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hh0320 · 2 years

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𝐈 𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐚 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥;

part three of the velvet opiate series. part one, part two.

pairing: rockstar! hyunjin x reader (+ minho, felix, chan)

word count: 4.6k

genre: visual gothic rock band, romance, dark smut, hurt/comfort, toxic skz, set in the late 90’s-early 00’s.

warnings: profanity, mature themes, drug & alcohol abuse, foursome, unprotected sex, filthy talk, light bdsm play, light sadism.

🏷: @ughbehavior, @cb97percent, @svintsandghosts.

tunes: radiohead (go slowly), mareux (the perfect girl).

Recordings for the new album lasted for a month and a half.

In those forty five days, none of them could move an inch away from the studio, without Joon breathing down their neck, threatening to kick them out the band. Some nights they would sleep in there, dreaming of riffs, and melodies.

Felix had lyrics. But lyrics were nothing but pretty poetry without the music, and Velvet Opiate were not looking to sell books—Chan was very aware of that.

He hadn’t been sleeping properly, if at all. Notes came to him organically, he could get inspired by anything, had a natural talent in song making, and got paid good money to keep it up—yet, he was fucked.

They needed a title track, and all they’d made so far were B sides. And it was on him. It was his fault, because he was so busy running around saving his band mates from themselves, that he’d had no time to sit down and produce. The one thing that was truly of any significance, for them, but to him, especially, solely.

Bang Chan had his music, entirely. Without it, he was just an entitled clown with a drum kit. The company needed a title track, and he’d provide, even if it killed him.

Nothing else mattered.

“From the top!”

The four of them inwardly groaned, fingers raw, sweat dripping from their hair. That was the fifth time they had to repeat that damn song, and they were fucking sick of it.

“Jail would be better than this,” Felix muttered under his breath, throat dry.

Minho chuckled, discarding his wet, sweaty shirt, bass propped on his thigh. His hair stuck to his forehead, dark circles around his brown eyes; he looked like he’d escaped hell.

Maybe he had, Hyunjin could never tell with his older friend.

“What do you know about jail, sunshine?” The purple haired man asked, sarcastically.

Felix rolled his eyes, a devilish smile on his lips. “I know that I’d drop the soap for you, handsome.”

Minho smirked, leaning forward. “All you gotta do is ask, sweetheart.”

“Please stop flirting, it’s making me fucking nauseous,” Chan interjected, a disgusted look on his face.

Hyunjin laughed, going through the tabs. “D’ you think they’ve already fucked, Bang? The tension is palpable.”

“He wouldn’t be able to handle what I give, doll face,” he concluded with a wink, and Hyunjin shook his head, smiling.

“What are you into these days, anyway? Satanic summonings?” Felix widened his eyes, in emphasis.

“Boys, get serious,” Joon said, through the microphone, on the other side. “Again.”

“Lix, shut the fuck up, before he ties you to a goddamn cross.”

Felix pft’ed, while Hyunjin started playing the intro of the new song. “He wouldn’t—”

“Oh, I would,” Minho warned, staring at the singer. “Careful what you ask for.”

Felix swallowed hard, and started:

‘His eyes were heavy

He carried a gun…’

Minho was bored.

His whole life, it seemed, was a mundane routine of waking up to uneventful days, eat, breathe, piss, fuck, repeat. Such was the mortal existence; to have your little time on earth, and then fuck off to whatever afterworld you believe in.

How mediocre—plain. Lee Minho refused to succumb to the monotonous, the tedious. That is why he joined Velvet, that’s why he is the way he is.

Tragic fucking backstory aside, since who the fuck really cares, Minho won’t blame the orphanage beginnings, or the loveless child trope that he’s carried throughout the years.

Juvie at fourteen, mental rehabilitation institute at sixteen, the freezing streets of the capital when freshly eighteen—could he condemn his bad luck? Ignore the responsibility of his fate?

Minho was many things, indifferent to everything, numb to surprise and pain, but he had a sense of responsibility for his actions—he’d never inconvenience anyone, especially the people he associates with the most, because of his own self destructive tendencies. His personal life was his, and his only.

That was the kind of picture Lee Minho painted. A rational one; a competent, sane person, albeit a little unreliable as a narrator.

Some called him a heartless son of a bitch.

Alas, no one was perfect.

It was well after midnight, a Friday on their second week of recordings, when they spotted the fans they’d been warned about.

They were waiting patiently on the side of the exit door, girls in their early twenties, masks hiding their faces, giddy eyes searching for their beloved artists. Joon had given them black caps, and advised the band to keep their heads low, and wave.

Felix broke first, but he later swears it was only because of their long time fan, and founder of his fan club, holding out a gift for him. He hugged her, and signed some pictures for her next giveaway.

Felix was like that—thoughtless, whimsical. It wasn’t exactly a fault, Minho thought, though Chan had reprimanded him quite a bit for his capricious actions.

That night, Minho had a craving. It was an urge, a thirst he couldn’t shake off. And what Minho wanted, Minho had—absolutely.

His gaze had caught the brunette on the far left of the group. She noticed him looking at her, and lowered her eyes immediately, succumbing to his intense stare.

She’ll break easily. That was fine by him, he wasn’t searching for a challenge, not tonight.

A nudge and a knowing look to his bodyguard, and he entered the van after Hyunjin, who’d nearly ran there.

He texted, ‘and her friend,’ to his not so little helper, and smirked down at the screen, feeling Hyunjin’s curious eyes.

“Fuck me,” the blonde boy rolled his eyes. “Just fucking—keep them quiet, will you? It’s a hotel, not your goddamn torture chamber.”

Minho chuckled sinisterly, watching everyone get in the vehicle. It was somewhat unfortunate he didn’t have his…toys with him, but if he was being honest, his patience had ran thin after all the work stress, and not being able to be at the comfort of his own home.

He just needed…release. And they’d have to fucking do, for now.

“I make no promises, doll face.”

Felix turned to that, confused. “Wait, what?”

“Shit, Minho don’t fucking tell me—” Chan started, annoyed.

Hyunjin snorted, lighting a cigarette. He could hear the girls yelling goodnight’s, and I love you’s, and absentmindedly smiled at the words.

“It’s true,” he mused, crossing his arms over his chest, and leaning back against the seat. “Minho’s gonna bless our ears, and get his dick wet.”

“Charity work, boys. You’re welcome,” the perpetrator finished, amused by the attention he was getting.

Chan groaned, while Felix scrunched his nose, wanting to retaliate.

“We’re gonna get kicked out, again. Fucking watch.”

Hyunjin had gifted Minho a pair of Vivienne Westwood pearl earrings for Christmas. It was her original design, and he’d gotten them as a last minute thing, a thank you for all the times the older boy had covered for his ass to their manager.

Hyunjin would follow Lee Minho inside a burning house. He would, if only to see what invisibility truly was. Minho was deathless, a distant form of a man that got away with everything.

His cunningness, his endearing personality that made you blindly follow him to the edges of the sharpest cliffs—where Hyunjin would free fall, searching for any kind of high, Minho could convince people to jump in his place, manipulate them into thinking they’ll be okay once they reached the bottom.

You had to really know the question mark, to know the fairytales it spewed. And Minho did tell a lot of stories. It depended on the kind of person you were—what you did and did not deserve to find out. For some, dragons have been slayed, princesses rescued—others know of the tales of the cavernous forest; about the tough fight against the darkness, how it stole everything, fed on his soul—

How he lost that soul, and what it cost him in the end.

There were a lot of stories, all of them fake. What was Lee Minho in his essence—a con man, hiding inside a thousand mirrors, each one containing only an echo of the small, scared boy he still was, deep down.

Hyunjin caught a glimpse of those earrings, dangling in the bright lights of the long hall leading to their rooms. Hair shining an intense purple, Minho disappeared behind his door, voice lost and now trapped against the four walls, no doubt a warm greeting to his guests for the night.

Chan was leaning against the railing, smoking one of his rare cigarettes. If nicotine was involved, Bang Chan was fucking stressed. Valid, considering.

“I’m worried about him,” he admitted, running a hand through his silver hair.

Lighter already in hand, Hyunjin copied his band mate. He stood next to him, silent for a while, wondering how could anyone worry about a snake.

The level of danger depends on the kind, but most snakes are adaptable, secretive creatures. They shed their skin when they’ve outgrown it, are reborn stronger, stealthier. A snake cannot truly die. If Hyunjin had to guess, Minho would be a saw-scaled viper, quick to attack, so you never see him coming.

He could survive anything, because he always put himself first. No exceptions, unless specified.

“These walls are paper thin.”

Chan sighed. “I could fucking care less about that, I’ve seen him fuck and get fucked forty different ways. I’m talking about his coping mechanisms—” he lowered his voice, glancing around.

Joon had their entire floor cleared, so it was only the four of them staying there, but some things Velvet Opiate kept close to their heart of hearts, never daring to speak about them out loud. It was an unwritten rule.

“Ever since his accident, her death—he’s never been the same again. I couldn’t possibly know what the fuck he’s thinking now, if I ever did back then.”

It was true. Minho had been in a fatal car accident, a couple years back. He ended up with several broken ribs, a fracture, and a broken leg, but the truck had come into impact with the passenger seat first. His then girlfriend was pronounced dead as soon as the paramedics arrived at the scene.

Perhaps, his most severe wound had been her passing.

The band had gone on hiatus for three months, and Minho didn’t once leave his house during the entire time, except to attend the funeral. And that had been a horrible thing in itself—the freezing cold mask he wore accepting condolences, the ghost that’s followed him ever since.

Lee Minho is the burning house. He’s been in flames ever since he was four years old, and the fire has only grown worse overtime. Hyunjin could only hope he knew how to put himself out before it was too late.

But wasn’t he the same way? Didn’t he also have a time limit—a certain amount of fuck ups before it was game over? What the fuck did he know?

Hyunjin exhaled smoke, nodding at the words his friend had said. “You have to walk through the pitch black darkness, to come through the other side.”

Chan finished his cigarette, shaking his head. “Hyun, he’s fucking drowning. You two are more alike than you think.”

The two boys looked at each other, brown on brown. Hyunjin could see the effort it took for Chan to be this vulnerable about his thoughts—he’s always been the crutch, the lifeboat.

The glue that held everything together.

“Maybe you could pull each other up,” he said, patting Hyunjin’s shoulder, and turning to walk to his room, three doors down.

Hyunjin would follow Lee Minho blind. He mused over the stick between his fingers, slowly turning into ashes, how it would always burn, always reduce itself down to the butt—there was no other outcome, no other way.

Predictable. That’s what Hyunjin was becoming. Inevitable.

He thought of you, and the way your skin felt underneath his own, how your eyes looked up at him with the brightest glint, the angel, the untainted. The holy.

You were probably waiting for him at that bleeding bar, wondering how long until he came back to sweep you off your feet. Tasting him in everything, laying awake panting, dreams of him stuck on your eyelashes. He hoped. He wished.

The damned have their prayers and their credulous hopes.

How expected of him to be this weak. Unsurprising.

What other fucking way does Hwang Hyunjin know, except the dark, thorny one? Except the mud, and the monsters, and the hopeless fight?

There’s only one story for him.

He gets up, knocks on the white door. Pearl Vivienne Westwood earrings greet him, an insouciant Minho blinks at him once, and moves out the way.

Hyunjin enters.

The lighting was dim, atmospheric.

One girl was tied on the headboard, the other on the floor, on her knees waiting, gaze downwards.

Both naked.

Hyunjin momentarily wonders if they were aware of Minho’s sexual preferences. Judging by the girl on the bed, her content face, he decides they probably don’t even care—too happy to be near their favorite idol.

Minho nods over to the vanity desk, thin white lines laid out, a credit card, and a bill next to them. A bottle of whiskey was open, three glasses empty around it.

This was the scene. The car accident, the neon lights, the siren. The death over and over—the self destruction was a suicide. The eventual joining, on the other side.

Hyunjin was familiar with this best of all, because he’d been guilty for it too. Only for him, there would be no rejoicing, no motive. No reason beyond the high.

Minho had moved to the mattress, sitting next to the gagged girl, that had been whimpering and fighting against the restraints. He spoke low to her, almost a whisper; his mouth was sinful, his language filthy.

“How wet is your cunt right now, love? Sprawled like a fucking whore for us. It’s what you wanted, right? To be fucked by a couple rockstars?”

The woman’s thighs rubbed against each other, no doubt aroused by the scenario.

Hyunjin had his eyes set on the submissive one on the floor, though. She had made no move, no sound, ever since he’d entered. She remained perfectly still, deliciously compliant.

He hadn’t used in three weeks. That was a record for him, though he couldn’t entirely put it on himself—everyone’s been micro managing him, monitoring his every move. His phone had been taken from him, all contacts removed.

He hadn’t fought it—he’d actually wanted to give sobriety a try, if for nothing but the sake of the band. But Minho had seen right through him, apparently, had spotted the beast inside Hyunjin, and promised to take care of it.

How expected of him to be this weak. Unsurprising.

Cocaine wasn’t his drug of choice, but anything is food to a starving man. He snorted a line, and rubbed his nose.

Then got close to the girl. Her hair was long and black, a curtain around her face. Hyunjin got on one knee, lifting her chin with his thumb.

Watery eyes stared at him, innocent and willing. Like yours.

“You’re being so quiet, sweetheart. Such a good girl,” he praised, taking in her body.

Perky breasts, tiny figure, hands balled into fists on her thighs. It wouldn’t take long at all—this girl was already broken.

Hyunjin loved broken things. There was no reason to be careful with them, at all. He fisted her hair, inspecting her reaction. She blinked at him, lips parting.

“You know what’s gonna happen, don’t you, pretty girl?”

She nodded weakly, never once breaking eye contact. Oh, she’s fucking done this before alright.

His other hand slapped her cheek, once. Softly, testing the waters. She flinched closer, but there was no pained look, no widening of the eyes. Just plain, unfiltered desire for more.

“Turn around, on your hands and knees,” he ordered, unbuttoning his shirt.

It was a split decision, her mouth opened—

“Can I touch you?” She regretted it as soon as she said it.

The second slap was harder, his palm leaving a red mark on her pale skin. She bit on her lip to keep from crying out, and scurried to get into position, afraid of worse punishment.

Hyunjin had no limit when it came to this—he would take it as far as his partner was willing to go, no second guesses. It was the only thing that gave him control, the only thing that truly gave him pleasure.

Feeling someone physically and mentally submit to him, connecting through inflicting pain on them… he’d been wired that way, it seemed. Violence got him fucking hard, the detachment, the deep emotions of the one receiving—the sweet release. All of it was incredibly arousing.

You had been the only exception, in all his years. With you, he wanted to take his time, defile you slowly, take care of you properly.

You were his angel, untouchable otherwise. You were different.

He pulled this girl by the throat, bringing her back flush against his own naked chest, mouth next to her ear.

“You’re fucking helpless. This is for me, and only me. You better keep fucking quiet, and take it, do you understand?”

She nodded frantically against him.

“Now, what’s your safe word?”

“Burn. It’s burn.”

Burn… This fucking girl.

“A true fan,” Minho commented, amused.

He was fucking the other girl’s mouth, both hands holding her face still. She was struggling to breathe, a slobbering mess, but there was no voice to her.

“I wrote that song, beautiful,” he winked at Hyunjin’s girl, and she blushed, before going back down, position resumed, lesson learned.

“That’s a good fucking girl,” he slapped her ass.

Sliding two fingers in her cunt, he found it soaking wet. Cursing, he fucked her like that for a while, making sure she’d keep to her word and make no noise. Her face was pressed against the carpet, arms barely holding her up.

He grabbed them, holding them behind her back, and removed his fingers. She clenched around the loss, juices running down her milky thighs.

What a fucking slut.

Hyunjin entered her roughly, using her arms to get deeper inside. She screamed, and then apologized immediately, her whole body tensing up, waiting for punishment.

“Didn’t I tell you,” he groaned, drilling into her, “to keep fucking quiet?!”

The girl on the bed was crying by this point, Minho relentlessly pounding her ass, hands still tied, a black scarf covering her eyes. It was like he was deaf to her screams, not present, as his movements quickened, her knees giving way, falling flat on her face, and yet never once shutting the fuck up.

Hyunjin glanced at his friend once, noticing the stoic expression, the hard lines of his mouth. He wasn’t there mentally, he was dissociating. It was what usually happened when Minho was high—he had no restraints, no way to stop, not unless he got what he wanted.

“Get on the bed,” he pulled his girl’s hair, slipping out of her.

She tripped, but did as told. He circled an arm around her waist and placed her right next to the moaning myrtle. The need to gag her was overwhelming, but Hyunjin knew Minho left her like that on purpose. To block his mind; static noise.

He slammed back inside her, cunt now a sloppy mess, lifting her legs over his head. Holding them with one hand, he fucked her brutally, exorcising the thought of you.

Minho stopped, as if awakening suddenly. The girl came hard, spasming violently. He pulled her up by the throat, and bit her shoulder.

“Join them. Let me see you.”

The two women started kissing, completely fucked out, while Hyunjin continued his pounding—close, so fucking close. Eyes shut, you’re there, a vision in black, red all around, getting fucked by him against a wall, like a fucking whore.

His whore. Hyunjin holds you up, your cunt heaven, a church he build to hide inside, praying to your name on his knees. Important, bigger than life, your half naked frame filling his mind, driving him over the edge.

“Burn! Burn! Fucking burn, fuck!”

He spilled inside her, growling, head falling on her stomach. She shook him off, pulling away, wrapping her arms around her knees, exhausted, tears streaming down her face.

You’d hate him for this. But you didn’t understand, yet. He’d make sure you never found out.

“All yours,” he says to Minho, getting off the bed.

“Don’t be scared, kitten,” Minho reasoned with her. “You didn’t think we’d go easy on you, did you?”

Hyunjin quickly slipped into his pants, remaining shirtless. He saw as Minho tamed both women, his voice level and soothing. It’d be a long night.

Pouring himself a drink, he downed it in one go, lines tempting him again. But he could already feel his high, and he really could care less about cocaine, so he left, right as Minho took out a vibrator—

Kinky motherfucker.

“Don’t do anything stupid,” Minho called out to him, as the door clicked shut.

For the first time in his life, Hyunjin listened.

Back in his room, he showered off the sex smell, and sat by the window smoking, clad in nothing but a pair of pajama bottoms.

He thought of you. Your scent, your soft hands, the way you reached for him. The way he’d scared you by attacking that scum. It’d been too long since then, and his need to see you, to touch you, only grew stronger.

But his life was a golden cage, and he remained a prisoner. Hyunjin had the least freedom of them all, and he had nothing but his addictions to blame.

Grabbing his guitar, he played through random notes, smoke burning his eyes. His fingers settled over a strumming pattern, and he repeated it, a faint melody coming together.

Hyunjin went through it again, and again, building on it, the music descending on his heart, painful and familiar. Reminiscent of the way you said his name.

He hummed along, and where lyrics failed, they now came to him freely, devastating.

‘I tried counting

Her smiling pain…’

He shot up from his seat, cigarette long forgotten, hanging limply from his mouth, and run out of the room, two doors down. Chan’s door was always open, because he never fucking slept.

He was in front of his equipment, free styling on the keyboard, when Hyunjin burst in and stood in front of him, grinning from ear to ear.

Chan squinted up at him. “Are you high?”

Hyunjin shook his head, guitar in hand. “Never mind that. I got us the title track.”

At that, the silver haired boy’s eyes widened, and he leaned back in his seat, intrigued.

“No shit. Never thought I’d see the day, Hyun.”

It was true. Hyunjin never wrote songs—there’d never been anything inspiring, until he met you. And he was so sure of you, his brave girl, so enamored by what you showed him, by what he felt.

“It’s called Knife.”

Chan gestured for him to sit on the bed. “Let’s hear it.”

Hyunjin played.

It was a bit past four in the morning, when Minho’s groupies left. Disheveled, and bruised, shoes in hand, they tiptoed to the elevator like thieves, giggling to themselves.

Hyunjin and Chan were taking a break out in the hall, and watched as they let out similar high pitched screams when they noticed them there.

The black haired one screamed, “I love you Bang Chan!” She looked drunk.

Chan chuckled, waving at her. “What’d he do to them?”

“You want the politically correct answer to that?” Hyunjin asked, taking a drag of his cigarette.

“Never mind.”

They both looked down at the lobby, and met the security guard’s gaze, as the two women passed by him. He probably thought, fucking rockstars, thinking they can do whatever the fuck they want, and he’d be right.

Sometimes they did the most excessive shit for the hell of it. Money and fame gave them the right to do so. What was a hotel’s security guard going to do about it?

Look the other way. They all did.

“What the fuck are you looking at, asshole?” Chan provoked him.

Hyunjin smirked, elbows resting on the railing, letting the scene unroll before him.

“Go back to your rooms,” the guard told him, scowling.

Chan scoffed, laughing humorlessly. “And what if we don’t, tough guy? Are you gonna spank us?”

At that, Hyunjin snorted. Chan had the worst temper of the four, and he loved getting riled up. Shit talking was his favorite pastime, only second to making music.

They had only gotten kicked out of a hotel twice before; once when Minho’s birthday orgy got out of control, and then back when they first became well known, for vandalism. That’d been Hyunjin’s fault—he’d been high as a fucking kite, and decided trashing his room and knocking on every door of his floor, screaming lyrics from their debut song was a great idea.

He got arrested for private nuisance, and fined three thousand dollars for destroying property. He’d barely made it to their first concert in America, and Joon was mad at him for a month after that.

He hoped this wouldn’t be the third, but did nothing to prevent it from happening.

The guy talked in his walkie-talkie, no doubt requesting back up. Hyunjin doubted he’d need extra men, but then again, Chan was known to be unpredictable when messed with.

“What a little bitch. Do you need me to show you, fuckface? Have you ever properly fucked a woman before?”

The receptionist came into view, looking up at them. “Sir, I advise you to calm down, or we’ll have to call the police. Please go back to your rooms, or you’ll be escorted out of the premises.”

Right on time, Minho and Felix came out, curious faces staring at their band mates. Hyunjin sighed, tugging on Chan’s sleeve.

“Do you really have to start shit, Bang? This hotel’s been pretty flexible with us.”

“What the fuck is going on?” Felix asked, rubbing his eyes, looking down at the lobby.

“I’m calling Joon. Chan, fucking calm it, before we’re front page news again,” Minho warned, opening his flip phone.

Chan hit Hyunjin in the back, taking a deep breath, and nodding at Minho.

“You’re right. But let me just—fuck you!” He shouted to the guard, a maniacal smile on his lips.

“Okay, I’m done. Fuck, that felt good.”

Felix laughed, following him to his room. “Fucking Bang Chan…”

Hyunjin stayed behind with Minho, who was on the phone with their manager, explaining the situation.

“So much for laying low,” Hyunjin mocked Chan’s words from earlier that month.

Minho smirked. “We’re Velvet fucking Opiate, doll face. We don’t lay low.”

The blonde smirked back, and put his arm around the older’s shoulders. “Sounds about fucking right, honey.”

“I wrote a song, by the way!”

“About fucking time. We all just thought you’d be a pretty face forever.”

“Fuck you, Lee.”

“Next foursome, doll.”

A week later, the new publication for ‘Nicola’ magazine was out. It was the go to for every teenager in Japan, and Velvet Opiate had been a regular issue on their pages, mainly for their fashion appearances, and hot gossip.

This time it was the latter.

The title read as such: ‘Velvet Opiate fans confess—we slept with the band! EXCLUSIVE’

“Guys!” Joon yelled, reading through the article anxiously.

The band gathered around their manager, peaking at the magazine, curious.

“Fuck,” all four collectively exclaimed.

They were in deep shit.

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taminoarticles · 11 months

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— Tamino for Style Magazine Italia, June 2023 (x) (x)

Tamino returns to play in Italy: “The warmer the countries are, the warmer the audience"

The singer will perform at the Rocca Malatestiana in Cesena on July 4th and at the Spazio 211 in Turin on July 5th. "In Italy I always like to play," he says. But "in reality it scares me to meet too many people.” A true hero of introverts.

By Pier Andrea Canei June 15, 2023

The soundcheck is over, Alcatraz sold out, a thousand Milanese waiting to see the star of the evening: the Belgian-Egyptian singer Tamino. He relaxes behind the scenes, drinks green (tea) and wears black (Armani): like a 26-year-old prince of darkness. He has gentle manners, and a voice that vibrates on a broad spectrum. From the dark depths (the school is the one that goes from Leonard Cohen and Jacques Brel to Jeff Buckley and the alt-rock genre called “shoegaze”: emo tones, monochord guitars) to an angelic falsetto.

Soon, Tamino will go out there on stage and, without doing ballets or stepping on flowers, almost motionless except for when he holds his oud (a lute of the Arab tradition), he will attract attention. He is hieratic, with the charisma of a crusader of introverts, quiet people, and young romantic heroes; what allowed him to create a following that goes from [sic], (Colin Redwood [sic], former bassist of Radiohead, left Thom Yorke's group to follow him through studios and tours) up to the Arab world, from which it takes up sounds and instruments.

Tamino: Style's interview

Amir, the title of your first album and your middle name, means "prince" in Arabic. Were you raised as a little prince?

Well, I don't think so. Princes lead a very controlled life, lots of rules, discipline. I had a free childhood.

For the idea of calling you Tamino, like the young prince in Mozart's Magic Flute, we should thank your mother, Eva (de Pauw, anthropologist, hobby musician, passionate about cultures). What was it like growing up in Belgium?

Inspiring in many ways: lots of good art, music, art movements. From the Surrealism of René Magritte, to the music of Tom Barman's dEUS, a band that has opened many doors to the alternative scene. Then there are the negative sides in the social culture: in Belgium we tend not to value the potential of others... We are made like this, we like to see ourselves laying low, leveling ourselves up.

You realized this as soon as you finished compulsory school and left to study music in Holland.

It was an enlightening and difficult experience. From cool Antwerp designers to Amsterdam street style. Two hours by train and you land in another world. I wanted to shake off the provincial part of Belgium.

Habibi: I needed love

And your first hit song was born right in Amsterdam, in 2017: Habibi ... an Arabic and universal word of love.

You can say it to your loved one, to good friends, but also to a waiter: “Come here habibi, bring me a coffee”... Well, during the first days in Amsterdam I was depressed, very lonely, it was difficult to find human ties. I was looking for warmth, love: that piece came from there.

Of that vagueness that generates universality...

I think back to a title from the Talking Heads: Stop making sense. When you write lyrics for a song, you don't have to chase a precise meaning. Better ask yourself if your words convey the right feelings.

Typically Tamino: the yearning, the nostalgia. Songs like Indigo night: nocturnal, brooding, even melancholy. You recognise yourself in it?

I certainly tend to ruminate on things a lot. Too much...

An app to free yourself from the ego

And how do you free yourself from it?

Meditation helps. I also use a specific app, Waking Up: Beyond Meditation. Ten minutes a day is enough. It helps me to free myself from the ego, to feel myself a witness of thought, of consciousness. Simply necessary. More than diet or physical training.

Sahar, the title of the second and most recent album, means "at the crack of dawn."

For me it is already part of the past: the last words I sing are “before I step into darker days”...

That is: “Prima d'inoltrarmi in giorni più oscuri.”

I mean: before facing new torments, new struggles. What helps you grow is discomfort. That's the challenge. Never be afraid to step into the unknown.

Out of the comfort zone...

I like spending some time in New York. I stay out of my own comfort zone, it's not comfortable for me. And doing so inspires me.

Lone sailor

In the video for Sunflower, a duet with the singer Angèle, you have the air of a romantic hero. Do you want to act?

In that video I enjoyed interpreting, even without lines, this figure of the lonely sailor. This was an idea from the director. I've only done a little theater and at most a few sailing trips with friends.

Would you be a testimonial for a perfume?

Well, yes, under the right conditions... For example, a prestigious operation like the Bleu de Chanel campaign with Gaspard Ulliel, with that spot directed by Martin Scorsese.

A spot that stylises the clichés of a rock star life: glamorous places, flashes, meetings with crazy people...

In reality it scares me to meet too many people. I'm a very lonely guy. Even though I’m finding it easier and easier for me to make connections lately, I steer clear of glam dinners or events.

Then you spends the whole summer on the road

I have fun at festivals. My favourite is Into the Great Wide Open, on the island of Vlieland, Holland: 10,000 people, zero cars, music, love and kindness.

Your summer also includes two Italian stages.

I always like to play in Italy. The warmer the countries, the warmer the audience.

I live in Türkiye

Who knows in the Middle East, or in Africa.

We do the biggest lives in Turkey: crazy crowds. And Egypt is like coming home: you feel that for the people it is more than just a concert.

Your surname is famous in Egypt. Your grandfather Muharram Fouad was a musical star, your father started out as a performer.

It's like an Egyptian dynasty of music. A fun fact about me being a huge Lord of the Rings fan is that I've always felt like Aragorn, the legitimate heir to the Elven throne, who travels incognito. Nobody ever knows who he is. I felt like this growing up in Belgium. It was never talked about, nor was there much money, and that side of the family has only emerged now that I'm better known.

Who among the main names would you bring next to you at the festival of your dreams?

I don't even know if I would put myself among the top names... I'd like Anouar Brahem, Tunisian, master of the oud. And then something electronic, maybe the Aphex Twins. And I dream of working with Massive Attack.

Many festivals. But never a festive song?

I should write one first. But generally gloomy, tenebrous things come out to me.

Let's say you sing one happy song and save the world; which one do you choose?

I don't know if a happy song could save the world. Lou Reed's Walk on the Wild Side?

The height of happiness.A matter of feeling: a song can be sad in itself, but make you feel good. A glimmer of hope, an air of comfort. It can wrap you in emotions. Maybe you're sad, and that's okay: because you feel alive. A song full of life: well, for me it will always be a good song.

#tamino #tamino amir #style magazine italia #article #interview #italian #2023 #with photoshoot #english translated text #huge thanks to gipgio sending me the article and editing the english translation!! :D #i'm very glad that they posted the interview text online for free #but if anyone has the magazine itself and could kindly send me photos/scans of his article so we can see the photos and layout i would be #extremely grateful!!

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nonsubstantial · 3 months

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FEBRUARY 2024 ART FASCINATION DIARY

If you missed my post last month, then I'll briefly explain that I thought it would be fun to write a short diary post each month, about the art that I've been obsessed with. Then, I can easily look back and remember what was making me happy all throughout 2024. If you are reading this, then I hope you will enjoy hearing about these things, or checking them out too!!!

MEMOIR / AUDIOBOOK: The Anthropocene Reviewed is John Green's memoir, framed as a collection of reviews of seemingly random aspects of 'the current geologic age'. I want to note that I had never finished any other John Green book, so I was going into this one as more of a hater than a fan. However, I was unexpectedly moved by it and now consider it one of the greatest books I've ever experienced. I also want to note that listening to the audiobook, narrated by John Green himself, really added a lot to the experience (including two additional chapters). Despite the subject matter being intensely personal, the genius of this memoir is that, by framing it as a collection of reviews, John Green is able to place greater emphasis on things outside of himself. Rather than just narrating his singular experiences, he creates a memoir to celebrate and sympathize with all life on planet Earth. It is informative and humbling— fascinating and earnest. I want to highly recommend this book (or audiobook) to everyone, because I feel like it will genuinely enrich your soul. There are chapters that will probably make you cry, but in a way that is healing and constructive. I give The Anthropocene Reviewed... 5 stars.

REALITY / GAME SHOW: RuPaul's Drag Race season 16 started in January of 2024, and has remained as my favorite thing on television for these past two months. It's another example of something that I had no interest in, until I was forced to watch it, and then it became one of my favorite things ever. Obviously, take all reality television with a grain of salt, but if you can do that then it's extremely inspiring to see the immense amount of talent that every contestant brings to the runway. I'm not really into fashion, but even I can appreciate the blend of comedy, creativity, and practiced technique that's on display here. These performers really do tell stories with their drag, and I look at the artform much differently than I did before I started watching. It has made every Saturday something to look forward to, and if you've never checked it out before, then I've got to recommend it.

MUSIC: my favorite album of February was 「Wall Of Eyes」 This is actually a new album, by a band called The Smile, that was released in the final week of January, and I only heard about it because Vinny Vinesauce featured it on one of his streams. If you've heard of Radiohead, then you'll at least recognize the singer, Thom Yorke (although the three person band also features Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood, and drummer Tom Skinner). Despite The Smile seeming (at first) like just a side project of a couple Radiohead members, let me honestly admit that I have never connected with any Radiohead album as much as I've connected with this. I truly think every song on this album is incredible, and I listened to it front to back almost every day this February. Its genre is hard to describe, and maybe that's where some of the magic lies. It's light and acoustic, soft and jazzy... beautiful, but also a little tense and attention grabbing at times. As usual, I'd recommend just listening if you're curious about it at all, with my favorite song linked HERE!

MANGA: I was able to read a few more volumes of Dungeon Meshi this month, and I feel like it might soon claim the title of the single best manga I've ever read. Honestly, it's got it all. The themes, the artwork, the characters, the pacing, the paneling, the story's structure... I'm not exaggerating when I say that any way I look at this manga to critique it, I find excellence. In everything, there is deliberate ingenuity and soul. I will reveal that there is less focus on cooking, and more focus on worldbuilding as the story goes on, but I'm not even disappointed by that because everything it dishes out is still so good. I'm serious about this, especially if you're watching the show, try to find some copies of this manga or read it online. It's absolutely worth it.

#personal #the anthropocene reviewed #rpdr 16 #wall of eyes #dungeon meshi #february #2024 #2024 reviews

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thekingofgear · 1 year

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Thom’s New Gibson ES-330 in Detroit

A photo of Thom with his latest Gibson ES-330, from Tom Skinner’s instagram account.

On December 4 in Atlanta, The Smile performed the song Teleharmonic for the first time. The song was first used on the soundtrack to the sixth season of Peaky Blinders, under the title “Teleharmonic Phaser”. It was also listed as an alternative song on Thom’s setlist for his solo show at Zermatt Unplugged, using the title “Teleharmonic / Europa” (presumably he couldn’t decide which to use). However, Thom decided not to play the song in Zermatt. The name of the song was doubtless inspired by the Make Noise Teleharmonic eurorack module, since Thom has become a massive fan of Make Noise in recent years.

For the premier performance of Teleharmonic in Atlanta, Thom played a faded-looking Gibson ES-330 guitar. He used the same guitar for the most recent show in New Orleans too. We first saw the guitar in a photo titled “Detroit pt. 3 : Thom” from Tom Skinner’s Instagram account. The photo was posted on December 3, but The Smile played Detroit on November 28, and possibly spent a couple days there given Tom Skinner’s abundant photos. The ES-330 has a 3-tone sunburst finish, and the cracks in the finish suggest it’s a vintage instrument, probably from the 1960s. The guitar also appears to have bound f-holes, which indicate that it’s a new guitar for Thom. Bound f-holes are rare on an ES-330, so the original owner might have custom ordered this instrument from Gibson.

Thom with his sunburst Gibson ES-330 on Radiohead’s 2012 tour (photo by David Hall). Note the absence of binding on the f-holes, showing that this is a different guitar to the one played in Atlanta.

It’s notable that Thom played an ES-330 because he hasn’t been seen with one in almost a decade. He played a sunburst ES-330 heavily during the King of Limbs and Atoms for Peace eras (2009-2013). He’s even seen playing that guitar in a rare photo (taken at Drew Barrymore’s LA home) from the recording of The King of Limbs. However, during Radiohead’s 2012 tour, Thom borrowed Ed’s vintage Epiphone Casino for a few songs. It seems Thom liked the guitar, because he almost immediately after bought a pair of vintage Casinos for himself. After 2013, he stopped playing out with the ES-330.

Modern reissue versions of the Gibson ES-330 and Epiphone Casino can vary quite a bit. But in the 1960s, they were pretty similar, which is unsurprising since Gibson bought Epiphone in 1957. Both were true hollowbody guitars with Gibson P90 pickups. The main differences were the finish on guitar and the headstock. On Gibsons, the upper bout is painted solid, while on Epiphones the upper bout has the same burst as the rest of the guitar. The headstocks are also different shapes, and each has the name of the brand printed. Given the similarities, it’s unsurprising that Thom is a fan of both guitars.

There’s a couple key differences between the ES-330 and its more popular sibling, the ES-335. The semi-hollow ES-335 has humbuckers and a solid center block, which gives it a sound very similar to a Les Paul or SG (despite any marketing claims, the main difference in the plugged-in sound of the LP, SG, and 335 comes from tolerance variations in pickups and capacitors). In contrast, the ES-330 is a true hollowbody guitar, and it features P90 single coils. The very similar Epiphone Casino is also a true hollowbody with P90 single coils. That construction is the reason the ES-330 and Casino are prone to feedback at high gain. But they can also feel more resonant and “alive”, which is perhaps the reason Thom likes them. After all, he makes great use of that feedback during There There at live shows (playing a hollowbody Gibson ES-125T).

#Teleharmonic #Teleharmonic Phaser #Thom Yorke #Tom Skinner #The Smile #Radiohead #There There #Epiphone Casino #Gibson ES-330

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moth-fuzz · 2 months

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12, 20, and 30 for the music ask!

I have no idea why I didn't get a little notification for this one. Better late than never!

12:A song from your preteen years

youtube

As a preteen before I got into way heavier stuff I was obsessed with dragonforce, they were the fastest most energetic music I had ever heard in my life at that point. I even learned a number of songs best I could on guitar, mainly the rhythm parts. I've considered buying a Herman Li (guy on the left in the thumbnail) signature guitar since they're getting cheap now.

20:A song that has many meanings to you

I gotta admit I'm having a hard time with this one, because I'm pretty intense about getting the meanings behind songs, getting into the writers' heads, having that moment of shared experience.

That said, I think Radiohead songs are good for that because they often have layers and layers of meaning, and you can get out of it what you put into it. The more you dig the more you get.

youtube

This is one of my favorite songs off of one of my favorite albums, so I've listened to it and thought about it a lot. You go to genius dot com or youtube comments or whatever and people talk about it like it's a depressing nihilistic song, and maybe it's just the buddhist in me, but I feel like it's a pretty comforting case of existentialism. Yeah, all the earthly distractions don't matter, we can't take them with us in the next life, so you find the freedom to focus on what really matters. For the guy in this song, it's after death, but fortunately for me, I'm not dead yet.

Bonus!

Exact same thing happens on this song:

youtube

People think that the narrator in this song is all depressed and wants to end it all or whatever, but like, I get the opposite sensation when listening to the song. Yeah this sucks. Yeah corporate life sucks. Yeah the government sucks. Let's dream of something better, a better life, no alarms and no surprises. Idk, I find it inspiring and cathartic.

30:A song that reminds you of yourself

youtube

I think this is tied with a few other songs for the big title of My Favorite Song. Art is inevitable. No matter what I do, no matter how hard I try, whether I'm actively trying to Create or whether I'm just trying to Live, even if I can't get it all to come together in the end, music still trickles out of me like sweat and pools at my feet.

#blogging

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singguks · 2 years

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friday love & the shadow puppets → vinyl, puppets #1.

[ june 13th, 1987 ] the shadow puppets release their first vinyl.

Safety Pin was the debut vinyl record released by the label Pacific Record’s newest band at the time, the Shadow Puppets. It arrived in record stores on June 13th, 1987, with a total of ten songs, Seven Nation Army serving as its lead single and the only song getting a free pass to an official video on MTV.

🧷 background & production.

The band had just signed a contract with the label when the productions for the album started. It's said to be one of the fastest records to reach its final result. Turns out the band already had all of the lyrics written, when the famous producer, Min Yoongi, started working on it. With minor lyrics changes made by the producer himself, paired with his knowledge of everything instrumental, the album got to see the spotlight only a month after the Puppets' arrival at the label.

Safety Pin was not only a go-getter, filled with the band's wanting of turning themselves into propper rockstars, but also contained the moody struggles of the young artists. Needless to say, the concept was everything stage, lights, and a lot of rock and roll!

🧷 setlist.

✘ Thunderstruck ⏤ inspired by ac/dc.

✘ Brianstorm ⏤ inspired by arctic monkeys.

✘ No Surprises ⏤ inspired by radiohead.

✘ In a Broken Dream ⏤ inspired by rod stewart.

✘ Lonely Boy ⏤ inspired by the black keys.

✘ Some Might Say ⏤ inspired by oasis.

✘ Seven Nation Army ⏤ inspired by the white stripes.

✘ Rockstar ⏤ inspired by nickelback.

✘ Come Together ⏤ inspired by the beatles.

✘ Wake Me up When September Ends ⏤ inspired by green day.

🧷 the lyrics & behind stories.

Thunderstruck,

is marked by the first guitar riff of the exceptional Jung Hoseok, and the whole band shouting 'Thunder' every time the powerful and eclectic vocalist Jeon Jungkook finishes his sentences. In a quick interview with the press, JK clarified he co-wrote the song with the band's rhythmic guitarist when they were all having a good time in Texas. "It was the beginning of everything for us," the vocalist shared, "Although we had been playing together ever since school, it was the first time we had quit our jobs and started taking the band seriously. That's why we celebrated so much!" JK concluded making everyone laugh.

Brianstorm,

was one of those songs that took everyone by surprise much like its lyrics and from who it was inspired. The song that made multiple appearances on the most famous radio station due to fans' requests, was inspired by a real person. That's right! "There was this guy... Brian," Taehyung, the band's bassist, shared, "He came to us after a small gig. The guy was a real character!" he laughed. JK also added the motive behind the lyrics he composed, "He came to us trying to offer to be our manager at the time, and he had this weird necktie and even gave us a business card. Brian left us such a lasting impression that after he was gone we brainstormed about him... Hence the whole 'Brianstorm' title pun".

No Surprises,

there are few songs quite as desolate and quite as beautiful as this. Compared to the other tracks on their vinyl, this one is as lush and melodic as it is filled with dread and despair. Although many of the fans got worried for the artists, as rumors of it being about suicid* were raised, JK clarified, later on, that he had written the piece in difficult times for him but it had nothing to do with the topic. "At the time I felt very much lost... The way I was living my life, the job I had... Like I was shaking the hand of the things that slowly kill us in the end. You may get a pretty house or a pretty garden but you're not really satisfied or happy on the inside, you know? It was that kind of feeling I had in mind when writing this." the singer explained.

In a Broken Dream,

is yet another moody and charming composition of the album. It's marked by another of Hoseok's brilliant riffs, as well as an emotional performance throughout the entirety of this title. JK's voice will for sure leave you speechless and the lyricism of it will hit you straight to the heart. "I wrote this one the same day I did 'No Surprises'... Yeah, I was down that day," JK laughs it out, charismatic as ever, "It's about spending your life dreaming about opportunities as opposed to actually going out and living them... Like never actually living in reality but in a broken dream." he further explained. The rockstar is said to have worked a couple of different jobs before taking action to pursue what he truly wanted: music.

Lonely Boy,

shows that when it comes to matters of the heart, the Shadow Puppets aren't always the nice guys. It comes across as a vulnerable anthem but also contains bits of bitter shots and blatant arrogance. Still, the song has a groovy beat that made many bang their heads along! "I don't know if I'm supposed to say but yeah, it's totally about his first girlfriend," the drummer, Jimin, exposed the composition of this upbeat, organ-tinged, song made by his bandmate JK.

Some Might Say,

is where Kim Taehyung shines with a brilliant bass line. And although JK had made another melancholic lyric, the sound of this one is nothing but euphoric. "The melody was meant to say that everything's gonna be alright" the heartthrob confessed. Apart from that, there isn't much regarding the lyrics, just what we can conclude: it's a series of thoughts and opinions that someday crowded our dear vocalist's head.

Seven Nation Army,

"Tells the tale of a person that goes out of town and then comes back, and is engulfed in a sea of lies and gossip," JK recalls, "I remember the first time I got back to my hometown after having some small gigs with the boys outta town... All I heard was 'But is it true' or 'Did you really do this or that'. I got frustrated. I got to understand that every situation has a bad and a good side to it, with fame it's just the same... As for the melody of it, I stumbled upon the riff while warming up my guitar. Pure luck, I guess!" He laughs. Frustrations set aside, we can all agree that from Queen of England to the hounds of hell, just about anyone can sing Seven Nation Army's hypnotic riff!

Rockstar,

it’s a clever piece of subversion, detailing the "benefits" of rock'n'roll stardom although it also takes jabs at fame's corrosive side. "None of it is autobiographical," says JK. "It's all supposed to be silly things, kinda like what we used to think about the industry but amplified exponentially. That sort of silliness is sort of what we wanted to do when we sat together and started throwing ideas." Jimin adds as the rest of the Puppets agree and laugh, probably remembering the moment.

Come Together,

is one of the tracks that there isn't much information about besides the fact that it was co-written by the best friends of the band: JK and Taehyung. It had been said previously they had it written early on in life when they were still in school and being a tad rebellious. Apart from that, there's only a comment from Taehyung about it, "It's a funky track, might be one of my favorites... It's funky, it's bluesy, and we both sing it together pretty well. I like the sound of it... You can dance to it. I'd buy it!", well, Tae, so will we!

Wake Me up When September Ends,

it's one we can get emotional with, even though we don't know the real reason behind its lyricism. We can only assume since the Shadow Puppets vocalist and the frontman refuses to explain it. The same occurs with the bandmates. Even so, the introductory drums are the cherry on top, and Jungkook's voice pierces our souls just like we like it. More so, it's the perfect song to end the album, as the feeling we are left with is of 'just please wake me up only and if the Shadow Puppets have released their second album'!

♪ ♫ ♩· [ masterlist ෴ next part ]

✱. ꔛ˚ if you want to be tagged for the next update, comment below!!

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autumnsup · 10 months

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URL Songlist Tag Game

This was inspired by an earlier musical tag game I saw going around, but I went a bit overboard and decided to go Choose Your Own Adventure style.

First, here are the basic rules as they were given unto me:

pick a song for each letter of your url and tag that many people.

Springboarding off this prompt, I created not one but THREE mixes of my personal URL playlist (linked to Spotify). Mix 1 is more sad, soulful and slow, Mix 2 is more cheerful and danceable, and Mix 3 is composed of oldies/musicals/whatever the heck I happened to listen to over the years that found a special place in my heart (some of them have pretty good stories attached to them too).

Each playlist is about half an hour long, and as a way of simplifying the process, I decided to forego most song titles that begin with common words like "the" or "my," because there are SO many. I also attempted to avoid using the same artist more than once, although it was definitely not easy to do!

No-pressure tags are at the bottom (and obviously there's no pressure to share your own playlists on Spotify either, I just happened to feel like going the extra mile this week). I love finding out more about people through their music preferences, and it's a treat to share mine with you. 🤗

Autumn Chill

Aberdeen by Avi Kaplan

Un jour comme un autre by Brigitte Bardot

Tailwhip Revisited by Men I Trust

Under the Bridge by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Mirrorball by Everything But The Girl

NDA by Billie Eilish

Samson by Regina Spector

The Ubiquitous Mr. Lovegrove by Dead Can Dance

People, I've been sad by Christine & The Queens

Upbeat Autumn

Adrienne by Albin de la Simone & Vanessa Paradis

Universal Traveler by Air

Take Me To The River by Annie Lennox (cover)

Urami Bushi by Meiko Kaji

Mad World by Tears For Fears

Nova Baby by The Black Keys

Sympathique by Pink Martini

Umbrella/Singing in the Rain mashup from Glee S2E7 (I cheated on this one and reversed the order of the songs in the title)

Petoskey Stone by Dana Falconberry

Autumn Nostalgia

Across the Universe by The Beatles aka John Lennon

Underwater by MIKA

Talk Show Host by Radiohead

Under the Sun by Mia Doi Todd

My Baby Just Cares for Me by Nina Simone

Never Too Late by Michael Franti & Spearhead

A Spoonful of Sugar (from Mary Poppins)

Under Your Spell / Standing Reprise (from Buffy, S6E7)

Pure Imagination (from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory)

@achilleslikespeas @kbrick @lesbianmckinnonn @moonage-xx-daydream @phoebe-delia @queenie-jinny @silverfactory @solemilyswear @squintclover

#songlist tag game #added bonus: mixtapes for my mutuals 💞#open tag for anyone else to jump in if they so desire #frankly I'm amazed that I have enough mutuals to tag the correct number of people #although given how glitchy Tumblr has been for me lately I'll be shocked if you get notified of this post at all 😂😭#thoughtful thursday #open tag #spotify playlist

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bloodyknucklesforme · 1 year

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Carnal Interlude III | You Do It to Yourself, You Do

Carnal (adjective): relating to or given to crude bodily pleasures and appetites

Simon was born with what his father called 'The Curse'. A wanton craving for taboo meat. Since meeting the similarly cursed Johnny, the two had formed a bond. They didn't just fight together, they ate together, slept together, and shared everything.

When a favor to Price reveals another cursed person, Simon worries she could destroy everything.

A horror AU inspired by Bones and All and Raw among other works. TW: Blood, gore, cannibalism, smut, violence,

Masterpost | AO3

title credit: Just - Radiohead

“Fifteen minutes” read the text from Price. Nina pulled herself up from the floor. Her dress was ruined now, the front was stained a deep reddish brown.

She grabbed a towel from the linen closet and tossed it over Arthur’s face or what was left of it. Hopefully, it would hide what she’d eaten as long as he didn’t look too hard.

She washed her face, scrubbing the red away till her skin was pink and raw. Floss, brush, rinse - get the flesh and meat out from between her teeth.

Panic was settling in her bones. She’d killed Arthur. Price would help her but what about after? He’d see the damage at some point. He’d know what she did. She had no one else. Nothing. Price was the closest she had to family. He’d be disgusted if he knew what she was.

She threw up in the bathtub, unable to reach the toilet in time. She turned the tap on as hot as it could go, letting the red spittle and pink chunks wash away.

Her dress went into the bin with her bra and underwear. She’d burn them later. She found a slip nightdress in the bathroom’s laundry hamper. It was a garish cobalt that she hated but Arthur loved. She’d worn it the night before. She grabbed his robe from the door and put it overtop. It smelled like him.

Downstairs, her half-smoked cigar was left smoldering in an ashtray. The steak, still sitting in the pan on the stove, was charred over. That went into the bin as well.

She was hyperventilating, arched over the dining chair with her forehead pressed against the table. Arthur was bubbling up in her stomach again, threatening an encore.

She bit down on her forearm. Her mouth filled with her own blood, she could taste her own fear.

Gravel crackled outside and headlights shined through the house like a lighthouse. She pulled the robe sleeve over her arm and waited by the door, hand resting on the knob.

Price got one knock in before she swung it open. There was the smell of rosemary and burnt cedar before he enveloped her and shuffled them both back inside.

“I’m going to fix this. Don’t worry.” He kissed the top of her head. “Just tell me what happened.”

She could smell it through the closed door. He wasn’t alone. He brought others and they didn’t smell like food.

Tag list: @gogh-with-the-flow @queen-ilmaree

Comment or DM me if you want to be added

#Carnal #call of duty #carnal #modern warfare ii #call of duty fanfic #Captain john price

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themacabre70s · 7 months

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joy division: goths that weren’t goth

content and trigger warning for discussion of suicide. it not graphically discussed but it is mentioned.

as the title says Joy Division is goth, but it's also not. Joy Division from what i have read is better classified as post punk today. i know the sub genre labeling in the punk/rock community is very nuanced but it would feel wrong not to include joy division in my blog. instead, this post is more about remembering the band's influence on the goth culture musically. a staple band for goths of the 70s.

there will be no style section in this post because while their utilitarian look was iconic they did not influence the fashion scene well enough for me to write too much about it. if you wish to learn more i direct you to these:

https://husbands-paris.com/en/joy-division-austere-sound-and-style/

anothermanmag.com/style-grooming/10919/ian-curtis-joy-division-lead-singer-frontman-style-fashion

https://www.esquire.com/uk/culture/a38894373/joy-division-1970s-style/

music: gloom and doom

joy division released their first EP “An Ideal For Living” in June 1978

a year later their debut album “Unknown Pleasures” was released in June and sold over 10,000 copies, Jon Savage of Melody Maker described the album as an “opaque manifesto” and “one of the best, white, English, debut LPs of the year”

in November of 1980 joy division released a single called “Transmission”

joy divisions second and final album “Closer” was released in July 1980. Closer reached #6 on the UK album chart and peaked at #3 in the New Zealand charts.

since then many outtakes, live editions, and compilation albums have been released.

joy divisions music at first listen is undeniably gothic with haunting lyrics sung by ian curtis' low gravelly voice. joy divisions style helped influence a new era of artists famous today such as Radiohead and The Cure.

an article by the blog "Thred" comments on Unknown Pleasures saying, "It’s a monster of a record, one that embraces the complex suffering of human experience decades before we even began to talk about anxiety or mental health. Joy Division opened the door for punk and rock to express more than simply rage and frustration."

joy divisions sound is described as industrial. echoing bass with guitar waiting for its turn in songs about the bleakness of manchester life.

the imagery surrounding their albums reinforces this idea with black-and-white stone settings and shadowy figures.

they feel restless, almost ghostly, like they're waiting for something lurking behind the beat of drums.

its clear this style of sound mixing helped pave the way for goth bands of the future, those forming, and those who would form.

band history: becoming joy division

joy division was formed in 1976 by friends Bernard Sumner and Peter Hook after seeing the Sex Pistols live and being inspired to start a band. they recruited friend Terry Mason who had gone to the concert with them and Mason became the drummer, Sumner the keyboardist/guitarist, and Hook the bassist. after placing an ad for a vocalist they were joined by Ian Curtis.

joy division first went by the name Warsaw, a reference to David Bowies song Warsawa.

Warsaw would debut on May 29th 1977 and was received with a lot of praise. Terry Mason became the bands manager and they had two drummers Tony Tabac and Steve Brotherdale before settling on school friend of Ian Curtis, Stephen Morris in August of 1977.

later in early 1978 the band renamed themselves Joy Division to avoid confusion with a London punk band called Warsaw Pakt. in January of 1978 they had their first show as Joy Division.

tragically, on May 18th 1980 vocalist Ian Curtis took his own life.

the band disbanded because of a pact made earlier saying they would rename the band should any members leave.

Joy Division became a new band called New Order which released their debut single “Ceremony” in 1981. in New Orders early years they struggled under the shadow of joy division but achieved greater success playing in a different style & genre of music.

#joy division #ian curtist #stephen morris #bernard sumner #peter hook #new order #themacabre80s #post punk #goth #goth icons #utilitarian fashion

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universalanguage · 1 year

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Past to Present: The Hybrid in Retrospect

In the world of Hip-Hop few and far apart are the seminal voices that shake up traditional styles to birth something new and dynamic. Detroit's Danny Brown is one of those voices, who's managed to win over a cult-like fanbase due to his unique stylings and often strange antics.

With the recent release of his joint album w/ JPEGMAFIA accurately titled "Scaring the Hoes" I couldn't help but harken back to the Danny Brown cuts that initially caught my ear.

......

Sometime in late 2010 an acquaintance of mine was playing various new rap cuts in between bits of a writing process to generate our own rhymes. Early in the mix of songs that was something that I had never heard before and it stood out like a sore thumb. The track was "Shooting Moves" from Danny Brown's critically acclaimed debut album "The Hybrid". To clarify, while many see "XXX" as his initial album there is a large swath of folks who remember and revere the former record as their intro.

To be quite honest, at the time I would've considered myself a purist of sorts whose favorite hip-hop records came with a more backpack kind of sound so my initial reaction to Danny was something of disgust. It's truly bizarre that I had an outright distaste for what I was hearing but for some reason or another I couldn't help but revisit that song for about a month wondering why someone would voluntarily listen to it. His voice was shrill at times and often totally out of tune and the beat selection was something otherworldly altogether but I couldn't leave it alone..... and then it clicked.

......

To those of you familiar with the Kingsway Sample Library the name Frank Dukes will ring plenty of bells. To those who aren't, just know that Frank is a sort of musical savant who plays and records original samples that have been used by producers such as Jake One, Hit-Boy, Kanye and even the elusive Madlib. Before the unfolding of what's become a brilliant career Frank Dukes was another producer on the rise and many early Danny Brown tunes including "Shooting Moves" featured Frank's inventive brand of sampling and arrangement.

"Shooting Moves" happened to be the tip of a rather bizarre iceberg. Once I managed to wrap my head around the wild sonics and strange flow patterns I was hooked. Soon after I discovered "The Hybrid" which was then and still is one of my personal favorite albums of all-time.

The opener "Greatest Rapper Ever" starts in with a spacey modulated sample and the perfect drum break crafted by none other than Quelle Chris. Danny's starts in immediately with the following lyrics:

My homie a magician with the Tec (Tec) Make your chain disappear and reappear on his neck (Neck) I ain't tricking with your hoes (Nah), but, shit, don't ask 'em (Nah) Only thing I give a bitch: A fucking orgasm (Chyeah) I'll throw you in the river (River), hands tied tight (Tight) Watch your ass drown, feel it in the air tonight (Tonight) I'm spitting that dope shit (Dope), smoking on regulars (Ugh) Writing sixteens like internet child predators (Chyeah)....

To say I was floored is an understatement. Never in my life had I heard something so awe inspiring, it's the kind of reaction that only happens on very rare occasions like when you first heard Kid A by radiohead or something but if I were to put it into a rap nerd perspective is comparable to the kind of feeling I get when I listen to "Ready to Die" by Biggie. Something so viseral yet indescribable that it makes you wanna punch something and cry heavy tears at the same time. I'd wager that I played that track at least ten times before starting in on the rest of the album which was immaculate from track to track.

......

Most notable on this release in terms of cadence and approach to rapping is the intermingling of Danny's various vocal tones. Post "XXX" his signature high pitched register is a calling card of sorts but "The Hybrid" is an example of his early attempts at perfecting such a cadence. Albeit biased this is my favorite era of his work for just that reason. Danny was in the up and comer space and as a result was still trying various sounds and deliveries. As a result from track to track the album gives us a wise spectrum with which to engage and paints fine brush strokes with a myriad of colour palettes. Songs like "Greatest Rapper Ever" feature a more brash and confrontational tone that harkens to his background in the ghettos of Detroit while others like the closer "S.O.S." have a more soft and poetic undertone.

A great example of the projects versatility is a track titled "Juno" which I assume is titled after the Elliot Page (formerly Ellen Page) and Michael Cera film. This cut has Brown giving an unadulterated observation of the struggles and disappointments that are birthed as the result of unplanned pregnancy in a poverty ridden landscape. The opening line references Tupac's "Brenda's got a baby" directly paying homage to what might've been the songs direct inspiration but rather than take the more soft and thoughtful tone Danny's delivery embodies the type of frustration and disgust that breeds itself among those in dire straights. It's quite literally the ugly truth in it's purest form and as ugly as it might be it draws you in and keeps you coming back.

Another stand out is "Drinks on Me" features an utterly intoxicating instrumental and has Danny reflecting on the ills of alcoholism through an introspective lens. This track observes the various angles and vantage points that "normalize" alcohol within society and touches the core of the subject matter succinctly. From drinking as a means of celebration to drowning one's sorrows in a bottle of their choosing it's one of those songs that's managed to get me into my feels even when I'm in the best of moods and although counter-intuitive pairs well with a drink.

For those familiar with Danny's work beyond this period, you'll feel right at home with joints like "White Stripes". It's one of the earliest examples of the pitch and delivery we've all come to know so well. The sample is a grungy mix of dirty guitar fuzz and big drums that function like an 80's power ballad. The rapping is something all it's own as the vocal inflections aren't quite as embellished as Brown's subsequent releases. The tone is a great range of vocals from low to medium and higher registers and is a lot more fluid than the years that followed in my own opinion. You can hear the energy of something new being brought forth. It's the kind of thing that happens when someone makes something they know is good but hasn't field tested it to see if the flame will catch. Nonetheless it makes for one of the most memorable and awe inspiring offerings.

......

I could wax nostalgic about this album from front to back for ages. it holds a really special place in my heart and in my library and for those who haven't explored it I urge that you do so with urgency and the utmost intent. From Danny's off the wall fashion to his unique and eclectic style of rapping/songwriting much of what the so called modern era syphons from is owed to albums such as this that birthed and inspired so much of what proceeded them.... but don't just take my word for it.

-YOSHI

#danny brown #the hybrid #rap music #2023 #early 2010s #musicians #detroit michigan #frank dukes #quelle chris #underground #album review #classic #indie artist #music #scaring the hoes #jpegmafia #kingsway #retrospective

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cordeliawhohung · 6 months

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i've got a little bit of writers block so enjoy some songs that remind me of soft spot: (bonus!!! i put little poems/lyric things in my notes on my ao3 that i haven't shown here so.... i'll also put that here too lmao)

Blood Soaked Cotton:

a lover? maybe | something tender, // anyway. but tender like | a bruise.

Lua - Bright Eyes Do Me a Favour - Arctic Monkeys Freaks - Surf Curse Tear You Apart - She Wants Revenge (i imagine something like this is playing in the bar scene)

Smoldering Butterflies:

when is a monster not a monster? // oh, when you love it.

Gravity- Sara Bareilles All I Need - Radiohead Loud - Rigby

The Emptiness had Always Been There:

nothing had changed. // i was the stupid one again. // i was the girl // who never understood // who she was to people

No Care - Daughter Home - Daughter Face First - Rigby We'll Never Have Sex - Leith Ross

Until You:

you kiss the back of my legs // and i want to cry. // only the sun has come this close. // only the sun.

Epithelial - Crywolf, Echos Cornflower Blue - Flower Face

Some Other Life:

do you still think you're a killer // or that you could be if you tried? // always thought // that you could do it // if you couldn't see their eyes // do you still wake up reaching // for an empty space? // do you start to miss your sadness // when it goes away? // do you wish your parents // gave you someone else's name? // do you scratch another line out // for the same mistakes?

The Wisp Sings - Winter Aid Amen - Amber Run Francis Forever- Mitski Isobel - Flower Face

Death of Me 1:

i'd bleed for anything // if it held me the right way

ur so pretty - Wasia Project (honestly this was such a filler chapter)

Death of Me 2:

is it wrong to fall in love // while waiting to die? // i just want to live // long enough for your eyes

Back To Black - Amy Winehouse (mostly just the vibes lmao) In Limbo - Rigby We're Just Making It Worse - Cameron Avery, Alexandra Savior (again the vibes)

Death of Me 3:

i really don't know // what i love you means // i think it means // don't leave me here alone

I Want You - Mitski Dream a Little Dream - Ella Fitzgerald (i'm convinced spook and simon's first dance was to this song)

Worse than Death:

jesus can always reject his father // but he cannot escape // his mothers blood // he'll scream // and try to wash it off of his fingers // but he'll never escape what he's made up of

Exit Music (For A Film) - Remastered- Radiohead Hard Times - Ethel Cain Family Tree (Intro) - Ethel Cain

Honey and Milk 1:

i am the shape you made me // filth teaches filth

Honey and Milk - Flower Face (actually the inspiration for the title)

Honey and Milk 2:

i am coming home to you // with my own blood in my mouth // and i am coming home to you // if it's the last thing that i do

Dark Red - Steve Lacy Inside Out - Duster

Everything You Touch 1:

it's a fitting punishment for a monster // to want something so much // to hold it in your arms // and know beyond a doubt // you will never deserve it

Unending - Lume Kaleidoscope - Flower Face

Everything You Touch 2:

i wasn't beautiful anymore. // now i looked like what i was, // a raw wound

Baby Teeth - Flower Face Mean - Nicole Dollanganger August Underground - Ethel Cain

Everything You Touch 3:

i always wanted to die clean and pretty // but i'd be too busy // on working days // so i am relieved // that the turbulence wasn't forcasted // i couldn't have changed anyway

Last Words of a Shooting Star - Mitski Ptolemaea - Ethel Cain Strangers - Ethel Cain

i may or may not update this list or add on as i come out with more parts but i just needed to do something other than writing lmfao. would love to hear any ideas if you guys have songs! ethel cain is so spook coded btw i had to restrain myself from putting more of her songs in this lmao. anyway thanks for entertaining my meltdown <3

#core talks #soft spot

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taminoarticles · 2 years

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— Tamino for Vogue Hommes, Spring / Summer 2019 (x)

Prince of Melancholy

By Sophie Rosemont / Photographed by Paolo Roversi / Styled by Anastasia Barbieri

‘Let’s get together when there’s time,’ he says. ‘I’ve finally taken a break and just been to a week of fashion shows, so I am less anxious than usual’. When you have known the young man since his first EP was released, in 2017, you know he’s not exaggerating. The apparent serenity scarcely hides the tension, the tension of forward-thinking perfectionists, whilst allowing their talent to mature and develop.

Dark eyes, a tall slender figure and jet-black hair, Tamino-Amir Moharam Fouad was born in Antwerp of a Belgian mother and Egyptian father. He doesn’t only reflect his mixed origins through his physique. In his music, he calls to mind a form of romantic rock influenced by Nick Cave (even though his high-pitched voice is more suggestive of Jeff Buckley or Thom Yorke) and the melodies of the ancestral East. His grandfather was none other than Moharam Fouad, nicknamed ‘the sound of the Nile’, an extremely popular singer and actor in Egypt. He died when Tamino was a little boy, but he profoundly inspired him: ‘I love his music. And I could identify with what I was told about him. He was obsessed by his work and never stopped singing.’

The artistic tastes of Tamino, who was so named as a tribute to the prince in Mozart’s Magic Flute, date from when he was very young. At the age of eight, he dreamt up a play and asked his little brother to play the main character: ‘I had a specific idea of what I wanted, and when he didn’t acquiesce, I flew into a rage. I was a little dictator! It was then that my parents realized that I had a strong interest in the arts, the theater, etc.’ His mother was a music-lover and always playing the piano. She initiated her son, who, after taking several classical lessons, quickly broke away from the classics: ‘I didn’t have the patience to learn the pieces as I was expected to. I wanted to interpret them differently. I admire the discipline of classical musicians, but my idea was to create a story and embody it, expressing what I wanted to say. It’s an experience. A song you like that transports you, instantly, is instinctive. You don’t know where it comes from. I don’t want to think of that too much when I’m composing, otherwise the spontaneity gets lost, and the pressure rises.’

After his secondary schooling, he headed to Amsterdam to attend the conservatory there, as it had a reputation for being open-minded. Alone in the Dutch city where he didn’t know a soul, he composed a number of songs in his room. Once they were shared on the Internet, the buzz was such that he went back to Belgium to devote himself to his career. He had offers to perform on stage, on the radio, was invited to appear on TV and given front-row seats at runway shows. No one could resist his young leading man looks straight out of The Arabian Nights. The title of his first album Amir, actually means ‘prince’ in Arabic. Radiohead’s eminent bass player, Colin Greenwood, stars on ‘Indigo Night’ and was one of Tamino’s earliest fans. ‘Habibi,’ with its twilit mood, was an instant hit that revealed his talent for soft velvet folk.

The twelve songs on Amir, recorded with an orchestra of Tunisian, Iraqi and Syrian musicians, speak as much of love as of solitude, sensuality and contemplation, rather like those of Leonard Cohen. ‘He’s the ultimate model, a high-flying poet,’ he sighs. ‘Even though he was a passionate person, he never tried to alter his destiny, he remained elegant whatever the occasion. And, at 80, he was still recording superb albums.’ Tamino also calls to mind Nick Cave, for the corrosive, contagious tenor of his style of rock, but not just that: ‘When he gets up in the morning and puts a suit on. Whether it’s to rehearse, go on stage or get a coffee, he is always impeccably dressed.’ Rather like Tamino, in a more urbane, more understated, style. Tamino’s favorite color is black, which is at the same time romantic, gothic, minimalist, and adaptable, which he likes.

When you meet him on a cold Paris Fashion Week Saturday, he is trying clothes on at his compatriot Ann Demeulemeester’s, who also dresses Patti Smith and PJ Harvey. ‘With Ann, I understood that a garment could be the extension of who you are, that comfort didn’t exclude the singularity of a look. Today, my creativity varies according to what I’m wearing.’ For Tamino, music inspires fashion and vice versa. ‘A fabric, a cut, an attitude can bring a melody to life. The correspondence between the two seems obvious to me.’ That said, he is far from being obsessed about his appearance. At the moment, he spends his days on the road to promote Amir. Whereas he doesn’t compose when he’s on tour, he reads Dostoyevsky, and the Lebanese poet, Khalil Gibran, whom he quotes: ‘In depth of my soul there is / A wordless song – a song that lives / In the seed of my heart’ (from ‘Song of the Soul’, 1912). Perhaps a way for Tamino to assert his need to be alone, which is vital to him when he is composing, providing a space for him to exercise his love of words. ‘Even if at first I think about the melodies and the orchestration,’ he says, ‘I can’t imagine that a song doesn’t convey a message, or at least a feeling, that it is empty.’ He hasn’t discarded his childhood dream of being an actor, but says that if he had to take a break from music for a film shoot, the role would really have to be worthwhile.

When asked for what his definition of elegance is, he answers immediately: ‘Being kind to others, respectful, while at the same time being sure of who you are. Recently, I met Yohji Yamamoto. He’s an example of this. He is kind to everyone, relaxed, yet never leaves anything to chance.’ The same chance, or destiny, mektoub in Arabic, that has cast its benign light on Tamino.

#tamino #tamino amir #vogue hommes #article #interview #english #2019 #with photoshoot #original text

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stayarmytinyzenmoa-l · 11 months

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The Limitless Podcast Transcript [S2E10]

TW: None. Notes: That's a wrap! Word Count: 2.0K

[Previous] [Other Groups Masterlist] | [Without a Trace Masterlist]

Disclaimer: Please remember that this is an AU and a work of fiction, obviously the idols mentioned/written about in this story would never partake in these actions. The idols mentioned in this work are meant to be seen more as face claims rather than the actual idols themselves.

Release Date: August X, 2021 Episode Title: The Beginning of a New Chapter Run Time: 24:56 Minutes

Intro Song: Study Morning - Study + Chill Lofi

Mark: Hello, everyone! And welcome to the tenth and final episode of Season 2 of the Limitless Podcast. Are you all excited?

Johnny: We know, we know, we're going to miss you all too, but we have a lot of stuff planned for season 3!

Mark: That's right! Holy shit, you should see out desks at home, it's a whole mess it's embarrassing but, good news, we already have all of season 3's topics picked out and outlined so it'll be like we never even left.

Johnny: Yup, we're also still working on trying to get season 1 back from the void, but it's taking a lot longer than we thought. Turns out that literally nowhere archives these things so we're a little dejected, but it's okay. A lot of season 3's topics are callbacks to season 1.

Mark: Yeah, it's mostly because nearly all the topics we covered have since been updated, and that's kinda true for this season too.

Johnny: Oh, hell, I didn't even think of it that way, you're right, Mark. The news segment of this episode is going to run by pretty quickly.

Mark: Alright! News segment speed run! First of all we are seeing a mass of reemergence of vigilantes all over the place, not just in our country! It seems that the new team-up of vigilantes has inspired both new and old names to join the fray once again. Just yesterday we saw Phantom return to London to stop what would have been the biggest museum heist in history!

Johnny: Yeah, but then he took the gem the original thieves wanted.

Mark: He literally outdid the doers! Like, at that rate I would've just let him take it too, not gonna lie.

Johnny: Nah, you're right, Phantom's "anti" heist was just so well done that so many people applauded it.

Mark: For real, it was trending on TikTok for a while and you know what? Deserved. It was so cool to hear him break it down.

Johnny: Speaking of TikTok, actually, it's kind of interesting how this new wave of vigilantism has really pushed some people into the social media stage. Like Radiohead, for example, has started using Instagram a lot more.

Mark: Do you think it's like a debate, though? Like the vigilantes who only do good deeds on camera versus the ones who have no social media presence?

Johnny: Oh, definitely. I'm sure that there's probably some tension among old versus new vigilantes too, or at least I wouldn't be surprised if there was.

Mark: I can see the whole 'Golden Age' before the ban and 'Silver Age' post-ban arguments too, I've already seen a couple on Twitter and some of the arguments get so heated.

Johnny: The whole fanbase surrounding certain vigilantes is interesting in and of itself, I don't really want to call it a cult following, but it's interesting how certain vigilantes become these icons.

Mark: I mean, iconism of anything is kinda... dangerous, right?

Johnny: Always. But in cases where it's done right, see Aegis, they can become certain symbols of hope that people look to.

Mark: Not to play that card, but Aegis had a pretty hard fall from grace too when they became the Blackguard.

Johnny: But that is a topic we delve into more in season 3! You all better pull up to that, I think I'd go crazy if I saw the new season having the same ratings as this one.

Mark: Dude I'm just going crazy period, I never would have expected this podcast to blow up at all but here we are, corrected.

Johnny: Absolute insanity. We are so grateful for you guys that I don't even know where to start!

Mark: Ditto, I know you all were expecting some crazy topic about vigilantes that we delve into but really this episode is for all of you! If you remember our Twitter post after last episode, we asked you all to send in your most pressing questions and we picked a couple to answer.

Johnny: Yes, yes, and real quick we are definitely going to talk vigilantes! We haven't forgotten our roots! But this is a celebration episode for all of us and especially for all of you! And with that said... Drum roll please, Mark!

Mark: [Drums on the table TN: Please excuse the feedback] This is gonna be good.

Johnny: A word from our sponsors: Us! Our patreon is booming and I cannot thank you all enough! For those watching the livestream, you've probably noticed the new equipment on our tables here in addition to the huge bump in quality of the video feed. Thanks to all of your generous support we are finally able to support ourselves and this podcast! We will keep delivering you all the quality you deserve and we hope that you continue to support us in the future! So, with that, onto the special episode of the Limitless Podcast!

Shotaro: I think that's my cue to step in! You two ready for the first question?

Johnny: Hit us, Taro.

Shotaro: Okay! From user LandBeforetheTimes this is a question for both of you: Which episode from season 2 is your favorite and why?

Johnny: For me it was definitely the episode on Cypher and Cheshire, I've always been a huge fan of Cypher since the day they started being active and I'm still following their work.

Mark: Wait, wait, would you argue that Cypher spearheaded the vigilantes on social media movement?

Johnny: Ugh, the audacity! Cypher didn't just spearhead it, they perfected it.

Shotaro: Actually, if I may step in-

Johnny: You may.

Mark: Shoot.

Shotaro: I think I'd argue that Cypher isn't on social media at all. Sure, they hijack social media, they've even hijacked this podcast before-

Johnny: I think I cried tears of joy that day-

Mark: You did, there are clips of it floating around.

Shotaro: But Cypher isn't following the usual MO of social media vigilantes. They don't "consistently" upload, for one, and for two Cypher has never revealed even a silhouette of who they are. There's absolutely no presence that they even exist.

Johnny: The perfect status for a hacker, in my opinion.

Shotaro: Exactly. But what about you Mark, favorite episode?

Mark: Oh, the Aces! I've always been a huge fan of them since they were an underdog team.

Johnny: Damn, that's right! I completely forgot they weren't that big when they started.

Mark: Yeah, they were easily outshone by the other already existing groups. I think it was their showdown with Alis that really solidified them on the playing field.

Johnny: Or should you say... playing table? [Laughs]

Mark: Oh, ha ha, very funny, I see what you did there.

Johnny: Wait but how did you feel about them disbanding? Just curious, I don't think we ever talked about it.

Mark: Heartbroken, obviously. But to be exact about it they never really disbanded, they kind of just... uh... fell apart, I guess. After what happened to Hearts and Diamonds I get why though.

Johnny: I think that was really one of the first actual "tragedies" that happened to vigilantes, I think things got a little more real after Diamonds passed away.

Mark: Yeah, exactly. A lot of vigilantes I think dropped out of the business once the details got released. I know Zero, Superhuman, and Sogdo for sure announced that they were done.

Johnny: Whoa, I haven't heard those names in a while! Actually, on the topic of Superhuman and Sogdo, I know next season we're going to talk a lot about vigilantes like them.

Mark: Oh yeah! Honestly, I know I shouldn't say it but it's kind of cool how certain people will take what would have been an unfortunate accident and turned it into a way to help out those in need.

Johnny: That's what I was thinking. The sudden emergence of vigilantes with, like, actual "superpowers" is another growing movement that I heard is pretty loaded in online communities.

Mark: Right, the whole "who does it better" argument, I feel like that's never going to go away though.

Johnny: Very true, but, let's try to get more questions in for today's episode. Shotaro, fire away!

Shotaro: Yessir! So up next is from Twitter user TheGrimDoggo! They ask: "If you could interview any of the season 2 vigilantes without any consequence, who would it be and why?"

Mark: Easy! I would... wait, actually? Let me think about that.

Johnny: I thought you said you liked the Aces!

Mark: I do! I do, but you know what they say, "Never meet your heroes."

Johnny: I mean from what I heard if you're innocent the Aces were very careful around you

Mark: Yeah, but then you hear about what happened to the people they beat the shit out of and you're like "damn."

Johnny: Damn? Damn? [Laughs]

Shotaro: [Also Laughing]

Mark: What? [Laughs]

Johnny: Dude, haven't you seen that one documentary about people who were beaten up by vigilantes? The dude who Diamonds punched has a permanently shifted jaw, that's like... horrible.

Mark: Oh... damn.

Johnny: [Laughing] Dude!

Mark: Sorry, sorry, that was insensitive I know, let's just do the last question, yeah?

Johnny: Last...? Oh, shit, we've been going on for a while now, huh? Okay, Taro, hit us!

Shotaro: Sure, so this last one is from the Twitter user GlitchedMask and says "hi! i've been a huge fan of the LP since it was still just a Twitter account! anyway for my question, hypothetically, if you could get it back, where would you like to have season 1?"

Mark: Whoa, they're like a super OG fan of ours then!

Johnny: For those of you who don't know, for the longest time the Limitless Podcast was actually just a blog on Twitter, and back then we were just called 'Limitless.'

Mark: Yeah, even the first episode of the podcast was supposed to be just that. One of the vigilantes we wanted to cover had so much going on with them that we found it easier to just, like, talk about it.

Johnny: Exactly. And then it kind of stuck, a lot of our followers loved the idea so we kept doing it and, badaboom badabang, the Limitless Podcast was born!

Mark: And we are so glad you all love it! But to answer the question, obviously, we'd like to have it on all our platforms, ya know? Patreon, Spotify, Podcasts, and etc.

Johnny: Yup, it would be nice to have it back, but we know it's been, like, permanently removed. That's on us though for not backing up our data.

Mark: Still sucks, though.

Johnny: Oh, yeah, it sucks ass.

Mark: All good though! But, for now at least, that's all the time we have today! As always, thank you all for listening or watching, we will always appreciate your viewership and support.

Johnny: And just to go through the checklist, subscribe to our Patreon! Follow us on Twitter, check out our Carrd, and- Oh yeah! Buy Crys a kofi! She's back from her bender.

[TN: Drink responsibly, kids.]

Mark: Love her for that.

Johnny: We'll see you guys in the next season!

Mark: Until- Why's the monitor doing that?

Johnny: Doing what?

Shotaro: Uh... it's frozen.

Johnny: Huh?! No, nah, don't tell me we have to rerecord.

Shotaro: No, it's just frozen and- Aw man the mics are out too!

[TN: From here on out their mics are shut off so their voices are a little muffled but I'll do my best!]

Johnny: Uh, try troubleshooting real quick, are we still live?

Shotaro: Yes, sir. But the streams frozen for them too. They can hear us though.

Johnny: Got it, not to worry everyone! We'll fix this in a second.

Mark: Hey! The monitor stopped frizzing out, looks like the picture is coming back.

Cypher: [TN: Ohmygodohmygodohmygod] Hello, this is Cypher, I am hijacking this feed from a further area. I love this podcast, so I decided to show my love by recovering Season 1. I will send the file over to both of these lovely hosts and, until then, I cannot wait for season 3. Please talk about me nicely. I'll do the honors of ending the stream for you all.

Outro Song: Easy Cheese - Daniel Fridell

General Tag List: @stopeatread @bat-shark-repellant @raeincitizen @umbralhelwolf @yangsrose @kazooms @sadcoffeecritic

Without a Trace: @naiify @sunsethw4 @leesalts @toxic-babexe

If you want to be added to either tag list or removed just send me a reply to this post, and ask, or a DM and I’ll add you as soon as possible!

#without a trace #the limitless podcast #my writings

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