pop life

Lady GaGa poses for wacky Hello Kitty shoot

nobody@vox.com(North) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:01:58 -0800

Just when you thought she couldn't get any stranger, Lady GaGa ups the ante.

The famously eccentric songbird has posed for a bizarre series of pics for cult brand Hello Kitty, designed to celebrate the famous white cat's 35th birthday. And she keeps her eyes closed throughout.

In the first, GaGa donned a jewel-encrusted bra with a matching eye-piece, Marilyn Monroe-style locks, fishnet tights and a Hello Pussy purse strung around her waist.

How catty: GaGa poses in bejewelled bra and fishnets

Iconic: The singer dons the trademark Hello Kitty red bow

In the second, meanwhile, she posed against a gold backdrop, with Hello Kitty's signature red bow in her hair, and manga cartoon eyes drawn over her lids.

She also donned a dress made entirely from Hello Kitty cuddly toys, and a sleeveless black leather biker jacket teamed with vertiginous Hello Kitty heels.

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This Morning Call - an interview

nobody@vox.com(This Morning Call) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 04:03:23 -0700

Author: Rick and Tom from ListentoManchester.co.uk
Published on: Monday, 26 Oct 2009

This Morning Call, the brain child of Ben Heyworth has been described as "Portishead on anti-depressants" and "LCD Soundsystem with a hangover".

He has also been described as "one of the most wonderful acts we have heard this year" by Channel 4 and is set to release his debut album "All Quiet at 4AM" in January 2010.

We caught up with Ben to have a chat about his future and music in Manchester.

Hello Ben, how are you? Introduce yourself to us.

Hi. I’m Ben Heyworth, better known as singer/songwriter/producer “This Morning Call”

(Obvious question number 1) How did the band get together?

Well, its just me actually, when I set about working on the album it became pretty clear that it was going to be more of a solo work with collaborators rather than working with a full band. When I play live, it’s a full band, but the line-up can change. So I am “This morning Call”

(Obvious question number 2) Where did the band name come from? Why This Morning Call?

Well, there was this newspaper in America called The Morning Call who printed a controversial photograph from 9/11 of a chap falling to his death. It was an incredible photo, very beautiful in terms of composition and colour, but also very shocking because it was literally a man caught in the process of jumping or falling. A lot of people felt it should never have been printed, it upset them, and caused major controversy. I thought that was a brilliant juxtaposition and wouldn’t it be great to make music that was both beautiful and structured, but also packed a similar emotional punch if you peel back the layers and investigated the story behind it, just like that photo.

(Obvious question number 3) Your sound is pretty eclectic, who are your influences?

There’s a variety of stuff really – quality European pop and dance music, electronic music of all descriptions, classic songwriters – that sort of thing mostly. I guess there are particular tracks or albums that have been very influential – I’d cite “homogenic” by Bjork, or “hunting high and low” by A-ha as examples. Also, I’m never far from the influence of Britpop in my music because that’s when I first got into music – my favourite album is “modern life is rubbish” by Blur!

The band has been receiving some encouraging reviews with Channel 4 calling you "one of the most wonderful acts we have heard this year". Has that opened any doors for you?

A great review is always welcome. I was “band of the week” on Channel 4 online and I’m still getting milage out of that review. They do a lot to help new acts.

Your debut album is called "All Quiet at 4AM" . How did you record it and who did you work with?

The album is out on 11th Jan 2010. I recorded it at home by myself on a laptop. You can do that sort of thing these days, the technology is there. Various others contributed bass, guitar, cello, drums and even bassoon – these are the people who also come and play live with me. It was a great way to work and cost nothing. Rob Cross (Orphan Boy) is on one of the tracks playing guitar, Dave Lilley (Diesler, Double Yellow) plays bass on most of the album.

Tides will be first single released off the Album. Was it an obvious choice for you? Its out on 23rd Nov so I’ve no idea what the response will be yet! Hopefully good. You’ll download it, I hope!? The label (Substream) wanted it to be the first single and I thought “why not”! People seem to like it.

How did you attract the attention of your labels Substream (SE) and Pearl Diver (DE)?

Well, through MySpace really. Pearl Diver are a German dance music label and they wanted to do a 12” remix EP – and they have sometimes worked with Substream so there was a connection there. Substream are based in Sweden and work across pop and dance music styles and were up for doing the album with me.

How are they helping you?

Substream are well placed to market the release in Europe and they specialise in working with international DJ’s so that’s what they will be concentrating on.

You stated in your blog that you think that the process of buying music on the high street is dead. Whats the future?

I just can’t see any reason why you would want to shop in HMV anymore! I prefer to buy online these days. One click and you’ve got the track straight away. Brilliant. There’s no question that is how most people will buy their music in the future.

Do bands need the music industry? Has the internet opened opportunities for DIY bands, or is it as hard to break through as it always has been?

Well, undoubtably you can be a DIY band with a quality tune and the internet will help you get it out there and more people will hear it. On the other hand, we are now so saturated with stuff that it is just as hard to “break through” as it has ever been! Although you don’t necessarily need a major label anymore, you still need perseverance and some good marketing ideas to make it work.

What local bands have you played great gigs with? Apart from This Morning Call, who should we be looking out for?

There’s loads of great acts in Manchester really – too many for me to name here! My advice would be to get out there and go to some gigs! A good place to start would be the BBC Introducing nights – they always have good people on. Another favourite are the Green Bohemia events at the Green Room run by Stuart Avery.

What’s the best Manchester venue you’ve ever played?

I really enjoyed playing on one of the stages at Manchester PRIDE, but that was a temporary erection, if you’ll excuse the pun, so if I was to pick a regular venue I’d say I enjoyed our recent show at the Green Room the most and therefore that’s my favourite venue right now.

Most bands experience the shit gig? Usually in Macclesfield, or a pub just outside Bolton. Where was yours, and why was it bad?

The worst gig I ever did was at the Head of Steam pub in Newcastle. The sound was awful, we’d had a big argument the night before so no one was in a good mood, and I played badly. Fortunately that was a few years ago and it was a different band! But it does stick in the mind somewhat!

What one thing should happen to make gigging in Manchester better?

Bands should stop playing shit gigs and think more carefully about how and when to present themselves.

Rockrobotrock described you as "one of the most remarkable singers to emerge from the indie deadzone of Manchester in recent history".

Manchester has recently being getting a hard time with the NME claiming we’ve lost direction and spirit. Why do you think Manchester is getting so much flack at the moment?

I don’t agree that we have lost direction and spirit – there has never been such a fantastic and diverse collection of artists in this city. NME talks shite most of the time these days anyway. Although I do think people need to stop going on about Manchester’s musical legacy all the time. It was great back in the day but can we move on?? The Stone Roses, The Smiths, The Hacienda, New Order, Oasis – enough already!

Daddy or chips?

I have no idea what you are on about so I’ll say chips because I do like a nice chippy tea.

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Megan Fox is the sexiest movie star 2009

nobody@vox.com(North) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 04:19:29 -0700

Are you surprised? Me either.

Empire Magazine has announced results of their Sexiest Movie Star contest that picked 50 sexiest female and male actors this year.

Megan, 23, was named the sexiest movie girl beating Angelina Jolie, Scarlett Johansson and Kristen Stewart who was ranked 7th.

According to the publication, Megan appeals to us most as “manipulative sexed-up starlet Sophie Maes in How To Lose Friends And Alienate People, bamboozling Simon Pegg, and anyone with an XY chromosome, by wading through a pool fully clothed just to avoid the throng.”

MEGAN FOX AND HER CAREER>>>>

Megan was followed by mother of six Angelina Jolie, 34, who was voted second thanks to her movie character Fox from Wanted, the character that “had clearly been based on Halle Berry but, when Jolie steps out of a healing bath, naked, and sashays across the room, no-one will be complaining about the switch.”

The sexiest male movie star 2009 is …

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Lady GaGa’s monster tour

nobody@vox.com(North) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 04:17:33 -0700

In her interview with Rolling Stone Magazine pop culture extravagance Lady GaGa spilled the beans about her upcoming tour titled The Monster Ball. Lady will kick off the tour on November 27 and have the last show on January 21, 2010 to support her re-release album The Fame: Monster.

Lady GaGa said she was behind the whole tour concept including the theme of the tour and the design of the stage. Monster Ball’s major theme is evolution while the stage and performance will be pop eletro opera-styled:

It’s the first ever [pop eletro opera], so it’s really whatever I want it to be. The theatrics and story elements are in the style of an opera. Imagine if you could take the sets of an opera, which are very grand and very beautiful, and put them through a pop-electro lens. The design of the show is very, very forward, very, very innovative,” GaGa told Rolling Stone. “I’ve been thinking about ways to play with the shape of this stage and change the way that we watch things. So what I’ve done is I’ve designed a stage with Haus of Gaga that is essentially a frame with forced perspective, and the frame is put inside the stage. It’s got kind of a triangular inset, like a diamond, and everywhere we’re playing, the dimensions fit this box that I’m bringing, so it’s this giant box that fits into every show. So no matter where I go, my fans get the same experience.”

More…

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Pink models her hubby’s kitsch collection

nobody@vox.com(North) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 03:57:09 -0700

They don’t think it’s plagiarism, do they?

Carey-hart-pnk-hard-huntington-collection-3

Pop rocker P!nk and her on/off racer husband teamed up to present his latest fashion venture – a collection of tattoo printed tees and hoodies.

Hart & Huntington clothing collection looks so much like Ed Hardy’s trademark prints and styles, don’t you agree?

Know more about collection here >>

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music of black origin - 2009 awards

nobody@vox.com(funkcartel) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 01:45:50 -0700

Some say the MOBO Awards take a strange kind of racist approach to music. That's a discussion that will continue but this years results have already been concluded. Best UK Act N-Dubz Best Newcomer JLS Best Song 'Beat Again', JLS Best Album 'Uncle B', N-Dubz Best DJ Trevor Nelson Best Hip Hop Chipmunk Best R&B Keri Hilson Best International Beyonce Best Video 'Single Ladies', Beyonce Best Reggae Sean Paul Best Jazz Yolanda Brown Best Gospel Victizzle Best African Act Nneka BeMOBO Award War Child Lifetime Achievement Award Michael Jackson.

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breaking laws - apple itunes and universal music

nobody@vox.com(funkcartel) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 05:48:54 -0700

This is wild ! Marshall Mathers is set on a course to win a massive court battle with Apple and the Universal Music Group. Once again, the superpower labels and companies have been breaking the rules which they themselves have been instrumental in passing as copyright laws to protect themselves but dismiss when the tables are turned. Apple and Universal Music have illegally made millions of $'s from on-line distribution and sales of Eminem's music.

eminem

Apple are desperately trying to settle out of court which is usually a sign of admission but they still publicly claim they did nothing wrong. In conclusion, that means that we can all copy and distribute and sell, anything made by Apple and published by Universal Music Group. If they can do it - We can do it. [source: guardian] full story

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glastonbury 2010 festival

nobody@vox.com(funkcartel) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 10:47:54 -0700

It's huge, it's massive and all the major headline acts will be there as usual. Tickets always sell out fast so if you want to enjoy the festival experience in the scorching summer sunshine in the south of little england next year, book you tickets as soon as you can . . . click this to reserve or buy

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New photo shoot - The Secular Man and others...

nobody@vox.com(This Morning Call) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 02:05:45 -0700

I've reached 50,000 plays!

To celebrate, I'm releasing a whole bunch of new photos, taken recently to promote the forthcoming single release "Tides" and album release "All Quiet at 4AM".

Black Cherry photography (aka Lisa and Matthew), some of you may remember, have worked with me before. This time it was just me in front of the camera rather than my band.

“One idea we wanted to explore was using projections which allude to the themes of the album and also create some interesting visual textures within which to frame Ben. So we have images of the sea which link to the track “Tides”, the hills and mountains which link to the track “In Country”, and the evening sky which link to the track “The Observatory”, explains Lisa.

(Behind the scenes! - see above!)

I wanted a minimalist feel and also to explore the use of white light against skin in some of the photographs. Lisa and I were inspired by this picture called “The Secular Man” by David Bowie. (yes, that David Bowie!) The figure in the artwork appears to be in a semi-religious position, arms outstretched, head hung to one side, like an image from the crucifixion. Yet the picture is called “The Secular Man”, which seems ironic. It was quite an interesting idea and one that I felt worked well with the more downbeat elements of the music I was writing at the time. We also incorporated some of the slides from the projector we had hired. Despite the apparent seriousness of intent behind these photos, they were immense fun to work on!

“Ben explained how the theme of time passing is a very important one on the “All Quiet At 4AM” album, whether it’s references to specific times of the day, or long periods of time linked by major life events such as births or deaths”, said Matthew, another Black Cherry photographer. “We alluded to this photographically by producing some interesting time-lapse effects with multiple images of Ben in different positions across the frame.”

“We also wanted to produce the photographs ‘live’, rather than relying too heavily on effects produced by Photoshop or other image manipulation software.”

The full collection will be published on my new website (yes, also in develpoment!!)

Ben

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coldplay in germany

nobody@vox.com(funkcartel) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:15:31 -0700

If you are into Coldplay then you may want to get on-line at 13.00 GMT today [27-08-09] for some live backstage insight from the Esprit Arena in Dusseldorf . . . just click this at 1.00 PM UK time.

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