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rivetgoth · 2 years

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The thing with goth gatekeeping “discourse” is that literally all of it very easily dissipates and the truth becomes abundantly obvious if you actually engage with the community in real life in any meaningful way rather than your entire concept of “goth” coming from like online aesthetic images and like selfies you see in the instagram goth tag or ootd videos from rich kids on tiktok… if you are actually participating IRL in the scene it’s quite obvious very fast it’s about the music because you won’t be able to find a “goth space” that ISN’T centered around the music. Clubs and concerts are the most common avenue for goth socializing but even like, local goth stores… are playing the music over the store speakers, selling band shirts and patches and stickers and buttons, advertising upcoming shows, etc… I just watched a video about a goth cafe that had tables decorated after various major goth album covers like The Cure’s Disintegration and Bauhaus’ Bela Lugosi’s Dead single. It’s kind of unavoidable.

And like, realistically within those spaces nobody is “gatekeeping” baby bats and newcomers from entering, and if some music guy(TM) comes up and tries to do the whole “if you’re a real Sisters of Mercy fan name a song of theirs besides Lucretia My Reflection🥴” literally anyone would agree they’re being a dick lol. And hell, I’ll even go a step further and say that in a LOT of goth spaces, you will meet people who are openly not goth and nobody gives a shit. Tons of goth spaces are also fetish/kink spaces and I’ve known a decent chunk of people that basically exclusively go for that. I’ve met plenty of people who will admit this music isn’t their biggest thing but they just have fun going out dancing, they enjoy going out with friends who like it more than them, etc. Fuck, I have honestly known guys who show up to the club specifically cuz they’re into goth girls and they’re totally accepted cuz they’re chill and know how to act! Nobody is giving anyone shit for being a baby bat or a non-goth or whatever, and the majority of people (especially the artists/DJs/hosts/etc) are just happy to have people coming out and supporting the scene (including financially!).

That said it also kinda undoes the weirdness of the ultra extreme trad goth purist gatekeepers who honestly also come across as chronically online— I’m talking the guys on Reddit who sit around circlejerking about nothing but oldskool goth which basically amounts to reposting the same damn Bauhaus song 50 times and squabbling about whether or not “Disintegration is actually goth” because it’s “after the Cure stopped being post-punk.” Like the guys who genuinely seem to believe that goth music should be capped at like 1985 at the very damn latest and/or if it doesn’t sound exactly like goth post-punk from 1981 it’s not real goth music, “darkwave is inspired by goth but it’s not real goth music,” insisting that there is a clear divide between genres and subcultures and no industrial band will ever be goth and vise versa etc etc. These people also play stupid a lot of the time and push the “goth is a music subculture” to the furthest extreme of “nothing else is ‘actually goth,’ there is no goth ‘culture’ or ‘lifestyle,’ those things are just incidental and it’s exclusively about the music [which is 5 bands from the late 70s] 🙄.” It’s extremely detached from reality and is also behavior that can be easily dispelled and ignored if you just fucking go outside and interact with your local goth scene in good faith.

It’s a community lol it’s really not that complicated. It’s a music-based community. Goth events will have music spanning many genres and that doesn’t mean that fucking Dead or Alive or KMFDM are trad goth classics but it also means that they serve a place within the goth community because of the overlap that has existed historically. Goth nights always include darkwave, dark electronic, dark synthpop, new romantic, gothic metal, EBM, etc, alongside the classic post-punk music… There are key fixtures to the style and fashion that you’ll undoubtedly see, and this will vary by local goth scene too! There’s often a heavy emphasis or overlap with the local kink/fetish scene including in the way people dress. There is a lot of overlap with magic practitioners and witches and paganism and divination. But it’s about about the music that’s bringing people together… It is genuinely an issue that can 100% be solved by going outside and engaging authentically with your local scene with an open mind and heart 😭

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akwardlyuncool · 2 years

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Lone Start State Of Mind (2002) - Review

Baby (Jamie King) wants to move to California, so that she could become an actress on a Soap Opera, but she wants her boyfriend Earl (Joshua Jackson) to come with her. The thing is, Earl promised Baby that he’d watch out for Baby’s cousin Junior (DJ Qualls) and Junior is always seeming to get into something. Right before Earl and Baby are set to head off to good old Los Angeles, like natural Junior gets caught up in some mess and Earl has to save him. It’s all ridiculousness as usual in Bennett Texas.

I really want to re-watch Fringe right now, but I have a full list of shows that need to take precedence this year, so I figured it wouldn’t hurt to get my Joshua Jackson fix in a different way, one that required less time. Plus I just needed something to watch the other day and this one was already sitting out.

Within the first maybe 2 minutes I was crying laughing. That opening scene had me dead. Now I’m not gonna lie, that was probably the funniest part of the whole movie, but there were several moments that gave me a laugh in there. You can definitely tell this is a 2002 comedy, don’t expect anything less. If that is your jam, then this movie will be right up your alley. I had never heard of it before but while sifting through VHS tapes at my local thrift store, this one showed itself and I figured based on the cast that I would enjoy it and I wasn’t so off base. I enjoy Joshua Jackson very much, but an early 2000′s DJ Qualls is top tier for me. He’s just perfected the nerdy little white dude so well, and if you mix him with some of my other favorites, I’m down to at least give whatever it a shot.

Part of me was expecting something really politically in-correct and I will say that there’s a few things in there that aren’t so great mixed in with some muddy waters, but at least there wasn’t a bunch of men riding around with confederate flags on the back of their trucks, screaming slurs for fun. I know that’s a bit of an extreme, but you can never be too careful when it comes to Texas lol. Well Texas and early 2000′s comedies that you didn’t grow up on. Like I love the movie Eurotrip, but I don’t know how much I’d rock with it if I was seeing it for the first time in 2022. You know what I mean?

I’m sure most people would say it’s bad, but for me I’d say it’s a solid 3. If this era of movie was ever your thing, than you’re not gonna hate it. You’re gonna think this is ridiculous fun and cringe every once in a while, especially when (spoiler alert) you hear Earl’s Stepdad call Baby, Earl’s Sister. (They got together far before their parents did, so it’s not the worst setup possible.) Basically it’s bad, but it’s so fun, it becomes decently good.

Tiny Extra Thoughts (Mainly for people who have seen the movie. No real spoilers.)

I just want to say that I would have left Tinker for dead so many times. Obviously he’s needed to progress the story, cause he’s why they’re all in the mess in the first place, but man having to lug his injured body around for any amount of time would have annoyed me so much lol.

Also, not a spoiler, but I like that Jimbo (Matthew Davis) wasn’t the butt of a bunch of homophobic jokes and was just a fairly well supported “main” character. Not completely rare, but not the most common of occurrences either.

#Movie Blurbs #Movies Reviews #Lone Star State Of Mind #Joshua Jackson #Jamie King #DJ Qualls #Matthew Davis #Ryan Hurst #John Mellencamp #Ellar Coltrane #Movies

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daysiias · 4 years

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{ zendaya ♔ 24 ♔ she/her } well, well, well if it isn’t daysia collins running around peach hollow. legend has it, they come from tangerine towers and have lived here for six years. if you’re wondering what they’ve been up to, i hear they’re a crisis counselor for a living. they have been known to be quixotic yet nurturing. a word of advice to them, always look over your shoulder. you never know who is watching. { kim ♔ 25 ♔ est ♔ she/her }

yall know me. i’m kim, i play serenity, and i’m one of the admins!! this is my damaged but optimistic baby, daysia. ITS PRONOUNCED LIKE DEJA VU :’) i just created her in november but she so quickly became my favorite muse to write. so buckle up! and pls plot w me. i am fragile and if i don’t get any plots i will hide in a dumpster, where i belong.

TW FOR DEATH, DRUG USE, ALCOHOLISM, CAR ACCIDENT

here is her pinterest and a spotify playlist if you wanna check those out ~

daysia jade, day, dj, deej – anything goes. she’s 23 and will turn her head to just about anything. she’s a spring baby born march, 1996.

her childhood was pretty good. she and her brother grew up a year apart, and her parents divorced early. early enough that daysia can barely remember a time where the family was hole, and likes it that way.

however, her father did not take the divorce well and turned to drugs – meth to be specific. he only saw the kids on weekends and even then, daysia and marcus absolutely knew what was happening. perhaps they didn’t know his choice of poison, but they knew that it was just that: poison.

he was never abusive and always took care of the kids, even if he was tweaking out of his mind. there were a few instances that were touch and go, like when he forgot to take dinner out of the oven and it caught fire, or when he forgot to change the sheets – little things that added up.

when daysia was 16 and marcus was 15, they were involved in a car accident. her dad was high behind the wheel, lost control of the car, and they hit the guard rail. they went over an embankment and down a short hill before the vehicle came to a complete stop, flipped over. she watched the life drain from her brother’s face, and never got into a car again, up until recently when she started letting @malcolmvramsey drive her places she needed to go. she always tries to give him gas money, but he rarely takes it.

a good deal of resentment built up for her father, but she remained stoic, even when he went to prison for drug charges and the dui he’d racked up that ultimately killed her brother. she didn’t let anyone know that she was hurting, because she numbed it all. she threw herself into her school work and her artwork, painting constantly. melting colors together somehow helped her cope. she could get her emotions out on paper. in fact, that still rings true today. in her bedroom of the apartment she lives in, she has covered one of the walls in canvas and paints over and over.

in an effort to start life over, daysia left detroit when she graduated high school. she transferred to peach hollow where she went to winchester university, not wanting a lot of attention. this is where she really came to life.

daysia was able to push michigan to the back of her mind entirely, because peach hollow had so much to offer. the people were better. the music was better. the parties were better. the education was better. there wasn’t a single thing she missed from home aside from her mother, who she kept in regular contact with and still does. they’re always texting and facetime before bed every night.

she came alive. college changed her. she was studying a subject that interested her and meeting people who didn’t have to know about her past. she did, and does everything to keep michigan her dirty little secret. she liked the party scene, but only drank or smoked weed. she refuses to touch anything that might turn her into her father. she was even hired on as a crisis counselor for a local hotline, contractual to her graduation.

in the past month, daysia has plummeted, however. nobody would ever be able to tell. she is the queen of poker face, an absolute delight to be around. she can be a little aloof, and is constantly stoned, but it’s how she gets through the day. she is an absolute goof, loves to crack jokes and make people laugh. she loves to laugh herself. these are all traits that show and cover the inner turmoil constantly trying to bubble to the surface.

about three weeks ago, daysia received word that her father passed away in jail. he overdosed, and she wasn’t sure how to feel. so she didn’t. she did, however, stop doing school work and started drinking more. she’s mere days from flunking out of school and losing her job. but nobody knows, because she acts like she doesn’t know either.

all in all, she’s doing a lot of self sabotage but covering it up with every ounce of grace she has.

as for her personality and relationships, daysia excels. she is nurturing, so when a friend, or even a stranger is hurting, she tends to go to their side and comfort them. as long as she can make them laugh, then everything will be okay. she makes friends pretty easily, and keeps them for the most part. she is fiercely loyal and will absolutely scrap to defend her loved ones.

she loves love. there is no gender she isn’t curious about and absolutely loves romance, though she also tries to hide that. her walls are ten feet tall. she’s in to hook ups, flings, and polyamory. she’s very open in that sense!!

FUN FACTS

she has an english bull dog named frank!! he is her pride and joy. she dresses him up in outfits, has regular photo shoots with him and loves going to the dog park. he isn’t legally an emotional support animal, but that’s definitely what he is to her. if he doesn’t like you, she won’t either tbh

she has this lil purple pen looking thing that is always on her. it’s her weed vape and she will hit it anywhere. her dumb head is always in the mfing clouds

she has a spotify family plan that is currently only her, mac, and dom and she will absolutely invite anyone she meets bc spotify premium is something everyone should enjoy

wears a lot of graphic tees and jeans, kinda a tom boy. doesn’t love dressing up but will occasionally. also doesn’t rly like make up but DOES know how to beat her face

1000% unable to be alone for like any period of time?? like if she gets off work and no one is in her apartment she just leaves. she goes next door to mac, goes to the peach pit, anywhere she can socialize. being left to her own thoughts will always turn out poorly.

really loves poetry. cannot write it to save her life, but loves going to slam readings or checking out poetry books from the library. her adhd brain can’t handle novels – poetry is just the right length to keep her attention and dig into her soul.

oh yeah, she’s got some pretty intense untreated adhd lol

OK SO WANTED CONNECTIONS IF UR STILL HERE LMAO

ex-roommate: something happened between daysia and this person, whether it was a relationship gone wrong, a friendship with tension, or just the other person being a damn slob – and daysia removed them from the house and moved someone new in. they are probably on shitty terms.

roomate(s): ^^ the forementioned current roommate or two!! i would like her to be veeeery close to whoever lives here. they have to be ok with her dog, her weed, and how mf needy she is.

current flings: a few people are probably on her list of suitors right now. people she spends time with romantically, but hasn’t committed to. she absolutely cannot be alone, at any point… ever! so, she has someone with her at all times. m/f/nb, all good.

party friends: this one is pretty self explanatory!! these are friends that daysia may or may not talk to outside of a party, but will always cling to at one.

close friends: she lets very few people all the way in, but those that make it are generally taken care of by day. she makes sure that they are as comfortable with life as possible and spends a lot of time with them

exes: as daysia is a ticking time bomb, there have been many people she’s blown off. whether they once hooked up, were together, or what have you, daysia has a lot of exes. she never means to hurt anyone. it just sort of happens and she has accepted it.

#peaches:intro #i'm back lmao

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daycollins · 4 years

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{ zendaya ☁ twenty six ☁ she/her } among the whispers around peach hollow, have you heard of daysia collins? no? well, let’s catch you up to speed. rumor has it, she’s been seen strolling around blueberry boulevard & have lived in peach hollow for six years. it’s good to have her around because i hear she’s a crisis counselor for a living. recent events must have her trembling because it hasn’t be long since everyone found out she flunked school. let’s hope they learned their lesson that the truth always catches up to you.

yall know me. i’m kim, i play winnie, and i’m one of the admins!! this is my damaged but optimistic baby, daysia. ITS PRONOUNCED LIKE DEJA VU :’) i just created her in november but she so quickly became my favorite muse to write. so buckle up! and pls plot w me. i am fragile and if i don’t get any plots i will hide in a dumpster, where i belong.

TW FOR DEATH, DRUG USE, ALCOHOLISM, CAR ACCIDENT

here is her pinterest and a spotify playlist if you wanna check those out ~

daysia jade, day, dj, deej – anything goes. she’s 23 and will turn her head to just about anything. she’s a spring baby born march, 1996.

daysia received word that her father passed away in jail. he overdosed, and she wasn’t sure how to feel. so she didn’t. she did, however, stop doing school work and started drinking more. she flunked out of school and lost her job.

at the same time, she got into her first serious relationship. day fell hard and fast for her best friend, mac. their relationship started out much like a fairy tale. she wanted to keep it like that forever, but her addiction and ptsd took over. she tried her very hardest to hold onto mac, but he moved back to nyc with their best friend, dom, in tow. she still misses them to this day and finds it hard to keep friends like she kept them close. the littlest things will remind her of mac and she’ll start to spiral. two years later and she’s still hung up, but she’ll deny it to the very end.

it’s safe to say that when this happened, daysia crumbled. she realized just how many people she’d lost and how many she had -- and she didn’t have anyone at that point, or so she thought. she continued to isolate and stopped answering her phone, and within the week, her mother was there to drag her home to detroit for detox.

she spent the next few weeks laying in the bathroom, going through withdrawal from alcohol and the various benzos she’d started eating like candy. things were bad. her mother never left her side, and after many na and aa meetings, after snatching pill bottles and miniatures out of her room for months, daysia cleaned up her act. she put on a healthy amount of weight, started working out, went to aa or na two or three times a day until she was comfortable enough to skirt by a day or two without one. she finished up her degree that summer and started waiting tables. she saved up every cent, finally having enough money and credit built up to buy a house where she really wanted to be: peach hollow.

after talking to her old boss, they agreed to take her back on as a crisis counselor when she moved back

so the newly clean and sober (aside from weed lol) daysia is living in a house on blueberry boulevard with @dawsonsawyer

FUN FACTS

she has this lil purple pen looking thing that is always on her. it’s her weed vape and she will hit it anywhere. her dumb head is always in the mfing clouds

she has a spotify family plan that is currently only her, mac, and dom and she will absolutely invite anyone she meets bc spotify premium is something everyone should enjoy

wears a lot of graphic tees and jeans, kinda a tom boy. doesn’t love dressing up but will occasionally. also doesn’t rly like make up but DOES know how to beat her face

oh yeah, she’s got some pretty intense untreated adhd lol

OK SO WANTED CONNECTIONS IF UR STILL HERE LMAO

party friends: this one is pretty self explanatory!! these are friends that daysia may or may not talk to outside of a party, but will always cling to at one.

#peachesintro

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dippedanddripped · 4 years

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A Q&A With Keary Kase On Pioneering Hip Hop In Portland

Trenton, NJ born rapper Keary Kase is now pioneering hip hop from Portland, Oregon. After having been involved in a Nike ad campaign that featured him on Billboards across the US, Keary’s singles began to top the radio charts. He began to work with artists like The Wutang Clan and producers Bosko and Non-Stop Da Hitman. Most recently, he partnered with Adidas designers in Portland to develop ‘Reder’ – an athletic apparel brand with focus on CBD delivery systems for athletes who are recovering from injuries.

We had the chance to sit down with Keary Kase to talk about Portland’s thriving hip hop scene, his Nike campaign, and what fans and followers can expect in 2020.

Tell us a little bit about the hip hop scene in Portland. We’d love to know more!

Portland hip hop has so many facets, I’m not sure where to begin. We do have a solid foundation of originals, like Mic Crenshaw, Cool Nutz, Mellenium (Kenny Mack), Maniac Lok, Bosko, Vursatyl, X-Kid, DJ Wicked, Pete Miser and myself, who are still active.

Having strong artists, who have made careers in Hip Hop, as role models and idols allows the kids to aspire to become musical artists. Without these examples, the endless call to normalcy and job security (which we all now know is B/S) by pretty much EVERYBODY, would lead these young Ore-guns to self doubt and failure.

Mike Capes, Swiggle Mandela, Drae Steve’s, JR Patton and Keith Canvas are a few Portland artists to check out.

Right now, a lot of artists are showing support to the BLM movement using their voices to speak, rather than rap to those participating in protests, rallies and such.

How do you feel being originally from the east coast has affected your musical style?

In my embryonic years, I saw myself as an east coast rapper. I felt like, with the exception of rappers like Ice T, Too Short, NWA and The DOC, west coast rappers were mostly basic compared to east coast rappers. They had KRS, Big Daddy Kane, Slick Rick (my favorite golden era rapper), Special ED, Kool G Rap & Polo, RAKIM!!! Plus WBLS used to play all the hot new shit off the block.

I was enamored by east coast swagger and tone. The slang and accent was natural for me because my entire family spoke with it. My ability to slip in and out of the style made me different in Portland.

In the early 90’s I started spending time in LA. I was slanging FIMO beads to tourists at Venice Beach in the daylight and going to clubs and shows at night. I met this dude named Self Jupiter at this summer festival called The African Marketplace, where I was selling jewelry and celebrating my black youth. Jupiter was a member of a rap group called Freestyle Fellowship. He gave me a tape. After I listened to it, my entire opinion of west coast hip hop was turned upside down. I witnessed west coast rappers like Volume 10, WC, Divine Styler, Cypress Hill and E40 change the game. I became influenced by them and my style was set free. I became open to all influences, no matter if they came from the east, west, northwest, midwest or south.

Tell us more about the Nike ad campaign you were featured in. How did that come about?

One day I was leaving my boy Tommy Hestmark’s studio in downtown Portland. I was walking down the street with my back straight and my chest and chin up, as all men and women should. This guy approached me and said “excuse me, can I talk to you?” I looked at him sideways and he says “no, no. It’s just…. Your face is CRAZY!” I squinted as if to say “do you hear yourself fool?” He pulls out a card and explains that he owned a modeling agency and he thought my look was money. He asked me to call to schedule a test shoot. I called and scheduled the shoot. When I went there, he asked me if I was wearing boxers. I confirmed, then he asked me if I would take some test shots in my boxers. I’m thinking this dude is either going to proposition me for sex or he wants to see if I can be the next face of Calvin Klein. I gambled on Calvin Klein and agreed to take the pics. We walked into a hall and he said “you can get undressed here,” then walked away. So there I stood baring all that my boxers would not cover, with my clothes in a small pile on the floor. I heard footsteps, then an attractive woman appears holding a camera. It was his wife. She told me where to stand , took a couple quick pics and said “Keary, you’re a machine,” then allowed me to get dressed and walked me out.

A few weeks later they called me back and said a photographer knew of me and wanted to do a martial arts shoot. There was no pay, but the photographer was well known and really good. I had no portfolio, and no published work so this was an opportunity to do TFP to add to my comp card.

The photographer, Marcus Swanson, wanted me to do a flying sidekick, which is a classic taekwondo photo kick. When I got there, there was nowhere to get a running start so I improvised and pulled it off. While I was there, a Nike scout was lurking. As I was leaving, Marcus’ assistant, Amber Geiger, mentioned a potential shoot for Nike and asked if they could do a quick polaroid. Snap snap and I was out. A few months passed by before I got a call back from my agent about the shoot. In those few months, I became a black belt, won a gold medal at the the regional national qualification tournament in the black belt dividion, then a silver medal at the US National Championship, and was leaving in a few days to go whoop everybody’s ass at the invitational US Team Trials. It didn’t play out that way but I believe being so active in the few months between the martial arts test shoot and the paid shoot is what influenced their decision to go with me for the ad campaign. We agreed on a date and time, after my return, for the shoot.

When I got back, we did the shoot. I thought it was going to be light work but it was brutal. Modeling is hardcore. I remember seeing myself on a billboard for the first time. It felt like a distant relative to masturbation. I also remember it taking forever to get my money. Agencies can be gangster. I had to make some very firm promises before I got the check. After that, our relationship became square.

You have worked with several platinum artists and producers. Do you have any memorable stories about your experiences that you’d like to share?

Hmm. I don’t like to deride or D-RIDE anyone, but there was an interesting encounter with a Wu-Tang Clan member named Cappadonna. Cappadonna, Killa Priest and a small crew they were touring with were staying at my house when they stopped through Portland. My roommate, MyG, was helping them do some business in Portland while they killed time before their next tour date. At the time, we had a lil 5 bedroom spread with 2 recording studios in it, so we let their whole crew crash at the spot. The house was already like a revolving door for whoever was on tour in the NW. Artists could come through while in town and collab, get local pub through us and be blessed with some Oregon grown greeneries for the road.

So this was the first time we met (Cappadonna & I). I was taking acting classes at the time so I was gone when they pulled up. When I got home after class, Cappadonna was in the booth. I walked in the room and he started talking wild like “aye yo break that nigga watch!…stab that nigga!” I’m standing in a room full of dudes, with New York energy, that I don’t know, so I assumed he was talking about me. I dip out to my room and get a screwdriver just so I have something in my hand incase things go left. A few minutes pass, then MyG tells Cappadonna to move on to the next part. At this moment I realize he’s in character and not talking about me at all. Killah Priest enters the room. We introduce ourselves and dap up. He asks me what I do and I tell him that I’m in acting school. When Cap comes out, KP says “this is Kase, he’s an actor.” They gave each other a look that, to me , expressed what he spoke as “this is Kase, he’s a fake nigga.”

Granted, I’ve been a skater since day 1, so I understand that some black people (especially at the time) associate being a black skater with being less black or more white. With that in mind, I let what he said breeze by.

After we blessed up, we got to the business. Bosko had let me hold a beat that I wrote a sticky verse to; Cappa liked it so I let him put a hook on it. Me and KP did a DOPE song on a track that this dude named Smoke produced. It sounded like some official Wu-affiliate shit. MyG lost the session so none of that material was ever released.

The next day the energy still felt suspect. Like they thought I was a suburban negro, lol. I took them to the block, which is now gentrified, but was still hood at the time. Cappa called my whip a 666. It was the same Denali XL with the same 26” Trump Spinners that was in the video for the song he was promoting at the time, but mine was cleaner. It seemed like he felt a way about it. We went to my mom’s restaurant, where Cappa requested a Psalms verse from my mother. She said “how about a Revelation,” and laced all of us.

I dropped them at the barber shop to get faded and bladed. When they came out, the energy was different. Cappadonna got in and said “you know your hood and your hood knows you. He said you put your moms in that restaurant, didn’t you?” I just looked at him and put my hand out. We dapped up and the respect, which was first being given by me and received by him, suddenly felt mutual.

Cappadonna is a wise dude and a beast MC. I asked him questions related to his lyrics. He explained to me what “God Degree” and “7:30” meant and told me the story of the origin of his name. You might be able to detect that I’m most definitely still a Wu-Tang fan, although I liked his earlier work. KP knows what I mean by that.

Tell us about your involvement with the CBD industry and your views on how it can be a therapeutic tool for people?

CBD is my go-to treatment for a number of conditions. If I am anxious, I use a non-psychoactive tincture. This gives me a general sense of well-being, without making me feel altered or high. I feel like myself on a good day. If I need to restful sleep, I employ a cannabinoid rich CBD blend that allows me to drift off into REM without jumping up 100 times to make sure the garage door is closed (or whatever). Using CBD is like taking premium vitamins.

In 2019, I started a company called Nina Botanica with a material designer who works for Adidas in Portland. I began researching how to use compression technology as a CBD delivery system for athletic injury rehabilitation. There are some products on the market that offer a similar product, but none that fully address the issues of muscle strains, tears and associated pain that can knock an athlete off of their game. What sets us apart is, our CBD compression system has a lifetime guarantee. You can use it until you’re tired of using it.

We also designed a pod based delivery system, called the NINA , with Shenzen based technology company Smoore. The smart hexagonal pod + cartridge system uses inductive charging in place of the industry standard USB to power up.

Due to COVID-19 and our current bout with systemic racism, the techy products will be in preliminary production until mid-late 2021.

Tell us about your latest project “Craze”. Who is involved and what inspired it?

I was a week back on after being off music for years. Just getting my lungs back, not planning on dropping anything yet; just warming up. An artist named Uneek, who had been my mentee for several years, reached out. He was talking about how he blew all of his savings on medical expenses for his seed and how William, Lil Willi and Big Bill were all coming for him at once. He had just got robbed in Atlanta, so he was shy about who he could trust in Portland.

Uneek asked me to help him to rebrand himself and act as a manager, as I did in the beginning of his career. Since he had just found the strength to come out about his sexual identity, he wanted to look to the LBGTQ community for support. Since that was outside of my sphere of influence, I decided to help him generate some traffic in his home studio, offering tracking and mixing as an engineer. I told him we could put out a mixtape to re-introduce him to his followers and the rest of the world. I got 15 tracks from producers, Sixteen and J Doe. I wanted to see how serious he was about his career so I told him to put hooks on all 15. He would send me a rough lyric or melody, then I would write or rewrite the lyrics then massage the melody and coach him on how to execute it. After he did it, I would chop it and arrange it in a Logic, while I was on the road.

Once the mixtape concepts were in the bag, I told him we needed a real record to kick it off. There was a lot of material in his catalog, but nothing that sounded like a hit single to me.

He got a track from this lil dude named 64 and put a hook on it that had us laughing. He was like “yeah this track sound like something Da Baby would get on.” It wasn’t my style, really, but I kept getting drawn into the drums. I let the first line go off the top then it seemed like the rest of the lyrics were just there. We called it “She A Thot.” It dropped on all platforms back in April of this year.

Craze, the follow up single, manifested itself off of the vibe we were on after “She A Thot” dropped. 64 had sent us a 3 pack of beats so it had some of the same feel as the others, however, the “Craze” beat was much more elegant than the other two.It was like the bigger, sexier, more mature and pondering sister of the “She A Thot” beat.

When I started writing, I felt the beat asking me to confess. It was saying “tell your truth, Kase.” The melody in my head was so balanced that I just let it drive through the first verse. I remembered, as a young man, being so caught up in hustling that I lost my compassion for people. I reflected on how I had spent the last decade, since my first daughter was born, re-approaching life with more compassion.

Whatever you have done in your past does not define you. But sometimes it’s good to talk about it. Black people have traditionally been afraid of counseling or therapy. Mostly because of our trust issues with the people providing those services. I strongly suggest talking to someone about the things that trouble you. My uncle Jeff calls it “dumping.”

Music is my therapy. Dumping is my new craze.

What artists are you listening to right now and why?

I like listening to new music. I’m listening to Lil Durk, Pop Smoke, Amine, Jack Harlow, etc. But that’s like research for me. I like to see and hear what the big dogs are investing in. But right now, I’m developing a K-Pop artist, so I’m listening Big Hit Entertainment’s people. I’m about to go over there and liberate some musical slaves. (*artists)

But I still listen to Sade.

What’s next for you in 2020? What can fans look forward to?

I’m dropping a mixtape later this month. I may be doing a record + video with Compton artist, AD in the next few weeks. We’re still working out the details, but he’s doing real good right now.

Other than that, I’m developing a young K-Pop idol named Kiari. That genre is making big waves. I’m also looking at television as a next play. I have a pocket ace in the Chinese market that I’m keeping tucked. Oh I’m doing business with China. Sorry Chump…I mean, Sorry Trump. No, wait, I had it right the first time.

#keary kase #pdx hiphop artist #pdx artist #portland oregon #music blog

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rainydawgradioblog · 4 years

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a covidsation with yufi

Next up in this interview series is Yufi, local plur-core/EDM band. They just released their self-titled album, which is available on Bandcamp and Spotify. Check em out !! Dance to them in yr bedroom !!

Lola Gil: Tell me about your band. How long have y’all been playing together? How would you describe your sound?

Todd Maegerle: I usually describe Yufi as “plur-core”, but apparently that’s not very descriptive lol. Most people would describe the album we just released as a mix of screamo and y2k throwback electronic/trance/digital hardcore/drum and bass. Yufi has been a project for about three years, but has gone through some pretty significant transformations (started as a math rock project lol).

LG: As an artist, how have you been affected by COVID-19? How was your most recent tour affected?

TM: We had planned a tour that would send us down the west coast, over to Austin, TX for SXSW, then up through Santa Fe, Denver, SLC, etc. back to Seattle. We planned the tour to start on Wednesday, March 11th. Those first couple weeks of March seemed to be when the whole COVID-19 thing really picked up. Two days before our tour was supposed to start, we made the decision to cancel all except the west coast leg. It was a really hard decision to make because we had already exchanged hundreds of messages/emails to artists, venues, showcases for SXSW, etc to make what was looking like a super fun tour. At that point in early March, there were so many unknowns. “Is the COVID-19 panic going to die down in the next week or so?” was a tough question to answer at that exact moment (which seems really silly now lol).

The west coast leg of the tour was super fun, but it was also an apocalypse tour haha. Shows we were really looking forward to playing were getting cancelled while we were driving to that city to play. Attendance was fairly bleak with only a couple exceptions. I think the last show of the tour had something like 80 tickets sold in advance and maybe 10 non-artists actually showed up. We were playing a warehouse in downtown LA, and when we showed up the city was an absolute ghost town. It was surreal. All-in-all it ended up being a really fun west coast run, but also was maybe one of the worst times to start a tour haha.

LG: Is Yufi planning on putting out new merch or music soon?

TM: Quarantine is great for writing new music! I could see it being pretty hard for more traditional bands who get everyone in a room and jam-out a new track, but Yufi has become computer music for the most part, so we kinda just have more free time to work on stuff. But also, I personally get a lot of inspiration to write music by attending shows. When I see a performer I really like, I’ll get really motivated and inspired to work on new stuff. So that’s been happening less since all shows are cancelled :^{

LG: How have you been personally affected by COVID? What has your quarantine experience been so far?

TM: I’m pretty extroverted, so being unable to go out and interact with friends has been hard. Fortunately I live with five really super homies; quarantine would be a lot harder for me if I didn’t have anyone to goof around with in-real-life. Still, I really miss going out and dancing and meeting people and all that. The online music festivals have been fun, but experiencing them through Second Life/IMVU/Minecraft/etc is not quite substitutable for actual live music.

LG: What music have you been listening to recently? What has been your go-to quarantine album?

TM:I’ve honestly almost exclusively been listening to live streams. Like, Charli XCX going live on Grindr’s Instagram to do a DJ set? Yeah I think I’ll tune in. A group/collective/entity called “Hurt-free Network” has been putting on really fun IMVU raves with DJ sets from artists I really like. There’s also a 48+ hour long music festival happening right now called Data Fruits; most of the artists are from the west coast USA or Japan, so when one country is (mostly) asleep the other can take over the stream. So even though I really miss going to shows, it’s been pretty awesome to see how people are still coming together in some form!

LG: Were there any spring shows that you were particularly looking forward to attending that got cancelled?

TM: Yessss ughhhhh way too many :’^{Anamanaguchi, Yves Tumor, 100gecs, Dorian Electra, and a bunch more. Fortunately I saw a couple of them last year, so that eases the pain a little bit. But if I don’t see Ecco2k in 2020 I’m literally going to scream. I’m not gonna make it.

LG: How do you think the Seattle music scene is going to shift post-COVID?

TM: Every musician is going to be a DJ after quarantine and it’s going to be sick. Jokes aside, I think we’re going to need a lot of people to come together to make up for the impact that COVID has made. A lot of venues that are vital to the Seattle music scene are going to have to close doors as a result of the financial hit they’ve taken. I think there will be a lot of artists excited to play shows once it’s safe to, but I’m hoping there will be venues still around to host.

LG: How do you think artists can support each other during these weird and difficult times?

TM: This is not artist exclusive, but everyone can email their Seattle city council member to enact a rent/mortgage moratorium. That could help lessen the financial burden that COVID has created, which would certainly help artists (and everyone lol).

Aside from that, I feel like I’ve seen a lot of artists supporting each other by listening to and sharing each other’s new releases, tuning into each others live streams, etc. I hope to see more of that in the coming months!

-Lola Gil

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zuka-themed-username · 6 years

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my first zuka-themed-remix

I had some fun the past couple of months writing a “remix” of the main theme from 2017′s Classical Bijoux. With music written by Oota Takeshi and Takahashi Megumi, it was the first revue I saw live and the work really stuck with me. I composed a bit of music in college, primarily works for video games, a student musical, and a local spa, so my focus was not on making a direct remix of the original like something a DJ would do, but instead take bits and pieces of orchestration, melody, etc. to make something new. I don’t imagine it will be everyone’s cup of tea, but I have a couple of observations that might be interesting nonetheless. (The end result is the last video after the jump.)

I started out by using digital audio tricks to get a better understanding of what the music was doing. Normally I would use my ear to try and determine what each instrument was doing. Unfortunately however the Revue does not release studio recordings of any of their shows and my ears struggled with the live sound.

(To release studio recordings would no doubt be an enormous cost, the musicians are probably overlapping rehearsals and performances as it was, and I would argue the audience vibe is an important part of the instrumentation you can’t capture otherwise.)

I instead popped a track from the CD into Ableton and ran the “Convert * to MIDI” command. The * in this case was for the harmony, but it can also do the melody and drums. The algorithm however is expecting just one of these at a time, not all three. Add in the slightly delayed audience clapping and the program can only produce a cacophony.

(Shoutout to the audience however - they clapped consistently at a ~132bpm, while the song is ~135bpm.)

Here is a ~very~ tiny snippet of the original. If you’d like to hear more, there is a 90 second preview on iTunes, or you can pick up the CD on the takarazuka-an website, Amazon, or iTunes. (If you can spring for it, I definitely recommend the DVD/Blu-Ray, especially as it is Asaka Manato’s taidan!)

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And here is the hot mess that Ableton thought it was:

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lol it tried. Notice however when you line it up with the audio:

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It totally works!

I listened to just the algorithm reduction for the entire track and rewrote the melody / basic harmony into a piano line so I could see what notes we were actually dealing with. It’s in a minor for the majority, at about 135bpm, and the main theme comes back quite a bit. Which makes sense, given that the main theme of a revue aims to introduce all of the troupe’s performers, the overarching concept for the show, and usually hint at where it’s going. In the case of this show Asaka Manato outlines characteristics of gemstones, which are the inspiration for each scene.

Repeating the theme several times over however when you are not using vocals gets boring very quickly, so I trimmed quite a few reprisals and musical interludes/vamps.

The audience clapping delay in the computer generated reduction introduced a sort of swing rhythm to the song I didn’t hear otherwise, and in listening to the track isolated over and over, I realized that there are conga drums. (You can hear them on the far right if you have stereo, starting halfway through the first video.)

After many many iterations, in which it got slower and slower, and the instrumentation more and more simple, I ended up with this:

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(Note: I am not a audio mixer in the least, so apologies if it sounds too compressed or spikes your speakers. Headphone are preferred)

I wanted to start with a pretty basic restatement of the theme, and as it goes along introduce more and more of my own ideas that sprung up from messing with various rhythms and melodies from elsewhere in the work.

Some other random notes:

Asaka Manato sounds like an alto saxophone or the lower register of a flute to me, depending on how forcefully she is singing.

Makaze Suzuho sounds like a bari sax to me, with a bit of clarinet to smooth it out.

The marimba acts as the non-star troupe members. They are constantly keeping it moving and fun without distracting too much (I hope) from the main voices (woodwinds in this case)

The bells, which often just mimic the marimba, save for a few transitions, act as the musumeyaku, the underutilized not-so-secret sauce to any good revue.

The solo flute solo with sporadic percussion is the musumeyaku solo in the original - it is so effective at resetting the momentum that I wanted to be sure to include the same effect in some way.

The egg shaker is a remnant of the audience clap - it drives the more sturdy rhythmic sections, and gets out of the way when the tempo or mood changes, just as the audience would pause when the song changes a bit, then jump back in when it stabilizes.

All in all I enjoyed writing this piece quite a bit, and I hope you enjoyed the read!

Please support a legit release of the original work, “Land of the Gods / Classical Bijoux” on iTunes, Amazon, or taka-an (https://www.takarazuka-an.co.jp/fs/takarazuka/TCAB-52B)

#takarazuka #soragumi #cosmos troupe #asaka manato #makaze suzuho #original track #classical bijoux #classical remix #yay marimba #good effort ableton

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daggerzine · 3 years

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Never too late. Sorrows’ Arthur Alexander brings us up to speed.

Though NYC power pop band Sorrows began way back in 1980 (the year their debut LP, Teenage Heartbreak was released) my introduction to them was about a decade ago when the Bomp label released the Bad Times Good Times record. Ok, so I was three decades late, that’s ok. Arthur Alexander, Joey Cola, Ricky Street and Jett Harris made up Sorrows and these guys made the NYC scene, wowing crowds at CBGB’s. Max’s Kansas City and other NYC clubs. Fast forward to a few months ago when I read that the Big Stir label is reissuing Sorrows 2nd album, Love Too Late…..well, sort of. Arthur and the guys re-recorded it (with 3/4 of the original lineup…Luis Herrera replacing Jett on drums) and retitled it, Love Too Late……the real album. You can read all about the specifics below but this new version sounds fantastic! The songs are punchy, hooky and, well, just great songs. I tossed some questions Arthur’s way and he was more than happy to gimme the skinny. Read on, dear readers and do check out the “new” album (also check out Bomp’s Poppee’s compilation, Pop Goes the Anthology. Arthur and Jett’s pre-Sorrows band).

Old-school Sorrows

So going way back what happened to the original album Love Too Late?

Our well-received debut album “Teenage Heartbreak” under the belt, we were ready to record a follow-up. We were going to London to record it, got the legendary Shel Talmy (The Who, The Kinks, The Easybeats, etc.) to produce it and the world was ours for the taking.

Well, the stars were not exactly aligned the way we had hoped, and literally, right from the start.

First, after landing at Heathrow, Her Majesty’s Immigration Officials took exception to a bunch of guys in black leather jackets, hauling a music store worth of guitars and wanted to know what do they owe this pleasure to. “What do you mean?! Step aside, we’re here to record our masterpiece album!”, said the clueless foursome us. Turns out, in their infinite wisdom our record label didn’t even bother securing work visas for us, so our “Welcome to UK” passport stamps quickly turned into “Order to deport”. After long negotiations at the airport by yours truly, playing Henry Kissinger for a day, I managed to convince them to let us in, somehow, with a special short term tourist visa. Say bye-bye to any possible gigs while we’re here as well.

On the second (first?) day of recording Shel decided to replace Jett Harris, our drummer. Out went Jett, in came some studio hack with a feel for rock ‘n roll of a… studio hack. In all fairness, a nice enough chap, quick study and a proficient drummer, but played with the fire and intensity of a McDonald’s jingle session he probably just came from.

Right there, the heart of Sorrows was no longer beating.

In the ensuing days we discovered that we also no longer had three lead singers, but instead, Joey Cola became the “lead singer” of the band; a bunch of studio singers were singing all of our harmonies; our ferocious two-guitar onslaught was gone, drowning under the layers of synthesizers and the singing army of castratos.

When I heard the work in progress, I realized I basically had very limited options: fire Shel Talmy (or throw him down the stairs – plan B); shred the tape, or leave. Being a well-mannered idiot that I was I chose the latter. I packed my stuff, wrote Shel a note that I want nothing to do with this record, requesting that he erase all my guitar tracks (which of course he didn’t honor, no surprise there) and walked out of the studio, never to return.

After coming back to New York we were on an immediate collision course with the label. We told them this record is a total fake, we want nothing to do it and are going right back to being the band we are (were)… wait, or how about back to being the band they signed?

It didn’t come as much of a surprise to anyone, except for the label, that the record was a total stiff. The DJs didn’t want to play it and our fans, even though they liked the songs, knew instinctively this was not a “Sorrows record”.

LTL...the original album cover. Arthur says- “For what it’s worth, I always liked the cover. Maybe, subconsciously, I was desperately looking for something to like about this piece of shit with our name on it we were forced to live with.”

Did the band break up immediately afterward?

No, not immediately, but the writing was on the wall… Joey turned into a full-blown junkie, disappeared into a haze of drugs and alcohol and was fired from the band; a replacement was found, which the label would not accept; then Ricky left, another replacement…

Finally, I said ‘enough’ and dissolved the band.

What came next? Did you (and the other guys) keep writing/recording music?

Yes, I put my own studio together and immersed myself in working on my own stuff and producing other artists; Joey… who knows what he did, I’m just glad he eventually reemeged from the land of the dead, is thriving and back to making music again; Ricky played with a couple of other bands, and Jett too, before retiring from the business altogether.

Had you been in touch with the other guys the whole time or not?

On and off, absolutely. There’s no “bad blood” between us, just life taking its course and the fact that I moved to Los Angeles so we are now bi-coastal, the rest of the guys still live in New York/New Jersey area. And of course we would get together for the sessions in the process of working on this release.

The Bomp comp (Per Arthur- “essentially, a re-release of “Teenage Heartbreak”, with bonus tracks and vastly improved mixes”)

Was there a legal issue with being able to record the songs again (did a label own the rights)?

Yes. like with so many other bands, we signed our lives away. Musically speaking, they owned us lock, stock and barrel. It took years and years of negotiating with CBS, then SONY, all of it going nowhere. It wasn’t until the Orphan Works Act was passed by the US Congress in 2011 that allowed us to reclaim the rights to our songs and recording masters.

At what point did you decide to re-record the songs?

As I like to say, I made that decision the first week of our London sessions with Shel Talmy, after I walked out of there and never came back. I didn’t know how or when. I just knew I was not going to allow this piece of fake crap with our name on it to be our legacy for this record. They decided to fuck with the wrong guy. It just took 40 years to get it done, but who’s counting?!

How did drummer Luis Herrera come into the picture? He’s excellent!

When in 2011 “Bad Times Good Times” album was released by Bomp! Records (essentially a re-release of “Teenage Hertbreak”, only way better sounding!) we started touring to support the album. Since Jett was out of the picture we needed a new drummer. On one of my nights out to LA clubs I spotted Luis playing with his band at the time. Couldn’t take my eyes off of him… and the rest, as they say, is history. Luis is also a part of my Arthur Alexander Band here in LA and played on both of my solo records, “One Bar Left” which came out in 2018 and the new one I’m finishing right now, coming out soon.

How was the first rehearsal?

Amazing. It was just the three of us, Luis, Robbie Rist on bass and me. Joey was about to fly into LA to join us. We started running through the songs and from the first downbeat it felt like a jet taking off… uplifting!

How was it to work with Robbie Rist?

Excruciating and orgasmic, all at the same time!… I hate that guy! He makes me feel so woefully inadequate! Kidding aside, I love this guy! Robbie is a true child prodigy, an amazing drummer, guitarist, singer, you name it. I don’t think there’s anything this guy can’t do. But he does like to march to his own drum machine and that can be problematic at times. Other than the times when I’m chasing after him with a meat cleaver?... a total joy to work with! lol

How did contact with Big Stir Records come about?

It was really “organic”… They were holding a series of monthly Big Stir concerts and invited my Arthur Alexander Band to partake. It went from there. I got to know them not only as fellow musicians but also as people. When the time came to look for a label for “Love Too Late… the real album”, it was a no-brainer. The label profile was tailor-made for the kind of music Sorrows do, and even more important, they were the kind of people whose circle I wanted to be a part of. Heart and soul, no bullshit – that’s the only thing I have room for at this point in my life.

LTL...the new version

Who are some of your favorite current artists?

Not much to speak of on the national/international scene, I really can’t think of any. On a local LA scene Pat Todd and The Rankoutsiders. Great fucking band, these guys should be playing stadiums, not LA dives!

Will there be more recording? Any live shows?

Funny you should ask!... After coming back from that Shel Talmy London cluster fuck, we were soooo totally disheartened, deflated, feeling beaten and betrayed.

There ain’t no cure for rock & roll blues better than some balls-to-the-wall rock ‘n’ roll, the Sorrows way!

We reconnected with Mark Milchman, one of the producers on “Teenage Heartbreak; reconvened at Mediasound Studio in New York where we recorded “Teenage Heartbreak”; set up mics, our amps and drums and in the course of one night ripped through an album’s worth of material. And that’s the next Sorrows album you’re gonna hear!

Live shows?... ummm…waiting for the anti-vaxxer assholes to get a clue or die. I have no appetite for going to a club to play a show, get 2 drink tickets, a few bucks and Covid as an extra bonus.

Arthur giving the one finger salute.

www.bigstirrecords.com

www.bigstirrecords.bandcamp.com

www.bompstore.com

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scrollthebreakfasttable-blog · 6 years

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Breakfast with Desi

In today’s social media world, there are two types of art that, in the eyes of many, are oversaturated. In the city of Atlanta a phrase I’ve heard often, and have even used: “throw a rock in any direction and you’ll either hit a photographer or a SoundCloud rapper.” But while I was sitting there, scrolling through her Instagram, I felt nervous, because the woman that was about to sit down with me isn’t just any photographer. I was sitting down with Deseri Rice, one of the best photographers in Atlanta.

To me, Beyonce, Solange, Yara Shahidi, Zendaya, Janelle Monae, Ava DuVernay, Lupita, and Deseri Rice, are top of the list when I think of the phrase Black Girl Magic. Each of these women are trailblazers, visionaries, and undeniable talents. For anyone who ever modeled for Desi, the feeling of being in front of her camera is completely different from other shoots. Normally you’re focused on giving a look, or appearing to follow a certain aesthetic. Desi frees you from that, and is one of the few photographers who truly captures you as you are, as your truest self. After a friendly hug I decided to dive into some questions.

What got you into photography?

I’ve always been into the fashion ads in magazines and editing my profile pics for myspace. It wasn’t until my Intro to Photography class that I discovered it as my passion. After learning the controls I took it and ran with it.

How do you pick your people? Ever turn anybody down that got mad about it?

I feel as if everyone has their own uniqueness about them. It may not be as evident as some but I take it as a challenge. I haven’t really turn anyone away. If it’s not one of my concepts then it’s a paid gig and usually that filters out the ones I’m not creatively connected to. Honestly if my models are passionate about the project and really into it, it always works out. I will say I’ve had a few that aren’t on the same creative plane and I just let that dissolve on its own naturally. But I encourage everyone to find themselves in front of the camera.

Your tag is deseritheartist but every time I hear people talk about you they say “Desi The God”. Why not take that handle?

I’m honored of the title honestly. I don’t mind others calling me that but I rather not call myself a God for personal reasons. I played around with the spelling and still felt uneasy. Also I don’t want others that don’t know me the wrong impression of me calling myself that.

I honestly find this part fascinating. Myself included, ego has always played a major role in the world of entertainment, from the justified confidence of Grammy winners, to has beens like Bow Wow and his lies about private jets. The concept of “fake it ‘till you make it” and showing out for an audience has always seemed extremely important, but from what I can see, faking anything is beyond Desi. She’s real, she’s honest, and she’s kind. That’s a major breath of fresh air, one I think everyone who meets her appreciates. As usual, I start to lose focus after my strawberry pancakes arrive, so I went back to asking questions so I wouldn’t have to do much talking.

At what point in a shoot do you look and go “Oh shit, I did that!”? When do you know you’ve taken the perfect shot?

During photo sessions I get this high feeling like mid session after me and the sitter(s) have warmed up and I just let go. This feeling doesn’t happen every session which doesn’t mean those shots weren’t good but some of my best shots comes from that feeling. It’s like I’ve caught the photo holy ghost lol.That feeling man, I can't explain it. After i see the result from that feeling, that’s always my reaction. I really be in awe sometimes while editing, that’s when it hits me the most.

Top 3 models/celebrities you’d love to shoot?

There’s not many I follow. But i find Kiko Mizuhara, Luka Sabbat, and Kwollem style very intriguing. There’s more but definitely my top three.

Desi laughed when I passed on my idea that a collaboration between herself and Zendaya would probably snatch every wig in existence.

Top 3 magazines you’d love to do a cover shoot for?

There are a few that I’d like to work with like Blanc, MODZIK, and Pause Magazine. I’m actually working on my own, AU COURANT, be on the lookout.

Desi has recently announced that AU COURANT is still in development but a release date has not yet been chosen. Check her social media for updates on that via her instagram @deseritheartist

Cosmo? Essence? Or Vogue?

It would be cool to have a spread in all of these.

For your IG followers, your story is always lit. Seems like you always find the dope events and shows. In Atlanta there’s an event every 10 feet, so what’s your secret to avoiding wackness?

I really love these questions lol I’ve had several people come up to me like “Yo, Des what’s the move?” There’s tons of things to do in Atlanta just gotta be plugged in. If the vibe isn’t right I leave immediately. My secret is follow the DJ’s lol the ones you really like have a following with similar taste and you can never go wrong with the crowd.

One example of this that any follower of Desi’s knows is her friendship with an incredible DJ known as Thrice Groove. Thrice is slowly but surely taking over Atlanta, and Desi has been there to witness the way he dominates a room with his amazing sound.

Top 10 songs on your playlist right now?

Out of a trillion? I flip flop a lot between decades and genres so I revisit a lot like the song just dropped. Lol in no order.

Blossom Dearie - Ravyn Lenae

Supposed to Say Goodbye - Etta bond & Raf Riley

Pick it Up - Famous Dex

Dam Girl - Frills

Vogue -Full Crate

Mi Gente - J.Balvin & Willy William

Due to Me- Jean Deaux

Distractions I: The opposite sex - Kilo Kish

Hold It Down - Mia Gladstone

Get Money - Michael Da Vinci

Despite my extensive music library I feel a tinge of shame for not recognizing a single name listed, and make a mental note to download every single artist later. Aside from a great photographer’s eye, Desi also has an amazing ear for music, so anything she reccomends is usually dope.

So in today’s social media age, there’s photographers who literally get paid to live with and follow influencers. What’s the dollar amount you’d do that for? Or never ever?

Depends. If i really f with that person’s vision and I have full creative flexibility then I’d do it as long as my living expenses are taken care of. I’ve actually never heard of this.

At this moment I pull of my phone and show her my favorite example, a talented guy out of LA known as Brendan North, who until a few months ago, would follow Logan Paul. With a simple “oh, cool” she goes back to her food.

3 breakfast must haves?

Eggwhite Omelette, all the veggies and pepper jack cheese. Breakfast potatoes with veggies. My mom’s grits with cheese (very particular about my grits)

I laugh a little because while she works her way through her healthy omelette, I’m still waging war on the Colorado Omelette, which is the exact opposite of healthy. If I wanted to I could probably come up with some correlation between her talent, incredible vibe, and responsible eating, but I’d rather pretend there’s unrelated and not give up my Colorado Omelettes.

Last month Desi put on an amazing event called Only On Thursdays. She did one last year that went amazingly well, and this one also did not disappoint. In fact, Breakfast Table has the honor of being one of the vendors. It was the perfect place for artists to represent themselves on an equal, and supportive, playing field.

What is “Only On Thursdays”? Only On Thursday’s originated from me wanted to showcase my work gallery style but also involve the music scene in Atlanta that I want to share with my friends. Also to bring back that portfolio review feel from college. I felt like I lost my creative mojo once I graduated because projects aren’t forced on me anymore. My main goal is bring together everything I love and give local photographers and artist a platform to present their work. Many are scared to take that step. This event is for everyone to get inspired and take that leap. So far I’ve helped maybe 4 artist showcase their talents for the first time and hopefully it doesn’t stop there.

How do you decide what artists to put in your show? I do not do open calls for artist. They are carefully picked by what I believe will flow well with the collection and from whom I gain inspiration. They aren’t super famous artist, they might not have a collection by the time I contact them. Really just your everyday artist coming together for something awesome.

You have this crazy soulful element to your photos, it’s like, you can identify a Desi shot out of a group. So, my last question: Do you realize how dope you are? Lol i’m just me.

I believe with all my heart that someday, Desi herself, and the world, will realize her greatness.

-Amelia

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thotyssey · 7 years

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On Point With: Carmen Sidemi

This hilarious drama queen-turned-drag queen is taking over NYC nightlife one venue at a time. Dishing it all about her drag family and the pros and cons of everythingin the biz, it’s the fabulous Carmen Sidemi!

Thotyssey: Hey Carmen! How was Gay College Tuesday at the Ritz this past week? You guest performed while your mama Terra Hyman hosted. Carmen Sidemi: Oh! It was so much fun, We had two amazing DJs, Steve Sidewalk and Mikey Mó. I also never realized how hot The Ritz gogo boys are until last night -- definitely some serious eye candy. Of course, working with Terra Hyman, my drag mama, is always a kiki.

They are cute there on Tuesday nights! Like, the only twinky gogo boys left in NYC, it seems. I was thinking the same thing. Someone posted about how all the gogo boys are so big and muscly nowadays. So now, I can tell them where to find the sexy twinks. Though, if you know me, you know I LOOOVE a big set of arms and thick fingers. Lol, there's something for everyone in this city!

So Carmen, you're at that point in your drag career where you're starting to pop up everywhere.

Definitely, that’s what I love about NYC. It has certainly been a crazy year.

How long have you been Carmen now?

I've been doing drag since late July of 2016, and my original name was Shaneeda Blank. I changed it to Carmen Sidemi about 2-3 months after starting drag. In the beginning when I only saw your name on Facebook, I pronounced it "Suh-dem-ee," like you were some Polish deli or something. I laughed when I first heard it out loud. HAHAHA. Yes, I’ve gotten that before. I have so many great stories about people trying to pronounce my name. Sheila Tack gave up trying and just called me Barbara. And during the Invasion on Fire Island, the host announced me as Carmen Si-Demi. I milked it with a big laugh, mimed "Inside Me" as best I could, and she got it along with the crowd. It was a great moment.

That's the key to a great drag name!

I agree. I love when it takes people a second to get it.

So, where's you're hometown, and what were you like growing up? Oh, man! Well I'm a Florida native, born in Pembroke Pines, and I grew up in South Beach until we re-located back P. Pines in my early teens.

Growing up, I was -- and still am -- very dramatic. About halfway through awards shows, I start pretending like I won and end up sobbing in the mirror, giving full acceptance speech realness. My bedroom was a place where I could be myself and live my fantasy!

In school I loved attention, but was always battling with that because at the same time I didn't want to be noticed -- people made fun of me for being feminine. It felt like a constant game of tug and war.

However, I have to say I was so lucky because my parents and family loved and supported me always. I also had/have two childhood friends that are still so amazing. That's important, I'm glad for that!

When do you come to NYC? 2009, when I went to the one and only AMDA. I left for a year and a half after graduation for some theatre work, and then moved back in 2013. All of that feels so long ago, OMG! Every drag queen in the city went to that school, it's crazy! Do you know any queens on the scene today that were in your classes? She's a newer queen: Chola Spears. We were best friends in school. We lost touch, but then I saw her out one night in drag and we are living.

I didn't go to school with Marti Gould Cummings, but I remember during orientation seeing her picture on the alumni wall with some of the greats that came out of the school. So crazy how things come full circle.

How did you meet Mama Terra?

Oh god, that was the beginning of it all, I feel like. I work at the West End, and when I started there a few years ago they had such a great lineup of amazing girls! Terra was hosting a competition, Brita and Sasha Davenport were hosting "C'mon Wednesday," and Alexis Michelle and Schwa de Vivre were hosting "Super Woman." Terra and I quickly became besties, and would hang out all the time at her place and play video games and Catan till 4am. That group of girls really introduced me to NYC drag/nightlife and made a huge impact. From there, I met Jasmine Rice LaBeija from the RRRRRRoyal Haus of Labeija, and she really took me under her wing and helped me SO MUCH! That's a great pedigree! What was your first number in drag, do you remember? I actually still use it sometimes, It was a "Letter of the Day" inspired number, and the letter of the day was “C.” Then it goes into basically calling everyone a cunt.

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Oh werk, so you had the funny mixes on day one!

I love working and making mixes, and telling a story from my own perspective, if you will.

You're quite a high energy queen, splitting and death-dropping and constantly moving... were you always a dancer?

I can just see the eye rolls from these shady queens in regards to me being called a dancer. People use the word "dancer" very loosely, in my opinion... no shade.

I did always love to dance; I took about four years of salsa in middle/high school before getting into tap, ballet, etc. But I'm very humble when it comes to calling myself a "dancer" because it's not something I do often, lol! But I will split the house down for sure, henny!

You did a great number for Miss Lady Liberty this summer... it had, like, five wig and costume reveals! I always think about how stressful it must be to keep track of the timing of all those reveals during numbers like that. Not to mention having to waddle out there in the beginning like a human lasagna with all that shit bolted down so it doesn’t look like five reveals! GIRL! I had HAD IT that day. I was being such a bitch because I was so hot, and no one understood because I was trying not to spoil it. As far as timing: the song I used was pretty easy to find the timing, so it just made sense to me. It also helps to rehearse the costume and wig reveals at home couple times. I do love watching those videos; my ass looked so good that night, lol! Th next time I did Lady Liberty, I decided I wasn't going to put too much pressure on myself and just do something simple. It was actually one of my favorite performances. Of course I did do a costume reveal!

Sometimes it just takes one reveal to sell it! I like the light blue flowy, witchy robe thing you wear. Are you a designer/seamstress of your looks? HAHAHA. Oh, My summer Poncho? I bought that fabric in every color. I can draw clothes, and can sew basic things, but I'm certainly not a seamstress. I learned a few things from a costume designer in Florida, and even MORE from Jasmine Rice... YouTube helps too! Every drag queen knows, or should know, stretch fabric. Here that, queens! Generally speaking, I feel like you are a like a drag queen’s drag queen. A lot of other queens in the city are really into what you do!

I wanna shout out to some people who have excepted me so open-heartedly to the drag community, and taught me so much! They were booking me when I had no experience! Terra Hyman, Jasmine Rice, Lola Michele-Kiki, Dusty Ray Bottoms, Marti G. Cummings, Brita Filter, Ari Kiki, Tammy Spanx, and Kizha Carr. I'm so grateful to know these talented people.

An amazing group of queens!

Did you go to Drag Con?

I DID! My very first one. I went on Sunday and was so lucky to get to work the Gypsy Wigz booth. They styled a beautiful custom-dyed wig for me, and I just pranced around enjoying all the drag. My best moment was eating a chili dog while walking the pink carpet. If anyone thought I didn't have talent, now you do.

Yas Mama! So, it's about that time of the season when local girls start to disappear on a Mystery Cruise, while by sheer coincidence Drag Race starts filming in California. It seems like throughout the past few seasons, there have been more and more New York girls disappearing... and if our collective hunch is correct, nearly half of Season 10 will be New York queens competing. And on top of that, now we're gonna have a new show to watch exclusively about NYC drag, Shade! Is this an exciting time to be a queen in NYC, or is this all kind of a lot? I can't F******* wait for this season! I definitely think right now is an exciting time for drag in many places, but especially NYC. I'm so excited to see so many girls I know, work with, and respect on Shade. It’s really going to get to showcase what queens really experience when choosing this as a career.

It's funny, I always hear people say "Drag Race fucked up drag,” and I can understand that perspective. But we also get to see so many new shows pop up to make up for the girls who might have other things going on.

Well, you certainly got stuff going on that we should talk about! First off, you've been giving shows at Icon in Astoria for a bit, and now you have a Weekly 6-9pm Sunday spot there, Stay Drunk Sundays. Love that show name! How do you like it at Icon? It went through a change of management and a huge revamp not too long ago.

I love Icon. The staff and the owners have been so generous to me, I'm so grateful. I heard about a few horror stories from the past, which I won't dwell on because no one involved has any ties to the place, so all I'm gonna say is: come back and give it another try. Especially Sunday! How many chances do you get to go out after a boozy brunch, put on some heels that we provide, do at least 30 seconds of a number, and you get a shot? It's such a good time. Two weeks ago, a straight man and woman celebrating their engagement with some friends came by, and THEY ALL did a Spice Girls number. I've had a few new queens pop in to do a number. It really is such a safe space for everyone. Oh, and they have 2-4-1 drink special from 5-8!

And your show there sounds like a lot of fun. As for Thursdays, we can find you hosting Gayme Night at Atlas Social Club with Scotty Em.

Yup, I just added Gayme Night on Thursdays to my weekly schedule. We finally got rid of that bitch, Holly Box-Springs. LMAO, I’m just kidding! To spill some tea, we actually went on two dates before either of us did drag. I love that girl.

But back to Atlas, I'm there Thursdays for trivia and all sorts of games, 8-12. We give away drinks, special prizes, and JUST added a few gogo boys to serve up trade realness. I'm thinking of new ways to make it my own; I want to have a Twister tournament one night! That would be fun! Another drag Holly, Ms. Dae, used to host "naked" Twister at Phoenix!

OMG! I love her, she has one of the BEST senses of humor.

Okay, anything else?

No special events, other than my two weekly gigs I have right now. A few things are up in the air. It’s funny, I like to call myself the "Sandra Bullock of Drag," because a lot of my gigs are super last-minute bookings if someone can't make it! Which, girl, I’m grateful for! So, I would encourage following me on Instagram or adding me on Facebook to keep up with where I'll be. Last question: What's the worst thing about drag for you, and what's the best? The worst part of actually being in drag is, sometimes, the corset after three hours. But I would say that really the hard part -- and this is gonna sound cheesy -- is battling with myself to not compare what other people have going on, and just be proud of my friends AND myself.

It's hard sometimes, because its rare when you work in a field where your friends are your colleagues. When we aren't in drag and go out, most likely I'm kiki'ing with other queens. But a lot of the times, we are competing [in pageants or weekly competitions] for cash money. So you’re rooting for your friends, but trying to pay your damn rent.

The best part about drag, and why I started doing it... simple. I get to conceive performances that tell a story from my perspective. I get to do it on my own time, on my own terms. And when people laugh and cheer, it makes me so happy. I feel understood. A few times the audience will be enjoying a number so much, it will make me hesitate on my next line, because I get so excited.

But we've all had those nights when the audience is looking at you like your fucking crazy, which is also exciting because its an opportunity to make new choices that you wouldn't have made otherwise.

Thank you, Carmen! Awesome! Thanks so much for having me on your blog!

Carmen Sidemi hosts “Stay Drunk Sundays” at Icon (6pm) and “Gayme Night Thursdays” at Atlas Social Club (8pm). Check Thotyssey’s calendar for other upcoming gigs, and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

On Point Archives

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thotyssey · 6 years

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On Point With: Jen Urban

Embodying what it means to be Nightlife Cool, this performer has kept us dancing from both the stage and the DJ booth for awhile now. This year, Brooklyn has shown her love right back, with two Brooklyn Nightlife Award nominations for Best DJ on the Rise (um, really? Gurl’s not “rising,” she is very much “Here,” but whatevs) and Best Vocalist. Make way for Jen Urban!

Thotyssey: Hi Jen! How are you doing tonight?

Jen Urban: Hi! Having a great night. I’m just finishing up a DJ set, actually. I do a party once a month called “A Sunday Kind of Love” at Dream Baby. It’s always a happy, chill vibe!

Cute! Do you see any difference between DJing queer spaces versus not-so-queer venues?

That’s a great question! I am honestly surprised they are still as segregated as they are, but really I love a lot of crossover. It’s great when a straight crew from Union Pool walks by karaoke and comes in to sing, or the gay boys take over Lady Stardust. Ultimately, we are all out to have a good experience. There are great people in every scene. I strive to artistically appeal to people who like what I do, not who want to sleep with me.

Let’s get you’re story! First off, where are you from and what were you into growing up? Was it always music?

Always music! I grew up in Northern California. My parents are hippies, and where always taking me to outdoor festivals and concerts in the park. My dad used to teach me to pick out what instruments where playing in songs, and my mom always encouraged me to sing and perform. I wrote my first song when I was 7, and never stopped.

What were the artists and scenes that were influencing you in the beginning?

I was a pop kid when I was little. Madonna was huge. Later, I got really into everything from classic rock to dirty rap. I was always less interested in the genre then what a song made me feel.

A very huge musical moment for me was when I simultaneously fell in love with grunge and techno / trip hop. That was really when I realized it wasn’t about organic vs. electronic, but I wanted to combine them and find a distinct sound. I wanted to be Courtney Love and Portishead at the same time.

That would be an amazing combo! Were you in a lot of bands before The Box? In high school I was actually really focused on classical music and musical theatre, so my first band wasn’t until college. My guitar teacher John Zay and I started a band after he kept teaching me chords and scales, and I never practiced--I just kept writing songs. There was a great indie music scene in Santa Cruz. I was in a few different bands with the same group of people. My favorites were a four piece, Calle Baby Machine, and an all girl pop punk band called Estrella.

Eventually the scene got too small for me, and I joined John Zay in Brooklyn. At that point he was producing, and I made a solo album called Pass Stars and became Jen Urban, and eventually Jen Urban and the Box. The band started out as an all-girls four piece. It was a bit less dancey and more rock. We had some success in the lesbian scene and played the Warped Tour, but I was missing the drama and synth vibe I originally intended to find.

When the girls all decided to focus on visual art and move to the West Coast, I met Alan D--and I feel like my vision was realized! He is extremely talented, and we clicked from the first notes we played together. Like falling in creative love at first sight. We have been a duo ever since.

Jen Urban & The Box have had quite career. How much music have you recorded at this point, in all the group’s incarnations? I put out a limited edition EP with the girls--which is not available on iTunes, so those readers who are out there and have them, hold on tight! Lol. Alan and I have released a full length album, Urban Daydream, and an EP, Aeon Walk. We also released the single “Haunted” on SoundCloud.

We have six more tracks recorded that will be released in conjunction with a promo video for each one over the coming months, along with some re-releases and new videos. The plan is to pump up our YouTube channel while releasing new music. So instead of the traditional album release, we will be releasing a video and track each month for a year starting in June! Just in time for the BNAs!

Werk! I love your videos. I just watched the one for "21"... that stars Epiphany as the door queen!

Thank you! Yes! Lol! That was filmed at Sugarland, which will always hold a special place in our hearts! We held a very long and fun monthly residency there.

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Music in the queer community, even "edgier" scenes like Brooklyn, is so dominated by commercial pop. And you rarely see musicians with instruments in queer venues these days. Is that frustrating?

I think it’s kind of a bummer, but it challenges me to perform in different ways. I have become a more versatile performer! As a solo artist and a band, I am able to do a set to tracks, or with a whole band depending on the venue. I love that freedom and challenge.

How abot DJing? When did you start doing that in BK?

I started DJing at Cattyshack in Park Slope in around 2005. I learned on vinyl, but mostly worked with CDs. I did song-to-song pop sets (still do upon request) for many. In 2012, I got really into mixing and electronic production. I am hoping to start more house and dance music-centered sets. I am producing a solo project under the name Rozeg0ld (exclusive alert!!!). I hope to release the first album for that project next spring.

We'll definitely look out for that! What’s your favorite bop to spin right now?

Kimbra, “Top of The World.”

Nice! These days, you are the Wednesday night karaoke DJ and hostess at Macri Park. What are the joys and sorrows of hosting karaoke?

Lol! It’s a labor of love. There are a lot of joys, because Macri is a chill spot and my regulars are the best! I love to sing, and it’s been great for my ego to get up there and do a mediocre performance, lol! I have to remember it’s not a show, it’s an opportunity to encourage others to do what I love to do, and just get up there and sing your heart out!

It’s hard when people don’t tip, or get frustrated with a long wait time. I really try to be fair and keep everyone in order of when they put in a request. I don’t take money to move people up, I try to let newbies sing before repeats... but generally I just try to keep things moving and fun. I also get very tired of certain songs, but if you knock it out of the park I gain a new appreciation for a song I’ve heard sung way too many times. I am truly grateful and humbled for the opportunity to work in an industry with so much competition. I love nightlife, even as a sober mom! In fact, maybe even more now.

I didn't know you were a sober mom! That seems like the most difficult type of person to be in this biz.

Yep! I have been sober for 7 years, and my partner and I have a 3 year-old girl! It has been hard to get back in the game full force, but I actually love it even more. My daughter inspires me to create better work! I do have a bit of a sugar-free Red Bull addiction, but being onstage and behind a DJ booth with all my wits about me gives me a confidence and freedom I didn’t have before. Plus, I don’t have to worry about getting kicked out of the clubs I work at anymore!

Is your daughter musical?

She is definitely a performer! She asks me to watch her “show” and sings and dances around the living room. She really likes to drum, so that’s cool, lol. She also is very drawn to the stage. She will be at our set on June 2nd at McCarren Park for the GO Green Festival at 1pm. So I’m excited for her to see what I do now that she’s not really a baby any more.

She'll be transfixed! You also DJ Friday nights at Lady Stardust, which we talked about earlier. It’s a new venue in the East Village above the bar 2A, where your gurl and former karaoke co-host Brie YOB tends bar. I was there for her Drag Race viewing party a few weeks ago, SO cute! How are you enjoying that space?

I love it! I’m so excited to work in a mixed venue with great drinks! People dance, make out, and enjoy all the food stuff in a pretty atmosphere.

I also do a monthly party there with Danielle Cardona! It’s called “Torch” and it features local dance and pop artists, not only live but incorporated into my DJ set! It’s the Third Thursday of every month, except this month it’s Danielle’s video release on 5/31!

Another great thing to look out for! And congrats so much on your two Brooklyn Nightlife Award noms, for best vocalist (Jen Urban & The Box) and best DJ on the Rise (even though you're a veteran!) How delighted and / or surprised were you when you found out?

I actually really wasn’t expecting them, because we are / I am just getting back on track. So I was so so surprised and excited and grateful. I love this community, and how we support each other. And I just want to shout out [BNA showrunners] Merrie Cherry, Ickarus, and Cameron for doing such a a great job!

I look forward to seeing you there! Okay, in closing: What's your best advice for an aspiring musician today?

I’m not sure I’m qualified to answer that one! Lol. But, I can say to anyone new to the city: don’t give up! Never stop making the music you love. Write from the heart, dig deeper, and work on your art everyday! Get your music out there, and trust that you will find your people. I truly believe now after years of letting my fear and ego hold me back that the music we make is a gift to the world. A power greater then me works through me when I let it.

Thank you, Jen!

Jen Urban hosts / DJs karaoke at Macri Park Wednesday nights (9pm). At Lady Stardust, she spins every Friday night (10pm) as well as every third Thursday for the “Torch” party (10pm), and also spins “A Sunday Kind of Love” monthly at Dream baby (4-10pm). Check Thotyssey’s calendar for all scheduled gigs, and follow Jen on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & YouTube.

Vote for Jen (and Jim Silvestri / Thotyssey!) in the Brooklyn Nightlife Awards here.

On Point Archives

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