their otherworldly sound and quirky-cool lyrics, songs like Cool and Bored are guaranteed to become famed hipster anthems. Hailing from Finland, the girl‘s pop and grunge infused beats make them an absolute staple on dance floors everywhere from down the street to across the globe. And they prove to be just as loveable as their fast paced music; who doesn‘t love a group who shared the same Spice Girl‘s obsessions as they did in the late ‗90s? One thing is for sure, they could sing forever, and we would listen. Myspace.com/lecorpsmincedefrancoise Names & Ages: I am Emma, 20 years old. My little sister Mia is 18, and our keyboard player Malin is 21 First song/band/genre you can remember completely loving: Pop music. Must have been Snap!, Prodigy, and Leyla K as a kid. Also Smashing Pumpkins and Nirvana had a huge impact on me in the 90s. Not to mention BSB (Backstreet Boys) and Spice Girls. When did you start singing/playing? I got my first guitar as a birthday present when I turned 13. I never bothered to learn any other artists songs, so I just wrote own ones. Musical Inspirations: The Orb, Hot Chip, Talking Heads, Metronomy, and then everything new and fresh as for example, Cocknbullkid, Ladyhawk, La Roux, Crystal Fighters... New age, love&nature What do you love most about being a part of the group? Meeting lots of new people, writing music, getting lots of love In your opinion, what group/artist has made the biggest impact on music universally? Talking Heads vs. CSS Define your musical style in a phrase: Experimental pop
Describe your fashion styles in a sentence: New age 90s grunge comeback with a touch of Balkan romantics Style Icons: Kurt [Cobain] &Courtney [Love] Your take on the connection of music and fashion: Optimal situation is when you don't follow fashion, because fashion follows you. Biggest turn on? Good charisma Biggest turn off? Acting more stupid than you actually are. On the road: Radio or iPod? I listen to Radio when the other girls listen to their iPods. I like to sit and chat with our tour manager and driver. Where do you see the group in 5 years? Something I could live on Best experience you recall with the group: Playing for lots and lots of people in Shepherds Bush empire at the NME awards show. Also playing live on the catwalk at Louvre during Paris fashion week at the JCDC show. 1 thing you'd never leave home without: My phone, I like to be reached wherever I go Any life philosophies? Just talk less and do more -Steph Gibbs
Ólöf Arnalds The voices that become legendary are the voices that stick with you, affecting you more and more with each song and never letting up, as if they‘d made a vow to do so when you pressed play. Ólöf Arnalds, the Icelandic talent, is future legend material. Her voice embraces your mind, even in another language the tone in which she sings is hard to ignore. She favors Feist, audibly, but instead of it being annoyingly similar, you welcome the comparison and you follow it throughout the songs with glee and curiosity. As a touring member of Múm since 2003, she‘s been singing for a while. She studied composition and new media at the Iceland Academy of the Arts, from 2002-2006, releasing her debut album just one short year later. She‘s been working on her sophomore effort, Ókídóki, due out in spring 2010, and her first album Við Og Við is seeing its U.S. release 1.12.10. If that’s how our year starts, it sure to be a great one.
By: Emmy Owens
The Help Movement Calling these talented British kids‘ music ―feverishly catchy‖ just wouldn‘t do it any justice. They personify ―feverishly catchy‖ and run with it like their whole existence depends on it. I‘m talking of course about The Help Movement, who in their own words ―makes music from a bedroom in Tunbridge Wells.‖ In speaking to them I‘ve come to realize that they are as charming as they are brilliant. With THM there‘s no disclaimer. No need to defend…no need to go “Oh well, the music isn’t that good but they have so much personality.” You can‘t chalk that up to true talent, and something that seems to be a rarity these days, PURE FUN. They look like they‘re enjoying every moment, and their songs only get better. No pretention and no pretense, they‘ve weaved their way into our hearts. With their new EP scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2010, it doesn‘t seem like they have any plans to leave. Did you always know you wanted to do music? D: Yeah, for me music's always been the most important thing. Does the music you listen to affect the music you make? D: We listen to a lot of different types of music. I'm not sure any of it goes as far as 'affecting' the music we make, but there's inspiration to be found everywhere. What‘s your best live performance memory? D: Playing the last date of our first tour, everything went well, the crowd was amazing! The tour had been so good but it was also sad that it was finishing. What‘s your worst live performance memory? D: Playing a date in Cardiff, Wales, on the same tour, someone got fed up with me talking, and shouted 'BORING!'. I stared at this bloke for the rest of the gig, really eyeballing him, it ruined the last two songs for me. Afterwards I asked Max, our bass player if he was annoyed too; it turns out that the angry heckler wasn't the bloke in the crowd but John who plays guitar and keys just joking around! How's that for communication? Do all of your songs mimic personal life experience? D: A lot of our songs have reference to real life, and sometimes real life is exaggerated. They're all honest. Which song is the most personal to you? D: They're all personal. But 'Earthquake' probably, I wrote it on a beautiful guitar whilst staying with a friend in New York. The ones on the EP out early 2010 are more personal now.
What has the response been to your music so far? D: Good I think! Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;re still in the process of getting people to listen to us but it's all been positive so far. It's so nice when people get in contact to say how much they like our music, makes it all worthwhile. Out of The Pope, The Queen of England, and a deaf hamster, who would you like collaborate on an entire album with and why? D: The Queen definitely, just to sample those Corgis By: Emmy Owens
Greatest Albums of the Decade In ten years, so many artists have had their highs and lows, came in and came out, and built themselves up and been broken down. We compiled a list of the greatest albums, of any genre, of the decade. As subjective as the list is, there are a few that are just undeniable. No Name Face—Lifehouse (2000) The Marshall Mathers LP - Eminem (2000) Hybrid Theory – Linkin Park (2000) Stankonia – Outkast (2000) M!ssundaztood - Pink (2001) Songs About Jane – Maroon 5 (2002) Up The Bracket – The Libertines (2002) Songs for the Deaf – Queens of the Stone Age (2002) Fly Or Die – N.E.R.D. (2003) The Black Album – Jay-Z (2003) Permission To Land – The Darkness (2003) Get Rich Or Die Tryin‘ – 50 Cent – (2003) Frank – Amy Winehouse (2003) The College Dropout – Kanye West (2004) Funeral – Arcade Fire (2004) We R In Need of A Musical Revolution - Esthero (2004) Love. Angel. Music. Baby. – Gwen Stefani (2004) Oral Fixation – Shakira (2005) The B Coming – Beanie Sigel (2005) How To Save A Life – The Fray (2005) The Documentary - The Game (2005) Confessions on a Dance Floor – Madonna (2005) Arular – M.I.A. – (2005) X&Y – Coldplay (2006) Sam‘s Town – The Killers (2006) St. Elsewhere – Gnarls Barkley (2006) Future Sex Love Sounds – Justin Timberlake (2006) Stadium Arcadium – Red Hot Chilli Peppers (2006) Once Again – John Legend (2006) Gulag Orkestar – Beirut (2006) B-Day – Beyonce (2006) The Reminder – Feist (2007) Love VS Hate – The Dream (2007) Icky Thump – The White Stripes (2007) Bring Me Your Love – City and Colour (2008) 808‘s and Heartbreak – Kanye West (2008) Tha Carter III – Lil Wayne (2008) Feed The Animals – Girl Talk (2008) Terra Incognita – Juliette Lewis (2009) Black Gives Way to Blue – Alice in Chains (2009)