Kickass, Kickstands!

I am so besides myself and proud of these special Saffa boys doing their incredible thing for the music industry! Gary Nixon and Rudi Greyvenstein, are the two power minds behind the prodigy that is 'The Kickstands'.  Talented in their own special traits and with a passion and never-give-up attitude these guys have grown, adapted and now this is what they are producing. With a solid south coast influence these guys should be SA’s next big thing! Check out Tamacun for some incredible SPanish style guit! Wicked boys!

I've Been Searching for a Heart of Gold

‘When it rains; it pours’ – They.

Whoever they are I love the pouring that is currently occurring! Summer’s around the corner, festival will be fast approaching and what better way to welcome in Spring than with a couple new summer soundtracks and bands. In walks Hiss Golden Messenger- chilled, young, and nostalgic. Clap, clap, clap! Claps all around! Listen, enjoy and visit them here for tour dates.  

Wistful Wishing

Today's fixation. One of my favourite and personally think one of the greatest songwriters ever.

Colossal Trojans

Saturday consisted of an old train ride, complete with thick wood stub tickets and a carriage, into Wallingford for the annual BunkFest. It was a lovely day and the main stage was towering over tons of families and their picnics and guarded by flea market stalls selling loads of hippy stuff! IT was a lovely day I got to spend with my parents. Anyway, that’s my story. What made this day so very special as discovering Ahab, a sensational four front man strong harmonious guitar playing band. Mandolin, banjo, harmonica and harmonies (pretty much sums it up). But rather than listen to my waffle, check them out yourselves. Support them guys, please! They will be playing at Borderline in London on 19 October 2013. You will not be disappointed. Check them out here! Buy their music here! But, by crickey, make sure you see them live here!

Made from Iron

So, I was blessed, honored, lucky and extremely grateful to be able to go watch Iron Maiden at the 02 on Saturday night. Wow!! One hell of an experience I saw them two years ago and man, they just get better. I was even more blessed to meet Steve Harris and hang out with Matt Pearce from Voodoo Six. I'm still shell shocked. Got a lift home with Ian Roberts and tasted the sweet nectar that is Trooper beer. An amazing night and amazing memories. Thanks to everyone :) 

Perceptual Perfection

An incredible duo. This is dreams, forest, fresh air, love, soul. This is everything! Corinne West & Kelly Joe Phelps

Make a wish

I saw this guy a few months ago I can still not speak highly enough of this incredibly talented kid. He appeared on BBC Introducing stage at Glastonbury and I tried my best to whore his set off! He is one cool cat! Check him out and get your free download here!

Under the Moon

Saturday was largely spent in a beer and sun haze of Olympic Park, £68 got us in the see a phenomenal line up of awesomeness. Haim, 3 chicks with dicks sisters smashing up electric guitar and Bass- I have seen their name before but never listened to them. They were pretty cool. After that Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zero’s- my household been obsessed with this nomadic hippies for quite some time now and honestly, this was who I really came to see live. They were incredible they have some a presence about them and a way with them, which really wanted to make you grow dreads and venture around the world with some sort of bizarre musical instrument trying to find your inner peace. They are incredible artists and I would recommend watching them wherever they are, hell, follow them around the world. You certainly won’t be sorry. Ben Howard graced us with his soulful salt water baby melodies I have always wondered when the surfing culture would spore another ambassador after Jack Johnson, he is the answer to that query and he was even more phenomenal live. Ben Howard is one cool cat! The rest of the festival was awesome and Olympic park was put to great use baked in sunshine, beer and sweat what a great day! Here are some great songs from our beloved hippie clan. (can’t believe I haven’t posted something from them yet) Sorry!

Vitality in Substance

I must have the coolest Dad in the world. Look what I got up to this weekend. <3 <3 

On the Turntable so far:

1) Canned Heat & Johnny Lee Hooker

2) Bob Dylan

3) Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee

4) The Doors

5) Janis Joplin!

EEEEK!!!!!!

Bandwagon..

Hi lovers!! Get on this before they kill it! Insanely, mentally, soulfully immense. <3 George Ezra. This kid will blow your mind. I want to crawl up inside his guitar and live there.

A Communication Breakdown

Hmmmm...... Ever played these two and really listened?!

Blue Monday

Monday Blues anyone?!

Love That Lasts Forever

So, today I have attached three really amazing songs by three incredible artists. This may not be everyone's 'cup of tea' but for me I find this so groovy and so so inspirational especially when it was set and the historical context in which this music was born. Many have tried but only few have really 'had the blues' and hit that point when they turned it into such splendor. For interesting reads on this era try Mezz Mezzrow 'Really The Blues' I found this book incredible and it really places you in that time period when all this pandemonium was occurring. One of my all time favourites. And if any of you out there have any bands/ musicians I should know about please share. 

Beyond Belief

Right, so I have found something that is possibly one of the most remarkable discoveries of my life. Jake Bugg. Learnt that name, download that music and be prepared to be completely gobsmacked. Something about me, thanks to my Father, is that I am ridiculously obsessed with music and pretty much all of its genres. My obsession with country and its great lyrical contents really has been something I have been listening to since I was in the womb so my country lists includes most of people like this: John Prine, Kris Kristofferson, Iris Dement, Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, John Denver to name a few of my favourites but this kinda makes me stuck in the past. However, I can happily announce that my obsession has just become current. This cat is 18. 18 years old. The amount of soul this guy has is so refreshing to see and with a voice that makes you want to cry this guy will be massive. He is playing in London's 100 Club on 31st May (get tickets here) and if you miss it, you miss out. It is as simple as that. Bloody hell, my faith, once again in the current music industry has been restored. So guys, please support guys like this because they are the people that deserve it the most. 

If You Go Chasing Rabbits

 Annie Leibovitz 

Vogue US December 2003

Model: Natalia Vodianova

Inspiration for our up and coming 'Alice in Wonderland' shoot. Think Alice- unconventional-on acid, slightly Tim Burton inspired, bright colours and eery feel. We found the most perfect location and insane props and gadgets to accompany. Various other moodboards to follow. Oh and of course, a song, one of the best written EVER in my opinion. Lyrically genius.

Heart Shaped Box

Grunge & Glory- US Vogue December 1992

Photographer: Steven Meisel

Stylist: Grace Coddington

So from an underground phenomena- Seattle Sound- starting in the late 1980s, to a worldwide fashion movement that would fill wardrobes and stereos with dirty riffs and dirty clothes. We hail the likes of Alice in Chains, Soundgarden and Nirvana. An 'anti fashion' movement that became fashion- funny how it works eh?! But I guess being not fashion, in itself, is fashion- now that is a thought to wrap your head around. What would my world me without this?! 

Acid Bubble

Alice in Chains

Nirvana                                                                  

The Cranberries

Soundgarden

So if new media is to blame for the faster paced fashion cycle then 'officially' we are now in the era of Nineties nostalgia. Well, at least I feel like that anyway so this means bring out the peroxide blonde, androgyny, leather, sheer, all stars and plaid. Here are some of my favourite shots and favourite tunes to go alongside a time I always wish I could escape to when I feel lost, alone, afraid and defeated. Enjoy x

Unwashed & Somewhat slightly Dazed

If anyone is interested in a little David Bowie or are obsessed with the Glam rock phase have a little read my little essay below. What an absolute style legend. Basically, in a nutshell, this is about identity and gender in terms of the Glam rock and their multi-personality crazies:

Gender is more than the biological and physical differences of being male and female; gender is the characteristics which males or females use to portray themselves in terms of masculinity and femininity, the way in which they walk, talk, dress and act in the eyes of society. Gender refers to the manner in which these are addressed and how it places itself within society; namely what is termed socially acceptable or unacceptable, how society portrays the idea of these characteristics. Arguably, gender is more about ‘doing’ rather than ‘being’ (Butler, 2004, p1). Feminist, Judith Lorber, discusses ideas in her article ‘Night to the Day’ that in society, gender signs are everywhere and that we usually do not recognise them- unless they are ‘missing or ambiguous’. She believes that we are extremely uncomfortable until we can ‘place the person in a gender status’ or else we feel ‘dislocated’. Besides man and woman, we can place a person into transvestite (a person who dresses in the opposite gender clothes) or transsexual (a person who has physically had a sex change operation). ‘Transvestites and transsexuals carefully construct their gender status by dressing, speaking, walking, gesturing in the ways prescribed for women or men whichever they want to be taken for - and so does any "normal" person.’ (Lorber, 1994). This essay will look at gender identity and roles through clothing and fashion with specific examples to the Glam rock artists of the early 1970s.

Prior to modern day western society, men adorned themselves in makeup and dress in accordance to elaborating themselves and being considered more ‘glamorous’. The concept of men who took the gender bending conforms of society to the extreme can date back to the Macaronis of the 17^th Century. These effeminate men took the concept to such an extreme that it was often very difficult to identify whether they were male or female. Known famously for their outrageous and ridiculously tight clothing consisting of short waist coats, thin shoes with either gold or silver buckles; and a massive knot of artificial hair on which they placed their hat or ‘Macaroni’. Even then they were criticised by the church and infamous among the other men of the time.

Clothing and fashion are vital elements when identifying an individual or subcultures; which relied heavily on their image to portray who and what they are. Fast forward and you get to the early 1970s when again man would challenge society’s views on gender and clothing. Glam rock was a reaction to the boring and simple dress of the hippies and the end of the 1960s. When looking specifically at Glam you can clearly see the unconventional use of male forms portraying a feminine look. Men in platforms, make up, died hair, wigs and even skirts. ‘For decades street style has been battling against the belief that western man should forego finery, make-up, exotic hairstyles and any delight in his appearance’ (Polhemus, 1994, p74) Marc Bolan aka Cosmic Crusader and David Bowie (also known as Ziggy Stardust/Aladdin Sane) would be two key players in completely contradicting societies customs. Making ‘unisex a reality rather than a theory’ (Polemus, 1994, p75)

David Bowie and Marc Bolan are prime examples of non conformists in terms of gender roles. They communicated the idea of femininity through dress; they openly talked about their sexuality which would change from homosexual to bi sexual and back. They gave birth to the idea of ‘gender bending’- and how they purposely toyed with the idea of femininity through masculinity. To the glam rock scene, Marc Bolan and David Bowie were the godfathers of gender bending and the mocking of society’s idea of normality. Bowie was obsessed with Andy Warhol and his world; subsequently he also had a transvestite friend known as Jayne County who was a huge influence on his style. The idea of fashion and clothing clearly was a vital element in the creation of their alter egos. It also portrayed the idea that men could wear eccentric makeup, dress in skirts wear high heels and that it would be copied by the thousands of youth who would hang out at these performances dressing in their idols attire.

‘Glam flirted openly with decadence. Sixties children had been brought up in a period steeped in the influence of gay pop managers. They’d been subjected to flower-power, hippy lifestyle, pot smoking and acid. From all these ingredients, they concocted their own style of music-glam rock- androgynous, theatrical and outrageous. It tempted boys to experiment with eyeliner, seven inch platform boots, and to tease their girlfriends by mimicking fellatio with anything long and hard.’ (Napier-Bell, 2002, p106-161)

Polemus’ argument is that; society has been creating a gender split between women and men through the idea of clothing and adornment. Society have set unwritten rules on the idea that men wear trousers and women wear high heels, skirts, dresses and make up. However, when glam rock arrived in the early 1970s a few key factors can be assumed to the manner in which it became acceptable. The Sexual Offences Act passed in 1967, decriminalised the act of homosexuality. This new law allowed homosexual artists or pop stars to be open and talk about their sexuality; it allowed them to express their individual style through clothing. What Glam did was excessively use dress to portray an image it came at a time when youth were predominantly made up of ‘left over hippies’ ‘It was all about glitter, insignificant finery, platforms, make up and dyed hair in shades of crazy colours. All of these decorative items were used simply to express personal identity.’ (Polhemus, 1994, p74)

‘Hair rinsed a luminous vermillion, orange or scarlet streaked with gold and silver. These exquisite creatures, perched nervously on platform shoes or slouching in 50s plastic sandals, cigarette held just so, shoulders set at such and such an angle, were involved in a game of make believe. (Hebdige, 1979, p59).

The stereotype of these glam rock artists and the way in which they dressed would brand them as being ‘camp’ or homo sexual and the imagery of men dress up would upset the norm of society. The idea of ‘unisex’ can be put down to the anti fashion and political issues at the end of the 1960s; which would be the forefront of the last part of the decade. This term would take on more meaning through the idea that men and women alike would avoid eccentric and purposeless attire.

Glam would go on to inspire the likes of the Goths, the punks and new romantics of the early 1980s who again would arise with the idea of toying with gender in terms of attire, make up and gestures. The nature of these subcultures plays a vital element in changing societies view on gender and identity. It is possible to identity the idea of unisex through various groups of people- the Macaroni’s of the 18^th Century to the Mods and Glam rock; whether or not it was intended to shock and outrage or defy society’s norms their blatant experimentation with the idea of gender bender in mind has been a crucial solution in bridging the gap between conformity and traditional values. ‘I’m one of the world’s actors, in the broadest sense of the word. I’m an exhibitionist. I like showing off. I’m a peacock’ (Bowie, 1973).

Clothing and fashion played a vital role in gender split. Society has drawn a line between man and woman by means of what they wear, how they act in society and their role in it. Glam purposely crossed that line and in effect you could not tell who was man or woman. This era and its forefathers were vital to establish the ‘radical rethink of masculinity’ and the boundaries of society. Glam was more than a fashion movement it challenged our “culture’s traditionally highly restrictive, inhibiting definition of ‘masculinity’” (Polhemus, 1994, p75); and without Glam and its creators it is impossible to imagine that today’s society would be so tolerant to the ideals of gender.

African Warrior- Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?!

Tribal Editorial (Herring& Herring)

My moodboard- Original Inspiration

A S/S12 Tribal trend (not mine)

Make up Inspiration

Here are some mood boards for my latest Styling & Photography assignment which is themed Metamorphosis. I have been inspired, after being extremely homesick the past two weeks, to use all those emotions and put it into my work. Talk about being proactive hey?! :). So my theme is a change of mind state and will be inspired by the Zulu tribe and their beliefs in  iSangoma to heal and protect through trance like state dances and connections with the ancestors. It is a very exciting read and all the research I have done has been extremely interesting. And of course a little piece of Africa, music wise, to go with this. Again, the story behind Juluka is an aspirational one about perseverance, sacrifice, human spirit and love through friendship that defies all odds.

Less is Definitely More

Juergen Teller for Marc by Marc Jacobs Spring 2011 campaign with Ginta Lapina & Andrej Pejic (The beautiful blonde male model who epitomizes the word androgynous- he is utterly beautiful).

So I can not live without amazing images by German born photographer Juergen Teller- his unique snap shot style and over exposed images have an innocence, purity and cleanliness to them, all while still enticing you.

It's back to normality tomorrow. Back to the early mornings and late late evenings all while trying to make time to blog, paint, draw, cut & paste, observe, create and relax. To new beginnings, new years, new inspirations, new dreams, new battles, new conquers. Here is a little song to inspire you and mainly to make you smile. Biggest of loves. x