Friday, December 30, 2011

sex music at its finest


Lovage - Stroker Ace

Velvety, lush and still classy, this just OOZES SEX. The one YouTube comment at the top says the truth:
This song is so dirty that i have to switch to porn when my mom walks in the room

Thursday, December 29, 2011

If I saw Anna Calvi live, only god would know what I'd do.


Anna Calvi - Baby It's You (Live - Somewhere Along The Line, Part One)
It's not the way you smile that touched my heart.
It's not the way you kissed that tears me apart.
Many, many, many nights go by.
I sit alone at home and cry over you.
What can I do?
Don't want nobody, nobody
Cause, baby, it's you.
Baby, it's you.
Is it true what they say about you?
They say you'll never, ever, never be true.
It doesn't matter what they say.
I know I'm gonna love you any old way.
What can I do?
What 'bout you?
Don't want nobody, nobody.
Baby, it's you.
Baby, it's you.
Baby.
It doesn't matter what they say.
I know I'm gonna love any old way.
What can I do?
What 'bout you?
Don't want nobody, nobody.
Baby, it's you.
Baby, it's you.
Don't leave me alone.
Come on home.
Baby, it's you.
Baby, it's you.
You know I need your lovin'
You know I love you.
Baby, it's you. Baby...

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

pages for me (and you), from me

The most recent entries from from my everything book.



  1. Polaroid courtesy of Diana, shot by Ksenia. 
  2. It's never like how we imagined.
  3. My body is a cage that keeps me from dancing with the one I love but my mind holds the key. Inspired by m'deer, my house key, the song covered by Arcade Fire and my human anatomy class.

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Merry Christmas!

merry christmas


Hope you guys have a happy holiday!

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

80s throwback


Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World
great 80s vibes.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

December mixtape teaser

Here's a teaser for my December mix, which will be up on 8tracks next week, and also the preview of the mix cover art.


Meant to be blasted in your car on a night drive:
Austra - Beat and the Pulse
  Beat and The Pulse by Austra by goincase

Good vibes/you might be able to dance to this:
Wolfmother - White Feather (Tiedye remix)


This cover rivals the original by The Shirelles:
Anna Calvi - Baby It's You
 Baby It's You by Anna Calvi

Perfect winter acoustic song:
Fleet Foxes - Blue Ridge Mountains


Most badass song:
Karen O, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross - Immigrant Song (Led Zeppelin cover)
  Immigrant Song - Karen O with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross by Fluke Hawkins

Thursday, December 15, 2011

waiting for a plane

Suddenly I feel everything around me being pulled out like a rug
Everything’s being swept away from under my feet
People are jetting away into all different directions literally
Have you ever seen the blur the ground becomes
When the plan takes off the runway?
I feel like I’ve become part of that blur
Stuck somewhere down on the ground
standing
still
waiting

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Twin Shadow - Changes

curiosity

may have killed the cat; more likely
the cat was just unlucky, or else curious
to see what death was like, having no cause
to go on licking paws, or fathering
litter on litter of kittens, predictably.

Nevertheless, to be curious
is dangerous enough. To distrust
what is always said, what seems
to ask odd questions, interfere in dreams,
leave home, smell rats, have hunches
do not endear cats to those doggy circles
where well-smelt baskets, suitable wives, good lunches
are the order of things, and where prevails
much wagging of incurious heads and tails.
Face it. Curiosity
will not cause us to die—
only lack of it will.
Never to want to see
the other side of the hill
or that improbable country
where living is an idyll
(although a probable hell)
would kill us all.
Only the curious
have, if they live, a tale
worth telling at all.

Dogs say cats love too much, are irresponsible,
are changeable, marry too many wives,
desert their children, chill all dinner tables
with tales of their nine lives.
Well, they are lucky. Let them be
nine-lived and contradictory,
curious enough to change, prepared to pay
the cat price, which is to die
and die again and again,
each time with no less pain.
A cat minority of one
is all that can be counted on
to tell the truth. And what cats have to tell
on each return from hell
is this: that dying is what the living do,
that dying is what the loving do,
and that dead dogs are those who do not know
that dying is what, to live, each has to do.


-Alastair Reid

Friday, December 2, 2011

muse: Katrina Hoernig



My latest muse is Katrina Hoernig from this editorial shot by Billy Rood.


watermark from Billy Rood on Vimeo.


Monday, November 28, 2011

I can hardly wait for these films:


  • The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Dec. 21)
  • Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (Jan. 20, 2012)
  • The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
  • The Great Gatsby (Dec. 25/26, 2012)


  • They are all adapted from novels.

    You definitely need to read at least the last three books, if not also The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (though this one isn't exactly for the faint of heart).

    Friday, November 18, 2011

    exercise: big bass


    Three things you might want to know about this (and me):

    1. I created this as an exercise. Just like how people practice instruments and sports, I practice with typography and design.
    2. I love wordplay and I love it when I can incorporate it into designs.
    3. Someone told me I had a big ass today/has told me many times...I swear that I don't. 
    Also, I really wish there existed a jazz duo on the double bass named Big Bass so they could use this as their cover art or something...

    Sunday, November 13, 2011

    pre-project

    Idea 1

    Idea 2

    I like taking the initiative to experiment and "doodle" around with graphics and stuff. I've figured out some techniques that I'll want to incorporate in my next project.

    These are some of the experimental pieces/rough drafts I worked on today.




    Friday, November 11, 2011

    [mixtape] sweet november pt. 1

    This week has been good in terms of music discovery, so I thought I'd share because everyone ought to give these a listen.

    Work Drugs - "Flying Zambo"
      Flying Zambo by Work Drugs
    I love the guitar riffs and the dope sound. It just occurred to me that many chillwave and lo-fi groups have a very similar sound (the same goes for groups of any genre really), and not everyone can produce something catchy. I probably listened to a hundred different songs this week, many of which are chillwave-y/lo-fi, but only a few groups and songs stood out to me. Work Drugs' sound is fantastically catchy and noice.

    Craft Spells - "After The Moment"
     After the Moment by CraftSpells

    The Whitest Boy Alive - "Inflation"
     The Whitest Boy Alive - Inflation by cocamix
    I would recognize Erlend Øye’s voice anywhere--I love it. He is the vocalist of Kings of Convenience, too.

    Weird Dreams - "Joan"
     joan // weird dreams by sexmusic

    Cloud - "Turning"
     Cloud - Turning by rjcf
    Heard this in the bookstore when I was visiting the arts program at VCU. I don't think I'd ever heard of it before. This was made in the early 2000s. Amazing. It reminded me of Clazziquai Project (favorite Korean group of all-time) and their house phase.

    Here's a song to kick off your weekend:
    Class Actress - "Weekend"
     Weekend by Class Actress

    And I've been obsessively listening to my favorite shoegaze band, The Radio Dept.
    The Radio Dept. - A Window

    Sunday, November 6, 2011

    project hap (1-3)

    Remember how I told you that I'd be doing a mixed media project involving graphic design, photography, and haikus about people?

    Yeah, it's actually happening. I have made three hap (haikus-about-people) posts already. Here they are:

    hap #1: mum 
    whenever she walks,
    she brings a cool breeze with her,
    and away she goes.


    hap #2: Clementine*
    Cuando contigo,
    Siempre espero que
    Habrá una vez más.
    (It’s not perfect, but it’s the truth.)

    hap #3: Untitled, a series of three

    1.
    今天是阴天,
    我等了你这么久,
    但你都没来。

    2.
    Fell asleep in class,
    I dreamt of you and your smile,
    Why do you haunt me?

    3. Explanation
    Hoy, yo escribí
    Dos poemas para ti
    Porque te amo.


    I'm welcome to all graphic/design ideas since I'm designing these into square posters.

    Also, I'm not sure how long this project will go on.

    Maybe it'll go on forever because I love everyone I write about and I write about them because I love them.

    discovery of Nov. 5


    The oxeye daisy is also commonly known as the love me not flower.

    Saturday, November 5, 2011

    愛 vs. 爱


    Though I have learned simplified Chinese for the majority of my life, I started off and set my foundations in traditional Chinese. One of the few things I retained from the traditional form is the character for the word love
    That’s how you would write it traditionally, and that’s how I still write it—interspersed in a sea of simplified characters. I grew up thinking that the complexity of the word in its original form was beautiful—far more beautiful than its simplfied counterpart, 爱. 
    Love is complex and complicated.

    Thursday, November 3, 2011

    please wear this on your sleeve




    NOV. 3
    How can I be expected to mask unhappiness?

    Monday, October 24, 2011


    Breakbot - Baby I'm Yours (feat. Irfane) - HD from Ed Banger Records on Vimeo.

    Just officially discovered this song. I mean, I've heard it before, but it was on a mix and I didn't know who the artist was.

    Also, I'm pretty sure that Poolside sampled this in their song Do You Believe, yes?

    Wednesday, October 19, 2011

    it's raining

    I used to think while looking at fashion editorials that I didn’t really care about the clothes and that they were inconsequential compared to the models.

    But I learned most recently, through first-hand experience, that clothes and styling are actually very essential to the overall image—whether the main focus is the fashion aspect or not.

    Things like the choice in clothing—long sleeves or t-shirt? monochrome or print? white or black? or both? open-toed or closed-toe shoes?—which may seem like nuances to an average joe, contribute to the mood and aesthetics of a shot. They can either make a shot or break it.

    I have an increased respect for stylists now.

    Also, I just browsed through the most recent editorials today and saw this one shot where I thought, “It would’ve looked better if she [the model] had kept her mouth closed.“ Little things like whether or not a mouth is open or closed in a shot—that’s important, too.

    Sunday, October 16, 2011

    October obsessions (music, pt. 1)

    Caged Animals
    "Girls On Medication"

    Caged Animals - "Girls On Medication" from Cluster 1 on Vimeo.

    "Teflon Heart"
      Caged Animals - Teflon Heart by LuckyNumberMusic

    Twin Shadow
    "Forget"
      Twin Shadow - Forget by demiliv
    "At My Heels"


    Laura Veirs- "July Flame"


    Flight Facilities - "Foreign Language (ft. Jess)"
      Flight Facilities - Foreign Language (feat. Jess) by future classic

    Friday, October 14, 2011

    This type of remark--NO.

    Using the word "gay" or any other homophobic slur as an insult--just--NO. These words aren't synonymous with "stupid" or "lame" or anything besides the sexual orientation of a person. People who use these words to demean others have no integrity and deserve no respect. Learn to use words correctly and properly.

    Thursday, October 13, 2011

    Redondo Beach - He Would Make Her Like Winter



    Oh my god I am a little bit in love with this song. It's beautiful, dope, such good vibes. And there's this tinge of deja vu...or it's like a piece of a pleasant dream.

    The music video is also quite fascinating--especially the closeup of the snail.

    Monday, October 10, 2011

    Saturday, October 8, 2011

    feeling kind of blue


    My latest project. Inspired by a blue mood and Miles Davis. What I've learned over the course of two hours: a lot of Illustrator techniques that I ultimately didn't incorporate into this. Also--take advantage of your emotions and really tap into them. Don't just sit there feeling blue. Go and do something with it.

    Thursday, October 6, 2011

    old blood, young blood

    Sometimes I am convinced that the most brilliant of photographers, artists, or people in general right this very moment are not the legends and icons who rest on the strength of their reputation/the name they made for themselves decades ago but the youth—people of the younger generation, people who are blazing their own trails right this very moment.

    I also strongly believe that it’s a shame that so many young people are underestimated, overlooked and dismissed because of their supposed lack of experience and reputation.

    A decade or two from now, or maybe even a couple of years from now, the people of this young movement will be the ones to open the world’s eyes. The youth of this generation will become the legends of the future; and yet another new, brilliant and young crop of visionaries will arise, filled with the potential and determination to surpass their predecessors.

    Friday, September 9, 2011

    newspapers are forever

    Newspapers are so versatile. You can use them for everything. I, for one, rely on my stash of the Times to do the majority of my school projects. They're a constant source of creative inspiration. You can do newspaper blackouts and cutouts. You can tell your own story with them. I also believe that newspapers make the perfect clutch accessories. Anyone clutching a newspaper on the go has a boost in sophistication, in my opinion. And of course, the primary function of a newspaper is to inform. Can you imagine living unaware of what's happening all around your world? I can't.

    Tuesday, September 6, 2011

    Monday, August 29, 2011

    EVER THOUGHT ABOUT DREAMING A LITTLE BIGGER?

    I believe everyone should consider the following:

    I sincerely believe that all around me, there are great people—people capable of great and amazing feats. If only they realized that about themselves! If only someone could grab them by their shoulders, look them in the eye and shake some sense into them(!)

    I swear it—all around me, I see so many types of people. Good kinds of people.

    I see…
    • Beautiful people (literally and figuratively)
    • Amazingly intelligent people who are also very caring and passionate
    There are so many things they could do. And I might be crazy, but sometimes, when I look at these kinds of people, I get a very good idea of what they could do (great things, trust me)—but I’ll bet they’d never even dream of it.

    I’m convinced that some could become models—the kinds that will strut down the runway.

    I can picture many becoming successful businessmen, lawyers, doctors, etcetera.

    I can see the bestselling-author in some of my peers.

    I can see the dancer. I can see the artist. I can see innovators and entrepreneurs.

    And even if I don’t know these people—I’m just sure that, way out there, there are people whose lives could have changed significantly if they only realized what they were capable of and let themselves go at it.

    I’m 100% sure that if there was an impetus, these people could become forces to be reckoned with. They’d go down in the books. I’m sure of it.

    A little anecdote I’ll always remember in relation to this is the one that my middle school orchestra director told my class: she once had a violinist who just couldn’t really get into it. He/she was getting discouraged. But when she (my orchestra director) suggested that the person try out a different instrument—like the bass—that violinist-turned-bassist flourished and eventually went on to become a professional bassist.

    So you see—I think that there are many great people. People with amazing potential. But they’re not in the right place (literally, or figuratively, as in—they’re not in the right industry or career or whatever). They’re not in the place they’re meant to be. Either that or they don’t realize that they’ve got a lot going for them; or they don’t realize what they themselves might be good at.

    I think that many people just need a push from someone or something to open their eyes and minds so that they’ll really get to shine.

    Chloé is the best.

    Chloé is my favorite fashion house. I have probably already made a post about that before, but whatever. I'm just suddenly re-discovering Chloé and loving it even more than before. It's lovely, chic, and refined. Not pretentious. Very natural. 70s.

    Love, Chloé 


    Making of Love, Chloé

     
    Chloé pants



    Tuesday, August 23, 2011

    this is what you call real and raw beauty.



    This is Tatjana Patitz gracing the cover of Elle France in 1989.

    Photoshop was released (first to Macs exclusively) in 1990.

    Tatjana has always been one of my all-time favorite models. And even with that, I think this cover is exceptional. She is exceptionally, incredibly beautiful. Tatjana's beauty shines through this cover even without the help of Photoshop, retouching, or any kind of digital embellishment.

    Absolutely stunning.


    Monday, August 22, 2011

    Lou Doillon for Vanessa Bruno S/S 2010

    I could've sworn I'd posted this video before. But I guess I haven't. I saw this way back when it was first released. It's a very beautiful fashion film. The music is perfect (YACHT and Chilly Gonzales!), Lou Doillon has got such a great personality, and the aesthetics are impeccable. This is just a very lovely short film ad.

    Sunday, August 21, 2011

    Bon Accord

    Bon Accord classifies itself as a chillwave/dreamwave/shoegaze group. That's right up my alley. But I didn't really get chillwave vibes. I got more dreamy vibes. Listening to this puts me in a dream. It's very soothing and unobtrusive. I love "Lopsided."


    Friday, August 19, 2011

    cvlt classics

    Just listen. It's got great vibes. #1 by CVLT CLASSICS

    You are never far from adventure.

    AUGUST 19, 2011
    Lessons learned from traveling with Frankie:

    Today I did the usual: cycle between 30 minutes to an hour.

     And I changed my route up.

    As usual.

    It’s not like I am especially bent on changing my route up; but I’m not opposed to it either. But invariably, something always happens on my runs that prompts a change. It’s usually pedestrians who get in my way when I’m trying to coast down a sidewalk.

    That was the case today.

    So instead of turning back home on my preferred route, I went the opposite direction—all the way to a supposed dead-end. There’s an area that is fenced off. I have gone out of my way to pass by that area, but I have never actually gone through it.

    Of all days, I didn’t bring my camera today because it was out of batteries. And I didn’t want my aunt getting on my case (she always asks me why I have to bring a camera even when going for a ride).

    I really regret not bringing my camera.

    I got around the fence (which was pretty easy) with Frankie and headed down the sidewalk…only to find that it ended and fed onto a very uneven, paved asphalt path (like the highway roads).

    It curved to the right, away from view.

    I know an adventure beckoning when I see one.

    So I coasted down the curve…

    and suddenly found myself coasting downhill; down a very long and very straight (and empty) road adjacent to the highway.

    Route 66.

    Damn it was an unbelievable experience.

    The sun was on its way to set. Its rays beat down on my back. I loved the warmth of the late afternoon light. And what I loved even more was the way the golden light fell on the path, illuminating it.

    I loved the contrast.

    The warmth of the light and the emptiness and desolation of the once-worn road.

    It was hard to believe that this empty road was right next to a highway filled with cars streaking by.

    I’m always afraid that I will run out of places to shoot at (given that NOVA is an area that gets quite repetitive at times), but today it occurred to me that I am never far from adventure no matter where I am.

    Thursday, August 18, 2011

    So I have listened to this song 60 times between yesterday and today...

    It's been on repeat. Non-stop.

    Clara Klein - "Madman"


    It's beautiful, simple, and I get this quiet vibe from it that I love. I would like to use this song in a film someday.

    Tuesday, August 16, 2011

    dope music

    You should probz listen to TOKiMONSTA's entire EP Creature Dreams. It's very chill and dope. Here's one of my favorite tracks from the album:

    "Stigmatizing Sex"


    This is also pretty dope. And cosmic. Love:

    NOIR CŒUR - “TOTAL NIRVANA”



    And also I must confess that I love Kylie Minogue's music. But anyway.

    the brothel



    Du Juan by Vincent Peters for Numéro China September 2011 (via FGR)

    I love this photograph because it brings back a memory about Taipei.
    One night, my cousin (who is approximately thirty years old) took me out for the first motorcycle ride of my life.
    It was the most exhilarating and liberating experience of my life. I still remember that ride vividly—lights and all flashing by, us leaving it all behind in a trail of darkness, cool wind whipping past, the throaty roar and rumble of the motorcycle tearing through the quiet night, the thrill of being caught in a throng of motorcyclists waiting side-by-side at a red light—I remember everything.
    But when we got off the motorcycle at this village, my cousin took me through this alley to get to a little shop. We passed by a very dark and quiet alley. There were women loitering around outside the alley (which was lined with adjacent little shacks/inns) next to each doorway. As we passed through the alley, I peered into each doorway (they were all open) and interestingly enough, all I saw were women in rather vibrant dresses and Buddhist altars/shrines in every single one of those inns. I thought it was very curious to see a shrine in all of them.
    As we got out of the alley and headed onto the main street, my cousin asked me if I knew what I had just passed through. I didn’t know. He thought for a moment as we walked, trying to search for the right word in English. And then he said one word:
    Brothel.”
    Our walk dissolved into silence.
    I think this photograph captures my memory very well.
    Those women would just lean against the wall; some dressed more provocatively than others; and their glances would linger on us as we passed by them. I could feel their eyes on us as I walked by.
    Sometimes, my cousin and I would pass by a businessman or two, outside. And sometimes, when I peered into the inns, there would be a man or two in the lounges/foyer.
    One brothel stands out in my mind.
    I peered into it and saw this gigantic wooden staircase that wrapped around the foyer like a serpent, and it was lined with beautiful women every step of the way.
    It wasn’t till I had walked away from that alley and found out what it was that I wondered, very pensively, if those women had chosen to be there—if they were there of their own volition—or not.



    Wednesday, August 3, 2011

    Growing is Forever

    I often think that it's a little clichéd to use The Album Leaf's songs in nature-y/quiet films like these, but this was thought-provoking and compelling.

    Tuesday, August 2, 2011

    the benefit(s) of being young

    Although I would love to grow up so I could pack my bags and get on with my life in a big city, I do believe that being young has its advantages. (Or you can make it work to your advantage.)
    1. People don't take you seriously. It sucks sometimes. But this is good in case you ever need to break the law or do some shady stuff. If you get in trouble, people will tend to punish you less harshly (compared to an adult/"grown-up" breaking the law or doing something wrong). They're more dismissive because of your supposed youth (which guarantees ignorance, apparently). Speaking of ignorance...
    2. People think you're ignorant because you're young. You can prove them wrong. They won't know what hit them.
    3.  I dunno. There are plenty more benefits to being young (aside from the obvious--health-wise, etc.), but that's all I can think of for now. 

    Sunday, July 31, 2011

    "To Die For" for Charlotte Olympia F/W 11 by Jam

    I love fashion films--they're often decadent, almost always very aesthetically-pleasing, and very interesting. This one is no exception. 

    A film by JAM for Chalotte Olympia's autumn/winter collection starring Portia Freeman. It's got great aesthetics. Definitely cinematic. I love the lushness. And I love, love, love the red fishnet and lips.


    Charlotte Olympia - To Die For from Charlotte Olympia on Vimeo.

    Young the Giant - "I Got" in The Open Session

    I've finally found a band whose sound I love even more outside than inside the studio. They sound fantastic live--even more so than on their CD recording! Oh my god. This song has got such happy, summery vibes. I love the acoustics.

    Saturday, July 30, 2011

    thoughts on career(s), life and stuff...

    What bothers me is how society has pigeonholed people into thinking that we must work our whole lives toward a career, profession, whatever you want to call it.

    When people ask me what career I’m thinking of pursuing, I have to fight back the urge to reply,

    Oh. Well, let’s see, I want to be a journalist. And a photographer. I want to be a graphic designer, too. I’d also like to be an agent for a modeling firm. And well, actually, you know what—I want to be a thinker. And a traveler. Ooh boy I’m almost running out of fingers to count on. 

    Young people (that means us, I guess) are pressured into deciding on—choosing—a career. And grown-ups treat this choose-your-career thing as if it were something as simple as filling out your name on a form.
    I probably don’t make much sense right now.

    Parents and school officials; society in general; essentially making us to decide on a career right up front is just…I can’t even say. I think it’s horrible. It’s like being forced to marry someone when you’re not ready or something.

    What I’m trying to say is that I don’t believe that people should feel/be forced or pressured into making a career decision. It should come to them. It will come to them when it is meant to be.

    I think it’s fine if you don’t know what you want to “be” or what career you want to pursue if you’re in college. I think it’s fine if you’re twenty-something and still don’t know what you want to “be” or what career you want to pursue. I think it’s fine if you don’t know what career you want to pursue at any point in your life—as long as you know what you love and what is important to you.

    I think societal expectations have made young people think that they have to have a concrete thing; like a career; to be normal, successful, stable and whatever. But the way I see it is that I think what’s important is not necessarily to have a career—but to be able to do what you love. Because doing what you love is going to bring results. I think that’s what’s going to really make a difference.

    Just because you don’t know what you want to be or what career you want to pursue doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world or whatever. Just realize what you love and work toward that. If you love, I don’t know—the environment and want to protect it, do something about that.

    It’s not the/a* career that makes you or your life; it’s what you love and what you do about that.

    Do you, do what you love, do what’s important to you. Fuck the rest. In the end, it’s your life. You can decide what you want to make it to be—really.

    *and I also do believe that people shouldn’t think that they can only be one thing or pursue one thing. Why limit yourself?

    Friday, July 29, 2011

    Chromatics

    They're weird, creepy, cinematic, and moody. I love that kind of stuff. And I like the breathy/ethereal-ish vocals too. And I love the use of the orchestra in their songs. Here's some of my favorite songs of theirs:

    "I want your love"


    "Hands in the dark"


    "Night drive"


    Normally I am really freaked out by horror films and anything scurry like that, but this one's pretty cool/definitely creepy. I'm throwing it in for a good measure.

    "The Killing Spree"

    Sunday, July 24, 2011

    Bag Raiders

    I have been listening to Bag Raiders on repeat, NON-STOP for the entire week.
    Here are my three favorite tracks from their self-titled album:

    "Sunlight"


    "So Demanding"


    "Gone Away"

    Wednesday, July 20, 2011

    that one question

    who are you? who am i? who is she? who is he? who is that?
    they are all variations of the same question.
    that one, persisting, persevering, never-ending, eternal, everlasting question that has duped mostly everyone i have met, i think.

    myself included.

    i cannot stop thinking about this question.
    You bloom when you are in love.

    Tuesday, July 19, 2011

    mix for sistah

    1. Milagres - Glowing Mouth
    2. Poolside - Do You Believe
    3. Givers - Up Up Up (Ruen and Ryan Evans remix) <--I'm kind of in love with this video.
    4. Alex Turner - Hiding Tonight
    5. Cults - Oh My God
    6. Yellow Ostrich - Mary
    7. The Cinematic Orchestra - To Build a Home (ft. Patrick Watson)
    8. The High Violets - Goodnight Goodbye
    9. Chilly Gonzales - You Can Dance
    10. Nouvelle Vague - Dance With Me
    11. Camera Obscura - Tears for Affairs
    12. The Bird and the Bee - La La La
    13. Little Dragon - Constant Surprises
    Oh my god! The first 8 tracks are recent favorites and the ones after that, I just remembered for some strange reason!

      Monday, July 18, 2011

      El Chiquitin F.C.

      hey you
      are you reading this right now?
      you seem to have disappeared from the face of the earth.
      i know you're old enough to take care of yourself
      and you're probably busy
      doing what grown-ups do,
      being a grown-up and all (are you?)
      but i miss the conversation.

      Milagres - Glowing Mouth



      You and me under sheets of light,
      the red glow of a star on fire.
      Burning our feet on an isolated beach
      as we throw everything we own into the sea.


      When the tide is low we’re digging through the loam.


      Do you know what the darkness said to me?
      She said, “Son, you better get used to believing in things that you can’t see.”


      You and me under sheets of white,
      the blue light glow of a star on ice.
      Freezing to death among isolated peaks,
      cutting pieces of flesh because we all need to eat.


      Where will I go? Only I know now. Moving through the wet trees to find
      your glowing mouth. Two days from the wind’s house on the eastern side. I
      hope that you’ll believe me when I say I’m still alive, open and waiting for
      you.

      Thursday, July 14, 2011

      Invitation to LTD


      I am on a journey to discover dreamers and thinkers. I am looking for ambitious, independent, creative, innovative, and interesting people. I’d also love to get to know people who are passionate about art (fashion, music, writing, photography, film, etc.) and life.

      Ultimately…

      IF YOU LIVE THE DREAM OR AIM TO, LET ME KNOW!

      Tuesday, July 12, 2011

      June/July mix

      A mix with a bit of everything. Amazingly, it's actually not dominated by chill music this time. But still, there's a bit of everything--old favorites as well as recent discoveries. Acoustic, disco, alternative, shoegaze and of course--jazz.


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      Some notes on certain tracks:
      • Someday in the near future, I'm going to shoot a short film to the sound of "To Build a Home" by The Cinematic Orchestra
      • Groovy tracks: "Do You Believe" by Poolside and "Betty Boop" by Charles Earland. The former is a disco-y number and the latter is a jazz number. Love.
      • The last track, "The Beast," by Dave Cavanaugh, is from perhaps my favorite film, Mulholland Drive, directed by none other than David Lynch. I loved this piece in particular so much that I once wrote about it:
      Such a snazzy, slinky, jazzy piece. I imagine this to be my theme song when I’m feeling devious; when I’ve got plans. I imagine a man who happens to be a smooth talker. I imagine a femme fatale in a red dress. Subtle, but not so subtle. We all know that these people aren’t angels by any stretch of the imagination, and that’s what makes them so damn attractive—that’s what makes this piece of dynamic music so undeniably appealing.
      Poolside - Do You Believe

      Sunday, July 10, 2011

      I can't cure myself.

      One of the main things people notice about me is that I have an erratic and almost nonexistent sleep schedule.  

      When I was a child,
      There was this vague feeling that always accompanied me,
      And I could never quite figure out what it was
      Until now—as in, the teenage years.

      It lurks in wait.
      I am highly susceptible to it.
      It never fails to find me.

      Wednesday, July 6, 2011

      If you do not have the courage to speak to me in public, then do not speak to me at all; until you find that courage.

      I woke to the sound of falling rain this morning.

      This is the perfect sort of music to describe the ambiance right now:

      "Rainclouds in my Room" by Tablo + Pe2ny from "Soundtrack to a Lost Film"

      catwalk music is cool

      Soundtrack to Gareth Pugh's Autumn/Winter 2011 by Matthew Stone
      I love the dark vibes and the eerie-ness in addition the beats. Of course, killer beats are often a given in runway shows, but I can't help but fall in love over and over again.
      Gareth Pugh AW2011 by Matthew Stone

      Soundtrack to Juliana Moriya Spring/Summer 2012 by Boss in Drama
      I love the start, a little nod to classical music. Beethoven's Fifth Symphony remixed, segueing into a medley of groovy numbers.
      Juliana Moriya - Primavera Verão 2012 by Boss in Drama by Godiva ArtStudio

      Sunday, July 3, 2011

      Yellow Ostrich

      Just came across the band Yellow Ostrich and immediately fell in love with their sound. They fit my aesthetic tastes. Quiet sound and mood as well as very simple and natural acoustics.

      "Mary" is the first song I've heard from them.

      Give Yellow Ostrich a try:

      Page One



      I saw my first R-rated movie in theaters yesterday (July 3)—with Astrid. We were the two youngest audience members. I felt proud of that but also a little depressed because, let’s face it—newspapers are facing some tough times. But journalists—those people who dedicate their lives to legacies like The New York Times—are resilient and tough people.

      Friday, June 24, 2011

      Dance number



      Just stumbled across the Brooklyn electropop group Infernal Devices. They have noice beats. My favorite track from their EP, Lost in Sound, has got to be "Fast Enough."

      Lost in Sound EP by Infernal Devices
      Buy here

      Genre: electropop, synthpop
      Released:  October 1, 2010


      Tracklist:
      1. Blind Faith
      2. Fast Enough
      3. More Things Change
      4. Lost in Sound


      Monday, June 20, 2011

      little things

      1. Coming home to an empty house
      2. And knowing that it will be empty for a while
      3. Saying "Hello?" aloud anyway
      4. Hearing your voice echo down the halls for the first time
      5. Listening to jazz while eating lunch in complete quietude

      Wednesday, June 8, 2011

      killer beats

      I love songs with killer beats.

      The list goes by artist and then song.

      The songs I immediately thought of in terms of killer beats are:
      1. Fabian - Heatwave
      2. Chilly Gonzales - You Can Dance
      3. Phoenix - Lisztomania (Classix remix)
      4. Washed Out - Feel It All Around
      5. Jim Rivers - I Go Deep (MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE? MAYBE.)
      6. Friendly Fires - Paris (Aeroplane remix ft. Au Revoir Simone)
      7. Major Lazer - Hold the Line ft. Mr. Lexx & Santigold
       And there's a couple more that probably wouldn't be what you'd expect. You can discover them for yourself.


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      Monday, June 6, 2011

      people I'd like to see on tour/in concert

      I've never seen a concert in my life. Ever. Isn't that blasphemous and ludicrous?

      Sure, I've seen the occasional Kennedy Center piano recital and classical music sort of thing, but by concert, I mean I've never seen any of my favorite singers/groups/musicians perform live.

      Lately I've really wanted to see certain people live. Here's my list for now:
      1. Anna Calvi
      2. Ladyhawke
      3. Lykke Li
      4. The xx

      Saturday, June 4, 2011

      I don't want your money
      I want your trust
      I want your faith
      I want your love
      I want your support
      But even if I don't have it
      I'm gonna go my own way anyway.

      mixtape #1

      Lately I've discovered a handful of people who have really awesome music tastes and I find myself wanting to post music on everybody's Wall all the time, so it's easier to do a compilation post here instead of flooding everyone's Facebook...

      I really like discussing and sharing things I like so this is pretty much what I'm gonna do with music, too, from now on...

      People who I (always) keep in mind about music: Kanna, Astrid & Dylan, Shannon, Lynh 


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      Those were select songs. Here's the complete list I had in mind for this mix since May:
      • Esthero - That Girl
      • Gang Starr - Mass Appeal
      • Ani DiFranco - Overlap
      • Chris Botti - If I Could
      • Hooverphonic - Someone
      • The High Violets - Cool Green
      • Crocodiles - Mirrors
      • Dave's True Story - Crazy Eyes
      • Local Natives - Camera Talk
      • Mazzy Star - Fade Into You
      • Jenny O. - Well O.K. Honey
       All-time faves
      • Asobi Seksu - Goodbye
      • Ladyhawke - My Delirium
      • Sade - Bulletproof Soul
      • Friendly Fires - Paris (Aeroplane remix ft. Au Revoir Simone)
      • The Pipettes - Because It's Not Love (But It's Still A Feeling)
      • PJ Harvey - We Float
      • The Radio Dept. - Heaven's On Fire
      • Stevie Wonder - My Cherie Amour
      • Two Door Cinema Club - Undercover Martyn
      • Washed Out - Feel It All Around
      EVERYTHING/ANYTHING from the following groups/artists:
      • Miles Davis (favorite album = Kind of Blue)
      • Anna Calvi (my favorites are "Moulinette," "Blackout" and "Suzanne & I")
      • The xx (favorite song: Islands)
      • Spangle Call Lilli Line