NICHE FEBRUARY 2010
TABLE OF CONTENTS (click on features to take you to the page)
FEATURES
MUSIC
FILM
14 • Li Cari 22 • Marais 62 • Jay Farrar And Ben Gibbard 103 • Treasure Island Festival 140 • Azure Ray
52 • The Fall Of Troy 60 • Lissie 72 • As Tall As Lions 78 • Portugal. The Man 84 • Tori Amos 88 • Asobi Seksu 94 • Minus The Bear 96 • Noah And The Whale 124 • Maria Taylor 132 • Orenda Fink
70 • One Fast Move Or I’m Gone
ART 32 • Alison Schulnik 36 • Louise Ma 42 • Leah Raintree
FASHION 8 • Filippa K 20 • Goran Sundberg
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INDEX 146
32 • Alison Schulnik
42 • Leah Raintree
36 • Louise Ma
22 • Marais
62 • Jay Farrar And Ben Gibbard
103 • Treasure Island Festival
124 • Maria Taylor
132 • Orenda Fink
140 • Azure Ray
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STAFF Writer At Large Tiara Chiaramonte
Creative Director
Photographers
Brian Vu
Nick Asokan Daniel Byun
Website Designer Chris Bernal
Writers
Ritu Ghiya Daniel Clarke
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FASHION
LOOK BOOK
FILIPPA K
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LOOK BOOK
LI CARI
FASHION
Written By Tiara Chiaramonte Photography By Nick Asokan
Li Cari’s line shown at LA fashion week was a beautiful collection consisting of clothes perfect for any occasion from a night out on the town to a casual lunch with colleagues.
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FASHION LOOK BOOK
GORAN SUNDBERG Rethinking Fashion In A Functional But Refined Way Written By Ritu Ghiya
How would you describe your design style, and when did you establish it? That’s a tricky question to answer, since style mostly comes from things you do unconsciously. I guess I have an eye for lines, as in silhouettes, cuts and details. I have always worked on the patterns and the draping myself. And I do like suiting, although it can be very soft and the construction almost undetectable, or contrasted with draping. I also tend to incorporate high tech materials. But I do not do “pretty”. I just can’t. And I am not much of a stylist, like Marc Jacobs for instance.
For a man who claims he doesn’t do “pretty,” Swedish designer Goran Sundberg certainly manages to still create amazing pieces of clothing. His striking designs that combine functionality and refinement do not come across as an attempt to please. Sundberg effortlessly creates collection after collection that excite without trying too hard. His latest endeavor, Airdown, has his two distinct elements, utility and style. The graphite and insulated fabrics make for garments that are innovative creations in their own right. We sat down with him to talk about his future collections, his utmost goal, and obsession with running.
What do you wear personally? Do you wear pieces from your collection? I tend to test things that are interesting at the time, like, if it is leather I put on that to feel what it’s like and to inquire with my body and my eyes. Otherwise, it is mostly prototypes from previous collections.
You’re from Sweden, what’s the weather like? Kind of manic-depressive: the summers are mild and sweet with a late night sun. Everybody’s partying outdoors and, then, coming down in the morning light. The winters, on the other hand, are cold, wet, dark and grim. You either wish you could go into hibernation or try to focus on activities that are suited for dark and grim contexts. Right now, we are enjoying a kind of prolonged, belated summer. But, the nights are getting colder.
Can you tell us about Airdown, your latest collection? At a sports and tech forum, I got in touch with a Korean company that had developed the technology. They had invented a way of infusing layers of air into laminated fabrics to create insulating garments. I liked the way it transformed the surfaces and how it relates to physics - you know, gases, temperatures. But foremost it is a great invention, and a fresh way to create winter wear, not the least in the ethical perspective of the use of goose down. It gave me an opportunity to approach clothing more like an industrial designer, to concentrate on those aspects rather than the traditional signal values in fashion. Consequently I will continue and develop this small capsule of AirDown jackets for future seasons, rather than just get on to the “next obsession”. It is very liberating.
What was the first article of clothing that you remember making? Probably a sharp three-quarter legged suit in graphite and black sharkskin silk that I made before enlisting in fashion school. It had a collarless jacket, and I wore it with a black sweater and suede ankle boots. It looked great in the club, but it didn’t allow for much arm movement. And the interior wasn’t at all professionally made. But in general, I do appreciate when people without formal training and from other disciplines approach clothing. It doesn’t always make for good, commercial fashion propositions, but it can be refreshing and introduce new perspectives.
Do you have a favorite piece from the collection? And why? Oh, I do look forward to wear the parka style with detachable hood and magnetic buttoning if I can keep one for myself. Apart from the obvious reasons for wearing something to protect you from cold and draught that is also stylish, there are advantages in terms of time. An invention, regardless of its success rate, does not have the same connection or reference to past époques or fashions the way already established garments have. In that sense, you are freed from the whole modern-passé dichotomy.
How did you get started in the fashion business and why? It’s mostly for lack of imagination, I think. The summer after graduating from college, I found myself without anything to do. So I went to a fashion school in Stockholm with images of the outfits I had made, and was admitted to a course straight away. Amazing, really. And since, I haven’t really been able to find something that matches the high points (or the low points, for that matter) of working in the fashion business. And I have tried. I really do enjoy the constant movement and the wacky people you meet in fashion.
Can you tell me a little bit about your next collection? For different reasons I made a small conceptual collection for spring, where I used sneaker materials and constructions. It worked great for cocktail dresses and eveningwear at the expense of menswear. This, I will make up for in the collection for winter 2010, which I am working on now. I hope it will be very “sartorial” but in a new way.
What are you trying to accomplish through fashion design? To enjoy myself and to make fine garments for the people who want to wear them. The latter is about craftsmanship, about skill and the material side. The enjoyment is about dipping into different kinds of energies and exploring things. I am reading a lot. Among my favorites are the French post-structuralists, like Bourdieu and Baudrillard. They have given me new perspectives and incentives for my practice. At best, it is a little like being Neo in The Matrix, taking the red pill. You see new things, but it’s also impossible to return to the previous mindset. And I do believe you have an obligation to use your knowledge to try to improve things, although it is on the scale of clothing and fashion.
What do you do when you aren’t designing clothes? It’s mostly about cultures: movies, art, reading, music - specifically electronica and club culture. I was very inspired by the dubstep movement, and now I just hope to get off to Berlin, soon. Besides that, I go running, which I enjoy very much. There is much to be said about Nike, but I just love my new Lunarglides!
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Oxford in Hunter 22
MARAIS Photography By Daniel Byun and Nick Asokan
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Tuxedo Boot in Black
Army Boot in Black
Chelsea Boot in Sienna
Oxford in Hunter
ART
ALISON SCHULNIK Written By Daniel Clarke
THIS NEW YORK NATIVE IS NOT YOUR AVERAGE PAINTER. SHE BRINGS TEXTURE TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL. Allison’s art style puts to use the textures of oil to create imaginative and sometimes haunting images. Most of her paintings consist of nature and animals, though her unique style turns them into manifestations of the imagination. The blending of textures and colors creates some wild and amazing creatures. Her art can also be found in the form of clay animation. Her unique style translates well into this medium, where she is able to further bring her creations to life. Take the time to watch “Hobo Clown” to see this abstract form take on the life of movement.
color, I had to force myself to work monotone. That can be a more intense study of color.
Where are you currently living? and how’s the weather? Los Angeles, California. It’s hot.
How long does it usually take to make a painting from Allison Schulnik? I work quickly. Sometimes I spend a lot of time with a character, drawing it, etc... The actual final painting might not take that long though. Sometimes I just go right into a painting and then I’m done with that subject. Either way, for me, it’s best I don’t spend too much time on something, or it’ll go stale. I am learning when to stop. I think I’ll be learning that my whole life.
You’re painting includes many sad characters, why is this? I’ve been asked this a lot and never really can come up with a good answer. It’s like trying to figure out why I like pickles. Some people don’t like them. I’m just drawn to these characters. It must be a genetic pull. They are more real to me. Happy characters don’t really need to be painted.
What does your studio look like currently? Well, I just moved to a bigger space. It’s got windows, so breathing will be a bit easier. It’s a huge mess, boxes, paintings, little gold men, dead animals, scattered about.
You have such an understanding with many mediums of art, is there a reason why? It’s probably because of my short attention span. I like to cycle through different mediums because it’s more challenging. It presents new problems, which is good. I mean really paint, clay, pencil, wood... it’s all the same.
What materials do you mostly work with? I use oil paint. I also use clay for my stop-motion films and sculptures. Traditional materials, gouaches too. When did you know that you wanted to be a painter, and when did you establish this style? I think maybe when I was 13 or so. I have a lot of painters in the family, so I was out painting alleys around town and drawing little patterned dish towels when I was pre-pubescent. Then when I was going to CalArts, I wanted only to study film and cartoons and wanted nothing to do with painting. But I came back around.
Do you listen to music while you are painting? Can’t paint without it. What musicians/ bands are you currently listening to? Big Business, Upsilon Acrux, The Earthmen, The Wipers, Johnny Mathis, Slayer
Color... what does it mean to you? Everything. I got so into
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ART
LOUISE MA Written By Ritu Ghiya
Animal Counterparts To Humans Freelance designer Louise Ma epitomizes quirky. Her inventive drawings and work are essential to the conversation of artistic creation and individuality. Ma knows exactly what she is doing and how she wants to convey it with her cascading bright hues and aesthetically pleasing typography. Her designs have been featured in the magazines Out and I.D. and several other publications. And we had the honor of sitting down with her to learn about her niche, favorite materials and current obsessions.
seems more a curse than a blessing but I think the odds are with us. Tell us about your Animal Drawings.This is a series I did for a drawing class during my sophomore year in Cooper. I paired my friends and classmates with animals that I thought resembled them. My hope was that drawing people I know would help the work convey some trace of warmth or familiarity to the audience. The project was conceived as a series of drawings instead of photographs because illustrating the subjects flattens them into a single common dimension, where they can be judged together as one unit. This visual style of scientific/medical illustration also lends the drawings an appearance that is oddly more believable than modern photography. The drawings were done with graphite, ink, and colored pencil. I’d trace the silhouette of the person or animal onto a square sheet of clay-coated paper, and then fill it in with digital photos on the screen as references. After outlining all the shapes in pencil I’d color the image with the yellows first, then reds, and finally blues. This was how my high school art teacher -- an impressionist painter -- would mix flesh tones in class. Coloring in the drawings was the most satisfying part of the process because I could watch the image become lifelike through a very regimented system... like a printer. Finally I’d “cap” both ends of the image by filling in the darks and lights.
How did you find your niche? I don’t feel like I’ve found it at all. Or if I have, I’ve engaged a defense mechanism that keeps me from feeling claustrophobic. What is it like being a designer in New York? It’s a challenge, not unlike being a designer anywhere else in the world. I don’t have as much time as I’d like to take part in the city’s cultural events. The air quality and basic living conditions can be crummy sometimes. But as a whole, designers have it very easy in New York. I’d have to make an effort to starve doing what I do, and I’m perpetually surrounded by other creative types who help me keep things in perspective. This is true even while I’m a homebody by nature, and terrified of most “networking” situations.
These drawings have a lot of detail but after completing them I was most interested in getting them reproduced in print and online. I’m skeptical of showing most work in a physical space, and the drawings were definitely one of those cases. I tell people this is an unfinished series, though realistically I’ll probably never work on another Animal Drawing again.
Please tell us more about your design background. My design education in art school was largely prefaced by making little books and developing my homepage. Design started out as just a way of presenting fine art. The line between the two didn’t blur much until I became Mike Essl’s student at the Cooper Union. When it did, it was really awesome.
What would you say are your favorite materials?The web is a very powerful material; I’d count that as my favorite. Offline, I prefer pencil, ink and paints on paper -- whichever can rapidly materialize ideas. If I were skilled as a printmaker, I’d probably think up more sophisticated silkscreen or woodcut projects. I’m still looking for that perfect printer partner with access to facilities.
Cooper is unique in that it attracts design students who may be skilled in design but also spread their interests over other subjects -- sometimes tangentially related, sometimes not related at all. I think this widened point of view is key to being a designer with some latitude. Occasionally it
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What are some pros and cons of being an illustrator thus far? Pros: Finishing an illustration is a plainer process than designing anything -- the problem only needs to be approached from so many angles. I’ve been fortunate in that clients usually approach me with a solid idea of what my work looks like, but are still lenient with what they’ll take from me. Cons: Sometimes I don’t get the final say in how a project shapes up. Then again, the art directors are usually right when they correct me. I’m horrible at saying no to illustration projects. I don’t think I’ve turned down a single one. Do you have any specific goals that you want to accomplish? Finding the time to finally photograph this vast amount of old work to put online. I’m working on a massive hypertext fiction project that will be happening online, though I have no idea how to piece together any of the parts right now. Hopefully over the next few months I’ll get around to finishing this portrait of Doctor Manhattan that you can view simultaneously from far away and up close. I was able to visit Amsterdam a couple weeks ago; eventually I’d like to pick up some Dutch. Can you let me in on your typical workflow from start to finish? I can’t really put my finger on a typical workflow, since I spread my time over different kinds of projects. But one common theme across the successful projects I’ve done have involved a lot of research and input from experts who are more knowledgeable than me. The planning stage of any kind of work is by far the most critical stage, even to a degree in projects with lots of serendipities. I’m more comfortable having the big questions brought up before turning any work into a time-intensive process. What are you currently obsessed with ( this could be anything )? My boyfriend lent me his copy of Scott McCloud’s “Understanding Comics” last week and it’s rekindled my love of manga and anime. I watched Millennium Actress and all of Paranoia Agent in one sitting, and I’d love to do it again at some point with friends. Over the holidays I’m looking forward to rereading Dragonhead and Yu Yu Hakusho. Another current fixation is this project I’m part of, started by my friend Caroline Woolard. We’re calling it OurGoods, and it’ll be a website where artists of all kinds can barter their skills and work with each other. I think it’ll be a very valuable tool to a lot of people. Lastly, Favorite musicians at the moment. I’ve started to really listen to Arcade Fire’s cover of “Brazil.” It’s an excellent song. And always John Adams. Not the former president... the composer!
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LEAH RAINTREE A burst of artistic expression Written By Daniel Clarke
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Equipped with ink and paper Leah Raintree’s art erupts into an assortment of wild shapes. These pictures consist of several small bursts of patterns intertwined in a sort of chaotic shape. Recurring shapes and patterns draw attention to the focal points from which these bursts of ink originate and tie all of these bizarre concoctions together.
Have you had any training or were you self taught? I studied fine art at Virginia Commonwealth University and the rest of my “training” has been living and making work in New York. How often and what time of day do you usually draw? I suppose I’m working all the time, and draw as often as I can. It’s a fluid process, having a lot to do with the given demands. At times, I need to prioritize research, writing or travel for my work and at others I need to focus heavily in the studio. I’m always generating new pieces, but sometimes I work on large projects for 24 hour stretches, and at other times I might draw for an hour or two a day. It’s important to always involve myself in some form of making. It’s a feedback loop, and some ideas don’t get sorted out in any other way.
Her art also takes the form of sculptures, such as what she created with designer Ben Krone. In this work her drawings were ink drawn and scanned, then 3d modeled to create the layers of depth milled in Corian. Samples of the sculpture can be seen on her website. What was it like being raised in Virginia? Virginia is a beautiful place. I grew up in a fairly unconventional home in an otherwise conservative environment. The last name Raintree, which my parents created, definitely stood out. They were implants to the south, where they started a small farm, raised five kids and a number of foster kids.
Please describe your design process. Works develop organically, starting from a point and growing outward. Individual elements respond to neighboring details and eventually reside within a great deal of complexity. At times, particular forms and behaviors are explored in isolation; at others, layers of varied activity overlap and function as a whole. Until I’m well into a drawing, I have little idea of what the outcome will be.
There was this mixture of hard work and service, along with a tremendous freedom and need to figure things out on our own. All of that land and autonomy provided a lot of room to explore, and direct exposure to the basic processes of life, death, and everything in between. With that, I spent a lot of time imagining how the world around me worked. That fundamental impulse is really the basis of my work: to find patterns, understand systems and to speculate on how things develop, function and change.
Can you tell us about your artwork and what it means to you? My core influences are rooted in scientific metaphor, which branch into broader explorations of process, development, causality and adaptation. This involves an ongoing investigation of form, phenomena and complex systems, while allowing literary, art historical and philosophical influences to filter in. Most recently, I developed two series focused on human anatomy, creating imaginary systems of the body. I’m currently producing work dealing more specifically with the relationship of the body to technology along with works that begin with the basic laws of physics. Given that nothing is fixed around us, there will always be questions to raise. This drives me to keep making work.
Why did you move to New York? I moved to New York right after college. By that point, I needed rigor and access to progressive people. I worked in a number of jobs in the arts, which provided an intense education and some truly valuable relationships. Ultimately, the more time I spent in my studio (which was my kitchen table for years), the happier I was here. Six years later, the density and diversity of New York make it home, offering another level of information that definitely enters the work. What materials are you always using? I’ve worked in a variety of materials, but I’m very loyal to radiograph pens. They require a particular degree of patience, but I ask a lot from them. I use the smallest nibs available, so the work develops at a measured pace. I prefer handmade paper, which produces a subtle noise to work against. For me, that friction aligns with epigenetic in biology, which are changes in gene expression caused by contextual conditions rather than alterations to the underlying DNA. The correlation between intention and mutation also appears between my materials, process and ideas I explore.
How long does it usually take you to make a piece? It depends on scale and the point I’m at within a project. My drawings range in size, but the intensity and detail generally remain the same. The work is naturally laborious, and requires long hours of meditative work. As I mentioned, there are periods when I’m gathering research and periods when I really push through making. I might spend a month on a few small drawings and then complete a large-scale piece in half the time. What do you have planned for the rest of the year? I had two solo shows earlier this year, so I’ve been opening my practice back up: reading a lot, looking at my assumptions, trying new things. I’ve also been thinking about working in residence at a lab or similar environment, so we’ll see how that unfolds. Ultimately, new threads have been forming, so it’s about hard work and consistency in the studio now.
When did you decide that you wanted to be an artist and why? I actually get asked why I didn’t study science more than why I wanted to be an artist. I was turned on by both from a young age, but the imaginative side of science wasn’t shown to me. I come from a long line of musicians, writers, educators and social workers, so, the ideals were either creative or socially minded. I always had technical facility and perhaps an intuition that making art required an inherently rebellious spirit.
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MUSIC
THE FALL OF TROY Written By Daniel Clarke Photography By Daniel Byun
A Classic Case of Evolution What musicians inspire you the most? Frank: 311 Andrew: the Beatles Thomas: Hendrix
In the Unlikely Event” the Fall of Troy has evolved their sound with a more structured style. This is not to imply however that their music has become watered down, they thrash up the stage as well as ever. They backed this up on their tour by playing the new and the old and they did it with the same energy they had in the days of “Doppelganger”.
What do you consider your greatest accomplishment as a band? Thomas: Getting Frank in the band.
Interviewing the Fall of Troy (or as known by their fans as TFoT) felt more like hanging out with good friends rather than a formalized process. We joked, talked about comics, music, traveling, and everything in between.
What keeps you guys going at this nonstop pace? It seems like there’s always a new album or tour every year. Getting a new bass player helps a lot. Music is the best thing, almost religious even, it’s like group therapy. Music is math, science, melody, everything which is intangible. It’s metal strings making good vibrations.
Throughout the interview, it became apparent that the band feels a sense of accomplishment with the new album. This feeling is well justified. This new album presents the same intense style we can expect from TFoT along with some new musical directions.
Ryan Donnely and Rody Walker both made appearances on your album. What brought you together w/ these artists? We toured with Protest the Hero and shared a practice spot with Ryan.
This is the first full album featuring the new bassist Frank Ene. We can expect to see him on future albums as well because he has made a wonderful impression on the rest of the band. There remains some bitterness towards the previous bass player for reasons not fully explained. However, this is the Fall of Troy that will likely stay together for years to come.
It seems like your music has mellowed since Doppelganger, why the shift in style? Thomas: I completely disagree. It’s more cohesive and understandable, more melody and order to it. It’s not mellowed though, if anything it’s the opposite.
Where do you draw your inspiration from? Andrew: Comics, Books, talk radio. More specifically Deadpool, 100 Bullets, and Y the Last Man.
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MUSIC
LISSIE Written By Tiara Chiaramonte Photography By Andrew Calder
Folkier country music style that’s truly a gem in the modern music scene I loved, the song the song, “Everywhere I go” what was your inspiration for it? The song occurred to me in the moments where you feel lost or bad. It’s something to fill you up and give you direction to wait and get better. It’s also because I felt lost about what I should do why I felt so empty. It’s a good thing to get bummed sometimes you get inspiration out of it.
“Why You Runnin’” Lissie’s latest EP is reminiscent of the early country music of the fifties that fits perfectly in this decade. Her folk style of country music is a gem in modern country music industry. Lissie’s upbringing in the mid-west brings a country innocence to the LA music scene. Her music is raw and genuine and Niche recently had the pleasure of sitting down to a cup of coffee with this young talented musician.
What’s the story about the facts on your Myspace profile which mention you got kicked out of high school and sold honey for a living? I guess it says a lot about myself. That I’ve got no agenda. I’m not a phony and I’m a bit naïve. It’s an open well spirited intended statement about myself.
What do you find most challenging as a musician? I don’t know. It’s challenging to put oneself in the right zone to create on purpose. It’s like a mindset like tired or crabby. Creating on purpose trying to force yourself to feel something. I’ve been lucky my life is flexible enough to wait until I can create.
How do you like California (she lives in Ojai, CA but is from the Midwest) versus the Midwest? It mentions in your profile that you could never separate yourself from the Midwest mentality. Why is that? I love the sunshine. I missed winter for a week but I’m loving Ojai right now it’s really pretty. Although I don’t love city living I drove to Yosemite recently to get away. It was such pretty landscapes.
What got you interested in music? I’ve always loved singing from a young age. My grandfather was actually in a barbershop quartet and I grew up in a Lutheran choir singing. I was writing songs and poems. It was very cathartic and mostly about some of the problems I’d have at school. It would help get it all off my chest. I’m also the youngest of four kids so my parents weren’t as strict on me and believed music could b a job and I could make a living from it for awhile. If you could only listen to three songs before you die what would they be?
So your Myspace says you have a dog. What’s its name and what breed is it? His name is Byron he’s a Lhasa Apso and the cutest thing in the world. He’s staying in a doggy hotel right now actually. “Little Loving” the lines “going to get to heaven” really make this song sound like a folk/ country classic. What was your inspiration for the song? It’s totally random. It all came out of a month of singing the State Song. It was really dorky but I thought it was clever. So I was singing that song jokingly writing about crossing states and dating a guy and getting over someone
1.Broke Down Place by the Grateful Dead 2.All the Pretty Little Horses 3.And something by Bobby Gentry If you weren’t pursuing a career in music what else would you be doing?I wonder that if I would be able to do anything else. I think I’d want to be a home maker I’m a tidy clean person, I have a garden, and I like to cook. I actually entered a chili competition and our chili tasted so good.
How was it working with Bill Reynolds (from Band of Horses who produced the CD)? It was awesome. He’s a good friend of mine we met through friends hung out listened to music together and sang. Two years ago we also did Wedding Bells for fun and it turned out so good we did it in just one take.
If you could have one super power what would it be and why?Flying. It would be awesome to fly I dream about it all the time. And I wake up and think, “damn it” because it’s the best feeling in the world. 60
MUSIC
BEN GIBBARD & JAY FARRAR Written By TIara Chiaramonte Photography By Nick Asokan
A beatnik writer’s unintentional influence on music Ben Gibbard & Jay Farrar’s soundtrack for the documentary One Fast Move Or I’m Gone is an inspiring album showing the deep impact Jack Kerouac’s novel had on his fans. Early into the concert for the soundtrack Ben Gibbard asked the audience how many knew why he and Jay Farrar were performing. He made it perfectly clear that the show was in honor of Kerouac and the upcoming documentary. As the show continued, the duo’s seamless performance completely overshadowed the very separate music careers of the two artists. The very essence of the words written by the beatnik writer seemed to pour through the lyrics of the music. It truly channeled the spirit of the beatnik generation captured by Kerouac in a concert and album.
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FILM 12
ONE FAST MOVE OR I’M GONE Written By Tiara Chiaramonte Photography By Nick Asokan
The movie One Fast Move or I’m Gone is a personal glimpse into the life of Jack Kerouac. One Fast Move Or I’m Gone: Kerouac’s Big Sur is an intimate and deep look at famed beatnik writer Jack Kerouac’s personal life through his friends, admirers, and fans. The movie gives any fan of Kerouac’s from a casual reader of On the Road to an avid fan whose read all of his works a new look at the famed writer.
It seems that there is an overarching theme in the movie that Kerouac was trying to get back to what feels honest. He couldn’t seem to escape the perception of the Jack Kerouac by other people and the media. Do you think that by the time of his death he found what felt honest and what is your perception of Kerouac?I don’t think Jack Kerouac ever found what he was looking for and I’m not sure anyone really does. Once you are characterized in the public psyche it is a difficult thing to change. At his death, I believe he was more honest than he realized and being honest doesn’t mean you’re happy or at peace.
It explores his personal relationships with his mother and best friends, discovers the impact Kerouac’s made on his fans, and much more. Niche recently sat down with the director of this phenomenal documentary, Curt Worden, to discuss further some of the themes in his movie.
There are a lot of mentions throughout the movie by the various people you interviewed that Jack would not have been able to write as well as he did without his alcohol problem. Do you think that’s the case and why? I do not attribute his great writing ability to alcoholism. Jack found that alcohol made it easier for him to cope with his demons as he tried to make sense of the world.
Why do you personally identify with Jack Kerouac? Kerouac resisted the status quo by not conforming to social and cultural ideals. He was an experiential observer with the ability to articulate his thoughts through his writing. As a filmmaker, I too try to observe and report realizing the difficulty and burden of doing it well. So on some level I can understand where he was coming from.
What is your analysis of the relationship between Kerouac and his mother? We all need a safe haven and Mamere was Jack’s. He would always return to her, always a final destination after his road adventures. Clearly, in his writing, you can sense the strong bond they had. He was born and died in the presence of his mother.
What do you consider Jack Kerouac’s biggest contribution to literature? Using spontaneous prose-style writing at a time when authors were expected to painstakingly craft their work. We read Kerouac now and are moved by his willingness to bare it all – he didn’t hold back and didn’t play to the marketplace.
What was most challenging about making this documentary? Every page of Big Sur is rich with texture, color and depth of emotion. The challenge was how to best convey this on film knowing that the strength of Jack’s prose had to come through. The visuals were important but I was determined to keep the scenes simple, enabling the viewer to be drawn in by the written word and the interpretation of those words by people who have a deep understanding of Jack Kerouac. By using his prose as first person narrative, the hope is that the audience will better understand the literary significance of this work.
Do you think Kerouac would have been happier without the fame, without having to be the “unwilling spokesperson of a generation?” Jack’s love/hate relationship with his King of the Beats moniker did not bring him happiness. Without the fame on some level his work would not have been validated, but the fame also brought him great pain. In the movie there was a statement, “If Jack Kerouac didn’t articulate it someone else would have…” What do you think was so inspirational and different about this generation? Lawrence Ferlinghetti made this statement. He was speaking of post WWII 1950’s in San Francisco when the mainstream cultural direction was being challenged. Freedom of expression was pervasive and with so many creative, open-minded writers it was bound to surface. I think it was an important time that influenced the significant changes to come including civil rights, the anti-war movement and a mindset for creative individualism.
What is your opinion of the three way relationship between Carolyn, Neal Cassady, and Jack? Do you think that he could have found happiness with Carolyn?I don’t think Jack would have found long-term happiness with any woman. This triangle is intriguing and always embellished beyond what I think the reality actually was. In my opinion I feel, that on some level, these people really loved each other and were living their lives as it unfolded without plan. It was a mix of emotions and events
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that really was not that surprising then or now - except that Jack wrote about it.
between the Jack Kerouac in novels and the real Jack Kerouac? I think there were discrepancies between Jack’s reality and his work. But in Jack’s writing, especially in Big Sur, he bares his soul. This is a very personal story that was written in ten days. It seems to me that his motive was not to create a “work of art” but to be truthful and detailed about an emotional turning point in his life.
After making this documentary what do you think makes Jack Kerouac so popular throughout the decades? For me Jack had the balls to follow the lesser-traveled path through life, which caused him to endure pain while seeking truth and honesty. In all societies the path of least resistance is to conform – Jack did not conform and I feel when people read his work something rises to the surface – the need to self evaluate our own life course.
Finally do you have anything else to add? I was intrigued by Big Sur and chose it as an initial documentary film project for Kerouac Films - but stay tuned for the feature film that is currently in development. Our team at Kerouac Films is also developing other Kerouac titles for the big screen including “The Dharma Bums”.
In the movie there is a statement during fire side chat about Jack’s paranoia that stated, “The way people are in real life is not the way they are in a work of art.” Do you think there was a discrepancy
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AS TALL AS LIONS Photography By Nick Asokan
A new face in alternative rock
In March 2007 I had attended a Circa Survive headliner show at the Glasshouse in Pomona. A friend of mine who had not been able to attend the show but was aware told me that I absolutely must check out the one of the openers specifically. It was a band by the name of As Tall As Lions who after my first listen I was convinced that the band was destined to become one of the greats of our time. As Tall As Lions recently put out their third full-length album “You Can’t Take it With You”. The album truly has its own unique sound in comparison to their sophomore self-titled album while still maintaining the organic sound. As Tall As Lions a true pleasure to listen to or watch perform and if you haven’t checked them out for yourself I highly recommend that you give them a listen. They are currently in the midst of a North American tour, which leads them to the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival Day One.
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PORTUGAL. THE MAN Written By Tiara Chiaramonte Photography By NIck Asokan
1970s charged psychedelic rock redefining music Yes, it is about Bush but it’s not “I’m a President’s son” but more of “I’m a President’s, SON” haha. But, it can really apply to anybody and everything in general.
An anachronism according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary is, “a person or a thing that is chronologically out of place.” Portugal. The Man’s music embodies this description with their 1970s charged rock that redefines modern music.
What are your dream jobs (besides musician)? Zach: I’d want to build models for businesses. You know those small model buildings you see of places before they’re built. I’d want to be the guy that makes them. John: I’d want to be a carpenter like Jesus. We have a lot in common. Ryan: NBA Player Jason: I’d want to own a nursery for plants and flowers
They have an experimental and political take on music that is exemplified through a harmonious blend of contemporary styling’s infused with classic rock n’ roll. Their live show is only an extension of this with psychedelic lighting and an unparalleled stage presence. Before their show I had the pleasure of interviewing the energetic band. What was the idea behind the names “The Majestic Majesty/The Satanic Satanist
Tell us a little bit about the production for the music video “Do You”. It was awesome a really good time. They directed it really well with a low budget. We actually built the set with acrylic paints and cool props. I set up the electric sheet and was helped by this crazy guy named Freedom Child. As far as the costumes go they were made by my friend who silk screened the patterns on.
It’s about a time of John’s life between 87 to 92 where he was moving around Alaska. About what he experienced what he learned. It’s basically about stepping out of reality. A question you guys probably get all too much but what’s the idea behind the name?The name is supposed to be kind of an alter ego like Ziggy Stardust to David Bowie but we weren’t a solo project so we figured a country would work well to represent all of us.
Where are you personal favorite places to tour in be it domestic city or foreign country/ why? Alaska and Portland because they’re home but we have amazing shows in California, German and Switzerland. There’s a bunch of different things you love about each place. I’m not really a fan of New York there’s too many people. We’re from a small town Portland… Well, it’s not exactly a small town but, not entirely a big city either. Portland’s actually a very liberal town we have a homosexual mayor. I really just go back and forth really between loving and hating people from cities.
With every album I feel that there is a strong change in the writing process. How is has the process differed from album to album? The process is never that different focusing on song structure. The song “People Say” you state, Save me, I can’t be saved, I won’t. I’m a president’s son, I don’t need no soul. Correct me if I’m wrong but I hear this as a reference to George W. Bush Jr. what did you mean to convey through the lyrics of this song?
One song that really grabbed me when I was listening to “The Majestic Majesty/The Satanic Satanist” was the song “Lover’s in Love” lyrically and musically. What was the general message you were trying to convey with this song?
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What are they last 3 songs you would want to listen to before you died? Zach • Here Comes the Sun by the Beatles • In My Time of Dying by Led Zeppelin • Brain Damage/ Eclipse by Pink Floyd
Jason: hahah it’s boned or be boned… (John wanted to have noted he does not agree with this but, felt it should be printed) Zach: Actually I’d say it’s more of metaphor about the dawn of man experiencing what we have been going through as a species. It’s based off of the Space Odyssey 2001. You know what’s a great song on love though is from the movie Hedwig and the Angry Inch the Origin of Love. John: It’s all about love. I had never written a love song but funnily enough this song is not about love. As with everything we write we laugh. We thought that’s the stupidest idea we’ve ever heard a love song not about love. We hate it so let’s do it! Hahaha…
Jason • In my Time of Dying also • Ready Able – Grizzly Bear • Box of Rain – Grateful Dead
So we had a friend that always said his ideal haircut would be Eric Clapton 72 and we have to say that yours is getting pretty close to his ideal…Hahaha actually, my ideal haircut would have to be Rick Danko 1971.
John • I’d want to listen to anything fucked up. • Ballad of John and Yoko • Let it Be by the Beatles • Your Blues
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TORI AMOS Written By Daniel Clarke Photography By Miranda Turin
The all inclusive Christmas spirit of “Midwinter Graces” Tori is at it again with another new album. She has brought a new sense of holiday spirit by bringing in a seasonal theme.
again because it’s a variation from the theme that makes it more inclusive.
This new work she has brought together consists of her approach to many well-known Christmas songs. Tori makes them her own by changing the context to a more inclusive theme. The focus of these songs is to bring out the spirit of the holiday without the religious undertones.
These albums are seen as joyous and happy, how would you describe this album. When you hear it it’s a really beautiful work. People get nostalgic and you have to acknowledge that there are people who aren’t with you (our new year) and there’s a song about that. In Candle Carol I wrote an intro to it so if a child is listening to it they’ll know it’s a song that was written a long time ago in the 1400’s. It’s the telling of King Harot and he’s ordered to play for the children. I’ve tried to include the different types of stories that would be told. I have an inside viewpoint and I understand how Christianity viewed it and I feel that people are excluded. The spiritual side can be embraced by anyone, because the birth of life is something anyone can honor. I felt that as a minister’s daughter I could open a circle to all of those people who may not want to embrace Christianity. The Solstices have been honored for thousands of years. I wanted to open it up a little to people who are Christian and those who aren’t.
Im curious about the emotions you feel now when you play these songs, vs. the emotions you felt when you played them while you were young. When I was little I started to question why do some of these carols sound different than other hymns. When I got older I started to research where this music came from? It’s a different melody in Britain than what we sang. Some songs were originally sea songs or pagan songs. Now that I’ve been able to be exposed to other cultures and realize that cultures have been celebrating the birth of the son for thousands of years. Describe the process of taking apart these songs and making them your own. These carols are very exclusive unless you believe in it, but I believe they should be inclusive. I’ve spent all of my life exposed to the Christian story and I’ve spent a lot of my life learning as much as I could and I’ve tried to research this. The oxford book of carols talks about where these melodies come from. The first noel is from southwestern England and the music is probably from another lyric that is hundreds of years old. These songs get twisted and turned around; I changed it
Did your cover of little drummer boy contribute to inspiring this album? I enjoyed doing that song. I had to put my classical hat on, because I took these carols and have to put your own variation on them. I didn’t want to do an exact carol; the purpose is to be part of a tradition. In the 21st century people change things, they may not have in your lifetime, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t. In the story of the three kings I ask “where are the Persians”. 84
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Could you talk more about the confidence you need to make this. I think that a lot of us grow up in church and feel intimidated to approach these sorts of things. When you think of noel people think it’s of a French origin and where it came from before was not religious. How do we make this a new noel? A lot has changed from those times when women couldn’t even vote. Being a ministers daughter it gets pounded in your head what the belief system are. The thing that always got me was the Christianity I know is very exclusive. I approached with that in mind and what I’ve been taught and what I don’t necessarily agree with. I’m enchanted by pink and glitter I’m curious of what this song is about. The celebration of the birth of a little girl. Little boys get a lot of press this time of year and that’s lovely. So the joy for this couple is that they have been blessed with a little girl. It’s not about a gift like a motor boat or TV, so I say shower the world in pink. Has your father heard?No he hasn’t. I think he wanted me to do this and I’m sure he will be happy that I didn’t do a song like Mary the whore. People sometimes think what they hear in church is the only way. If you can’t be open to it you deny yourself the beauty, which says a lot about who you are. I would like to think that as long it’s respectful and I believe it is. Taking some of those ideas that are kind of core to my parents. I wanted to also write and add things that every voice we sing a new noel with a new approach that didn’t want to hurt someone else. Sit in the same room and like someone even though they believe something different or in a different way. I never thought we would be in another war that had religion in its core. Yes there are some things I’m driven to try. Everyone should have access to the positive aspects of these beliefs. There’s not anger in this work, when the music came I thought this is so loving and giving. There’s not a confrontational anger that you may find sometimes at a Tori concert. It has so much love that it just has no need for a confrontation. The strongest thing you can do is make the most beautiful thing. You don’t need to shock anybody. What do you like most about the winter season? Everyone takes a break. Things stop, and when I say that, there is this window of time when it’s almost like we have a time out from our routine. Just a little bit of time we don’t have to be in that same day to day responsibility life. Certain businesses close down and they aren’t in their offices (which is great because they can’t call you either). It is part of who we are to work. In Europe, especially Italy they are good at taking time out. In that time you are almost out of that routine.
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ASOBI SEKSU Written And Photographed By Daniel Byun
Dreamy and whimsical, a feeling of auditory liberation that rides to Asobi Seksu. Asobi Seksu is a name that eludes many, but unjustly so. With a sound that captures the soft and mellow spirit of shoegazing and dream pop, Asobi Seksu presents their unique art to the world with charismatic appeal. With an ever growing base of loyal listeners, Asobi Seksu is here to make a mark.
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MINUS THE BEAR Written By Chris Bernal
Minus the Bear’s latest album is an electronic but melodic ambient rock symphony Minus the Bear’s latest album “Planet Ice” is filled with ambiguous but beautiful lyrics mixed with experimental ambient rock music. While “an eye for an eye” is a phrase famously related to Hammurabi’s code for law for Minus the Bear it also relates to relationships in their famous song, “Knights.” According to the band while there was no direct intention or inspiration behind “Knights” the fact so many meanings can be taken from is the true beauty in the song. Further discussions of their lyrics led to an exploration of their song “Absinth Party at the Warehouse.” There was not any particular place used as inspiration for the song but they did specify it was not anywhere in the United States. Rather the song is about being in a foreign country and how many beautiful things surround you as they put it, “we find a way to cram it all in, before we drink hard again.” Minus the Bear’s music diverges from the norm to create an electronic but melodic symphony. Their combination of captivating music with poignant lyrics is truly unique.
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NOAH AND THE WHALE Written And Photographed By Daniel Byun
Watering the seeds of bittersweet love, a masterpiece delivered by Noah and the Whale It has not exactly been five years time, but Noah and the Whale make us believe it. Representing their indie folk roots all the way from Twickenham, London, Noah and the Whale have forged and presented an endless string of auditory masterpieces to their listeners over the past four years. It is their uncompromising attitude towards the beautification of their song and lyrics that separate Noah and the Whale from any other band that solely yearns to be unique. Noah and the Whale do not wish to be different. They simply are.
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to the guys that went. (laughs)
Author’s Note: The opportunity to interview one of Great Britain’s most committed and talented musicians is nothing short of extraordinary, and it was to my great surprise and relief, that the experience itself was much more casual than I had expected it to be.
If you had never discovered your music as your true calling, what would you have become? I don’t know, that’s terrifying. That’s a truly terrifying question. Well, let’s see, I’ve always sort of taken myself through life creatively. Hopefully I’ll be doing something else in the arts. I truly feel that my skills are in music however.
Till this moment, it is my great suspicion that the strong positive energy I felt that evening stemmed from Charlie Fink’s inherently comfortable and inviting nature towards any occasion, whether that event be on stage at the Roxie or inside the space15twenty café, where this meeting took place.
And now more recently, you‘ve taken an appreciation for film, correct? Yes, film too. (smiles). So I guess, hopefully in filmmaking but if neither of those, then I don’t know, like I said, I like the country, I don’t know so maybe um …
What resulted from this interview was nothing short of a truly enjoyable conversation with a real artist, and it is our honor to present to our readers, the voice of Charlie Fink.
A farmer? Yes, a farmer. Maybe yeah. Yeah, a farmer sounds about right. (laughs)
When you listen to music nowadays, what do you feel music needs more or less of? I mean, it’s a hard thing to answer directly, it really depends what you’re going for. For example, I love the most obscure to the most popish of music. I love everything from Jimmy Roll to Lady Gaga. I love a great range of music.
How is the atmosphere in the US different from the UK? Is the public reception somewhat different? In America it varies from state to state. I’ve felt like there has never been a consistent atmosphere so to speak.. I feel like between LA and New York, Seattle and Portland, there is a different vibe in each to be found. But I feel it’s good. I like it, ‘cause there’s always a cool crowd. Sometimes, the difference can be found in the age demographic because America does a lot of shows as ages 21 and over. Obviously, every person will react differently to your music, so it’s always an interesting experience.
But my problem with commercial music is the exploitation aspect of it. I believe we are a pretty honest, hardworking band, the thing is I think the music industry is now poised at a position where all those other commercial bands will prosper more than say, our band. There is very little money to make anymore in the industry and that’s fine by me, and I don’t care, and I think it’s the bands who don’t care about that factor that will go through with making music. For those bands who are just looking for fame and money, there is going to be no point because there is virtually no money anymore.
Also I do it find hard sometimes, you know, it may sound like a bad thing. I know it’s what most people like, but you get like all these screaming young girls. In that situation, I honestly don’t know what to do, how to react, or what to play. So when I finally get an idea, it‘s like well, here’s a song about depression!
From the 6-7 songs I heard alone from your new album, I felt that there was a lot of purpose, yet simultaneously there was this interlaced feeling that there needed to be no purpose at all. Could you relate? Yes, it’s a hard thing to explain, but our ambitions are just that, we are aiming to be creative. People often ask us, “What’s been your greatest moment,” and things like that, and “at what point did you feel something has been a success or whatever.” To me, the defining moment is when I hear back what we’ve recorded for the first time. I mean, the live stuff is great as well, but I feel everything else besides that one defining moment is just irrelevant. The music’s been made and that’s all I wanted.
From the moment I heard of your band’s name, I was always curious as to why you chose a whale to represent yourselves. What’s your favorite animal? Actually, I’m a big fan of panda bears, or dogs, I like dogs. Noah and the Whale’s favorite animal is the panda bear? Yeah. So why Noah and the Whale? Well the band comes from the movie, the Squid and the Whale. It’s one of those things, I like that film a lot. When you finished your CD, and you listened to it for the first time, how did it strike you? The way we wrote this album, it’s continuous, the music is continuous, each track flows to the next. So in a sense, it feels like an inseparable piece. The way we recorded it, we did each track individually, so I haven’t heard any of the tracks back to back until we were completely finished. The first time we listened to it altogether, we weren’t sure if it was going to work.
An offbeat question, what is your favorite thing to do here? I haven’t gotten that many opportunities to do much around here, however, I do prefer more of the country to the city. Yosemite is in California right? Yes. That’s one of my favorite places in the world. Yeah, I love that. I did the Two Waterfalls Hike? Yeah, that’s my favorite. I don’t know, in LA, I go to the cine malls, I don’t know really. A couple of the guys went to the Getty yesterday.
That must have been terrifying. It truly was terrifying. But not to sound pretentious, it was genuinely an experience I had never felt before. It was very moving, relieving, there were a lot of emotions of how I truly felt. It was powerful.
Well so far, that certainly sounds like the 7th grade tour of L.A. The Getty is one of the first places we all go to in junior high for our field trips. No way, really? Maybe, you can tell that 98
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TREASURE ISLAND Written And Photographed By Nick Asokan Assisted By Anthony Pappally
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THE FLAMING LIPS
After an array of festivals in 2009 I thought I had seen it all until I had gone to Treasure Island. Aside from the great musical acts, food, and drinks the aspect that I felt sets a part Treasure Island from any other festival was the beauty in its location. To give a brief history, Treasure Island is an artificial Island erected in 1939 that falls in between Oakland and San Francisco just off the Bay Bridge. The location offers a great view of the San Francisco skyline as well its own atmospheric coastline. So it was no wonder that the two days I spent at Treasure Island proved to be memorable ones. The two days of Treasure Island offered a balance of genres in between both days. The first day consisted of a blend emphasizing on Electronica acts such as Dan Deacon, Girl Talk, DJ Krush, MSTRKRFT but also offering several indie rock and hip hop artists such as MGMT, Brazilian Girls, The Streets and much more. As the day had begun I dwelled on the fact that I had never really been into Electronica, Trance, Techno, etc., which I would later be viewing. So fortunately for me the first act I covered were The Streets who were amazing beyond my already favorable expectations. From there I went on to cover the electrifying and theatric Brazilian Girls whose stage presence meshed perfectly with their unique and fluid sound. Then came the Electronica, which I had been dreading all day beginning with Girl Talk. Much like every other unexpected appendage of Treasure Island this too caught me by surprise and swept me off my feet. At this point I felt like it was pretty safe to assume that MSTRKRFT (pronounced master craft) wouldn’t be as droll as I had expected either. “Not so droll” would prove to be the understatement of the century because MSTRKRFT were both “MSTRFUL” and put on a great and memorable show. MGMT the headliner of the night were then to go on and they did not fail to please. MGMT offered a lively stage presence and a pitch perfect live sound which proved to be an awe inspiring end to a near perfect day at treasure island. In between acts I couldn’t help but exercise my in and out privileges to go admire the beauty that is Treasure Island at sun-
down on both days of the festival. Landscapes had never really been my forte but the orange-purple sky over the San Francisco skyline was picture perfect and left me at a loss for better words. For this very reason I can truly say that Treasure Island as a music festival venue is unparalleled in its beauty. Day two at Treasure Island was quite the opposite of day one as far as expectations are concerned but no less of a thrilling experience. In regards to the lineup of day two as opposed to day one I had a stronger pre-existing disposition towards the artists who none of which failed to impress such as Grizzly Bear, Beirut, The Decemberists, and The Flaming Lips. Grizzly Bear’s unique and beautifully structured songs made it perfectly clear as to why their album Veckatemist was so critically well received in 2009. Beirut were unlike any live act I had seen offering a classical touch on indie rock music incorporating an arsenal of instruments such as a cello and accordion making them a truly brilliant live act. The Decemberists who were among my favorite artists on the lineup performed with both precision and soul making them a truly unforgettable live act. Then came the Flaming Lips whose live act I had heard so much about prior to Treasure Island but had never even seen a video of what it was actually about. Everyone who had told me about it could not quite put it into words they would just say “you have to see it for yourself” which are my sentiments exactly. All I can say are that The Flaming Lips combine theater and musical brilliance to make for an excellent show. The rest one would have to appreciate merely through observation. Working in the industry, I’ve been to and covered many music festivals. Not to knock on any other music festival because each and everyone offers its own charms but for me personally I felt that the general atmosphere of Treasure Island was incomparable. From an excellent lineup and a location of such unparalleled beauty it is truly hard not to fall in love with Treasure Island from the moment you set foot on it. Bay Area native or not I highly recommend Treasure Island under the presumption that one would certainly not regret attending by any means.
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BEIRUT
BRAZILIAN GIRLS
GIRL TALK
MSTRKRFT
THE STREETS
GRIZZLY BEAR
THE WALKMEN
YO LA TENGO
MGMT
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MARIA TAYLOR
MUSIC
Ladyluck is a soothing and lovely album that is a refreshing listen for any music fan Written By Tiara Chiaramonte Photography By Nick Asokan
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It was a fall afternoon when I went accompanied by a photographer and make up artist to do a photo shoot and interview with the vibrant Maria. As it progressed we learned many things about her from her love of Tina Fey to her history in classical ballet, and even the fact she considers herself a better drummer then guitarist. If you were not in the music industry what else would you be doing? Hmmm... Well, I studied ballet from when I was 3 until I turned 19. I came to a point where I had to decide to give 100 percent to one or the other. If music had not been an option... I might have continued with my dancing or maybe I would have gone to school to become a nutritionist. The effects of what we put in our bodies has always intrigued me. So you’ve lived in a number of places, Alabama, Georgia, California… Where has been your favorite place and why? Hmmm... Well, there is no place like home. I feel like I will return to Alabama at some point in my life. I think everything in life is about timing. The years I lived in Athens, Georgia were perfect. It was the only place I would have ever wanted to be at that time. It wouldn’t be the same for me now though... at this point I love Los Angeles. It’s so beautiful and after 5 years of extreme Nebraska weather, the consistency here is so nice. The song “Orchids” was beautiful. It described the emotions of growing apart on from a relationship or friendship very well. What was your inspiration for the song? It is just about the complexities of orchids and people and finding parallels between the two aka a break up song So I read online you always remove the high E-string on your guitar before playing. Is that true and why? This is true! I don’t like high pitch noises and one day about 8 years ago, my high E string broke and I finished the set without it. It occurred to me then, “Oh wow, this is way better on my ears.” I have to say I really enjoyed the “Time Lapse Lifeline” music video. It was great seeing all these beautiful women in dresses creating havoc around the city. How was it making the video? It was soooo much fun to make. Alan Tanner (my roommate and long time friend) directed it and I had three of my awesome friends be in it. It was so much fun making it that the day after we
shot it, I felt that my life was pretty, pretty, pretty boring. We got some negative feedback from weird people that thought we were condoning vandalism... I guess some people don’t get irony or have a sense of humor. Also, on the topic of the “Time Lapse Lifeline,” the lyrics were absolutely lovely. But there’s actually some online controversy as to what you’re saying in the second line of the song. Most sources state that it say that the lyrics are, “And they can run they can run from the farm to the last ride.” But many fans think you are saying, “And they can run, they can run, from the font to the last rites” This would be referring to the baptismal font going from life to death. So to clear up these differences what is the real line and what were some of your ideas behind the song? The whole song is about how life begins and ends and how fleeting the in between can seem. So yeah, the lyrics are “from the font to the last rites” One song that really stood out to me on the album was, “LadyLuck.” It really showed a person who used to wait around for luck but, now interprets luck in a different light. What were some of your intentions behind the song? It’s basically just that. It’s about taking control of your happiness. Making changes in your life even if you’re aren’t sure it’s the right move at the time. Once you are happy you can see your luck everywhere. You’ve collaborated with a lot of amazing musicians from Bright Eyes to Moby. What has it been like and who has been your favorite thus far? It is such a different experience collaborating with each person. On this last record I wrote Cartoons and Forever Plans with Michael Stripe and Andy Lemaster..... We stayed up until 6 am finishing that one in Athens, Georgia. That was one that really stands out in my mind. If you could only listen to three songs before you die or go deaf, what would they be? Maybe… Landslide by Fleetwood Mac; Woman by John Lennon; and Famous Blue Raincoat by Leonard Cohen.
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ORENDA FINK
Ethereal, and beautiful are some of the words that start to describe Orenda Fink’s latest album, “Ask the Night.” Written By Tiara Chiaramonte Photography By Nick Asokan Makeup By Samantha Titus
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Orenda’s music is a reflection of her beautiful and kind personality. She is an altruistic woman who would be doing charity work if she was not a musician. Throughout my interview with Orenda facts like this were only reminders that in many ways Orenda is not your stereotypical rock-star. If you were not in the music industry what else would you be doing? Hmmm … I think I would be doing some kind of social work. Outside of the country. Maybe in Cambodia or Haiti I went there in 2002 with a friend of mine. It was amazing. There was the French colonial stuff Anchor Wyatt which is really amazing If you could only listen to three songs before you die or go deaf, what would they be? I think that I would want to hear some of the Faint, my husband’s band, just to hear his voice. I would probably want to listen to the Bulgarians women’s choir it would be very soothing very beautiful angels singing. And then for the third I don’t know maybe some Dr. John because he’s my favorite. Is there any major growth from your first album Invisible Ones and Ask the Night? Yeah, I think so I did two records in between those two Manila and Ask The Night really my fourth record since then I got a lot of stuff out of my system for the first two records. So it allowed me to really shut down on this record and go a little bit deeper and expose a little bit more rawness I think that’s maybe a little bit of a transformation that’s happened. The comparison in the chorus of “High Ground,” that is “When the water rises they start to look for high ground just like me when you come around.” Where did you get the idea to compare a relationship to a flood? Ummm… you know the inspiration is about one of those relationships that if you’re away from the person your fine but when you’re in contact with them you feel like you’re drowning you can’t overcome the situation I kind of had that idea in mind when I was writing it. The water reference kind of came when I was strumming the chords and went with it It was mentioned that some Southern Gothic Literature was an inspiration for this album what are some of the books and
authors? Yeah… I read a lot of Flannery O’Connor I really loved that. I didn’t specifically use it though. There is this Truman Capote that was my favorite. It’s southern gothic literature and it’s so so so good it’s called Other Voices, Other Rooms. And then also my friend Chris Lawson who lives in Birmingham, Alabama and he sent me some of his poetry to draw inspiration from. He definitely has the southern gothic inspiration in his writing so that was inspiration too. I really loved the song “The Garden,” I noticed some biblical references is the title “the Garden” referring to the Garden of Eden? It’s a very inspirational song about the after life and consequences of being good and bad what was your inspiration? I wrote that song for my parents a while back they were having some financial problems and thought they would lose their house. And my mom’s obsessed with my garden. I wrote it for her if you end up losing the house and everything you work for it doesn’t really matter what you’ve cultivated is for yourself. “The Moon Knows” it’s like a children’s nursery rhyme. Where did you draw your inspiration? Well actually that song I heard a song on the radio and I though that’s what they said, that it was so sad to watch the world go bad. I love that so much. I looked it up online and those weren’t the lyrics. And I thought, “All right then I’m going use them then.” That’s kind of how I started that song. You know I thought you can go a couple of ways with that song you could make it really sad but, the lyrics itself are so sad. So I thought a little bit of a nursery rhyme feel would be nice to offset it. I loved how you personified the wind in the song “Wind,” why did you decide to do that? That song umm was I wrote that when I finally decided to move from Omaha to LA last February. You know, even in Omaha we’d move around a lot with in the city and I was feeling a little scared that I might not be happy anywhere making us move as a couple every few years we have to pick up and move somewhere. I just kind of wrote that song for my husband and myself exploring why we might never be in one place How do you like LA?I like it a lot. The driving is kind of scary it’s hard to get used to.
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MUSIC
AZURE RAY After over five years from their last album Azure Ray will be reuniting this year for their fourth album and we got a sneak peak photo shoot with the two members Maria Taylor and Orenda Fink of what’s to come. Written By Tiara Chiaramonte Photography By Nick Asokan Makeup By Neda Zandi
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INDEX FILM
MUSIC
ART
140 • Azure Ray
32 • Alison Schulnik
88 • Asobi Seksu
36 • Leah Raintree
72 • As Tall As Lions
42 • Louise Ma
myspace.com/azureray myspace.com/asobiseksu astallaslions.com
allisonschulnik.com leahraintree.com
hellolouise.com
52 • The Fall Of Troy
myspace.com/thefalloftroy
62 • Jay Farrar And Ben Gibbard jayfarrar.net bengibbard.com
60 • Lissie
myspace.com/lissiemusic
124 • Maria Taylor
myspace.com/mariataylor
94 • Minus The Bear
myspace.com/minusthebea
96 • Noah And The Whale
myspace.com/noahandthewhale
132 • Orenda Fink
orendafink.com
78 • Portugal. The Man
myspace.com/portugaltheman
84 • Tori Amos
toriamos.com
102 • Treasure Island Festival treasureislandfestival.com
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70 • One Fast Move Or I’m Gone onefastmove.com
FASHION 8 • Filippa K
filippa-k.com
20 • Goran Sundberg
goransundberg.com
14 • Li Cari
shoplicari.com
22 • Marais
maraisusa.com
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www.fittheniche.com