Absolute Art by McKenzie Finchum

SPRING 2010

MUSE

rD 3ISSUE

Cover inspiration Andy Warholâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Self Portrait Photo By: Khyber McHugh

TABLE OF CONTENts Art Section Art Nation pg 5 Showcase pg 6 Mixed Media Girl pg 17 The Naked Truth pg 18

Photography Section Muses Through Photography pg 20 Artist Spotlights pg 29

Literature Section World Literature pg 32 David Sedaris pg 34 Jack Kerouac pg 34

Fashion Section Into the Blogosphere pg 36 Bare Essentials pg 38

Film Section Film Reviews pg 43

Music Section All in the Mix pg 46 Cassette Culture pg 48 Staff Music Picks pg 54

Ending Section Last Look pg 56

STAff editor in chief assistant Editor Fashion directors FASHION ASSISTANTS

Caitlin Favati ‘10

McKenzie Finchum ‘11 Jennie Park ‘11 Jennie Park ‘11 Olivia Auerbach ‘10

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Abe Selby ‘12

Muses Through Photography

Emily Moore ‘10

Shannon Barge ‘10

Muses Through Photography

Assistance with Cover shoot

Karisa Sukamto ‘11

Alix Ryan ‘11

Viraj Bindra ‘11

Tatianna Nasr ‘10 Ian Go ‘12 Victoria Stanley ‘11 Jasmine Timan ‘11 Kathryn Tinker ‘10 Tatianna Nasr ‘10 Javier Vesga ‘10

Muses Through Photography

Kenny Evans ‘10

Victoria Stanley ‘11

Layout Director film director Literature Directors

Danielle Courtenay ‘10

Alexis Bell ‘10

Jennie Park ‘11

PHOTO direcTORS

Into the Blogosphere

Muses Through Photography

Caroline Barrett ‘11

ART direcTORs

Renee Hyde ‘10

Muses Through Photography

Jasmine Timan ‘11 Catherine Chumakov ‘11

MUSIC directors

contributors

Khyber McHugh ‘10 McKenzie Finchum ‘11 Jessica Nguyen-Phuong ‘10 Hyeong-Sun Cho ‘11

Muses Through Photography

Kristine Maramot ‘10 Wrote music articles

Cover Model

Sifr article photo edits

Lyda Long ‘11 Art Nation

special thanks The Absolute Art Team would like to give a special thanks to certain individuals. Without you, this publication would not have been possible

Alyssa Finchum The Art Department Barbara Harvey The Booster Booth Paul Welsh -Sponsor Paul Griffin Dave Norcott

Editor's Note Welcome to the third issue of Absolute Art. As you may or may not know, Absolute Art is a student-led art and culture magazine. By student-led, I mean we are responsible for every aspect of this magazine from creative concepts to layout, photography, articles, interviews, and even finding funding to support and print this magazine. It all started two years ago when Hilary Go realized many students were interested in pursuing graphic arts and publication careers when they got out of school. They thought why wait? So here we are two years later and now it was our turn to keep that vision alive. Like in past years, the team was made up of students with different interests and different talents, but all came together to create one publication. I believe that this magazine is an example of the continuous curiosity, passion, and talent of SAS students. Some of the highlights include “Muses Through Photography”, a photo assignment based on the nine Greek muses, “Bare Essentials,” an article about a successful SAS alumnus, and of course, “Showcase,” a peek into some of the artwork being churned out by students this year. As you flip through the pages, you may notice this issue’s theme. Whether its each section editor sharing who or what his or her muse is or Andy Warhol’s self portrait being used as a model for the cover, this issue is truly “inspiring”. Absolute Art seeks to showcase the school’s artistic talent, while also acting as a medium for students to discuss and question the topics of art and culture. Here we introduce Absolute Art, a modern publication dedicated to all forms of art and where different interests unite in an unexpected way.

McKenzie Finchum, Editor in Chief

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Art section jasmine timan When it comes down to art and fashion, I personally believe that you should always be brave and experiment. How else can you improve as an overall artist? Be daring. Be bold. Use bright colors and confident strokes. Your art can be in any shape or form. Take movies, some of my favorite include Amélie and Moulin Rouge. Yes, I know they aren’t the most recent or undiscovered movies. But I still love them. They are quirky and slightly disjointed, but somehow, just work. As a makeup artist, I admire fellow artists such as Kevyn Aucoin (RIP) and Marlena (the Makeup Geek). I admire their ability to transform a face into a piece of artwork. Trust me, it’s not as easy as it looks. As for fashion, I don’t really have a specific muse. My style in one word is ‘tailored’. As in, whatever I wear has to fit me properly. If it doesn’t feel right, it doesn’t look right. If I had to choose a favorite designer, it would have to be Marc Jacobs. His clothes balance bold colors and intricate patterns with unique cuts and shapes. There’s always something special in each of his pieces, which is why I always love his designs.

Victoria Stanley Considering art, I wouldn’t say I have one particular muse, but if I had to pick, it would definitely be Frida Kahlo. Her eyebrow are just so darn exquisite, it inspires me to no end. I would like to have an eyebrow like that someday. And I quite like her fat husband too: he looked pretty cool. But like I said, I wouldn’t say I have any one particular muse, but rather, derive enthusiasm from anything that sparks my interest: a striking pattern on a dress, a remastered Pink Floyd record, fire hydrants, salt shakers, that old man who lives downstairs and owns the most massive parrot I have ever seen in my entire life; anything. There should be no limits to what can inspire art.

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ART NAT ION

Cut your hair. Eat ice cream. Look at art. Live live to the fullest until your cellphone gives you cancer. Like conjoined twins, art and life have always been inextricably tied together- for better or for worse. Now that we live in an age where most of us don’t worry about the harvest or fording rives with oxen, we’re easily bored and art nowadays is reflecting that boredom. Just when I think I’ve seen all the innovation possible, I’m once again proven wrong each time I look at what the human race is still producing. Art Nation is about showcasing the young talents in Singapore American School, while piquing your interest n the world of visual/fine arts.

01. Yue Minjun “Execution” (artcess.wordpress. com/2009/01/12...ce-1985/) 02. Carol Baicy “Untitled” (SAS Highschool) 03. Ketna Patel “Asian Signs” (http://

www.ketnapatel.com/gallery/index.php?album=photocollage&image=Asian-SignsS.jpg)

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Showcase.

matryoshka in red- Olivia Ding â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;11

exceptional art by exceptional artists

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persona- Lauren Jung â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;12

ball of feathers- Olivia Ding â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;11

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Lipstick- Sung Yeon Kim ‘10

weave- Aisling Leow ‘10

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hannah - Stephanie Anderson â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;10

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Untitled- Carol Baicy ‘10

fast food gourmet- Ed Khoo ‘12

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Artists' Inspiration Weave -This piece was done as an assignment. I knew I wanted to do a fabric collage from the beginning, but I had difficulties finding an image. The photo I used is actually from a service trip to Cambodia I took last year, and I felt that was appropriate. This was also a huge experiment for me, but I think it paid off, even though it took forever. Aisling LeoW

Hannah - I was inspired to do this portrait of Hannah because I thought her multiple piercing would fit

my metal concentration; hence the three-quarter angle. However, I became more enthralled by the face and the piercing lost their focus, so it became my breadth. This was also an opportunity for me to experiment with the stipelling technique, which I’d never done before. It was an interesting piece to make, though at times agonizing, and I’m quite happy with the outcome.

StePhanie Anderson

Lipstick - My concentration for AP 2D this year is Compound Words. Compound words are single

words that are made up from two other words. In this case, the word “lipstick” is made from the words “lip” and “stick”. I decided to take a different approach to the word, and wanted to experiment with a different medium. I was inspired by the word “lipstick” - rather than merely drawing a lipstick, I drew a persons lips made out of real wooden sticks and twigs.

SUng Yeon Kim

Fast food gourmet - My concentration is Mess, and for this piece i wanted to convey, through the messy food, a sense of playfulness. I wanted to keep this piece light hearted and for it to embody a childlike nature. Another element one might over look in this piece is that it is a juxtaposition. A juxtaposition of a formally dressed boy eating a burger with fancy silverware, in the messiest of fashion. In all i wanted this piece to leave the audience with a slight chuckle or the slightest of grins. Ed Khoo

Ball of feathers & matryoshka in red - Fat squishes - fat flows - fat is an idea in people’s heads that can’t be contained in one form. I love fat for its flavor and variety, which I tried to capture in loose brush strokes, vivid colors and a seemingly disjointed portfolio. My concentration this year began with roundness in the Matryoshka dolls, shifted into doughy animals before melting to oil and rendered bacon fat, finally finishing off with a fluffy rooster. In twelve pieces, I only painted one plump faced kid so as to explore fat beyond the general preoccupation with body weight

OliVia Ding

Untitled - I don’t really have a muse or inspiration for my series. I guess the idea of emptiness comes up quite a bit since none of my pieces are complete human beings. I don’t really know, to me having a muse kind of defeats the point of creating something new. Carol Baicy

Persona - The inspiration for this piece was the different human characteristics, which is why I named this piece, Persona. Because my concentration this year was my dog, I realized that an animal’s features and behaviors could convey a strong personality. So with this inspiration, I used different animals, from aggressive business men, who I chose to use robust animals like the rhinoceros and the hippopotamus, to the quiet lonely man, a dog, to create an animated story. LaUren JUng

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Mixed Media Girl Imagine seeing the world but through a kaleidoscope. According to her artwork, that’s how Nikki Farquharson sees things. The London based graphic designer and illustrator’s works have been displayed on www.coolhunter.net, a site dedicated to showcase the most upcoming fashion trends, architecture, music, gadgets, and artists. Her collection of artwork, appropriately titled ‘Mixed Media Girl’ is a mixture of pencil drawings, graphic designs, photography, rapidograph, and design markers. The subject of each piece is a female figure, either photographed or drawn. Another artist showcased on the site is Francoise Nielly. The French artist’s massive portraits can be as big as 78 x 25 inches. The crazy thing is that she doesn’t even use a paintbrush. Instead, the artist uses a paint knife and skillfully uses it to apply the paint. By using a black and white photo to guide her paintings, she is able to interpret light, shadow, hue and tone without restrictions, and paint using unorthodox bright colors, giving it an Warhol-esque effect. - Jasmine Timan

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The Naked Truth Agus Suwage is an Indonesian contemporary artist whose bold paintings have not only caught the attention of South East Asia’s art community, but also caught the attention of the Indonesian police for their ‘profanity’. His works have been exhibited in numerous galleries and exhibitions all over Asia, primarily Indonesia, Singapore, and China.

Yes, it’s nude, deal with it. If high school students are able to look at a piece of art portraying a nude figure, then why can’t the rest of society? This question has been frustrating the mind of Indonesian artist Agus Suwage, whose collection was shown in the Singapore Tyler Print Institute gallery in September 2009. His art pieces have gained him international fame among the art community, especially in South East Asia; high respect among collectors, not to mention other artists, and have even resulted with him being jailed in Indonesia. Although his previous art pieces have never depicted

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nudity, they have always carried some sort of political or social message along with them. This collection carries one of them: a nude female figure, model Izabel Jahja, covered with holes in the canvas or having the Indonesian antipornography law printed across the it. How is this pornographic? Indonesia’s antiporrnography law strictly prohibits pornographic acts and images, broadly defining pornography as “man-made sexual materials in the form of drawings, sketches, and illustrations”. The law applies harsh penalties to those

found in violation. Anyone who is caught “displaying nudity” in public could spend up to 10 years in prison and be fined the equivalent of up to US$500,000. Despite all this, however, Suwage still persists in completing his collection of nude pieces. After the trouble and harsh consequences of his art, he still remained light-hearted and friendly throughout the opening in Singapore. He says, “I don’t want to get too heavy,” whilst jokingly, places his self-portrait on the place where a large empty dot previously covered Izabel’s genitals. -Jasmine Timan

Photography section Javier Vesga As a photographer my muse is to become a photographer like Alessandro Rocchi. Rocchi is a photographer that photographs in a way that allows for the viewer to question what it is that he photographed. What I want to accomplish is to be a photographer that can take photographs but yet at the same time make the viewer wonder what it is that the point was of the photograph, I want to make the people question themselves over my photography asking themselves “what was the point of this photograph?” In all what I want is to be someone who not only takes good photos but also puts thought into what I take.

Khyber Mchugh The inspiration and the type of photos I take, heavily influence the way I take photos. I look at everyday shapes, objects, colors, and others photos for my inspiration. A simple hit TV show scene from 90210 or Glee can easily influence a shoot I want to have or a photo that I want it to look like. I feel that my style is very consistent in my work and I sometime perform very abstract, and ‘daring’ photo edits. More importantly, movies like Across the Universe inspire me to make a name for myself and differ from the norm. Movies are my inspiration when it comes to photos. However, I am not the best on the technical side of photography, although when it comes to Photoshop I understand it and live off it. More importantly, movies like Across the Universe inspire me to make a name for myself and differ from the norm. Movies are my inspiration when it comes to photos.

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h g u o r h t s e Mus graphy o t o Ph

g and n i h t y ses. y an u b m d e k r Gree eek inspi e e h b t n Gr are ca n i s e a n s t u r o i f a m st inspirat t a ce o n e a s e e The id f the bigge en to repr retation. o rp ak some otos are t ir own inte ph the h t i Here, w , each e s u m

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Lyric Poetry- Danielle Courtenay â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;10

Poetry- Khyber McHugh ‘10

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Epic Poetry- Abe Selby ‘12

Music & Dance- Alexis Bell â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;10 absolute art

Tragedy- Alix Ryan â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;11

Emotion- Caitlin Favati â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;10

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Sacred Harmony- Emily Moore â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;10

artist spotlight:

MEggie Lall

My biggest inspiration is probably my music, without my iPod, I’d probably not be where I am now. Whenever I’m taking photos or editing the photos on Photoshop, I always have music playing in the background. When I’m listening I make sure to keep a pen and paper near me as I jot down lyrics that stand out. From there I base my photo ideas on the lyrics. I sometimes take up to 50 photos per idea, where I can only find one or two, which match what I tried to portray. Then when I’m editing I usually have that same song on replay for as long as it takes to edit which sometimes takes a few hours.

artist spotlight:

Javier Vesga

theme: depth of field

I got into photography around 2 years ago when my grandfather gave me his old film camera, a Minolta XG-M. I instantly fell in love with the idea of being able to develop my own film, and have full control of what I want to take and print. When I took the film photography class here at SAS, I was able to further take what I knew and put it into better ideas and concepts. I was then able to print my own photographs and form my own portfolio. What I enjoy the most is seeing what I have taken at the end and seeing if there is anything that I can do to better it. Although photography has been something that I really have put a lot of effort into now, and while I do not plan for photography to be a main career path, I will continue to take photos and expand my portfolio even further.

literature section Hyeong-sun Cho The novels of Amy Tan and Mitch Albom, the creations of Steven Meisel and Alber Elbaz, the works of Richard Stengel and Graydon Carter, and the popping K-POP industry are only a fraction of my inspiration list, which goes on and on incessantly. But when I was given the question, “who is your muse?” I wasn’t able to come up with one answer. It was only after looking back at my life and past works, asking my friends, and even googling “ways to find your muse” that I finally discovered that I cannot give one single person as my muse. I realized that the inspiration comes from the intricate mixture of people and creations in the world I live in, including the thousands of colors I see every day and the amazing people, both teachers and students, at SAS. So here goes my final answer to the question; who is my muse? Everything in my life, except for myself, the observer.

Karisa Sukamto I almost hate to admit this, but Lindsay Lohan’s grungy fashion sense appeals to me. I look pass her imperfections and take a look at her rather shaggy yet sometimes upscale attire on the red carpet. Ultimately, I’m a simple dresser so I pay attention to the ways she mixes up her outfits for a little inspiration - tights, loose tops, crazy studded heals, gladiators, a stack up of accessories and the occasional body-hugging Herve Leger. I’m trying to stray away from my usual white, black, or navy blue t-shirt and dress a little more interesting, rockstar-like and chic.

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World literature A collection of literature from around the world.

By Hyeong-SUn Cho

A SPot of Bother is Mark

Haddon’s another masterpiece dealing with the archetypal dramas an average American family faces. George, a retired man in his late fifties hoping to finally have rest in his cozy house with a small garden, finds out that he has a lesion in his hip. Being a hypochondriac, George panics and concludes that he needs to kill himself. In addition to the his suicidal plan, his wife’s affair with his former colleague, his daughter Katie’s announcement of marrying Ray, whom everyone in the family disapproves of, and his homosexual son Jamie’s arguments with his boyfriend add to the tension in the house. Humorously depicted and at times satirical, A Spot of Bother illustrates the typical American family with its domestic dramas. Although the book may seem too complicated to be real, the readers will inevitably agree that it mirrors some aspects of their own lives, which is consistently filled with seemingly unsolvable problems.

North America

The Book Thief is a tragic yet hopeful story of a Ger-

man girl, who realized the cruel reality of the Nazi regime by learning how to read. Liesel and her brother is sent to their foster parents, Hans and Rosa, after their parents get persecuted by the German Gestapos. After the despair she experiences from the death of her brother, she overcomes through learning how to read. As her passion for reading continually grows, she secretly steals books from the mayor’s library, where she finds many fascinating tales. Her new life in the Himmel Street seems to be brighter than ever, with exciting books and new friends she makes, until everything collapses. Hans gets drafted to the army, Max, her Jewish friend, is captured by the Gestapos, and her neighbors gets murdered by the constant air raid. She begins to despise reading as she realizes that the tragedies in her life were caused by Hitler’s propaganda through press. With Ilsa, the wife of the mayor’s, warm encouragement, however, Liesel eventually overcomes the peril by writing a memoir. absolute art

Set in Sweden, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo is about a mysterious investigation of an anomalous duo of a publicly disgraced journalist, Mikael Blomkvist, and a genius hacker with Aspergers Syndrome, Lisbeth Salander. After being publicly humiliated and losing the esteem as a renowned financial journalist, Blomkvist is hired by the wealthy industrialist of the famous Vanger family to investigate on the sudden disappearance of his niece, Harriet Vanger. Salander, a computer prodigy with spiky hair and a collection of tattoos, joins Blomkvist in their chase after the veiled truth about the Vanger family. Throughout their investigation, the two reveals the corruption and ignominy of Sweden’s wealthiest industrial family, and discovers the unexpected connection to themselves. Larsson masterfully delineates the darker side of Sweden by touching on topics such as sexual abuse, autism and corporate corruption.

Sweden Germany japan

sudan

The whole continent of Africa perhaps has experienced some of the most inhumane genocides and bloody ethnic wars in the twentieth century. From the Apartheid of South Africa to the ongoing genocide in Darfur, Africa never ceases its tears. What is the What is an poignant account of the journey of the “Lost Boys.” During the Second Sudanese Civil War, a group of young boys from the age of eight to fifteen, called the “Lost Boys,” had to walk thousands of miles from their annihilated villages to the safe asylum in Ethiopia or Kenya. Valentino Achak Deng, who was one of the “Lost Boys,” recalls his swollen, bloody feet and his friends who were mercilessly killed by starvation, thirst, wild animals and ruthless Arab militia men. What is the What, which vividly illustrates the deadly journey of the “Lost Boys” and another struggle they faced with assimilation to the sanctuaries provided by America, evokes sincere sympathy to the victims of the tragedies in Africa.

I am a Cat is a unique narrative delivered by a pompous feline creature who skulks behind the Japanese society during the Meiji Era, observing the distant human world. From the refined mansion of a school teacher to the traditional Japanese temple of a Shinto priest, the nameless cat wanders around from places to places, looking for the perfect spot for a snooze. During the journey of the unloved, unwanted cat, he makes striking observations on the human nature. Although the book may seem like a series of nonchalant anecdotes with witty humor at first, it delves deeper into human foibles and the embedded follies of human society. With its lighthearted tone and insightful observations, I am a Cat gives the readers an opportunity to ruminate on their lives.

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David Sedaris Imagine growing up gay in a conservative, suburban town in Raleigh, North Carolina with a Protestant mother and a Greek Orthodox father. I can’t. But for David Sedaris, that painful sentence sums up the majority of his life. His life, however, made for hilarious and gripping essays, which he compiled into two books: When You are Engulfed in Flames and Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim. In When You are Engulfed in Flames and Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, Sedaris recounts seemingly insignificant stories of his life with razor sharp wit and at times, sweet sentimentality. Never sparing us a dull moment, Sedaris tells his stories in such a comical way that you can’t read them without getting a stitch in your side. In one such story, he describes the event of getting locked out of the house on a cold winter day when he was barely in the double digits. In an

attempt to get his angry mother’s attention, Sedaris suggests, “Maybe one of us should get run over by a car.” To this suggestion, the children all look in the direction of the youngest sibling, Gretchen, who only timidly replies, “Where?” Sedaris’ stories, although funny, are not only one dimensional. There is always a deeper, underlying moral to each story, and when you aren’t laughing, you’re feeling deeply touched and warm and fuzzy. Sedaris truly is gifted with the way of words. The aforementioned story ended, of course, in the children’s fickle return to loving their mother upon seeing her ankle-deep in the snow, with her shoes long-lost in the sea of white and looking pathetic, yet lovingly maternal. The story closes with this subtly sweet line by Sedaris: “Gretchen fitted her cap over my mother’s foot. Lisa secured it with her scarf, and surround-

ing her tightly on all sides, we made our way back home.” Sedaris’ answer to his successful career and life can be found in When You are Engulfed in Flames: Weird doors open. People fall into things. Maybe the engineering whiz will wind up brewing cider...Maybe the athlete will bring peace to all nations, or the class moron will go on to become the president of the United States—though that’s more likely to happen at Harvard or Yale, schools that will pretty much let in anybody...My path was a winding one, with plenty of obstacles along the way. When school was finished, I went back home an Ivy League graduate with four years’ worth of dirty laundry and his whole life ahead of him. “What are you going to do now?” my parents asked. And I said, “Well, I was thinking of washing some of these underpants.” [pg 79, When You are Engulfed in Flames ] - Jennie Park

Jack Kerouac: On the Road Bob Dylan liked it and so should you. Need I say more? A celebrated classic, “On the Road” is a semi biographical tale of Sal Paradise (analogous of Kerouac himself), Dean Moriaty (psychedelic radical Neal Cassady) and a plethora of unorthodox characters thriving in the 1950’s realm of sex, drugs, and jazz. This was, of coarse before proper “Rock n’ Roll” came about. But either way, Kerouac indulges the reader in a mesmerizing narration of his coast-to-coast ad-

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ventures: getting high, getting laid, and really, just getting crazy. Where “On the Road” is not verbose, it is natural, where it is not scholarly, it is witty, and where it lacks in organization it makes up for with a refreshing sense of honesty and intensity that is so rare in literature. Bob Dylan didn’t just like “On the Road,” but like The Door’s Jim Morrison, Dylan believed that “On the Road” “changed (his) life like it changed everyone else’s.” -Victoria Stanley

Fashion section Jennie park My muses and inspirations are everyone and everything. Thus, my style isn’t really my own—it’s a culmination of every person and image I’ve ever seen. I take cues from the best of the best: Rumi from fashiontoast when I’m feeling edgy and Kurt Cobain when I’m feeling grungy. Even the first lady has her own fashion following—the nation—myself included. However, my main muses are musicians: Alice Glass, Chris Chu, and Karen O. Not only their sounds, but their distinct styles have a great impact on me. I’m not sure whether it’s their tendency to defy conventional dressing, or their sick sounds, but I visualize those sounds when I’m picking out pieces to wear. Alice Glass—Mia a la Pulp Fiction. Chris Chu—chill minimalist. Karen O—ornate and crazy. Music is my number one muse.

Caroline Barrett My fashion muse would have to be Emma Watson. Her style is sophisticated yet appealing to a young female audience and her range of fashion style relates to a wide demographic of teenagers. Emma can pull off skinny jeans, a boyfriend tee and simple flats and still look sophisticated which is something I try and emulate in my own wardrobe. Emma also can wear couture effortlessly and still manages to look young and fresh. She wears simple, unembellished outfits, whether it’s the red carpet or walking on campus at Brown-it is truly an understated elegance that anybody can pull off.

Catherine Chumakov My fashion muse would definitely be Lauren Conrad. Her style is a mix of boho with a high-fashion twist which I love. She tends to stick to the basics with skinny jeans, plaid shirts and flats but manages to pull it off. I also love how she frequently plays around with sports leggings, skinny jeans and cute shorts/skirts. I love looking at all the different styles LC manages to pull off, and defiantly look up to her for my fashion sense, I even have a wall of all the outfits of LC that I love and would like to try.

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INTO THE BLOGOSPHERE In the past couple of years, journals and diaries have been nixed in order to make room for the fast-paced world of the blogosphere. Fashionistas all over the globe speak a universal languageâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;clothes. This allows them to make updates quickly, because who needs words when pictures do the talking? By updating their blogs at a rapid pace, feedback too is fast, and thus, readership goes up. As a result, the future of paper looks increasingly grim. While magazine numbers suffer, the blogosphere is flourishing with fledgling fashionistas dying to share their two centsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; worth with fellow fashion followers. They have become a new breed in the industry that previously, was all about the cash. Celebs and socialites have been pushed off the front row to make room for the web-muses. This is the era of the blogger. -Articles by Jennie Park and Renee Hyde

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songofstyle Aimee of Song of Style treats her blog as a diary. Sometimes, she seems unaware that her blog is being read by hundreds of thousands every day, because her musings are extremely personal and witty. In conjunction with her remarkable photos, taken by her aspiring photographer boyfriend, Aimee maintains a highly personal relationship with her readers. She takes time to answer questions about her style influences, where she

fashion toast At one point of time, “Vouge”, “Harper’s Bazaar” and “Elle” set very distinct fashion trends for the mass population. However, with the assistance of the Internet, unorthodox, brightly colored digital pages have created a phenomenon for the inspiration-thirsty. Popular online magazines, such as N.E.E.T (http://www.neetmagazine.com/) magazine, has already has made frequent appearances in many British magazines such as UK Elle. Unlike print magazines, online publications are idiosyncratic and reign by targeting niches they chose. Many have grown to adore the specialized and unusual taste of these paper-less publications. From N.E.E.T Magazine’s girly feel to I LOVE FAKE (http://www. ilovefakemagazine.com/) Magazine’s greatly opposing grunge look, online magazines make it easier to find a style that’s unique to your own. And while finding our taste, online

gets her clothes from, how old her dog is—the works. Her style varies, but she often wears skinny jeans, chunky wedges, topped off with a flowy, voluminous shirt. This muse has muses too, one of them being Kurt Cobain. “The worst crime is faking it,” Aimee once quoted of the late Cobain. We can tell Aimee, because you’re 2 legit 2 quit. - By JPark

Check it out: • songofstyle.blogspot.com

26 year old Rumi Neely of Fashiontoast has one of the most popular blogs in the world. Her site has an average 35,000 views magazines are easily a main source of new and up-coming fashion boutiques that chose to advertise in lower-priced ad locations such as these. So, instead of viewing the same few high-end stores that chose to buy every other page ad, we are exposed to a diverse collection of clothing that properly expresses the aura of the magazine. While a majority of online fashion magazines are costfree, finding a current issues are difficult. Like our own Absolute Art, most editors are people who chose to craft the magazines in their spare time. Expect to see new issues bi-yearly, quarterly, or bi-monthly, at the most frequent. No matter the wait, online fashion publications offer a different scheme of structure and design than most

per day, and that number is climbing. Neely’s blog features, well, herself, decked out in gorgeous threads. Model, muse, and spokesgirl for hipster label RVCA, Neely has a style that can be described as polished punk. Her uniform is typically composed of studded leather boots, a structured yet minimal dress, and ferocious jewelry, often including lots of hardware and studs to counter the femininity of her dresses. Neely has become such a sensation that she gets paid tens of thousands of dollars to sit front row at big-name fashion shows, some of which include houses like Versace, Alexander Wang, and Gucci. The age of the socialite has come to pass, and the new girls sitting in the front row are among the likes of Neely and her web contemporaries. - By Jennie Park

Check it out: • fashiontoast.blogspot.com

i love fake

mass-produced paper publications. Their avant-garde appeal is refreshing in our world of over-exaggerated fashion and excess of sex appeal. -By

Renee Hyde

Check it out: • http://www.ilovefakemagazine.com Issue 3

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Absolute Art Fashion

INTERVIEW

sifr

SAS alumnus Chris John Fussner, from the graduating class of 2006, has come a long way since his uniform-clad days at SAS. Now, he dons a new uniform: the threads of his new clothing line, SIFR. Driven by a love for minimalist chic and Japanese super-brand Muji, Fussner shares his interest in the fashion industry, music, and chillin’ out.

On an unusually sweltering Sunday, some of the Absolute Art team gathered at a nook in Haji Lane known as KIN—Know it Nothing, to interview a former SAS student, Chris John Fussner. Fussner designed a line of menswear under the name SIFR, which is currently being sold at the minimalist and modern store, KIN, as well as mainstream and major retailer, Tangs. While interviewing Fussner at the Haji Lane store, Fussner shared with us about his love for Miles Davis, his bite-the-bullet attitude, and his affinity for all things minimal. 21 %(,1* $1 6A6 $/80 Trina Chan: So, you’re an SAS alum. Did anything that you learned from SAS inspire what you’re doing today? Chris John Fussner: No, not at all. Unfortunately no. Jennie Park: Were you just always interested in fashion then? TC: Or photography or art? CF: I guess photography I did photography alot 10th grade through senior year. On having supportive peers and family... TC: So a lot of kids want to go in this

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direction but their parents aren’t really so supportive, how were your parents? CF: Well, I mean my parents want me to go back to school since they’ve already invested two years of school fees. But they were open to it since I was planning to take a year off in Boston anyways. JP: So you weren’t always planning on being a designer, you wanted to go to college first? CF: Yeah, no I was doing international relations in Boston... JP: Oh wow that’s pretty different! CF: Yeah, like super different...

and stuff. I don’t know you just gotta pick and choose ‘cause there’s so many things to choose from. It’s hard to put a specific tag on something.

21 /$%(/s JP: Do you it when people ever give you labels like, “hipster”or “scenester” – stuff like that? CF: Um I don’t know, I can’t say we’ve

“Sure, take advice from your elders and what you learn in school, but at the end of the day just trust your gut...”

21 ,1)/8(1&(s $1' 08s(s JP: Does music have any influence on you? Or any other things like art? TC: Because our main theme this year is muse... CF: Well you know, I’ve been trying to find a muse... JP & TC crack up CF: Well I mean I don’t know I listen to so many different types of music if I told you it wouldn’t really apply to the line I’m doing now. Like it’s a lot of old school hip hop, Miles Davis, Jeff Baker

really gotten any labels except just being more toned down and simple which is what we’re going for. We’ve got things like sort of APC, Acne, to Muji... JP: Which are all very sort of minimalist. CF: Yes and that’s the kind of vibe we’re going for. We’re sort of doing what we like doing. TC: Are there any brands in particular that you want to model? CF: If there is any brand it would be

Muji. JP: Very chill. CF: Yeah, I really like the ideology behind it. Take a brand like Quicksilver—that’s aimed toward you know, a certain type of person. Muji, its very open ended. I like the open ended interpretation

21 1$%%,1* 7$1*s CF: At the end of the day, we just sort of stuck our foot in the door. AT first they were really cold shouldered to us, but I guess it was just a little bit lucky and a little bit just...getting in their face. We called them a bunch of times.

JP: How did getting Tang’s affect your career as a designer? CF: I mean, it’s good. Some people are really against the mass mainstream type stuff. But if you present it in the way you want to present it your fine. Like Uniqlo, they do it in a tasteful way. On mass-marketed, fast-fashion... CF: Forever21 actually has over like 51 copyright lawsuits or something like that...Last time I was in Tokyo they were just opening up a flagship and there must have been like a 4 or 5 block line... JP: For Forever21?! CF: Yeah the whole other side of the

street was like....whhhaachooooo *makes hand gestures indicating a long line* JP: Why?! CF: I know, right?! On the fashion industry... TF: What is your advice to others going into the fashion industry? CF: In general sort of just do what you like doing. If you really take joy in something just do it. You really gotta trust yourself. Sure take advice from your elders and what you learn in school, but at the end of the day just trust your gut.

-Jennie Park

51 Haji Lane, Singapore 189244 t: 6392 5475 f: 6392 3580 opening hours: Monday - Saturday 1pm - 8pm Sunday 3pm - 7pm

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film section Jessica Nguyen-Phuong Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a dreamer. I paint the world with an imagination that most of us left behind in childhood. That imagination allows me to dream the impossible and it led me to my love for photography. One photographer who enthralls me is Tim Walker. From the ornate set designs to the alluring garments, his creative photos make you catch sight of a world that transcends life. Walkerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s innovative photography is amongst the most imaginative and exuberant being produced today. He has inspired me to stretch my imagination, take risks, and always be young at heart.

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Rear WINDOW Through his rear window and the eye of his powerful camera he watched a great city tell on itself, expose its cheating ways...and Murder! Confined to his New York apartment due to a leg injury, professional photographer, L.B.Jeffries, spends his time looking out of the rear window observing the neighbors. After days of observing, Jeffries detects that one of his neighbors has killed his own wife. Through stunning natural sound, interesting cinematography concepts, and talented actors, Alfred Hitchcock builds suspense in a way no other director can. Hitchcock explains his technique as the difference between surprise and suspense. “A bomb under a table goes off, and that’s surprise. We know the bomb is under the table but not when it will go off, and that’s suspense.”

(500) Days Of SUMMER Boy meets girl. Boy falls in love. Girl doesn’t. This fresh, post-modern flick is about how love can be confusing, asymmetrical, and, about how love can fail. After dating Summer Finn for over a year, Tom Hansen- a lonely greeting card maker - shifts back and forth through various periods of their relationship trying to figure out what went wrong. The perfect, indie cast - Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt - as well as the out-of-sequence storyline makes this film cute, quirky, and worth the watch. With music-video director, Mark Webb, it is no wonder the soundtrack is boasting with songs from Regina Spektor, Doves, Feist, Wolfmother, and the Smiths. The storyline simply reminds us that we must battle through certain situations, whether they are traumatizing, painful, exhilarating, or different, before we can truly discover ourselves.

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I’m Here Ordinary is no place to be Spike Jonze’s short story follows a male robot librarian, Sheldon, who lives a solitary and methodical life — devoid of creativity, joy and passion. Yet, when he meets Anne, an adventurous and free spirited female robot, his whole world changes. When this new life and love begin to fall apart, he discovers he has a lot to give. Jonze’s short story simply asks: what would you do for love? The 30-minute love story is free to watch online and is worth every minute of your time.

Babies Everybody loves…Babies This heartwarming documentary follows the lives of four different babies from around the world: from Ponijao of Namibia, to Bayarjargal of Mongolia, Mari of Tokyo, and Hattie of San Francisco. Beginning with each of their births and continuing all through the first year, the scenic film documents the important milestones and shows just how different, and yet how similar, these babies’ lives and cultures are.

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Music section Ian Go Rather than a person, or thing, my muse is something relatively straightforward and common: human emotion. Most of the time when I’m inspired creatively, it’s because of what I feel. To demonstrate this, I’d like to point out the band, Noah and the Whale. What initially attracted me to this group was their fun style of music. Their song “5 Years Time”, included ukulele rhythms and even reciting of the lyric “fun,fun,fun”. These people were clearly having a great time, and it reflected in their music. This drastically changed though in their second album. They managed to produce one of the most depressing albums I’ve ever heard; one of their songs is even called, “I Have Nothing”. I later found out the reason for this was because their singer broke up with his girlfriend. Like this band, I’m influenced by what I feel, whether it is happy, or sad. So when I play guitar, or sing songs, that’s what really inspires me.

Tatianna nasr It’s hypocritical, cliché even, to reckon that no one particular person, place, or thing inspires me. Reasons for what or why I do what I do vary from day to day- whether I’m enthused by something someone said, by something I heard, or by any one person. My motivations will always be changing. As a photographer, I’m dependent on light, and the manipulation of it. As an artist, I aim for a surrealistic approach. But thinking plainly and logically, I would approach what I do for photography in a different manner than I would hand-drawings. What’s the same for both is the way I heavily rely on music for mood. I think that’s only thing that’ll stay constant throughout whatever I choose to do with myself- my reliance on music as influence.

jennie park Music is the single-most influential thing in my life. It dictates my mood, stimulates my thoughts. Music to me is like Edie is to Warhol—it’s my muse. When I’m writing, The Morning Benders and Darwin Deez croon me into forgetting the existence of writer’s block. When I’m feeling purposeful, the beats of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes beat me onward like the fight song of a soldier. When I’m at the gym, Caspa’s deep bass grooves keep my head banging and my legs moving. Music keeps me going.

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Absolute Art Music

INTERVIEW

All in the Mix

Leon Ho used to be your regular scenester—hitting up skate parks and bumming around. But now, he is 25 and hot on the heels of success. Having shared the stage with eminent DJ’s such as Designer Drugs, Diplo, Steve Aoki, and Lady Gaga to name a few, Ho has proved that success will come to those who really want it.

25 year-old Leon Ho, more widely known as DJ Inquisitive, just might be the Asian counterpart to A-Trak. With three consecutive DMC DJ Singapore wins under his belt, he’s hot on the heels of confessed “main-man,” and three time world DMC DJ champ, A-Trak. Being the youngest winner ever, A-Trak seems an appropriate choice as Ho’s source of inspiration. But not too long ago, Ho was just an N.S.-enlisted guy, skating around with friends. “I had no life, seriously,” Ho joked. The transformation from a selfproclaimed “bummer” to coveted DJ was marked with sweat and blood. “My friends would say, let’s go to Zouk, and I’d be like, nah nah.

I’d go home and practice,” Ho said. “I started practicing eight hours a day...” Practicing eight hours a day over partying at Zouk with friends? That’s dedication in its purest form. It wasn’t an easy trip—nor was

“That’s dedication in its purest form.”

it cheap. “In the first year of DJ-ing I spent at least like 15,000 dollars on f****in’ records man,” Ho said. He boasts an impressive collection of two thousand, three hundred, and twenty five records. However, Ho never planned on being a DJ.

http://myspace.com/djinquisitive absolute art

Like most of us, Ho was planning on going to university. DJing was merely a hobby he picked up that gradually gained momentum until it eventually turned into a full-fledged career. “I just go with the flow,” Ho said of his current career as a DJ. “I mean, I just wanted to learn scratching and s**** cuz I thought it was cool and so that I could impress people,” Ho said jokingly. What started off as a sapling interest, Ho’s story of DJ success shows us that hard work does pay off. Amazing yet, when asked to share an interesting fact about himself, Ho merely replied: “Me?! There’s nothing interesting about me.” Well, we beg to differ. - Jennie Park

• http://www.djinquisitive.com • http://twitter.com/Inquizzy

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cassette culture music reviews: these are artists and albums worth checking out.

The Morning Benders From recording songs on a crappy old Dell computer, indie super-group The Morning Benders have come a long way -Jennie Park 24 year old lead singer, Chris Chu, is awkward, gangly, and tall— and completely unassuming. But he alone is responsible for the massive success of indie pop-rock band, The Morning Benders. What began as a solo music career in dabbling with layered recordings in his Berkeley dorm on a crappy old Dell laptop, soon turned into a legitimate project. The Morning Benders’ first album, Talking Through Tin Cans, garnered such positive reviews that it ultimately resulted in the band opening for mainstream Brit pop-rock group, The Kooks. In an interview, when asked what his favorite memories from The Kooks tour was, he modestly replied: “All the free Cliff bars!” Their most recent album, Big Echo, was produced with Chris Taylor of

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Grizzly Bear. It has been received even better than the last, with kids all over America dying to get a taste of the Morning Benders who have been likened to The Beatles and Neil Young. Shows are selling out, and secret free-shows are boasting such large crowds you would think that they actually were The Beatles. The unrefined, crooning voice of Chu on Talking Through Tin Cans becomes smoother in Big Echo and much more melodic. The music becomes more intricate, like in Excuses, which features a massive band ranging from timpani players to violinists, and a choir composed of Chu’s closest friends. The lyrics are dripping with the sweetness of Chu’s voice: I put no one else above us/ We’ll still be best friends when all turns to dust.

It’s clear that it’s impossible not to fall in love with Chris Chu. When asked of The Morning Benders’ newfound fame, Chu said: “It’s just super inspiring to see that it’s possible to make some smart, interesting music — even like a radio single — that people are still digging it and are going and getting the record and going to the shows.” Listen To: • Excuses • Waiting for a War • Promises

Sounds Like: • Grizzly Bear • The Beatles • Dirty Projectors

The Rise Of The Grime Dubstep Gaining Popularity on the Music Scene. - Jennie Park People who enjoy listening to a certain genre of music usually don’t describe it as, “filthy,” “grimy,” or just plain “sick.” However, these negatively-charged words are the only words that come to mind when listening to the genre of music that is dubstep. This is not to say that dubstep is a disgusting, gag-inducing genre, there just really are no other words that are accurate enough to describe the sounds that are heard upon listening to it. When asked to summarize some dubstep sounds, senior Frank Boyd replied: “wub wub wub wub.” Dubstep is a relatively new genre of music which has its roots in London’s garage scene. It started off as purely experimental-- just screwing around with various dissonant, bass sounds. However, by word of mouth, [or rather, by ear], dubstep has become a genre of music that is favored by fans of electro and house who seek a more bass-heavy, and instrumental form of music. London’s influential club, Forward>> played a large role in the creation of the genre, for it nurtured sapling dubstep greats such as Skream, Benga, and Tempa. During the early years of Forward>>’s introduction of dubstep, the London music scene started to demand a wider selection of music in the popular music store, Big Apple Records—the British equivalent to Amoeba Records. In Big Apple Records, the only genres ever coming close to dubstep were hardcore/ rave, techno, and house until scenester cool-kids Skream and Benga found themselves working in the store to help support their hopeful dreams of becoming big-time dubstep producers. It was their influence in this one popular UK music store that led to the genre of dubstep as we know it. Although dubstep has remained

under the radar for the past few years, it is gradually seeing more and more playing time in clubs and on radio mixes, such as popular radio show, BBC Radio 1. Mainstream DJs such as Diplo have brought the less adventurous ravers to realize the pure power and grime of dub by playing dubstep mixes by the gods of the genre: Rusko and Caspa, frequently at their shows. Soon, dubstep will be as household a name as Steve Aoki. When that time comes, you better be ready for the grime.

Listen To: • • • •

Pro Nails [Rusko remix] – Kid Sister Africa VIP—Rusko & Caspa When I Look At You—Emalkay Woo Boost—Rusko

The current situation in the world of music today is utter dissolution. Every music artist is fighting for their 15 minutes in the limelight, and as a result their music tends to be half-hearted and predictable. But this is not the case for Brooklyn-based rock band, Grizzly Bear. Though their band name is more reminiscent of mosquito repellent and campfires than of a band, their sheer originality, daringness, and oftentimes, plain weirdness, have taken them to the top of the indie music scene and set them apart from their less sincere brethren. Grizzly Bear (composed of Ed Droste, Chris Taylor, Christopher Bear, and Daniel Rossen), has set the music world aflame with excitement because of their unique ability to please any ear. Their latest album, Veckitamest, was recorded in a church, the acoustics adding even more to the full, rich sound of their raw lyrics, which are notoriously poetic. No speak of break ups, heartbreak, or teardrops on guitars—just raw, unbridled emotion in cryptic slant rhyme. In conjunction to Grizzly Bear’s genuine lyrics and smooth classical guitar riffs, Drossen’s vocals are the icing on the cake. Drossen, also front man of band Department of Eagles, possesses the rare quality of a universally beautiful voice. Grizzly Bear’s “Two Weeks” YouTube music video is a testament to this. Because despite a music video solely comprised of the camera zooming in on the distorted, bug-eyed faces of the bandmates in an old church, it has still managed to boast more than 2,500,000 views. Grizzly Bear’s ratings have been equally successful. They came in at second on Hypemachine’s top 100 albums of 2009, and 13 on Q Magazine’s Top 50.

Grizzly Bear Indie-rock band Grizzly Bear takes the music community by storm. -Jennie Park

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(Grizzly Bear cont.)

The general consensus seems to be that everyone loves Grizzly Bear. Matthew Schnipper of Fader said: “No one does not like Grizzly Bear. You could play them for your smelly calculus professor who only listens to Brahms, the dude who sold you that sweet riding lawn mower at a tag sale jamming Collective Soul bsides.” I say: Word.

Listen to: • Ready, Able • Two Weeks • While You Wait for the Others

Sounds Like: • Department of Eagles • Beach House • Animal Collective

because you can’t believe those words actually just came out of the artist’s mouth. And you know what I mean. Then my ears became privileged to the sweet sweet sound that IS Lyrics Born. Tom Shimura, the Asian half of the group Latyrx and the man behind the name Lyrics Born began his music career in 1993 when he released his first single “Send Them” under independent record company Solesides. When the company fell to shambles, Shimura formed the record label Quannum Projects with some of the ex members, and released his first solo LP, Later That Day in 2003. Lyrics Born brings back the nostalgic introspective rhymes of golden age hip hop in the style of the greats such as Ice Cube and The Roots. Clever word play boast a large vocabulary, but are toned down by Shimura’s repetitive relaxed beats. Recently, Lyrics Born has collaborated with acts such as Kasabian, DJ Shadow, and Jurassic 5, and along with the promise of another album on the way, you can be sure this isn’t the last we’ve heard of Tom Shimura and his surprisingly pleasant hip hop.

Sounds like: • Omega Watts • The Gift of Gab • The Roots

Thunder, Lightning, Strike! This was the name The Go! Team founder Ian Parton bestowed upon the bands first full length album in 2004, quite fitting actually, considering that the album was inspired by car horn chase music, and began creation on the kitchen floor of Patron’s parent’s house. The Go! Team was originally Patron’s own personal experiment. Literally, he decided to sit down and mix and match double dutch chants, grunge guitars, old hip hop beats, and alas, car horns amongst other things. The result was a strange garage band style indie rock that, when furthered by the other members of the now sextet group, became a revolutionary blend of sounds like never heard before. Recognition followed, as they became the opening touring act for Franz Ferdinand in 2004, preceding the release of Thunder, Lightning, Strike. Proof of Youth, The Go! Team’s second album, gained critical acclaim upon its publication in 2007, with many EP’s along the way. To put a pin on their music style would be impossible; it’s somewhat a crazy jumble of psychedelic pop like sounds, loud drums, chanting, and an overall Sonic Youth vibe, with the same “nonsensical” appeal of Architecture in Helsinki. Incredibly, this all makes for a feel-good catchy beat that leaves the listener with a smile.

Listen to: • Ladyflash • Huddle Formation • Bottle Rocket • Get It Together • Doing it Right

Lyrics Born

Sounds Like: • Clap Your Hands Say Yeah • Sonic Youth • Architecture in Helsinki • The Polyphonic Scene

Move over Flo Rida: golden age hip-hop has been re-Born. -Victoria Stanley

For the longest time, I was fairly certain that only two types of hip hop existed. Songs that makes you want to get some, and songs that make you chuckle awkwardly

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the Go! Team

Taking “experimental” to a higher level. -Victoria Stanley

Ellie Goulding Pop’s bushy tailed and starry eyed new face. -Vic Stanley Newcomer to the electropop music scene, 23 year old Ellie Goulding has proved to the world yet again, that Brits really DO do it better. Goulding’s debut album “Lights” hit shelves only this past March, however the single “Starry Eyed” received massive viral success, earning her the 2010 BRIT Critics’ Choice Award. Working with headliners like Frankmusik, Little Boots, and soon, soul’s resident bad boy John Mayer, Goulding has not only convincingly covered indie anthems such as Passion Pit’s “Sleepy Head,” but also has taken a crack at song writing herself. But her fast fame was not due to famous friends but rather to the unique airy tone of Ellie’s voice. Each track on “Lights” takes the listener on a journey out of their body, as her lighthearted lyrics blend an angelic voice with a clever synth harmony – creating an overall ambience that just makes you want to close you eyes. And smile. And dance. But most of all, what Goulding’s intoxicating potpourri of electronic brilliance brings to the table is a bright new edgy face for the pop of this generation, a face that is definitely one to watch.

Listen to: • • • • •

Starry Eyed (jakwob remix) Black and Gold Sleepyhead (passion pit remix) Guns and Horses Wish I Stayed

Sounds Like: • Mariina and the Diamonds • Frankmusik • Annie

Forever the Sickest Kids, a group of six boys, began their creative mix of pop-punk music in Dallas, Texas. Their first big break “Hey Brittany”, was recorded after band member Jonathan Cook accidently spent 350 dollars to feature a song (that was at the time, nonexistent) on music social networking site, PureVolume. After the song was released on PureVolume, the band gained much exposure. “Hey Brittany” soared on website ratings, eventually becoming on of the top songs on played on PureVolume. It gained so many internet plays, it created a “war” amongst popular record labels who wished to sign the group. Forever The Sickest Kids’ songs encompass the best of pop music sub-genres, from power-pop to electro-pop. Their lyrics are sentimental, touching and echoing upon bittersweet life lessons. Recent top hits, and must listen tos, include “Believe Me, I’m Lying” and “She’s a Lady”. “Believe Me, I’m Lying” consists of a harmonious vocal melody that is eloquently laid on top of an acoustic guitar riff. Meanwhile, an electronic drum beat drops in the background, slowly intensifying until a lack luster explosion of electric guitars and drums. “She’s a Lady” tastefully combines classic pop punk riffs with old school electro, sonic the hedgehog-soundtrackesque, keys. Their songs are empowering because send out a lesson than we too can relate to and be inspired by. Also, their music has a catchy, melodious beat that just makes you want to dance.

Listen to: • • • • •

Whoa Oh! Hey Brittany She’s a Lady Believe Me, I’m Lying Catastrophe

Forever The Sickest Kids

The creative mixings from this deep-south, poppunk group soared in online ratings before being snatched up by a top-rate label. -Kristine maramot Issue 3

So I’m a big fan of finding music the old fashioned way, but lately I’ve been getting really into those music websites, i.e. Last. fm. I wouldn’t describe them as blogs so much as they are just like music “service” websites, where the content is personalized to your liking and programmed to suit your music taste. The Sixty One is no exception. Out of the array of music sites I’ve perused, The Sixty One is unique in the sense that it is highly interactive; the program creates little music “quests” for you to complete and is big on visual interface. And you can’t go wrong with a quest. Furthermore the “explore” feature can send you back in time with “revive” – a mix up of oldies or just songs that we just can’t get enough off, as well as other channels. Whilst the layout and the features are gorgeous, The Sixty One falls short in being completely user friendly. Given the option, I would take the Hype Machine’s simple layout and quick searches any day; however if

thesixtyone

For those on the “quest” for new tunes: a snazzy new music site for you. -Vic stanley

you have the time to work through The Sixty One’s many innovations I highly suggest it. On your quest to

the musical Camelot, The Sixty One may be a worthwhile pitstop.

counterparts is her wit and ability to write about things that take precedence over break ups and boys. In Are You Satisfied Diamindis sings about her fear of mediocrity, and whether or not the end justifies the means. Do I need to lie to make my way in life? / Are you satisfied with an easy ride?/ Are you satisfied with an average life? Her lyrics are sharp and pensive, far from the skin-deep nature of “It’s Britney b*tch.” The flight of Diamndis’ career

marks the beginning of a new era. Not only are her songs melodic and catchy, they have razor-sharp facets of reality in them. They reflect a desire to reach out to the audience and empathize with them on a deeper level. Diamandis, and her diamonds, are quickly reshaping the future of the pop industry.

Marina & The Diamonds Marina Diamandis of Marina & The Diamonds gives Britney a run for her money with newwave pop. - Jennie Park The definition of pop is being redefined. The Britneys and Backstreet Boys of yesteryear are being replaced by a stronger, more intelligent breed—the new pop. Queen of the new era of pop is Marina Diamindis. Diamndis’ stage name is fittingly, Marina & The Diamonds, with Diamonds coming from her Greek last name. “I am Marina. And you are my diamonds,” her MySpace page declares. Diamandis is the Simone de Beauvoir of the new troupe of smart, pretty, young, pop stars, including the likes of La Roux, Ellie Goulding, and The Plasticines. What differentiates Diamandis’ music from her less soulful

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Listen to: • Obsessions • Are you Satisfied • Hollywood

CONGRATULATIONS Indie pop legends MGMT return with an album truly worth congratulating. -Victoria Stanley Ok so everyone loves MGMT; I love MGMT, and I can just about guarantee that you (the reader) love MGMT too. In fact, their 2007 album, Oracular Spectacular spawned so much love from fans, that it sent Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden (I swear they made those names up) into a state of withdrawal. And not just from shooting up. Having unexpectedly been thrown into the main-stream spotlight, MGMT retired to a “small cabin in the woods” to record Congratulations, which hit the air on April 17th 2010. However, prior to the actual album, the band’s only single “Flash Delirium” held in store a good idea of what was to come, and it was not what fans expected. Congratulations has no catchy “Time to Pretend”s, no new hipster anthems like “Kids.” Instead, the 9-track piece contains intricate psychedelic tunes that NME denounced as a mix of “frenetic, brief psych nuggets” and “echo drenched mini epic tendencies.” I cannot for the life of me tell you what the hell a “psych nugget” is, but I can tell you that I find them delicious. But these nuggets, particularly some of the stranger ones, like the 12 minute long “Siberian Breaks,” may be a bit hard for most people to swallow. Basically, Congratulations is not going to be everybody’s cup of tea. Oracular Spectacular had that mass appeal; MGMT didn’t like having

a mass appeal; and voila they made their next album much less massappealing. The album as a whole is very experimental and in a ways, avant-garde with oddly structured songs filled with psycho pop synth and tributes to artists that about one in every 300 people have heard of. Do you REALLY know who Dan Treacy and Brian Eno are? Exactly. Overall, Congratulations is just as “spectacular” as the first album; but if you are expecting 45 minutes of “Electric Feel,” you’ve got another thing coming your way.

burial

Burial’s true identity remains a mystery to all. Burial, born William Bevan, creates music that’s so difficult to isolate to any one genre that fans believe their self-created definition of his style will suffice: burial=burial. Personally, I just refer to it as ambient dubstep. His moody concoctions make sleepless nights something to look forward to, as his tunes play at their best in absolute darkness, silence, and isolation. “Archangel” described as Burial’s most lustful piece, a “sexual centerpiece” of Burial’s 2007 album release Untrue, is a perfect example of Burial’s brilliance in longing lyricism: ‘Holding you– good at being alone/ loving you– good at being alone/ kissing you– tell me I belong/it’s not why I trust you.’ These eerie vox additions, which fade in and out of songs, are characteristic of any Burial masterpiece. As Burial himself admits, “Coverage destroys creativity. I don’t want to maximize hype, I want to keep my music pure, faceless, and it ought to be a closedsystem that only answers to itself.” He has numerous unreleased tracks to his name, “Feral Witchchild” causing the most anticipation of all amongst fans all over the world. A sample of the track was released in early-February 2008, and two years later, is still unreleased in its entirety. So, what’s next, Burial? According to some recent rumors that have surfaced for 2010, Massive Attack and Burial will be sharing another remix project sometime in the near future. Burial has had the pleasure of remixing alongside big names: Jamie Woon, Thom Yorke, Bloc Party, Commix, Blackdown, Massive Attack, just to name a few. Check it.

Listen to:

Dubstep, 2-step Garage - Tatianna Nasr

He’s been quite simply referred to as a “musical genius.” To most, he’s the greatest that’s come out of London’s, or even the UK’s, dubstep scene. However,

• Archangel • Fostercare • South London Boroughs

Issue 3

"uuuuu" We asked the staff what they’ve been listening to lately. Ian Go

Javier Vesga

Mumford & Sons - Winter Winds Broken Bells - October The Radio Dept. - David

Ottoman - Vampire Weekend Skinny Love - Bon Iver Moth’s wings - Passion Pit

Jennie Park

Caitlin Favati

i think i like u 2 - Jamaica Knights of Cydonia (Nostalgia Dubstep Remix) - Muse Youth - Beach Fossils

Mckenzie Finchum Tres - Pinback Napela Monday (remix) - The Glitch Mob Sierra Leone - Mt. Eden

Jasmine timan Fascination - Alphabeat Hollywood - Marina and the Diamonds Animal - Miike Snow (punks jump up remix)

hyeong sun cho Nobody (rainstone remix) - Wonder Girls Slow Motion - Karina Pisca Punga - Pat C.

Tatianna Nasr Don’t Know - Synkro Burial - Miike Snow The Vowels, Pt. 2 - Why?

Renee Hyde Example - Watch The Sun Come Up (Devil’s Gun Zeitgeist Remix) Archangel - Burial Chicago - Sufjan Stevens

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Nantes - Beirut Heavy Cross - Gossip Up Up and Away - Kid Cudi

victoria stanley Something, Somewhere, Sometime – Ben Sollee & Daniel Martin Moore Cocaine Trade – Christian Hansen & The Autistics One of These Days – Velvet Underground

Alexis Bell Fancy Footwork (GT Remix) - Chromeo Memories - David Guetta feat. Kid Cudi We Talk Like Machines - Savoir Adore

Karisa sukamto If We Ever Meet Again - Timbaland ft. Katy Perry One Man Drinking Games - Mayday Parade Break Your Heart - Taio Cruz

Kristine Maramot For You I Will - Teddy Geiger Chariot - Gavin DeGraw Moment - Aiden

Caroline Barrett Lose Control - Jojo + Timbaland Raindrops - Basement Jaxx Half of My Heart - John Mayer & Taylor Swift

APPENDIX YOUR THOUGHTS We hope you enjoyed the Muse issue of Absolute Art. The Absolute Art team would love to hear your thoughts on it, so send us an e-mail. We are constantly looking for people who would like to contribute artwork, photography, and writing material for our future issues, as well as people familiar with graphic and layout design. Absolute Art is a team always open to new members, so donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be afraid to join at any time of the year. Drop by Mr. Welshâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s room (H401) for contact and meeting details.

selected textures from http://www.textureking.com/ (pages 54, 45, 44, 43) selected stock images from http:// www.sxc.hu/ (page 48) selected fonts from www.dafonts.com (pages 55, 46) selected photos from songofstyle.blogspot.com (page 37) selected photos from http://www.ilovefakemagazine.com (page 37) selected photos from fashiontoast.blogspot.com (page 37) selected art from artcess.wordpress. com/2009/01/12...ce-1985/ (page 5) selected art from http://www.ketnapatel.com/gallery/index.php?album=photocollage&image=Asian-SignsS.jpg&p=*fullimage (page 5)

Issue 3

last look You would be surprised of what lurks in the depths of cavern H100, otherwise known as the art room. One of its many inhabitants is senior Kohei Yamashita, the Japanese guy who you often see fiddling with either a piece of wire in his hands or some sort of art material. His work portrays a distinct style that is different from anyone elseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in the art suite. However, one particular piece of his shows many similarities with upcoming Chinese leaf carvers. Who would have thought that dried up autumn leaves could be used as a canvas? Leaf carving is an emerging art form. It is exactly what the name implies; artwork carved on dried leaves, specifically leaves from the Chinar tree. The process includes the artists carefully removing the outer layer without cutting or breaking the veins of the leaves. Although Kohei hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t exactly carved on leaves, he has carved out leaves, using glass as his choice of surface. Using only a blade, he meticulously carves in each vein one by one. Among the intricate design, he has even weaved in names of several of his friends, forever marking them on his art. Not bad for just an 18 year old. By Jasmine Timan

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