VOS FACTORY

Teenage Kicks Release Debut EP

2011-05-03T12:55:00.002-04:00

Toronto's favourite rock and roll band have independently released their Debut EP, Rational Anthems. Guaranteed to be one of the best summer anthems of the year, these 5 tracks truly showcase a natural song writing ability, and vocal talent from Peter Van Helvoort.

One can't help but pull a comparison to the Constantines, yet still hear the classic influence of Creedence Clearwater Revival and the Who, which seem to be intrinsically wound throughout each song of this debut. All the while, their live show promises a display of downright and dirty rock'n'roll -- a genre that has too long been overshadowed by the multitude of DIY "pop" projects.

The EP can be bought for the mere price of a tweet - Grab yourself a copy today!

Why Two Minds Think Better Than One

2011-04-20T19:05:00.000-04:00

Husband-and-wife team Masamichi Udagawa and Sigi Moeslinger have thrived as creative partners, designing everything from New York subway cars to a Knoll furniture line. Scott Belsky (Behance) and Josh Rubin (Cool Hunting) chat with the duo about what makes for a great partner and the advantages of teaming up – for instance: faster thinking, productive friction, and more creative firepower.

via 99percent

PERFECTION | OH LAND

2011-04-18T15:44:00.003-04:00

I'm quite certain that the song title perfectly encapsulates everything. I die. I love.

Green Goodness

2011-04-15T13:32:00.002-04:00

Working from home has it's perks, inclusive of taking music video breaks from time to time. How can you not fall in love with this little green man when he starts to shed tears?

A Fine Feast For The Eyes

2011-04-13T18:17:00.003-04:00

A fantastic short film by The Selby on Mitch Alfus, the 'Leather King'. He is the founder of Libra Leather, a company that was highly influential in the popularization of the distressed leather mania and is a supplier to some of the world’s most influential fashion designers (Chrome Hearts, Rick Owens and Henry Lehr, among some.)

Can I please work for this man and sell a 'fuckload of leather'?

House Of Balloons - The Weeknd

2011-04-11T16:48:00.001-04:00

On repeat. You must go and download 'House Of Balloons' here

YSL 2011 SPRING CAMPAIGN

2011-03-23T19:29:00.003-04:00

What an immaculate sensory experience. YSL's 2011 Spring campaign came knocking on my door and floored me with it's simplistic, yet unabashed brilliance.

Golden Lullaby

2011-03-21T23:42:00.003-04:00

One the eve of a 365 day love affair, I drift into sleep with this beautiful track by My Morning Jacket. Seems surreal in a way, but I guess the best things in life are....

Watchin' a stretch of road, miles of light explode.
Driftin' off a thing i'd never done before
Watchin' a crowd roll in. out go the lights it begins.
A feelin' in my bones i never felt before...
Mmm... people always told me. that bars are dark and lonely
And talk is often cheap and filled with air.
Sure sometimes they thrill me
But nothin' could ever chill me.
Like the way they make the time just disappear
Feelin' you are here again. hot on my skin again.
Feelin good a thing i'd never known before
What does it mean to feel?
Millions of dreams come real
A feelin' in my soul i'd never felt before... mmm...
And you always told me.
No matter how long it holds me if it falls apart
Or makes us millonaires. you'll be right here forever.
We'll go thru this thing together
And on heaven's golden shore we'll lay our head.

Gwen Stefani // ELLE UK

2011-03-08T22:50:00.002-05:00

Gwen Stefani photographed by Matthias Vriens-McGrath for Elle UK April 2011

WE HAVE EVERYTHING REMIX EP

2011-03-08T22:29:00.003-05:00

Sunsets, pink hair, swing music, the smell of cigars, long highways, archways of willow

trees, Arizona turquoise, white kittens, french kissing, vintage dresses, gin martinis, fresh dirt,

summer rain, machine guns, fireworks, ocean spray, hot sex.

Simmer down. Get it all HERE.

GRIMES //

BLUE HAWAII //

UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA //

ADAM & THE AMETHYSTS //

COTTON MOUTH //

2010 VOGUE COVERS...PILED

2011-03-02T23:44:00.001-05:00

ASTRAL WORKS

2011-03-02T23:34:00.001-05:00

With a vision embracing innovation and fantasy, the NYC-based young designer Setareh Mohtarez‘s work combines shape, movement, texture, and color. She nurtured her creative vision while attending the fashion department at the Antwerp Royal Academy. After delivering her award-winning “Brightness Dawn” collection in 2009, she started her eponymous label, while keeping a strong respect for classic elegance. She is drawn to the mysterious and her work tells a distinct story that is close to her heart.

- via Trendland.net

Lykke Li // TLOBF Session

2011-03-01T21:20:00.005-05:00

The Line Of Best Fit truly does provide music fans and communities with fresh tracks, insight into the lives of up and coming artists, and of course they are generous with beloved free downloads and podcasts. I must say though, they really captured something here with Lykke Li.

Consume and share.... and don't forget to say hello to them on twitter.

G VS B // FEB 2011 MIX

2011-03-01T21:10:00.002-05:00

Thanks be to glory. Gorilla vs. Bear has just posted their Feb 2011 mix... There are a few tracks on here that have put a smile on my face - Can you guess which ones?

01 unknown :: radio tangiere internationale

02 peaking lights :: hey sparrow

03 john maus :: and the rain (demo)

04 madlib :: L.A.

05 lykke li :: i follow rivers (tyler, the creator remix)

06 summer camp :: i want you

07 roof light :: playground sunburst

08 elite gymnastics :: montana

09 young galaxy :: cover your tracks (CFCF remix)

10 solar bears :: cub (keep shelly in athens remix)

11 korallreven :: shine on

12 james litherland :: where to turn

13 nicolas jaar :: colomb

14 colin stetson :: fear of the unknown and the blazing sun

15 how i quit crack :: wicked game

DOWNLOAD HERE

Free My Soul

2011-03-01T14:49:00.002-05:00

FREE PEOPLE

Young Rival Announce New Spring Dates

2011-02-25T17:16:00.005-05:00

April 07 – E-bar – Guelph
April 14 – Dakota Tavern – Toronto
April 15 – Phog Lounge – Windsor
April 16 – APK Live – London
April 17 – Mansion House – St. Catharines
April 28 – Starlight – Waterloo

I love these boys - If you're in the need of a good show fix, this is the one to hit up!

http://www.youngrival.com/

What I Thought Of You - Holly Throsby

2011-02-24T23:49:00.003-05:00

Love is no respecter of age or practicality
Neither morality: unabashed
She enters where she will
Unheeding that her immortal fires
Burn up human hearts...
~Phillip Pulfrey

This is the official video for 'What I Thought Of You', the first song on Holly Throsby's album Team. This video was directed by Yanni Kronenberg & is a worldwide Super 8 collaboration - filmed by 20 people, between 1974-2011, in Australia, America, Canada, The United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Greece, Iceland, Ukraine, Sweden and Brazil.

It happened like this: Yanni & Holly searched day & night on vimeo to find beautiful Super 8 footage. Then all the film makers were contacted & generously allowed them to use tiny pieces of their wonderful short films and home movies. They also asked on twitter if people could send them Super 8 footage in the mail, and home movies from 35 years ago arrived in Holly's post box. Then, out of all of that, Yanni made this video.

It's gorgeous. Through and through.

http://www.hollythrosby.com/

Bosworth vs. NYLON

2011-02-24T23:33:00.000-05:00

Rodarte's Muse: Elle Fanning

2011-02-08T11:46:00.002-05:00

Elle Fanning: Rodarte's Muse on Nowness.com.

The Actress Strikes Fashion Gold in Todd Cole’s The Curve of Forgotten Things

Hollywood’s latest darling, Elle Fanning, goes digging for buried treasure in Todd Cole's new collaboration with Rodarte, The Curve of Forgotten Things, premiering exclusively on NOWNESS today. The film highlights design duo Kate and Laura Mulleavy's spring 2011 collection, which drew inspiration from 1970s northern California, referencing Redwood forests, the gold rush and Asian influences. The Somewhere star pirouettes through the empty rooms of the historic Baldwin House (which sits on an oil field in LA's Baldwin Hills), her outfits magically changing from one room to the next. Shot on a RED camera using Cooke lenses from the 70s, the short's dusty focus references seminal movies of that era, such as Terrence Malick’s Badlands, while Georgia-based indie rockers Deerhunter provide the dreamy soundtrack. As for the title, Cole explains: “It's the title of a Richard Brautigan poem. The poem and the film are about forgotten things—circles and the curve of time.” The film follows on from last spring's intergalactic project that Cole shot with Rodarte and comes at an extraordinary moment for the designers, whose dazzling costume contributions to Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan will form part of their upcoming solo exhibit at MoCA.

-via Nowness

Bag Raiders - 'Sunlight'

2011-02-07T12:28:00.002-05:00

Falling Face First...

2011-02-06T12:42:00.002-05:00

...In love with Neil Krug.

His photography and directorial video work often touches on a rough, vintage, psychedelic feel. In other work, he captures the simple beauty of landscapes as well as the female form.

His body of work is a range of music videos & photography for such bands as My Chemical Romance, Ratatat, Devendra Banhart, Ladytron, Tame Impala, Canyons, Sea Wolf, The Pierces, Dri, and White Flight.

Krug, in a creative collaboration with Joni (Harbeck) Alexander, also founded the lauded project PULP ART BOOK wherein his photography and commerical work can be seen in limited edition prints, books, and films.

Krug has exhibited work in

Germany

, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and plans to release his upcoming feature film INVISIBLE PYRAMID in 2011.

In Between Days - LILYA

2011-02-05T19:31:00.003-05:00

LILYA Autumn/Winter 2011

Cloak Me - Lindsey Thornburg

2011-02-05T17:30:00.007-05:00

Lindsey Thornburg's collection is blowing my mind. I literally 'gasped' when I saw that cream coloured, Navajo printed cloak (first pic) and the floor length printed dresses she has created are absolutely breathtaking.

Hailing from Colorado, Lindsey headed to LA where she began creating her first dress collection under Fabric. Then in 2003 Thornburg relocated to NYC and started designing under this moniker ... But it wasn't until 2006, and after her return from Machu Picchu, that she started having great success with her Pendleton blankets and indigenous inspired attire. I could wear a Thornburg piece every day for the rest of my life and be completely satisfied.

I also noticed her bio photo looked awfully familiar... it turns out she was actually in The Sartorialist short film when Scott Schumann snaps a pic of her while walking the streets on New York.

Makin' Moves

2011-02-05T17:03:00.002-05:00

Inspiration for my new bedroom.

I Shall Be Released

2011-02-05T16:54:00.003-05:00

Mama Cass, Joni Mitchell, and Mary Travers harmonizing. Again, I was clearly born in the wrong era. Lurrrrve. Lurrrrve. Lurrrrve.

'He Gets Me High' - Dum Dum Girls

2011-02-04T17:03:00.008-05:00

Have you grabbed your copy of Dum Dum Girls' 'He Gets Me High' yet? Their 12" EP is out on March 1, 2011 via Sub Pop.

Video: The Wilhelm Scream - James Blake

2011-02-04T16:54:00.003-05:00

This confirms it. Mastermind.

Gorilla Vs Bear 'Iced In'

2011-02-04T16:41:00.003-05:00

G VS B just posted their winter playlist entitled 'Iced In'. Go listen and download here. I'm only a few minutes in and it was the perfect way to mellow out on a Friday afternoon. TGIF, really.

Natalia Vodianova by Glen Luchford

2011-02-04T14:51:00.005-05:00

Photos taken of Natalia Vodianova by Glen Luchford for Vogue Italia circa 2004.

MIU MIU - The Powder Room

2011-02-03T18:06:00.002-05:00

The first of a selection of filmmakers, Zoe Cassavetes, presents her new film for Miu Miu this year.

Video Of The Day | DJ Ease My Mind - Niki and The Dove

2011-02-03T17:22:00.003-05:00

If you're a fan of Stevie Nicks from the 70's or Eurovision, prepare to be floored by Niki & The Dove. My buddy Luke's response perfectly phrased how I felt about the video when I first watched - "These are the sorts of things you shouldn't keep to yourself" - Really quite sums it up. Enjoy!

YG 'We Have Everything' Video Premiere

2011-02-02T17:12:00.003-05:00

Today Gorilla Vs Bear premiered YG's official music video for 'We Have Everything'. The animation was created and produced by one of Montreal's finest, Sinbad Richardson, who has worked with The Dears, Stars, and recently shot Aldo's fall/winter ad campaign.

It comes as no surprise to me that YG would lend creative control (yet again) to another artistic mastermind. The end result was not what I expected, but completely entertaining and quietly reminiscent of Radiohead's 'Paranoid Android'. Like their album Shapeshifting, perhaps something that people won't quite 'get' straight away... but with time, will end up as a sure fire favourite.

Shapeshifting is now exclusively available in the USA and Canada on iTunes. Go buy it.

Explain My Heart - Saul Williams

2011-01-31T17:41:00.001-05:00

The outspoken spoken word artist and celebrated musician unveils his new video 'Explain My Heart'.

The Sartorialist

2011-01-31T17:31:00.001-05:00

Beautifully shot video of iconic blogger - Scott Schumann, aka, The Satorialist

Photographer Sarah Vo

2011-01-29T19:14:00.003-05:00

The half-Vietnamese photographer takes inspiration from her father's journey to Britain through dreamy shots of mermaids.

We Have Everything - Young Galaxy

2011-01-29T18:04:00.004-05:00

'We Have Everything' is an anthem for every occasion, YG have broken the mold and created a hit track with Dan Lissvik. Download this now and share it with the entire world and their mothers.

Video Of The Day: Pure - Blackbird

2011-01-29T18:00:00.002-05:00

Sit back and enjoy. It's a seizure worth having.

Austra

2011-01-29T17:24:00.004-05:00

Austra, also known as Katie Stelmanis, is a classically trained vocalist that I'm going bonkers over. After receiving a vinyl copy of her single 'Beat And The Pulse' (download here), I'm eagerly awaiting for her visibility to boost in the Canadian music market. She's no stranger to the industry, having been around for nearly a decade and also singing on Fucked Up’s Polaris Prize–winning LP, The Chemistry of Common Life.

One of my favourite tracks is 'Lose It' - Go listen to & love this live version taped by NYC Taper on Hype Machine.

Having toured Europe with great success, she's now on home soil for a few dates in NYC. Be sure to mark those dates in your calendar and see her smash out a live performance. You also have to check out this killer gothic renaissance photo taken by Kate Young.

TOUR DATES

Music Gallery	Sat, 29 Jan	Toronto, ON, CANADA
Santos Party House	Fri, 25 Feb	New York, NY
Glasslands	Sat, 26 Feb	Brooklyn, New York, US

Armani Haute Couture SS '11

2011-01-25T11:14:00.003-05:00

An elegant Eastern influence permeated the glittering show of colourful sequins, jewels and trinkets from the Italian super brand.

POPSHOP 002 NYC

2011-01-24T19:20:00.003-05:00

February edition of the night, featuring a co-headlining takeover by THE KNOCKS and PENGUIN PRISON with support coming from NYC up-and-comers LIKE DIAMONDS live and the amazing LIGHTWAVES on the decks all night long. It’s all going down at Tammany Hall the first Thursday of the month (February 3rd), with Absolut on board once again hooking up the drink specials throughout the night. Tickets are $10 in advance and can be purchased online HERE, or $13 on day of show available for purchase on the door. The show will likely sell out though, so you'd best move fast and purchase online to ensure entry on the night. Full running order below:

08:00pm: Doors // 2-for-1 Absolut cocktails
09:00pm: Like Diamonds
10:00pm: Penguin Prison
11:00pm: The Knocks
12:00am: Lightwaves (DJ)

When I'm Under The Sheets - The Jane Doze Mashup

2011-01-24T18:59:00.004-05:00

My girls, The Jane Doze, just put together this killer mashup "When I'm Under The Sheets," featuring songs by: Lissie (When I'm Alone) x Ellie Goulding (Under The Sheets) x Janelle Monae (Tightrope). Go show them some love here.

Golden Girl - Therapies Son

2011-01-24T17:49:00.006-05:00

It's Monday, which means many things. But more importantly, it's the end of another work day and the beginning of another week. As such, I'm sitting at my desk playing 'Golden Girl' on repeat while I mold into my chair like putty after what seems like an endless day.

Therapies Son reminds me of the classical pop sounds I used to encounter while riding around with my mother in her 'luxury vehicle', which was actually just an oldsmobile with sweet velvet interior. Fond Memories.

This is the project of former Paper Zoo member, Alex Jacob.

Cannot. Get. Out. Of. My. Head.

Prada 2011 Ad Campaign

2011-01-24T17:03:00.001-05:00

Loving Prada's fresh approach to their SS '11 Ad campaign. Not only have they curated a beautiful display of Sophia Lauren-esque looks, it's masterfully kept in tandem with Ratatat's 'Mirando'. Watch the runway show here.

'Untitled' - Lykke Li

2011-01-24T11:18:00.010-05:00

My buddy Dave Chaitt can attest to my fascination with Lykke Li. When she hit the stage at All Points West in 2009, I pretty much just melted into the puddle I was standing in.

The lovely Swedish pop sensation has just released a preview for her upcoming sophomore effort, Wounded Rhymes. "Untitled" finds Lykke stranded in the dessert while digging through the sand with an old pocketknife. All the while, breeze, harmonies, and waves set the tone for the short film.

Wounded Rhymes is slated for release on March 1, 2010.

Lykke Li - 'Untitled' from Lykke Li on Vimeo.

Maylee Todd VS Perfecto Mag

2011-01-08T14:28:00.005-05:00

I've never really looked at Maylee Todd as incredibly sexy before, but hot damn this shoot for Perfecto Mag certainly changed my opinion. Well done.

I Follow Rivers Remix // Lykke Li

2011-01-08T14:16:00.003-05:00

Lykke Li - I Follow Rivers (The Magician Remix) (Radio Rip) by dynmk

The Magician, in all of his infinite wisdom, has remixed Lykke Li’s new song I Follow Rivers. This release is going to be epic.

Planely - Making Your Flights Social

2011-01-05T00:54:00.002-05:00

Planely is a new service that tries to make your flights a better social experience by showing you who is on your next plane.

I Love You Magazine V.5

2011-01-05T00:51:00.003-05:00

I Love You Magazine Covershoot featuring Paz de la Huerta by Marcus Gaab

Illustrations: Karina Eibatova
Styling: Sarah Cobb
Hair: John Ruggiero (Starworks Artists),
MAKE-UP: Deanna Melluso (Artlist New York),
dress MARIOS SCHWAB

Best Winter Boots 2K10

2010-12-19T20:34:00.001-05:00

THE MUSEBOX MIXTAPE

2010-12-15T13:00:00.001-05:00

The MuseBox Holiday Mixtape by MuseBox

My Polar Ice

2010-12-14T01:37:00.001-05:00

MyPolarice Initiative: 2 Dutch artists marketing of the pieces of iceberg contained in capsules, before their disappearance. Available in 1000 specimens of 22cm. How does this make you feel?

BIGGER THAN US - WHITE LIES

2010-11-21T20:45:00.006-05:00

Here's the new clip for English group White Lies, signed on by Polydor in the UK. It's a work based on a scene in E.T. titled "Bigger Than Us". Directed by the French duo Jonas and Francois. Dig it?

Remain The Same - Grillade

2010-11-15T22:58:00.003-05:00

[gree-yahd] = ragen fykes | keelay | the park

Melt my heart. Repeat. Melt Again.

Grillade twitter & website

BONES EP RELEASE | DATA ROMANCE

2010-11-15T09:54:00.004-05:00

Every once in a while an artist comes along and sweeps you off your feet to take you to a place which is not only musically inspired, but lustful, and creatively focused. Data Romance have a wild fluidity and ultimately seem capable of conquering any musical feat that comes their way. Their EP "Bones" will lend you much anticipation for the full length album which is set to be released in spring '11.

Until then, get into it. Feel it, get lost in it, and share it with all of your friends. This is something no one should have to miss out on.

Young Galaxy Announce "Shapeshifting"

2010-11-11T15:13:00.008-05:00

Montreal-based art-rockers Young Galaxy are set to release their third album Shapeshifting on February 8th, 2011. The eleven-track album is the band's first for Toronto's Paper Bag Records and is unlike anything the four-piece have done before. Shapeshifting was recorded in Montreal and then sent away, across the ocean, to one of the world's most acclaimed and secretive producers. For nine months, Dan Lissvik, half of the Swedish duo Studio, curved and refashioned these tracks; he made and remade them. The finished album is a thing of cold reverb, hot drums and synth.

After their last album Invisible Republic, Young Galaxy were dreaming of transformation, transmutation, change. They imagined the parallel universe version of their own band, a Young Galaxy that was never "epic," rarely "rock" - instead sexy, spacious, haunted by ghosts in silver, black and primary colours. Whereas they once wrote songs of pounding drums and cresting guitar, this time the four-piece sketched their love of New Order, The Knife and The Eurythmics.

In October, Lissvik best known for his work with Studio and recent remixes for Fever Ray and Bear In Heaven sat down at his computer in Gothenburg. Young Galaxy sat down at their computer in Montreal. And across 3,500 miles, Skype-ing with a friend they have never met, Young Galaxy heard their third album for the first time.

2010 has been a busy year for the bands as they saw Invisible Republic featured on the long-list for the prestigious Canadian Polaris Music Prize. More recently, Invisible Republic stand-out track "Destroyer" was nominated for the SOCAN Echo Songwriting Prize alongside songs from The Besnard Lakes, Caribou, Brasstronaut and Crystal Castles.

Recenty wrapping up a national tour across Canada, sharing the stage with artists like Arcade Fire, Stars, Twin Shadow - to name a few, Young Galaxy will bring their new songs on tour beginning in 2011. Keep watch for a tour announcement in the new year!

Download Peripheral Visionaries here.

Shapeshifting Tracklisting:
Nth
The Angels Are Surely Weeping (featuring Hanna)
Blown Minded
We Have Everything
For Dear Life
Peripheral Visionaries
High and Goodbye
Phantoms
Cover Your Tracks
B.S.E.
Shapeshifting

QUOTE OF THE DAY

2010-11-10T10:39:00.002-05:00

For those of you who can appreciate Nietzsche.

"To those human beings who are of any concern to me I wish suffering, desolation, sickness, ill-treatment, indignities - I wish that they should not remain unfamiliar with profound self-contempt, the torture of self-mistrust, the wretchedness of the vanquished: I have no pity for them, because I wish them the only thing that can prove today whether one is worth anything or not - that one endures."

The Brain In Love

2010-11-09T01:43:00.002-05:00

Romantic love is one of the most powerful sensations on earth. Bedtime Stories. Put me to rest.

LUST MUCH?

2010-11-04T23:10:00.000-04:00

GET LOST IN IT

2010-11-03T20:39:00.006-04:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, It's my pleasure to introduce two new and might I say, favourite additions to my life, Data Romance and the monome.

Ajay Bhattacharyya and Amy Kirkpatrick have never been afraid to embrace new technology in the interest of forwarding art. 2010 saw their first film composition (Life Cycles), several exclusive shows performing for Olympic Athletes in Vancouver, and collaborative video and art and music projects with artists from Brazil, New Delhi, Italy, France, New York and LA. You may have seen their work with Marco Aslan floating around the web earlier this year (video below).

Creating music with the Monome, a small laptop sized grid of LED buttons, ensures that Data Romance's sound remains ever evolving, colorful and always a bit left of center, but still accessible and true to who they are. This is as pertinent as ever on their new EP, which is slated for release November 15, 2010. This EP is just the tip of the iceberg. Data Romance are already immersed in writing their debut LP due out in the Spring 2011.

Visit them here:

INFLUENCERS

2010-11-03T17:55:00.006-04:00

BROUGHT TO YOU BY R+I CREATIVE

Social influence occurs when an individual's thoughts, feelings or actions are affected by other people. Social influence takes many forms and can be seen in conformity, socialization, peer pressure, obedience, leadership, persuasion, sales, and marketing. In 1958, Harvard psychologist, Herbert Kelman identified three broad varieties of social influence.

Compliance is when people appear to agree with others, but actually keep their dissenting opinions private.
Identification is when people are influenced by someone who is liked and respected, such as a famous celebrity or a favorite uncle.
Internalization is when people accept a belief or behavior and agree both publicly and privately.

Fortum Energy | Brand Gem

2010-11-02T21:45:00.005-04:00

Fortum is an energy company focusing on the Nordic countries, Russia and the Baltic Rim area. Their purpose is to create energy that improves life for present and future generations. They provide sustainable solutions that fulfil the needs for low emissions, resource efficiency and energy security. Most notably, they are "not a boring energy company".

This is such an incredibly strategic and appealing concept. You work out for 1 hour, therefore you lower your home energy costs by (x) amount. I have spent the past little while trying to come up with a flaw in this program, I have yet to find one. They're integrating social media, application, activity, and face to face interaction to their participants and clientele, in addition to lowering mandatory electricity costs. This is brilliance. This is branding in it's finest form.

GET SOME - LYKKE LI

2010-11-01T23:21:00.001-04:00

Download here

Allie Hughes Does It Again

2010-11-01T22:56:00.005-04:00

Just received this video from one of my artists, Allie Hughes. I was thoroughly impressed, although not surprised at the range and talent that this dark haired beauty holds. Check it. Thanks to Mitch from Southern Souls for yet another great video.

WE WERE LOVERS

2010-11-01T21:35:00.004-04:00

Sleek, dark, angular and unbearably sexy, the music of We Were Lovers is engineered for a special sort of dance floor. The kind that can handle the sinewy bounce of The Cure and New Order just as much as the pounding throb of The New York Dolls or The Jam. Sporting one of the most immediately striking voices we've heard in ages, Elsa Gebremichael merges the sweaty theatrics of electro-clash with Ash Lamothe's dreamy rock atmospherics.

They'll bring their swirling, synth-topped music to the masses with their upcoming self-titled EP, produced by NYC knob-twiddling mainstay Chris Coady, who has lent his talents to albums from The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, TV on the Radio, Beach House and Grizzly Bear. And if the band keeps touring, they'll likely end up in that caliber of company sooner rather than later. With countless shows under their belts, supporting everyone from Land of Talk to the aforementioned Dolls, Gebremichael and Lamothe are quietly turning We Were Lovers into an indie dance juggernaut.

Visit them on twitter

Listen on myspace

Pigeons - The Hundred In The Hands

2010-10-22T07:52:00.003-04:00

The Social Networking Map

2010-10-19T10:50:00.003-04:00

NO WAY BACK | A COLLABORATIVE

2010-10-05T19:58:00.002-04:00

Yves Saint Laurent and director Ari Marcopoulos present "No Way Back", a short film representing the vision of Yves Saint Laurent Creative Director Stefano Pilati's 2011 Spring/Summer collection. The short film focuses on influential tattoo artist Mark Mahoney and his Hollywood institution, the Shamrock Social Club. As a talented creative spanning photography and filmmaking, Ari Marcopoulos' resume spans exhibitions, published books and collaborative projects with Supreme, Nike, Vans and Stussy among others.

THE MUSEBOX DOES POP MONTREAL

2010-09-29T20:57:00.002-04:00

POP MONTREAL 2010

Smoked meat. Bagels. Beautiful apartments for unbelievably cheap. Three things that Montreal on which has made a name for themselves. But since its inception in 2002, the annual Pop Montreal Music Festival has made a serious case to put itself atop of Montreal's most attractive entities.

And, almost as long as the festival itself has existed, so too has The MuseBox's annual contribution to the showcase of top-tier musical acts. In previous years, our showcase has featured budding international superstars Mother Mother, Dr. Dog, Das Racist, and others.

But this year, we're partnering with Last Gang Records for a showcase that is a two-headed monster. Like each year previous, we're featuring the most exciting emerging acts across North America. But NEW this year is a Day Time Pop! in the Park showcase with totally unique, acoustic performances from the acts

performing in their full electric glory later in the night. Pretty friggin' special, for sure.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2ND

POP! IN THE PARK

DAY TIME

2:00-5:00PM

UQAM - Place Pasteur - 1430 Saint-Denis

FREE!

FEATURING UNPLUGGED PERFORMANCES BY:

RUBY COAST (Toronto)

LIBRARY VOICES (Regina)

PAPER LIONS (PEI)

MODERN SUPERSTITIONS (Toronto)

SAVOIR ADORE (Brooklyn)

THE SHEEPDOGS (Saskatoon)

MUSEBOX/LAST GANG POP MONTREAL SHOWCASE

NIGHT TIME

Petit Campus - 57 Rue Prince Arthur

$10 or FREE with POP MTL WRISTBAND

2am LIBRARY VOICES (Regina)

1am PAPER LIONS (PEI)

12am MODERN SUPERSTITIONS (Toronto)

11pm THE HOOF & THE HEEL (Montreal)

10pm RUBY COAST (Toronto)

9pm SAVOIR ADORE (New York)

8pm TEN KENS (Toronto)

CLICK HERE TO

DOWNLOAD THE MUSEBOX

POP MONTREAL MIX TAPE

Fall Boot Nom Nom

2010-09-27T12:34:00.004-04:00

1. The New Western Boot—Inspired by your favorite riding or cowboy boots, the New Western style is sturdy and wearable but also super stylish...very Hèrmes.

2. Tailored Combat Boots—Swap summer's beat-up boyish boots for this season's more tailored combat styles.

3. Autumn Colored Boots—Offering up a nice change from the standard black and brown leather, autumn's warm and spicy shades give these boots a little extra pizazz.

Amazing fall boot trends over at Refinery 29. Lust away.

CLARE MAGUIRE HAS JUST BEGUN

2010-09-26T00:19:00.008-04:00

Welcome to my life Ms. Clare Maguire. Today I took a "me" day, which generally consisted of making messes just to reorganize, attempting to make my house a home, and watching reality shows about jailed American house wives. I know, just wild.

My 25th Birthday was this week and with this new found adulthood, I am on the quest to find music that will accompany me throughout my daily quarter life. Since I am admittedly "mature" I forcefully abandon the trends of last year and my peers' so called ability to pick out talent and present "good music" to the masses.

My first entry for a big year is a woman with a larger than life voice.

Clare Maguire's haunting vocals are a cross between Celtic songstress Loreena McKennitt, sans the sweetness and Stevie Nicks but plus the power. She has a unique aesthetic that rivals Gaga and Marina, and it seems that I'm not the only person drawn to the brown haired gem. She has had Jarvis Cocker, Plan B, and Mike Skinner pen songs for her and to top it off, Universal music has been so kind as to offer a multi million dollar contract at her feet. Not to mention, Jay Z has attested her star quality....

So keep your eyes and ears prepared. Although she has no dates planned for the USA as of yet. I am expecting some big things from her and perhaps for my 26th year, I'll have seen her on stage, at least once. In the meantime, go get a free download and follow her on twitter.

UK OCTOBER TOUR DATES:Sat 2nd Concorde - supporting Hurts Brighton
Sun 3rd Cockpit - supporting Hurts Leeds
Mon 4th Oran Mor - supporting Hurts Glasgow
Wed 6th Rock City - supporting Plan B Nottingham
Thu 7th UEA - supporting Plan B Norwich
Fri 8th Brixton Academy - supporting Plan B London
Sat 9th Brixton Academy - supporting Plan B London
Sun 10th SBE (Kirsty MacColl Tribute) London
Mon 11th Academy - supporting Plan B Bristol
Tue 12th Guildhall - supporting Plan B Southampton
Wed 13th Corn Exchange - supportPlan B Cambridge
Fri 15th Academy - supporting Plan B Manchester
Sat 16th Academy - supporting Plan B Newcastle
Sun 17th Engine Shed - supporting Plan B Lincoln
Mon 18th 53 Degrees - supporting Plan B Preston
Wed 20th Fat Sams - supporting Plan B Dundee
Thu 21st Academy - supporting Plan B Leeds
Fri 22nd Academy - supporting Plan B Birmingham
Sat 23rd Academy - supporting Plan B Glasgow
Tue 26th Winter Gardens - support Plan B Margate
Thu 28th University - supporting Plan B Leicester
Fri 29th Academy - supporting Plan B Sheffield
Sat 30th University - supporting Plan B Liverpool

PAPER LIONS ON TOUR

2010-09-20T14:13:00.005-04:00

Oh hi Canada.

I work with these gents and they're about to head on a nice tour. Check out their new video "Lost The War" and go buy their new EP Trophies which was released on MB3 Records.

Paper Lions are a Canadian pop rock band hailing from the unlikely small community of Belfast, Prince Edward Island. Brothers John and Rob MacPhee and neighbour Colin Buchanan began playing music together at a very young age in a variety of garage bands, but the line up was never solidified until they met David MacDonald in high school. MacDonald behind the kit, Buchanan playing guitar and Rob
and John filling the positions of bass and lead vocals respectively.

For the first 4 years of the bands career they were known as Chucky Danger Band and during that time they toured extensively all over Canada. Due in part to some unique touring opportunities such as Art Starts, (a program exposing schools and communities to all forms of art), literally no ground was left uncovered, from the Queen Charlotte Islands to Charlottetown. This dedication to the road garnered the group the 2007 National Touring Group of the Year award presented by CAPACOA.

Although successful as CDB, by 2007 the band grew tired of the moniker and sought a new name more in tune with their maturing sound and new direction. On February 21, 2008 the band announced on their website they were changing their name to "Paper Lions" and would be spending some much needed time off the road to focus on songwriting.

During the winter of '08/'09 the band hibernated in their practice space on Prince Edward Island. During this highly creative period the Lions wrote dozens of songs in myriad styles. Sifting through extensive basement recordings and demos, they began to find their new sound in short explosive pop arrangements. By the summer of 2009 Paper Lions was ready to hit the studio, recording their new EP Trophies with up and coming Producer/Engineer Dan Weston (Attack in Black/Classified). Slated for release in early 2010, these six songs are rumoured to clock in at a whopping 17 min long. Possessing the unbridled energy of their live show and their deep understanding of melody and pop arrangements, Trophies, like its creators, is now prepared to take on the world.

Since their inception Paper Lions has garnered consistent praise for their unique live show experience. They have had the pleasure of playing alongside many of North America's finest acts such as CAKE, The Rheostatics, Joel Plaskett, The Golden Dogs, and Hey Rosetta! Paper Lions has also been nominated for 10 East Coast Music awards, taking home Pop Recording of the Year in 2006.

TOUR DATES with Library Voices:
9/28 Mansion House St Catherines, ON
9/29 Casbah Hamilton, ON
9/30 Horseshoe Toronto, ON
10/01 Grad Club Kingston, ON
10/02 POP Montreal Montreal, QC
10/03 Café Dekcuf Ottawa, ON
10/06 Hunters Ale House Charlottetown, PEI
10/07 Capitol Fredericton, NB
10/08 Seahorse Halifax, NS
10/09 George's Roadhouse Sackville, NB
10/13 Jacks Thunder Bay, ON
10/14 Royal Albert Arms Winnipeg, MB
10/15 Exchange Regina, SK
10/16 Amigos Saskatoon, SK
10/17 Cultural Centre Moose Jaw, SK
10/20 The Spot Yorkton, SK
10/21 Republik Calgary, AB
10/22 Avenue Theatre Edmonton, AB
10/23 Breakout West Kelowna, BC
10/24 Breakout West Kelowna, BC
10/26 Lucky Bar Victoria, BC
10/27 Cowichan Theatre Duncan, BC
10/29 Pit Pub (UBC) Vancouver, BC

CHRONOLOGY ft. Mariacarla Boscono

2010-09-15T12:33:00.001-04:00

NOWNESS and NET-A-PORTER partner to create Chronology, a fashion film by I Am Love director Luca Guadagnino, starring model Mariacarla Boscono.

SOLARIUM - ft. Lykke Li

2010-09-13T09:52:00.001-04:00

Mild Obsession > Pogo

2010-08-11T23:18:00.011-04:00

The sister like creature, also known as "Virginia" introduced me to this curious fella named Pogo. We're talking young genius, who just may produce some of the coolest shit ever. the majority of his tracks are composed using chords, bass notes and vocal samples from the Disney feature films.

Historically speaking, I would scoff at the notion of a Disney remix and question the taste of whomever sent over the listening suggestion. In this case, I'm marveling not only at the novelty, but the general disposition and fluidity of sound that accompanies these animated musical "shorts".

I'm particularly fond of "Alice", "Splurgen Shitter", and "Gardyn", which was a gift to his mother. There is a post on his website (copied below) explaining the production process and inspiration behind the track. Pogo is also an artist/illustrator and incredible photographer, check out his work here.

"Gardyn is a gift to my mother, a track made of sounds that I recorded around her garden. The track also features harmonic syllables of her voice. I shot the video myself over a number of days after a refreshing trip to New York. Gardyn marks the first time I’ve ever mixed the real world, and I hope it won’t be the last.

The word ‘Gardyn’ is middle English. I wanted to name the track something real, but at the same time, I wanted it to be easy to find. Other names I considered were ‘Bluomo’ which is Latin for blossom, and simply ‘The Garden’ which I felt was terribly lazy and unappealing.

I pulled my mother outside one afternoon to interview her. I didn’t explain what it was for, but I’ve always been a very experimental chap, so this was nothing too out of the ordinary. For 10 minutes, I got her to tell me about her passion for gardening and her relationship with God.

With the vocal samples I needed, I ran around her property filming sights and sounds that I would later splice together with her voice to make music. I wanted to capture the textures and materials. I’ve been a chronic rhythm tapper for as long as I can remember – always dropping beats on anything that sounds good. Doing this throughout the video made a lot of sense.

I spent a good three weeks painting with these sounds before I could call this creation a solid track. I was nervous about releasing it – I didn’t want people to think I was moving away from films. ‘Gardyn’ was the first real-world Pogo mix I released, and I had no idea how everyone would react.

Mother’s Day finally arrived, and ‘Gardyn’ gained a startling 100,000 views on YouTube in its first week.

I was in bed one night when this idea first struck me. I suddenly saw myself sitting with red Indian tribes, African tribes, visiting Shaolin monk monestries, traipsing through Egyptian markets – all the way making Pogo mixes out of my experiences. What better way for me to see the world? I could find no flaw with this idea other than the fact I’d have to seek funding that doesn’t entail deadlines and the advertising of some product or service. That would be the biggest challenge. It’s like everyone always says, start small and climb the ladder.

Filming and mixing my mother’s garden was a great experience. Mixing films will always be a passion of mine, but it’s certainly exciting to imagine running around the world with a camera, microphone and laptop. Now whenever I hear sounds and voices around me, my brain starts ticking!"

Pure Art

2010-08-07T10:56:00.002-04:00

Drown in love. Lap up the poison. Otherwise, there's no point.

Another Force In Some Solemn Way

2010-08-07T10:47:00.002-04:00

Actors Matt Dallas and Alessandra Torresani with Tyler Shields. Gorgeous.

Christopher Willits' Floral Reverie

2010-08-07T09:27:00.002-04:00

San Francisco’s Christopher Willits is part tech geek, part guru. With his fair, shoulder-length hair and piercing blue eyes he could pass as a scrubbed-up (and uncharacteristically cheerful) Kurt Cobain, but there’s nothing grungy about the mesmerizing, intricate electronic soundscapes that constitute his latest album Tiger Flower Circle Sun, out this month fromGhostly International. The record, he sermonizes, is "an expression of the connection of all things. We are from the plants, the plants from the sun. All is light. Everything is connected and this music is my expression of love for all." He himself is something of a universal talent, not only a virtuosic musician but an adept computer programmer—to create his shimmering walls of sound he uses his own custom software (he began inventing his own guitar effects when he was 13), and accompanies live performances with interactive visuals, the latest of which are controlled via the stroke of an iPad. In the past decade he’s recorded an astonishing 20 albums, collaborating with musicians such as Ryuichi Sakamoto, Matmos and Kid606 (a former-member of his band project Flossin), but he describes his latest offering as “the most concise statement that I have made as an artist to date.” For each track on the album, he’s created a corresponding piece of digital video art, blending a series of super-colorful portraits of the natural world with subtle, soporific manipulations of focus and transparency. Today we premiere the video to accompany the album’s closing track, “Flowers into Stardust.” "I'm really loving how the lens shifts and morphs our perception of what is light and what is a flower," he says. "I'm thinking about the threshold and relationship between light and shape, symbol and memory."

-via nowness

The Dø

2010-08-06T22:44:00.007-04:00

"How often do you hear an amazing pop song by a Finnish-French- girl-boy duo? Olivia Merilahti & Dan Levi have brushed aside nearly all preconceptions we might have about their birthplaces by creating something genuinely captivating. This tastes real good" - NME

"This record is as ambitious and fun as any coming-out party in recent memory" - Pitchfork

"The Dø, s debut album is a veritable pop tour de-force. This album is one of the tastiest morsels of the year so far." - The Guardian UK

"A cross between The Cardigans & Hole, with peaks of orchestral whimsy, it's an exuberantly bouncy sound" - The New Yorker

"Their debut album recalls the likes of PJ Harvey, Fleetwood Mac andMidlake with its instant melodic gratification. Sweeping strings, backwards guitar loops and sumptuous vocals provide the back drop for this stunning album that reaches giddy heights of minor key wonder"-Tune Tribe

The Dø didn’t set out to make music history – but it happened anyway. The Franco- Finnish duo with the odd name (pronounced “dough,” by the way) released its debut album, A Mouthful, in France in 2008, and the record soared to the top of the charts. This made The Dø the first French act to ever hit the #1 spot with an album sung in English. The decision to write those songs in English wasn’t a great career move – France is notoriously protective of its mother tongue, and French acts that don’t sing in French are restricted in the amount of radio play and exposure they can get. But The Dø’s music proved to be irresistible. Now, America is about to learn why.

The Dø has conjured up an unlikely blend of indie rock, folk, dance, and mid-20th century pop. Not eclectic enough? How about Finnish folk, dark techno, or a sly bit of rap? They’re all here too, and all bound together by an audible sense of wonder and whimsy that is already creating a stir Stateside. Taste-making website Pitchfork proclaimed the album “as ambitious and fun as any coming out party in recent memory.”

Singer Olivia Merilahti and instrumentalist Dan Levy first met while scoring an otherwise undistinguished film, and began writing songs together in 2004. Their career followed a trajectory familiar to indie bands from Silverlake to Williamsburgh to London: a few early nibbles on a MySpace page, some rough’n’ready gigs where Olivia learned to play guitar, and then a TV commercial. The band’s debut single, “On My Shoulders,” was tabbed by an English stationery company for an ad campaign, and the rest is, as they say, music history. After selling 150,000 units, A Mouthful topped the French charts, and the group’s MySpace page is currently nearing the 5-million-hit mark. The duo’s live performances have become the stuff of legend. And it seems to be just a matter of time before The Dø’s impossibly catchy but emotionally subtle tunes turn up on American television.

“On My Shoulders” provoked comparisons to The Cardigans andBjörk – perhaps inevitable when an elfin, Scandinavian woman is fronting a band. But a better comparison might be with Phoenix, another French band with a knack for relentlessly likable songs. “On My Shoulders” marries some clever wordplay to a sturdy indie rock beat, with unexpected touches of sinuous electric guitar and occasional swelling strings. This, as it turns out, is a big part of The Dø’s appeal: they are musically unpredictable and their recording covers a surprising amount of ground. The album’s opener, “Playground Hustle,” begins with a children’s chorus and what sounds like a fife-and- drum corps – or it could also be a Brazilian samba school. “We are not afraid of you grownups,” chant the kids, while programmed sounds and, eventually, Olivia’s voice join in. The whole thing builds to a big, rocking climax.

“At Last” also sports one of Dan’s deft arrangements. Built on a guitar riff that sounds like something from the Sticky Fingers-era Stones, “At Last” also features little touches of harmonica, a wordless chorus, and piano. Then there’s “Tammie,” a piece of timeless pop that refuses to be pinned down – the sun-kissed, Brazilian-inflected 60s? the “unplugged” rock of the 90s? the irony of the 00s? They may all be a part of the mix. Even more unlikely is the song “Aha,” where angular, rhythmic verses slide into a cool, alluring chorus. It’s as if Dan and Olivia had mashed up The Prodigy’s hardcore techno with the smooth lyricism of The Walker Brothers (or any other 60s band that dressed in matching suits).

But there is a darker side to The Dø as well: “The Bridge Is Broken” starts innocently enough, but builds to a wall of ominous guitars and distorted vocals. Even more unsettling is “Searching Gold,” where a moody, downtempo groove supports Olivia’s softly sung, eerie tale of dislocation and loss. Edgy psychedelia gives “Travel Light” a certain frisson, and the nearly-instrumental track “In My Box” offers an arresting combination of slowcore drums, menacing synth drones, and distorted wails.

The album’s roots in UK and US pop and rock are obvious, but in “Unissasi Laulelet,” Olivia offers a nod to her own Finnish heritage. Multitracked voices and simple percussion give the piece a folky sound that’s reminiscent of the Finnish folk/rock band Värttinä. A somewhat older US/UK style colors “Stay (Just Little Bit More),” a song that sounds like one of those old music hall tunes that inspired the Beatles. But the oom- pah bass and girly chorus are undercut by telltale bits of electric guitar, percussion, and occasional lyrics that say “you’re not in the 40s anymore.” The Dø reference the more recent musical past on the hip-hop track “Queen Dot Kong,” a cheeky bit of humor that reminds us of the days when Eminem was still funny.

The American release of A Mouthful will also feature three bonus tracks: one is “On My Shoulders (Chamber Version).” This is not a remix but a complete reinvention of their hit single. The melody is strikingly different – lower and more melancholy; and true to the subtitle, it is a largely acoustic version that only later on builds to a darker, more processed sound, only to quickly subside again. A “chamber version” of “Unissasi Laulelet” is also acoustic, with only a single vocal line and a choir of muted horns. But“Playground Hustle & Bustle” goes the opposite route, as The Dø offer an extended rave up that puts the opening children’s chorus in a whole different context.

As catchy as their songs are, it’s the duo’s restless creativity and refusal to do the expected that suggest we’ll be hearing a lot more of The Dø.

THE DØ: A Mouthful
US Release Date: 4/6/10
Six Degrees Record

TOUR DATES:
09/07 Mercury Lounge, New York
09/08 The Bell House, Brooklyn
09/09 La Sala Rossa, Montreal
09/10 The Envol et Macadam Fest, Quebec City 09/11 The Mod Club, Toronto
09/13 Schubas Tavern, Chicago
09/14 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis
09/17 Biltmore Cabaret, Vancouver
09/18 Crocodile Cafe, Seattle
09/19 Doug Fir Lounge, Portland
09/21 Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco
09/22 Troubadour, Los Angeles

VF // SUPREME BEINGS MIXTAPE

2010-08-06T22:16:00.003-04:00

Yo Kiddos, your new favourite jam is available for download. Recent favourites and so forth. Any questions about the bands, hit me up at vosfactory@gmail.com. Go forth, be happy, and keep on jamming.

FADER (THE KNOCKS REMIX FEAT. SAMUEL) - THE TEMPER TRAP

PUMPED UP KICKS - FOSTER THE PEOPLE

HIGH ON YOUR LOVE - KINGS GO FORTH

EAGER FOR YOUR LOVE - TRISTEN

GOLD FOR THE PRICE OF SILVER - EROT VS. KINGS OF CONVENIENCE

BRIDES SONG - YUKON BLONDE

QUEEN DRUM (GRAHAM LESSARD REMIX) - YOUNG GALAXY

DOUBT - DELPHIC

DAVID - THE RADIO DEPT.

WHEN I GROW UP (D. LISSVIK OF STUDIO REMIX) - FEVER RAY

EASY (FABIAN REMIX) - DRAGONETTE

SO THIS IS GOODBYE (PINK GANTER REMIX) - WILLIAM FITZSIMMONS

JONA VARK - GYPSY & THE CAT

MISSING YOU (FEAT. AD-APT) - LOUIS LA ROCHE

SWIMMING - FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE

BUT YOU’RE SUCH A CHERRY - FIRES OF ROME

HOME (RAC MIX) - EDWARD SHARPE AND THE MAGNETIC ZEROS

EVERYWHERE I GO - LISSIE

I DON’T KNOW WHAT I CAN SAVE YOU FROM (ROYKSOPP REMIX) - KINGS OF CONVENIENCE

STRUNG OUT OVER YOU - WILLIAM BELL & MAVIS STAPLES

Introducing Allie Hughes

2010-08-06T22:08:00.007-04:00

Perhaps as a kid, Allie Hughes listened to a superfluous amount of Fleetwood Mac because it's Stevie Nicks' call-to-arms classic "Go Your Own Way" which seems to resonate within every facet of her artistry, as a musician and as a performer.

In true trendsetting form, Allie Hughes has created a perfect hybrid between genre-bending alt-pop and the most engaging elements of a budding musical theatre career; a path which previously had her pigeonholed as “that girl who was on that Maria show” (Hugheshad in 2008, spent time as a top 10 finalist on CBC's hit summer reality show “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria” where she competed to play Maria Von Trapp in Toronto's production of The Sound Of Music). Although grateful for the opportunity and Lord Lloyd Webber's support (and a youtube video with 15,000+ plays), it became immediately obviously that Hughes has a uniqueness that resonates immediately on a different kind of stage - one she now shares with some of Canada's most impressive musicians.

When she takes the stage, Allie often does so in full costume - whether as a trashy 1980's bride or classy 1920's cabaret singer - backed by an air-tight (also costumed) supergroup of bandmates who hone their talents with other projects as well (The Magic, Germans, Laura Barrett, Jim Guthrie, Thomas, Lilly Frost, Steve McKay). A recent NXNE review called her on-stage presence“unquantifiable, she immediately radiates the kind of grace, and strangeness that leaves you plainly- infatuated with her” (Friends with Both Arms). Allie has also caught the attention of Canadian music veteran (and now co-writer on Hughes' upcoming material) Ron Sexsmith who says her “songs have an originality that’s all her own and she’s an absolutely charming performer”.

A girl who mixes pop, show tunes, opera, punk, Allie Hughes has been busy in the studio for the past year writing and recording her debut album. In 2009 she connected with producer Dave Newfeld (Broken Social Scene) who heard a demo of her song “Elevator” and reached out to produce it. This has led to an ongoing collaboration that has generated more and more new material, each song more daring and engaging than the last.

In the immediate, Allie Hughes' radar includes the release of a debut self-titled EP which will serve as a preview for her upcoming album, and Eastern Canadian tour plans. In the long-term, Allie's career path, like her music, fans out like the output of a kaleidoscope - unpredictable and ever-changing, promising nothing but fervent splashes of colour literally everywhere you look.

Allie's Website

Allies twitter

Live In Bellwoods Not The Stars + O Chad

Press//Interview Requests email: jo@themusebox.net

Styled // Young Galaxy

2010-08-06T21:55:00.004-04:00

Check out the incredible Fennimas pieces on Catherine McCandless of Young Galaxy. I was lucky enough to style Catherine for their performance with Arcade Fire at The Bank Of America Pavillion in Boston this past weekend.

YG is about to Embark on a cross country tour with Stars. Get out your calendars and pick your dates. Not a show you should be considering missing.

SUMMER 2K10 MIXTAPE

2010-06-08T12:28:00.006-04:00

(click photo to enlarge for track list)

DOWNLOAD: SUMMER 2K10 MIXTAPE

The sun is out. so take this mix, press play, no skipping, and top to bottom. Walk around to it, hit on the opposite sex with it, watch some birds in a park to it, and tell your friends about it. Be sure to hit me up with a "Thanks Jo, you're the bomb" when you're ready for the next one. 2K10 has never sounded so bloody sweeeeet.

Speaking Of Muses

2010-05-21T21:51:00.004-04:00

Check out Oliver Peoples' 2010 Campaign film Les Enfants Sennuient Le Dimanche (translates: The children are bored on Sundays) directed by Autumn De Wilde & featuring Elijah Wood (who needs no reference) and Shirley Manson (Garbage). The soundtrack is "Just You & Me" by Zee Avi (Brushfire Records).

Thanks V! XX

Morning Benders Announce Tour Dates!

2010-05-04T10:09:00.010-04:00

North American Tour Dates:

May 18th || Humphreys Concerts by the Bay || San Diego, CA*
May 19th || Henry Fonda Theatre || Los Angeles, CA || SOLD OUT*
May 21st || Regency Ballroom || San Francisco, CA || SOLD OUT*
May 24th || Wonder Ballroom || Portland, OR || SOLD OUT*
May 25th || Showbox at the Market || Seattle, WA || SOLD OUT*
May 26th || Commodore Ballroom || Vancouver, BC*
May 29th || Gothic Theatre || Englewood, CO*
May 31st || Vic Theatre || Chicago, IL || SOLD OUT*
June 1st || St. Andrews Hall || Detroit, MI*
June 2nd || Queen Elizabeth Theatre || Toronto, ON*
June 4th || Royale NightClub || Boston, MA*
June 5th || The Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza || New York, NY || SOLD OUT*
June 6th || Electric Factory || Philadelphia, PA*
June 7th || 9:30 Club || Washington, D.C. || SOLD OUT*
June 10th || Center Stage || Atlanta, GA || SOLD OUT*
June 11th || 40 Watt Club || Athens, GA*
July 26th || DAR Constitution Hall || Washington, DC#
July 27th || Central Park Summerstage || New York, NY || SOLD OUT#
July 28th || Central Park Summerstage || New York, NY#
July 30th || Great Plaza at Penn's Landing || Philadelphia, PA#
July 31st || Bank of America Pavilion || Boston, MA#
August 3rd || Kool Haus || Toronto, ON#
August 4th || Kool Haus || Toronto, ON#
August 6-8th || Lollapalooza || Chicago, IL
August 7th || Metro || Chicago, IL#
August 8th || Val Air Ballroom || Des Moines, IA#
August 9th || Anchor Inn || Omaha, NE#
August 11th || Iroquois Amphitheater || Louisville, KY#
August 12th || Ryman Auditorium || Nashville, TN#
August 13th || The LC Amphitheater || Columbus, OH#
August 14th || The Fillmore Detroit || Detroit, MI#

* with Broken Bells
# with The Black Keys

I WANT YOU MIXTAPE

2010-04-28T14:09:00.002-04:00

DOWNLOAD HERE

Musical Musings Volume 1: Alice By Temperley vs. Lana Del Ray

2010-04-21T15:27:00.025-04:00

Alice. Alice Alice.

In Wonderland. Rock 'n Roll. In jumpsuits. In print. Is not afraid. In stripes. In my head. In shorts. In lace. On stage. In leather. In my heartness. On my arm, chest, waist, and legs.

Miss Temperley has graciously created (to my insurmountable delight, a new collection & appropriately titled) ALICE by Temperley. A ready to wear line geared at a younger demographic & inspired by the "Quintessential London girl". Indeed they are beautiful, delicately tailored, and incredibly trendy ... and you should be sitting there coveting every single piece of the collection.

By nature I'm a music girl. Always have been, always will be. But there is something so riveting about the fusion of fashion and music. Two worlds that travel hand in hand and will continue to do so over the infinite course of time.

The notion of "musing" has been practiced relentlessly throughout history. It's evident that the two worlds thrive when in congruence. After all, what would one be without the other? 2K10, now more than ever, is drawing inspiration from "real life" muses.

Typically it's a case of strategic marketing and branding, but I like to live under the impression that outside influences (such as up and coming, musical entrepreneurs) have a voice in the "choosing of musing." So I will be posting weekly choices for Temperley's hypothetical muse for the US of A.

Volume 1: LANA DEL RAY

This platinum femme fatale who is also known as Lizzy Grant, is the daughter of veteran domain investor Rob Grant. Her songwriting ability puts most of us to shame and her music videos have an air of fresh nostalgia that launch you into another era. The traces of sweet melancholly translate into the coming of a modern day Marilyn Monroe, while slipping a casual modernism into her grip. I'm impatiently waiting to see her explode into the star I know she will be.

"No matter where in the world Lana is, her love of film noir, Italian landscapes, big churches, roller coasters and the memory of faded stars like Bette Davis, Kurt Cobain, Nina Simone and Elvis are the chorus line for her music, and her love of New York is her heartbeat."

Lana Del Ray myspace
Lana Del Ray facebook

King Britt VS. Bedouin

2010-04-20T14:11:00.005-04:00

Have you heard the news? The legendary musicologist King Britt (Five Six Media) is set to produce Bedouin Soundclash's new album which will be recorded in Philly this may at Larry Gold's Studio. Be sure to check in with Pirates Blend for updates throughout production! Man, Philly knows how to hammer out some solid talent.

Below is some vintage Britt... But a SOLID track.

Alex Bleeker & The Freeks

2010-04-20T10:54:00.006-04:00

Yesterday I posted a beautiful video that Tristan Clopet does of "Philadelphia" by Neil Young. Today I have miraculously found Young's 2k10 counterpart.

Welcome to my life Alex Bleeker & The Freeks.

At first listen (Animal Tracks) when I visited their myspace page, it sounded like a mix of Bon Iver and Neil Young. But as I became more familiar with the other songs, they are indeed more psychedelic rock and less soothe. Guitar based ballads that stand suit to challenge your emotions and throw you into a nostalgic coma. Not something one would expect to arise out of the 'burbs of Jersey. A welcome addition to the "genuine talent" section on my ipod, I might add.

Being a Jersey native, Alex talks to Dazed Digital about the mythologized culture of growing up in the semi urban jungle, "I've hyper-mythologized NJ for my entire life, I think that all of us have. It's something that you have to do when you grow up in an uneventful suburb; it just keeps things interesting. The old man who likes to exercise after dark becomes "The Ghost Walker," Relationships with staffers at the local diner become drawn out, dramatic affairs, the search for weed on a Friday night becomes and epic quest, etc... I honestly feel very fortunate to have grown up where I did."

An interesting take and poetic analysis, oui? Alex makes Jersey seem like a wonderland... that's a massive feat in it's own right. So go see him play, go listen to his music, go lurk him online. Let me know what you think...

ps. take seven minutes just for me and watch this video, it's a wee bit of amazeness.

Listen to what the awesome Sawyer from Underwater Peoples has to say about his Bleeker and Freeks.

Musical Votation

2010-04-19T13:56:00.006-04:00

SONGR

A new site that lets you elect your favorite song of the moment!

It's like Digg for music—one big list of songs, ranked by popularity, laid out with monastic simplicity. Basically, there are two reasons to try this thing out. The first is if you're one of those hardcore types who would upload a video of your favorite tune, or spend hours giving those tunes a virtual thumbs-up or thumbs-down. So basically, someone else.

As for why you'd actually visit the site: finding your next personal theme song. Each tune is linked to either a YouTube clip or an MP3, so you can hear the song—you'll find tunes by obscure soul acts, death-obsessed hardcore groups barely known outside of their Philadelphia suburbs and even a little Chinese pop.

T IS 4 TINASHE

2010-04-19T10:48:00.006-04:00

This is a track Tinashe wrote and later adapted as nod to one of his favorite bands, Vampire Weekend. Its about an EX he caught kissing one of his best friends in a club. Tinashe then attempted to seek vengeance but got a good kicking for his troubles. Can we please give props to the drummer, he's awesome.

Clopet Covers "Philadelphia"

2010-04-19T10:07:00.005-04:00

It's been a near perfect morning. What better way to celebrate life and ease the mind than listening to a bit of Neil Young? I stumbled on this video of Tristan Clopet covering "Philadelphia" and took a brief pause from life - you should too.

Young wrote this for the Jonathan Demme movie Philadelphia, starring Tom Hanks as a lawyer dying of AIDS. Demme first cut the title sequence of Philadelphia to "Southern Man" and asked Young to write a song like it for the movie. Young gave him this, which he used at the end of the film.

Tristan Clopet Website

#MUSICMONDAY PLAYLIST

2010-04-18T20:32:00.004-04:00

J & B at COACHELLA

2010-04-18T19:48:00.005-04:00

Jay Z and Beyonce perform "Young Forever" at Coachella 2010. No, I'm not jealous of all of my musical counterparts who attended this festival while I work... Why should you ask?

On another note, coming soon to a venue near you: Me, "The White Beyonce" and band will be gracing your ears and eyes with musical treats.

PS22 covers Marina

2010-04-18T15:11:00.002-04:00

This is only most amazing Sunday Devotion I have ever posted. Spread the joy!

Trippin' on LCD

2010-04-17T13:20:00.006-04:00

I've been a negligent blonde for the past few weeks... a domestic wild fox, I am. So, a perfect segway back into the blogging world is to simply demand you go out and purchase This Is Happening. The Gods of Aurgasm have sent us sweet gifts from the heavenly pits of of the depths of James Murphy and they are not so startlingly just sparkling with brilliantine.

A musical cross between art and pop. Something so many of our generation strive towards, yet never come close to achieving a mere fraction of a diligently cool and collected capture of sound.

Do you yourself a favour and preface this summer with a bit of class. Get down with the System that is LCD.

Flushtron 2000

2010-03-25T19:17:00.001-04:00

I really don’t want to know what happens in the bathroom before or after I’m there. Vitalic really does. This video is based on the famous Japanese poster/art Toilet Cam—once again, thanks Japan for taking us there.

Broad City: "Comedy Couple"

2010-03-22T17:22:00.001-04:00

POST MON-DAY CHILL

2010-03-08T20:44:00.002-05:00

Laundry, red wine, and a lil' o' this. Kind of a perfect Monday evening. C'est non?

Broad City Episode 4: Under The Mistletoe

2010-03-08T17:09:00.001-05:00

Song Of The Day - Monday Styles

2010-03-08T10:27:00.003-05:00

Sometimes life just appears on your door step. It waits for you to either slam the door in it's face or welcome it in with open arms. Because you never open your door to strangers and sheer curiosity has gotten the better of you. You cautiously look around to see if anyone is watching and you invite it in. You drink red wine, roll around in conversation, get lost in the idea of the unknown, all the while thinking to yourself, "Man, this is gonna be good..."