#but i really like the concept of fusion it is lovely and versatile and cool 👍👍👍👍👍

[misterradio]

say what u will abt steven universe but fusion frickin ruled

[modernarchitecturefirminla]

The Allure of California Rooms in Modern Architecture Design

One of our favorite trends is the integration of California rooms in modern architecture design. Of course, we love the idea of blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor, and building a California room is a perfect way to make this happen. In California, ironically, this indoor outdoor space is actually called a loggia.

You may be wondering what exactly California rooms are. Imagine a space filled with sunshine and fresh air just steps away from the comforts of your main dwelling place, a seamless extension of your home that gently blurs the boundaries between interior and exterior. That’s a California room — an epitome of “living without walls.” Strictly speaking, a California room differs from sunrooms or solariums by having at least one side open to the outdoors.

Structured within the heart of luxurious living, the California room concept celebrates our natural landscapes’ tranquility and beauty. Indeed, California rooms are more than just architectural elements; they are paradigms of a lifestyle – a distinct fusion of sophistication, versatility, and the spirit of the Golden State itself.

The Trend of Indoor-Outdoor Design

Indoor outdoor design philosophy is part of Dean Larkin Design’s DNA. We embrace and encourage connecting people with nature because we know this fusion promotes health and well-being. Some of the design elements we use in our indoor-outdoor designs, in addition to California rooms, are water features and the incorporation of natural lighting. Indoor-outdoor have been rising since 2020.

Even five years ago, when we would have initial meetings with clients to talk about what their desires were for their new home design or remodel, the conversations tended to be about what was inside the house. For most people, the outdoors was something totally separate. We now see an emphasis on the integration. We hear from everyone things like, “Oh I need a big outdoor room. I entertain a lot. I want a big pocket door so I can have those two rooms connect when I have parties.” Dean has said he feels the pandemic played a big role. He noted, “The architect in me would like to think that people are embracing modern architecture, but I really think people are hardwired now into being outdoors. Their concepts of indoor have gone away and those boundaries are down, which I love.”

The Concept of California Rooms

This fusion of indoor and outdoor living is not a new concept, but the modern reimagining of California rooms is unique. They encapsulate the quintessential California lifestyle – that perennial blend of relaxed luxury, comfort, and a deep communion with nature.

The modern interpretation can include generous windows that expose you to the horizon, transformative sliding doors that invite the breeze indoors, comfortable furnishings that echo the style of the main house — every facet of a California room is designed to inspire. They are transitional spaces, where sunny afternoons turn into cool, starlit evenings. As mentioned previously, we like to have doors that are pocketed. When the weather is somewhat bad they can be closed up. But when the weather is nice, all those windows and walls could be pocketed and basically disappear.

The Role of California Rooms in Contemporary Design

Prominent in contemporary architecture, California rooms are pivotal in bridging the gap between the home’s interior and nature. They dissolve the barriers that traditional architecture imposes. California rooms in modern architecture design have become synonymous with grace, functionality, and elegance, thoughtfully crafted to maximize the allure of natural light and airflow while offering an inviting setting for relaxation and entertaining.

California Rooms as a Lifestyle Statement

More than a tribute to the magic of indoor-outdoor living, California rooms are a lifestyle statement. They promise a continual connection with nature and the ongoing pleasure of living in a home that is open, airy, and beautiful in its understated elegance.

A well-appointed California room gives you the freedom to hold elaborate dinner parties under the stars or curl up with a book on lazy afternoons, without ever departing the comfort of your home. In a California room, you might find yourself with a glass of hand-selected Cabernet in one hand and the pleasant interlude of a California sunset unfolding in front of your eyes.

Embracing the California Room with Dean Larkin Design

At Dean Larkin Design, we are passionate about crafting spaces that feel as good as they look, architecture designs that rise beyond their functionality to become tranquil sanctuaries.

We are driven to create spaces infused with the beauty and laid-back elegance of California. Our designs reflect our understanding of this unique lifestyle — a seamless blend of tranquil yet enthusiastic, private yet open, and perfectly luxurious.

Contact Dean Larkin for Exceptional Modern Architecture Design in California

Dean Larkin Design was established in Los Angeles in 1999 and this modern architecture firm maximizes the intrinsic potential of a location, including its available natural light sources. Dean Larkin is very familiar with both historical and contemporary design in the entire Los Angeles area, and the firm endeavors to achieve a complexity that is multi-layered with an effortless elegance. We can incorporate California rooms in our modern architecture designs to develop a space that is innovative, unlocks your location’s innate potential by making specific use of light, views and more, and uniquely designed for the way you live. Contact Dean Larkin for a consultation.

Blog is originally published at: https://deanlarkindesign.com/the-allure-of-california-rooms-in-modern-architecture-design/

It is republished with the permission from the author.

[nagirambles]

is there anything you ever wish we learned more about celestial magic? or at least anyway you’d want to change it considering how it work now, because it had so much potential but as you’ve stated it now basically works as celestial spirt take over (which honestly if take literally could be even cooler like lucy and her sprits merging sure as hell is a concept)

Oh dear here I go. I love this topic.

I definitely wish we learned more about the spirits themselves, their powers, and their dynamics between each other and people around them.

We explored this in the Angel fight, but that's really the most we ever get. I liked when we sawCapricorn's loyalty in Tenrou (and how Loke knew it), but again, we just never get anything like it ever again. I was looking forward to Libra the whole show (because it's my sign) and she ended up being a plot device to show off how cool Kagura is.

I genuinely believe that spirits should never be undermined in their own main magic, because they're just pointless then. At least make them equal like Juvia vs Aquarius, geez. Horologium is one of the most useful spirits Lucy has, and he's irreplaceable, unlike her fighting spirits. No other spirit can do ultimate defense like him, (eg Loke can be interchanged with Virgo or Taurus, because if you just want raw power, they can all do it similarly).

This ramble got really long so here's a read more.

Most of them are now just convenient weapons to be summoned when the author realizes they've lacked screen time recently. Gemini, one of the better-handled ones, are just the cool trick Lucy has for jokes or fake-outs/deceit, and she summons them to use Urano Metria I guess. And no, I'm not saying that's bad, that's really good actually, but that's the thing-- Gemini is just a cool power. We never explore Gemini's viewpoints or Aries' former mistreatment ever again, even though it's apparently a prevailing problem among CSM. Lucy being a mage that actually loves her spirits is the whole crux of Lucy's magic, and yet it's like everyone's forgotten it was ever an issue in the world.

Understandably, it's because we have zero points of comparison. It would have been cool if we found another CSM like Karen again, just to see how the spirits react due to Lucy's influence on them.

I truly believe this problem exists because Lucy got too many keys too quickly. It just got too difficult to balance screentime, and so they just stopped showing up altogether for any meaningful reason than battle. I know it's necessary for the plot and it's sparsely explained away in Key of Starry Heavens and the Eclipse gate yada yada, but it just doesn't make sense that there are only two Celestial Spirit mages in the entire damn world when gold keys are so rare. It's never explained why this is like this except for us to think 'oh, she's the main character, of course'. I really think the series could have benefited from more one-off characters that are CSM, like-- god forbid I say this, Everlue.

Heck, we should have had some mages that just specialize in Silver Keys. You're not telling me such a versatile old magic isn't researched to hell and back with a cult following and some die-hard collectors. Money and rarity isn't really a valid concern, Shiny hunters exist in the Pokemon fandom. if people want something, they will do anything legal and illegal to get it.

I feel it's a shame that we have to continue enforcing the 'ohh, I'm using your magic by being here, I gotta go and let you fight by yourself' thing, since there's so much potential in tag teaming.

I want to see them fight together, rather than Lucy just taking their powers and using them like Digimon fusion. Actually that's a terrible comparison, Digimon fusions are better because the Digimon is still there conjoined like armor, speaking to each other, and they're actually fighting together with their Tamers as one. Okay now I like this idea better. I want something like that for Lucy if she's going to be a magical girl, not the Requip: Celestial Spirit Powers that we got. Yeah what we got is cool but I like the spirits as characters too, not just as one of Lucy's many power varieties.

I do like that Virgo gave Lucy a whip in Edolas. We hardly see her use it effectively and at some point it's just gone, but I feel that's a great start in going from summoning spirits to fighting with their powers. We should have expanded on that before the Star Dresses, honestly. Maybe Taurus gives her a lesser version of his axe or gauntlets that grant her some super strength, Loke gives her a ring that can use a holder-type Regulus, Aquarius gives her a water jug and Lucy can use some Water Magic as long as she's using the water from it. Imagine if she only got these weapons after a while of bonding with them, like a statement of trust and love from spirit to owner.

Sure she'll find weapons she's ill-fitted for, but isn't that the point? Imagine Lucy asking for advice from the rest of her teammates or even her spirits themselves, because one of them gave her a rapier and she needs to learn a bit of how to use it? The training arc before GMG would have been perfect for these things.

I'd also like if they continued a Holder-type theming with those, because Lucy's the only Holder-type in Team Natsu and I wish she stayed like that so she continued to remain unique. We literally have-- so many magical-girl type female mages, form Requip to Takeover to Star Dresses. Mashima uses all of them as an excuse for fanservice, and he's so blatant about it ugh. Couldn't he at least make the designs look good?

Alright! That's about it I have for now. I have a tag called 'the menace celestials' if anyone ever wants to read all the rambles I've had about Celestial Spirit magic. Thank you for the ask!

[hyunnie]

my thoughts on the kingdom intro stages:

can i just say that im so blown away by each group that im shaking while writing this this is what good content does to me lol

ateez: kim. hong. joong. is such a good actor. he captivated me right from the start. and wooyoung my GOD he went all out with his dancing totally stole the show for me. and choi san went off but when does he not ya know lol. ateez was such a strong start to the lineup i would’ve been quaking in my boots if i had to go after them. also the way they had to hold san up during the whole ending fairy thing was kinda funny their endurance is amazing.

btob: i said this in another post but ofc btob killed it vocally. those beginning harmonies were AMAZING and my goodness minhyuk’s vocals were no joke. also eunkwang vocal KING and oh my goodness the emotion in changsub’s voice at the end and then everyone harmonizing to close the song was beautiful. i dont think any other group can create such a beautiful atmosphere with just their voices like btob.

sf9: sf9 are the group i’m least familiar with and i’m not being a hater here, but i think their performance was a little lacking esp with the dancing after watching ateez. their concept was chic and sophisticated but they looked like they were holding back. i wish they would’ve pushed it more and i wish they would’ve done a more productive introduction instead of walking down the runway into a line and then pointing the camera elsewhere. this is also not their fault, but the cameramen for their performance were kinda laggy and that’s not fair to them. also all the kudos and props to the guy who kept dancing even when his mic was dangling around and hitting him what a professional!! solid performance but i think they could’ve pushed the limits more.

stray kids: first of all i KNEW FELIX WOULD HAVE DARK HAIR but what i didn’t know was that they would all hair black hair???? also i love how they were all wearing black so that you could focus on them moving as a group more which i think they really needed. my god the way hyunjin moved was like a panther he’s so lithe and graceful it’s so beautiful. also the remix of this song is amazing felix’s voice definitely set off the performance in an epic way. LEE. MIN. HO. MY GOD. he can literally do anything jazz break dancing you name it. i am so impressed by his versatility. and can i just say i was worried about seungmin and innie since they’re not known for their dancing but GOD they really brought in this stage everyone moved as one unit and everyone was on the same level i was truly blown away. and bang chan you athletic god more back flips please! also i loved the parts of the choreo where they were doing floorwork while moving in a circle it flowed so well and there was so much power and dynamic in the movements its such good choreo. 

the boyz: god sunwoo stole the show HE STOLE IT MY GOD that FLOW was amazing i was instantly captivated. the choreo was also flawlessly executed theyre so good at group choreo. and GOD when they broke into the contemporary choreo i was SCREAMING how can 11(?) boys be graceful yet in sync with each other?? arms levels were on point and their body lines matched each other that is such a hard feat but they nailed it and it was so beautiful?? i def wanna see more of this fusion of contemp and hip hop.

ikon: what a way to end the show amiright. i love the old school dance crew vibe they had going on. the choreo was tight and there were some classic elements of group choreo that had me screaming in appreciation. and BOBBY just had this smile on his face that was so heartwarming he genuinely was having fun on stage and honestly that whole ikon performance was so energizing. it was so fun and cool and they bring so much swag to their performances you can’t help but wanna groove along with them.

the competition’s gonna be tight man and i feel like 4th gen are ready to literally go insane on stage so i think their sunbaes need to get ready to do that too.

[nfly5]

N.FLYING'S 'ROOFTOP' WAS K-POP'S SLEEPER HIT OF 2019

HOW AN ONLINE FORUM, AN ANONYMOUS POST, AND WORD OF MOUTH GAVE THIS KOREAN BAND THE HIT THEY’D BEEN WAITING FOR

When did N.Flying feel the success of their sleeper hit, “Rooftop?” “Just now,” main vocalist Hwe Seung says, pointing down at the ground.

Their newfound acclaim brought them halfway around the world to play KCON LA, where Seung Hyub, JaeHyun, Cha Hun, and Hwe Seung are huddled in a makeshift dressing room at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Our interview competes with a chorus of cheers for rookie boy band ATEEZ, who cook kimbap at the #KCONFoodie station a few feet away. Over the booming of the fandemonium, the N.Flying members loudly enunciate their words.

“We just had a meet and greet with our fans right now,” he continues. “Right when ‘Rooftop’ started coming on, the fans started all singing along. And I felt like, ‘Oh, we are receiving so much love right now.’”

It was a long time coming for one of K-pop’s few idol bands — and it all started on SoundCloud.

Back in August 2018, the four-piece’s leader Seung Hyub unwittingly uploaded a sketch called “Rooftop Room” to his profile under the name JDON. The DIY upload was a relatively lo-fi collaboration with Hwe Seung, constructed around trappy percussion and blaring bass. It was well-received by their fandom, N.Fia (a portmanteau of their name and “Utopia”), so the group decided to create an N.Flying version.

The band released “Rooftop” to relatively modest excitement on January 2, 2019. The track did better than usual, reaching No. 643 on Melon’s daily chart before wrapping up music show promotions on February 8. But then something unprecedented happened.

A week later, an anonymous user posted their track to a popular Korean forum. Suddenly, their song took off, entering at No. 97 on Melon’s real-time Top 100. It continued to climb the charts, eventually taking over the local Gaon rankings for a few weeks. They even returned to televised music shows for an encore run.

N.Flying went four years without a music show win, a career-making milestone for K-pop artists. (For context, BTS’s first win in 2015 is seen as the turning point in their record-breaking career.) But it finally happened for the group at The Show on March 5.

The high-flying foursome was up against some of the industry’s biggest contenders: monster rookies (G)I-DLE and former Wanna One member Ha Sung Woon. When the band’s name was announced, Hwe Seung smiled brightly, and Seung Hyub choked up while giving a speech. Cha Hun maintained his cat-like cool, reaching over to console his members. But it was resident goofball JaeHyun who fully let his emotions flow.

Or as he put it: “I was really ugly crying.” (When I tell him I saw the video, he covered his face and jokingly let out a melodramatic “Noooooo!”)

This was a dramatic reversal of fortunes. A mere week before their comeback, their bassist Kwon Kwang Jin — who had been with the group since their Japanese debut in 2013 — abruptly left the lineup amid accusations that he sexually harassed fans. "We ... confirmed the fact of him dating a fan, so we have made the final decision for Kwon Kwang Jin to leave the team,” their company, FNC Entertainment, said in a statement last December, while also denying claims of sexual harassment.

Kwang Jin's departure was yet another setback for the band. N.Flying made their formal debut in Korea in 2015 as a quartet after nearly two years of delays. Initially, leader Seung Hyub was the sole frontman, defining his performance by his fluid transitions between singing and rapping. Cha Hun and Kwang Jin handled backing vocals, with JaeHyun on the drums.

Meanwhile, Hwe Seung almost went down the alluring flower boy path of a traditional idol, competing on the second season of Produce 101 in 2017. Let’s just say his high notes were fodder for instant replays. He didn’t make it to the final lineup that formed the now-defunct Wanna One. But it’s fitting that he wound up in a band the week after the show ended in June — his upper register is capable of a rough intensity that even a rockist could love.

The new maknae’s (youngest member) 2017 entry into the group didn’t only change the dynamics of their sound — it also marked their return from a lengthy hiatus. On a March 2019 episode of the Korean music program Yoo Hee Yeol’s Sketchbook, Seung Hyub revealed that they had taken a break to find their identity as a group. “But we are still not quite sure what our color is now,” he said at the time.

Now, N.Flying has a bit more breathing room to explore their sound on their own terms. A company-created track couldn’t break them into the Korean market, so it's poetic that the newly minted hitmakers’ breakthrough was their first-ever self-composed song. Seung Hyub's own vision brought them here, and it’s a cycle that will continue: He just produced the group’s latest album, YAHO.

Released as part of the Fly High Project #2, “Rooftop” is anchored by a relaxed dembow beat. The reggae-infused track presented a softer take on their rap-rock sound, while the lyrics painted a vivid vignette centered on star-crossed lovers — which resonated with Korea’s general public.

The group traverses an aural expanse of genre classifications that are in the process of breaking down. K-pop’s genre agnosticism is well-documented; it’s common for idol groups to cycle through a flurry of “concepts.” In that sense, N.Flying is true to the industry.

“I don’t think our approach is any different from any other artist in K-pop,” says guitarist Cha Hun, who cites Slash from Guns N' Roses and Creed as his favorite artists. “The only thing that really sets us apart is that our weapon of choice is that we’re a band. We try to think about, ‘How can we as a band reach our fans in the appropriate way?’”

But their ability to play instruments has drastically widened the spectrum of genres at their disposal, and their versatility is underscored by the deep cuts. The opening riff on “Just One Day” closely resembles The Smashing Pumpkins’ ’90s-alt anthem “Today” — until the track abruptly veers into a pastiche of 2000s-era pop-punk. “Lupin” is a much harder-hitting blend of J-pop and metal, refracted through dubstep wubs. Then songs like “Let Me Show You” take after The Lumineers’ style of stomp-rock with a poppified blues twist.

Still, their particular blend of rap and rock feels organic to them. Seung Hyub clarifies that the band doesn’t exactly discuss how they approach their mishmash of genres. “We basically think about what can we do as a group,” he tells MTV News. “It just comes naturally when we form those kinds of mixes.”

But genre fusions aren’t the only type of hybridization that’s defined their career. Their status as a rock band complicates their relationship to the typical idol formula.

In a visual-oriented music industry that revolves around intense choreography, N.Flying’s relatively static blocking makes them stand out. Granted, there are idol-worthy elements to their stage presence. Just watch a stage mix of “Rooftop,” and you can tell the members have clearly rehearsed that A Night at the Roxburyrealness. Not only that, but they put their own twist on K-pop fandom norms. Thanks to “Hot Potato,” you could say N.Fia find light sticks a-peeling, bringing actual potatoes (on sticks) to the band's promotions. Their status as a rock band reshapes the standards of an idol.

While the Jonas Brothers were breaking the barrier for boy band classification in the aughts, Korea simultaneously forged its own take on the idol band. N.Flying’s successful senior labelmate FTISLAND is billed as the first of their kind: a hybrid of gorgeous, flower-boy imagery and rock-leaning tracks that added a new layer to the K-pop landscape in 2007. CNBLUE carried that torch in 2010, achieving commercial success right out the gate with their Korean debut, “I’m a Loner.”

Which brings us to the latest set of bands on the K-pop scene, fronted by the likes of N.Flying and DAY6. While the latter has a more complicated relationship with boy band status, N.Flying openly embraces the idol label. “We feel like we’re an idol band,” Seung Hyub says. “We feel like we are [singers who can be role models] to everyone, whether it’s as an idol or as a band.”

When they took to the KCON LA stage, a sea of wrist-lights beamed a blue glow back at them. A gaggle of N.Fia were caught on camera holding up potatoes-on-sticks and N.Flying signs — including two posters shouting out 2Idiots, JaeHyun and Cha Hun’s YouTube channel. ("It was a platform where we could shorten the distance between us and our fans," the drummer says.) As Seung Hyub played a keyboard prelude to their career-making anthem, the 22,000-seat arena erupted in cheers.

"The thing that’s most visible is we have a lot more fans," the leader says. "There are so many more, so when we perform, we receive a lot more energy, and we’re able to give back a lot more as well."

[frawleyonmusic]

Band Room; My Sanctuary of Sounds

Walking out into the cool and calm night air after studying for five straight hours makes me feel alive. Having finished the work that was daunting me all week, I check the time to find it's 10:30 p.m. So what do I do from here? I won’t head back to my off-campus apartment, not yet. I don’t try to find a party to go to. No. I head to the VPAC (Visual and Performing Arts Center). When approaching the VPAC the White panels reflect against the street lights outside of the building. The third floor lights up like a beacon, glowing through the glass wall. Canvas paintings loom behind the glass in various stages of completion. I watch the third floor as I approach but once I get under the building I make a beeline for the band room. While swiping my card to get in, I pause to listen for any signs of company behind the heavy wooden door. Nobody’s here. That’s okay. I like playing alone, too. Flipping the light switches on to reveal a row of big, beautiful amplifiers which sit on chairs. The knobs and brand designs shine despite being well-worn. Complementing the amps, rows of guitars hanging above on wall-mounts. Electric and acoustic guitars. On the opposing wall, the drum kit sits sturdily facing the amplifiers with the keyboard to the right. Setting down my bag on the floor I pick out my guitar case from the dozen or so cases that sit on the far sidewall. 

Every time I open my guitar case I get a feel of satisfaction. The blonde and tannish maple-flame top of my SC 77 never gets old. The body is solid mahogany. The back of the guitar is beautifully polished, to show off the warm-brown wooden body. Mother of pearl binding and fret inlays smile up at me, with blue, green, and silver shine. The neck is rosewood and has a black satin finish, which contrasts the mother of pearl inlays. The pickguard that rests against the pickups (the metal magnets that pick up sound on electric guitars) matches the black neck and tone knobs. The hardware (including the pickups, bridge, and tuners) is gold. I’m not one to name my guitars, but I’ve found that I do get attached to them. I found my guitar online, which is typically a bad idea for purchasing an instrument. Although, I can’t say I didn’t do my homework. A little shop in LA called AIO specializes in making beautiful affordable instruments. Like I’ve done a few hundred times before; I “pick up my guitar and play. Just like yesterday.” (Pete Townsend, The Who). 

Until this year there had never been a place that rivaled my own room in terms of finding tranquility. The band room has lots of people who seek its serenity, or its chaos, depending on who else is there. Part of the fun for me is not knowing exactly what, or who, I will find. There are plenty of times that I have to leave and come back later, but just as often I find musicians to jam with. I love stumbling across a fellow guitarist who is practicing with a backing track, (pre-recorded music to improvise over), it’s pretty much an invitation. *Come make music with me.* Just earlier today, I got out of class and headed to the band room spontaneously. What did I find? Joe and Cat getting ready to practice one of our songs. Cat and I started the jam trading guitar solos over a song she wrote. Within twenty minutes Will joined us, and then we really had a garage band. Drums, bass, and two guitars, that's heaven right there. A lot of the time we won’t have any song in mind whatsoever. We will mess around until one player inspires the others to chime in. I will be sitting there with my guitar, thinking of that song that was stuck in my head from that morning. I’ll try to use a piece of it to make something happen. When I start getting a rhythm going I’ll notice that I am not alone. The hodgepodge of screwing around has stopped. The players are listening. Will has stopped what he was doing and is adding accents to my rhythm. Joe is laying down a bass line that makes my foot tap along. Cat is laying into the beat with catchy hi-hats and snare. That’s how it happens. At least that’s one of the ways it happens.

The band room has a lot of toys. It's a playground to explore. As a guitarist, I’d say I have the most options. There are about five guitars in the room, but the greatest source of possibility comes from all the amps. You can really shake the place with a Fender Champion, and let me tell you, I really do. Switching between tones of metal, blues, jazz, rock, and southern twang is liberating. You can create so many sounds. There are also plenty of crazy effects to throw on top of all that. From crushing-crunchy gain that you hear in rock and metal to the psychedelic-spacial phaser, to punchy flanger which is like a slap of sound. Bow!

Being alone in the band room is totally different from a jam. Back when I couldn’t play very well, I used to get bored quickly. That is no longer the case. There are nights where I will leave the band room at 1 a.m. after spending five hours in the room. Sometimes I just want to see how long I can keep playing. There is just so much to do. I can recreate my favorite songs, spin them in new ways, or make music that is entirely my own. Typically, if I have the patience, I begin by practicing scales with my metronome. For many, scales are a chore, but I get satisfaction from perfectly timing each note with the beat. Do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do, Do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do. Coordinating both hands to have the string pressed, with my left-hand fingers, and plucked with the right. It is really satisfying to me. When you get it down, it is almost as if you become an observer watching your fingers dance up and down the strings, doing the work for you while you keep the beat. Moving on from scales is typically mood-dependent, but I always have songs that I am working on. Usually, I will practice a song that I am learning. Babe I am going to leave you by Led Zeppelin is one of my current projects. I play rock, folk, blues, and all kinds of stuff in between. I love playing Grateful Dead, Van Morrison, The Rolling Stones, Neil Young, and lots of other tunes. As I expand my versatility I can adapt to different styles. Having so many options for sounds with the amps of the band room is a blessing. Someday I will be able to switch from rock to funk, to jazz with ease. Maybe I'll be able to play a fusion of all three.

I try to practice one particular thing for as long as I can focus. When I get bored, I pivot. A lot of the time I pivot from practicing set songs and exercises to improvisation. Now, soloing is a hard concept to wrap your brain around when you are getting started. Every note can sound good or bad depending on where you came from, and where you are going. There are limitless ways to phrase your playing. In soloing you create a sound and see where you can take it... or where it can take you. Most of the time for me personally (as a less experienced guitar player), I am concentrating to hit the notes compellingly. However, sometimes, when I am really feeling the groove of the music, it becomes effortless. Like a journey of exploration rather than a search. Playing alone can be liberating for me as I am less concerned with messing up in front of others and I can concentrate on experimenting. Sometimes I really feel like I'm performing at a concert. The room reverberates according to the touches of my fingertips. I get lost in my own world for a time. That’s real magic.

Whether I'm in a bad mood, a good mood, or just miss my guitar, the band room is there, full of possibility. There will be times in my life where I don’t have a space available to play as I do now… as loud and often as I want. I’ll always miss the band room in that way. A new standard for music space has been set for me. I know now that I will have to build a studio space of my own, someday.

[diamond-song42]

The Nonsense Thing in Diamond’s Head Today 4: My Favorite Pokemon

*Lusamine header for no reason whatsoever*

Diamond here with another weird thing. To further expand into Pokemon-related topics, I thought I’d teach you a bit about me and direct your attention to my header photo. That is a grid of my favorite Pokemon of each type. Why did I choose those? What significance do they have? You’re about to find out! I will list these in order by type - I have no real order for which ones I like more than others. Let’s get started!

GRASS: SERPERIOR. Serperior is the final form of Snivy, the Gen 5 Grass starter. I pick Serperior for two reasons. First, its Hidden Ability. Contrary is one of the best abilities in the game. Serperior uses it masterfully. It has access to Leaf Storm, a move that usually lowers the user’s Special Attack. But with a Contrary Pokemon, that Special Attack is going straight up. Yes, each turn a Contrary Serperior uses Leaf Storm, it will only get stronger. If that’s not fabulous I don’t know what is. Reason 2: It just looks so cool. It’s a 10'10 snake. It could literally kill and eat you. So regal and snaky.

FIRE: INFERNAPE. Infernape, the final form of Gen 4 Fire starter Chimchar. Infernape holds special significance to me. I started my Pokemon journey with Pokemon Diamond, knowing nothing about the game or creatures within. Chimchar was my first. Yes, Chimchar is my equivalent to Ash’s Pikachu, Brock’s Steelix, May’s Blaziken, Dawn’s Piplup, Serena’s Braixen, and Lillie’s Vulpix, Snowy. Infernape and I went through a great journey together and I couldn’t ask for a better partner.

WATER: SHARPEDO/MEGA SHARPEDO. Though Infernape might be my first, Water is in fact my favorite type. Sharpedo, Archie’s partner, wasn’t a Pokemon I gave much thought to until Gen 6. Gen 6 gave it a pretty great boost with a Mega Evolution. There’s a combination I like to use with my Sharpedo. First, I protect it for a turn (or two if I’m lucky) and let its Hidden Ability Speed Boost bulk it up a bit. Then I Mega Evolve it and let Jaws tear up the field. It’s a Pokemon that can use Strong Jaw to its advantage! Not to mention the Mega Evolution is sick. It’s super big and has spikes protruding from its nose. You are not safe. I’m still waiting for a Pokemon parody of Sharknado with Sharpedo. It is my first and favorite choice of Mega.

NORMAL: SILVALLY. Here’s another one falling into the “Cool Looks and Ability” category! It’s Gladion’s best buddy and discount Arceus. The discount Arceus factor is part of my reasoning for choosing it. The other is its utter versatility. All its stats are equal, meaning it has ground as a Physical Attacker, Special Attacker, or maybe both. Its signature move, Multi-Attack, will always be STAB, Memory or not. And have you seen Gladion’s Silvally? So cool.

ELECTRIC: LUXRAY. The electric lion of the Sinnoh region takes this slot. I’ve always liked Luxray’s appearance. That jet black fur with the gleaming eyes is really intimidating. Speaking of Intimidate, it has the ability going for it (even if its stats are trash). Not sold on why you should like Luxray? Look at Clemont’s. He’s so cool. He’s Clemont’s war beast that lights up the field with Electric Terrain and jumps on Ash. “A Campus Reunion” is one of my favorite episodes of X and Y, and Luxray is a big part of that.

PSYCHIC: MEOWSTIC. Oh yes, I am choosing the advanced version of demon spawn cat Espurr for this one. Meowstic has a unique concept in that both genders have different appearances, movesets, and abilities. Females go on the offensive (which is awesome in itself), while males stick to defense. The male sticks out here for me because he has access to Prankster, a great ability that gives priority to status moves such as Swagger, Taunt, and Torment. The female has access to Competitive, which is okay but not as great as Prankster. The male also just looks cooler. The vivid blue with white stripes just feels better to me than vice versa.

FIGHTING: LUCARIO. The Pokemon that helped decode the mystery of Mew! I love Lucario. It has reached the iconic state shared by Pokemon such as Pikachu, Charizard, and Mewtwo. While it may not be the best stat-wise, its character makes up for that. It’s a loyal puppo that can throw Aura Spheres and make bones in its hands. I mained it for a while during Smash. And can I add how cool it is in the anime? Maylene’s Lucario takes no shit from her because it knows she can do better. Cameron may be a pathetic rival, but his Lucario is really tough and relatable (seriously… have you seen it eating ice cream?). Korrina’s Lucario is loyal and truly wants to improve when it can’t control its Mega Evolution. Lucario’s Mega is cool, but underwhelming compared to others. I will always stick with my original Fighting-Steel puppo.

ROCK: LYCANROC MIDNIGHT FORME. In case you didn’t get the hint from my Lucario analysis, I love dogs. Lycanroc is an awesome dog. Three forms, all with different strengths and cool links to the elements. None of them are the most superior in competitive play, but they’ve already become infamous among Pokemon fans. I choose the Midnight Form as my favorite because it’s an awesome rock werewolf. It just looks so cool! It also executes its special Z-Move, Splintered Stormshards, the snazziest. Midday Lycanroc is a standard loyal Poke-doggo, but it doesn’t have the same charm as Midnight Lycanroc for me. Dusk Lycanroc is a fusion between the two, but my OCD will not ignore that blue and red do NOT make green. I’ll battle with my loyal, badass lycanthrope any day!

GROUND: MUDSDALE. THE GORGEOUS HORSIE OF THE ALOLA REGION! The minute I laid my eyes on Mudsdale, I knew it would be awesome. I doubt you’re surprised if you read my content. I love how it’s based on the Clydesdale horse, which can get HUMONGOUS. (Google them!) I’m 5'9 and I could ride this if it was real (unlike Charizard)! Its Stamina ability is superb and has helped kick my ass many times. Plus it has cool dreadlocks! Not to mention its connection to Hapu, a perfect cupcake of a Pokemon character. I fully expect that Pokemon theme park that’s opening in 2020 to have a Mudsdale merry-go-round. I NEED TO RIDE MY PONY.

FLYING: DRIFBLIM. Gen Z, a long time ago when we played with Wiis, we had a game called My Pokemon Ranch. The game allowed you to watch Pokemon up to Gen 4 and transfer your own Pokemon from Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum. You can also visit other people’s ranches, and when you do, a Pokemon close to you follows you. That Pokemon for me was Drifblim. The dopey-looking balloon thing from Gen 4 was glued to my side when I visited my friends. I’m amused that it’s gaining some viability in tournament play now with Tapu Lele and Unburden. My choice is less about the tournament play and more about how a balloon was my best friend in a cheesy Pokemon spin-off.

BUG: SCOLIPEDE. The largest Bug-type in the Pokeverse. I was still a little naive when I got Pokemon Black. Scolipede was one of my first captures in the game and became a staple of my team. I love its design. Most Bug-types are pretty small and don’t intimidate the opponent too much. Scolipede does this. It’s even larger than Buzzwole and Pheromosa! The stats and abilities got a mild boost in Gen 6, with the Attack gaining an additional 10 points and its Hidden Ability becoming Speed Boost. I do believe my wonderful horror movie beast is underrated and should get more appreciation instead of being delegated to an antagonistic role in the anime.

POISON: MAREANIE. James’s latest crush also has a spot in my heart. Mareanie has a wonderful design. A blue and purple color palette that can poison a person with less effort than Nililego. Mareanie and her evolution, Toxapex, have access to two boss abilities, Merciless and Regenerator. Toxapex is cool, but it’s a theory I have with Mareanie that causes the pre-evolution to win me over. If Mareanie can fully wrap herself around James’s giant head, it could wrap around my torso and carry my necessities in its tentacles. It’s a companion and a backpack! Thank God for Mareanie.

DARK: WEAVILE. Another Pokemon I have fond memories of from my Diamond and Pearl days, Weavile is the long-awaited evolution of Sneasel from Gen 4. I caught a Sneasel and played around with her for a while… AND THEN MY NAIVE BUTT LEARNED HOW YOU EVOLVE IT. I patiently waited until it became dark outside and I leveled Sneasel up and BAM WEAVILE. Weavile became one of my most used Pokemon in that game. For tournament play, its stats are actually pretty good, and both its abilities (Pressure and Pickpocket) do damage in different ways. And it just looks so menacing! That’s what a Dark-type should be.

GHOST: MIMIKYU. I mean… what’s not to love about a Pikachu clone? Okay, it’s not a clone in the essence of Pachirisu or Togedemaru. The concept around it is so heartbreaking and creepy and lovable. Unlike most Ghost-types, Mimikyu just wants to be your friend! It’s super powerful, too. Its Disguise ability is amazing and can change the dynamic of a battle in seconds. Its typing also gives it few weaknesses and THREE immunities. And need I mention the Z-Move? It’s the best Z-Move I’ve ever seen. Splintered Stormshards is cool, but you really need to look out for the dreaded Let’s Snuggle Forever. Mimikyu just wants to do its best for you and you should love it.

ICE: ALOLAN VULPIX. Yes, Snowy is in on this! I’ve always loved the Fire-type Vulpix. But when it gained the Ice-type, it became 10 times fluffier! It’s a walking cotton ball! I’m disappointed Build-a-Bear only has the Fire variant because I want to get the Ice variant and hug it and love it and pet it and squeeze it. And y'all know by now how I feel about Lillie and her family. Snowy is so supportive of her! Even though she’s the youngest Pokemon of the main characters, she clearly understands Lillie’s past and trouble with touching Pokemon. She gives Lillie a nice distance while staying close. One of the most supportive Pokemon I’ve ever seen. And I want one as a pet. (Oh yeah and it and its evolution have access to Snow Warning which is also pretty fab.)

STEEL: EXCADRILL. I have a special relationship with the Subterrene Pokemon. The minute I saw Iris’s Excadrill, I wanted to train one. It looks awesome! A badass drill mole with a ‘tude. And it can hold its own in tournament play! Defensively, its typing is awesome. The Steel-type can resist so much and switch into Toxic without fear. It can learn not one, but TWO OHKO moves (Fissure and Horn Drill). And the three abilities it has access to are all great. You could go for pure power with Sand Force, get the upper hand on speed with Sand Rush, or negate abilities like Levitate and Fur Coat with Mold Breaker! Its small size doesn’t do it justice considering how big of a threat it is.

DRAGON: DRAMPA. FALKOR. At least that’s what I thought when I saw Turtonator’s Moon counterpart for the first time. Believe it or not, Falkor actually has some things going for it! Two out of its three possible abilities are amazing. Cloud Nine removes the effects of weather, while Berserk shoots that Special Attack up after HP is halved. Plus, it’s so fluffy! Lana and Mallow playing with this guy gives me all the feels. You do you, Falkor.

FAIRY: PRIMARINA. I end this list by fawning over the final form of our beloved Popplio. I was hesitant as to what the clown seal would evolve into. But this thing just straight-up Neville Longbottomed. It is beautiful! It looks like it came out of a Disney movie. Its battling skills aren’t too shabby, either. Sparkling Aria hits everyone on the field and heals burns for some reason. But it could help heal a partner with Water Absorb or Dry Skin. The Z-Move this can turn into, Oceanic Operetta, just blows my mind with the animation. If you want a reason to use Sparkling Aria, the Z-Move is a good reason. But let’s get to the best part: Its Hidden Ability, Liquid Voice. HYPER VOICE IS WATER NOW. 'Nuff said.

And now you know my favorite Pokemon. My team and I would love a battle sometime. Diamond out!

[gigsoupmusic]

Take 5: Kesho

KESHO  (pronounced 'kay-sho') is 22-year-old Kenyan born/ Southampton based Connor Daniel, an artist whose music knows no boundaries. The name means 'Tomorrow' in Swahili, as KESHO is out to be the sound of the future. Bringing together dance, electronica and R&B, the sound is a vibrant fusion that takes up today’s post-genre challenge to create soul-infused, modern pop equally at home on radio or the dancefloor. His latest single ‘Fire Love’ is a commercial Pop track with a gritty edge. The song's concept is simply about wanting someone and the chase that makes it so exciting. Both of Fire Love's lyrics and instrumentation follow a crescendo that leads into the euphoria of Trap-infused synth brass and silky vocal chops in what electronic Pop music fans have come to know, love and move to - the ‘Drop’. He says the single was written rather quickly, within one day in fact, collaborating with Lady V, Paul Whalley and Amber Van Day. Fast workher that Kesho! We wanted to find out more – so time for a Take 5… When did you realise that you wanted to be a music artist? What or who has inspired you? I think my life was always going to lead into a creative path. My mum was in a band with my Aunt so I grew up surrounded by musicians. I was actually a dancer before a recording artist so I guess I've always had rhythm. My older brother downloaded FL Studio (music production software) for me when I was 13 and within an hour I fell in love with making music - I knew that's what I wanted to do. I grew up listening to Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire and Quincy Jones and they're all on my spotify playlists today. I'm massively inspired by Hip-Hop and the best lyricists in the game currently like Kendrick Lamar, he's so versatile with the manipulation of his voice it inspires me endlessly. Who, living or dead, would you dream of collaborating with? Kanye West 100%. I know he's a controversial one but I adore his music and creativity. His earliest albums College Dropout and Late Registration formed my love for Hip-Hop and subconsciously taught me about creative sampling at the same time. Of course I don't agree with some of the crazy political stuff he talks about, but speaking purely about music - he is my dream collab.  Tell us about your single –'Fire Love'-  what is the song about? Fire Love is about the thrill of the chase. It's like that confusing part when you're talking to someone and you think it could go far but you're both scared to admit it. It's like saying 'screw it' and telling someone how you really feel.  https://youtu.be/Kdqqjwe0Rp0 Tell us five things you love about the city you live in, and why…… I'm going to slightly bend the rules here if that's okay? I was born and raised in Mombasa, Kenya so I feel it's only right I talk about both Southampton (where I currently live) and Mombasa.  Mombasa: There's a beach bar in Diani called 'Forty Thieves' that's beautiful. My aunt and uncle were resident musicians there too. Mombasa: Warm sea water. I may live on the South Coast of England and we have plenty of water but man it's cold. I miss walking from the beach into the Indian Ocean and it feeling like a hot bath! Southampton: Mates. I've had the same group of friends since Year 7 Secondary School, I see some every week and some every 6 months but it always feels like nothing’s changed and that's really cool. Southampton: Nightlife. Over the last few years especially there's been an influx of really cool niche bars to hang, play pool or have a beer or 20. Mombasa: FOOD!! Some of the best Seafood you can ever eat. Crabs, lobsters all the good stuff.  What are you most looking forward to this year?  Some really cool sessions with amazing writers/producers. I've also got a ridiculous amount of demos so I can't wait to go through them and decide which are the best to finish and start thinking of release plans!

KESHO / AKA CONNOR DANIEL / KENTISH TOWN / Shot By Rob Blackham / www.blackhamimages.com Read the full article

[onestowatch]

Q&A: Cambriana Transports You To The Amazon With ‘Manaus Vidaloka’ Album

Cambriana opened up Pandora’s box of melodies with Manaus Vidaloka, released on Aug. 24. Each track on this Brazil-based band’s new album, the follow-up album of their past LP House of Tolerance, contains intense and infectious beats that transport you to the Amazon. You start to feel one with nature just by listening to Manaus Vidaloka, a truly one of a kind and versatile sophomore showing. By day, you could listen to “Trouble By Day” sitting on a beach sipping a mojito, or by night, dance samba to “Lucifer” at a Brazilian bar. Cambriana wants us to experience the “Vidaloka,” or the good life, with their lively lyrics and melodies. 

The beats are just as passionate as Cambriana’s lyrics, containing meanings ranging from hedonistic pleasures to politics. The songs run as deep as the rivers that inspired them, as most of the album was recorded while on a raft in the Amazon. A modern day Huck Finn, frontman Luis Calil and bassist/songwriter Pedro Falcao turn indie rock on its head by incorporating native Brazilian styles, and a brand-new language derived from polyrhythmic afro-fusion. Following up from their success with “Lucifer,” their first single off the album premiered on Ones To Watch, they bring us favorites such as “Bjork” and “Manaus,” and many more.  

Cambriana is more than just a band, but a culture within itself. They paved the way for a new movement by staying true to their roots, with ground-breaking beats and a brand new musical dialect -- such a rare feat in music today. Cambriana did their fair share of homework and truly deserve an A+. 

I sat down with Cambriana to talk about their transformative journey to create Manaus Vidaloka and the meaning behind their masterpieces. 

OTW: What events/experiences sparked Cambriana’s evolution from indie rock into more native Brazilian styles?

Cambriana: Basically, I just got bored with how straightforward the indie rock stuff we were doing was. Couldn’t get any further enjoyment from putting four pleasant, “touching” chords together. I had been listening to afrobeat and samba and stuff like that for a while, but when I started the band, I didn’t have the confidence to try and write music in that style.

After touring our first two releases, I just wanted to do something more ambitious, a challenge, so I decided to sit down and actually learn how to build a believable groove. And that’s the album, really, a collection of grooves, broken beats, moving away from the touchy-feely stuff and going for a meaner, more mischievous vibe.

OTW: How did the idea of creating a new musical language come about?

Cambriana: I think it was inevitable. The moment we decided to “do” afrobeat or any kind of African music, we knew it was inevitably going to come out filtered by our sensibilities. As much as we tried to capture the spirit and vibe of that music, it’d have the quirks of the people who wrote it, which were a couple of late-20’s Brazilian guys who listened to a lot of indie rock and weird electronic music. It’s one of the things I love about the album, that it doesn’t sound truly African, or Brazilian, or anything. It is its own thing.

OTW: Who were your main inspirations in creating this new dialect?

Cambriana: Fela Kuti, Ebo Taylor and specially Thomas Mapfumo were big names for us during the writing of the record. That style Mapfumo created, chimurenga, that was something I really wanted to be able to recreate, but it was a big learning curve. Non-African artists like Bjork and Radiohead were also referenced, and we used lots of nylon-string acoustic guitars that I learned to love listening to bossa nova.

OTW: What inspired you to travel along the Amazon river and record? Did it change the way you felt about music and/or your career?

Cambriana: The concept of “Manaus Vidaloka” came way before our decision to go there. In fact, the album was like over 50% done when we decided to actually go to Manaus. The Manaus we talk about in the record is a sort of heightened, metaphorical place, but we nonetheless felt that we should visit the actual place we were naming our album after.

It was an amazing experience. We traveled a lot by boat along the river to record stuff, and sometimes I felt I was in a Werner Herzog movie, Klaus Kinski going insane in the middle of the jungle. Being up against that forest might be a bit like going to space, I think, because you feel small and insignificant, or like an intruder. But coming back from the Amazon, we felt more confident we were in the right track with the album.

OTW: How did the Amazon play into your recording of your different beats? What parts of the Amazon or the culture were the most inspirational?

Cambriana: We stayed on a floating hostel in the middle of the river, so we were surrounded by water, trees and the occasional passing boats. The sun and humidity were insane. I think you can hear that vibe on the album , particularly on “Manaus”, which features lots and lots of samples we recorded during the trip, including the sound of our boat’s engine.

We also leaned harder on flute arrangements after the trip, which we wrote based on South American indigenous music, and that connected the album more directly with the Amazon culture.

OTW: So as I listened to “Big Sensations,” I couldn’t help but think of the demons with Satan in Paradise Lost chained to a lake of fire in hell. Is that a coincidence or is there a “Lucifer” vibe you guys were going for? If not, then what does this song mean to you?

Cambriana: That’s so cool that it made you think of Paradise Lost, but I can’t claim that was on purpose, I haven't read it. Although there’s a lot of religious symbolism and imagery in the lyrics of many songs on the record, so it makes sense. I wrote the “fire in the lake” line in “Big Sensations” thinking about how we go looking for life’s most intense pleasures in whatever place we may find them, while we still can. It’s about the the destructive, hedonistic pleasure of being young and free.

OTW: In the song “Bjork,” what is the significance of the “the nameless light?” What “signs” should we be on the look out for?

Cambriana: I don’t want to get too specific about this because the song was written with the intention of being very openly metaphorical, and it should be able to mean different things for different people. But mostly I was thinking about how we don’t need religion to reach the kind of spiritual awe and wonder we crave; we can choose to take art – or whatever else may work for you – seriously and let it guide us to that state of awe. It’s about using ordinary things, in a Bjork song, as a replacement for religious comfort.

OTW: I really liked “Trouble Every Day,” and I liked the lyric, “8 am, I’m still in my head.” Is there any experience that brought this song about? What do you want listeners to take away from this song?

Cambriana: Thanks! I tried writing a song about a breakup where the narrator was the “villain.” Most love songs are either written from the point of view of the person who’s being left, or they portray the person leaving as doing the right thing. I wanted to be the asshole in this. It presents the couple as clearly mismatched, so the breakup ends up being a good thing. There’s a lot of irony in how the music and lyrics relate to each other, but it’s ultimately a happy and hopeful ending, cause the other person is free to keep moving forward.

As for personal experiences, I don’t think I’ve ever been a “villain” in a relationship (hopefully!), but I’ve certainly given some version of that breakup speech in the second half of the song.

OTW: Are there any experiences with cheating that inspired the song “Manaus?” If not, what is the thought process behind the lyrics?

Cambriana: The “everybody cheats” line is about the inevitability of corruption. I guess if there are any actually controversial lyrics on this record, it’s “Manaus.” I’m a left-wing guy 100%, but this is a song that takes aim at the Left’s worst tendencies. It’s a really angry and empowering song about how empowerment can lead to ruin. And I like that the narrator is the Nature itself, unbiased and all-knowing, and it just wants to be left alone.

The Brazilian government has not been good to the environment and to indigenous people, ever, and this is me lashing out against it.

Connect with Camriana for more: 

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