Do you want my heart between your teeth?

This & Only This

2012-07-31T13:26:00.001-07:00

Reminds me of some dear friends in Somerset.

I'll post more about my majestic daily life when I can pull myself out of this rut.

Sharing Is Caring

2012-07-30T11:47:00.002-07:00

The weekend just past has been, without exaggeration - one of the worst of my life. I'm not a 'drama king' so don't really want to publish the hows and whys on here too much, but know I am a tired man, both physically and emotionally.

I have been taking comfort and solace in the arms of good music today whilst being granted some compassionate leave. This blog will be a running dive, a trickling creak of good blogs and good music I have discovered today, in-between naps and a lot of thinking.

My mind is a tempest, an unfair tornado that melodies and beats are quelling.

1. First up is the blog Overcast Music, the young lady who runs this has impeccable taste in music, and I lost hours today trawling through the audible delights that she has placed on the pages of her Tumblr. Even if you don't have an account, take a few minutes out of your day to listen to what she's offered up - click on the links, open the YouTube videos, send her a message - I know I sure as hell have. Check the links out on the right-hand side of her page too. I am too tired and perhaps stupid to figure out if they are her singing, but her vocals and the soft, delicateness of each passing chord make for 'must have' hearing.

EDIT: Both links on the right hand side ARE by the author of the blog. She goes by musical alias 'Cade'. She's also bloody fantastic.

2. Second up is Warwickshire born, London based artist Lucy Rose. Her whimsical songs and pretty face may remind you of artists such as Laura Marling - but make no mistake, this girl is in a league of her own. She has lent her vocals to firm favourites of mine Bombay Bicycle Club (which I wasn't even aware of) and has a debut album coming out shortly. I'm also sad to hear she played at the Great Escape Festival earlier this year - how did I miss that one?

Check out this acoustic session of 'All I've Got', which is beautifully filmed by a project called Beatnik Sessions, which I have also been taking a keen interest in. A hub for me once I get Garnet Portrait off the ground? Perhaps. Give their YouTube channel a scour whilst you make a cup of tea or something.

3. I think I'll leave you with this final beauty, as I've just realised I haven't eaten today and there are stir-fry ingredients in the kitchen with my name all over them.
Volcano Choir (amazing name I'm sure you'll agree) has the work of musical God Bon Iver all over it, but in the best way possible. I heard two tracks and was so blown away by what I heard I went over to iTunes and purchased the album immediately, knowing there was absolutely no wrong in such a spontaneous purchase. The iTunes employee who wrote the review for the album I just bought, titled 'Unmap', did a far better job of reviewing it than I probably ever will:

"Anyone thinking that Volcano Choir are going to be anything like Bon Iver's For Emma, Forever Ago just because Justin Vernon is involved is in for a bit of a shock. Yes, Vernon's otherworldly vocals grace most of the songs on Unmap, but there are no real songs to speak of, no hushed backwoods folk grandeur or heartbreakingly soulful sounds. Instead, Vernon and his friends from the post-rock band Collections of Colonies of Bees have crafted a defiantly experimental album that relies on Vernon's vocals as just another color in the paint box, not the main focus. The tracks are largely free-floating post-rock jams that drift and flow without great purpose but often sound intensely emotional, as on the driving climax of "Seelpymouth" or the segment of "And Gather" when Vernon's massed vocal overdubs join together in a hurricane of sound. Elsewhere, the group conjures up the dreamy, almost dancy post-shoegaze sound of A.R. Kane (on the album's best -- and most songlike -- song, "Island, Is"), dives headfirst into the kind of atonal modern composition Scott Walker favored in the 2000s on "Mbira in the Morass," and drifts into almost new agey soundscapes on the album-closing "Youlogy." A few tracks aren't miles away from Vernon's work with Bon Iver, especially the opening "Husks and Shells" and "Still," which is basically a rewrite of "Woods" from the Blood Bank EP, using the same vocodered vocals but inserting them into an almost rocking backwoods jam. Unmap won't scare off hardier Bon Iver fans who might find its experiments intriguing enough to get past the lack of songs. It will also please those who were worried that Vernon might be content to just repeat the BI formula until it became clichéd. Despite the occasional flaws, the album shows that Vernon (along with the guys in Collections of Colonies of Bees) has not only the desire to branch out but also the necessary skills."

I disagree with the 'no real songs' and the flaws parts, but apart from that, seems I need to go back to review school.

I hope I find you in a better disposition than I am in, and that you enjoy what I have posted. If you have anything to say, or know of a band/artist I must hear - get in touch.

Stumbleine

2012-07-16T13:08:00.002-07:00

I've also been listening to a lot of music, both new and old, over the past few weeks. But one artist in particular that really caught my eye(?) is Bristol based chillwave musician Stumbleine. His dreamy, almost ethereal sounding effects, mixed with delayed female vocals work together in harmony to really take you toanother place. I'm captivated and am eagerly anticipating the download release/link for the new album Ghosting, you can stream the album in full here, or keep up-to-date with his happenings via Facebook.

What have you been listening to recently?

EDIT: 'Ghosting' is now available on iTunes.

Dilly dally, shilly shally

2012-07-16T13:02:00.000-07:00

HEJ!

I deeply apologise for the distinct lack of updates recently, things have been hectic! I've moved back in with my parents for the Summer, turned 24, gotten six new tattoo's (photos to come in the next post I PROMISE as I also need to send the fully healed results to my tattoo artist), a new piercing, been working all the days and hours under the sun at my Summer job back at the Council, eating too much cheese, playing a lot of video games and generally seeing a ton of my lovely friends. The weather however, can do one!

I've decided to give this a post a bit of a fashion-y edge, so here are some photos of a couple of new outfits I've compiled. Both of which have gone up on my lookbook account, so take a look and give me a hype if you also have an account! These were both taken by my brother:

How have you all been? What have you been up to this Summer?

Freedom

2012-06-15T10:35:00.000-07:00

Today I finished my second year of Uni - yay! There has also been a gigantic change of plans and due to Topshop falling through and my house falling through and many other reasons I am now heading back to my parents house in Oxford for the Summer. I pretty much already have a job lined up so that's grand, to be honest as boring as it sounds I'm just looking forward to earning some money and seeing my Oxfordshire friends and maybe a very cheeky trip up to Sweden. I also have nine full books to read over the Summer as dissertation research so there's no rest for the wicked!

How are you planning on spending your Summer?

2012-06-03T16:43:00.003-07:00

Sometimes I can be vain.

Scratches On My Skin

2012-06-03T15:04:00.004-07:00

The light was neither from Heaven or Hell, and the lost city behind me caught fire in the sunset, blazing behind these strange clouds. The smoke drifted past, and in it doing so, I caught the glimpses of faces and places, of voices, of lovers lost and won. Of friends near and far, close and distant in both proximity and to my heart. This black hole, which has been here since the beginning of time has moved me in ways that life couldn't.
But now I have nowhere left to run, here at the End of the World, my eyes feel heavy, and I want nothing more than to nap on the mossy banks beneath me, eclipsed by the sea, the abyss and the hiding, blinding sun.

Scratches On My Neck

2012-06-03T14:24:00.006-07:00

The sea in front of me was cold, and I could hear it crying - weeping sorrowful waves that lapped against a burdened shoreline. Angelic choruses resounded all around, echoing from the light and shadows that emit from the strangely coloured, almost ethereal clouds. The black hole still hungrily sucking in all that it could. I wish I knew more about this place, and how I got here, and why there are others here too, watching their fate be consumed by something they don't know.

Scratches On My Face

2012-06-03T14:10:00.000-07:00

I finally saw the end of the world - an abrupt, vast hole of nothingness that sucked all the emotion from me, bits of cities and memories floated past, sucked into the atomos. The wind violently blowing my hair and long coat, as I stood on the edge of the world, wondering if jumping towards the darkness, I would fall or float.

2012-06-01T03:52:00.000-07:00

HAI, hey, hello! Sorry for giving you next-to-nothing in terms of updates, I've been very busy with work and sorting money out and going on dates (yes, miracles do happen) amongst other things. The week or so of glorious sunshine was so much appreciated and I spent most of my days on the beach with friends both old and new - come back already Sun!

Uni is so close to being over for the Summer I can taste it. I have an essay to hand in next Friday, and then an exhibition critique for the week after (which is so easy I'll probably hammer it out in one night) then I am FREE. Today is also the first day of June, which is also my birthday month and generally a month of happiness from looking back on previous ones, so I hope this year it continues to be the same. The Jubilee can bugger off however, as I am working all four days of the Bank Holiday. Thanks retail!

After The Lunch

2012-05-20T16:48:00.000-07:00

I came across this beautiful poem being read aloud by the beautiful Sophie Dahl (who I've since developed a big, big crush on) on her cookery programme that I was watching clips of on YouTube to procrastinate from exam revision. What do you think?

On Waterloo Bridge where we said our goodbyes,
the weather conditions bring tears to my eyes.
I wipe them away with a black woolly glove
And try not to notice I've fallen in love

On Waterloo Bridge I am trying to think:
This is nothing. you're high on the charm and the drink.
But the juke-box inside me is playing a song
That says something different. And when was it wrong?

On Waterloo Bridge with the wind in my hair
I am tempted to skip. You're a fool. I don't care.
the head does its best but the heart is the boss-
I admit it before I am halfway across

Wendy Cope

Decisions

2012-05-20T16:28:00.000-07:00

(deep breath...)

So, I've decided I'm just going to stop worrying. About pretty much everything. It doesn't help me or anybody around me and very rarely does it help the actual situation at hand. I'm just going to roll with the good times and even roll with the bad times and change what is within my power to change, and anything that is out of my control - I will leave for fate to decide. I'm blessed to have incredibly supportive, caring and generous friends who I don't actually think I could be without, and I am lucky to have good things in my life (both material and not), and those are the kinds of things I need to hold onto, not angst and woe.

So, onto my promised update of Great Escape Festival! (even if it is a little late!)

I'm not going to do a full on, in-depth cover of the festival as to be honest 1. it happened over a week ago and 2. you probably all won't care as it's old news now, but know that I had a fantastic time and I've definitely caught the festival bug (if such a thing exists!) I got to see some fantastic bands and I got the best of both worlds - the festival atmosphere of great music, good friends both old and new and (expensive!) drinking, whilst avoiding the horrors of camping (call me a Prince but camping is something that really does not appeal to me. If I wanted to wallow around in my own sweat and piss for three days, I could do that in my own home). My highlights were Niki & The Dove, Grimes, Lianne Le Havas (watch out for this lady!), Nordic Giants, Vondelpark and Jonquil, I'll be sure to upload some photos (myself and George took hundreds, no exaggeration, so I need to filter through them all!) and share them all with you when I'm not feeling tired and tipsy from too much cava consumption with Veronika.

So the past two weeks in general have been absolutely awful. I've lost sleep, cried, had panic attacks and seriously considered dropping everything and fleeing the city over money, Uni work and Topshop (which I may have to unfortunately quit). Fortunately thanks to the aforementioned help of friends both near and far and my ever faithful mum, I'm nearly back on track and determined to face this week with a fresh face.

On Saturday night I headed up into the forest near my house with Matt, we lit a small bonfire and burnt some personal memorabilia belonging to him and his ex-girlfriend. I hope he feels better from it all now. I managed to snap a couple of photos I'm pleased with:

Then today Veronika, a good friend who I met whilst living in halls, contacted me to ask if I wanted to take a walk as she as recently broken up with her ex-boyfriend (I should be paid for my therapy services!) so once again, we headed up into the forest near my house and up onto the hills, where we jumped the fence and sat on this mount which was covered in reeds and wild flowers, it was so pretty. We sat and talked and drank cheap, sparkling wine and put the world to rights for nearly an hour, before running down the hill screaming, being homophobically abused, getting more wine and ordered a Papa John's whilst smoking far too many cigarettes. The soundtrack to our pizza consumption was this album, with this song being mine and Veronika's favourite:

And to leave you, here are the photos I took of Veronika whilst we were up on the hills, with a sneaky one she took of me. The next post will be photos of Great Escape Festival, where the subject will then be laid to rest!

What did you get up to this weekend?

2012-05-19T08:20:00.001-07:00

Hi guys! Having a bit of a meltdown at the moment - don't worry, I haven't done or said anything stupid and haven't been taken away by the men in white coats either, I'm just letting everything get on top of me! I do however, have plans to sort things out so I'm counting on next week to be nice to me. Once everything has calmed down, I will fill you all in on my drama filled life and Great Escape Festival, amongst other things!

2012-05-14T16:14:00.000-07:00

Hi guys! Sorry I haven't updated for a few days, I swear I'm still recovering from the partying and antics that Great Escape and this weekend in general have bought - I'm tired quite literally all of the time! It's gone midnight right now so I'm going to try and go to sleep early (yes this is early for me) and hopefully wake up feeling fresh in the morning, where I will try and fill you in on the Great Escape Festival via the mediums of written word and photography. I hope you're all keeping well!

Sweet Things

2012-05-08T14:01:00.002-07:00

So it's 10.02pm, I'm a little giddy from the two red bull's that I've consumed and I'm sat staring at my laptop over a presentation that is due tomorrow, and - you guessed it - I haven't even started. I've gone as far as opening Microsoft Word and Powerpoint, but nothing has been entering into their blank white domains. The subject I've been asked to present on (relational art and aesthetics) means nothing to me - I don't like it, I don't properly understand it and how I'm meant to put together a half an hour presentation on something I don't even have adequate knowledge on is beyond me.

So I'll update you all with what's been happening in my life to make the pain of Uni work go away!

As you saw a couple of posts down, I had a lovely photoshoot last week with my new friend Loni (apologies for the broken link in my last post!). The photos that she took of me came back only a couple of days afterwards and I'm extremely pleased with the results. Here are my favourites:

A very talented photographer I'm sure you'll agree!

Apart from doing arty farty things on the beach and pulling my hair out over money and Uni work, I've also been working what seemingly feels like all the hours of the day in Topshop. I am yet to find a balance between Uni and Topshop, for it seems if I do too much of one, the other suffers, and this for all parties involved, is not a good thing. However, work are currently hosting a competition called "Fashion Role Models" where ten employees of Topshop and ten employees of Topman, who are deemed: 1. fashionably dressed and reflecting the store's latest trends 2. to have "outstanding" customer service, have their photo taken and put on the wall downstairs in the corridor by the Manager's office. These ten "entrants" are then whittled down to three, and the winner receives a £50 gift voucher, along with something else which I've forgotten right now. As a broke art student, I am downright determined to win this contest! I had my photo taken on Monday by the VM so I am now in the running to potentially win, so I'm going all out for the next two weeks to ensure that that £50 giftcard is mine! The Store Manager has also been handing out pre-loaded gift cards for good customer service that she has seen or heard about, and I was lucky enough to be presented with one on Saturday!

This week spells (apart from the looming presentation which I have to give in 25 hours) more overtime, dissertation proposal reading and GREAT ESCAPE FESTIVAL! Which I am extremely excited for as this is my first ever festival, and I have been lucky enough to obtain a delegate pass so I can report on it for the Uni's student newspaper! I will also upload a review of the festival on here so keep your eyes peeled. Are you going to the festival too? Let me know if so!

Wanderlust

2012-05-08T13:28:00.000-07:00

"...a strong desire for, or an impulse to, wander or travel and explore the world."

Travelling has always been something close to my heart. I love going to new countries and new cities and experiencing different sights, sounds and cultures and this has been something I have especially enjoyed since I went travelling around Continental Europe with my parents for nearly two months in 2004. I'm nearly 24 and I've been lucky enough to visit 13 countries. Nothing beats exploring a city where nobody knows you or wandering through breathtaking countryside with your closest friends and/or family to accompany you. This time next year I will have very nearly finished Uni and a lot of travelling is on the cards for me. Here are some videos that I discovered on Vimeo this morning whilst distracting myself from Uni work (which is partly also why I'm going to be blogging multiple times tonight, hope you all don't mind) that really made my feet itch, and got me in the mood for escaping everything close and familiar to me and plunging myself into the unknown.
Unfortunately Vimeo doesn't let allow Embed coding from their site on Blogger (or at least I couldn't find a way to do it), but the links to these beautiful pieces of art can be found here and here.

What do you think of the videos? Have you been lucky enough to go travelling? I'd love to hear about any experiences you might like to share!

Post Title Here

2012-05-05T18:04:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to very quickly share a link to a poem I've become fascinated and intrigued by - Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening, there's just something about it, I'm going to sleep now as it's gone 2am here and I have a six hour shift tomorrow! Bisous mon ami.

Just Say 'Yes'

2012-05-03T13:19:00.001-07:00

So to set the scene for today...

A few weeks ago I was contacted via my Tumblr by someone to ask if I would be interested in participating in a photoshoot to help with a photography project this person was working on. At first I was a little alarmed because the message was sent anonymously, but the culprit soon unmasked herself and turned out to be my now very latest friend Loni, who also writes poetry and posts photography and such on her Tumblr too (as I'm sure you'll see if you'd be so kind as to click the link) and once we got discussing ideas and so forth I was very excited as I haven't posed for photos that are going further than the internet for a good two years.
So after her having to re-schedule twice and me being an hour late, I met Loni at Brighton station and we headed to the beach, amongst other locations, where she patiently and professionally directed me and took what I'm sure will be some fantastic photographs. I also bought along my DSLR, and managed to persuade Loni inbetween breaks of snapping me, to take photographs of her (which was an opportunity that I rinsed and did near enough all day). Here is the cream of the crop!

The basic idea of her project/exhibition is to look at how ordinary people carry beauty, and she is photographing 100 people who could have the potential to be models but aren't - so I'm very very flattered! I'm also very excited to see the outcome once the rolls are developed.
So Loni, I wish you every bit of luck with your exhibition!

Triangles

2012-05-02T15:57:00.002-07:00

I wear my heart like a crown of thorns
And as steady as each morning's promised sunrise
I'll keep you in my thoughts, in my mind

Irony

2012-05-02T15:56:00.001-07:00

I'm scorched and I'm blind
You're a Goddess of the sun
Because you light up my life
And everything in
It

Sunny Spells

2012-05-01T18:37:00.000-07:00

Hi guys! Sorry I haven't had much to share with you recently, but here are some songs I've been really enjoying, including a beautiful video at the end, which puts an almost hypnotic twist on those cliche Tumblr quotes. Hope you enjoy.

More Free Promotion...

2012-04-25T14:55:00.001-07:00

...for Yoonha Park (not to be confused with the FFX heroine of the same name). His incredibly artistic, dreamy style of video-making and cinematography have captivated me and even inspired me to make similar productions of my own (although the inspiration abruptly stops there...). I love the use of colour and light and how each little video carries a strong, inspiring message of its own.

Check his work out here, you'll recognise a familiar video amongst his work too...

Luke Rathborne

2012-04-25T14:50:00.001-07:00

Luke Rathborne is a 22 year-old American musician who currently lives in New York and who caught my eye after seeing him in Washed Out's 'Amor Fati' video (which is posted on my blog). As well as being an incredibly talented musical artist and poet he's also bloody gorgeous and I've taken quite a shine to him and his talents (but mainly his unfairly good looks).

A link to Luke's MySpace can be found here, and his official website here. His new double EP can also be purchased from iTunes. Phwoar.

Doubtful Thomas

2012-04-25T10:59:00.000-07:00

It's funny how things can work out and take a turn for the better when you least expect it. I swear I have someone watching me from up there... (Flavia and/or Nick I'm looking at you)

I also need to stop worrying so much or I'm going to give myself a heart attack or a hernia. (maybe even both if I'm lucky).

Uni has finished for the week, but there's no rest for the wicked. I have two presentations due in next week, which are also my final two presentations for second year (eeek), and in true Lewi fashion I've started neither of them. I have a photoshoot tomorrow with a friend from London where I'll be wearing strange contact lenses and posing on the beach, which I'm genuinely looking forward to. Friday spells work (but only from 10-2pm) and it's also PAYDAY which means I can finally afford stamps to post some vital forms up to my parents, amongst other things, which include coffee with my friend Clare. Saturday I have work again and Sunday will be dedicated to doing Uni work - thankfully I finish for the Summer in six weeks eh? Time will also be made in-between all of these shenanigans for xBox, tea and napping.

I'm also having a problem with my DSLR! When I put it on aperture priority mode, the picture becomes grainy and yellowish - any ideas what I've done wrong? Any assistance from you clever people would be much appreciated.

Here is a photo I took last night when I was tearing my hair out and worrying about things that don't even matter.

What are your plans for the rest of this cold, rainy week?

Amor Fati

2012-04-22T17:52:00.000-07:00

I am just going to leave you with this video by Ernest Greene AKA Washed Out, and let you know that it's changed my life.