#It is not often I have a new band/musician to add to my all time favourite list but shit think they are getting there

[iridescentcrisco]

Holy shit, CONTROL BABY by Jhariah catches a lot of the non-binary feels and what it is like to be raised in a very religious background that is against you. This song gave me goosebumps

[jokeroutsubs]

[ENG translation] Jure Maček, Joker Out's drummer: "I don't have time for dating"

An article and interview with Jure Maček, published in Suzy magazine on 1.3.2024.

Original article is available here for Slovenske novice subscribers. Article written by Anita Krizmanić for Suzy magazine. English translation by a member of JokerOutSubs, proofread by IG GBoleyn123.

Music has accompanied the 27-year-old from Logatec since early childhood. He fell in love with it because of his father and grandfather, who were excellent musicians themselves. Besides them, he also had a number of other great teachers who introduced him to various genres, he played in the symphony orchestra and several bands, and just over three years ago, he finally found what he had been looking for – Joker Out, the band that became his new family. A pleasant and open conversation partner, who believed in his dreams and is living them today, gave us an honest interview about what his journey was like before he and his band embarked on the incredible odyssey that started last year before Eurovision.

Tours are tiring, but also incredibly exciting. // "They wouldn't let me play the drums in music school, because they weren't on the curriculum, so I decided that I would learn how to play them on my own."

"Each of us dreamed about one day finding ourselves where we are now. We're aware that many people don't have that chance. We miss home, we haven't been there very often in the past year, which we've already got used to. To each other, as well. We support each other and we know how to coexist. We're doing just fine, but there are moments when you have to grin and bear it. There aren't many of those, though, because we're mostly having a good time and we enjoy making music," a smiling Jure tells us from London, where the boys have been temporarily living and creating since the beginning of the year.

During our chat, he walks around the city and tells us that life with Bojan, Kris, Nace and Jan is very simple. "Because we're great friends, even though we could all use a moment of solitude now and then. Especially now that we're living in a small London apartment. But we know each other so well that we know what each of us is like, when and why he's in a bad mood, what he needs, and how to fix a certain situation. We're a nice and happy family," he smiles, and adds that they all know how to take a step back, but at the same time, they're firm when they want to emphasise their idea or opinion.

"Sometimes it's better if someone says what they're thinking out loud, presents their idea, and if we collectively latch onto something, we can get great results. It's the same with music," he continues.

LIVING HIS DREAMS AT PEACE

The fruits of their hard and dedicated labour over the past few weeks can already be seen, some are yet to materialise. The band recently sent 'Everybody's Waiting' out into the world, a song that centres the personal thoughts and contemplations that accompany many young people.

"When we make music, we try not to think about other worlds and the audience. When a song is being made, each of us has to feel it and add a small part of what makes him happy to it. When we get to the point where all of us are happy with our work, we know that we created something good, and that's also when people can feel it or find themselves in it," he says.

Joker Out, with their magic and meaningfulness, always take us into worlds where everyone is safe and understood, even when they think they're not. He agrees that a loving attitude towards yourself and others is key in the chaotic world that surrounds us.

"I am at peace with the people around me. I appreciate them very much and they make me even more happy to be in this world." He is grateful for fulfilling his dreams, which he never let anyone take from him as a young musician. "I currently make a living only from music, so I am living my dreams," he smiles.

After working on the album, the boys are leaving for the European tour.

DRUMMERS LIKE CONTROL

As a drummer, he keeps in the background, but that doesn't mean he lives in the band's shadow. "We're special people. We're happiest if things are under control. Just the fact that we sit all the way in the back says enough. You can see everything from there," he says, and adds that drummers are pretty technical types who are more reserved than the other band members. "We like the space we create for ourselves around the drums. That is our world and we really enjoy it. We're pretty nuts," he jokes.

We also chat about the band's fans, who are a unique phenomenon, as they know all the lyrics. "It's a crazy feeling when people abroad sing songs in Slovenian." Otherwise, he never craved attention and he's pretty introverted. "Out of everyone in the band, I'm the least enthusiastic about hanging out after gigs, not because I don't like the fans, but because I like my peace. I need time for myself after performances, which the fans very much respect and understand. After each gig, we take time to meet people, even if not all of us are there."

Despite looking thousands of girls in the eyes at gigs, his heart is currently not taken. "There's no time for dating. There was none last year, and none this year yet either," he laughs.

STEALING HIS MUM'S POTS

During our conversation, we also touch on his upbringing, and he tells me that he fell in love with music as a child, since his father Mitja and grandfather Cveto were also musicians. "I remember dancing around the living room with grandpa on Sundays, and moments when I stole my mum's pots from the kitchen, took them to the living room and banged on them with full force. All of that moved something inside me, leading me to being a musician today," he's convinced.

Another key moment happened when his father, who was also a drummer, took him to the concert of the guitarist and frontman of Dire Straits, Mark Knopfler, in Tivoli Hall as a boy. "That was probably where it first became clear to me that I really wanted this," he says. His parents enrolled him in the music school in Logatec where he studied percussion instruments for eight years, he played in a brass band and a symphony orchestra, he was a member of various bands in elementary school.

"They wouldn't let me play the drums in music school, because they weren't on the curriculum, so I decided that I would learn how to play them on my own. After that, I had a more and more successful band each year, it escalated until I joined Joker Out," he remembers his younger years, when he was getting to know various genres and enjoying his calling more and more each year.

"We drummers are special people," says Jure.

FALLING IN LOVE WITH FILMING BECAUSE OF HIS DAD

Music, however, wasn't the only thing he spent years getting to know. In high school, thanks in part to his uncle and his dad, who often took him to the field with him as a cameraman, he worked as a correspondent cameraman and editor for RTV Slovenia (Slovenian national television). "When they were looking for a cameraman at RTV Slovenia, I already knew and understood a lot of things. I kind of miss that job. It was very varied because I spent a lot of time in the field, I was at sports, cultural, and political events. During the time when I was both a cameraman and a musician, I realised that there were a lot of parallels between those worlds."

Now, he sometimes misses a slightly more regular schedule. "I used to be home at four in the afternoon, now I won't be home until May," laughs the likable drummer, who really liked working as a cameraman, but was mainly driven by his commitment to music. Now, for just over three years, he's been part of a band in which he's found something more. "I actually didn't really know how to get to that point, because in Slovenia, we often hear that you can't make a living from music and it might be better to find something else, that it's difficult to survive in the music world, that it's not worth it. But there was always something driving me so strongly that I was determined to prove to myself and others that it's possible."

THE CAMERA IS ALWAYS ON

If you want it strongly enough, you can achieve anything you want, he says. He's sure that as a musician, he will never achieve anything bigger than Joker Out. "Even though I like to emphasise that I'm living my dreams, it's not all sunshine and roses. The music world can be very tough, you have to fight every day, because you don't know what you're getting yourself into and what the result will be. Everything is a little unknown."

While the members of Joker Out are constantly discovering new unknown things in their creative world, they're definitely not unknown on the music scene. They caress our ears and souls with their finely crafted lyrics and excellent music. Their fans can now even hope that these outstanding young musicians will record a documentary about their journey in the near future. "We started recording in 2021 and we have a lot of things in stock that might interest people. With us, it's like this: when we're on tour, the camera can be on at any moment, so we have to be a little mindful of how we behave. Actually, everything is recorded – backstage, travelling, hotels, arguments, as well as lovely moments!"

The fans are thrilled by his not-at-all-reserved photos.

DREAMING OF SUMMER AND CAMPING

The magical pinnacle of the band's musical odyssey, which started even before their acclaimed Eurovision performance, happened last October in sold-out Stožice. On this colourful journey, they only had a moment to catch their breath at home before setting off again for new adventures. After a temporary move to London, the boys travelled to Helsinki on the 28th of February, where they did production rehearsals, and their European tour starts on the 1st of March. "We will board the bus which we will live on for one month. I'm looking forward to this experience and the bus tour, as it will be our longest yet," he doesn't hide his excitement. The band will come back to Slovenia for seven days at the end of March to regain their strength, then they will have a few performances in the UK, and on the 15th of April, they will lock themselves into a studio in Hamburg for a month, recording the album that was created in London.

"This year, we were home for three days, until the 4th of January, which makes the days spent in Slovenia even more precious," adds Jure, who is endlessly excited for the summer. "I've seen enough hotels in the past year, so I want a genuine holiday like in the old days, when a friend and I converted a car to be able to sleep in a camp. I miss simple holidays in nature and without a phone. That's what I really want this year, at least for a week or so," one of the most charismatic Slovenian drummers reveals his humble wish to us.

If you repost quotes from the interview, please link back to this post!

[themotherofallthings]

Someone give Louis Tomlinson his flowers already!

I woke up early this morning, as I often do, thanks to years of working and horrible insomnia. And like most mornings these last few years, I grab my phone and begin to scroll my twitter feed. Louis had a show last night and I wanted to catch up on anything I might've missed once the show had ended and I headed to bed. Per usual, there is a lot of beautiful pics and tweets from concert attendees, waxing poetic about how good the show was and how proud of Louis they are. Typical fare for this fandom, nothing new to add.

I keep scrolling and I land an account, tweet sharing what looks like snippets from an "article" or "blog piece" (not sure which) from the "Medium". I stop dead in my tracks and read the multiple tweet thread of the most biased, vile drivel I've come across in a long time. And I've been here a while.

Firstly, opinions are just that, opinions. And this person's opinions are theirs and theirs alone but sadly, speak to a larger issue within music, the industry and the fandom experience itself.

This writer attended a Louis show with a friend who was a fan. Their only "knowledge" of him coming from this friend & any indirect knowledge because of his time in One Direction. But from the outset, the writing and pov, comes off immediately biased and judge-y.

"a sea of teeth in braces, puffy cheeks and pigtail buns" - commenting on the appearances of the young fans - note - very young fans "Most attendees are too young to drink legally". Because that's what matters about attending a show. Moving on.

"There are no dancers, there is no set piece, there is no stage show, no performance, no outfit changes"

Every artist curates their live show for themselves & their fans. To achieve the best possible experience and set expectations of how the night is going to go.

Louis has no illusions here. He is not "the greatest showman that ever lived" and HAS NEVER PRETENDED to be. He is a straightforward musician who's job it is to sing and engage with the fans. Which he does. For anyone paying attention, he's definitely come a very long way from those 1st early shows and is far more relaxed than he was back then. BUT and this is a huge but, to see and understand this, you have to know his journey and his story, which this person does not (though she does allude to knowledge of AOTV).

She even comments on it by calling him "the least memorable person in a lineup of five" the very criticism he levelled at himself. It's a gut punch to read a rando say something like this, which, we as his fans know, is something he had always been made to feel like while he was in the band, despite most of the 1D fans acknowleding the loved Louis, as did all the guys. Niall, calling him "the glue; the guy who made sure they didn't lose the plot". This is all surface, she doesn't know really know or see him or his lost potential. Nor is she likley to care.

The other thing that I find troubling, aside from her personal views of his singing talent and lacklustre show and personality, is the comments levelled at fans and their enjoyoment/appreciation of 'good music'.

I won't get into the 3 "types of fans" that she describes present at the show she attended because it doesn't matter to the point of my rant (though is it pretty basic & lacking nuisance but I digress). The one label that did stick out was the "cheerleader fan" and her opinion that these fans are only here to support Louis - who by her own opinion and pov, stated was the least successful/memorable and "is forever defined against his more popular former band mate" for unknown reasons. I'm assuming she thinks they are here because they find him cute? Not sure.

"For the Underdog Cheerleaders, it’s not about music so much as it is about identifying with... the least memorable person in a lineup of five" because identifying with an artist is problematic? Dumb? Unimportant? Allow me to show you the stadiums filled with Taylor's fans, who all identify with her and her music.

That is sort of the fan's job. To support and champion their fave, especially when they are not given their proper due. Now I'm not mentioning TS and comparing her to Louis or vice versa, that woman has GOTTEN ALL HER FLOWERS and good for her, but she goes on to claim that "his lines are almost comically generic" speaking about his songwriting. This clearly tells me she wasn't paying attention or was at the bar or bathroom & must've been absent when Copy of a Copy of a Copy was performed. Or when he sang All this Time or Holding on to Heartache. Because you would have to be dead inside to not have had a reaction to the bridge of HOTH & not hear the emotion in his voice as exhales those words, "Nothing's ever easy, to be honest, I'm not easy on myself". Those lines cut me and left me bleeding on the side of the road when I first heard them. But you know, comicially generic. Whatever.

This entire article reads like a hit piece bought and paid for by some industry insider. She literally lists every critiques antis, toxic Harries and Swifties and even Simon himself have levelled at Louis over the years. But this article doesn't require a conspiracy theory to explain. She doesn't like Louis. Or his music. She finds him boring, and apparently isn't a "deep enough lyricist" for her cold, cerebal mind to engage with.

"I’m left wondering what all these thousands of young fans really care about...it doesn’t really seem to be about the music...at its innermost core, this fandom is about itself."

Let me first say this, music, like most are is subjective. It's personal taste. Some fans love country. Some love rock. Some love Classic metal punk with a side of Beethoven. It's music and because it is one of the most uniquie artforms, its enthusiasts will engage and appreciate it for different reasons. And one of the most amazing things about being a fan of music in this day and age, is fandom.

I am old as fuck. And I can genuinely say that being a fan of music since I was 8 years old and first discovered what the radio did in my parent's living room, I have been a fucking fan. But I grew up in a time where there were no online fandoms. No one to scream about Simon's cute outfit or Billy's snarling at an interviewer that one time, or dying with when Jon BonJovi cut his hair. It was a different fan experience back then. There was no online community. No fandom family to go through it with you when Wham broke up.

Fandom has always been controversial because it has always mostly been made up of young women. And young women have had their taste in music disrespected and vilified for decades (starting with the Beetles). Research it. So I find it kind of sad this writer questions why these fans love Louis and his music so much. Because the reasons don't matter. There are many or none. They just are. That's sort of how art works. You feel it. You don't really see it with your eyes but your mind. Your skins senses it before your heart does. And that is how music is or should be. It should not just be about catchy pop one liners or streams or charting. It's about how it makes you feel. The memories it in invokes when you hear a song many years later. It's the way we still remember the words to that one song from the summer during our 3rd year of high school. How do you quantify that? You can't.

I grew up during a very rich and varied musical landscape, so when I tell you that I have loved almost every genre of music, I have loved it for many, many different reasons. Sometimes (when I was younger) because the lead singer was cute and dressed nice and other times because the beat/bop was too good to ignore to not want to sing from the top of my lungs. NEVER ONCE DID I CARE IF THE LYRICS WERE "GENERIC" or that it wasn't popular among my friends or that it didn't fill my head with mythical imagery. If it made me happy and it entertained me, then it was enough for me. Not every artist is going to be Bob fucking Dylan or Taylor Swift. And that's okay. But Louis IS a great song writer and he himself has said he's not big on writing metaphors and cares more about conveying an emotion and a moment in time and we find that engaging. We are still moved when he sings "Saved by Stranger" or Paradise or Change. Because they are good songs that convey a particular moment, sentiment or emotion we can all connect with.

Look, I respect that not everyone is going to 'get' everyone's fave. I don't get Taylor Swift, but I can acknowledge that she has talent but I don't fucking need a show to enjoy her music. But she does that because SHE enjoys that and it definitely helps justify the cost of her tickets. No disrespect, I blame TM for that, mostly.

"To his credit, he really doesn’t pretend to be more than he is — that’s all other people‘s doing"

And that is sort of the point of him. He is not pretending to be something he is not. He is geniune and down to earth and not full of himself like so many other successful artists are and can be. He earned the right to put on airs coming out of 1D and their success. But he doesn't. He says, "this is who I am, take it or leave it" and for his fans, they take it, in spades.

So go read the article for context (or don't - it's probably better for you blood pressure & mental health) but understand that this one person's pov, is not going change who we are as a fandom. We see something in Louis that resonants with us. Maybe it's the "underdog" mentality. Maybe it's the 'cute lad from the north of England' vibe. Maybe it's his no nonsense approach to song writing and performing, but there is no denying there is something about Louis Tomlinson that draws you to him. You want to engage with him. You want to sing his songs. And you do. We all do.

So please, someone give this man his flowers. They are long fucking over due.

[roscoe-me-and-this-fuckin-kid]

So I am uniquely qualified to help explain some of the bandom confusion from your other asks. So, Bandom is a term with 2 separate, incompatible definitions used by people semi-equally (more people use one definition but the people who use the other definition use it more often). If you have ever looked at the fanlore articles for bandom, there are 3 and all of them mention the issue.

The definitions are effectively definition 1 being that bandom means MCR, FOB, and the other decaydence and fuelled by ramen bands that people write/wrote a ton of crossover fic for. Think of all of the warped tour fics and other fics where people from the other bands can and would just randomly be a part of the fic/make cameos/etc. This definition has the fanlore page of Bandom (Decaydance+, My Chemical Romance). This group is the smaller group that uses the term more often. This definition has also been somewhat looser as the years go on and these bands have less direct interactions with each other, more interactions with other bands, and some have been on hiatus/broken up for over a decade.

The second definition is quite literally that Bandom means Band Fandom and therefore any band (generally only western bands, this usually doesn't include things like kpop or jrock and the like) could be a bandom band so long as there are people doing fandom stuff about the band. This definition is used by more people as it's easy for someone to see the term Bandom and go "yep, Band Fandom" and adopt it into their vocabulary, but it's not a frequently used term by the group that uses it this way usually. The fanlore page for this definition is Bandom (music source text). The combination of this definition with the aforementioned loosening of the other Bandom definition has definitely led to a lot more bands being in the "are these bandom bands?" confusion.

The third fanlore article is literally just a page about the debate over these definitions that took place on livejournal in like 2008.

When AO3 had a bandom fandom tag still (it was dismantled a few years ago), the official policy was that any band that people said was bandom was bandom and that wranglers couldn't police it beyond adding new bands to the fandom and had to add bands if people said they were bandom bands. I remember learning about this all the first time via wrangler internal-comments on that fandom tag when I took over wrangling it for a few years 😅 (for context on why I said I was uniquely qualified to explain). This policy led to a lot of really random bands and musicians being under the Bandom tag in ways that confused a lot of people (especially since very few people ever read the fanlore articles on these things).

So, Against Me, and Laura Jean Grace, and anyone else that people are going "are these people part of Bandom?" (that aren't related in some way to MCR/Decaydence/FBR bands) both are and are not Bandom depending on which definition you are subscribing to/how strictly you interpret the first definition if thats the definition you use.

ty for the valuable insight and taking the time to type this <3

[fruitybashir]

okay, gonna infodump about The Wiggles again for a second sorry this is so very long. (also sorry about the links not being clickable. I hope you can copy-paste them as tumblr didn't like linking them but I've also given you the title of each video if you want to look it up yourself. Also I hope they aren't region-locked.)

this is my fave song that I grew up with of theirs that I can so imagine Bojan singing to kids and also the music vid reminds me of Umazane Misli only cause they're like dancing in a studio and look like idiots which is great. This is one of their first songs/ music vids so they don't have their uniforms yet (they all get a specific colour that they wear and are identified with which really helps kids to go "I like the blue wiggle" or "I like the red wiggle").

(video title: Get Ready To Wiggle - Original Music Video, 1991 - The Wiggles)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JItfH1PZAs

For the audience participation idea you mentioned like UM karaoke, The Wiggles actually did do this!! one of the members (named Jeff) had it as a character thing he was always sleepy/tired so he would 'fall asleep' during their shows and they would have to get all the kids to scream "Wake up Jeff!" to wake him up. They did it cause Jeff was I think the shyest out of them and they wanted to give him a way to interact with the kids more. Here's this interview where he talks about it a bit and the band in general that's just really good/sweet and shows the band more and Jeff specifically.

(video title: Why purple Wiggle Jeff Fatt handed over the reins | Throwback)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJNWA_aBVHY

this is their most iconic song called Fruit Salad which like everyone knows at least some of and you have to watch to get the idea of their music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYYGD56CxTw

and just as another thing of how iconic they are one of our big radio stations here is called Tripple J and they have a thing called Like a Version where people come and do live covers of songs. They have some really big and famous musicians do it and the covers are often really good.

Anyway The Wiggles have changed and added members a few times by now but they did have at least 3 og members (plus some new peeps) do a cover of a Tame Impala song and they incorporated Fruit Salad into the song which was just so iconic of them

(video title: The Wiggles cover Tame Impala 'Elephant' for Like A Version)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a13WnqsRc5g

(that radio station also has a song contest thing called The Hottest 100 every year where everyone votes for their fave song. I believe that cover did really really well, like it either won or was in the top 10)

there's so much info about them if you're interested but something I think is really cute is they're called The Wiggles because "that's how children dance".

anyway their wikipedia page is good if you wanna read about their history and stuff in more detail. I think it's interesting.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wiggles

anyway sorry for the super long post/rant/thing about something very random but they're a really important group here and they mean so much to me and many others and the idea of Bojan in your fic just fits so well with them. once again sorry for the wall of text/infodump but I hope you find it interesting maybe!

(also I love your fic a lot and daycare dad Bojan has wormed his way into my heart which is why I got so excited to talk about The Wiggles)

omg i loooove this little-not-so-little infodump <3333 i dont really have anything clever to add bc im with company so my thoughts keep getting interrupted by someone talking to me but OFC i know fruit salad and also that audience participation thing sounds so funny and cute fr 🥺🥺💖

i kinda fucked myself over with making bojan work in daycare in this fic bc now i cant stop thinking about himmmm goddd. maybe i DO have to write a short bonus scene of the band performing for the kids. or something. anything. i need more bojan with kids 😩💖💖💖💖

[naomilores]

Tyler, The Creator - CHROMAKOPIA (2024)

Tyler in Technicolor

Like many millennials, I've grown up with Tyler, The Creator. I was 17 when "Goblin" came out, and he was this loud, confrontational guy who was mainly here to shock people. His lyrics were smart, but they were also suuuuuuuuuuuper vulgar, and as a newly-rowdy teen escaping a conservative family, I was all about it. I spent a lot of time in 2012 walking around my small-town college campus with "Her" blasting in the headphones, hating my douchebag neighbors & my somehow-required-even-for-humanities geology class.

But then, at some point leading up to 2017, Tyler grew up. Suddenly he's detonating bombs onto the radio with singles like "See You Again" or his iconic "New Magic Wand". This is Tyler in his late 20's and he's mostly done with the shock jock persona and, by his own admission, trying to really get people to take him seriously as a musician. And he really succeeds! Flower Boy gets him nominated for a Grammy, and IGOR wins him his first.

If I had any criticism for Call Me If You Get Lost, it's that the album, for all it's hits, didn't feel cohesive the way IGOR did. But he's back with this release, it may even be his most cohesive work yet. Just for one example, look at the reprise from "St. Chroma" on the closing track. What really sticks out to me on CHROMAKOPIA is that he's talking about the things people my age (EARLY 30's, for the record) are often thinking/worrying about. Specifically, the question of whether or not to have kids. Millennial musicians in general are talking about it a lot in 2024, look at Charli XCX's "I think about it all the time". Tyler takes a few swings at it, on "Hey Jane" and the gorgeously-arranged "Tomorrow".

Often, as young people, we know that our lives are finite, but it's not until we've lived a few decades that we begin to understand the extent to which our days are numbered. We realize we only have so much time to make certain decisions. This is why psychologists like Erik Erikson, who break a lifetime into different developmental stages, identify this time in life as a stage known as intimacy vs isolation. Can we share our lives with someone? Can we go on to share our lives with children, who we must take care of and make sacrifices for? Tyler's really tapped into this struggle, I found it relatable!

The backing tracks really groove throughout, especially on tracks like "Judge Judy" or "I Hope You Find Your Way Home". I'm thrilled to hear Tyler singing entire songs. I think it's criminal it took so long for that to be a key feature on his albums, he's a truly talented vocalist. It really feel like he's found his footing between making deeply personal hip-hop & punchy pop hits. Tyler makes great choices on features for this album, especially Daniel Ceasar who shines on "St. Chroma", and Doechii who kills on "Balloon". But look at the credits and the production team is a whole sky of stars: Steve Lacy, Donald Glover, WILLOW, Solange and more. Tyler should get a lot of credit not just for the musician he's matured into, but the producer he's become. He makes really deliberate choices with samples, on "Noid" it's an obscure Zambian psych rock song. Whereas on "Darling, I" he grabs the snaps off of Snoop Dogg's "Drop It Like It's Hot". Even the whistling into a full brass band on "Sticky" is a deliberate decision, a reference and a gift to HBCU marching bands, who have wasted no time in covering the song.

Tyler ultimately ascends to something higher in "Like Him", where he confronts his ambivalence around fatherhood. He grew up never knowing his father, and it gave him a lot of grief that he expressed in his music from the beginning. how he still sees himself in that idea. Add this all to his mom's voice featuring all over the album, he's really centering his thoughts about family in our modern times.

So what's the final takeaway on CHROMAKOPIA? Life is uncertain, and stressful, but we have to try and be present for as much of it as we can. We need to feel the whole spectrum of human emotion, the pain with the joy, because otherwise a life is missing many colors.

[tamashii--0--naturanimae]

Some music I just love. :)

Hi everyone. :) Some time ago I shared with you some music that fits well to my identity as soul, but I wrote in that post that my music taste is quite wide, so today I want to show you some music I discovered when this body was 11 years old and it's fascinating for me to this day.

It's music from japanese movement called Visual Kei, it's as music, fashion and subculture, as music you can find there almost all music genres and different styles, and artists just love experiments with music, but also many rock and metal bands are there. Whole movement started from metal band X Japan in early 80s, they wanted to show japanese people that being different, looking different, showing your true emotions, saying what you really thing and talking about difficult topics is ok, there's nothing wrong with it. Japanese people are known of being very closed and not talking what they think and not showing what they really feel, and in past japanese society was even more grey than now, then being different than others was associated with something really bad... As first Visual Kei became very popular, but in 90s it started to be kinda niche and is like that since these days, but also because of western fans it's more and more popular. So lyrics and emotions are very important in Visual Kei music (of course origins of this movement were 40 years ago and now there are maaanyy subgenres, so not all have such deep lyrich, and it really depends on bands, even in the same subgenre).

Visual Kei have some connections with traditional japanese theater kabuki, so there are some theatrical elements especially in clean vocals and behavior. Everything is art there, I mean, musicians are amazing, visual side of band changes all the time when they releasing something new (in japanese music industry artists releasing more often that western artists), also music videos and live performances are amazing.

Most of Visual Kei musicians are guys, there are not many woman (i'm telling from physical perspective, it's not common in Japan to telling about being LGBTQ+, so maybe some of them are, but I don't know...), even if someone looks like girl, it probably guy. :P From my list only band Ganglion had only female members, bassist from The Sound Bee HD is female and also singer of Kuroyoubi.

My list is mix of many genres and styles, some are really heavy like metalcore, there are some symphonic metal songs, some more like folk metal (japanese folk), rock, ballads, some funky etc.

In some songs I chose there are english subs in videos, I will also add links to english translations of some, to some there are japanese lyrics, because I can't find any english translation, I'm sorry. :( You can translate then with some translator, maybe it's not ideal, but you will have some idea what song is about. And to some I don't have even japanese lyrics... Just enjoy music!

Oh, and one more note. In Visual Kei many songs sounds "happy", but in reality lyrics are deep, heavy, depressive... I think it's amazing contrast and it showing emotions from lyrics even more. And Visual Kei isn't for everyone, it's really different, and unfortunately many people think bad about guys who wearing make up etc... So if you don't like such things, probably it's not for you, just warning. ;)

I hope you will like this. :)

・,・'・,・'・,・'・,・'・,・'・,・'・,・

As first few songs I really love, they means a lot to me:

・First is The Gazette - Dim Scene live (english subs in video), it's my favourite band ever, all their songs are amazing and have deep and heavy lyrics. Sorry about live performance, I just love that one. :D

・Second is Deadman - Follow the Night Light PV (english subs in video), one of my favourite bands from more dark and gloomy subgenre of Visual Kei called Nagoya Kei.

・Another is D'espairsRay - Paradox 5 audio (english translation of lyrics), this song is just amazing, it's about someone who's beloved died, but lyrics are like thoughts about journey to next incarnation and hopes that beloved won't suffer because of they were separated... I love it soo much!

・Next is Girugämesh - Kowarete Iku Sekai PV (english subs in video), this song is about what humans doing to each other and to Mother Earth... People are talking about "The Seed" by Aurora, but I think more people should hear this song, it squeezing my heart every time I'm listen to it...

・Another song is Kaya - Villain MV (english translation of lyrics), Kaya is one of a few openly gay people in Japan, he's bisexual and crossdresser, and this song is about being different.

・Next, Luna Sea - Another audio (english translation of lyrics), it's song from late 90s, by one of the first Visual Kei bands, I just love this song so much.

・Another is Xaa-Xaa - Mazarenai MV (english subs in video), song about people who can't be together because of many different reasons, differences in character, skin color, origin, gender, etc, I love how it's shown in MV.

・ Next is Kizu - 0 MV (english subs in video), song about stupid japanese TV shows and what people can do to be famous... Warning, some drastic scenes in this MV.

・Next song is Chanty - Anata Dake wo Kowashite Kazatte Mitai MV (japanese lyrics in comment section), song without english subs (sorry), but this band often making songs about that dark side of personality, you will know what song is about while watching this MV. Warning, also some drastic scenes, not like in "0" by Kizu, but still someone can be sensitive...

・And last from this section is The Sound Bee HD - Endless Dead MV, without any lyrics, I'm sorry... But this song just is perfect for me when I'm depressed, works soo well to fill my emotions...

・,・'・,・'・,・'・,・'・,・'・,・'・,・

Here are some other songs with english translations of lyrics:

・Dexcore - Red Eye MV (english lyrics, in description box)

・Matenrou Opera - Helios PV (english subs in video)

・D - Draconids audio (english translation of lyrics)

・Dimlim - Vanitas MV (english translation of lyrics)

・-Shintenchi Kaibyaku Shudan- ZigZag - Boukyaku no Kanata MV (english translation of lyrics)

・Umbrella - Haiki audio (english translation of lyrics)

・Jiluka - Venфm (english lyrics, in video)

・,・'・,・'・,・'・,・'・,・'・,・'・,・

Songs with only japanese lyrics, and one have chinese translation in comment section:

・Shiva - Sugari MV (japanese lyrics)

・Dezert - The Walker MV (japanese lyrics)

・Ashmaze. - Jidai audio (japanese lyrics)

・Creature Creature - Yume Kagami audio (japanese lyrics)

・3470.mon - Kyuuo-san MV (japanese lyrics)

・Archemi. - Suuhai MV (japanese lyrics)

・Fukuro - BitterChoco MV (japanese lyrics in comment section)

・Xanvala - Yura Yura audio (japanese lyrics)

・Rorschach.inc - Watchmen MV (japanese lyrics in description box)

・Raymei - Hyakka Ryouran MV (chinese translation in comment section)

・,・'・,・'・,・'・,・'・,・'・,・'・,・

And last section, songs without any lyrics:

・Zera - Shangri La audio

・Houts - Enter audio

・Ganglion - Heart of Ripley audio

・Sakashimana Haguruma wo Kamen ga Warau。- Round and Round audio

・Damned - Thanatosis MV

・Kuroyoubi - Fukanzen'na Sekai MV

・,・'・,・'・,・'・,・'・,・'・,・'・,・

Hmm... I don't know why some links are underlined in black and some in green... Just ignore it!

I know it's a lot, sorry. :D But I'm listen to like... 150 Visual Kei artists? So it's not many compares to all bands I'm listen to. :D

If you listened to some songs from my list, I'm really happy! Let me know what you think. ;)

[jmsntv]

I noticed at this point that the web could showcase a re-combination of retro, present, and future. I had been uploading the afore mentioned musical ideas onto early streaming sites and thought it might be interesting to introduce certain aspects of 1980s pop culture to people who may not have lived through it. Interestingly, some of the 80s culture I referenced were things I had not experienced.

The y2k chip tunes and micro music scenes of the time featured circuit bent electronic instruments, gameboy sequencers, and 8 bit graphics. I found this intriguing as it deconstructed electronic music down to its roots--sort of second generation electronic junkyard reincarnation of Kraftwerk. Even though the instrumentation was retro, this felt like a reboot. Eschewing what electronic and synth music had become in the post-electronica era, and starting over. Fresh and new. Visceral and deceptively rudimentary.

The retro tech took centerstage in this scene. I wanted to create, as I did with SinTex, an entire world for the song stories to take place in and to inspire new plots in a generative manner. I also wanted there to be a real world feel. The low-tech unpolished vibe appealed to me. I just wanted add more human experience.

Around the same time, I regularly hung out at a store on Melrose called Blue Demon (and later Barracuda and de la Barracuda). In retrospect, an entire decade of influential synth-based musicians, promoters, and fashion creators from around the world found themselves involved with this store. It was through that store that the promoters of largest retro synth music festival of the time tracked me down to invite Le Mans to headline Chicago's Cabaret Metro in 2005. And by time I had retired from music and moved into a behind-the-scenes fashion career, the space was hosting Ed Rec parties featuring the late 2000s artists who had continued the Le Mans lineage and would provide the runway for the post-"Drive" producers in the early 2010s.

Another fun fact is that in the late 2010s, I found out my neighbor Tim, who I had known from walking our dogs around the block, was making 80s synth-based music. He was wearing a Smart Bar shirt and mentioned he had traveled to Chicago to play the intimate space underneath the Cabaret Metro. His band is The Midnight. I consider them the forefront and standard of the genre's third wave/evolution.

Back to the early 2000s.

On rotation were bands like Avenue D, Peaches, Electrocute, Dirty Sanchez, etc. Their DIY sounding groove box approach and often talky drag queen style vocals appealed in the same way the chip tunes orchestrations did. I became friends with Holly, one of the Blue Demon staff. Upon reviewing each other's music projects, we decided to collaborate. We created a few unfinished tracks using the store's dj set up and later at a practice space in what is now the "Arts District" and as of a couple years ago, the new home of Warner Brothers records. Since most of the bands we were fans of were openly gay, we thought it would be exotic to portray a novel-within-the-scene hetero viewpoint. Though I wrote it last, and Holly had been out of the picture by the time I was writing Coldlife in the Fastlane, "Motorlove" is the Le Mans track that captures the spirit of what we were doing. We had a song called "I'm in love with a girl in a fast car" that I was paying homage to with "Motorlove". And seeing how this time period was concurrent with the burgeoning indiesleaze era, something must have been in the air.

It was Holly who named the band. First he wanted to call it "Jamisin", but that felt kinda cringe as prefer not being the focal point of a project. He drove an old 1970s Pontiac Le Mans and as we were standing next to it one day, he offered as his second choice, "Le Mans". Obviously, it stuck as I wanted to continue the driving through line that had existed in my previous music. I wanted to add vintage cars, motorcycles, and all kinds of 1980s action television and movie aesthetics to the Le Mans lexicon so the name fit perfectly. It is a Commodore 64 vintage computer game, a Steve McQueen racing movie, mistranslates to "The Mans", and implies a French aesthetic.

[existentialmagazine]

Review: dwn bad shares second ever single ‘So Loud for a Leaf’, a dreamy but saddened haze that aches through the dance of a long-distance relationship

Based in the vibrant musical landscape of Houston, TX, the upcoming artist dwn bad has found himself teetering between genres at every turn, showcasing nuance in each new single. With his debut ‘Palace of You’ released earlier this year, it’s just the start of understanding this versatile musician and the capabilities of his need for such diverse artistic expression. As the sole instrumentalist in the band, Derek Silva imparts a dynamic and personal touch to each composition.

Sharing now ‘So Loud for a Leaf’, dwn bad allows listeners in to a new slice of what he’s capable of, keeping the same consistent themes of rawness and connection even when his sound unravels between sounds. There’s always a hint of easy-listening with him though, at least so far, as ‘So Loud for a Leaf’ flows through your eardrums with such a dreamy concoction of indie sound. From reverb soaked electric guitar strums to steady drum beats, bass twangs and a distant electric guitar riff, pressing play on ‘So Loud for a Leaf’ really is a breath of fresh air, taking you through a sunny palette that’ll leave you refreshed and rejuvenated like it were an experience handcrafted for just you. The verse continues to dance through this soft ambience, pulling back on some of the intensity for just drums, bass and gentle strums to come centre stage for a hazy little package that dreams are made of. The vocals are equally floaty and light, gliding through a wide range while drawing out lines and cascading from high to low with ease.

As things continue, dwn bad shifts the tone a little, still carried by undertones of vibrancy but now a looming cloud of melancholia works its way through. Contrasting against the colourful haze of guitar, the darker drums and bass melt together with the vocals that have now changed towards a down-beat delivery, humming into lows and dreary admissions. The echoey reverb adds an even further sense of yearning here, every word hanging in the air like a ghost haunting the sound, a distant sense from the prior tranquility and ease it had allowed for.

It’s no surprise that lyrically ‘So Loud for a Leaf’ is just as complex as the soundscape, weaving between happiness and sadness at all turns. Inspired by the delicacy of long-distance relationships, it finds itself navigating new beginnings and the courage it takes to trust again, but it’s unclear whether that be with a partner across the globe or if they’re the cause of their broken heart. The opening feels the lightest, asking ‘can I keep my cool?’ and beaming that ‘I’ll give it all to you’ , loved-up like the first moments of meeting and falling in love for someone tend to be. But as time passes, it feels like the weight of their relationship begins to become more and more heavy, struggling through departures as dwn bad sings: ‘when we say goodbye, take my jacket, hope it keeps you warm in the wintertime.’ This line alone is so simple and yet depicts so much, revealing they won’t be meeting again through the entirety of the winter season, as well as the aching both share at being apart, longing for something that makes them feel closer. Admitting ‘every time, I cry’ , so much of what’s unveiled feels conflicted, uncertain in the distance between them, but carrying so much love that ending it would be torture. One line in particular stands out though, questioning ‘is it safe with you?’, an evidently post-trauma based thought that’s doused in insecurity, wondering if they can really allow down their guard and be with someone without even the normal security of seeing them often. ‘So Loud for a Leaf’ is truly an interesting listen, jumping between the love carried and the undertone of what if’s, it perfectly encapsulates the rocky ship that can be a long distance love, but often it’s worth the ride. Keep listening for yourself here, there’s so much to hear and listen to, it’s worth it.

Written by: Tatiana Whybrow

Photo Credits: David Mejia

// This coverage was supported and created via Musosoup, #SustainableCurator.

[doomedandstoned]

Witness DOOM ‘AN BLUE’s Striking New Music Video “Black Hole Blues”

~Doomed & Stoned Debuts~

By Billy Goate

The two-piece has been one of my favorite arrangements in this beautiful, tangled mess called the heavy underground. From Black Cobra to Year of the Cobra, two-piece bands have potential to really raise some ruckus and transport you into potent realms of emotion and imagination.

Enter the Montreal stoner-doom duo DOOM 'AN BLUE. We introduced you to Lee Whiskey (guitar) and Jimmy Antle (drummer) just before the start of the pandemic and I was stoked to see that they've returned with a new single/music video:

What you're about to witness is based on true events. These occurrences prove to be documented from the summer of 2018 until an unknown point of reference. These findings are known as the "Black Hole Blues."

As the "Black Hole Blues" begins, we're watching the pair drive out to the country at an ungodly hour of the night. What happens next has something to do with a chain, a cement block, and a hole. The mood is cast in monochrome, black & white, and color that looks like something out of an old Kodak reel from the 1970s.

The riffs are equally ominous, but badass through and through. In this high-energy, six-minute number, Lee Whiskey toggles through both doom and stoner inspired riffs, giving way to a killer solo passage that'll leave you holding your breath. Jimmy Antle's drumming is crisp and brisk, almost like a jazz drummer, which fits the intensity of the composition well.

And now for the world premiere of "Black Hole Blues."

Give ear...

SOME BUZZ

The heavy hooves of Montreal duo Doom 'An Blue featuring drummer Jimmy Antle (Mürtenscythe, Guttrot, Leather Up ) and guitarist Lee Whiskey (Leather Up Your Ass, ex-Mutank) return with a soul-digging dive into the unknown with "Black Hole Blues."

Smashing classic rock riffage and sweet stoner speed tides since first forming in 2016, over the years Doom 'An Blue have released various videos and singles of just them as a duo along with collaborations with musicians from the Montreal music scene.

Each of their releases is a step above the last and they take the opportunity to learn, to experience from each predecessor, and use this to allow them to be better artists. Delivering beyond their best is key, to pushing their limits of creation during the current time and ahead to the next.

As they unleash a single at a time, they keep you on their toes for the next drop. Thus leaving you knowing that the next step is always just around that shadowy corner in the maze of sound that is Doom 'An Blue. Hitting the road this September for show dates in Ottawa, and Hamilton, along with a local hometown show in Montreal (dates listed below), Doom 'An Blue wants fans to bear witness to their latest instrumental music video "Black Hole Blues" based on true events. The track is the next release as part of their single-series storyline. The duo explains in further detail:

"We are both fans of space documentaries, aliens, otherworldly ideas, and the possibilities of tasty beer-ish beverages. One night talking space at jam, Jimmy said he was into this cool title he thought up, which was 'Black Hole Blues' so of course it was just perfect for a groovy new instrumental we were cooking up just a few full moons beforehand! It came together fast, and quickly became a live staple and often a show closer for many years! We can't wait for all the doom hounds to devour! Dig in, and feast the hell out of it!" adds the band.

The single was produced by Doom 'An Blue and Alain Londero, who also mixed and mastered the track along with the music video filmed by Cintia Ventania, Stephen Howlett, and DRONE NL.

Show Dates

Sept 22 - Ottawa, ON - Avant-Garde Bar w/ Autowah

Sept 23 - Hamilton, ON - Taco Joint & Metal Bar w/ Low Orbit, Cannabus, Midnight Tripper

Sept 30 - Montreal, QC - Piranha Bar (downstairs) w/ Autowah, Rough Spells, RJ Foley & The Hardcore Sect, Chaos Division

Follow The Band

Get Their Music

[gyaruxqueer]

♡ Hello!! ♡

My name is Stars☆, and welcome to my gyaru blog! I'm a genderqueer man in my late 20s starting to explore the world of gyaru after a great deal of research and soul-searching to see if this is the right lifestyle for me--and as of right now, it is! I am for SURE still a baby gal but I feel very drawn to ganguro and feel so at home within myself when I dress in gal☆

My pronouns are it/its but he/him is also super. I have been a kandi kid for what feels like forever and in my heart, rave and gal r siblings♡ I live by PLUR and have always been intent on breaking the mold and refusing to conform to society's standards of beauty and normalcy, so when I discovered gyaru I was naturally very curious about it.

This tumblr will serve primarily as a place for me to compile images of other gals, style and makeup inspo, and occasionally fun little aesthetics and other miscellaneous posts that resonate with me and this particular aspect of my life. Its secondary purpose is for me to talk about my journey as a gal! In time I may start posting selfies but as I'm still starting out and figuring out how I want to style myself I may not do it very often.

This is a sideblog! I will like and follow from @drunkstarscreamofficial , and my personal blog is @mimikyubestie . I also have a Skyrim blog @boethiahsboytoy and a blog for OC posting @starscreams-drunk-oc-blog . If you need anything tagged, let me know! My ask box will (probably) always be open, so feel free to stop by to chat at any time!

Thanks for stopping by! If you've got any questions just shoot me an ask. Have a great day!! ☆Stars☆

Some fun facts about me (under the cut because wow do i love to ramble):

I've known I was queer since I was a wee little lad and I am still exploring my identity (and predict I will for a very long time!).

I am asexual and demiromantic with a preference for men--so I'm also a gay man!

I use a cane to help relieve chronic (undiagnosed) back pain! I REALLY want to save up for a plain black cane and TONS of cute things to decorate it with--stickers, jewels, etc.--to match the gyaru lifestyle. But my favorite one is my orange lava cane that my husband bought me♡♡

At the moment I'm super broke 😭 I work part time in retail but have to pay for my meds and hormones (and my doctors appointments and labs related to them) out of pocket, so my shift into the gyaru lifestyle will be slow as I lack the funds to add pieces to my wardrobe that I want. I will be focusing more on new makeup and accessories than clothes however, as I loooove altering my own clothes and have many ideas of how I can change up my wardrobe just by using what I already have.

I can't wear big dramatic falsies (for the most part) because I need glasses. I can't afford to see an optometrist to get contacts (and couldn't afford contacts anyway😭), so I make do by drawing on lower lashes and decorating under my eyebrows with cute eyeliner stamps or glitter!

My favorite color is orange, but ironically I don't style a lot my outfits with lots of orange! However some of my Signature Looks are ALL orange, so I think that makes up for it ;P

My favorite movies are Pride and Prejudice (the 2005 one), Pacific Rim, and The Bye Bye Man. My favorite movie genre is horror, and I REALLY like comedy and found footage horror especially.

My favorite genres of music are hardstyle, hardbass, happy hardcore, and eurobeat. My favorite musicians and bands are The Sounds, DJ S3rl, Headhunterz, Uamee, and Unleash the Archers.

I did drag for a bit, but after a while wearing a full face of makeup started giving me really bad sensory issues. Now I pretty much only do eye makeup and slap on some lip gloss (and occasionally lipstick if I feel up to it).

I am mixed white (specifically Welsh mostly) and Filipino, though unfortunately have no real significant ties to my cultures :( But I do love Filipino food !!

That's all for now! If you read this far you're a fucking champ 😭😭 Stay safe out there!!

[frankterranella]

Of monkey’s tails and Sousa’s favorite composer

Anyone who has ever been in a marching band remembers playing all those great Sousa marches like “The Thunderer,” “Washington Post” and “Stars and Stripes Forever.” They are the classics of march music and always fun to play. But my favorite march is one that was not written by John Philip Sousa. It was written in 1902 by Edwin Eugene Bagley and acknowledged by Sousa as his favorite march he didn’t write. It’s the “National Emblem” march.

I expect that many people are not familiar with the title of this march or with Edwin Bagley. But I am willing to bet that just about everyone has heard this march, especially its chorus section that my father taught me to sing as “and the monkey wrapped his tail around the flagpole.” The image it conjures up in the midst of what is otherwise a very dignified march always seems to bring smiles to the faces of parade goers.

So who was this Edwin Bagley? Bagley was born in Craftsbury, Vermont on May 29, 1857. As a young man he learned to play the cornet and the trombone and made a living for many years as a musician in Boston and around New England, even playing for a while with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. In the early 1900s he played with Wheeler's Band in Bellows Falls, Vermont. It was while on a train touring with Wheeler's Band that he wrote the "National Emblem” march. Bagley apparently did not like the march and actually discarded it. But other band members pulled it out of the trash and Wheeler’s Band made it part of their repertoire.

Like most marches of the day, the National Emblem march opens with an eight-bar introduction. It climbs the scale in the key of C. The introduction is followed immediately by an opening theme in which the first 12 notes of the “Star Spangled Banner” are played as a counter-melody in the low brass instruments while the trumpets announce the main melody. It’s absolutely brilliant.

The march then moves on in unison to play the “monkey wrapped his tail around the flagpole” theme twice. It’s almost like comic relief in the midst of a drama. And then once the monkey has gone, the march gets very serious in a trio section with the low and high brass instruments taking turns playing a famous theme that is now often used by military bands to introduce dignitaries at state events. Bagley’s use of low brass like the trombone adds majesty to the tune that comes to a thunderous end accompanied by bass drum and cymbals.

The National Emblem march was a hit from the first time it was played. A United States Marine Band recording of it was one of the biggest gramophone hits of 1914. Bagley never considered this his best work and he is said to have sold the copyright for $25. He went on to compose many other marches, but none was ever as popular as the “National Emblem.”

Legend has it that some jokester World War I soldier hearing the military band play the tune at an assembly came up with the “monkey wrapped his tail around the flagpole” lyrics to try to break up his friends standing at attention. It really doesn’t matter. That image and this march has brought joy to parade routes for more than a century. And every time I hear it, I remember my dad and his smile as he sang those goofy lyrics. The monkey lives on.

[djshannonc321]

4 Tips To Make Your Next Office Party More Fun

With the holidays upon us and Christmas little more than a week away, most people have probably attended a company holiday party (or will in the next week) this year. While an office party can be a great way for the company to boost morale and say thank you to their staff, often times those good intentions fall short leaving employees obligated to attend another boring company event. Some businesses notice lack of attendance or shortened stay times by staff. Others notice that morale doesn’t seem to change at all post-event. With the intention of an office party being such a positive one, businesses are finding themselves looking for new ways to give their employees more than another stale office party.

I’ve played several corporate events in the span of my DJ career, and have seen the full spectrum of company parties from those that go all out to those that barely show up. Budget aside, I’ve compiled a few simple trends that seem to add life to the average company party. Hopefully they’ll give you some ideas to add some zest to your next company event.

Location, Location, Location! You’ve heard the phrase and it applies to more than just Real Estate. What’s more fun than an office party at the office? An office party somewhere OTHER THAN the office! Some companies have the budget to rent out an event venue. Others set up an employee “field trip” or employee day at a set location. (Office Top Golf Trip!) Either way, leaving the office instantly adds an elevated level of excitement. I even played a company holiday party recently that was held at the owner’s house! There’s so many options of ways to take your party off site. Try it for an instant event up-level.

Theme It Up! Another fun way to add an extra level of fun to your office party is to choose a theme. (Ugly Sweater Party, Great Gatsby Party, Company Luau Party, Ho Ho Ho Down, etc) While this sounds a little silly, asking people to dress in a way that they wouldn’t usually while attending the event adds an additional level of excitement and fun. A theme can be a fun way to increase participation, increase morale, and just generally jazz things up.

Want To Play A Game? A trend I’ve seen a lot this year includes game play to bring employees together in a way that exceeds the standard office party gossip. For holiday parties, some companies do this in the form of a white elephant gift exchange. A friend’s company did a Karaoke competition (with prizes for the winners), I’ve seen dance competitions, employee cook-off competitions, lip synch battles, scavenger hunts, and more. The great thing about company party games is that there is really no limit to what you can come up with and get people to do.

Add Live Music! Add a cherry on top with an event DJ or live band! While someone hooking up their Spotify account to a blue tooth speaker gets the job done, nothing adds up level like your party having it’s own band or DJ. A professional that’s dedicated to the music allows the staff to all be present to enjoy the party and your company to get a customized performance tailored specifically for your event. I’ve played company parties with live musicians (violinist, percussionist, etc) as well as company parties where I was the main event. In all of these cases, having live music to help direct the flow of energy and set the vibe turned the average office party into a PARTY!

Use these tips together or choose one or two to help spice things up. And, of course, all tips can be modified to adjust to any sized budget.

Bonus Pro-Tip: BOOK YOUR ENTERTAINMENT AS SOON AS YOU BOOK YOUR VENUE!!! Don’t find yourself in the last minute scramble of trying to find anyone who’s available instead of someone who’s good and qualified. Not all DJs and bands are created equal, and by waiting until the last minute to book, you run the risk all of the good ones being gone. On that note, if you’re looking for some extra tips to help you find the best DJ, Band, Caterer, Photographer, or any other vendor for your upcoming event, check out A Guide To Find The Best DJ In Tampa (or any other city).

To visit more blogs please, click here.

[chorusfm]

Iguana Death Cult – “Pushermen” (Video Premiere)

Today I’m thrilled to share with everyone the new single and music video from rock band, Iguana Death Cult, called “Pushermen.” With a sound that strays somewhere between the indie rock of The Strokes and the craftsmanship of pub rock bands like Catfish and the Bottlemen, this band checks all the right boxes. On their video, the band shared, “‘Pushermen.’ It kind of sounds like an action movie doesn’t it? Sadly we came a couple of million short, so Hache came with the idea to do a casting video for a fictional film called: ‘Pushermen.’ The scenes we did were loosely based on the movie ‘Superfly.’ If you know, you know.” The track comes from their new LP, Echo Palace, out everywhere music is sold on May 12th, and I was also able to catch up with Iguana Death Cult for a brief interview below. What inspired this new track, and why did you choose it as a single off the record? This song just kinda formed in front of our eyes while we were messing around at my kitchen table. It was after curfew during the lockdown and we were locked inside my home, jamming and having discussions on the growing polarization we saw not only in the media, but also in our own environment. We were playing different melodies that clicked all of a sudden. Since there wasn’t really a perspective on the future for us as musicians, someone joked we’d be better off working in big pharma, so we had our chorus. A chorus that ends on the more serious note that we don’t want to become victims of these times.  Can you describe the writing and recording process? We never write in the same way. Most often, someone comes up with an idea for a song and then we work it out all together. In this way every band member adds a bit of flavor to the song.  Our recording process is pretty standard. Most songs are 95 percent done when we enter the studio and we always have some room to experiment with some song parts and other instruments. How did the video come to be, and can you provide some behind the scenes details? Since the name of the song could be a title for a dodgy over the top action movie, we had the idea to do a casting video. We recorded it at ‘Theater Walhalla’ which is a classic location in Rotterdam. It used to be a club in the old harbor district where my grandparents used to go dancing so that made it extra cool. --- Please consider becoming a member so we can keep bringing you stories like this one. ◎ https://chorus.fm/features/iguana-death-cult-pushermen-video-premiere/

[anyways-wonderwall]

Album of the Week #51

Touch Up

(2007)

by Mother Mother

Overall Rating: 8.5/10

TL;DR: Mother Mother walked so Gen Z quirky tiktok musicians could run. 

(that album cover is scary :(( 6/10)

Can you believe Mother Mother is from British Columbia? I could have sworn they were Swedish given their whole vibe but I suppose rural Canada is close enough. 

Overall Thoughts

This blog is on tumblr so i don’t think it will be a surprise to anyone when i say i love Mother Mother. They were what every queer musical kid flocked to in middle school, and they got a new life with their songs being everywhere on tiktok. They’re kind of like the band Sorry from a couple reviews ago where they are quirky, their music can have weird sounds, but somehow it all works in a nonobnoxious way. Although for this album I think it’s because its their first and sounds much more like a bunch of friends being weird without any thought of how other people would feel about it. 

I think their most identifying feature is their three main singers that are pretty much always singing at the same time. The guy has one of those weirdly high indie voices that makes it almost impossible to picture what he looks like and the two girls have voices that seamlessly blend together. Often the three voices together work really well, with the fun train horn sound effects on “Train of Thought” and the haunting harmonies on “Angry Sea”. Other times you’re just kinda left wondering why you need three people to sing the same part, and it feels like it doesn’t really add much to the song (“Polynesia,” “Touch Up”). I suppose it is good to have an identifiable trait though, and this is certainly one that makes me want to keep listening. 

It wasn’t until my most recent time listening to this album (it’s been my favorite of theirs for years so this certainly isn’t my first time listening to it) that I realized pretty much the whole thing is acoustic. I feel like often weird music like this relies on goofy instrumentals, but all of these songs is just acoustic guitars, bass, and drums. It makes the songs that feature different instruments (the trumpet in “Love and Truth” and the upright bass in “Ball Cap”) that much more interesting and I feel like it added a raw and extra homespun dimension to the songs. 

Especially the absolute BANGER that is “Verbatim.” I mean given this is tumblr I’m probably preaching to the choir here but the guitar riff, the echo harmonies, the cadence of the verses, the random screaming, this song has it all! I may be biased due to all the memories I have with this song, but wow is it just incredible. This isn’t a one hit album though! “Oh Ana” is another one of their hits for good reason, with the chorus of voices making you feel like you have no choice but to sing along. An unexpected favorite of mine was “Love and Truth,” which is one of the few songs where one of the girls is singing alone. It is one of their more low key songs, and it feels wonderfully sweet and genuine. 

Final Thoughts

It really makes sense that pandemic tiktok brought them back, given their homemade vibes and eccentric vibes. They sound like a great band to see and are definitely carrying on the legacy of Pacific Northwest indie folk. 

[independentartistbuzz]

7 From the Women with Jessica Cotten

Jessica Cotten has always been involved with music. Her father is a music professor and a professionally gigging musician, and she studied piano as a child. The melancholy angst of 1990s grunge is where Jessica found her musical purpose. She was swept away by the emotional onslaught of bands like Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots, and the passionately political band The Cranberries. 

She became more serious about music while in college and she purchased a guitar to accompany herself singing. Eventually, Jessica began touring on and off as a singer in an acoustic jazz rock band, as well as with a youth outreach non-profit program. Jessica continued writing and honing her craft beyond college and her active touring years. She expanded her technique through studying voice with an opera singer; and she became an early adopter of GarageBand—Jessica wrote, recorded, and produced two now-unavailable electronic rock albums. 

We got to speak with Jessica about her music, career, and more in this edition of 7 From the Women:

What Have You Been Working To Promote Lately?

I’ve been working on promoting my new EP, Edge of the Wilderness! It’s pop-rock-electronic-ambient, and the songs explore the complexities of being human. It’s little bit protest, a little bit lullaby, a little bit dance party. I sing about the fate of corrupt leaders, quantum entanglement, friendship, and love — all to tasty beats and layered synths.

I’m still trying to figure out what “edge of the wilderness” means. It’s a phrase from one of my songs “City on Fire”, and I think what I’m trying to express is when you leave a place (or a time, or a way of being, or a person) that used to be safe but no longer is. The road out of there and into whatever’s next feels like wandering around in desolate wasteland. But it’s actually a refuge compared to what you left. I think that’s close to what I mean, and the EP deals with that sense of lostness and resoluteness, that need to rant and the search for healing. Listen here >> https://linktr.ee/jessicathecotten

Please tell us about your favorite song written, recorded, or produced by another woman and why it’s meaningful to you. 

One song I often go back to, one I can always count on, is “Chosen”, by Rose Cousins. It’s amazing how much this song carries with just 2 chords. It’s lyrically rich and deep and moving. Each verse gives these poetic depictions of being accepted and being rejected, experiencing achievements and setbacks, and I identify with what she’s talking about, “I don’t know if I have what it takes to be chosen”. It’s very emotive. Very human. The song builds so beautifully, and I get caught up in it each time.

What does it mean to you to be a woman making music/in the music business today and do you feel a responsibility to other women to create messages and themes in your music? 

I’m careful with that word “responsibility”. Sometimes it’s closely associated with obligations or expectations that turn into a weight that’s not sustainable for any human to carry. And obligations and expectations sometimes just suck the life out of me as an artist. I think I feel a responsibility to be true to myself. To be kind. To not neglect my voice and expression. And those things can become tainted if I add this weight of trying to influence others to do the same. I hope I can inspire women to do the same, but I think the best way to do that is by not trying too hard to do it! Being a woman making music today is...actually pretty great, I think. It seems we have more platforms and support than ever, more awareness of how systemic discrimination has held us back, and more empowerment to rise above it. 

What is the most personal thing you have shared in your music or in your artist brand as it relates to being female? 

The most personal thing I’ve shared musically as it relates to being female is found in my song “My Heroes”. It’s specifically about the gender discrimination I’ve experienced as a female in different circles. It details the messaging I’ve heard over the years, how it has affected me, and the steps I’ve had to take to rise above it. Really it’s my way of telling gender discrimination to shove it. So many of the ways we measure success and heroism are harmful, and I wanted to denounce them. Some of my biggest heroes are people the world doesn’t pay attention to. Those who defy toxic definitions of success, leadership, and power.

What female artists have inspired you and influenced you? 

Gloria Estefan has always been someone I’ve looked up to – I love Latin music and there’s this maternal thing she carries, and her album Mi Tierra was a huge influence in me learning Spanish. Imogen Heap is one of my biggest inspirations, the way she experiments and the layers she creates in her music, plus the way she just does her own thing, often going against mainstream expectations. And Dolores O’Riordan was one of my biggest inspirations in my teens. I identified with her sound so much; her gutsiness and uniqueness inspired me to find my own.

Who was the first female artist that made want to create music / be in the business? 

Dolores O’Riordan made me want to get in front of a mic, sing everything, and not hold back!

Who's Your Favorite Female Icon(dead or alive) and why?

I might have to say Emma Thompson currently, because lately I’ve found myself being really drawn to her. I admire how she seems to know herself so well, and how absolutely uninhibited she seems both in her art and in interviews. I tend to look up to people who don’t give a flip what others think, and she is that way plus she just seems wise and well-spoken. And she’s hilarious, which is one of my favorite qualities in a person.

Finally – Where can we find you online?

You can find me at jessicacotten.com. Sign up for my journal there, where I send special stuff only to my email list. Instagram: @jessicathecotten Twitter: @jessicacotten