When Two Suns Are Shining: Bat for Lashes at the Great American Music Hall
Be still my heart! When I heard Natasha Khan (who performs as Bat for Lashes) would be gracing San Francisco with a concert this month, you best believe I bought tickets immediately (after jumping up and down followed by squeals of glee). The British ingenue (Really, though; she writes, composes, and is a visual artist as well) has had my attention since the release of her debut albumFur and Gold. Dreamy yet gorgeously articulate, powerful, and often ballad-esque, the songs on Fur and Gold spoke to women everywhere with both tales grounded in the complicated, at times bittersweet realities of relationships (such as “What’s a Girl to Do”) and in the wanderings and musings of the mind, speaking to the potential and battles within in all of us by going down fantastical roads (”Horse and I”, “Prescilla”). Thom Yorke said it best in describing his listening experience of ”Horse and I”: “Natasha Khan of Bat for Lashes ain’t scared. I love the harpsichord and the sexual ghost voices and bowed saws. This song seems to come from the world of Grimm’s fairytales, and I feel like a wolf.” My thoughts exactly. (Source: ateaseweb.com).
Now touring internationally after the release of her second album Two Suns this spring, Bat for Lashes absolutely blew the crowd away this past Saturday, June 13th when she played the Great American Music Hall. Opening act Hecuba got our bodies moving with a bass-laden, Peaches meets LCD Soundsystem set. Then Bat for Lashes took the stage, and proceeded to seriously kill it. Two Suns still possesses that dream-laced quality, and Khan’s profusions of love, but is more beat-driven punctuated with elements of soul and her hallmark electronic sound. Khan and the Bat for Lashes crew navigated the set effortlessly; she sung her heart out while playing numerous instruments. Way to rock our world, girl!
Here’s a short clip from her performance of the hit single off of Fur and Gold, “What’s a Girl to Do”
If you don’t have her albums on repeat already…you soon will.
Tupac Amaru Shakur, June 16th, 1971 - September 13th, 1996
June 16th, 1971 - September 13th, 1996
There is no such polarizing force, as there is about the impact of Tupac Amaru Shakur on the consciousness of pop culture. East vs West, right vs left, he gave some a reason to be scared, and others a reason to be free. But regardless how you feel about his music, we all can agree of the potential that was lost the night he was murdered in a crowded Las Vegas intersection on September 13, 1996. Today, on what would be his 38th birthday, I’d like to celebrate by playing his songs back-to-back, watching Juice and Poetic Justice, and pouring myself a glass of Thug Passion (well, maybe not). As a young woman growing up in the 90s, I was lucky to bear witness to his influence and career, one that provided a point of motivation to be heard in myself, despite the circumstances. Thank you, Tupac, for including women in your desire to change the status quo, and breaking down politics in a way that we could all understand. Hip Hop purists could argue about you ’til they’re blue in the face, but this young lady wouldn’t be here if she wasn’t inspired by your music, your words, and your fearlessness to speak the truth. You are appreciated!
It doesn’t really matter where you set up your grill - a backyard, rooftop, or park, as long as you have your friends and some music to carry you through the night. You already know we like to get our grill on, and thanks to Montreal based DJ crew, The Moustache Men (Classi Assi, F.U.N.K, and New Money) and DJ’s Tanner and Arem from Vancouver’s The Faction Crew delivering ”80 minutes of mellow hip hop, funk, soul and more,” we’ve got a soundtrack.
They knew they could pull something off together after meeting while on tour in Canada. The diverse playlist came to fruition through a series of emails, as the distance between the DJ’s in Montreal and Vancouver is equivalent to the distance between NYC and LA. Put some like minded people in front of a computer and the results can be epic. Frank 151, Circa, and Shine Nightclub agreed, so they sponsored the mixtape.
Upcoming dates for the artists promoting the mixtape include, Thursday, June 4th at the Blue Dog in Montreal, where you can catch Classi Assi and F.U.N.K with a small launch at thier weekly. June 12th at Shine Nightclub in Vancouver they get busy with DJ’s Arems, Tanner, and F.U.N.K on the decks.
Considering how fantastic a producer J. Dilla was, it must be very daunting for 22-year old newcomer Hudson Mohawke to be labeled as the next “Disciple of Dilla.” (XLR8R Magazine, April 2007) But Hudson, who also goes by Hudson Mo or simply Hud Mo, has had an impressive resume so far and at the rate he’s going, he may just live up to this moniker.
Hud Mo started his hip-hop career working as a producer, focusing specifically on instrumentals and beats. At age 15, he became the youngest UK DMC Finalist ever and is currently the Scottish ITF Champion. In order to pique the public’s interest in the Hip-Hop of Glasgow, Scotland, Hud Mo literally scoured the local clubs and the Glasgow School of Art to find like-minded individuals on the same quest to promote unique music and artwork. A collective of movers and shakers called LuckyMe (LuckyMe) was formed, and soon the crew started releasing music under a label of the same name.
This US based position entails talking to designers, athletes and other inspiring people that make up the essence of what Nike is as a brand. The successful applicant will be required to report in the form of videos, blog entries and photos.
Thinking of applying? Could you picture yourself hanging out with Kobe Bryant? Keep in mind this position will not be for the faint-hearted. Impress the Nike crew by sending through a sample blog post and making a 2-minute video of yourself flexing your skills as the strong, smart, talented ladies that you are. Don’t forget to let your personality shine through your piece - make them laugh!
Nike’s current Field Reporter Meghan Brennan has spent her time reporting for Nike hanging out with Serena Williams, running in a triathlon and hanging out with Common at SXSW. To read up on what she gets up to on the job head here.
So you wanna do this? Congratulations on taking the first step! To apply, read the full story to read the requirements.
Feeling grown and sexy? Need a mix that sets the mood? Or maybe you just need a reminder of how freaky everyone was back in the day. Then check out “The After-Party 90s Bedroom Jams” mixed by DJ Mark Marcelo. It was made just for you! You’ll hear throwback R&B (as well as a few rap cuts) from artists like Janet Jackson, Jodeci, Case, Usher, Notorious B.I.G., Toni Braxton, Adina Howard, Silk, Mya, Color Me Badd, R Kelly, just to name a few. On top of the incredible musical line-up, the transition of each song runs smooth to avoid any, um, awkward silences.
No lie, I was snapping my fingers, dancing, thinking I was too cute while listening to this. “You remind me of my jeep”- haha, oh so 90s. Don’t get in trouble tonight ladies and gentleman, this is definitely one of those late night mixes.
Nicole and Natalie aka Nina Sky is on some brand new with their latest music video “On Some Bullshit.” If you haven’t already heard the song allow me to summarize it as an anthem for ladies (and gentleman) who are moving on with their life. Club banger? Possibly. But it’s a track that has good energy and the video isn’t bad itself. Oh and by the way peep their shoe and accessory game, these girls is FRE$H.
Isn’t it about time you showed your ears some appreciation and replaced your iPod earbuds with something a lot less…crappy? Check out Onkyo’s MHP-UW2 Bluetooth Headphones for iPod. Designed with a frequency response of 50Hz~20kHz, these headphones provide an amazing, recording studio quality sound without the need for pesky wires. They’re encased in a sleek metallic shell, feature remote controls on the headphones themselves, and have soft, buttery ear-pads that will leave your ears feeling nice and comfortable after extending listening sessions. Battery life lasts a good eight hours (on a three-hour charge), and Onkyo has thankfully included both a USB charging cable and a couple of mini-jack cables so you can keep listening via wire when the juice runs out. At $270 they cost about as much as a brand new iPod, but it’s totally worth it so you can hear every last note in that one Kenny G song you love so much. Available now.
Every once in a while a boost of energy could be used especially after a hard day of work. Being in the midst of all this recession fiasco, purchasing a drink to keep you awake for 5 hours isn’t always in your budget’s best interest. Lucky for all lovers of the electronic sound there is Automatic Panic; refreshing musical creators here to enhance the joie de vivre all day, everyday, at any time (oh and I forgot to mention, FREE download!!)
A part of the latest collection of remixes from Automatic Panic vs DJ Cat NYC is Madonna’s Burning Up. I have to say their spin on the original song gets me in the mood to do the D.A.N.C.E.
Although baile funk currently influences my mood for the night life, the Burning Up remix maintains a house vibe similar to a techno trance that can make anyone move and shake regardless of their genre preferences.
If you happen to be looking for a song that gets you ready for the night or you just need a song that gets you through the rest of the evening (hey, or even to start your day!) I highly recommend you listen to and add this track to your playlist now! It will do your ears some amazing kind of good.
Tonight, ArtNowSF presents the Juxtapoz Magazine issue release party at Club 6 in San Francisco. If the art and music alone won’t convince you to come, the fashion showcase sure will! This month’s party will be the biggest show yet, as 7 Bay Area designers will fuse their fashions together with art, music, and spoken word. Poet Ruby Veridiano-Ching, who was highlighted as a M.I.S.S. Woman Making History in November, will kick off the fusion fashion show at 10PM, so get your discounted presale tickets here and make sure to arrive early and party late.
