EDitor’s letter After the first issue came out, people immediately started asking me what the second issue was going to be like and who was going to be in it. We worked on both the first and second issue simultaneously like The Matrix sequels or something, but we can promise this won’t be shitty like Matrix Revolutions. We took everything about issue one that was good and worked to make it even better this time around. We’re bringing you some of the best artists we could find ranging from people who are just starting out to people who have been making work for years. It’s the same with bands, we’ve covered the spectrum in this issue from newcomers, O-Face, all the way to bands such as DIIV and The Babies. We definitely took the opportunity to take even more chances with this issue and get even weirder. This time around we’ve got a film section, we got weird with the fashion and we even traveled across the world to bring you a tiny bit of European music festival style straight from Germany’s Southside festival. Since issue one, we’ve lost an illustrator, but that ended up being a blessing in disguise as we’ve gained our newest illustrator, Ada. She illustrated a few awesome pieces for this issue including the sprawling map of Brooklyn films. We’ve also been joined by a couple new writers that I’m really excited to have on board. And finally, 1.21 Gigawatts has partnered with Captured Tracks to bring you the mixtape for this issue. For the first issue, we had a launch party at the amazing Kinfolk Studios. It was a fun night featuring art from all of the artists involved in the issue as well as DJ sets from Widowspeak, The Yellow Dogs and Life Size Maps. A few weeks after the release of the first issue, we hosted a blowout warehouse gig at 171 Lombardy that featured 9 bands on two stages including The Babies, Life Size Maps, Island Twins, Grand Resort and more. It was definitely a crazy party, and we’re planning on hosting more gigs in the near future. If you want to keep up to date with any future events that we’re hosting check our Facebook page and our Twitter. All the info will be up there regarding all future events. If you’re into what we’re doing, then it’s only going to get better from here. If you’re not, then whatever, it’s still going to get better but you can just sit in a corner and pout. As I wrap up this letter, I’m sitting here doing work on the third issue and listening to a playlist that consists of Black Flag, Circle Jerks, Sex Pistols, Dead Kennedys and The Ramones. We hope you enjoy this issue as much as the last one! --Danny Krug
The Gigwatts Team Danny Krug
Editor in Chief/Photographer
Brandon Elijah Johnson
Illustrator
Ariel Exposito
Fashion Editor
Dan Lisowski
Layout and Design
Ellie Fallon Web Editor
Pete Marvelli
Associate Editor
Melissa Vance Associate Editor
Tenzing Gyari
Illustrator
Ada Blecher Illustrator
Stephanie Roush
Writer
Nina Mashurova Writer
Megan McCredie
Writer
Bringing You Only The Best Art
4 John stortz 6 Michael Anderson 8 Matthew King 10 Kevin Li 12 Cassie Ramone
Music
16 Ghost Beach 17 Team Spirit 18 o-face 19 hoop dreams 20 Widowspeak 22 diiv 24 the babies
Fashion
28 style comic 32 yo! look at that girl!
Film
14 The brooklyn splice
John Stortz
johnstortz.tumblr.com
John Stortz has an uncanny way of tapping straight into the collective unconscious, which is why his visual art vibes so well with Widowspeak’s music. Stortz’s creations, from the looming tarantulas on the cover of the Gun Shy 7” to the ensemble cast of potential time-travel encounters on the self-titled full length, take you to the same creepy-yet-captivating dreamworlds as Molly Hamilton’s voice. Beyond that, his eponymous tumblr is full of equally dreamy paintings and prints, the coolest of which are his canine prints. Dogs and wolves; living, dead, and somewhere in-between the two; rendered simultaneously realistic and ethereal. We’ve got a couple of those images here, along with some of Stortz’s other work - nouveau nutrition next time you’re looking to feed your head. Nina Mashurova
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chamuconegro.com
Collage is a tricky art form because it can so easily become cheap and kitschy, but that’s not the case with the work of Michael Anderson. His collages, usually made on a large scale, are so intricate and detailed that you can get lost in them. His use of pop culture icons and references allows the audience to connect with the piece easily, pulling them in to examine it further. In a culture that more and more values making art on the streets, it’s refreshing to see someone taking things from the streets and putting them into galleries. Michael regularly displays work all over town with a piece currently up at the Paul Rodgers Gallery (through the end of September) and a solo show called Abstract Street Wallpaper opening on Sept. 7 at Launch F18 in Tribeca. DANNY KRUG
Matthew King is a student at CalArts, but transplanted himself out here for the summer. Among the many mediums he works in, letterpress, collage and printmaking seem to be his main focus. Creating everything from screen print series to collage zines, Matthew has a distinct style that can be simplistic yet meticulously well thought out. His images are eye-catching, not in a bright and bombastic sense, but rather through a sense of disciplined color and image choice. He often opts for little or no color as seen in the “Bad Luck” print series which is a series of black prints on a silver paper or the “Burritos” collage zine that he collaborated on with Carly Stevens which is dark green ink on lime green copy paper. Matt’s style is somewhat reminiscent of the Factory Records artwork of Peter Saville which is a style not seen very often today. DANNY KRUG mattkingdesign.com
Kevin Li thepixelbrush.com
If you’re familiar with 1.21 Gigawatts already then chances are you’ve seen one aspect of Kevin Li’s work. Kevin designed our weird but super cool website. A student at SVA, Kevin also creates other visual art in addition to websites. Kevin has developed an amazingly strong illustration style full of quirkiness and humor. Over the summer, Kevin worked on a project where he took submissions from people of animal drawings they wanted to see and he put his own spin and perspective on these animals ranging from a “British Cheetah” to a “Hippo Sweating Balls.” I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot of great work coming from Kevin in the future and we’re glad he could be a part of this project. DANNY KRUG
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Cassie Ramone is best known as the badass vocalist/guitarist of the Babies and Vivian Girls, but on top of making awesome music, Ramone is also a rad visual artist. If you’ve checked out the album covers for the Babies, La
Cassie Ramone flickr.com/photos/cassieramone/
Sera, or Vivian Girls, you’re already familiar with her work. Cassie’s visual aesthetic carries the same vibes as her music - deceptively simple doodles that can fool you into thinking you could have drawn them in the borders of your high school algebra notebook. But you didn’t. And even if you did, we bet they weren’t as swoon-worthy as Cassie’s. Her work can be seen all over the Internet and in any record shop worth their salt. Nina Mashurova
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The Brooklyn Splice
Through the Fire Eight years and six teams later, we now know that Sebastian Telfair is just a shoot first, career 39 percent field goal shooter. But Through The Fire still illustrates the conundrum that he and other prep-school basketball stars face, the irreversible choice that precludes their realization of the NBA pipe dream. It's easy to see the logic of Telfair's decision to reject Louisville and turn pro, and almost impossible to criticize it. He could and did make a lot of money. But he never quite traded the Coney Island asphalt for top-level hardwood glory. Two Lovers Before Joaquin Phoenix's failed foray into documentary filmmaking, he was a remarkably talented actor with a screen presence reminiscent of a young Brando. Two Lovers may not be great, but Phoenix's performance is. His subtle charisma covers for the script's shortcomings. v(I felt that charisma and "engaging performance" were too similar. Also, describing his quality to me sounds vague. I haven't seen the movie but if you can think of another word that works too.)
Once Upon a Time in America: Leone's sprawling American gangster picture is unfairly overshadowed by The Godfather in popular culture, but there are few films superior in the genre. Get yourself a copy of the far better uncut version, cook a fine meal for the intermission, and have an oldfashioned roadshow. You won't be disappointed. Half Nelson: Ryan Fleck's Half Nelson is why we should all watch movies. Unflinchingly raw and patient, its ambitions are exceeded only by the performances, story and execution. Block Party: We all love Dave Chappelle. Dog Day Afternoon: Two years after they combined on the cop film Serpico, Sidney Lumet and Al Pacino decided to go in the exact opposite direction. As a failed bank robber, Pacino's Sonny cuts an endearingly tragic figure.
Requiem for A Dream: As difficult to watch as it is brilliant, The French Connection Requiem for a Dream is the NathanIf you haven't dreamed of going all Ma- iel Hawthorne of the film world. You rio Kart 64 on the roads below the accept its first-rate execution and imelevated trains, we probably won't be portant subject matter, but you don't friends. want to spend any more time with it than absolutely necessary. [See Letter, Goodfellas The Scarlet] Goodfellas taught America a number of lessons -- that Ray Liotta can be a words by PETE MARVELLI good actor in the right role, that the illustration by ADA BLECHER term "Brooklyn gangster" used to have drastically different implications, that whenever you need money, rob the airport. But foremost among them is this: never, EVER, tell Tommy DeVito to go get his fuckin' shinebox.
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G
host Beach, the New York City based tropical, chill, electro pop duo, has been hitting the NYC music scene with their positive vibes for almost a year. The band consists of Josh Ocean and Eric “Doc” Mendelsohn who have always had a strong background in traditional music but found inspiration within some new musical tools and launched a project using electronic based beats and synthetic sounds. Their name, Ghost Beach, was coined from their producer’s adorable six year old daughter (who they assume retrieved the name from one of R.L. Stine’s Goosebump novels, yet the name still remains a mystery). This year Ghost Beach has created a solid name within NYC’s indie music scene. They have recently
performed at this year’s New Music Seminar, as well as, Pianos, and Brooklyn’s, Glasslands. “Our shows are almost like a live DJ set because we sample sounds and do loops so it’s all integrated in what we do” says Eric Mendelsohn.
Keep an eye out for this talented duo. With two notable remixes under their belt, and a full length record coming out at the end of the year/beginning of next year, they are continuing to produce rhythms that navigate melodic notes for your soul. Their song “Miracle,” which has an 80‘s electro feel, is full of catchy riffs, and singable/fun lyrics, which makes it the quintessential track for summer.
Written by Megan McCredie Photos by Danny Krug Illustrations by Brandon Elijah Johnson
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ccording to Ayad Al-Adhamy, Passion Pit’s keyboardist, his side-project-band Team Spirit “is a fun thing I love to do.” And shouldn’t that be what all bands are? Three summers ago Ayad decided that he wanted to revert to his guitar-playing ways and returned to the Written by Stephanie Roush - Photos by Danny Krug - Illustration by Brandon Elijah Johnson instrument he says he’s best at. He started playing covers of old 50s rock songs which inspired him to start writing songs that contain the trademark boozy pop feel of Team Spirit. After a while he decided to get some friends on board and in March of 2011 the Team Spirit you hear today was born. The band started playing songs, then recording songs, and eventually there was an EP. Ayad emphasizes the band being a group process and described the making of their debut EP as “producing a record as a happy family.” Team Spirit recently released their first music video for their song “Fu** the Beach” from their EP. They enlisted two Swedish filmmakers to create the video after Ayad saw a fan video
the duo produced for a school project with a Passion Pit song. The Team Spirit music video turned out to be a combination between Family Guy and soft core porn, a strangely entertaining concept that the band absolutely loved. Citing the Foo Fighters as his music video idols, Ayad believes that they should be all about having fun. Team Spirit plans to continue the fun they’ve been for the past year and a half with no end in sight. Fulfilling a musical gap in the Brooklyn scene, Ayad says that “there are very few of us who rock anymore.” That being said, Team Spirit contributes more than their fair share of rocking to the scene.
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Written by O-Face and Brandon Elijah Johnson - Photo by Danny Krug - Illustration by Brandon Elijah Johnson
O
-FACE began as shakem bones, which transformed naturally, but briefly into the Vixens until we parted ways and said our good-byes. Seth played guitar; Preston sang. It didn’t last long. Flash-forward 24 months: members Sobottka and Ossman rekindle a lost friendship and begin making music once again. After reflecting upon our troubled past and current, common musical interests (Italo Disco and Wu Tang Clan) we began anew-- we began as O-FACE. Our first band sounded like shit. It was a five piece and Preston sang while Seth played guitar. It was garage and blues rock with no real direction or concepts to reinforce our haphazard, high school sound. Yet, as Preston picked up the guitar, we discovered the potential of our dueling vocals and guitar-work. We have been strongly influenced by 80s rock and disco, but we try and combine other genres and styles such as folk and hip-hop. With this
sentiment, we envisioned a new genre, as smooth as Nate Dogg with a G-Folk twist. Our music continued to evolve once we both left the Pacific Northwest and our home of Whidbey Island to attend Bard College. Having established a set of workable songs, O-FACE became a band with the addition of a live and studio band complete with Dash on synth, Atticus on bass, and the homeboy Clay on drums. Routed in the groove of a group, our material is reaching a fullness that past O-FACE demos by just the two of us lacked. Although our upcoming EP, Shrug Lyf, is the best material the O-FACE duo has produced, the full band material we will release next year will have it a sound distinct from our bedroom mixes. O-FACE is about what matters, not making matters worse, but sometimes we forget the difference. O-FACE is only human.
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ot to be confused with the infamous basketball documentary, Hoop Dreams is a post-punk, shoegaze-esque Blacksburg, VAbased band with deep, dark-infused vocals and repetitive, near-surfy guitar riffs. But make no mistakes—they weren’t making any allusion to the movie when they named the band, but rather referencing their hometown, where the phrase was written on a sidewalk. Concerned with legal issues, the directors of the movie were contacted, but had no objections other than the fact that they thought it was a stupid Written by Ellie Fallon - Photos by Danny Krug - Illustration by Tenzing Gyari ing the subject there was nothing but modest acquiescence; lead singer Max Brooks admits his lure to crooning and a sort of doom vibe with Ian Curtis as one of his leading inspirations. He also lists Elvis and Johnny Cash as influences, although perhaps not as outwardly apparent. With only one single out and a fan base mainly in Blacksburg, there’s nothing much for show attendees to really compare their live act to. Bassisr Jeff Haley comments, “The fact that no one has heard the songs before is kind of a comfortable feeling. No one hears name for a band. Formed in the fall nights. Last summer, they released a the imperfections because they don’t of 2010, they played various shows 7” on Captured Tracks and have since know how they’re supposed to sound.” around Blacksburg, which they claim been playing shows in Virginia and Not for long though, expect a new EP has no music scene aside from guitar- New York every so often. There have out sometime soon. Until then, check ist Tommy Davidson’s basement and been Joy Division comparisons aplenty out Jeff on tour with Wild Nothing and Gillie’s vegetarian restaurant on Friday with Hoop Dreams and upon broach- Tommy’s side project, Dream Cop.
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idowspeak drummer, Michael Stasiak, first worked with singer Molly Hamilton when they were high schoolers in Tacoma, Washington with Michael playing drums on Molly’s cover of “America the Beautiful.” Fast forward to college and Michael and Molly were both going to school in New York. After years and a lot of coaxing, Michael convinced Molly to buy an electric guitar and start a band with him. According to guitarist Robert Thomas, “I knew Michael from school as well, we met doing laundry. He had an awesome T-Rex shirt.” He joined the band when Michael asked him
if he wanted “to come play some sweet guitar hooks for this band with this girls singer.” The band played for two years as a three piece. Although the album has more instrumentation than early live shows did, the band always envisioned the live show being a stripped down, sparse experience. However, because the record had bass, the logical thing was to add a bassist to the live band as well. After trying out a couple different bassists, the band decided on Michael’s Other Music co-worker Pam Garavano-Coolbaugh when she essentially made up a groovy new bass line for “In the Pines.” Despite what the rest of the band says, Pam swears that the bass line she played was already part of the song. Last year, after releasing a couple 7” singles on Captured Tracks, Widowspeak put out their first full-length on the same label. They’ve been touring and playing shows non-stop ever since, but have somehow found time to write and record new songs. These songs were originally meant to come out on an EP, but now it looks as
if they’ve expanded it into a full LP. The band went on their first nationwide tour earlier this year and they’re showing no signs of slowing down. Rob wanted to be sure to throw out there that he wants to go to Japan, so if anyone is looking to have Widowspeak play in Japan, Rob is looking to hang out in Japan. Words and Photos by Danny Krug - Illustrations by Ada Blecher
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Written by Ellie Fallon Photos by Danny Krug Illustrations by Tenzing Gyari
f you’ve been around Brooklyn in the past year or so, it’s almost guaranteed that you’ve seen DIIV play at least once. Forming in late July 2011, the dream-pop band started out as the home recording project of Zachary Cole Smith that eventually became Smith’s main project. Having seen them a few times, it’s interesting to compare the live show, so full of energy, to the aquatic and wavy sound of the music itself. Their new album, Oshin, which came out on Captured Tracks June 26, is so chilled out at times that Smith’s vocals almost blend into the music, creating a relaxing, noisy, nearly instrumental experience. Smith employs what he refers to as a “sonic palette”, the paradigm of two guitars, bass, and drums. The twist on this classic model is the way the guitar leads the song almost completely, leaving the dreamy, faraway vocals as
more or a backup. Starting around last fall, Smith executed a campaign to get their music out that involved playing nearly every show they possibly could. They put out several singles, one right after another, gaining a fan base and recognition in their native Brooklyn as well as amongst the national music community, gaining acknowledgment on sites like Pitchfork, Stereogum, and RCRD LBL shortly after the release of their first single. Then back in May, a huge fuss was made over the change of their name from Dive to DIIV. The name references the Nirvana song, which was a great influence on most aspects of the band, as well as the fact that all of the members of the project are water signs. Smith brushed it off saying, “The content of the project isn’t in the name, it’s just a signifier, and it’s so insignificant.” The band’s sound hasn’t changed with their name, if that’s what fans were concerned about initially, and aside from their music still being the same; their album artwork for Oshin is actually quite reminiscent of one of their earlier 7” Sometime/Corvalis. The covers are both ancient Inuit stone carvings modified by Smith himself, inspired by and a reference to early hardcore bands with their simplicity and minimalism with a bold, iconic look that speaks for itself. As mentioned before, Nirvana is the guiding light of the band. Smith has idolized Kurt Cobain for over ten years and studied all of his journals, taking from them a careful, meticulous process of running the band successfully. DIIV gigs could be compared to Nirvana videos, as they have a similar energy. The band partially attributes the similarities to astrology, “There’s no Pisces in the band, we’re all water signs, and I think that’s why there’s probably the same energy.”
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espite being made up of members of Vivian Girls, Woods and Bossy, The Babies want you to know that they are NOT a side project. To someone not familiar with the Brooklyn music scene this may seem odd, but anyone living here knows that Brooklyn is home to possibly the most incestuous (for lack of a better word) music scenes in the country. Bands here share members and swap members quite often. The seed for the Babies was planted long ago when Kevin Morby was living in a fort in Cassie Ramone’s living room. As Cassie Ramone puts it, “..we sublet the corner [of the living room] to Kevin, the deal basically was ‘You have $300 rent and you get to build your own fort in this huge living room.” It was there that Cassie and Kevin began playing and writing songs together. Shortly thereafter Kevin went on tour with Woods and Cassie went on tour with the Vivian Girls. A year and a half later Kevin ran into Cassie on the way to a party, the
two grabbed beers or as Cassie called them “Road Sodas.” When Kevin suggested they start a band under the same name Road Sodas using some of the songs they had written while living together. Shortly after the band changed their name and The Babies were created. The Babies released their self-titled full length debut last year as well as an EP of acoustic demos titled Cry Along With The Babies. They plan to follow it up this year with a new LP releasing in the Fall. This time around, instead of recording at the Woods house, the band opted to travel across the country and record in a studio in Burbank, California over the course of five days with producer Rob Barbato. Recording over the short time span forced the band to focus more intensely on the recording process instead of recording in bits and pieces and splicing it together. While recording the band all lived in a gigantic loft in
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downtown Los Angeles according to Cassie, “it was so huge and there was nothing in it, there were no doors, only curtains. It was very hippie, communal, one big family kind of vibe.” Live shows from the band have been featuring more and more new songs as of late. Their set is more than 50% songs from the new album while still featuring crowd favorites like “Meet Me in the City” and their usual set closer of “Caroline.” The Babies play around Brooklyn as often as the can it seems, sometimes with multiple shows in a single week, and they also try and make it out to the west coast regularly with a few scattered shows while they
were in Los Angeles recording this year and a West Coast tour earlier this summer as well. The band always delivers a fun and energetic live show getting the crowd to let loose and go a little crazy during their set. Whether the band is playing a Chinese buffet in Rigdewood, Queens or a 1.21 Gigawatts warehouse party, they bring the same amazing energy to the room. The back and forth on stage between Kevin and Cassie makes for a fun dynamic which is boosted even further by the tight rhythm section of Justin Sullivan on drums and Brian Schleyer on bass.
The new LP will be out this November, but until then you can grab a copy of their newest 7” single titled “Moonlight Mile” at your favorite record shop or at one of the band’s gigs.
Words and Photos by Danny Krug Illustrations by Brandon Elijah Johnson and Tenzing Gyari
Look Who’s Talking For A Fourth Time Featuring Ruffeo Hearts Lil Snotty Photos by Danny Krug Styled by Ariel Exposito Makeup by Laura Buck words by dan Lisowski Clothes by Ruffeo Hearts Lil Snotty RHLS.com
First it was talking babies, then it was talking dogs, now your clothes have something to say...
Did you hear that?
Hey wanna grab some choco tacos?
But you’re a pair of pants, you can’t eat choco tacos.
so. we do what we want.
Que pasa meng.
Summer festival fashion is becoming more and more of a thing as festivals keep popping up all over America. However, what do you do when you go to a festival where you expect it to be blazing hot, but it could get muddy and rainy at a moment's notice? That's the challenge presented to festival goers all over Europe every summer. With festivals like Glastonbury known for their crazy rainstorms and knee-high mud you have to be ready for anything. I traveled to Germany where I met up with some friends for the Southside Festival. The girls I met up with have mastered the skill of looking good while keeping it real with their outfits. VĂŠronique packed everything from rain boots and jackets to cut off shorts and tank tops and would change outfits as necessary throughout the day. She would always start the day with shorts and a tank and then add a pair of tights as it got colder at night. Shirts with cut-off sleeves, custom studded denim shorts and a blazer altered in tribute to The XX defined VĂŠro's style for the weekend. Add a pair of comfortable leather boots and you've got a killer festival outfit. DANNY KRUG
Mixtape volume 2 by Captured tracks download your copy at gigawattsmag.com for free
Thanks for the support, you dashing earthling.
Stuff we’re listening to and we think you’ll dig.
Butter the Children - S/T
Diiv - oshin
Want your band or art featured in 1.21 gigs? want to advertise in 1.21 gigs? wanna say what’s up to the people of the mag? shoot us an e-mail at gigawattsmag@gmail.com add us on facebook.com/gigawattsmag Follow us on instagram @gigawattsmag
Island Twins - S/T
Grand Resort - Vanguard Dreams Out 9/4