INSPIRER MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2012
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MUSIC
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GIRL TALK BY: KORY WOODARD
AS BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING MAJOR IN COLLEGE, YOU NEVER
would have thought that Gregg Gillis would turn out to be the hit musician with an ever-growing fan base. However after experimenting with deejaying while a student in high school, Gillis became heavily interested in music. While studying engineering in the college setting, he went on to start the project we all know him for today - Girl Talk. As the number of his fans grew, so did his interest in music and experimenting with different things. In May 2007, Gillis went on to quit his engineering job and begin to focus on Girl Talk and music. Since then Girl Talk has gained even more popularity than you could imagine. In 2008, he was heavily featured in RiP!: A Remix Manifesto. Gillis has also released several albums and been featured in all kinds of magazines. I got the chance to interview him last week about his work, the name, and what is to come later this year.
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What inspired you to get into the music business?
Um, well I guess when I started doing music it wasn’t really a part of any sort of business. I mean, I was doing bands when I was fourteen and fifteen years old. More or less for fun. Probably did music for about ten years before I made any bit of money at all. So I think back then, I was young and I wasn’t traditionally trained on any musical instrument. So I kind of got into a lot of experimental left field music, a lot of electronic related stuff. I think just seeing bands playing, seeing even a lot of local bands playing, and younger people just kind of doing their thing, especially seeing people do music in nontraditional ways, people who weren’t necessarily playing chords on guitar, that was just kind of mind blowing to me. I really thought I’d be a part of that. So I think that was initially the earliest seed planted and from there it just evolved over the years.
How did you decide on the name ‘girl talk’?
When I started off I was, like I mentioned before, a part of more of an experimental, electronic scene, and I knew I wanted to be doing laptop music. There was a lot of other people doing kind of live material on laptops, and that scene was kind of borderline academic sometimes a little overly stuffy. They had a lot of made up words for band names, so there was a lot of alpha numeric sequences for band names. So, I purposely wanted to be a sore thumb in that scene, and I really wanted to kind of take my love for pop music and have that be a big featured part about this project. I knew that that would annoy some people in that more dry world, so I also wanted to pick a band name that was as pop as possible. I wanted to pick something that would sound like a Disney group. I wanted to pick something that
would just seem like it was mis-booked on a show. Like someone that had accidentally booked something incorrectly. So, I went with Girl Talk, which to me was very distant sounding from a man playing a laptop.
If you weren’t a musician, what would you be doing?
Well, I went to college for biomedical engineering, and I graduated with a degree in that. So, after college I did get a job doing that, and I worked that job for about three years. All the while I was doing college and the Girl Talk project. The music thing kind of took off surprisingly. It was definitely something that I pushed, worked at, definitely nothing I had in the career aspirations. When it took off, I eventually had to quit that job, so I would say if that didn’t happen then I would most likely still be doing engineering work.
What is your favorite type of music to work with?
You know, it changes. I’m definitely a huge rap fan. I’ve been following rap music my entire life, so I’m always very eager to kind of work with the new young rap music coming out. So, I would say that’s always kind of a big part. Even this music now, it’s almost like doing imaginary production for these rappers. Like if I was making beats for them this is what it would be like. Outside of vocals, it varies. Some weeks I’m really motivated to work in sixties psychedellic pop and other weeks I’m really eager to play with ninties electronic radio pop. So yeah, it definitely jumps around. The whole process is kind of trial and error, so the big thing for me is trying to keep it as diverse as possible. So trying to pinpoint one particular sound I like more than the others would definitely be difficult.
Do you have any preperformance rituals?
Yeah, the shows are pretty physical for me, so stretching and kind of limbering up is a big part. I always put at least thirty minutes into stretching. I also wrap my feet in this kind of medical tape because I kick my feet off the ground so much usually they are like hurt or bleeding. It’s something closer to getting ready for an athletic event than a typical concert. Outside of that, I do cover my laptops in serane wrap every show to protect them from like sweat, vomit, beer, blood, and other liquids. I usually spend about thirty minutes putting this serane wrap on the laptops typically while listening to new music that I’m into at the moment.
What is the craziest thing that has ever happened at one of your shows?
Um, I would say I’ve seen every level of nudity. I’ve seen people jump from the crowd onto the stage. I’ve seen people jump from my table into the crowd. I’ve knocked out one of my front teeth one time while playing a show. I’ve seen blood, vomit, all of that. I would say usually the craziest is more when any sort of nudity breaks out.
Who or What do you think changed the music indus10 | inspirer magazine
try the most lately?
In recent years, the biggest development would be the Internet, which is a very vague statement, but [the music industry] changed in so many different ways ranging from file sharing to exchange of ideas. In terms of pop music, it’s hard to pinpoint one thing, but yeah it’s the Internet. It really changed everything, just how people consume and that goes down to blogs, artists, everything. Everything new that exists is exsisting in this Internet geared world, and it’s very different than the way things went down prior, and it’s exciting. I think it’s one of the biggest changes in the world as a whole, beyond music. In terms of music and art, it’s cool to have such a kind of pivotal shift and everything that comes after it is basically like someway a response to that current climate, which is this Internet era.
it’s going to come together, how it’s going to come together, or what it’s going to sound like. A number of ideas and things I want to get to, but definitely eager to get to the point where I can take a little time off the road just cause, like I said, I haven’t done that in a long time. Looking forward to just focusing on making tunes for a minute. You can check out Girl Talk’s latest album right on his website: http://illegal-art.net/girltalk/.
What can we expect from you later this year and next year?
For the rest of this year, I will be touring actively and I’m always kind of developing new material for shows. Me and the people who tour with me are always pushing forward to keep the show moving. I never want the show to be static. I want to be adding new things and and just hyping it up in every way possible. Definitely focused on touring for the rest of the year, and going into next year I’m looking into taking a little time off from the road, which I haven’t really done in about five years. A few projects in mind that I want to get to, which I don’t want to go into any detail just because I don’t know exactly when
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ALBUM REVIEWS
MUSIC
BY: JOSEPH BECKER
YEASAYER FRAGRANT WORLD Zigzagging from the spliced Electronic-Pop of “Fingers Never Bleed” and “Longevity” to the Campy Playground of “Devil and the Deed” Yeasayer has forged a meticulous example of Basement-Pop in their latest album Fragment World. The majority of the boy’s creative efforts seem to be harnessed in the opening act of the album. The second half fails to follow the script of the opening ceremony, causing a majority of it to dangle on the verge of pointless rabble. “Reagan’s Skeleton” is one of the few tunes to have any relative worth with its heavier more grotesque sound, grasping for the attention of the listener. “No Bones,” an example of the less endowed brew, reminds me of to cartoon robots in a heated argument over whose nut is rustier. The band redeems itself of sorts with the final track “Glass of the Microscope” forging a nearly transparent ode to Animal Collective. All in all, I would have to say it was a good effort from Yeasayer, but not a true testament to the talent of the band.
Overall Rating: 2.5/5 DAN DEACON AMERICA Blitzing the ears with a caravan of industrial sound is Dan Deacon’s way of introducing us to his America. The opening track “Guilford Avenue Bridge” harnesses this attitude in it wavy, chaotic opening lamentation. “True Trush” erupts in a sea of dossal tones complimented by Deacon’s arresting vocal charge, which at times sounds like a hedonistic howl. “Prettyboy” grasps the listeners with an Ambient/Minimalist marriage of symphonic euphoria. At times it is as though Dan Deacon has reached into the soul and excavated the cloistered vanities of our perennial youth. Deacon opens his “USA” series with recourse into the realm of Classical music before unleashing a torrent of distorted choral and electronic whimpering ultimately uniting the two is a seamless waltz. “USA II” leaves on a tribal chime with “USA III” picking it up and slowly evolving the song with a parade of instruments. The tune takes on the almost mystical form of a journey for new discoveries and new beginnings. “USA IV” returns us to the industrial mode of which the album first began. America is a truly absorbing and electrifying testament to the majesty of music.
Overall Rating: 4/5
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GO PERISCOPE WASTED YOUTH After you escape the nostalgia of Go Periscopes fall into the grasps of contemporary Pop music, you can help but find yourself enjoying their latest work Wasted Youth. “Burning Out the Sun” and “Wasteland” bring us into the fold of Go Periscope’s intentions with the album. The songs resonate Electro-Pop beats with Florin Merano and Joshua Frazier’s campy vocals. “Black Light Masquerade” is a true testament to the idioms being professed by Djs like David Guetta. The tune squeals into frame on the back of Pop-House before being induced by the synthetic rapping of Semaj Foreman. “Let Me Know” and “Carousel” close out Wasted Youth in the same manner as it began following closely to the mantra of Electro-Pop. I can’t say I am completely sold on this album mainly due to the (unpleasant-at-times) vocals of Merano and Frazier. Besides their vocal shortcomings the boys have a firm grasp of Electronic music and should continue to grow in this realm.
Overall Rating: 3/5
ANGUS STONE BROKEN BRIGHTS Having escaped the clutches of his brother/sister duo Angus and Julia Stone, Angus has put together a solo album entitled Broken Brights. Angus doesn’t much elude the Folk/Grass Roots style he incorporates with Julia in his solo campaign. “River Love” is a prime example of his Grass Roots as he sing of going to San Francisco. In “Broken Brights” and “Bird on the Buffalo” Angus challenges his Folk traditions with wailing electric guitar riffs and solos something many Folk traditionalist crucified Dylan for incorporating so many years ago. Angus in many ways embodies Dylan’s vocals on “Bird on a Buffalo” and “Apprentice of the Rocket Man.” Angus is not short of styles and influences in this album when he takes us aback with his Western charged song “The Blue Door.” Angus serenades the romantics with the sensual “Only a Woman” and “The Wolf and the Butler.” To close things out, Angus reaches out with the raunchy “End of the World.” The song is strangely reminiscent of the Beatle’s “I am a Walrus” with a tangy psychedelic melody and Angus’ slow incandescent vocals. Angus Stone has created something truly wonderful in his solo venture. Unlike so many musicians who are so desperate to be absorbed into the mainstream Angus has kept his feet firm and made his path one of pure and sophisticated music. Angus is truly a gem in a seemingly obscene musical generation.
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
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Who is Milo Greene? They are a multi-talented, five piece indie rock band from Los Angeles, California. You mean Milo Greene isn’t an actual person? No. Milo Greene is a fictional character the band made up in their earlier days to make it look like they had a manager. “No one would talk to us or take us seriously if we were calling on behalf of ourselves, so we made someone up.” Thanks to “Milo Greene” this incredible musically gifted quintet is finally getting the attention they deserve, including landing an opening spot for Saturday at one of the most attended music festivals in the world--Lollapalooza. The band’s debut, self titled album dropped on July 17th with their popular single, “1957”. The song, along with the rest of the album, is full of beautiful harmonies and unbelievable transitions, almost as if the album tells an entire story rather than having separate tracks. For being the band’s first album, I am very impressed at how flawlessly it was written and executed. It’s definitely a must listen for fans of soft folk/indie music. On Saturday, August 4th, I caught up with Robbie Arnett in the 100 degree Chicago Weather at the press tent during Lollapalooza. Robbie is the, well, I don’t even know what to call him. He is one of four vocalists, and he, along with the other four, play just about every instrument, spreading the idea of a “front man” pretty evenly among themselves.
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HOW WAS THE SET THIS MORNING? “We did the early set, the ‘noon-er’. We opened up the festival and when we started there was a pretty good crowd. There was an entrance right by the stage we played and as people poured in they just kind of stayed there and watched us. It was pretty cool.” IS THIS YOUR FIRST LOLLAPALOOZA? “This is actually our first festival! I love Lollapalooza because it’s an array of artists and bands in different genres. It’s just a nice way to open up the music pallet, you know?” WHAT BANDS ARE YOU EXCITED TO SEE? “We played with The War On Drugs last night and I was really excited to see them. I’d love to see Twin Shadow but I don’t know if I’ll be able to. I honestly don’t even know where I am right now, I’m just in awe and I’m so excited to be here.” ARE YOU DOING ANYMORE FESTIVALS THIS YEAR? “We’re just going to be doing a lot of touring in clubs and venues and stuff.
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TELL ME ABOUT YOUR ALBUM THAT WAS JUST RELEASED. “Our self titled came out just a few weeks ago, July 17. We’re just babies and just released our first record. We are experiencing the full length finally out, we spent the last two and a half years making it so it’s been a piece of our life for a long time.” OUR MAGAZINE IS ABOUT WHAT INSPIRES YOU, SO WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO MAKE THIS ALBUM? “A lot of films. We were really inspired by old, classic films like Midnight Cowboy. We got together and we were just watching movies before we made music and we were thinking ‘let’s just find a movie that we love and just compose music to that movie, so that’s kind of how we got together. Once we were vocally getting situated we were listening to bands like Fleetwood Mac and other bands that have a number of vocalists singing because that’s kind of what we do.”
I READ THAT YOU GUYS WERE GOING ON TOUR WITH THE WALKMEN “I’m soooo excited. I’ve been a fan of The Walkmen for a long time so when I found out we were invited to go on tour with them I was so excited. They invited us to come out and we are going to be playing some cities that we’ve never played before so that’s always nice. I’m really excited to see New Orleans, I’ve never been. Hopefully I just don’t die of humidity. But yeah, I’m a big fan of theirs (The Walkmen) and I’m a big fan of their new record so this is huge for me.”
IS THE TOUR NATIONWIDE? “It’s like a US, Midwest, kinda south. So yes. But we’re on a leg of it.” IF YOU COULD TOUR WITH ANY BAND, WHAT BAND WOULD IT BE? “Oh wow, there’s so many. I think for an eclectic bill, probably De La Soul. Wu Tang Clan, if we want to expand our audience a little bit.”
HAVE YOU MET THEM BEFORE? “I haven’t, but they recorded at Bear Creek which is where we did a lot of recording.”
WHAT MESSAGE DOES YOUR BAND LIKE TO SEND TO YOUR FANS? “We really just want everyone to come to see us. We worked really hard on the record and we want everyone to hear it.”
SO YOU BASICALLY KNOW EACH OTHER… “Yeah so when I meet them we can talk about bedrooms. ‘Did you use those sheets, because I used those sheets’. I mean we are basically BFF’s with them. They don’t know it, but they do. They know. I mean we’ve been texting, not really, but kind of.”
HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU GUYS TO COMPLETELY WRITE THE RECORD? “About two and a half years. We’ve been working on it behind the scenes for a really long time. We all came from other bands, so it was like, we’re all going to come together and learn from our past mistakes and
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THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE! “It makes a lot of sense here.”
HOW DOES IT FEEL TO GO FROM BEING A FAN OF LOLLAPALOOZA TO ACTUALLY PLAYING IT? “It’s really amazing. We were just the opening band, pretty much, for the festival and there was a good amount of people there. We saw people come in and they were all sticking with each other and they seemed to really enjoy what they were hearing.”
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR AFTER THIS YEAR? “I think that it will be a big festival year for us. We’d really like to play Coachella. This is our first festival. I went to the traveling Lollapalooza years ago when it was in San Francisco when I was just a fan so this is nuts.”
ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE OUR READERS TO KNOW? “Our fall headlining tour starts in October and we’re touring with The Walkmen starting in September so we just want everyone to come out and have fun with us and see what we’re all about!”
try to find something that inspires us and not have a central lead singer, or focus. We just kind of wanted to blend in and become a three headed monster. Yeah, we really just want to be monsters.”
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NEVER
GOIN’ BACK?
Aaliyah and the controversy of posthumous releases BY: DUSTIN HARKINS
Sunday, August 5, I finished up a game of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD with my friend Matt and checked twitter to see an odd retweet on my timeline. It was a tweet by October’s Very Own, a blogspot run by rapper/singer Drake and his cohorts. “{OVO} Aaliyah ~ Enough Said Feat. Drake: Produced by 40”. Aaliyah? Our Aaliyah? Are you sure? Press play. I mean, how could you not? As the song began, something happened that’s never happened before while just listening to a song. I simultaneously teared up and felt my stomach somersault. The song itself is great, don’t get me wrong. Produced by Noah “40” Shebib, Drake’s go-to producer, the beat is as smooth as the R&B princess’s voice, and Drake’s flow on 40’s production is, well, Drake’s flow on 40’s production. But the scariest part is how well it all fits together. The beat is eerie, with echoing light synths and soft ambient pads, and it makes Aaliyah sound like a ghost hovering around 40 and Drake, occasionally blessing us with her beautiful echoing vocals to the point where we have to miss her even more. It’s such a harsh reminder of the woman we lost way too soon, at the age of 22. It makes the truth sink in yet another time. And it was rumored that there will be a full album of this. The topic of posthumous releases has been lit up with new fire recently, due to the 2012 Coachella performance in which headliners Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg created a hologram of the legendary 2pac to perform with them. While the duo had the approval of Tupac Shakur’s mother, it was still easy to question the morality of their creative decision. It essentially appeared to bring a performer back from the dead, just for the purpose to not only play songs, but to play them with two of the people who he was against at the time of his death. Hardly anyone questions whether or not the new Aaliyah song is good. Most people’s minds are made up. The big question at hand is, “Is it right?” A lot of artists have posthumous albums done, and more times than not, they’re complete misses and seem to be
far from what the artist would do had they continued living. The two biggest exceptions are Life After Death and The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, simply because The Notorious B.I.G. and 2pac both had the albums finished prior to their early deaths. Since then, both rappers have had numerous posthumous releases, all with iffy tracks and collaborators neither would normally work with, but Aaliyah has had none outside of compilations since her 2001 plane crash and death. Websites had reported that a posthumous Aaliyah album was on the way, and that 40 would be producing a majority of the album, with only 2 songs from Aaliyah’s frequent collaborator, producer Timbaland, and none reported with the last piece of the trio, Missy Elliott. However, the family just released a statement saying that the album would not be in the works, and prior to that, Aaliyah’s brother had spoke out saying he doesn’t approve of any posthumous release from her. So how many lines would have been crossed here? Drake’s verse seems to cross plenty of lines. I mean, is an Aaliyah track really the right place to (allegedly) make fun of Chris Brown’s album sales? Should Drake have been on this song at all? Fans have made comments saying such things as “If Aaliyah were alive, she’d have a restraining order against Drake” and “Drake is probably at a Helga level with a gum shrine of Aaliyah in his closet”. That’s all up for debate, along with the idea that Aaliyah would or wouldn’t collaborate with Drake if she were here. This is where the power of music is most evident. It can evoke such strong feeling, it can carry a strong message, and it can even artistically bring those we lost back to life. But at what cost? Is it better to let the music of those who passed on stay at rest? Or should it be released to carry on their legacy? Should anyone but the artist be allowed to profit off of the releases? So many questions come up when the dead are falsely resurrected through music, and the answers can never be found, we can only make them ourselves. So, what do you say?
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AN INTERVIEW WITH
WILLIAM BECKETT
BY: NICOLETTE TABER
Think you know William Beckett? Try again. Times have certainly changed for the twenty-seven year old singer most known as the frontman of former American rock band, The Academy is… Beckett has done pretty well for himself as a solo artist. With his two EP’s Walk the Talk and Winds Will Change released and one more on the way, Beckett appears to be on a roll. I caught up with him on his tour with Hellogoodbye to see how life has been for him since going solo. Do you prefer being a solo artist or being a part of a band? Well, I prefer being a solo artist because I wouldn’t have [gone solo] if I didn’t want that. But, my intention is to have some friends to back me on stage in the future. I’ll have a band, but for now it’s just William Beckett. How has your life been different post-The Academy Is…? Well, I was just talking about this earlier. It’s interesting because the thing about being in a band and touring for as long as we did, I kind of found a comfort zone with my band and crew and I didn’t really venture out much. Being a solo artist, I’m sort of forced into the social circle. I don’t really have a choice or I’ll be all by myself. I’ve made more friends in eight months of being solo than I have in eight years of touring with my band. That’s been one of the bigger differences. What has been your main inspiration on your EPs? There will be a third one in October, and all three of them from the beginning to the end chronicle the arc of a relationship. The moment when you meet someone, you’re totally blown away. The chase begins and everything is charming and attracts you to them. It’s like that honeymoon period. Once you’re with someone for a while, different sides of yourself are exposed and you see more of that person as well. It’s not always what you expect, so things get more challenging and real life sort of sinks in. They’re really about how to keep it together and those moments of desperation and moments of pure happiness…and how I’m perfectly affected by them. That’s what [the EPs] are about. Would you recommend listening to them all together? Yeah, that’s the idea. It’ll be cohesive. Musically, do you think you have changed since TAI? Yeah, definitely. I think that [the music] is different in many ways. But the soul of it, the spirit of it… it’s still me. I wrote all the lyrics for my band. I’m not singing about “baby, get on the dance floor” [laughs] so, not much has changed. That would suck. I don’t think people would come to my shows…or a different type of person would come to my show. Yeah, I mean
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there are certain things that when you’re in a band, it’s like a democratic decision making process. Everyone’s opinions and everyone’s visions are considered. When more than one person is trying to create something, we all have to be on the same page for it in order for it to be successful. When I say successful, I mean getting a finished product that you are proud of and that you love and that you are happy with, not so much necessarily how it sells. When it comes to a point where people aren’t on the same page, and when you write with someone for that long, you get comfortable and you do not challenge yourself as much. It’s that kind of comfort zone thing; it’s a blessing and a curse. I feel like I was creatively in a funk towards the end of that band and being on my own has totally revamped everything. I feel like I am a stronger writer now than I’ve ever been. Did you feel that funk during Fast Times at Barrington high? I feel like it was after that, trying to write for the 4th record. A lot of bullshit with the record label as well happened, as there usually is. I think all of those things factoring in together did it for me. I’m in a better place right now. What made you decide to revisit the Remember Maine songs, since you are playing all of those songs on August 13th? I was thinking of cool ideas for StageIt. I go on it so often I wanted it to be special. It’ll be fun. I have to go over things because it’s been forever since I’ve played that music. After this interview I’m going to be brushing up. I think it’ll be fun and fun for fans. What do you do when you’re not touring? I just stay home. I get enough of the nightlife out [on tour]. When I’m home I just wanna stay home and relax with my family. Watch Netflix, and just chill. Do you believe that Chicago has a strong music scene, and if so, do you think it has benefited you in a way? Sure, definitely. With Fall Out Boy, Plain White T’s and us,
a large part of the scene started there. What I think about any seasonal city is that it aids and fuels the creative process. You’re getting those high contrast environments where you’re outside shoveling through six feet of snow or whatever, and then you’re getting sunburned in 102-degree weather. I feel like those extremes mirror life’s extremes and, for me, I write very much based on my experiences and my perception and perspective. That helps me. I feel like Chicago and New York, and really anywhere in the Midwest, even here in St. Louis, hardens you a bit in a way that could be harnessed creatively. I was just up there for Lollapalooza and it was great to see the vast variety of people there. Have you been to Lollapalooza? No, I’ve always been on tour during it. Hopefully next year I’ll be able to play it. That would be nice. I saw you open for blink-182 a few years ago in a huge outdoor venue. Do you prefer smaller venues or larger venues? I mean, it just depends. On this past tour we’ve played a lot of House of Blues, and frequently played in front of like 1,500 people. In small rooms, it’s kind of easy for what I’m doing. I am talking to the people and sharing that side of me. But, I like doing both. Being solo, I do miss some of my moves, you know? I miss the moves. [laughs] But once I incorporate a band I’ll be able to bring my new moves out. I feel like it’s just a different performance on those large scales. When we were touring with KISS I had to learn how to really sell it. That’s a whole other thing. I feel like I’m pretty adaptable performing in pretty much any situation. Who has been your favorite artist to tour with? KISS? No, not KISS. Was it hard to open for them? No, they liked us. That was great. I mean, KISS is on a whole other level. They’re just legendary and their show is so huge, so that was a good experience. But, I don’t know. This tour that I just did with Relient k, Hellogoodbye, and house of heroes has probably been one of my favorite tours I’ve ever done. The people are amazing and I’ve made friends that I’ll have forever. Finally, where do you see yourself a year from now? On a beach in Maui. [laughs] Um, yeah. I see myself on tour supporting a full-length record. Remember to check out William Beckett’s EPs, Walk the Talk and Winds Will Change!
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BEHIND THE SCENES WITH PHOTOGRAPHER
STEVEN TAYLOR BY: HEATHER HAWKE
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MUSIC
STEVEN TAYLOR HAS MORPHED HIS TWO creative passions of photography and music into one. Starting out attending college for music, he decided that he would focus his passion for music in other areas. Steven is a 25 year old Los Angeles-based self-taught photographer who has captured some of Hollywood’s major musical celebs using both film and digital photography. He has already established a substantial resume for himself working with a range of musical and celebrities persona such as; Common, Snoop Dogg, Incubus, Jordin Sparks, Metronomy, Serena Williams, Pharrell, Bruno Mars and many more. His ultimate goal as an artist is to create honest representations of a vision, and to capture whomever he’s working with in the most sincere way. The photos don’t have to be beautiful for everyone, they just have to be the best in the eyes of the person he’s photographing. “I’ve noticed that the ease of using a digital camera tends to speed the process, leading to lost time with my subject. Film allows me to slow down and be intentional about the shots I’m taking. Instead of firing off hundreds of images, hoping for a few winners, I believe in everything I’m shooting. Not to say every frame will be perfect just because I took
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more time on each shot, but the ratio is always much better. The slow pace and extra time spent shooting allow me to connect with my subjects, which builds confidence on both sides of the camera. I’ve found that that connection is what has the power to produce the perfect image.” -Steven on Film vs. Digital photography
First off, tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Steven Taylor. I’m an American, and am about 5 feet 10 inches tall. If you’ve spoken with my mom, then you already know me as “The Greatest Photographer Ever.” I don’t like hot or cold weather, which is why I like where I live. Oh yeah, and I like where I live.
Before you started doing photography, you were going to school for music. Did any of those classes help you along the way in this industry?
I don’t think any of the classes I took directly helped my career, but I’m glad I experienced some of the college life before pursuing photography. Now I never have to wonder if I missed out on something.
everything--enjoying the time I have here and the I’ve noticed that you have a strong interest abilities I’ve been afforded. I can’t imagine taking in fashion by the way that you dress. Is your ap- life for granted or not giving my dreams my all. It pearance something that you find important to would feel like a waste. your visual representation both as a creative What’s the biggest surprise about working in and a professional? I’ve always been interested in small details in brand- this field? ing–things that most people overlook, but totally complete an image, whether it be an artist’s website or a store’s layout. As a professional, I think it’s important to represent yourself well on every level. As a creative, I believe that feeling great and having confidence helps you produce your best work. It allows you to represent your best self in all mediums.
What has been your biggest hurdle when setting up and working on a shoot?
If I’m not super familiar with my subject, it can be hard to find a connection at first. Given connecting with my subjects is probably the most important part of my creative process, that’s definitely been challenging at points.
How do you deal with not connecting with a client you’re working with?
I think everyone is capable of getting along well. People tend to get caught up in their own worlds and immediate influences, and can have a hard time seeing beyond all that. When someone has that demeanor, it can be hard to feel comfortable enough to find a connection. In my experience, most of us have similar memories of childhood, traveling, or relationships. Once you find that common ground with someone, it makes it easier to open up and start building a relationship. I normally put the actual shooting on hold until we get there.
The story of when you and your friend got to shoot Snoop Dogg is incredible. That you went out and made it happen with persistence and not giving up. What inspires and motivates you? [For the people reading that might not be familiar with that story, you can click this and hear it. http:// tinyurl.com/c285etb] Life is what motivates me. I try to make the most of
I’ve actually never been to this field before... I don’t even really spend a lot of time in fields.
From what I can tell you’re a witty and sarcastic guy, has you sense of humor ever gotten you, or almost lost you a job?
I truly try my best to be respectful of everyone and their personal dispositions. For instance, if I feel like a creative director isn’t in the mood to joke, I’m not going to push his or her buttons. So no, there haven’t been any cases in which that’s harmed my chance of booking a job.
You’re not a “gear driven” photographer and your goal is to create honest representations of a vision, and to capture whomever you’re working with in the most sincere way. You must have a few favorite pictures and photo shoots. What are you favorite ones? This isn’t a cop out, but all of my memories of shooting resonate with me equally, for different reasons. Some people are more outgoing than others, and that’s a blast. But others are more focused, which can be extremely inspiring. All of my work triggers something significant in me that was signature to a particular shoot, so I can’t choose a
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favorite.
Have to ask, if you could have/ had a shoot with anyone dead or alive who would it be? Why?
Jesus Christ. That’s my answer… I’m not cursing at you. I choose him because I have so many questions.
What’s the best and worst part about working in the music/photography industry? Obviously, I’m a big fan of music, and have a lot of respect for the people that make it. I like that I’m able to have some part in their artistic process too, even if it’s small.
Is there a moment that sticks out in your head that made you realize that this is the perfect job for you?
Not really. It’s just something I always enjoyed. I love the interactions I’m able to have with my clients and peers, and I love the pace of living that comes with working for yourself. If I had to give an answer, I’d say realizing I could make this an actual career, not just a hobby, was the moment everything clicked.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned working in this industry? I’ve learned to keep things in perspective.
Lastly, what would you tell other people who want to work in the music/photographer industry?
I’d say good luck. Genuinely. I’m having a blast, and I wish everyone a great time and a ton of success.
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MUSIC
BAND YOU SHOULD KNOW:
BY MORGAN YOUNG
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A follow up quesa different perspective. Numerous tion, most often different messages and underlyused to acquire ing meanings can be found in one more information single three-minute track, crowning than what was previously known. Yoni Wolf as a lyrical genius. Or, in the case of music, the name of Lyrics pushed to the side for a band that takes numerous genres a moment, the band all comes into their arms to create a sound that together to create a whimsical may never be found anywhere else. sound that will have you sucked As if their sound wasn’t interestin within the first few beats. Each ing enough even in itself, the ability track flows beautifully from one that vocalist Jonathan “I just try to make each song “Yoni” Wolf has to envelop say as much as it can say and you into his be as memorable as possible. lyrics is truly outstanding. Try to make it interesting and Rather than make it sound cool; make it following a story line sound good to your ear.” through his words, listeners find themselves to another, with transitions as focusing more on the imagery that’s unique as a voice recording or an found within them. No two songs almost uncomfortable amount of share similar underlying themes or silence. What’s hard to believe sound the same. In fact, the band is the fact that makes it a point to show diversity they are able through their music. to create such “I think each song should have a unique sound its own feeling. If I write two songs through each that have the same feeling to them, track, using init’s just gonna sound like one song. I struments that like to keep it changing,” said Wolf. are commonly When it comes to his writing associated with process, Wolf takes it very seriously modern bands. in order to really appeal to his audi- Keyboards, ence. “I just try to make each song bass, guitars say as much as it can say and be as and light drums memorable as possible. Try to make are heard it interesting and make it sound throughout cool; make it sound good to your their discogear.” How successful he is at this, raphy, never however, is the astounding part. once sounding Take any track on any of their the same. four, soon to be five, full-length Now that album releases and play it loud in we’re well front of a crowded room and each aware of their soul who listens will come out with profound musi-
WHY?
cal ability, let’s take a look at what they have coming up in the near future. October 9th marks the date for their highly anticipated fifth full-length release. Mumps, Etc. already has fans waiting eagerly as they catch a glimpse at already leaked tracks. Along with this, they just put out a six track EP titled Sod in the Seed EP for free download exclusively through Fact Magazine. The EP gives fans a glimpse into what to expect for the upcoming full length, along with easing the level of anticipation. In support of this soon to be released album, WHY? has announced an extensive nearly three month tour traveling all throughout the United States and hitting quite a few dates overseas. Opening performers for the tour include doseone, Serengeti and DJ Sodapop in the United States. A full list of tour dates can be found on their Facebook page.
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MUSIC
top fan TATTOOS by Selma Raković
Tattoos are permanent works of art that help preserve memories, inspire motivation, and showcase the beauty in life. In last month’s issue, Inspirer Magazine hunted around for the top 10 pieces of ink that band members wear on their bodies. From inspirational quotes to their own band logos, a wide variety of artwork with an equally wide variety of meaning was found in abundance on the skin of musicians we look up to the most. This time, however, Inspirer Magazine looked around for ink on fans inspired by these musical figures. The following Top 10 Fan Tattoos list was generated through submissions and random browsing, and it does not even reflect a fraction of the great tribute tattoos out there!
JACK’S MANNEQUIN - “SWIM” Arguably the most quotable lyricist, Andrew McMahon has been spewing out inspiration through his music and life story for years. One of his most popular songs, “Swim,” speaks of the determination needed to overcome challenges in life. When times get tough, one must remember what he or she has to live for and strive to keep going regardless of the waves threatening to drown his or her hopes. The song is bursting with inspiration in every line, and the line “just keep your head above” summarizes the general theme behind the song: keep going.
SET YOUR GOALS - “DON’T LET THIS WIN OVER YOU” Yet another inspirational song with a “keep going” message, “Don’t Let This Win Over You” by Set Your Goals is a text popularly quoted by pop-punk lovers all around. The lyrics speak of standing up even if it means standing alone and never letting anything or anyone defeat one’s determination. The line in the title combined with a swallow whose tradition echoes nicely with the sailor theme of Mutiny!, the album the song comes off of, is a nice tribute to a message of perseverance.
A DAY TO REMEMBER - “HOMESICK” Though A Day To Remember is known for the fan tattoos discussed above, one line that I have only seen tattooed once is a line from “Homesick” that reads “tell dad I’m just fine.” The piece comes with a heartbreaking story of a girl who lost her father to the same genetic defect she is diagnosed with, and it is a beautiful tribute to a lost family member. The tattoo is a connection to her father and a reminder to stay strong for him.
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SMUSE - THE RESISTANCE LOGO English rock sensation MUSE’s fifth studio album, The Resistance, was released as a rejection of conventional methods of the modern music scene in which the band strayed to a more organic method by trying out many new styles. The alien-believing, sci-fi loving masterminds behind the magnificent, galactic sounds put out by MUSE have created a whole new world of music, and the ornate, space-inspired logo that corresponds with the album fits their style nicely. The fan who replicated the intricate album artwork is featured on this list because not only is the piece a tedious one to tattoo and a fascinating one to look at, but it’s a tribute to one of the best bands of all time whose sound is just out of this world. The colourful, galactic honeycomb the fan bears on his leg is a symbol of resistance against the common and the conventional.
A DAY TO REMEMBER - “COLDER THAN MY HEART IF YOU CAN IMAGINE” There are certain bands in the music scene whose themes and messages result in enormous, ever-loyal followings and, consequently, in abundant works of fan ink. When googling “A Day To Remember tattoos,” one will come across hundreds upon hundreds of pieces that quote the inspiration behind lines like “have faith in me,” “I will never falter, I’ll stand my ground,” and “let’s leave no words unspoken and save regrets for the broken.” Another very popular piece is a line from “Colder Than My Heart If You Can Imagine” that reads “heart means everything.” The girl who bears this line in elegant script on her side speaks of the tattoo as a reminder to always follow her heart as a guiding light in life, and the simple three words that make up this inspirational piece strike a powerful message of always trusting oneself.
YELLOWCARD - “SURESHOT” Yellowcard, a band that has survived a roller coaster of ups and downs throughout the years, is commonly referred to when one is in need of a boost. Whether it be the genuine personalities of the members, the energizing melodies in the music, or the inspiration in the lyrics, all aspects of Yellowcard result in an enormous following of fans that have had the band’s records playing their whole lives. The fan with the line “find what you’re following and chase it down” from “Sureshot” got the piece as a reminder to figure out one’s dreams and to follow them endlessly. The text in the piece is written in frontman Ryan Key’s handwriting, and what better way to remind oneself to always stay focused on one’s dreams than to have it written out by the guy who has done so all his life.
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MUSIC REBA - “FANCY” This submission comes from a fan whose tattoo is a tribute to her mother. The line “to thine own self be true” is combined in the piece with another traditional swallow that symbolizes loyalty, faith, and pride. Allison Hamilton, the bearer of the tattoo, says, “This is the tattoo I got for my mother. I got this because I wanted to show my mother that wherever I go, she and the things she’s taught me will be with me. I picked this particular line because my mother has always told me to be true to myself.”
VERSAEMERGE - “STRANGER” The next piece on the list comes from our own Music Director, Morgan! The VersaEmerge-inspired lyric on the back of her neck reads “I can’t fall asleep, but I sure can dream,” and she wears it as a reminder to never stop pursuing her goals in life. She says, “It’s a common misconception that dreams are simply what happens when your body is asleep. This isn’t always the case though, not for me at least. I think one of the most important things you can do for yourself is dream up all the things that would make you the most happy in life and never stop fighting until you’ve dipped into them all. I live for my dreams.” Fall asleep and wake up, but never stop dreaming.
MUSE - “INVINCIBLE” Coming from the British band’s song “Invincible,” the tattooed lyrics that read “together we’re invincible” on this fan’s thigh are broadly interpretable and empowering. The bearer can wear the lyrics as a tribute to a significant other, a family member, a friend, a vision, or a group, and it reminds him or her that one is never alone. With loved ones by one’s side, the world can be taken on and invincibility can be achieved.
AUGUST BURNS RED - “REDEMPTION” A more religious piece, the line tattooed from metal band August Burns Red’s song “Redemption” that reads “Lord, show me the way as I give myself to you. Never let me go. Hold me with your everlasting love.” is combined with the album artwork from Constellations on the fan’s chest. He proudly exhibits his religion on his skin, but the tattoo can be interpreted in different ways. The man hauling the star in the artwork can be representative of overcoming great challenges and burdens in life, and the accompanying text can be related to anything one considers their saving grace or guiding light in life. This spiritual piece is not only inspirational in meaning, but beautiful in appearance.
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CULTURE
CLEAN UP YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PROFILES Make your social media profiles your asset, not your downfall. First, it takes some time to clean up your online image; so, be sure to set your social media profiles to private immediately. Second, they say a picture is worth a thousand words; don’t let your picture be worth a thousand regrests. Say goodbye to the following types of photos: your first keg stand or beer bong, your beer pong triumphs (and essentially any photo in which you’re holding a Solo cup), your entire Spring Break album (enough said!), and any distasteful photos in which you may be scantily clad. Limit the audience for past posts on your Facebook Timelne. Also, be sure to protect your tweets.
BEGIN YOUR INTERNSHIP SEARCH Visit your university’s career center. They will have a list of internships that are available to be completed for credit and possibly some internships that are not for credit. The employees of the career center can also be of a great assistance in helping you narrow down exactly what type of internship that you would like to do. Or, you can investigate internships on your own via Internet if you prefer. Some great online resources for browsing available internships are Internships.com, InternMatch.com, and SimplyHired.com. I suggest that you find at least two to three internships in which you are interested in applying. InternshipRatings.com is a great resource that provides previous interns’ reviews and ratings of a company. Remember to use your judgment and thoroughly read each review. Don’t let one bad review taint your view of the company. One student’s nightmare could always be another student’s dream job.
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START USING LINKEDIN AND BRANDYOURSELF LinkedIn, for those of you that don’t already know, is the world’s largest professional network, composed of over 175 million members. Using LinkedIn is a great way to build upon and engage your current network. It is also a great addition to showcase highlights that may have not made it on your resume. BrandYourself is a free reputation management tool that improves your image through the use of Search Engine Optimization. BrandYourself was co-founded by Pete Kistler because he was unable to get an internship in college because he was being mistaken for a drug dealer on Google. The founders of BrandYourself realized that this problem was probably affecting thousands of people around the world, and they wanted to help assure that a person could control his or her online image. So, how does BrandYourself work? 1) Submit any links you want showing up at the top of Google. 2) Use BrandYourself’s tools to optimize those links so they show up higher. 3) Track your links as they begin to rise and bury unwanted results. Use these tools not only to make yourself a competitive candidate but also to ensure that you are an individual that is relevant and accurately represented.
DO YOUR RESEARCH!
BE CONFIDENT AND DON’T SETTLE!
I cannot stress this point enough. It is essential to learn as much as possible about the companies in which you are interested in applying. Complete a company profile for each company. The company profile should include the company’s history, mission statement and core values, facts about the company’s size and locations, and any programs that the company supports or has started. It may seem like overkill, but you should also read any noteworthy press releases. If the company has a blog, check it out! A blog can give a great insight into the culture of a company and also reveals what types of people and information in which they are interested. After you complete your company profile, you can tailor your resume and cover letter to suit the position. Also, you can even include any possible questions for the interviewer at the end of your company profile.
Be sure to maintain a positive attitude about the process and to respect your limits. If you are nervous about writing a cover letter or resume or interviewing, remain calm and professional. Use your resources to your greatest advantage! The process may be new to you and a little nerve-racking, but I promise that if you are confident and have put in your best effort, you will be rewarded. Even if you don’t get the internship of your dreams, you will have gained knowledge and experience. You will learn from your mistakes and nail it next time! So, Inspirers, go out there and get it!
BECOME AN INSPIRER Sometimes going to an office may not fit into your busy schedule. If you would prefer an internship where you can work remotely, check out the available positions here at Inspirer.nu Magazine!
MANAGEMENT MARKETING DIRECTOR:
MUSIC DEPARTMENT MUSIC JOURNALIST:
Who is this? As the marketing director for Inspirer Magazine, your main task will be to push our sponsorship program. You will be contacting brands, bands, and more and getting them to participate in this new program. This position requires a lot of dedication and hardwork, as you will be in constant contact with the CEO and Editor In Chief of the magazine. You will be required to put in at least two hours of work daily, and check your assigned email throughout the day. Some marketing / PR experience necessary. One position available
Who is this? Being a Music Journalist for Inspirer is a great position for anyone involved or interested in the industry. Music Journalists are in charge of publishing music news as soon as possible, interviewing bands, live and album reviews. You will also work on new ideas with our Directors and other journalists to come up with content for our website and digital/printed issues. We are looking to diversify this department a little bit, so individuals with music interests outside of hardcore, pop punk, and indie genres are encouraged to apply! 4 positions available
NEWS DEPARTMENT NEWS JOURNALIST:
CULTURE DEPARTMENT CULTURE JOURNALIST:
Who is this? Being a News Journalist gives you the opportunity to cover and write about current events pertaining to, but not limitied to, politics, organizations, current events and cultures and also be able to give all the viewers updates as soon as possible. This is a new department, so we’re hiring interns ASAP. 5 positions available
Who is this? Being a Culture Journalist for Inspirer is a fun experience and also a great job to have. The Culture department consists of sports, film/TV, books, photography, art, and travel/places. Whichever facet of our Culture department you choose, you are in charge of writing articles per week in that column. You may be selected to write a certain article, but you may write freelance as well! You are credited for all of your work, and our goal is to create a viewer’s list for you alone. 4 positions available
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FASHION
MAEGHAN PURDY ON
AVNI FASHIONS:
ECO-FRIENDLY BEAUTY BY COLLEEN SCOTT
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R
ecently, I had the opportunity to attend a meet up in Boston revolving around Boston Fashion Week, taking place at the end of September. I shook a few hands, made some idle chit chat, and collected a few business cards from designers and stylists. Over the course of the evening, I happened to bump into Maeghan Purdy, Marketing and Sales Lead for Avni Fashions, based in Boston. Everything about Maeghan was amazing. She carried herself like a movie star; was an excellent conversationalist, and wore a piece of Avni’s design collection as if fresh off the runway. I was smitten. Maeghan, being the true business woman and pro that she is, sold me on Avni Fashions in no time flat. Between the owner herself, her beautiful designs, eco-friendly
line and use of bamboo (yes, actual bamboo-treated in a specific way then used in the design process) she had me at go. She was an absolute delight to interview, and I hope you enjoy her as much as I did. Here is what she has to say about her life as a designer for an emerging design house, her life in Maine, living in Boston, Avni herself-and making it all work.
concentration in Merchandising. Long degree name, but essentially, it’s a business degree focused on the fashion industry. I’ll be the first to say, I am a terrible artist, but I still attempt to sketch outfits or collections I dream about.
Where did you grow up? Where did you attend college?
Growing up in Maine, I didn’t come across too many fashionable people in which to draw inspiration from. But what I did see was beautiful colors and scenery unmatched to any beach, park, or garden out there. I love color, texture, and unexpected pops of detail on a garment. My roots in Maine helped me develop my own personal style and my character. My love of fashion came from shopping with my mother. I loved feeling all the fabrics, knowing what they were made from, and styling with what I already had and new pieces to make a completely different outfit.
Believe it or not, I grew up in Maine. Ever since I was young, I knew I was a city girl at heart and Boston was where I wanted to be. I went to Framingham State University in Framingham, MA. I graduated Cum Laude with a B.S. in Fashion Design and Retailing with a
Where did you get your love of fashion?
What is your role at Avni Fashion? My title at Avni Fashion is Marketing and Sales Lead. We’re still a fairly new company, so it was just Avni and I for a long time. We have since hired one part-time employee, as well as interns. In hiring new people, I’ve been able to delegate projects more so I’m not taking on everything, but I still have my hand or at least my input in all Avni Fashion operations. What are some of your day-to-day responsibilities? Well right now, we are in the midst of planning and coordinating our Boston Fashion Week runway show. A lot of planning and meetings are going on, research, sample production, finalizing, etc. I’m also working on a lot of wholesale orders. We do trade shows that promote our brand and bring boutique buyers from all over the US to be able to see our garments first hand. When their orders are ready, I’m doing a lot of logistics: seeing where the factory is on making our orders, tracking packages, making
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FASHION sure everything is correct, talking directly with buyers so they know my voice and can call me if any issues arise. Building relationships with buyers is top priority at Avni Fashion. Please tell me about Avni. Born and raised in India, Avni Trivedi spent her formative years immersed in the rich history, vibrant fashion and beautiful art of Indian culture. From a young age, the crafts of local artisans fascinated Avni, who fell in love with the handmade fabrics she scouted out at artisan fairs in the villages of Gujarat. As she learned commerce from her grandfather, who headed a textile research unit, and ingenuity from her mother, a successful entrepreneur in India’s fashion industry, the young Avni began designing clothes from local handmade fabrics as a hobby. Avni continued pursuing that hobby as she studied business, relocated to the United States, and spent five years working for large corporations. In 2010, Avni decided to abandon the
corporate world in order to bring forth her dream, the Avni fashion brand. Avni blends her Eastern heritage with her Western urban aesthetic to create a contemporary cultural connection for women. Each collection is marked by the designer’s signature elegant, wearable silhouettes crafted from those unique, luscious fabrics that are all hand-made by artisans in the small villages of India. What is the inspiration for her designs? There are three things that inspire Avni - culture, music, and people. She is very inspired by folk and artisan culture, including traditional garments and jewelry. She loves to travel and has enjoyed observing cultural nuances in rural India, Egypt, South Korea, China, Japan, Turkey, to name a few. Music has always been a driving force for her imagination and helps formulate the look and feel of every collection. Last, but not the least, is her inspiration from people. She likes to bring out various characteristics of women in her designs. Our Fall/Winter 2012 Warrior Queen collection was inspired by the contrasting aspects of a woman’s personality. The ‘sweet’ and ‘spice’, that makes each woman unique, strong, and passionate. What types of material does she use to create her eco-friendly designs? Avni garments are created from organic and hand woven cotton, organic bamboo, silks, linen, and hand woven wools. We also use blends such as cotton/silk and silk/wool to give a softer feel of the fabric, as well as a feel of elegance. Silk takes our natural dyes the best and most vibrantly. The dyes used in Avni creations are chemically free, using herbs and plants to create colors. Avni’s naturally dyed fabrics are created by urban artisans from Mumbai, who use their talents to create the environmentally friendly fabrics.Cotton and bamboo are more muted and pastel, while wools depend on which color is used, but again, more pastel than the vibrant silks.
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Can you describe the process of her designs- from budding ideas to actual manufacturing? Avni is always sketching, brainstorming, bouncing ideas off of us. Once she is set on a theme or story for the collection, the sketches become more finalized. Avni travels to India about every 6 months to bring sketches to the factory, select fabrics and textures for the collection, and oversee production. Conveniently, Avni’s mother owns and runs our factory in India so it’s more of a mother/daughter team than most would think. Our artisans are constantly testing out new textures and new methods of creating colors from natural materials. Once the collection is finalized, Avni travels back to Boston and the collection is shown on the runway and then sent to our sales reps to be shown at trade shows for wholesale buyers to order and be carried in their stores. That’s always the most exciting part, when the collection receives great reviews from our current buyers and attracts new buyers to our line. Where can consumers buy your products? We have a small retail shop at our corporate HQ at 20 Myrtle Street in Beacon Hill, about a block or so from the State House. We are also carried in several boutiques in New England, as well as a few in Boston. We are also carried all across the United States including Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, and even Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada. Our website is being re-vamped as we speak and will include an e-commerce section in the coming months. Consumers should stay tuned for our upcoming baby wear line that will begin being sold in October! As a fashion journalist, as well as a private consumer, I can tell you this clothing line is worth the price, and worth checking out.
FALL WINTER 2013
PATTERNS FROM THE PAST by Giulia Brandimarti
FASHION
PEASLEY Resembling a twisted teardrop, the kidney-shaped paisley is Iranian origin, but its western name derives from the town of Paisley, in central Scotland. In Persian the design is known as Boteh Jegheh and it has been used in Iran since the Sassanid Dynasty .Imports from the East India Company in the first half of the 17th century made paisley and other Indian patterns popular, and the Company was unable to import enough to meet the demand. It was popular in the European Baltic states between 1700 and 1800 and was thought to be used as a protective charm to ward off evil demons. However, in modern culture, the youth of these countries have used it as a symbol of rebellion. During 60’s Peasly was take to success thanks to Beatles that worn it after a travel in India in 1968. During the same year Gimmo Etro starts a production of precious fabrics. In 1981 Etro launched his first collection, characterized by Peasly texture that will be the ETRO’s trademark. For next winter season Peasley appears on many collection like Stella McCartney one or Dead Meat
ROBERTO CAVALLI
WALL PAPER During 70’s every house was cool because in each room there was an optical world! Geometries and bright colors intertwined creating designs and shapes that fed the sight and mind. Now those cards are gone and those effects can relive them just by looking into a kaleidoscope. The next winter, however, we can relive them through the clothes. As always Miuccia Prada has showed the way forward to this mood and all brands and designers are ready to imitate her.
PRADA
FASHION
BAROQUE For many centuries Baroque has been dispraciated for its opulence, richness. During XX century Baroque has been always drawn up to kitsch, but thanks to some designers, in particular Dolce&Gabbana, this word has been re-enabled in fashion. Flowers are protagonist in this baroque virtuosities through printed textures and embroidery. Sicily represents the point of departure with its traditions and culture giving to the past a new place in present.
DOLCE & GABANNA
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TOUT COURT MOI is an Italian jewelry and accessories brand, with a French name. And that brings out a question mark, i know. The French name is due to a strong passion and family tradition for Paris, and all its beauty, represented fairly in the work of a series of beautiful bijoux and accessories. Every piece of their collections has the spirit of uniqueness. Elevated with the fact that every one of their necklaces and masks are produced by hand, using and recovering vintage items from all across Europe, mix with modern touches from another fashion angle. Who is behind it all? Well, let me introduce you to Enrica Baliviera. Born in Castelfranco, she is the soul of an artist capture in a body, having experienced artin almost every possible way (painting, ceramics, photography) there´s no doubt about her love for art. She attended schools like The Art Institute and Istituto Marangoni, in London but it was as a design consultant that her passion for fashion emerged.
by Penelope Santos
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An interview with Enrica Baliviera herself WHEN DID YOUR INTEREST IN JEWELRY START? My passion for bijoux started when I was young, from a family tradition. It has been a hobby for years and then I started drawing bijoux and accessories for a famous Italian brand. WHEN WAS TOUT COURT MOI CREATED, AND WHY? Tout Court Moi was born in 2010. My aim was creating something new, not commercial or conventional, I wanted to make something unique. YOU FAVORITE PIECE OUT OF ALL YOUR CREATIONS? It is difficult to answer this question because all my creations have their story and they all remind me of something. I like one of my last creations very much: it is a necklace which is particular because of its pendant. It is an experiment and it contains the concept of TOUT COURT MOI. it is a mix of past and future and is all hand-made, from the prototype to the creation of the pendant. WHAT INSPIRES YOU? The styling of the 30’s and 60’s is for me a source of inspiration. When I create a new bijou, I am inspired by the element I’ve chosen and I free my imagination. HOW MANY COLLECTIONS HAVE YOU LAUNCHED? Tout Court Moi is a complete collection. The main part of my accessories does not have a season. In the Winter or in the Summer I make a capsule to integrate my collections and give them a new mood. These pieces are unique, I am always creating something new so, all my pieces are exclusive. WHICH HAS BEEN THE MOST IMPORTANT APPEARANCE FOR THE BRAND? ANY FASHION SHOWS? I attended private events in Venice, Treviso Milan, Florence and Paris. WHAT´S THE NEXT STEP FOR TOUT COURT MOI? My ambition for the future is to increase the Italian and foreign markets.
Today’s Fashion Era by Lexington Dash
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FASHION
Become the inspiration Fashion is timeless in it’s own sense. It has changed from each era becoming more simple to more extravagant as years pass us by. From crazy prints to the more upcoming popular screen prints, is today’s fashion becoming easier to express yourself? With the Indie fashion blooming more and more, we can’t help but to see how screen prints are taking over in the fashion world today. Is it the simple way to show expression, or just the new up and coming style of our era? Nonetheless we can’t help but to run into this new trend on blogs and web sites on the internet. Crazy funky designs and outrageous colors this trend is being seen more and more everyday. We can deffinatly say that the youth has taken over the sophisticated, chic, and classy industry we call “Fashion.” Is this trend here to stay? Or is this just something for this era? The era of “The Wasted Youth.” With fashion blogs becoming more and more popular, it’s becoming easier for new designer to put up there DIY projects for view. This being said it makes it simple for these artist to create easier styles and trends for us bloggers to copy. With vlogs (video blogs) showing us how to create these looks, screen print fashion is nothing more then just an easy way to create a look quicker then heading to your favorite website to order it.
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and show your expression through your fashion Screen print is showing up on the runways as much as we see it on our favorite web sites. Trying to recreate these new looks isn’t as easy as it may seem. It’s not a big hassle trying to draw the image and ironing it on a shirt. This very short time consuming project takes just a few hours to create. Having these one of a kind DIY pieces makes a fashion bloggers obsession to keep producing creations that no one has ever seen before. Most pieces with this new trend that we think might be here for awhile is becoming easier for us to style with. Taking a simple screen printed tank and layering it with a vintage studded jean jacket, becomes a quick outfit for the night life. Most local town bands use this uniquely way to fashion their logos also. The trend is becoming more global faster then we can blink. It seems to the world that the era of the indie kids is here to stay. Having well known labels as Wildfox Couture, ASOS.com, Topman, and H&M it makes it a bit easy for us to buy these inexpensive items, but even harder for us to recreate something that of which we haven’t seen before. It’s all about individuality. Go out there and be creative, try creating a one of a kind look. Layer away, pair it up with some skinny’s. Take the world at hand and show the world what you think fashion is all about. Remember fashion is what you make of it.
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HereJ
FASHION
BY: ELISA VOLTZ
Newly founded in 2011, HereJ is an unique online shop that offers two very different styles in one spot! That is why the founder came up with the brand name HereJ, because all the styles you need, can be found “here”. Reveal your inner fashionista with HereJ’s Peach and Grey Line collection. We had the chance to shoot some pieces of the collection of HereJ, and to interview Jane, the designer and creator of this edgy brand. You will find many different pieces and styles on the website, with very affordable prices. Check out the website to see the entire collections, and shop your favorites for next season!
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Your first name, age, occupation. My name is Jane Kim and I am 28 years old. I am the Founder/creative director of an HeReJ online shopping company. Your favorite designers? Few of my top favorite designers are Stella McCartney , Alexander Wang ,and 3.1 Phillip. I also like and appreciate local designers as well. Your favorite pieces in your collection? It is really too hard to choose be-
cause honestly, I love all the collections in Peach and Grey line. Your inspirations? I get my inspirations from bloggers, fashionista's in the streets, and researching other shops and Web magazine. How do you define your universe? It can get crazy at times, but I think this is what adds the excitement in my life. It's very unexpecting. Favorite materials?
I love to mix and match a lot of my clothings such as knit with woven. Also, prints are really funnn! What drove you to choose fashion design and specifically starting your own design? Ever since I was a young girl, I really enjoyed dressing up my cousins and friends whenever they came over to play at my house. Also, one of my earliest jobs was to be a stylist for a small company and that is when I really realized that this was something I was really good at and enjoyed doing.
Describe your style My style is edgy and fun. I love experimenting with my different combinations of clothings to see what creative and edgy outfit I can create. Layering different fabrics and prints is my thing!
Camera! I take it with me everywhere.
What are you most excited to wear this season ? Wide leg pants or maxi skirt with chiffon blouse and a sexy clutch!
What are other activities you enjoy doing besides designing (art, music, etc)? On my free time, I enjoy taking pictures of anything I feel is beautiful at the moment. It could be a scenery, people, animals, or even just a thing.
You'd never be caught dead wearing ... ? Hmmm...super baggy pants with toe slippers! That's fashion suicide!!LOL!!
Favorite celebrity fashion icon? Sienna Miller, Kate Moss, Lindsay Lohan, Olsen Twins, and the list keeps going on...
One thing you couldn't live without?
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CULTURE
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STRATA
CLOTHING A MODERN CLOTHING LINE OUT OF FLORIDA BY: KARA NIXON
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CULTURE STRATA CLOTHING IS A MODERN CLOTHING COMPANY BASED out of Jacksonville, Florida started by the Rodriguez brothers. I had the pleasure of doing an interview with Jerry Rodriguez, but first I met up with long time friend and hot (cause really he is) surfer, Jason Roy Jones. Jason is the rep for Strata Clothing and he was out in California to surf and look in to getting Strata in some local clothing stores in southern California. Jason and I met up in Huntington Beach to do a small photo shoot with some of the Strata clothing he had brought along. Jason was able to tell me a little more about Jerry and Jason Rodriguez and their clothing company. He told me “I feel good being a part of the team because I like them and feel good about them. They’re just genuine, nice guys, simple as that. They’re not scummy businessmen. They’re young guys with a lot of ambition and huge hearts who deserve every bit of success they get.” It is always good to know there are still people out there who truly care and have big hearts. Jerry and Jason both are active surfers and skaters as well and their line is something awesome to rep in that field. Now what is Strata? In Jerry’s own words, “Strata is a company that combines the best fabrics with artistic ideas to create a style for everyday use. It came about in late 2009 when my brother and I wanted to create a company that focused on fabrics and fits to set us apart from the everyday style that is the norm you see on almost every person. We hopped on a plane to Peru since that’s where the best cotton in the world comes from.” All of their cut and sew is done in Peru, but all of their printing is done in the states at their warehouse (photo provided of their awesome warehouse). Jerry says that for him Strata means feeling good and confident about the way you are dressed whether it’s walking down the street or into your favorite spot. Their logo is the King piece for a reason, Strata means layers and the King piece is a symbol of excellence, so essentially they want to be at the top of our Strata which is clothing. When people look or wear Strata Jerry and Jason want them to see and feel fashion forward, good quality clothes. When asked if he ever saw himself where he is now, Jerry told me “I did. I always knew I wanted to be in clothing, I think it had to do with the creative aspect of it and being able to see something you’ve created on someone completely random that buys it because it’s a good product. That feeling does not compare to anything else.” His favorite piece they have designed is their first pair of jeans because they got the fit and denim fabric right on, first try. Jerry and Jason are inspired by each other. They both feed off of each other with whatever they are doing and they have the exact same vision for the company, which is awesome. When they are not designing, they are out surfing, skating, enjoying music, and thinking of ways to better their company. My favorite question to ask is how do you get inspired when starting a new project. This question always intrigues me because everyone’s answer is different. For Jason and Jerry, looks and fashion from Australia, Europe, and Spain inspire them. Jerry also said, “the plane ride over to begin manufacture is always good inspiration because we’re usually with our closest friends to make it a vacation/business trip.” Their best advice to young artists is “you don’t fail until you give up,” which I really thinking is inspiring. Strata has some awesome things to look forward to things to come. For this Fall/ Winter, they are keeping it simple since they worked really hard on all of their lines for 2013. For next year you can expect baggies and premium walk-shorts with shorter inseams and slimmer leg openings, for summer. For winter, they have five new denim styles ranging from your everyday jean to some of the best denim you have ever felt and seen. Basically, you need to check these guys out. Whether you are an artist, surfer, skater, are in a band, or just see yourself as a regular kid, this clothing company is for you.
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PRESERVING YOUR BODY, WITHOUT DESTROYING IT BY BRANDON KRAMPERT
We have all heard the saying: We are what we eat.
But about the research study conducted in UCLA:
But someone says a bit differently. Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, a professor of neurosurgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA says, “What you eat affects how you think.”
“Gomez-Pinilla and study co-author Rahul Agrawal, a UCLA visiting postdoctoral fellow from India, studied two groups of rats that each consumed a fructose solution as drinking water for six weeks. The second group also received omega-3 fatty acids in the form of flaxseed oil and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which protects against damage to the synapses — the chemical connections between brain cells that enable memory and learning.”
Earlier this year, a rat study from UCLA has came out that concluded that a high diet of fructose corn syrup slows the brain, inhibiting memory and learning. There has been prior research that’s showed the corn bi-product harms the body by its influence in diabetes, obesity, and fatty liver.
The rats were fed standard rat food and trained on a maze twice daily for five days before starting the experimental diet as a matter of conditioning. The UCLA team tested how efficient the rats were able to navigate the maze, which contained numerous holes but only one way to get out. The scientists placed visual landmarks in it to help the rats remember their location and how to get out. "The second group of rats navigated the maze much faster than the rats that did not receive omega-3 fatty acids," Gomez-Pinilla said. "The DHA-deprived animals were slower, and their brains showed a decline in synaptic activity. Their brain cells had trouble signaling each other, disrupting the rats' ability to think clearly and recall the route they'd learned six weeks earlier."
"DHA is essential for synaptic function — The DHA-deprived rats strangely developed signs of resistance to insulin. "Because insulin can penetrate the blood– brain barrier, the hormone may signal neurons to trigger reactions that disrupt learning and cause memory loss," Gomez-Pinilla said.
The U.S. government has subsidized farmers to grow corn for many years for countless products you can produce with corn. Such as today, where people use many of these bi-products in foods as very inexpensive sweeteners in foods. They are present in many processed foods like soft drinks, condiments, baby food, shortening, energy drinks, etc. But not to worry, many companies do in fact offer alternatives.
mez-Pinilla says. "This is the mechanism that makes learning and memory possible. Our bodies can't produce enough DHA, so it must be supplemented through our diet."
Should we be more conscious whenever we go grocery shopping, or pay attention to ingredients in foods or should we be cautious towards what we’re putting in our bodies?
brain cells' ability to transmit signals to one another," Go-
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CULTURE
TIPS FOR COLLEGE GRADUATION BY MONIQUE FREEMON college students, F orthissome will be the last semester
or last two semesters until they have to enter the real world. The anticipation of graduation can be exciting yet tiresome depending on the months between now and then. There is constant count downing, anxiety, nostalgia, nervousness, and a handful of emotions going on at once. In order to take your mind off these emotions, focus on school and make sure you’re ready to graduate. If everything is not checked and double there could be more emotions added on top of the ones you already have if you’re not set to graduate. Even while this is going, try to relax by hanging out with friends, go to the movies or take a small trip away from it all. So here are a few things you should do and should take into consideration before your graduate. Some of the tips are more of a must than a want. The others are just so you can have some last minute fun when you are in college. • Write a polished resume Every job (mostly every job) wants a resume to glance over your experience and skills. If you do have a resume, go to your career services office on campus, and have them look over your resume. They should be able to give you tips or help you polish your resume for job hunting. If
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you don’t have a resume, compile a list of all your jobs probably in the past 5 – 10 years, or since high school. Then write down a list of your skills, your current GPA, classification, address, etc. Also if you have a personal website showing your skills put it at the top. • Finish an internship Most majors at universities are required to have at least one internship before they graduate. The reason is for you to get experience in the field you are going into, so once you get out in the real world you won’t be as surprise when a situation comes up. Not only does an internship do that but it can also open doors for you in that company, earn a letter of recommendation and a hands on experience you can’t learn in a lecture hall. It’s a new experience but it is worth it! • Submit minimum 5 – 10 grad school applications If you do decide to apply to graduate school, make sure your back-up has a back-up. Keep an open mind to various academic programs that you are interested in or that can help you further your experience you learned when you earned your Bachelor’s degree. Even if you don’t get into your first choice, that’s okay. It’s nothing to be ashamed of or sad about, it just means it wasn’t meant for you to go to that school and some-
thing much better will come along. The main idea about this tip is: “Keep your options open.” • Learn to cook To cut down on expenses (if you’re living by yourself), learn to cook to prevent yourself eating out all the time. You’ll save money to save up for something for something more important, and learn to be your own personal chef. • Study Abroad It’s just an idea to think about; it’s also not bad to put on a resume. Study abroad can help you make connections with people from different countries for a lifetime. It will make you a better-rounded person and one who is more in tuned with what is really happening in the world. Dive into the culture that you are experiencing: eat, dance, explore, make new friends, etc. Also keep an opened mind and heart too. • Make sure to take all tests required This ranges from taking the GRE, exit exams, finals etc. The great thing about graduating is… well…graduation. The bad thing testing taking time and your brain being fried. Write down a list of every exam you have to take because missing one can drop your GPA, cause you to not
get into graduate school, or stop you from graduating. • Have about $1,000 saved You don’t to follow this tip but it’s not a bad thing to consider. Save probably about $500 -$1,000 for a rainy day or if you lose your job. Look at it more as a safety fund if anything goes awry in your life. You never know, life loves to give people surprises. • Apply for graduation and pay all fees This is a self-explanatory tip. Pay all your fees, get all of your cords, and APPLY for graduation. If you don’t you have to wait next semester to graduate. Also double check everything from living quarters to examinations done. • Make you take ALL exiting exams Universities require their students to taking Senior Exiting Exams. The exam consists of common knowledge that will help the university to understand what they need to work on and such. Also make sure you check to see if your department (in your major) requires you to take their exiting exam (e.g. and Communication major might have to take a Communication department exiting exam). • Make sure you have a job before you move out There have been people that do this. They have saved up money for an apartment but they don’t have a job. They think that they’ll find one once they get to their destination. Here’s
a hint: it’s the 21st century and we have a shaky job market. Before you move out make sure you have a secure and stable job before you have to live alone.
people can connect with friends after they have graduate. It is a great way to stay in touch with old classmates, favorite professors, close friends, etc.
• Make sure you have an apartment before you move out
• Get an address book and phone numbers
Do NOT…I repeat NOT go to a place where you don’t have a place to live. Real life is not like the movies where you can get an apartment instantly. Also before you move visit the place where you’ll have a permanent residence, because it’s hard to get out of a lease. Make sure you get a place and don’t judge a book by it’s cover. Sometimes ads and website post pictures from years ago where their apartments looked nice. Time changes and places change.
Facebook is become more common for people to contact each other, just don’t forget about the old ways. Before the Internet and social media, there were these inventions called phone/address books. There is one on your phone but what happens if you broke your phone? Or what happens if you don’t have Internet? It can be hours, days, even a week before the cable company can install Internet. The same time that it takes to get Internet might be the
• Create a Facebook account
same amount of time to replace a cellphone. Since landlines work, Believe it or not…some people write down all of your numbers do NOT have a Facebook acin your contacts (on your phone), count. Many people from different just in case something horrible different age groups prefer not to happens you can still keep in have an FB for various reasons. touch. This is more of a temporary Facebook is not just a social site fix and back-up. that is all about drama and inappropriateness, it is a place where
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AUGUSTA NATIONAL
CULTURE
BY: LINDSAY KING
T
he home of the Masters,
mind the 21st century,” Burk
Augusta National Golf
said in an interview with The
Club,
Associated Press. “But it’s
finally has female
a milestone for women in
members for the first time in
business.”
its 80-year
history.
waiting for this,” said the Hall
After increasing at-
“People have been
of Fame golfer Amy Alcott,
tacks over the past decade due
who has played at Augusta
to its all-male membership,the
National as a guest. “Nobody
club announced Monday, Au-
functions well with an
gust 20, 2012 that it had added
ultimatum. I said it would hap-
two female members, former
pen when people least expect
Secretary of State Condo-
it.”
leezza Rice, 57, and Darla D. Moore,
omen have previ-
executive.
W
guests of its 300- plus mem-
58, a South Carolina business Augusta National
ously been allowed to play at the club as
chairman, Billy Payne said
bers, but an individual does
in a statement released by
not apply to belong to Augusta
the club, “This is a joyous
National.
occasion. These accomplished
women share our passion for
are identified by a small com-
the game of golf, and both are well known and respected by our membership.” Payne then went on to say, “This is a significant and positive time in our club’s history and, on behalf of our membership, I wanted to take this opportunity to welcome them and all of our new members into the Augusta National family.”
The club’s exclusion
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of women was the center of
Nancy Lopez feels this is a
public scrutiny, in 2002 and
substantial occasion. “It’s a
yet again this year, with little
big steppingstone for women
concern about the consequenc- in golf and for women in genes from golf’s top players;
eral because of what Augusta
CBS; sponsors; or the PGA
stands for,” Ms. Lopez said.
Tour, which prevents courses
But for Martha Burk, the
who have
change was way
biased membership policies
overdue. “It’s about 10 years
from hosting its tournaments.
too late for the boys to come
into the 20th century, never
Hall of Fame golfer
Prospective members
mittee, and the vetting process can take several years, with those under scrutiny probably unaware they are being sized up for membership and there is a secretive selection process. It’s about time Augusta National has finally caught up with the times and it’s a great occasion not only for women but also for the sport of golf itself.
TOXIC
VISION
BY LAUREN LAVERIA centuries, the fashion inF ordustry has been revolutioniz-
ing and changing trends, designs, and styles for many a person to enjoy. For many, fashion is about being able to express one’s inner personality and self. Most fashion designers could be considered risk takers, and we are proud to introduce Sharon Ehman and her clothing line, Toxic Vision, into
the wonderful world of fashion. Having its roots in Toronto, Sharon personally goes and picks out what materials she will be using for her clothing. Every Sunday night, a new weekly collection goes on sale online, which usually sells out in only a matter of minutes. The garments usually tend to include a lot of leather, studs, lace, and especially, spikes. Every single piece that is hand-crafted is completely unique and truly a one of a kind piece of wearable art. Toxic Vision has dressed celebrities such as Dee Snider, Dave Navarro, Juliette Lewis, Steve Harris, Kat Von D, Poison, Dimmu Borgir and many, many more.
are willing to take a risk in clothing, make an enormous statement, and of course, steal the spotlight. Wearing one of these jaw-dropping pieces will certainly make one feel more confident in themselves, and will definitely make them feel very show-stopping gorgeous. However, not only does Sharon shop for the materials, hand-make the clothing herself, and manage her business perfectly, but she is also her own model for the clothes that she sells. Sharon is an amazing multi-tasker that truly has her customers in mind, as well as having business on the top of her to-do list.
You can check out Sharon and Toxic Vision’s work online at www. toxicvisionstore.com, and you can The pieces that Toxic Vision creates also visit her official Facebook page are most certainly for people who by just typing in “Toxic Vision.”
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CULTURE
LACE BONES & ANTLERS CREATE THE
BEAUTY MARISSA SJOLANDER
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CULTURE
U
sually, artists either work with the beautiful or the darkest of ugly. However, there is a minuscule group that combines the two creating a cutting edge-masterpiece. Char
maine Olivia is one of those artists that can create the biggest to the littlest of art pieces. Merely in her early 20’s she’s already working with the big projects in San Francisco. She’s living up the dream with clients such as Urban Outfitters, Lady Gaga, Hallmark, Volcom Stone, Nylon Magazine, Eyes on Walls, Element, Inked Girls Magazine, Threadless, Bolia, Society6, And of course her own projects. Charmaine’s work includes oil paints, illustration and photography with oils as her very favorite. Her paintings include the inspirations of lace, bones and antlers, skulls, messy hair and of course her ingenious mind. Her newest exhibition “Ritual” is an archetypical feminine look into her spiritual vision. In the exhibition, she displayed a wide plethora of crosses, flowers, broken glass, and of course her large scaled oil painting. The oil portraits displayed beautiful women figures with a dark mystical look. The paintings almost seem to drip off the canvas, but still remain a haunting dreamlike look. Throughout the paintings she adds in tiny mystical symbols, flowers and third eyes added to create a touch of her inner spirit. Charmaine really creates a world of dark beauty that gets more than the average viewer to not only double take, but the inclination to have her work. Most of her work online (http://www.charmaineolivia.com/) is sold out from prints to originals. She obtains such a large range of fans because of how she combines to dark and ugly to the beautiful. Every painting gives you such a strong, haunted feeling of what beauty really is. Beauty isn’t a matter of perfection; it’s the matter of perfect harmony.
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in this issue 8: Dove Shore 11: Emily Stewart 23: http://statusmagonline.com/features/steven-taylor-shooting-stars-april-2012-interview/ 25-26: Steven Taylor 30-32: Provided by fans 37-38: https://www.facebook.com/avni.the.earth 49: Black and white image by Shannon Miller 56-58: Kara Nixon 63: https://www.facebook.com/toxicvisionclothing 64-65: http://www.charmaineolivia.com/portfolio/ photoshoots/ 66-67: Art by Charmaine Olivia All fashion photos unaccounted for were provided by models, journalists, or brands.
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INSPIRER MAGAZINE