Photo Credit Ellie Gould
It’s been about a year since I first heard the enchanting song “Starry Eyed,” written and performed by new UK sensation, Ellie Goulding. Back then, I wouldn’t have guessed that Goulding’s music would experience so swift a rise to the top, but that’s precisely what’s happening–and how! The song’s debuted at #4 in the UK Charts, and her freshman album, Lights, is poised to be her first #1 album come Sunday, too.
Photo Courtsey of RIM
A significant departure from previous Blackberry devices, the Bold 9000 proved that Research In Motion could make stylish smartphones on par with those of Apple or Nokia. After three years of committed iPhone use, I bought the Bold 9000 in December 2009 and spent a month learning the intricacies, strengths and weaknesses of the Blackberry OS. After using the 9000 for a month I upgraded to the Bold 9700, a newer model designed to address lingering consumer complaints of earlier phones and become the flagship Blackberry model. While there are definitely scads of advantages to this new iteration of Blackberry device, a long run at the front of the pack is probably not in its future.
Tags: Technology · gadgetNo Comments.
Photo Credit Caitlin Schiller
Some artists rest and regroup before shows, but Los Angeles quintet Local Natives took straight to the stage of Madrid’s packed-to-the-gills Moby Dick after a 2,000 km drive from Rome. Van time and a dizzying array of European cities aside, Local Natives really ought to’ve been too wiped to muster much above a subdued eight song set, yet what ensued was sustained sonic magic that belied sleeplessness and grueling drives.
Black Scale is quickly becoming the unsung hero of street wear culture. Commanding absolute respect on both the ground level and throughout the international fashion market, it’s gone from good idea to San Francisco flagship in only a little over a year. But unconditional admiration and global acclaim is never a simple coincidence: behind every great empire is a leader with vision, and in the case of Black Scale, there’s MEGA.
In a world where balance is everything, MEGA effortlessly walks the edge as if it were the norm, striking the balance of opposites with every stride. This first-hand story takes you beyond the label to hear MEGA’s brilliant perspective, inducting you into the society of secrets known as Black Scale.
Tags: RetroTV3 Comments
Photo Courtesy of Generationals
What’s so great about novelty? Sure, it’s exciting to encounter something that seems alien and challenging. There’s an undeniable sense of satisfaction that arises from discovering those little bits of culture that jolt their respective mediums forward. Just as crucially, it’s exciting to feel like you’re being jolted as well. But at the end of the day, most new mutations in the pop culture gene pool fade away with little fanfare.
Tags: MusicNo Comments.
Photo Courtesy of B:Scott
“If you haven’t really struggled in life, you haven’t really lived. If you do not give up everything to do this, you will not make it in this industry.” -Brandon Scott
Though he may be the grandson of a Bauhaus educated architect, LA designer Brandon Scott is making a name for himself on his own terms. From winning awards at San Francisco State University to design collaborations with Nice Collective and B.Son/Rebecca Beeson, Scott has spent the past nine years hustling, networking and gathering as much intel as possible in hopes of one day setting out on his own. Lucky for us, that day has finally arrived. Fusing German and Japanese aesthetics with West Coast flavor, Scott has recently dropped his drool-worthy S/S 2010 collection under his own label, B:SCOTT, a collection that includes his takes on such staple garments as the cardigan and the hoodie. In an effort to distill West Coast styling, leaving it in its purest form, Scott has stripped-down streetwear and meticulously refined it to appeal to and attract men of all ages. I recently had the opportunity to browse through the S/S 2010 collection as well as listen in on a phone interview with the designer himself. After hearing his perspective on design and witnessing his drive and dedication to the industry, I believe Scott has positioned himself to take the reins of West Coast menswear.
Nobody does self-flagellation quite like Spencer Krug. Come to think of it, the same can be said of everything Krug does. Depending on whom you talk to, Krug is either the most ambitious, daring songwriter in contemporary indie rock or a self-obsessed drama queen, regurgitating the same faux-poetic images from album to album. I for one fall in the former camp. As the mastermind of Sunset Rubdown, co-captain of Wolf Parade, and a contributor to the Swan Lake triumvirate, Krug has seized a reputation as a wildly prolific workaholic. Over the past half-decade, he’s managed to record over a dozen major releases, each one weird and rewarding in its own way.
Tags: MusicNo Comments.
Photo Courtsey of Evernote Corp
After a thorough exploration of Apple’s controversial new darling, the iPad, I started imagining a list of applications that would be a perfect fit for the device. At the head of the pack was Evernote, my go-to application for securely storing important thoughts, documents and web pages. Evernote is a freemium (free with a paid option) service that bridges the online/offline divide; the offline services let you create and save notes, while the online features sync your notes and changes back to Evernote. And unlike other note applications, your files can include text, images, audio, web page clippings and even PDF files. A premium account, which runs just $44 a year, allows you to sync and remotely store files, eliminating the need to email yourself works-in-progress.
Tags: TechnologyNo Comments.
Photo Courtesy of Les Queue de Sardines
Fetishists, consider yourselves officially on watch: hosiery just got even hotter (and a little quirkier, too).
Les Queues de Sardines, a registered trademark of French clothier, m + o studio, adds panache to your closet with a line of punchy, unconventional stockings. Equal parts elegant and amusing, these tights are screen-printed by hand in limited quantities, transforming obligatory childhood dress-up apparel into personalized luxury.
Tags: FashionNo Comments.
Photo Credit Krob
Guillermo Scott Herren has a lock on the rolling beats and sinewy electronic grooves he’s perfected through a career that spans more albums and side projects than there are backpacks at one of his shows. He’s one of the best known names of the glitch-hop movement, which encompasses everyone from Ghostly International’s scratchy rootmaster, Dabrye, to Herren’s own Eastern Developments protege, Elliot Lipp. On January 20 Herren rolled into the Middle East downstairs under his most famous (and my personal favorite) moniker, Prefuse73.
Tags: Boston · MusicNo Comments.
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