#it's all about the vibes in glam and certain things need to play out for the sake of the feeling. you know

[endofthe1980s]

glamorama is quite simple actually

[littlemixnet]

Jade Thirlwall on Little Mix babies, learning the art of self-love & her first foray into the world of beauty.

As she releases an astrology-inspired eyeshadow palette with Beauty Bay. “I suppose I've got quite a hectic life – or had quite a hectic life, before lockdown," Jade reflects as we chat on the phone one (surprisingly) chilly end-of-September morning. “But lockdown gave everyone a chance to reflect and think about their priorities – and so I’ve come out of that experience with even more of a drive and more of an ambition to achieve all of the things that I want.” Outside of music? For 28-year-old Jade Thirlwall – one third of record-breaking girl band Little Mix – making moves in the beauty industry sits high on that list of priorities. “Whenever we do videos, I’m always the one that sends mood boards to the makeup artist and I’m like, ‘Ohhh we should try this look and we should do this eye,'" she laughs. So teaming up with Beauty Bay to release a 42-pan eyeshadow palette inspired by her passion for crystals, spirituality and astrology (who knew?) seemed like a natural step. "I knew that together we could create my dream palette, something which my fans can use to create out of this world of lewks.” Speaking from her London apartment, Jade is relaxed, open and oozing with passion – for her life in Little Mix, her personal life and her upcoming beauty ventures alike. And not to mention: very happy the weather is turning, so she can roll-out her autumn-appropriate palette on post-lockdown nights out, pronto. “I’m a Northern winter girl. I like the cold. I like feeling snuggly. Yeah. Summer is not my vibe to be honest.” I love beauty – always have done from a very early age. This is a bit of a throwback, but I did a makeup course at college back in the day, so I’ve always had a love for makeup throughout the years. I think Little Mix have tried every single thing you can think of when it comes to different looks and trends. I think it’s known amongst my fans particularly that I love experimenting with colour. And I love the whole glam of it all and all the different eyeshadows. Every time I do a shoot or a video it’s a chance to do a different look – and I’m very versatile when it comes to that. So yeah, it felt like once me and Beauty Bay started working together, they are known for doing the best palettes, so it seemed right. Over the past couple of years especially, me and the girls have started delving into more of the things that we’re individually passionate about or into whilst working together, and it has been really lovely. We’re obviously really supportive of each other’s ventures, and I suppose it gives the fans more of a chance to see what we’re into ourselves. And it gives people that don’t really know a lot about Little Mix or about us individually, it gives those people a chance to be like oh, actually… so Jade is into this sort of thing and Leigh likes this sort of thing and Perrie is into that and… yeah. It has been lovely, and I suppose the last sort of year and a half has given us all a chance to reflect and think about the things we want to do on our own as well as in a group. I’m at a point now in my life that I’m definitely so comfortable in my own skin. I know exactly what works for me. I’m not afraid to try new things and experiment with colour and stuff like that. I think as someone who loves art and stuff in general as well it just sort of lends itself well. It's an art form to me, makeup, and expressing yourself that way is really amazing. So it felt really right [to collaborate on an eyeshadow palette with Beauty Bay]. I suppose lockdown – it has given everyone a chance to gain a better perspective of all the things that they're into. The best version of myself in terms of makeup is just elevating my natural beauty. I think everyone should do that! I think when I first started out in Little Mix and as a teenager, makeup was worn as a mask to cover who I really was, if that makes sense. And as I’ve got older, I’ve realised that it isn’t a mask; makeup is more of an expression of who you actually are, and it’s not to cover yourself up. It’s to elevate yourself. And so, now, whenever I do a look, I don’t tend to cake it on as much as I used to. I do things that accentuate my features already and don’t try and hide it. I think my go-to makeup on a night out or something is just a classic bronze-y beautiful eye. That’s my go-to because it suits my skin tone and I feel like nobody can go wrong with a lovely golden bronze-y eye. And that’s definitely in the palette. I think this palette was an opportunity to show everyone a bit more about myself that may be they didn’t know – like my love for crystals and healing crystals; my spirituality which is definitely something I’ve become more and more passionate about over the past few years. I needed something that kept me grounded and kept me well, mentally and physically. And so, spirituality became a part of that and I’m obsessed with crystals. My mam is obsessed with crystals and so that was one of the first thoughts when making the palette was incorporating all of that. And so, that’s kind of the original inspiration. I feel like the palette – it was important for me to have something for everyone, because I’m well aware that some people don’t like experimenting too much or some people love having loads of fun. So when I agreed to do this with Beauty Bay, I wanted to make sure it catered to every kind of person and every different skin tone. No matter how much you want to be adventurous or not, it’s all in there. I always have crystals with me wherever I am. Certain ones are catered to certain aspects of your life or what you need in that moment. I’ve labelled a couple of shades in the palette after my favourite ones – tourmaline is my favourite, which wards off any negativity. I think no matter how much people believe in it or not, just from a psychological perspective, for me, it’s all about grounding yourself. I think it’s really important to get rid of any negative energy and constantly keep the positive coming in. I suppose I don’t really have a specific religion so I use that as a means to believe in something greater than me and that works for me. There have definitely been a lot of changes in my life recently. A lot has happened. Obviously me and the girls are a three – two of the girls have just had babies so there's been a lot of change in my life. I’ve met someone, fallen in love, and all of that soppy stuff, so – yeah! It definitely feels like, more than ever, a lot has been happening all at once. But it’s so exciting and as we’ve said before, lockdown gave everyone a chance to reflect and think about their priorities and think about things they really want to focus on. I’ve come out of that experience with even more of a drive and more of an ambition to achieve all of the things that I want to achieve and be there more for my family and friends – and obviously go out more and wear more makeup! 'Cos I’ve spent a year and a half in the flat with nothing on and lounging around so it has been nice to start glamming up again. The other girls are loving being new mums, honestly they’ve taken to it so well. I always knew they’d be great mams, I went to see Leigh last week and met the twins who are so beautiful, they just slept the whole time – but you know what, it was so weird because all I’ve ever known is being round the girls and it being us and just us. And for the first time it's actually dawning on us that they’ve had children – actually seeing them there in front of us, like they’re real; it wasn’t a prop. I feel like because of all the music videos we’ve been doing with them pregnant, I don’t know why but in my head I kind of just didn’t think it was real or like – every time we’d been doing a music video we’d base it around their pregnancies, so every character we’d play in a music video would revolve around them being pregnant as well so it was almost like a fun little act that we were doing. So seeing Leigh and seeing the babies was like, “Oh, they’re here and they’re perfect and you’re a mum now and you’ve got to do this.” But I’m so proud of them and they smashed the pregnancies. They were absolute Queens, working hard – and they had each other which I suppose really helped them. It’s amazing. I am hoping to see Perrie soon and be the best Auntie I can be. I’ve never thought about comparing myself - it’s not me, it’s everybody else. It’s other people around me that try and put that pressure on me, I don’t know if being in a group dynamic has may be meant that I’ve got used to comparison and so it doesn’t effect me as much. Everyone’s in different places in their life and sometimes it’s assumed that I should feel, ‘cos I’m a woman, that I’m behind and I should feel a certain type of way that I’m not at that point in my life yet… But I’m so unbelievably proud of where I am at in my life and what I’ve achieved and my career. I’ve got an amazing boyfriend, I’ve got amazing friends and family, and I’m a businesswoman –why would I feel left out?! But it's interesting… like every interview it gets asked like “Are you feeling broody?”, and I’m like “No, hun! Are you?! Do you want me to ask you if you want to have a child or children?". Like, it’s quite a personal question, isn’t it? So it has felt a bit invasive at times… I think that everyone moves at different paces and I’m happy with mine. If my beauty cabinet was on fire, there are three things I'd save. Obviously I’m going to say the palette because I’ve put far too much work into that to let it burn, so that has got to come with us. I feel so proud looking at it – when I see Jade on top of it and I open it and it’s all shades that I’ve named and it’s all colours that I like – there’s no way I’m letting that go up in flames. So that’s coming with us. Then I’d say maybe just a classic nude lip, I’d have to grab. Because I feel like if you’re having a no makeup day, as long as you’ve got a bit of a nude lip on and nothing else, you’re sorted – do you know what I mean? And then finally… third product… may be a brow brush? Which I never thought I’d say but brows are so big now aren’t they, hun? They’re a priority. As long as they’re brushed up and they’re all in the right place then we’re good. X-Factor Jade would've saved three very different makeup products. A fuchsia pink lip, a massive lash… and, what else… brows just weren’t a thing to me then it’s so wild to me like the change in trends and stuff… maybe a lip gloss or something? But I mean, back then, especially for us girls, I think makeup artists got so excited at the thought of a new girl band that anything went. It was just throw anything on our faces and hope for the best at that point. It was a hot mess. But it was also of that time, like pop stars were really doing the most – like you had Katy Perry… it was all really colourful wasn’t it? Nicki Minaj… all these artists who were doing like really bright bold makeup looks and the eye colour would be very different to the lip… and y’know we’d have feathers on our eyelashes. It really was throwing the kitchen sink in so we’ve definitely learnt to mellow down over the years for sure. In ten years time, I’d like to still be performing with the girls. We’ll be doing something together. I’ll have built more of my empire. Maybe more beauty things and more other things I’m into like art and my businesses up North. As it stands, every year I get older I get more confident in myself so I’d like to imagine in ten years time I’ll be at a place where literally no body is going to affect me when it comes to self-love. And maybe I’d be helping to support another girl band by that point as well. It’s getting a bit lonely out here. We need more. So, yeah – I’ll be helping flying the flag there, I suppose.

[eurosong]

Undo my ESC 2021 - Semi-final 1

Good afternoon, folks! Every year, I take a look at each semi-final and share what feasible change I would make – as small as changing a few lines of the song or an element of staging, or as big as a different song completely winning a national final – to make it even better (just in my own opinion of course!) This year will be harder than usual, but I’ll try to set aside my conviction that every 2020 artist should have been able to return to see how different SF1 might look. Let’s go!

🇱🇹 Lithuania: PiN was in the Roop's hands, and whilst I fell in love with some of the underdog songs they were up again, most notably Home and Never fall for you again I wouldn't take away the chance away from the Roop. There's nothing I'd change about Discoteque, and I love their nod to On fire, but the way that they also took things in a different direction to last time.

🇸🇮 Slovenia: I may be in a small minority, but I absolutely love Amen and I loved Voda too! Ana Soklič has so much presence and stunning vocals with so much texture and depth; she can sell me pretty much everything. My only change would be to insert Slovenian language lyrics!

🇷🇺 Russia: I was initially really disappointed that we wouldn't see the iconic Little Big on the ESC stage - but I commend the way they wanted to share the limelight with other artists. The unexpected Russian mini-NF ended up being a revelation and very diverse for its size. I liked all three songs, but I think that the best hands down won. There is nothing I have to change to Russian woman, one of the most powerful propositions of the season for me. I just hope juries will value it and we won't see a Telemóveis style situation!

🇸🇪 Sweden: After a year of being happy with the result in Sweden - I was always in Dotter's corner, but who can't love the Mamas? - we return to more familiar terrain of an MF result disgruntling me. Tusse has charisma and talent, but his song is lacklustre at best for me. My fav was, once again, Dotter, and I wish that either she'd taken the win or that the Mamas got their shot at ESC as main artists.

🇦🇺 Australia: I really enjoy Technicolour, one of the more out-of-left-field entries from Oz. I am so intrigued as to what the Diane Warren song offered to Montaigne was like, as I'm certain that this isn't it, but I'm glad she trusted her gut and went for something so distinctive. My one change would be to get rid of the unnecessary key change at the end.

🇲🇰 Macedonia: When there was a nationalistic furore with attempts to stop Vasil from representing MK, I was entirely on his side even though his song for me is one of the least appealing of the edition. I'd still want him to get his chance at ESC - but his Sudbina would have been such a more compelling entry for my taste.

🇮🇪 Ireland: Lesley Roy served nostalgic pop wonderment for the second year in a row, and another song that has etched itself already onto my life's soundtrack. I don't know what I'd change, except perhaps translate one of the choruses into Irish Gaelic - it'd make the message of a return to home even more resonant for me.

🇨🇾 Cyprus: Cyprus and I haven't seen eye to eye for several years now, and it's a shame as they were one of my favourite countries of the 90s. I do enjoy El diablo more than their last trio of songs, but I find it leans too heavy on a clear inspiration from Gaga, which takes away from some of the more original elements of the song. So, I'd rework the chorus, and also change some of the lyrics elsewhere because some lines just flat out make me cringe.

🇳🇴 Norway: I seem to have been in the minority of people delighted at MGP's final results! I had bigger favourites - the rambunctious sea shanty that is Vi er Norge, the kickass empowering Witch woods or the pulsating groove of Playing with fire - but I wouldn't take Tix' win away from him given how meaningful it was for him and what the guy has been through. My change? Revert partially or entirely to the Norwegian version, Ut av mørket; for me, it hits my heart harder.

🇭🇷 Croatia: Sincerely, my biggest disappointment of the NF season potentially - I wish Damir had been internally selected, not just because of my wish to see all ESC'20 alumni return, but because his was the best Croatian song for me since Moja štikla. Tick-tock is harmless but if we can't get a Damir return in this hypothesis, then I'd go for Rijeka, which captivated me with its epicness on first listen and has just risen in my estimation since. Though, given Nina's histrionics after coming second, maybe I'd have Albina perform the song instead.

🇧🇪 Belgium: I was prepared to not be on board with Belgium this year despite my long-lived love for the country - I found Release me, whilst orchestrated beautifully, entirely lacking in dynamism; and I really couldn't stand the way the band dumped Luka unceremoniously. And yet... this lush piece of art is one of my favs of the entire season. And there's something different and singular in Geike's voice. So the only thing I'm changing here are the dudes' attitudes to ESC so that they can value it more, especially Alex.

🇮🇱 Israël: As one of the most naturally charismatic performers of 2020, I had high hopes for Eden's return and the original idea of a mega-NF for her seemed really promising. Instead, we ended up with an uninspired strewing of songs, of which the best didn't even get the chance to be recorded by her. Set me free was my favourite of the three that got to the final, but I feel they've really worsened it with the revamp, in between the hail mary pass of the whistle vote and the extra emphasis on "I'mma". I would have Eden perform Shoulders instead - I don't know how it NQd and think it would allow her to showcase her personality a lot more.

🇷🇴 Romania: I really enjoyed Roxen's selection last year - small but quite diverse, and I felt the best song won. My change would be to have seen a similar national final with 3 or 4 other songs of hers this time, because I'm not convinced in Amnesia anywhere near as much as I was of Alcohol you.

🇦🇿 Azerbaijan: I wish they had gone with something at least a bit different rather than this cut, smudge and paste from last year that is so on the nose with its "you loved Cleopatra, so you will love this, won't you?" feel that it even namechecks the previous song. Efendi has a lot of talent and could have shown more diversity here.

🇺🇦 Ukraine: I'm getting used to the surprise revamp of Šum by now, but the question still remains for me, why did they do it? They needed to cut about a minute off the duration of the track, but to me, that doesn't explain why they also had to change the melody in large parts of the song. I'd be tempted to revert to a shortened form version of Šum version 1.

🇲🇹 Malta: Another unpopular opinion, but I'm just not that into the Maltese song this year. The lyrics are great and Destiny has poise and presence and PIPES and I'm sure she'll do well, but the style - a glammed up Electro-Velvet, essentially - doesn't heat me up, and I feel like the different parts of the composition are too dissonant from each other, like we have 2 or 3 songs in one here. My change would be for her to have gone with something more soul-ish in its sound, like AOML was.

And the AQs of this semi

🇩🇪 Germany: How did juries decide upon this, especially when there seems to have been many promising artists in the German selection? No shade against Jendrick who seems like a lovely chap, but the song sounds like the cheerful four chords on a ukulele you hear repeated as royalty free background music on Youtube tutorials, merged with a post-chorus breakdown taken from a Stefan Raab b-side. I would have gotten out my phone book and given Lilly among clouds a call - she gives me the vibes of being able to create something totally show-stopping.

🇳🇱 Netherlands: My original slight disappointment at this was more because of how high I have Grow than any fault of its own. It's another gorgeous composition from Jeangu, with probably the best set of lyrics of the year, and this is going to be a moment. I change nothing.

🇮🇹 Italy: I like Måneskin and their performances at Sanremo were brilliant - but they were far from being at the top of my favourites list. I would have given the win to Madame with Voce, or Ermal with Un milione di cose da dirti. Both would have been my #1 of the entire year, both move me deeply. Madame showcases contemporary Italian style with classic songwriting, whilst Ermal almost created a companion piece to Fai rumore - Diodato wanted to hear the sound of his loved one, whilst Ermal struggles to make a noise and say what he feels about his love.

Join me soon as I take a look at SF2 and its songs (and France, Spain and the UK, the auto-qualifiers from that semi!)

[seneca-rolfe]

[ margot robbie, female, she/her ]    —    agnes street wouldn’t be the same today if it wasn’t for déjà vu night club . do you know that seneca rolfe works there as a performer? they are thirty and they look like the kind of person who has stolen from the bottle service at work more than once. , whenever i see them, plastic doll by lady gaga starts to play inside my head.  maybe it is the vibe they give off, soft glam, insta baddie, cracked veneer ; you know ?

Hi all! I’m Payton (she/hers), 29, and excited to be here! No, Seneca isn’t a carbon copy of Harley Quinn, and yes, her character is based on a less resilient Nancy Kerrigan (also I created this character before I, Tonya came out...). I can’t wait to meet everyone! 

Seneca Rolfe was born the only child to the Rolfe family, an affluent couple in the Northeast. Her parents valued discipline, excellence, and had specific ideas of who their daughter would become. This might have been a challenging set of circumstances had Seneca not entered the world with a certain idea of who she would become herself. At the young age of four, and with plenty of family income to spare on their daughter’s enrichment, Seneca announced with a certain sense of finality on the matter that she would become an ice skater. From the moment she laced up her first set of skates, she was a natural on the ice.

The young girl's natural proclivity on the ice quickly evolved to natural skill to excellence with a keen sense of competition. By her early teens, Seneca had gained a hard earned reputation in the sport by the time she began to compete on the national stage. With national title after national title, it became an expectation that her career would lead her to compete at the Olympic level, a dream that was realized in her late teens. 

With a few years of preparation on the horizon before her Olympic debut, Seneca began to push herself harder and harder. The weight of her parents' expectations weighed more and more heavily on her shoulders as well. The few wells of friendships she had with peers outside of the sport dried up. An early, first love suffered a break up for a lack of free time to spend together. The half days of homeschooling turned into pressure just to take a GED test or find some other way to call high school a wrap in order to focus more and more time on training. For others, this may have been suffocating, but Seneca’s world along with those in her camp became more and more of a tunnel vision focused only on a gold medal.

This was probably why she wasn’t as honest with her trainers about injuries as she ought to have been. One wrong landing on its own is one thing, but one wrong landing on a hip suffering consistent overuse, under-rehabilitated injuries, and on the brink of ruin saw her initial Olympic dreams shattered. While the solution to the injury was simple, the amount of time she would need to spend off the ice was lengthy. There would be other years, she was told again and again, there would be years and years to come of future Olympic games, but the feeling of defeat for the young athlete was all-consuming. 

While Seneca did manage to make a return to the ice, there was a marked difference in her ability to perform. Despite her trained discipline, her hours of practice, and dedication to the craft her former greatness seemed somehow out of reach. A spot on the next Olympic team eluded her, and for a young woman who lived a life of little outside of competition, lofty expectations, and a monolith of a goal, there was only one answer: practice harder. 

Chronic pain became a regular entity in her life again, her former injuries inflamed and angry. But she had always been through to push through. She would be in her early twenties by the time she would qualify for the summer games, and knew it would be her last chance. Her ambition swallowed her whole. Seneca, who once used to listen to the advice of her doctors and coaches and mentors, ignored their advice in favor of what she saw as her last opportunity for greatness. In her blind fury of a fight for acclaim, she burned her body out, destroying the very asset that would have brought her to her dream.

A torn labrum ended her next Olympic fight and this time the injury required major surgery. Seneca knew what no one would tell her--her career was over. For a young woman who had sacrificed relationships, education, and most other pleasures in life, this reality was devastating. 

The pain from recovering from the surgery was dulled by the painkillers provided during her recovery. They dulled the mourning in the back of her mind for her wasted potential as well. As she left the hospital, she found that the pain was constant, chronic. Her body ached constantly from overuse and years of ignored injuries and her mind struggled to claw its way out of a deep pit of depression and unfulfilled dreams. Alcohol and opioids continued to numb the pain. 

The rest of her twenties passed in a blur of disappointments, black outs, and drugged out fuzzy edges. With little education and few other skills, she found that even if she refused to set foot on the ice--if she wasn’t the best, it wasn’t worth it--she could at least make a passable living dancing. Most of her nights were once spent at the clubs working a pole and attempting to scrub out the disappointment of her life with booze and pills until she made her move to Islesbury. While she still is largely a mess, she’s managed to pull herself together enough to be able to stop pole dancing as an adult entertainer and engage in more artistically satisfying arts such as the aerial hoop, silks, and burlesque at Déjà Vu Nightclub. 

Seneca, while internally feeling sorry for herself, presents outwardly as confident, cocky, and with a biting sense of humor. Perpetually incapable of taking much of anything too seriously, she can be secretive, defensive, and reckless largely because she keeps a wall up to try and distance herself from others. Although it may seem she refuses to take accountability for herself or work for a better situation for herself, she has from time to time been self-sacrificing and generous to others. She is protective of her past, finding it would be humiliating for others to know what a high achiever she had been in the past compared to how she lives her life as a substance dependent, self-loathing performer.

[rovewritesit]

Angel Of My Dreams (Chapter 2) John Deacon x Reader Series

Series Summary: After reluctantly joining a band with your childhood best friends, you are thrust into oncoming stardom with no sea legs and an overwhelming sense of anxiety. But you just might find your way, thanks to some seasoned pros by your side. And the interest of one particular bassist.

This series is a work of fiction, and is loosely inspired by real people and events. Absolutely no offense is meant to actual Queen or their families.

PART 1 - PART 3 - PART 4

Pairing: John Deacon x Reader

Chapter Warnings: Cursing, duh. Feelings of anxiety.

Chapter Notes: A wild Deacy appears! Reader was supposed to meet him in this chapter but it got a bit long. I may have awkwardly stuffed in some backstory as well, but I wanted to get through it before we start having more interactions with the members of Queen. I’m a hoe for Hot Space and Cool Cat is such a vibe so I had to throw it in here. If you haven’t heard the original demo with Bowie you should take a listen. The music video concept was sparked loosely by Mitski’s “Happy” video (it’s gory af, be forewarned). I’m aware that the MTV of the 80s definitely would’ve banned anything like that, but it’ll come back around in the plot later on.

Songs Mentioned:

Heart of the Night - Juice Newton

More Than A Feeling - Boston

My Best Friend’s Girl - The Cars

Song/Title Inspiration: Angel - Fleetwood Mac

Taglist: @yourlocalmusicalprostitute​

- - - - - - -

February 1982 - Orpheum Theater, Boston

It’s noisy in the cramped green room backstage at the Orpheum Theater in Boston. Gone were the days of grand arenas while tagging along with Hall and Oates. Now only around 2,000 bodies lined the seats out in the house, but you still feel that familiar bubble of nerves as Dawn busies herself around your hair. 

Dawn, your best friend from your two short years at NYU, had agreed to tag along for the short tour to help with your “look.” Not that you ever really had a problem with your usual jeans and t-shirts, but this rock type of glam proved to be a different beast, and Dawn certainly had an eye for style. Her voluminous hair always streaked blonde and crimped to perfection. She’d tried to convince you many times to do something chemical with yours but you held firm to your virgin hair, causing your pre-show routine to run well into an hour and a half to get the desired popular style. You smile up at her as she curls part of your bangs away from your face, truly grateful to have another woman around.

“Babes, please stop moving your head. I’ve had to do the same piece 3 times already.” She tuts at you. “And Eds, I’ve asked you how many times to watch your elbows, jesus christ.”

Eddie tries to cram in even tighter against the wall, keeping to the five tiny spots you’d all wrangled against the mirror. “Ay, I’m trying over here. It takes some effort to get all this together.” He smirks, running his fingers through his already perfectly coiffed hair. A shame really, that it would be utterly destroyed within 15 minutes of being on stage.

“Have we picked a city song for tonight yet? I want to go over it in my head a few times before we go on.” Lawrence calls out, trying to tug on a pair of pants that look a size or two too small for him.

The Limbs had taken to playing one song per show by a famous local artist from the city they were in. Since they only had the one album out, it was a chance to get the audience singing and moving together; to change up the pace. A modified tip from a certain mustached rock legend that the band had started to implement.

“I thought we decided on More Than A Feeling?” Eddie says as he tears his eyes away from his own reflection.

“That’ll be what they expect. I think Bun sounds better on My Best Friend’s Girl,” Rich says simply. He’s attempting some form of stretching routine in the back corner of the room, his extremities bumping up against the walls.

“So Y/N’s taking this one?” Steve asks, lounging across a small loveseat against the wall, his legs dangling off of it delicately. He looks up from whatever song he’s been working on.

“You heard what the label said. They want Y/N more center stage, so to speak, for marketing reasons.” Rich tries folding his body into some sort of pretzel shape. A light “oof,” escapes his lips as he falls backward slightly.

“Ah yes, we need to give the public what they want,” you huff, wanting to roll your eyes if not for Dawn covering your head in a cloud of Aqua Net.

Eddie starts pacing, or at least tries to, “I just don’t get why they’re trying to make her into some Debbie Harry.” He scoffs, “Like that’s ever gonna happen.” 

Dawn glares at him. It was a bit of a low blow, but Eddie was still getting used to sharing the spotlight with you, with him singing lead on almost every other song. 

You were still struggling to find your presence on stage and were more than happy to take a back seat to the boys for the most part. And while some of the band’s other singles were gaining traction, none were close to catching up to Heart of the Night, which was now getting steady airplay and record sales thanks to the absurd music video that hit TV screens everywhere a few weeks back.

“That’s true, Y/N’s much more of a Linda Ronstadt type if we’re throwing out names,” Lawrence grunts out. Finally able to close the button on his skin-tight pants.

A cold laugh erupts from Eddie. “Exactly. It’s the Eighties now if you haven’t noticed. It’s all about edgy sex appeal, and let’s be honest, even Steve has a better chance of-”

“Enough!” Dawn’s voice sliced through the air, the daggers thrown from her eyes flying towards him. She leans down to your level to examine her masterpiece. “You look as sexy as a goddamn playboy bunny, hun. No pun intended.” Her voice softens as she pinches your cheeks.

The room goes mostly quiet for the next few minutes as the local opening band starts to close out their set with their last two songs. Only Rich’s deep breathing, fitting in time to the beat. 

You chew your cherry painted lips, mulling over Eddie’s words. You knew full well that you weren’t exactly the frontwoman the label or the public dreamed of. Hell, you weren’t even supposed to be a frontwoman at all. When you’d finally given in to Rich’s insistent pestering to come have some fun with the boys, you’d been at NYU for two years. You loved your film classes but felt the hole that was left from the absence of playing any type of music. In high school, you’d all show up to a party with a variety of instruments in your grasps. It almost always resulted in a crowd gathering around to listen, joining in with your voices, clicking their beer bottles in time with the beat. It was when you had felt most carefree, and you had ached for that feeling again.

But playing locally turned into recording an album, for which you wrote a song for some dream of a man that only existed in your thoughts. Next thing you knew you were scooped up by Columbia Records, missing classes to attend photoshoots or album release parties. People were listening to your voice, your song, and wanting more. You dropped out of college to the dismay of your parents but were immediately enveloped in your friends' glee, finally reaching the precipice of something they’d only dreamed of. You hated the thought of letting them down in any way but you couldn’t shake the feeling that it was all a fluke, that you had nothing else to give. Destined to fade out as a one-hit-wonder and a disappointment to your best friends in the world. The weight hit your shoulders as you slumped in your seat. 

None of this was supposed to happen, you tell yourself. It never happens like this.

You’re broken out of your daze when there’s a rap at the door and a muffled “5 minutes” from the stage manager behind it. You all stand, waiting for Rich to spread his wings and engulf you in your usual pre-show pow wow. You slide Dawn in next to you in the now group of 6, needing someone steady as an anchor.

“If you’d please, Reverend.” Steve probes, cheekily.

“We’re gathered here today” Rich begins and Dawn giggles. “To bring immense joy to those 2,000 idiots out there, who so willingly sold out our show for us. They deserve a performance played to 200,000, so that’s what we’re going to give them. In the name of our fathers, John, George, Paul, and Ringo. Let’s go give em’ hell.”

“Amen!” you all shout and disband.

As you follow the boys into the dingy hallway leading to the stage, Eddie catches your wrist. He looks at you through his long lashes with an uncharacteristically shy smile that almost never sees the light of day.

“I’m sorry for being a prick, Bun. I shouldn’t have said all that,” he mutters as you continue to walk, not wanting to miss your cue.

“No worries, Eds. You were right though. I’m definitely no Debbie,” you force a chuckle at yourself while a roadie slips your guitar strap onto your shoulders.

“It’s not alright. And no, you’re not,” he says catching your downturned eyes. “You’re Y/N fucking L/N, and you’re just gettin’ started, baby. All you gotta do is take a little bit of the love we all have for you and give some to yourself once in a while, alright?” A grin forms, showing his adorably asymmetrical teeth as he reaches out a hand to ruffle your painstakingly perfected hair. “That’s better. Now let's get out there so you can show the world exactly what kind of frontwoman you are. And don’t be scared to show them a hint of Bunny while you’re at it.” You move your guitar out of the way to pull him in for a close hug. You hear Steve start banging his snare and pull Eddie on to the stage with you, feeling a bit lighter than you had been minutes ago.

You approach your mic and take a look out at the packed, hazy theater.

“Well hello, Bawston!’ Your accent rings out to the faceless figures before you. “Aren’t you all looking fuckin’ fabulous tonight!”

- - - - - - -

March 1982 - Musicland Studios, Munich

“No, I didn’t say it’s bad, just that it sounds tinny,” Brian argues, crossing his spidery arms over his chest as he leans against the doorframe. 

“And it’s as if you’ve shoehorned Bowie in there just to mumble in the background incoherently. A waste, really.” Roger tacks on from beside him.

John sighs and leans his head against the back of the couch in the studio. “Just because it’s not your precious red special or your own magic fingers at work, doesn’t mean it’s tinny,” he counters calmly. Trying his best to keep the annoyance from seeping into his voice, knowing that Brian already had anger stemming from John’s earlier composition for the album.

It was the first time this week that all four men were in the studio together. Finishing up Hot Space was proving to be a strain on all of them and the growing rift had caused the men to nearly finish their songs separately instead of in their usual group dynamic. John’s experimentation into different styles, such as funk and disco, had not been willingly received thus far.

“Well, I sound rather fabulous, if I do say so myself. I’m very proud of us, Deacy.” Freddie states, getting up from his own place on the couch and stretching.

“It’s not that, Fred. It just doesn’t sound like us.” Brian sighs, already sensing the escalation of a row coming along.

“Oh please. Not this again...” Freddie huffs.

“That’s because it’s not us. It’s me and Freddie.” John cuts in with a roll of his eyes, landing them on Mack, their producer, who just shrugs and trains his gaze back to the board. 

“That’s for sure.” Roger murmurs out. Now it’s John’s turn to cross his arms as he levels their pointed gazes. He’d worked with Fred for days putting together “Cool Cat,” hoping that the additional vocals from David Bowie would be a selling point for the other two.

With a clap of his hands, Freddie moves about the room. “Why don’t we take a quick break and then give it another listen?” Roger groans. Freddie pats his shoulder as he makes his way over to a radio beside Mack.

John rubs his tired eyes before pushing himself off the couch, eager for a break from the energy in the stale room. “I’m grabbing a coffee,” not offering one to the others as he brushes past Brian on his way out, quickly retreating down the hallway as fast as his legs will carry him.

The remaining three startle a bit as Freddie flips on the radio, Lo & The Limbs hit single pours from it, louder than expected.

“Oh! Oh, yes! Simply marvelous,” he exclaims, jumping up and down lightly. Roger and Brian raise their eyebrows in silent questioning. “This is the band of rascals I was telling you about the other week. They must’ve just broken out here.”

“The yanks you met while in the States?” Roger questions, turning his attention to the song, eager to judge any brimming competition.

“Yes, yes, the wild young lady who swears like the devil and her band of merry giant trees.”

“We have one of those!” Rog nods in Brian’s direction, voice muffled by a cigarette now dangling from his lips.

“Hm, Brain’s more of a willowy spruce, if you will. These ones are giant redwoods. You know American’s. And they have these thick New York accents. I could barely understand a word they were saying at first. What a riot they were.” he remembers fondly.

“I feel as if I’ve heard this before, but I can’t place it.” Brian ponders, almost to himself.

John appears in the doorway, blowing lightly on a steaming mug.

“Probably from that shocking video of theirs, darling,” Freddie waves his hands about. “Oh, you must’ve seen it. They’re all dressed up like they're in Grease or something, and this square of a girl is pinning after the bad boy. But he’s with this slutty little thing. And oh, I can’t recall the details, but in the end, she ends up murdering the slut!” He slaps the table for effect. “But for some odd reason the boy is okay with it all and they run off into the night together, covered in blood.”

“Sounds… spooky?” Roger shrugs. John stifles a chuckle.

“It’s dramatic! And sexy. And obviously working for them.” The wheels already turning in his head.

John tunes out their chatter and trains his ears to said song, which is about halfway through. The instrumentals seem a bit basic for his taste. The soft strum of an acoustic guitar, a slightly heavier electric over it, with a simple bass line. A female voice flits in.

Cool city moon lays its touch on the room,

Your eyes reach to me

It has a rasp to it. Akin to Stevie Nicks, he thinks.

Two shadows fall saying nothing at all,

We know what we need

No, not quite. It’s entirely it's own if he’s being honest. He can feel the soul pulsating through words and the power that’s beneath it. One that could probably fit with any genre it should choose. His interest peaked.

In the release, two prisoners are free from the darkness

One more escape surviving the heartache and madness

The raw emotion erupting from the speakers and the lyrics start to paint a picture in his mind, scrambling to fill in the faceless voice.

In the heart of the night

The chorus starts and picks up steam quickly. Male voices begin to fill in on background vocals, blending together seamlessly.

We run like bandits

Two hungry hearts under the gun

Her voice cracks a bit, in a charming way. It must be radiant when heard live.

In the heart of the night 

When we find each other

Were stealing love on the run

In the heart of the night,

Heart of the night 

A small smile plays on John’s lips as the song fades out. They’re good, he muses to himself, a bit intrigued by the song and Fred’s colorful description of the accompanying video.

“A great voice indeed. They’ve got a strong sound going.” Brian chirps up.

“That’s her first swing at writing, too. Wish it had been that bloody easy for us.”

“Is she a looker, Fred?” Roger wags his brows.

“Oh please, they’re practically babies! Although that drummer of theirs is certainly something to write home about… Even with the head of hair he has. A bit like a mushroom. A cute one.” Freddie ponders, stroking his full mustache.

John reaches up and pats the tight curls atop his own head, wondering how it would look if he ceased from trimming his current short perm.

“I do hope they catch on here. What fun that would be.” John readily nods along without realizing it.

Freddie switches off the radio and turns back to the other three men. “Alright back to it then. Queue it up, Mac,” placing a hand on the man’s shoulder and raising his eyebrows. “Shall we?”

- - - - - - -

March 1982 - Columbia Records, New York City

“Why are the undersides of my knees sweaty? I’m not a back of the knee sweat kind of guy, alright?” Lawrence fidgets, adjusting his collar for the fourth time in two minutes.

You casually gulp down your third glass of water while staring at the wood-paneled walls of the office. Attempting to avoid the gazes of a number of gold discs lining the walls, the echoes of your musical idols. They seem to be laughing at you.

Steve partakes in his trademark bouncing routine, the chair underneath him squeaking in a violent rhythm. “Do you think it’s the video? It has to be the video or we wouldn’t be in this office. I knew we shouldn’t have taken that big of a risk right out of the gate.”

“You gotta be kidding me. You basically doused yourself in the blood when Eddie pitched it!” Rich cuts in, his usual calm demeanor nowhere to be found.

“What! It was your idea for the--”

The door behind where the group is gathered swings open and in strides a stocky man with a full beard and tinted aviator sunglasses still covering his eyes.

“What are we all standing around for? Sit, sit, sit, c’mon.” His gruff Brooklyn accent ringing out as he moves to sit behind a large mahogany desk.

The Limbs scramble to fit on the couch across from him, with you ending up perched on the armrest, gripping Rich’s bicep for support.

The man, Walter Yetnikoff, CEO and Chairman of Columbia Records, grunts as he eases into a leather chair, finally removing his glasses, revealing surprisingly kind eyes, “Jeez louise, look at you kids. You look as if a nun just caught you all playing with each other’s junk. What’s with the faces?”

“Mr. Yetnikoff, we’d like to sincerely apologize for the backlash that has come from our video. We should’ve known better than that. We could’ve toned it down… a lot.” Eddie rushes out. He wipes his hand over his too-snug tailored pants, probably leftover from days of youth choir.

Walter barks out a laugh. “I’ll admit I was a little shocked to find out that’s what you needed a high school gym for, but relax a little, will ya? You’re not here to be scolded. If I didn’t like it, I wouldn’t have fought so hard to get it airtime.”

The Limbs visibly relax- a tad, but their eyes all stay wide.

“Well aren’t ya gonna ask why you’re all here then?”

“W-why are we here?” Rich asks quietly. “Sir.” He adds.

“It seems that the slight PR crisis of a video you made has made its way across the pond,” Walter smirks.

“You mean…” Steve trails off in a voice two octaves higher than usual.

“You kids better like air travel because there’s gonna be a lot of it in your near future. The hit has broken into the London airwaves and they’re not as god fearing as viewers here seem to be. We’re sending you over there next week now that you’ve wrapped up the tour.”

“Holy shit!” Lawrence yells. You feel yourself falling back off your perch as your large friends all jump to their feet. Rich’s gangly arm luckily catches you and pulls you immediately into a suffocating hug. “You did this, Bunny!” He screams in your ear. “You did this!”

“Alright, alright, you can all go celebrate and drink your faces off in a second,” Walter calls out over the group who immediately shut their mouths. “We have a few details to iron out but I’m hoping to send you over there for a full press tour. Photoshoots, interviews, talk show appearances. The works, you got it.”

Steve lets out a squeal of delight, his voice not yet returning to its usual bass.

“You.” He points a stubby finger in your direction. “I’m waiting to hear back about a last-minute cancelation on some game show out there. We’re gonna try to get you in. You know your shit?”

“W-what kind of shit, sir?” You ask from the bear hug that Rich still holds you in.

He holds up his hands, gesturing to the gold discs that surround him. “Music, my dear.”

All you can do is nod, not wanting to think about what that even entails.

“That’s what I like to see. Now get outta here so you can all combust somewhere outside of my office. We’ll call you in a few days. Get those bags ready, you hear me?” He waves you all off.

Before you have a chance to say anything, the boys are sweeping you out of the room. And off to the start of whatever comes next, you guess.

[daggerzine]

Celebrity Mixtape Party #3 with celebrity musical guest Jonathan Segel!

Big thanks to our Stockholm correspondent for giving a listen to mixtape number three. I had as much fun reading Jonathan's musings as I did making the mix.

The Neats - 6 

I had a thing against this band because of their use of a capital-Lamdba as an A on their band logo, so I always read it as “The Nelts” and by the time I finally understood it was “The Neats” I wasn’t interested. This song is an obvious love poem to 96 Tears, with the organ sound and spy-riff guitar. Nice Pebbles-type music, the lyrics are stupid.

The Chills - I Think I Thought of Nothing Left To Think About 

Chills are great, I have always been a fan of the NZ scene, so many good bands. “Driving yet melodic” as they used to say

The Mantles - Don't Cross Town 

Nice simple melody guitar intro. Indie band quality recording, good for those in the know (I’m not, though.) Again, the classic guitar/organ with the bass and drums. These guys sound like they learned how to play in order toto form this band.

Magazine - Touch and Go 

Nice edgy new wave from Magazine! This is classic stuff, heard on KDVS when I was in high school, making rock music what it needed to be. Listening now, I can hear the glam in it as well.

Naked Raygun - Rollerqueen 

Bass driven rock music with droney scream vocals, I guess it was considered punk at the time. But it’s a love song! About a big legged lady, no less. From the punk styles that used Marshall amps, yet claimed to hate the big rockers of the 70s.

The Names - Floating World

Back to the classic 80s organ/chugging guitar/arpeggios with a chorus pedal. I’m glad people made records like this, nobody would tolerate singing like this these days unless it was from teenagers. “let’s go away, far.” 

Unrest - Vibe Out 

“Vibe out”, vocoded. Bass riff central again, eventually we get to the almost-in-tune girl vocal pair, which I have to say, makes me happy. There’s something about it that makes me happy, especially the suspensions. All strummy strum, downstrokes on the bass, with that pair of crooners melodicizing.

Slant 6 - 30/30 Vision 

Ok now we’re in proto-math rock territory, awesome riffs and key changes, great sounds from the guitars and bass. Spoken vocals, again, the almost in tune girl melodics that just get me. Great build to new sections! Faster pace, and a weird phrase for the chorus “30/30 vision” then back to the slow bass riff. I think I would have loved these guys live, never saw them!

New Order - Ceremony 

The most pop track so far, most of these bands with the bass-riff intros probably copped it from these guys. This is a great track (and I’m not a super NO fan) with great simple melody and strong guitar and bass parts. I obviously stole something from this song for a song on the second CVB album, “Chain of Circumstance”.

The Sound - Unwritten Law (7" version) 

Back to the garage, cool guitar riff on two janglers going slightly stretched tuning wise. I haven’t heard it before. “a hand is a hand a knife is a knife”. Where did these guys come from and where did they go?

Happy Refugees - Enshrined In a Memory 

Another 7”, again I’m not in on this band, sounds cool, sort of Fall-ish delivery but with the REM jangle. I’m gonna get good at music trivia.

Television Personalities - Reaching For The Stars 

I know these guys, had many albums, so my trivia knowledge is influenced by KDVS. And

The Three Johns - Brainbox 

Nice strong song, good recording, complete with the major key anthem fade out.

The Pooh Sticks - Time to Time 

Welsh post punks garage rocking it

The Primitives - I'll Be Your Mirror 

More 80s bands mirroring the Velvet Underground?

Biff Bang Pow - 7 Seconds 

Like UK’s own Paisley Underground. I guess most of this tape is 80s/early 90s Brit snark mixed with a bit of acid.

Party Day - Carousel 

Early Goth! This type of bass and to a certain extent guitar, are why I thought the Cocteau Twins were goth at the start, same early 1980s era.

Mick Trouble - Tales of Hank Marvin 

(Mick trouble, really? Tales of Hank Marvin! The throwback nostalgia to Hank, doing up the old strummy guitar. It also reminds me a bit of TV P’s)

Bad Sports - Can't Just Be Friends 

This is like a love note note 7”. Every time I go you can put me on your stereo.

The Unknowns - Not My Memory 

Early 80s when the new wave was crashing and nobody knew what the genre enclosed. I like the way he clucks like a chicken.

Julian Cope - I've Got Levitation 

Man, Julian Cope. Was high. That super crack midrange snare is like hyped up Rolling Stones, with this blues progression. He was into cutting high and low end to squeeze more volume out of analog gear. Punchy! You can sort of see where this is going in terms of UK drug and rave culture.

Abecedarians -They Said Tomorrow/Wildflower 

I liked these guys, DIY post punk Californians. Sort of into the texture as much as the notes. Moar reeverb!

Red Zebra - The Art of Conversation 

Don’t know them, I think…Belgian punkers. Sounds pretty emo these days. Nice gothy chorus on bass and digital delay on guitar. And freaky ending!

Wire - The 15th  

Monks of Doom covered this song relatively recently on What’s Left For Kicks (2006) so that version almost supplanted this version! Wire is so weird, they’re always great but somehow unknowable. Like what are they actually talking about? Is it as dire as they make it sound? Love their style with all the direct downstrokes on the guitar and the organ.

The House of Love - Road 

Taking the goth and post punk signifiers to the bank via high end production. Emo vocals moving out of the underground. This was toward the end of the A&R

Rote Kapelle - San Francisco Again (partial) 

This is obscure. Cool indie (SF, I guess?) boys and girls

Veronica Falls - Bad Feeling 

Unknown, cool song, more recent indie Scottish boys and girls?

Close Lobsters - Sewer Pipe Dream 

80s Scots, jangly Enigma Records stuff. Nice song, good sounds with the jangles and the fuzz. 80s compulsory snarky lyrics, as usual.

....and here’s the mix!

https://soundcloud.com/user-292047766/jonathan-segel-mix?ref=clipboard&p=a&c=1

[palbabor-writes]

Shota’s Cool Times Summer Jamz Mix

But for real, this is a Class 1-A Character Analysis, but with their music choices! 

So it’s editing day, and @albinoburrito​ and I got a little off track. It started with, what do you think Bakugo would listen to? And then it just spiraled out of control. 

So, here it is. Shota’s Cool Times Summer Jamz Mix

Izuku: Indie music, general pop, his dad’s old classic rock albums - was especially excited when he found out that All Might also listens to classic rock and uses it for his workouts. He prolly made like 20 new playlists after that and always tries to play them on the down low when All Might is training with him. He fucking loves it when All Might is like, “oh! I love this song”. Or, asks for him to turn the volume up. Has done some low fi for studies, but that’s really the only time he does it. He likes Young the Giant, MGMT, Alt-J, Strfkr and bands like The Rolling Stones and Van Morrison fill out most of his workout playlists.

Bakugo: Honestly, he doesn’t have any hard and fast preferences. If he likes things he SoundHounds them and moves on. He can cultivate playlists, but it’s not like he’s Kaminari level, having playlists for any and all activities. I do feel like he would lean more toward rap & hip hop titles. As well alt and alt rock. No fucking scream-o, or Eminem, please and thank you. Artists like: Childish Gambino, Travis Scott, Drake, blackbear, Missio, NCT 127, and Jaden’s Icon. However, he does have one low key, wind down playlist with sad, sappy songs that he had to immediately lock when the others found his Spotify. Shit like Band of Horses, Lord Huron, and Ocean Eyes by Billie Eilish.

Sero: Indie and indie bops: i.e. Loud Pipes by Ratatat. Some rap & hip hop. Maybe upbeat alternative jams. He strikes me as a Gorillaz fan. He’s good at making playlists, he’s better at the low key ones. Things that you can comfortably listen to and don’t mind them. He doesn’t overthink this. If you hand him the aux you’re never upset. You’ll get bands like: Two Door Cinema Club, Passion Pit, St. Lucia, COIN and Coast Modern.

Kaminari: The KING of cultivated playlists. Like, has one for every occasion. Need something for a party that your parents will also attend? Cross generational? He’s got you. Pump up jams for specific people? He made them like a week ago and has choices. Makes playlists for certain people, but won’t give them out unless you actually want them, or ask him. Yes, he made one for Shinso after that training battle. No, he hasn’t worked up the courage to show him yet. Personal preference: he’s into all the latest pop & he keeps up with artists and tends. For upbeat playlists he goes for: Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Rihanna, Maroon 5 and Major Lazer. For low key playlists his go to are: NIKI, Khalid, KALEO, Transviolet, Noah Cyrus, and Bea Miller. His favorite artists waffle. They change rapidly. He loves them one week, but next week he’s got a new fav. He also likes the Jpop scene.

Mina: Hip Hop QUEEN. If it’s got a good beat she is all over it. MUST be a banger. She has mood banger playlists. Like, Kamanari, she’s got some good playlist cultivation skills. She’s also who you want to go to for road trip & sing along playlists. My girl loves a good upbeat “friendship,” playlist. She has a soft spot for some indie bands, i.e, MisterWives, Lorde & Billie Eilish. For her everyday listening needs she is all about: Run the Jewels, Lil Nas X, Quinn XCII, Logic, Calvin Harris, Nicki Minaj and Bhad Bhabie.

Jiro: She listens to all most everything. Massive, massive music pallet. Her family was always big on diversifying her musical tastes. Never let yourself be limited or judgmental because it’s not what you usually listen to. That said, she super big into rock and alt rock. She really like to follow bands. Like Paramour, Panic at the Disco. Bands that have shifted and changed over time. She admires that skill. Jiro cultivates playlists that are super specific and poetic. You know, those concept playlists that are like: enchanting, serene. You are laying in an abandoned castle and you’ve never felt this content and at peace. You are one with the universe, never in your life... Like that shit that’s like a paragraph long and you don’t even understand why, like, why is it so long? And so, specific? She’s got that shit locked down on Spotify. Mina found hers once, ONCE, and she tightened that security seconds later. She loves to listen to: Fleetwood Mac, The Zombies, Joni Mitchell, Terror Jr, Woodkid, Foo Fighters and David Bowie. Literally, she likes everything. Equal opportunity music listener. If it feels good it’s going in a playlist and that playlist is turning into a poem.

Tokoyami: 100% listens to GOTH rock - POST PUNK jams. Don’t @ him. It’s just his vibe k? Siouxsie and the Banshees shit, The Cured, The Smiths, and some good ole’ Evanescence. The darker the better, Revelry in Dark y’all. He’s a sucker for rock opera, that epic extra shit, but it’s also low key embarrassing. He wants no one to know of this. Like if you find it, go away and leaf him alone. Also, never speak of this again. He’s redacted, he’s not even on this list. You didn’t see this.

Iida: Oh my king, he likes some of that Bastille, Coldplay, Imagine Dragons, One Republic in his playlists. Low key, alt rock. Good ole’ safe, alt rock. But, he does like some pop songs. Not that he will talk to you about that. When he’s with his folks he likes to masquerade as a classic rock buff. But he’s bluffing pretty hard. He’s working on that with Izuku. He’ll get there you guys. He knows his brother loves it so he’s trying his BEST. For his pump up work outs he does go for that DAFT PUNK techno.

Aoyama: Oh. My. God. He loves flashy bands. Fucking Glam rock all the way. He’s also super, super up to date on the French hip hop and pop scene. Into people like Yelle, Phoenix, Soprano, Ayama Kamura, Stromae. Loves ELO just for the sheer operatic value. ABBA all the way baby. Anything exciting and anything that makes him feel invigorated. His playlists are a little scattered. He really just tosses whatever he’s vibing on in them.

Kirishima: You already know, why are you even looking here? He’s got the manliest playlists. When he was younger it was like, all alt rock, edgy stuff. Once he got to UA he cleansed that pallet. Not that he don’t go back to those playlists sometimes, but he’s also wanting to move on from those feelings. Now? He’s all about that positive rock babyyy. Anything that has a good, upbeat feeling he’s down for. He’s really looking for those VIBES. Things that get him pumped up and ready to go. Bands like: The Bleachers, The Mowgli’s, Banners, Jukebox The Ghost. Just real positive stuff, man. He also dips into classic rock for his workouts. If he feels like that rap song works with his workout jams it’s going in and he’s cranking it up. He totally found Bakugo’s sadboi playlist and immediately told him, hey, man, I have one of those too, emotions amiright? This is why Bakugo private locked his entire account HARD. Look what you did, Kirishima, you can’t see ANY of it now.

Uraraka: My girl likes pop. That bubble gum shit. But, she’s also has a superrrr hardcore rap playlist for her workouts, like, it’s kinda confusing. Mina found that playlist first and was like ????? I-Is this you? Like this playlist has DMX, Jedi Mind Tricks, Kanye, LL Cool Jay, A$ap Rocky, like, some tunes that get her GOING. But, she loves that cute Jpop and Kpop. She’s got tons of road jam playlists. Those you can put on and everyone is like, ooooooh, this song!!! She’s also has like 3 Disney playlists, for different moods. She also loves Girl in Red, Louis the Child, Hailee Steinfeld, and Mitski.

Todoroki: He...doesn’t have much experience with music cultivation. Like, he knows some songs, he didn’t live under a rock, but he also kinda did...so, that stunted him, in more ways than one. Thanks Endeavor. But, thanks to his classmates, he is starting to get the hang of this. He over thinks this stuff. Like, this music must speak to him. From Iida he likes Bastille, from Uraraka he likes King Princess, From Izuku he’s learned to love Grizzly Bear, and he really, really likes the playlist that Kaminari made for him. He’s leaning heavily on it to find some more tunes for his own small collection. He also learned that he loves anything that is hard rap as well. Especially if he can play it in front of Endeavor. You know, the ones are like, you didn’t fucking pay your child support, you ass. That aggressive, angry rap: Kendrick Lamar, Wiz Khalifa, J. Cole, 21 Savage and Montana of 300. It’s to make his father as uncomfortable as he possibly can be.

Tsuyu: Fucking rainforest and ambient noises. Not really, but also actually. She likes calming sounds, ok? Everyone was like, this is a joke, don’t be ridiculous and then she showed them her playlist of rain sounds. I mean, you go girl. But really, her collection is mostly pop songs, she likes them easy going. Much like her fighting and hero style, she is the glue that holds things together with the class in terms of music selection. Kinda of the bridging gap. Music that you just can’t complain about. Besides, why would you? What’s wrong with you? It’s Froppy. She and Uraraka often find themselves overlapping on their upbeat indie pop playlists, stuff like: Sara Bareilles, Oh Wonder, Kygo, Kero Kero Bonito, Taylor Swift, MARINA, and Regina Spektor. She did find Uraraka’s rap playlist and didn’t....approve. Did not want to use it for their joint workout. No, thank you.

Ojiro: Oh, you don’t get enough screen time son. You really don’t. He’s very low key. Into some indie stuff, like: Lumineers, Local Natives, Morningsiders, Manchester Orchestra, Vampire Weekend. He likes acoustic sounds, really down to earth. Once again, you cannot complain whenever he gets to select the music. Izuku especially approves when he plays his music because he always finds something new. For his workouts he prefers some heavy, heavy rock. You know, when you get to wail the shit out of stuff with your tail. He’s playing that Five Finger Death Punch in his MIND.

Koda: Nature sounds. Honestly. Full. Stop. Dead-ass he is living for artists like Corrine Bailey Rae, Hozier, Alesia Cara, Adele, and Maggie Rogers. He’s also got that Kacey Musgraves and Florence + The Machine on LOCK. Anything that feels ethereal and light is right up his alley. He likes it a little spooky sometimes. He does have a killer Halloween playlist, but he hasn’t ever quite worked up the courage to play it for his classmates. Oh. Also, listens to Enya un-ironically. He also might have a repeat problem with Imogen Heap’s Hide and Seek.  

Sato: He’s into new bands that I don’t even fucking listen to. He loves him some alt rock too. But, he’s not above that classic rock. He just likes stuff that he can head bang to. Not a metal head, but low key IS a metal head. Stuff like: Arctic Monkeys, Bring Me The Horizon, Highly Suspect, Royal Blood, The Smashing Pumpkins. He also has a wonderful baking playlist. Like 1950’s crooners. Think Dorris Day, The Ink Spots, Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole, and Frankie Valli.

Momo: Classical. Moving on. But really, she loves a good brain playlist with musicians, cuz they aren’t artists to her, they have a specific name for the work that they do: Bach, Debussy, Beethoven, Strauss, and some Tchaikovsky...some of his stuff is too much, even for her. She is starting to broaden her tastes. She really loves Sato’s baking playlist, those 50’s and 60’s beats are right up her alley. Jiro is slowly getting her to try out some pop and low key alt rock bands too. She’s growing and learning, y’all.

Toru: POP. That Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera MOUSE CLUB STUFF. She likes sing-alongs. Like has 20 Disney playlists and is always, always down to do a Grease playlist. You honestly feel attacked by how upbeat and peppy her playlists are, ATTACKED BY A GOOD TIME. It’s teen bop pop all the way here folks, no need to dig too deeply into it. She likes: Lizzo, Beyoncé, T. Swift, but like, leans into her hard, she is a swifter head, or whatever it’s called...Arizona, Carly Rae Jepson, Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez, Harry Styles, Katy Perry, and Kesha among the millions of others.

Shoji: This guy. He loves him some alt rock. He, like Ojiro, needs more screen time. He likely listens to lofi playlists fully. Like, not in the way Izuku just listens to them when he’s studying, but like, for fun. Like he actually GETS them, you know? He likes bands like: Cage the Elephant, Beck, Broken Bells, Modest Mouse, The Killers, Neon Trees and Grouplove. For real tho, he needs more screen time.

Aaaaaaaand Mineta: He needs less screen time. Thank you your honor, I rest my case. Um, but like, he’s down for that dirty rap. Like, the slimier the better. If it’s ass, money, pussy, he’s on it. Big Sean is his hero. He thinks the Weekend is the best singer known to man. If this upsets you, I am sorry. I love him too, but sometimes we gotta face the truth. Mineta loves, loves, loves the Weekend. He’s also super down on the Megan Thee Stallion train. Oh, and Cardi B too. He also likes Tyga and Sage the Gemini. These are his top pics. His current ringtone is WAP and Aizawa nearly snapped his phone in half when he heard that go off in his classroom.

Bonus: 

- Aizawa: Yes, he has heard WAP. He’s literally attached at the hip to a dj and you know Midnight and Present Mic were all over that song when it was released. Those two tried to do that tiktok choral rendition of it. It didn’t go well. But seriously, this man likes a little bit of everything. He’s a no-fuss, low key guy and his music tastes are the same. He likes alternative and indie the most. Some of that: Sylvan Esso, Silversun Pickups, The Black Keys, The Flaming Lips, The Strokes, Cake, Incubus, and the Deftones. While he has no time to cultivate playlists, he does have a grading playlist that he quickly threw together. It helps him to zone in and work. Yes, Present Mic likes to add funky shit to it, just to ruffle his feathers. In the worst universe, slash in THIS universe, Aizawa was too lazy to get his own Spotify and he shares one with Present Mic. That poor algorithm has no idea what to recommend. He’s just waiting for that cease and desist letter from Spotify’s fraud department. Any day now.

Alright! Hope ya’ll liked it. Lemme know if you want more. We kinda started on one for the LOV, but it’s not finished just yet. In other news, we WILL edit the new chapter of “Look Upon the Light” tonight, don’t worry, we’ll be good. It should be out in the next few days. 

[home-halone]

Long Post on Screenshots

Coincidentally, I had glimpsed the twitter thread in question (or something similar) before I saw a post about it and had some thoughts™ as well

I was going to straight up reply but it got out of hand and I ended up blabbing a lot about taking screenshots, mods and ReShade.

Mods. Literally just an aesthetic client-side change. I can't believe people are up in arms about this. Let people have their fun and ignore it if it's not to your taste. There's absolutely no need to shit on someone else's definition of fun. Your values for what comprises a good screenshot made with effort should not be imposed as the standard. (Unless you're holding a screenshot contest, it literally doesn't matter.)

I don't use mods personally, out of laziness and I cannot be bothered messing with my files. Partly because I don't have characters that have a particular appearance that I really want. But that's my reason, and if other people are happy with their mods, so be it. I'm happy with my own thing. Even a walk home next to a world-famous monument just gets dull when you see it so often. It's not a crime to appreciate it through a different lens.

I'm going to preface this by saying no one has to defend what they want to do for fun. And even if your reasons for using mods/ReShade etc doesn't fall in line with any of the ones offered below, it literally doesn't matter and you should have your fun.

Contrary to what some negative folks think, people are still fully capable of doing some really good glamour without mods. Although it makes sense when you play around with FFXIV's glams/character creator enough, you'll quickly realize that there are particular limitations (certain gloves don't show up with certain tops, some bottoms lose the pants/skirt when you wear certain things over them, etc) and some people simply want to portray the details of their characters accurately to their vision. I have seen a lot of really good designs that don't exactly match their in-game sprites. Some people might want to do an easy cosplay. Some people might just want to look pretty and sometimes it doesn't get deeper than that. 

Nevermind that there are ordinary people behind modding, creating these for use. They didn’t spawn out of nowhere. They’re a product of someone’s hard work and skill too. Shout out to @keeperofthelilacs​ for the posts & a glimpse into the grueling, painstaking process just to make a deceptively simple mod and apply changes to each model. I cannot fathom people creating things that are not even in-game.

But obviously, with modding being the new shiny thing, there would be an influx of pretty pictures with people using them. The majority out there still does some creative things without the use of these programs. But their use isn’t indicative of a lack of creativity in taking screenshots.

Yes, the game is intrinsically beautiful and the sights are breathtaking, and there's no shortage of unmodded, unretouched, unReShaded screenshots littered about. I know there are more than a handful of reddit threads with such screenshots up. But, even with the built-in /gpose, the options can be limited and the vivid colors don't always show up the way people intend them to. This is why ‘different’ draws attention. Since we all have the same washed out color palette (suitable for actually playing the game. try raiding with an Aesthetic ReShade setting with Depth of Field on, it is agony.) it’s easier to pick out brighter looking, unusual colored screenshots. Moreso if they’re beautifully composed.

The improvement of colors from ReShade are only one aspect of it, as a lot of people who use them could tell you.

This screenshot has ReShade on and some /gpose settings, and it’s whatever. It’s meh.

It’s poorly lit, tilted to one side for some reason, the background lantern is grabbing all the attention, but the scenery is somehow cut off, my character is awkwardly posed, the colors, while MORE vivid, aren’t really inspiring the ‘hey this outfit is awesome and unique’ feeling. You have no idea what you’re meant to pay attention to.

Now, before you say I took a bad one on purpose, this was actually from the time I first got the diamond coat so I was ACTUALLY trying to show it off. This was one of many screenshots I’d taken, trying to nail down what I wanted to do.

It just goes to show even if you have the tools, you can still produce some pretty underwhelming stuff. And you could easily take a better one if you know what you’re doing.

It may be beyond the provisions of the game, but it’s not an easy task taking good screens with ReShade. Like said, it takes time and skill. 

You have to know when to use angles and tilts and how to frame photos. Composition does SO much. The word gets used a lot but there’s a lot involved, whether you do it consciously or not. Do I zoom in up close or far out? How far?  Do I want to put my subject in the center or a little to the right? How much of the background should I show? Do I blur? Do I use dutch angles? Do I take a high angle shot? Daytime? Nighttime? /gpose which filter? How much can I crop? Do I need the feet in the frame? Do I add special effects? Lighting setting 3 2 or 1? More green or more red? Those are basic questions people think about, but these are settings you use to tell a story. Then there’s questions like, how do I frame the photo to draw more attention to the feeling of being trapped? How do I use lighting to create a feeling of dread? How do I use the environment to help me tell the story and not just take a dull photo of my character?

And that’s just taking the photo. It’s easy to be tempted by all the shiny stuff you can pile onto a photo, but if it doesn’t serve a purpose other than “ooh”, then the intense sparkles floating around a photo can distract more than contribute.

So you have everything set. You switch ReShade on. You picked out a good preset. But when it comes to stuff like this one size does not fit all, in order to make it work beyond what a preset provides (as night can be pitch black, and daytime is a complete bloom-filled eyesore) you have to get your hands dirty. Presets can be pretty for sightseeing, and for most it’s enough and they work well enough to use consistently in screenshots. And that’s perfectly fine. The settings are very technical and have numerical values. I don’t understand all the values and effects myself, and finding the sweet spot to produce is an arduous process.

The same goes for Photoshop. There’s no magic button to make your art look good. You need a good eye for adjusting saturation, color balance, lighting, cropping, framing etc. to improve ANY photo. More than that, you need to be good at making believable visual effects for fancier edits. If you drag a brush randomly, no one’s going to be immersed in the way those hair extensions were made. Nope, people study the native look of a photo to make changes. Otherwise you just end up with spaghetti hair.

[it’s the same ugly photo but with spaghetti hair]

I literally used the color dropper. It’s not enough to do that!! Like GIRL I’m a fuckin digital painter and I don’t know how all those people paint/edit hair, it’s a SKILL they learned and not one I have LOL. You have to care about lighting and getting the right width and all that. It’s not that simple.

Photoshop’s got a magic wand but it’s not that easy!

People who edit photos are familiar with these... and each one has its own settings and values :,^) that can change the mood of a photo by making only certain colors be more muted or even making everything look a little lighter and brighter.

It’s not that easyyyy look at one of these windows if I didn’t do this for a living I’d be so confused

So going back to showing off my coat. After I saw the lineup of photos I’d taken, I was pretty dissatisfied, especially because I knew I could take better photos. 

I identified the problems I saw:

1.Even though I wanted to showcase my outfit, I didn’t have to take a photo straight on. The photo earlier had her facing completely straight into the camera. And it felt very flat.   

2. It’s zoomed too far out, you can’t really see the details on the coat.

3. I tweaked my ReShade settings. I worked on the lighting. When I realized my settings and the lighting in game (and on gpose) were not cooperating, I decided to wait for daytime. Kugane at night was distracting as hell with all the lanterns in the background. My clothes were the star.

Here’s another screenshot I took wearing the Far Eastern stuff.

I wasn’t showing off the details of the glamour here. Kugane at night has a lot of personality, lights and colors. When I looked at this old screenshot, I realized that it wasn’t a good setting for a simple photo that said “hey check my glam”. This photo told a story. My clothes weren’t the focus, it was the fact that Proxi was in Far Eastern clothes in Kugane. All of those facts were of equal importance, so she was a figure immersed in her surroundings.I didn’t need to capture the details of her dress, just show enough for it to be recognized. That’s why this photo worked. And only one of the many reasons why the badly lit one didn’t work. Contrary to the urge to do so, I didn’t need to tilt the camera angle to make it look interesting. I used her body language, paused an emote at the right second to get something more relaxed, her over-the-shoulder look gives an inviting feeling. I let the color contrast separate her from the background as a figure, but I kept her a part of that warm Kugane vibe with bits of red lighting. There’s a lot of thought that goes into this. How color and mood tie together. Knowing what is essential and what isn’t helps a lot, and sometimes it’s trial and error and you don’t really actually know what you want.

Here’s the final image of the Coat screenshot that I posted  a couple months ago

The problem with the Diamond Coat is that I dyed it a dark blue color and I wanted to keep that sense of dark blue without shining a bright light on it, or lightening the color. I used stronger contrasts to bring out the blues, fiddled with settings I didn’t understand but it made details shaper lol. I used angles and some blur to add a little more dynamicity (being a more static photo) and focus on Proxi. While she is still mostly facing forward, I played with her pose more, to get more of a ~random well-dressed elezen on a stroll~ feel. And!! look at all the details on her coat, you can see them!! 

But wait, you ask, aren’t you just proving that ReShade is a crutch wELL IT’S NOT. It’s a TOOL. You use. If it makes your life easier and more efficient and it makes you happier, like, honestly it doesn’t matter.

But here’s a non g-pose, non-ReShade screenshot I took during a Zurvan EX run early last year. My PC froze for a second lol. I was going to have a heart attack doing this but as a SMN I’m obligated to RELISH Teraflare. This is ONE lucky screenshot I got and you know what, even if the colors aren’t super vivid, this screenshot feels SO right. The explosions aren’t overwhelmingly bright, the arena is surprisingly a fitting background, and she’s got her leggy up but she didn’t give me a panty flash and I am fortunate this turned out to be a great photo I could put in a church mural.

Another non-gpose one. See! framing, contrast and all that. This was from my old blog circa 2016 and it got one note! LOL gpose didn’t even exist yet as we know it, and I don’t think ReShade was widespread or even a thing yet and I was super proud of this one. The trees gave her a soft background without making it too blindingly bright so she stands out and I love it.

So there’s’ your normal screenshot look, without excessive flash and eyesore while still being pretty.

But yeah anyway

TL;DR 

1. Don’t be bitter about other people using tools and adding steps to enhance their aesthetic experiences or to create screenshots that are more faithful to their vision. If it’s not harming you, live and let live. 

2. There’s more thought that goes into pretty screenshots than you think. Just because they don’t pick up a brush and draw, does not disqualify these screenshot posters as skilled artists in their own right.

(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ'✿ That’s all!

[kwispayne]

The Top 10 Albums Of 2019

This year for music was spectacular. One of the better in a while. Usually I do a mini list of albums that were the worst that I don't release, but even the bad albums this year were just a bit bland or misguided (although this is from what I've heard, I know there is mountains of bad music out there). This year's top 10 is very much a list of artists who I have enjoyed or who was aware of who just completely laid out their A game. Some of these guys have been in my lists before and have barely scraped the top and this year they have just pushed their way in or completely floored me. Choosing this years list was hard as there are a lot of honorable mentions. You'll have to ask me which ones they are yourself.

Now before I go on I must explain that…

1. Yes, this is very biased, off course.

2. I haven’t listened to most great stuff which has came out this year. In fact, I have alot of CDs and stuff I still need to listen to, so this is of what I’ve heard so far. I really don’t have time to listen to alot of music and stuff at the moment.

3. All recommendations would be helpful for stuff that I should have listened to or reconsidered.

10. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Infest The Rats Nest

Genres: Thrash, Progressive Rock, Progressive Metal, Stoner Metal

Country of origin: Australia

For some strange reason I have kept these guys off my radar for a long time. I do not know how or why. These guys literally are for me. A group of crazy Australians who change their genre willy nilly and have experimented with some of my favorite sounds. So this year I decided to buy their first album for this year Fishing For Fishies (not in this list, but an honorable mention), a glam rock psych folk freak out. And then for them to turn around and release a progressive thrash metal concept album about sci fi and the environment...it just confused and intrigued me. The production on this album is one of my favorite little quirks. With less focus on modern compression, there's a very retro late 70's sound added to the early 80's thrash metal vibe, and it works perfectly. I'm also really impressed at Stu Mackenzie's ability to adopt a gruff thrash timbre when comparing to the voice he uses for their lighter material. Lyrically they have also been able to add a great niche to the eco metal trend, being not afraid to be honest with a good sense of satire and imagination.

9. Devin Townsend - Empath

Genres: Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, Extreme Metal, Experimental Rock, Art Rock, Djent, Comedy

Country of origin: Canada

This proves how great this year is. Usually Devin gets a higher position, and while I have preferred his most recent material to this album, this is still an exceptional piece of work. Having disbanded the Devin Townsend Project, Devin decided to really take his sound and expand it to heights he hasn't been fully to achieve within the context of a band. With orchestras, choirs and harder compositions, Devin is the perfect example of an individual who under the stress of having too many big ideas, that he's able to create a piece of art and come out alive and well at the other end. Lyrically again we see Devin constantly seeking balance in the difficult world we live in, and as always Devin's approach to this is almost childlike, to the point where he even has a narrator reading out parts of what seems to be a children's story. Epic, grandiose, heavy, groovy and incredibly successful at pulling on the audience and the performers heartstrings.

8. Periphery - Periphery IV: Hail Stan

Genres: Djent, Progressive Metal, Extreme Metal, Experimental Rock, Pop Rock

Country of origin: USA

For a few years Periphery have always been on my radar and I have enjoyed a lot of their music, but as an albums band they have never really blown me away (the closest they got was Juggernaut: Alpha). But they are back again with their heaviest and most powerful album to date. I remember reading an interview with one of their old producers who claimed that these guys are their own worst enemies because they are obsessed with following their own path without the help of others and I'm glad that on this album they have stuck to their guns from what they've been building on for the past few years because it has all finally paid off. Musically brilliant as always, the real shining moment has to be Spencer Sotelo's vocals and lyrics. The range this guy has, from cleans, screams and growls, it really covers the full gamut of a metal vocalist. I think if this career doesn't work, he definitely could be an easy replacement for Chester Bennington from Linkin Park. I'm glad to finally have these guys in my top 10 lists, proving that djent isn't just a meme and can produce some great art.

7. Billie Eilish - When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?

Genres: Pop, Art Pop, Experimental Rock, Electronic

Country of origin: USA

This was an artist I really didn't see to blow up as big as she did. Whenever she was originally presented to me, I thought she would be massive in the indie world with a potential for crossover. But wow, this really has been her year. I think the hype around this album is as true as it could get, but I'd like to think I get a little bit more our of her music as most people would. Being a big fan of artists like Björk & Imogen Heap, I thought this would be a lot more like a modern version of what they are doing, but she definitely will be the next big thing over the next few years. Production wise, this album is in a complete league of its own. In many ways its very quiet, but the quietness of it very much adds to a certain level of dangerous. In many ways you could say the effect of her music is a bit like an electronic version of Pixies. The song writing and lyrics on this album are fantastic and really are impressive as this whole album is very much just an experiment between 2 siblings. Billie's vocals too are also very unique. In many ways she is like a less dynamic Björk, where she has this childlike quietness, but unlike Björk, she has an added sinister undertone. Worth the hype and whatever she comes out with next will interest me.

6. Bring Me The Horizon - Amo

Genres: Pop, Hard Rock, Art Pop, Post Hardcore, Electronic, Experimental Rock

Country of origin: England

3 years ago, these guys were able to slowly morph their way into a poppy sound, but keep the angst and metallic vibes they were presenting years previously. Now on this album, they have very much gone full force into the pop world. Now, in many ways this could be seen as a band selling out, but with Bring Me The Horizon it very much isn't, because the version of pop that they have decided to enter into, isn't very much a cash grab. Instead, the band have experimented with a murkier electronic tone and whenever the album moves into more radio friendly stuff, they are seen experimenting with indie electronic artist's like Grimes, beatboxer Rahzel and even Dani Filth from Cradle Of Filth. Bring Me The Horizon in my opinion now are part of what I believe to be a new level of artist (along with other artists like Enter Shikari or Jamie Lenman), where genre lables are unimportant, but sound is very much a focus. Lyrically also, the band deals with some some rather unpoppy subject matter, so I can't see these guys going down the Take That road just yet. In my opinion this is their greatest work, and I'm hopefully for whatever they decide to experiment with next.

5. The Claypool Lennon Delirium - South Of Reality

Genres: Progressive Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Experimental Rock, Comedy, Art Rock

Country of origin: USA

I am so glad that this wasn't a one time thing. A few years ago, this album was also able to find a place in my top 10, and I'm glad that they're 2nd album is even better. Musically as always, Les Claypool's bass playing is out of this world, but Sean Lennon has to be one of the most underrated guitar players out there. While their first album was very much a very well crafted experiment, this album is a tiny bit maturer, with a great focus on the songwriting and clearer production. Lyrically the album is very much full of humor or odd stories, but overall they add to the psychedelic sound (Like Flea's though is a great piece of environmental satire). In many ways, choosing this album to be in my top list is mainly just to confirm bias, because the sound these guys make is very much just a box tick list of sounds I like.

4. Vampire Weekend - Father Of The Bride

Genres: Pop, Indie Rock, Experimental Rock, Adult Contemporary, Hipster

Country of origin: USA

I have been a fan of these guys for a long time now, and while they've never made I've been unhappy with this, I do believe this album to be their masterpiece. The quirkiness of these guys is still very much an important part of their sound but the best quality of this album would have to be a bigger and better focus on the songwriting. At times this album is very much a bow down to the past, but at times the production can change to a more modern and experimental feel, with the added flourishes of vocoder and electronics. In many ways you could say that the band have successfully been able to make a millennial album for boomers. But jokes aside, the songwriting quality, the catchiness of the material and the surprisingly at times complex song structures and musicianship make this album and Vampire Weekend a band that sticks out in both the popular and indie sides of music.

3. Motorpsycho -The Crucible

Genres: Progressive Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Heavy Prog, Hard Rock, Stoner Metal, Experimental Rock

Country of origin: Norway

Each year these guys make an album, they always just scrape the barrel to be left off my top 10. I always feel back about leaving these guys off, because these guys really are one of the best prog bands out there. The best way I can describe this album is that it's like a modern version of Yes' Close To The Edge...but in reverse. This time around, the band only have 3 tracks, with them all being within the 8-20 minute mark. But each one is very much a different mood or mindset, moving from epic suites, crushing riffs, beautiful crescendos and insane freak out sections. I also love how vocally imperfect the guys in this band can be. They sometimes tackle things outside their range, but it's done in a way which adds to the emotional impact of the music that they're making. In my opinion this is their masterpiece but it also keeps me excited for whatever project they next have in store for us.

2. Neal Morse - Jesus Christ: The Exorcist

Genres: Progressive Rock, Hard Rock, Musical, Christian Rock

Country of origin: USA

I have been a Neal Morse fan for over 10 years now. Even after his exit from Spock's Beard, I have always followed his career, from his prog rock carefree to his Jesus loving aftermath. Now, to be honest, when I first heard about this project...I thought it was a joke. The title...come on...Jesus Christ and The Exorcist. But, it's not a joke at all. In fact it might be the greatest piece of work Neal has done. Apparently this project has been a few years in the works, and I'm glad that Neal has graced us with the release of the music itself. In many ways you could say that musically it is Neal by numbers, but it is a genuinely well crafted musical that I hope Broadway or the West End can snap up, because there is a wide audience for this (I'm not religious, but I can jam to this message). The voice cast he assembled for the recordings is great too, but the real fan boy moment was being able to get all 3 vocalists who have been in Spock's Beard, and in one song even to get them all to sing. The smile I still have stuck to my face from listening to this is not an easy one to get rid off.

1. Elbow - Giant Of All Sizes

Genres: Pop Rock, Progressive Rock, Indie Rock, Experimental Rock

Country of origin: England

England have won again for creating an artist which takes the top spot of my favorite album of the year. Now Elbow have been on my lists before, but I definitely think they are band who is getting better and better, and this album only proves it, as I think this is very much their greatest work. While they're previous 2 releases saw the band experimenting with different sounds, this album in many ways is a mire grander and experimental album with a conceptual feel. One of the elements that has always drawn me to this band is how in tune they all are musicians, made especially focused on this album. Production wise it is pretty much clear and crisp, but there is the odd experiment heard throughout. One of the best elements of this album is that it is very epic in scope, but behind it there is a a raw heart to it, which very well bodes to the concept which I perceive to be a working class emotion to the chaotic times that we live in. Guy Garvey's vocals and projection of his lyrics are always one the strongest feats of the band (I don't think I've ever met anyone who could hate his voice). Elbow are very much a band that I could say are very much a modern Beatles, where they go deep into the pop stratosphere trying to make their music as perfect sounding, but never losing the quality of their songwriting. Also, the album cover is dope too.

[beyondsims]

The Sims 4 Bowling Night Stuff was announced just days ago and is releasing on March 29, 2017 worldwide! As the title suggests, this stuff pack is themed around the activity of taking your Sims bowling, presumably at night, but I’m sure it’s OK if they go in the mid-afternoon too. This pack boasts a variety of new Create A Sim items, Build/Buy objects, and of course the new bowling gameplay.

Let’s take a deeper look at this stuff pack to see what it has and whether it’s worth your money. If you prefer videos, you can also check our exclusive video overview.

Create A Sim Boasts Nice Hairstyles and Average Attire

Create A Sim boasts a balanced amount of items in this stuff pack, and immediately that is nice to see as sometimes in the past The Sims team have gone too crazy with CAS items and have been too relaxed with the number of objects. As this pack focuses around bowling, it’s clear the focus was around build/buy content, although there are some impressive items here.

For feminine Sims, there are two new hairstyles as well as a variety of new tops, trousers, outfit, and a pair of shoes. I love the new hairstyles and think they’re some of the best feminine styles in-game! For masculine Sims, there’s another great hairstyle which again is one of my new favourites in-game as well as similar items such as bowling tops, and a good pair of ripped jeans.

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There are no new items for children or toddlers in this stuff pack, so the only new items will only work with teens, adults, and elders. There are also no new accessories, hats, or other various things to glam your Sims up ready for their big bowling match. While the hairstyles are nice, and I like the ripped jeans, the majority of things in Create a Sim are not necessities or anything too special.

Decent Additions to the Buy/Build Catalogues

This is where things start to get interesting as there’s a nice variety of different objects in this stuff pack. Funnily enough, because of how colourful these are, it reminds me a lot of The Sims 2 Family Fun Stuff.

The objects included range from new chairs, tables, decorative items, and of course bowling essentials such as bowling ball stands, and the bowling alley (more on this later).

You can see from the image above that a lot of the items are focused around the theme of bowling, as you’d expect, with displays showcasing memorabilia, wall decorations, and more. These are perfect for building your own bowling lot for your Sims! One item I particularly like is the new bar which is modern and has some nice recolours too. Another thing to mention is that there are a few new items in build mode, such as the (PRE)Fab wall slab wallpaper, which is nice to see.

The stuff pack team have focused around objects this time, and I am always very cautious of this after the release of Cool Kitchen Stuff which went too far in the opposite direction focusing on clothing. But that’s an entirely different topic. Overall, the new build/buy items clearly fit the theme of this stuff pack and I like most of them. You can probably use about half of these items in any build, whereas the others are probably best left for bowling-specific lots.

Stylised Rooms Pop With Colour

You all know how much I love stylised rooms in The Sims 4, as I frequently say how this is one of my favourite features in build mode! Seriously, how did we survive 14 years without them?!

The Sims 4 Bowling Night Stuff introduces 2 new stylised rooms – one which is more of a hangout that utilises new objects from this pack, and the other is a room dedicated to bowling. They’re both very colourful, and all recolours of the room are very nice too. If you’re looking to quickly add bowling lanes to a lot then you can do this, or at least get inspiration on how you can use the objects from this pack.

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I think these rooms explain why I get Family Fun Stuff vibes from this pack – so much colour! Although, they are relatively basic rooms – it would have been nice to see a bigger stylised room for bowling so that it’s even quicker to get started with it.

Quickly Get Started with the Bowling Alley

A nice addition to this is a new bowling alley lot within “My Library” in the gallery. It’s important to note that you can add a bowling lane to any lot within the game and Sims will come there to play bowling, as well as other activities. There isn’t a new lot type for bowling as SimGuru’s noted on Twitter that they understand space in worlds is an issue for some players, so this removes the need to have a bowling lot type to take advantage of it.

The new bowling alley is perfect for Oasis Springs and is a nice, quick, and easy way to get started with what this pack has to offer! Simply pop it into an empty lot within one of the worlds and send your Sims to visit – perhaps you could even turn it into a business with Get to Work?

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You can see from the images in the slideshow above that this is a great place for your Sims to hangout and take advantage of the new bowling gameplay. I also feel like this venue may be perfect if you have the Get Together expansion pack so that you can have a hangout dedicated to your bowling fanatics! I’m happy to see a new lot come with the stuff pack, although I don’t feel like this is an obvious addition – perhaps we could get prompts to place it like we do with the Day Spa?

New Bowling Gameplay Requires Skill

I’m glad to see bowling finally return to The Sims 4, as it’s a great activity for your Sims to do to socialise with others. Although, I can’t help but point out how this seems like it’d have been a perfect fit for the City Living expansion pack, and it was absent from this. I’m not suggesting this was kept out for a stuff pack, but rather questioning whether we needed a stuff pack dedicated to it. But that’s diverting.

Yes, bowling is back! Your Sims can now use the new bowling lane object to play by themselves and with others. As your Sims play, they’ll work on their bowling skill – which is new with this stuff pack – and gradually get better as they progress. To begin with, your Sims will be pretty bad. They’ll be falling over, doing bad animations, and not getting many strikes. As they continue bowling, they’ll start to get better and eventually be able to play a perfect game. When your Sim does play a perfect game, they’ll unlock a golden bowling ball decoration in buy mode.

Another fun addition is that you can select the colour of your bowling ball and the higher skill you have, the more colours you can select from! I thought this was a nice touch to the game and allows you to add that extra layer of customisation for your Sims.

The other awesome thing about the bowling lane is that you can change it to “Moonlight Bowling” mode when playing at community lots, and upgrade your one at home too with a certain level of handiness!

I can’t fault the addition of the bowling gameplay, it’s great and adds a lot of value to this stuff pack and for £7.99, this whole pack is probably cheaper than what The Sims 3 Store would have charged for JUST this object. And as mentioned, I love how the small touches such as animations for when Sims are awful at bowling as well as the ability to customise the colour of the bowling ball.

Fun Tidbit – New Radio Station

Fun fact – if you’re feeling nostalgic you can check out the new radio station. This features many classics from The Sims House Party disco radio station, so it’s great to see them make a return to the game! Funky Sim is my personal favourite.

Review Summary

Will #TheSims4 Bowling Night Stuff be right up your alley? Find out in our detailed review! The Sims 4 Bowling Night Stuff was announced just days ago and is releasing on March 29, 2017 worldwide!

[letsanjaliposts]

Wallpaper Designs For Bedroom That’ll Make It Look Absolutely Stunning.March 16, 2020Your bedroom is like your sacred sanctuary. It is a place of rest and rejuvenation-one where you come to unwind after a long and tiring day. Therefore, it needs to be designed in such a manner that reflects your personality and likings It should be designed in a manner that makes you feel comfortable and happy. One great way to make sure that your bedroom reflects your personality is having beautifully designed, good-quality wallpaper. You may think that wallpaper is outdated especially in the era od contemporary interior designing.Choosing the right wallpaper for your room is very crucial when it comes to excellent bedroom interior design.  But, if you find the right prints, textures and colours it can actually be quite stylish. Wallpaper designs for bedroom are the best way to personalise your space and your taste to the walls.Though we suggest getting your room designed by professional and best interior designers in Mumbai if you decide to do it yourself first plan out all the elements in your interior design.For more bedroom decor and design tips, you can read our blog on bedroom interior design ideas. If you are confused about which wallpaper designs for bedroom fit into your aesthetic then look no further for help. We have curated a list of 20 stunning wallpaper design that will add elegance, beauty and style to your bedroom walls. 1.Graphic PrintsIf you want your bedroom walls to reflect your personality which bold and modern then a graphic print is the way to go. For example, a wallpaper with a linear line print that gives the wallpaper an optical illusion of being three-dimensional and makes it seem like it is from the future. 2. Ombre Wallpaper Prints:You can use the ombre wallpaper designs for bedroom if you want it to reflect a mood. For example, this beautiful wallpaper is inspired by a sky on a sunny day. You instantly feel calm and tranquil as you step into this beautiful haven. Paired with simple white sheets, matching pillows, plants and a modern light fixture, it transforms into a restful sanctuary. 3. Floral Print Wallpaper:If you like having neutral colours in your bedroom and feel like adding too many things will make it feel cluttered but still want your bedroom to look pretty and interesting then a floral print will work best for you. This bedroom has a muted floral print in a background of pastel green that works really well with the otherwise neutral palette bedroom. It adds complexity to the simple interiors and adds more colour to the room. 4. Digitised Nature Prints: While floral prints are a little retro, digitised nature bedroom wallpaper truly reflect a modern style. These prints are photorealist interpretations of classic designs, for example, a contemporized botanical print, or a print with wood grain swirls. This wallpaper, for instance, mimics tree branches for a nature-inspired twist. These types of wallpapers are great if you want to bring nature into your bedroom but still want to keep your contemporary aesthetic intact. 5. Geometric Wallpaper Designs For Bedroom: If you want to add a sense of everyday-glamour to your bedroom walls then the symmetrical geometric pattern should be your go-to. It adds aesthetically pleasing symmetry to your bedroom and makes your bedroom feel even more luxurious. You can warm up a minimal and rustic place with a strong geometrically patterned wallpaper. For instance, the wallpaper really brings out the matching duvet and lampshade and accentuates the light fixture. A good tip is to choose a wallpaper that has metallic accents that will catch and reflect light beautifully. 6. Textured Wallpaper:If you don’t like the idea of bold colours or overbearing patterns taking over your bedroom, then try the textured bedroom wallpapers. They add more depth to the bedroom without using bold colours or loud patterns. They create stunning visual effects and keep a room light, bright and makes the room feel more spacious. Plus you can cover a large wall with a textured wallpaper without it looking like your bedroom design is cluttered and has a lot of things going on at the same time. 7. Batik Block Prints:The batik patterned wallpaper designs for bedroom are a more organic take on modern wallpapers. Inspired from ethnic art, these prints are timeless while at the same time have a modern appeal. If you crave a light-handed look in your bedroom then opt for wallpapers in light or neutral coloured background.  The batik print should have at the most three complementary colours to it. 8. Dark Floral Dark floral wallpapers add depth and certain moodiness to your bedroom. They make the bedroom feel more intimate while creating a cosy and comforting atmosphere. Dark floral wallpapers are a modern twist on the general pastel retro floral wallpapers. If you love the floral pattern but still want to give a contemporary touch to your bedroom then dark floral wallpaper is the way to go. You can pair the wallpaper with furniture in neutral, light and blush tones like in this beautifully designed bedroom. 9. Eclectic Backdrop: If you want your bedroom to feel more playful and relaxed then get wallpapers with eclectic patterns. For example, in this bedroom, the rose gold leaves add a very artistic, sweet, and playful vibe to the bedroom. The different textures give the bedroom a soft look and the blue starfish pillow complements the wallpaper. 10. Minimalistic Wallpaper Designs For Bedroom: Yes, minimalistic wallpaper exists. Minimalistic wallpaper gives your room a neat, tidy and contemporary look especially if you chose a tonal colour scheme. You can pair the wallpaper with crisp bedding and timeless furniture for added warmth and texture. 11. Bold Animal Prints:While in the past animal prints have been considered to be gaudy and over the top, this trend has taken off in the last year. If you are looking to decorate your feature wall and need a dramatic accent then you must consider animal prints. It will look absolutely breathtaking covering the walls of your bedroom. It is a good idea to get animal print wallpaper in light or dark hues to bring out the gorgeous print.Having this type of wallpapers in lighter hues and shades will work gorgeously in the Kids room interior.12. Shiny Metallic Wallpaper: Metallic wallpaper lends the bedroom a sense of luxury and grandeur and makes it seem larger and brighter.  If you want to add an element of opulence and timeless chic to your bedroom, then metallic wallpaper should be your go-to. You might think the metallic wallpaper would look tacky but when done right, these wallpapers look glamorous and elegant. 13. Statement Wall: If you don’t want to cover an entire wall with wallpaper but still want wallpaper in your bedroom, then you can choose your favourite nook and cover it with a fun, wild print. You can even mix and match your prints by using a few contrasting prints on stuff like throw pillows and your headboard. 14. Painted Statement Walls: This is another great style for people who view their bedrooms as an artistic masterpiece. A play on the watercolour design, having a painted statement wall will instantly add more texture, style and beauty to your bedroom. Take this bedroom, for instance, it just exudes calm and dreaminess. The matching furniture in muted tones just adds to its look of tranquillity. 15. Palm Leaf Print Wallpaper Designs For Bedroom:If you want your bedrooms to reflect your carefree spirit and give your fun, beachy vibes then a palm leaf print wallpaper is the way to go. You can keep things interesting by getting furniture and bed accessories in matching colours. For example, this baby pink ottoman adds to the relaxed vibe of the room and the throw pillow and blanket complement it really well. 16. Ceiling Wallpaper Designs For Bedroom: You can add some spunk to your bedroom by adding wallpaper to the ceiling. This idea is for the people who don’t like conventional design and want to do something different. It also gives you much more space in the room to work with different ideas and designs without different designs clashing. Ceiling wallpaper also makes the entire space feel more inviting and cosy and doesn’t overpower your walls or space. 17. Splatter Paint Print Wallpapers: If you want to have a playful, bold and fearless design covering your walls then you can opt for the splatter paint patterned wallpaper. The best part about this wallpaper is that many different designs are available in various intensities of splattered paint. So, you can choose how neat or messy you want it to be. This pattern adds a great contemporary touch to your bedroom and shows that you aren’t afraid of experimenting. You can play up the colours by painting the ceiling in a similar colour palette.  18. Bold Intricate Patterns: Especially suited for a feature wall, this wallpaper adds a sensuous touch to your bedroom and creates an eye-catching contrast with the bright pops of black and red. You can opt for an all-black bed to give your bedroom a sleek and glamorous finish.  If you are looking for wallpaper which will give your bedroom a more passionate and romantic feel then wallpapers with bold and intricate patterns are the way to go. 19. Spring Themed Wallpaper: This wallpaper designs for bedroom will lend a more cheerful and relaxed feel to your bedroom. Usually, in shades of blue, green and brown, this wallpaper adds an earthy texture to your room, especially when paired with low-key materials like jute. The delightful florals add subtle beauty and flair to the bedroom. 20. Make Your Wallpaper A Statement Art PieceThis bedroom wallpaper type doesn’t require you to cover your entire wall to make a statement. You can just frame your favourite wallpaper design and display it like an art piece. This is also a more affordable and less effort option. For example, in this elegant bedroom, the wallpaper adds a splash of colour and glam to an otherwise plainly decorated bedroom. This brings us to the end of our list of stunning wallpaper designs for bedroom. As you can see, there are many options out with many interesting and beautiful designs. You just have to find one that works for you and your bedroom. If you are looking to get it designed from professionals then reach out to Urban Dreams as we are known as one of the best residential interior designers in Mumbai. We don’t only design living room bedrooms but also are well known modular kitchen manufacturers in Mumbai. As we design and manufacture a variety of furniture like wardrobe, tv unit design in India, dining tables etc we are also termed as the best space-saving furniture manufacturers in Mumbai.

[hookfrance6-blog]

How Sarah Lyon Divided 900 Sq. Ft. in a Charming 130-Year-Old Building With Her Roommate

I LOVE old homes — they have so much character that alludes to the time they were built, and their little nooks and crannies all have a story to tell. (I know, I know, so cliché, but it’s the truth!).

When I first started reading about Sarah Lyon’s home, I immediately needed to see photos. I mean, I could only dream of waking up every morning, throwing on a silk robe,  and waltzing down a spiral staircase. Then I started to see everything Sarah has done to her place to bring out the old charm and still keep the place modern and cool. From her absolutely stylish bar cart to the modern touches of her appliances (those brass lamps get me every time), she’s created the perfect mix of vintage and chic. I could seriously go on forever because I am #obsessed, but instead, I will let you all read about how she found her gorgeous apartment, what it was like designing a loft space, and her favorite DIY projects.

Name: Sarah Lyon, higher education professional and blogger Location: Washington, DC Sq. Ft.: 950 Years Lived In: 1 Rent or Own: Rent 

What was your first job and how did you land it?

My first full-time job after college was at American Baby magazine in New York City, where I was an editorial assistant. American Baby was a publication under Meredith Corporation that has since merged with Fit Pregnancy to become Fit Pregnancy and Baby — you’ve probably seen it in a waiting room at some point! I was fortunate that the summer before my senior year of college, I was selected to be an ASME (American Society of Magazine Editors) intern at Parade magazine.

That experience not only helped me confirm that I wanted to return to New York City and work in magazines once I graduated, but also provided me with some great connections to editors. I definitely found it a little funny to be covering pregnancy and newborns as a young, recent college grad, but I absolutely loved my role at American Baby and made some great friends during that time in the city.

Your old apartment was featured on The Everygirl last year – what is different about your new place and style?

I don’t even know where to start, as my new space is the complete opposite of my old one when it comes to decor! I loved my first DC apartment, which was in a fairly old building but otherwise had pretty traditional features, but am equally thrilled with where I am now.

This space, which I share with a roommate, has a much more unique layout. It has two floors, one of which is a loft area, and lots of built-ins. The unit I live in is one of eight within a building that is 130 years old, and I was definitely inspired by the architectural features and the age of the apartment when decorating. My bedroom is on the second floor, and decorating a lofted space has forced me to get creative, as there are all sorts of nooks and crannies to work around (and don’t even get me started on how stressful it was to get everything up our spiral staircase into my room!).

Here, I really tried to go for a vintage, collected vibe when sourcing furniture and decor, and I’m really happy with how it’s all come together — though don’t get me wrong, I’m constantly redecorating and moving things around!

What prompted the move out of your previous apartment?

A ton of factors — wanting a more social and less expensive living situation (after many years of living alone, I decided I would be happier with a roommate), a desire to live closer to downtown (my new place is right near so many amazing bars and restaurants, which has been a nice plus), and kind of just an itch for change in general! As much of a pain it is to move, especially in a big city, I’m 100 percent glad that I did — and I have no plans to leave this apartment anytime soon! I’ve been really happy exploring my new neighborhood and getting to know more of the city over the past year.

It sounds like you knew right away when you had found the perfect place. How did you know this was the right apartment for you and your roommate, and what were you looking for?

Honestly, we really lucked out. After several failed apartment searches, I was spending yet another late night going through postings on Craigslist and came across a listing that looked absolutely perfect in every way — somehow it was located in a vibrant, safe spot, had tons of character and gorgeous architectural details, was listed at an amazing price point, and even had a private roof deck! It honestly seemed too good to be true (and by this point, we had both encountered our fair share of scam listings, so we were skeptical!).

However, I was stunned and immediately followed up with the landlord the next morning, who scheduled a showing for me and my roommate that evening. We both bolted out of work to snag the first appointment of the night, having already decided earlier that if our in-person impression was just as good as our gut feeling, we would take the place on the spot. Within about five minutes, we knew the unit was right for us, and the landlord had to actually start turning other people away as they walked through the door! It can definitely be hard to find a living space that is suitable for two separate adults — as opposed to a couple — and while our rooms are very different, they each have their pros and cons (mine is a little more private but is up a narrow spiral staircase).

Were there any quirks in the space you had to design around? If so, tell us about them.

This space has so many quirks, which I (mostly) love. It used to be a family home in the late 19th/early 20th century and is now a four floor, eight-unit building. Every time I visit friends in more modern buildings, I think about how much simpler their lives must be, but I’m a huge sucker for places with character and wouldn’t trade our spot for the world (as helpful as it would sometimes be to have luxuries like in-unit laundry or an elevator!).

I’d say the biggest quirk is certainly the spiral staircase that leads up to my room. I’ve gotten used to navigating it, but moving in was no small task, and adding and removing furniture — as I frequently like to do — can be a bit of a hassle. It also gets HOT up in the lofted area in the summer — DC heat is no joke, especially when your room is essentially an attic! Some people may consider things like the exposed brick or built-ins to be a bit too quirky for their taste, but I really like these features. They’ve inspired me to create a more antique-inspired, vintage-y look up here, and I’ve incorporated some darker furniture to go with the wood floors and exposed beams.

Another quirk was that before we moved in, the loft was just one big, open space — which was great, except for the fact that there was zero privacy! Our landlord kindly arranged to have another wall and door added, and once the bedroom was sectioned off, I was able to set up a little lounge area right outside — that’s where the orange couch, peacock chair, and some other pieces are located. It’s been nice to have a separate little living space upstairs, and I’ve definitely enjoyed having an additional space to decorate.

We love how you brought your vintage decor and theme throughout your whole apartment. How do you find your unique pieces?

Thank you! Honestly, Craigslist is my go-to 99 percent of the time! I’ve also had luck with similar sites like LetGo and Facebook marketplace, and thrift stores and flea markets are also my jam. The thrill of finding a special piece for a great price will never get old to me — plus, furniture was just made better back in the day! I recently scored a wood, mid-century American of Martinsville dresser for our living room for only $30 — similar pieces sell for over $1,000 on Chairish!

In all of these cases, you definitely have to sift through some not-so-great stuff along the way, but I love not knowing what I’ll find when I set out for the day or being able to give a well-loved piece a new home. I’ve written several blog posts about how to find the best treasures on Craigslist, and I love seeing the awesome pieces that other people find, too.

What inspired you when decorating your apartment?

The pre-existing architectural details in my room definitely were an inspiration. I’ve never lived in a place remotely like this one and saw it as an opportunity to change things up a bit. My last apartment was much more glam and girly, whereas here I’ve drifted toward a more mid century modern/rustic style and have incorporated a lot of cane, rattan, and campaign pieces to play up the brick and wood. When I was younger, I was drawn to more trendy pieces and patterns, and now my style is definitely a little more “granny.” I’m inspired every day by rooms I see on Pinterest, on Instagram, and in real life through my freelance work for Houzz. I spend way too much of my spare time thinking about decor, but social media has made it so easy to constantly get new ideas and develop your style.

The thought of buying furniture and decorating a new home can be overwhelming for most. What do you look for and what process do you go through before deciding to purchase?

I’m not patient when it comes to furnishing and decorating a home and like to get everything done right away! However, even if you’re like this, give yourself permission to change things up a bit. Just because your apartment looks a certain way on move-in day doesn’t mean you can’t change things around the next month as you become more accustomed to the space. I’m always moving things from one room to another and find that a lot of design lovers are doing the exact same!

Since I do a lot of thrifting, I often have to make snap decisions about whether or not I’d like to buy a piece, but knowing what styles I like has made this a bit easier. Whether you want to furnish your apartment by buying brand new pieces or scrolling through Craigslist, first sit down and decide what types of pieces you’re on the lookout for — is your style more classic, boho, modern, or a mix of a few things? We’re confronted with so many different stores and choices and price points that it can feel super overwhelming to start from scratch if you don’t know exactly what you’re looking for.

What advice would you give to beginners on putting together a bar cart as amazing as yours?

Browse vintage or thrift shops and flea markets for fun glassware that tells a story. I’ve gotten most of my bar cart decor from secondhand shops like these (just wash everything out thoroughly once you bring it home!), because I love funky, one-of-a-kind pieces that are a bit whimsical. Pick out bottles of alcohol that are both aesthetically pleasing and functional. Bombay gin is generally a crowd pleaser when it comes to making drinks, and the blue bottle adds a splash of color. Stash paper straws in a cute cup, add a fun piece of art, and you’re all set!

Your blog provides readers with tips and tricks on DIY projects. What’s your favorite home project that you have done yourself?

My favorite recent project was reviving an old cane chair with a fresh coat of white spray paint. It was super simple and gave a well-loved piece a new life in a matter of hours. Spray paint is a miracle worker!

Last book you read? From the Corner of the Oval by Beck Dorey-Stein.

Favorite brunch spot in your town? Le Diplomate. Their homemade bread basket is to die for!

You can’t leave the house without… Sunglasses and a good book. I bring books everywhere!

Home essential everyone needs? An accent mirror that makes a statement.

I wish I knew how to… Drive! I’ve gotten accustomed to living in cities without a license, but it’s definitely a bit limiting!

Source: http://theeverygirl.com/sarah-lyon-home-tour-2/

[outfittrends]

Club Outfits For Women Over 40- 18 Best Outfit Ideas Outfit Trends - Ideas How to Wear & What to Wear

New Post has been published on https://www.outfittrends.com/club-outfits-for-women-over-forty/

Club Outfits For Women Over 40- 18 Best Outfit Ideas

Club Outfits For Women Over 40- The wave of excitement that flashes right through you as the music kicks in is the reason why you need to go clubbing once in a while instead of spending the weekends alone. So whether you’re celebrating or enjoying a night out with your friends don’t let anyone tell you that you’re too old for strobe lights and bottle service. Ever.

Go out and live your life, girlfriend. No one looks back on their life and remembers the nights they had plenty of sleep. Of course you want to look your absolute best, but with age comes the need to keep yourself comfortable at all times. Regardless, I believe in dressing to your strengths and taking your body into account but I’ve always felt that women above the age of 40 always end up looking older than their age, because they decide to wear clothes which don’t work with their aura. They stop wearing bright & bold colors or patterns and hence drown their overall look. Sometimes all it takes is a little reminder (and some inventive styling) for us to realize what to wear to a bar is already sitting in our closets. We’ve rounded up 18 club outfits to make you look absolutely ravishing yet totally elegant!

What to Wear Clubbing For Forty Plus Women

Don’t opt for tight clothes or even skirts unless you have an hourglass figure.

Don’t follow the fashion trending among the teens/twenties.

Choose an outfit that is polished without appearing overly formal.

Get hip shoes they can make even a boring outfit look great.

Have fun dressing, don’t forget to step out of your comfort zone.

Life is short, wear your party pants!!

↓ 18 –  40 & Fabulous!

First thing’s first, you need to know your style. Nothing is more important than dressing in a way that pleases and represents you. Being well dressed is a talent and it can’t be done without the injection of fashion. Rock a basic round-neck frill-hem sleeveless dress with super ease, you can always add a pair of pointy heels and matching hand bag. Let your hair loose for a more laid back look. (Bonus: Red lipstick will up your game even further.) Here are 20 Ways to Wear Legging when Above 40.

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↓ 17 – Date Night at the Club

Whether you’re celebrating an anniversary or simply spicing up a blessedly-free weekend, test your boundaries. Don’t we all need those little shots of self-affirming gorgeousness more than ever. Wear this sleek evening long dress which will totally knock his socks off. (A subtle print goes a long way.) Just be sure to opt for a long-line blazer to pull this look off. Don’t forget to add a little sparkle with a statement ring. Also check out her totally in-trend shades. (The women is the ultimate fashion icon)

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↓ 16 – Totally Kill It

Open arm blazers are great when you want to take your outfit to another level, totally transforming the look. Adding heels and a fun clutch makes this look work for clubbing and just as well for dinner dates. A statement blazer and a bright shoe always go together so well. Also there’s nothing easier than styling an outfit that’s purely black and white, both bold and classic. So rock this dress at your next club night and totally stand out with elegance.

A neutral pink blazer would look just as gorgeous with white. (Oh and a cool metallic clutch, totally on point.) Do try this look as well.

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↓ 15 – Girls Night Out

There is nothing better than launching into the weekend rolling deep with your best girl pack. But let’s face it going out with your girl friends is not just an excuse to catch up and party but rather to show them how absolutely stylish you are! And the older you get the more you need to dress up to keep yourself in the game. So opt for a fancy outfit with a statement neck piece. Keep low on the makeup though. Have a look at these 20 Best Dressing Styles for 40 Plus Women.

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↓ 14 – Super Casual at the Club

The aim is to look effortlessly chic. (It will take less than 5 minutes to create this look.) A simple way to elevate this black shirt is to wear it with a pair of sleek trousers (bonus points if they’re silky) and kitten heel mules. The polished-ness of your pants will balance out the relaxed feel. If you think the outfit’s still missing something, layer on accessories like a cool belt or designer bag. Add earrings for a hint of sophistication. But you could always go for a loose floral dress and smile as you go!

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↓ 13 – Club Outfit with Culottes Pants

Culottes pants are super comfortable yet incredibly bomb, and you can easily pull off this outfit at the club.  Don’t shy away from volume, wide legs make any outfit a little more fun. Oh and the cropped hem really lets you show off your footwear. (Check out those beautiful nude heels) Pair these pants with a silk shirt and there you go! Break up the all-white look with an accessory in another color—like a red handbag. You just need a watch to finish this look to be honest, nothing else is necessary. But to me everything looks better in red. (wink, wink)

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↓ 12 – 40 Plus Celebrity at the Club

I just added this column to the article to tell you women that there’s no need to over dress for clubs at all because even celebrities are apologetically themselves there. The thing is when you’re young you’re unconsciously drawn to things that feel new or different, you try new things to find what suits you, things that make a loud or bold statement but as you grow older we realize what works for us and what doesn’t and you’re more likely to stick to it, you start appreciating simple designs so part of it is that you need to feel more confident in your own style and less interested in experimentation. But there’s also a fine line between elegance and dressing older than your age. (Bonus: Long boots are a major plus in your overall look)

Katherine Heigl and Malin Akerman, both in their forties now, look so chic yet so simple.

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↓ 11 – Formal yet Chic

Ditch your regular-everyday formal because when you’re celebrating with your work friends in the evening, you’ve to try this outfit below. You should totally experiment with trends and have fun with fashion regardless of what your age is. Opt for a basic just below your knee pink dress. Accessorize with a bold belt and a branded bag. The pieces should coordinate rather than making it look like a cluster. Let your hair loose and don’t forget to re-touch your make up. Take it up a notch with classy heels (if you can manage to go to work in them) Bonus: grey hair has a certain class to them so you can always skip on dyes altogether.

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↓ 10 – Glitz and Glam

There is no doubt that red is the new black. It can be worn completely monochrome or as pop of color to a minimal look. Only pick those trends that work for you. Pair these red pants with a cute bright printed shirt. The pieces should coordinate rather than compete. Finish with trendy accessories. This totally chic outfit will be perfect for insta-worthy photos. Here are 10 Most Productive Hobbies for Women Over 50.

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↓ 9 – Night Clubs

It’s time to vibe. This trendy wardrobe piece makes a statement the second you throw it on over, and basically ‘every’ women needs a show stopping dress for such nights. Try choosing a polished yet fashionable dress that finishes around knee-level. There has to be a mixture of sophistication and fun considering your age. Enhance your overall appearance by opting for a nice hair-do. (Pro tip: Curls always look great with dresses)

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↓ 8 – Show off your Skin

No harm in letting a little skin show, after all you’re going to enjoy (and break a few hearts) because what else are clubs for? To nail the look, try opting for a chic and simple dress with a playful twist, such as an off-the-shoulder design, unique material or embellishments. For a distinctive take on this look you should opt for floral trousers. They’re definitely going to up your game. (Refer to the image below) Accessorize with elegance. Complete your look with a pair of loop earrings.

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↓ 7 – Ageless Fashion

You know how you always loved to experiment but really, what is fashion if not change, newness and experiment? It keeps you youthful (100% guaranteed). There’s absolutely no need to shy away from vibrant shades. Jazz up this solid style with a statement neck piece. To nail this look, just be careful not to select a design that’s too short or that exposes too much skin. But you’ve to flaunt your best feature, so go ahead and put a nice lip shade or style your hair.

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↓ 6 – Plus Size 40+

The plus-size fashion industry is moving in a positive direction. Wohoo! You just need to find clothes that make you happy. If you want to hide some of the bulges, then shape-wear definitely helps. To nail the perfect evening look, just choose the outfit that flatters your shape and shows off your gorgeous curves, such as those with a clinched waist. Or wear a belt. Add a cut-shoulder top with a shimmery skirt and own the look! Patent loafers would definitely give a high end look. Finish with a swipe of lip gloss, like this one from Fenty Beauty.

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↓ 5 – Accessorize Accordingly

Throwing on a beautiful scarf or an accessory really can make a difference in your day, which is what I love most about fashion. Play with accessories like belts, jewelry, handbags and hats. They can make a real difference to your outfit. ( I absolutely love how this women is carrying herself.) 100% recommend both the looks for an evening at the club.

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↓ 4 – Dresses Go a Long Way

When it comes to dressing up for clubs, nailing the perfect ensemble can be tricky. To ensure you don’t appear overly formal when wearing a long dress, be sure to keep any embellishment minimal and select a comfortable style. You will almost always look elegant in a dress, it’s super easy to carry and a pretty pattern will highlight you in the crowd. Statement earrings are non-negotiable.

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↓ 3 – Pair with Black

When you’re going to a party and there’s a good chance you’ll get beer spilled on you, you have to dress strategically. Black is the ultimate color for evenings at the club, it will absolutely never go out of style. Although I’ll prefer if you opt for colourful accessories, they’ll make the entire outfit look interesting. Finish with a swipe of black liquid liner for a cool-girl vibe. Low-heel ankle boots are perfect for a casual night out, they feel fancy but aren’t too dressed up. Wear a scarf to add a subtle volume to your overall appearance. Pearl earrings are a major bonus too. (*Notice the red nail polish, insta worthy isn’t she?)

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↓ 2 – Cheetah/Leopard Print at the Club

At times it can be very difficult trying to figure out how to wear those tricky animal prints, but it’s always nice to be a little bold and daring. Mixing and matching is now totally acceptable behavior, so go all out. But it’s easiest to carry when paired with black. For those loathe to fully commit, rest assured there is a solution: some of the season’s greatest accessories come in the spirit of the trend. Wear a bright red lipstick to make the color pop.

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↓ 1 – You Go Girl!

You’re a women let them hear you roar. I genuinely think the biggest accessory a woman carries is her smile. So to begin with, a dressy bag with a chain helps you hold crudités and a cocktail-plus, it lends a cool edge to evening wear. Also, stripes go with everything, they’re so simple and they’re pretty much the neutral of prints. It will help you pull your entire outfit together so effortlessly. To give yourself a club outfit get-up add a fancy shirt which exposes a teensy bit skin, that’s as sexy as it gets. A little party never killed nobody. So good bye my fellow girlies, see you again soon. x

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