BAND REVIEW- British Sea Power

British sea power are a six piece band with members from various counties. (My favourite is Yorkshire) The band is mainly guitar, drums, vocals and keyboard with a dash of cornet and viola. Wild!

When I first listened to BSP I wasn’t blown away, I think this was due to the fact I started with their early work and had heard too many bands like this before. It wasn’t really getting me going, the guitar was simple, vocals dull and the overall sound was forgettable, more like low level background noise.

After a few listens they did grow on me, after their debut they upped the anti and created a few more epic songs mixing their original indie style with choral vocals, feedback and sound effects to result in more memorable tracks. Their style is definitely ‘indie’ but that can relate to so many different sounds these days. I think the charm with BSP is that they in essence have thrown such a mish mash of sounds together that it really shouldn’t work, but really does. A closer listen enables you to pick out sounds and effects that you don’t notice at first glance but if they weren’t there the sound wouldn’t be complete.

BSP’s music videos definitely reflect an indie style, the almost sepia toned effects within, sometimes transport you back in time to what feels like a post war period. Other video styles such as ‘living is so easy’ are reminiscent of an eighties style and are almost bowie-esque.

The themes of songs are very relative to the indie scene, ‘who’s in control’ for example is about protests and politics, something a lot of young students are involved in currently. Not just indie kids, but a wider audience of students/youths can relate to this song and many others like it on their albums, it brings a feeling of power and togetherness through song.

I would definitely recommend a listen, to their newer stuff preferably. I particularly like ‘who’s in control’ (video above) from their album ‘Valhalla dancehall’ Also check out their website for live tour dates and other news and information http://www.britishseapower.co.uk

Area Guide: Brighton

The beautiful seaside town, that is Brighton, famous for its large gay community, has over the years evolved into a place associated with the ‘cool’, swamped with people from the media, arts and music scene, this surge of creative talent has seen the emergence of new music, mostly guitar band based, known to most as ‘indie’. Due to the cities laidback and cosmopolitan attitude, the indie subculture thrives, surrounded by indie bars, venues and shops the subculture has been allowed to grow over the years and the city has produced some main players on the indie circuit.

When it comes to the indie scene, it is safe to say Brighton has it all. It appears the whole indie lifestyle can be and is played out in Brighton from shopping to nightlife, the shops stock the latest in indie clobber and the bars headline the latest indie bands no matter how good or popular.

When it comes to shopping in Brighton, the lanes are definitely the place to be. For true individual style wander lazily around the twisting and turning cobbles and discover stylish boutiques with one off pieces to team with luxurious vintage jewellery in shops nestled amongst the crowds. Pick up some quirky trinkets to treasure from the array of antique shops and trawl through the rails of beyond retro before stumbling upon a cute vintage dress or old flannel shirt. Rest your legs between shopping and grab a coffee and soak up the sounds of the buskers, which fill the lanes.

Indie kids are avid music listeners, and most bands to date source inspiration from music of the past, so where better to do this than in old record shops, for collectors of vinyl or for people who just appreciate music Brighton offers a vast array of record shops. ‘Wax factor’ is one of many, situated on Trafalgar Street the shop is bursting at the seams with second hand vinyl. There is also a section especially for indie music, dating way back in time. Borderline, rounder records and resident, just to name a few are other popular vinyl shops within Brighton.

At night the city is transformed, indie is at the forefront of the music scene, but Brighton really does cater for all tastes of music from northern soul to dance to blues, you are sure to find something to entertain you.

Hold up! At the Arc club is an unpretentious indie night (did you ever think you would see the day) on Saturday nights. Entry is £5 and the night goes on until 2am. They often have a guest DJ some of whom have been Shaun Ryder, Andy Rourke and Stuart Murdoch, so it is guaranteed to be a night full of indie fun!

‘Another sunny day’ hosted at toms bar is for the more occasional indie nights, playing a mixture of indie pop, Swedish indie, twee and Britpop.

Grab a slice of cheese at the Komedia with the Da Doo Ron Ron night, featuring strictly female vocals, experience a superb girl group soul extravaganza. Komedia club is the host to many other fantastic indie nights throughout the month.

If you are in need of a lower key chilled out pub night then Brighton is not short of them, home to over 1000 pubs you are guaranteed to find the one for you. Each pub has its own individual style, some more traditional than others. Whatever your style just adventure through the streets of Brighton and there is sure to be one on every street corner.

 As well as DJ nights, Brighton hosts many live gigs, the most popular venues being the free butt and Concorde 2. A variety of local indie bands originate from Brighton, these include British sea power, the pipettes, The go! Team, air formation and wonky Beak. It seems Brighton epitomises everything that is indie from the shops to pubs to the local bands, it is definitely where it’s at.

Interview.

Your home is? Bradford, West Yorkshire but I live and have lived in Brighton, Sussex for 2 years.

Age: 20

Occupation: Music student at Brighton Institute of Modern Music and a working musician.

1) What animal would you most like to be? A Japanese Snow Monkey, simply because I watched an Attenbourough documentary on them and their lives are horrendously laid back.

2) What is a typical everyday outfit for you? As close to Johnny Cash's wardrobe as possible. Bottom Half- Black jeans and smart shoes. Top Half- Shirts and light jackets usually of blacks, greys and dark blues.

3) What was the last album you bought/ downloaded? I bought 2 yesterday. White Lies- Ritual and Tracy Chapman's first self-titled album.

4) Where is someone most likely to find you? On facebook or Soundcloud. Myspace has been dead for years.

5) How do you fill your evenings/ weekends? Looking for new music, band practices, watching documentaries, socialising and catching up on sleep.

6)What would be written on your tombstone? Either 'Had something to say this lad.' or the Fresh Prince of Bel Air theme tune. ( With the extra 2 verses)

7) What is your guilty pleasure? Michael Buble

8) What are you up to at the moment? I have 3 projects on the go at the minute. I'm in a girl from South Africa's band called 'Annaca' playing like a gypsy jazz/pop thing, playing guitar and backing vocals and we're playing a forum in about 2 weeks time.

I have recently started a swing function and original material band, with the aim to playing jazz clubs, weddings etc... playing Sinatra, Martin and Nat king Cole songs.

And finally my own band, which i'll tell you about at the bottom.

9) What is your life philosophy? 'Get on with it and get it done'

10) What would you save from a fire? My Gretsch guitar and a coat I bought from a shop in Toulouse.

11) What are you favourite shops? 'Beyond Retro' a vintage clothes shop in Brighton, plus any trinket shops I can find.

12) What makes you laugh? My housemates, Comedians like Bill Hicks and Dave Chapelle and just things people can come up with on the spot alot of the time.

13) What makes you cry? I had to pick and old fella up after he fell pretty hard in Victoria train station and no-one else would help or even look at him. Too busy apparently. C***s. Let's just say that wasn't what made me laugh.

14) What was the last book you read? Julia Lennon's (John Lennon's sister) 'Imagine this.' It was good if your a bit of a Beatles fanatic.

15) Tell me a little bit about your band

Playing a mixture of Johnny Cash, The doors, Strokes, with a big 50's influence from the crooners but with delay pedals in the same vein as Foals and Two door cinema club. Vocal harmonies also very important feature. Name pending.

Fashion Story

 

Photographer- Mark Sanders

Styling by- Alison Elwin

Models-Callum Wilson, Christian Campbell, Joe Walsh, Johan Ohlstrom and Luke Tristram

 

Northern Soul

 Karen Walker's style is often described as a mixture of elements. Masculine and feminine, cute and Gothic, pleasant and ugly. Her juxtaposing style and androgynous tailoring is what gives her designs an edge. The New Zealand designer has a very big international profile and sells her designs world wide.

As soon as I saw Karen Walkers A/W 11 collection I thought, this is right up my street! I then discovered the collection was inspired by the northern soul movement (a dance and music movement during the 60s in the north of Britain) WELL!...anything with the word North in it and my ears prick up! Members of the movement were young working class youths who would dance all weekend at the popular northern soul clubs then return to their jobs come Monday morning. I think its the working class feature that I can really relate to, I find this collection accessible, cute and girly but at the same time cool and edgy. I particularly LOVE the printed shirt teamed with masculine cut trousers.

Although the collection has a very obvious, clear reference to the northern soul movement, when I see it I often relate it to "indie kids", maybe it is the androgynous styling of the clothes, as indie girls are often seen donning feminine clothes with an edge, for example the calf length floaty skirts with black vinyl detailing, making it feel contemporary and fierce. Also following the theory that somewhere along the lines subcultures will link together (see 'small world') then I feel these two closely fit. Both influenced heavily by music and a working class youth subculture.

Pieces of the collection do stand out as fitting with the indie style for example the polo shirt, very iconic amongst indie kids and often worn by the male members of the group. The baggy jumper, indie kids often sport an over sized, vintage jumper for a more casual look. Also the mix of floral print and black vinyl reminds me of indie festival chic, when girls wear floaty floral summer dresses with leather biker jackets or waistcoats. The combination of feminine and masculine reflects indie style and the overall styling with brogues and ankle socks, sets off the whole mood. Another amazing collection from Karen Walker, I think you would agree.

Karen Walker from my perspective does relate to the indie kid subculture of our time, her juxtaposed often mix matched style reflects the style of the indie kids, who often opt for a mash up of vintage finds, rather than a high street trend. Walker also designs a range for 'urban outfitters' a popular high street store, which manifests a vintage style for an urban lifestyle, also a store which is popular amongst youths with an indie style.

If we adventure back in time and take a peak at Karen Walkers past collections we see more influence of that individual style, for example 'the society of bright young things' 2001 collection again the juxtaposed style is present, graphic printed t shirts teamed with floral skirts and the 'Queenie was a dog' collection spring/summer 04 presents buttoned up shirts with braces and masculine cut trousers, close to the androgynous style of the 'indie chicks' its the cool edgy detail of her collections that make it really appealing to the indie kids. Her style is a whole bricolage of different looks nicely moulded to create an individual look. I guess every collection has room for ambiguity, different people take a different view, I like that, its what makes fashion fun and all the more exciting.

Karen Walker for Zooey Deschanel

 

 So, wouldn't it be cute if Karen Walker decided to design an outfit for Zooey Deschanel? thats what I thought, so I took it upon myself to do it for her :) there it is above...An adorable printed chiffon/lace blouse with a pleated under skirt and long chiffon over layer, complete with shoes and ankle socks!  

BAND OF OUTSIDERS

I think it’s safe to say that Scott Sternburg, the designer behind the brand 'Band of outsiders' impressed us all once again with this preppy, New York hipster style A/W 11 collection. It featured fur, checked trousers, cargo pants, heels inspired by hiking boots, duffel coats, corduroy and stripes! All of which I LOVE. 

I think it is Sternberg's laid back style that I like most about his collections; I like how everything seems to layer up, yet look so fitting together. Although it is laid back it still looks amazingly chic, the women look strong and powerful due to the androgynous styling and big presence of their fur coats and chunky hiking boot heels. As for the menswear, he has a knack for making them all look rather attractive. The layered knitwear and camel coloured cargos, teamed with boat shoes gives them an uber cool laid back style. 

It may be this that makes me distinguish such a distinct link between his clothes and the indie subculture, although probably more clean cut than the average ‘indie kid’ his collections offer everything they would ever want from a wardrobe. A preppy and somewhat vintage edge to the clothes, blazers, roll cuff trousers, polo shirts, deck shoes, check flannel shirts and baggy sweaters just to name a few key ‘indie’ items. I think the two go hand in hand, I can definitely imagine some of the indie people I know donning the band of outsiders brand. Especially the slim fitting tailored camel trousers for the summer; rolled up with a pair of deck shoes....oh I can’t wait for summer!

Not only are the clothes appealing to this subculture of individuals, the overall marketing of the company is just so fitting. For example their website, it has the feel of a blog, and has a mixture of things as well as fashion, so there is a whole lifestyle feature going on within their brand, which I feel relates to the indie lifestyle almost perfectly. The Polaroid’s on the website make it look quite vintage and also incorporates the idea that people buying their clothes will be interested in photography as they present the clothes in a cool photographic way. Oh and James Marsden is also modelling their clothes (oooooooffftttt) They also have members of bands from the indie scene modelling their clothes for example Brandon Flowers (the killers)

The name of the brand ‘Band of outsiders’ is also very fitting to the indie subculture, as there whole ideology is to be ‘individual’ and different, an outsider! The brand creates a whole lifestyle, which people like indie kids can buy in to, lets face it, and it is a pretty cool brand!

As for indie chicks, this brand doesn’t go far wrong, their women’s range entitled ‘boy’ offers everything for them, cute vintage style shirts and skirts, preppy style blazers, shorts, calf length pleats, metallic oxfords…adorable! The range is modelled by Kirsten Dunst, making it all the more appealing. (She’s so cute)  

The brand features in many magazines most of which are also associated with indie kids, meaning they will have access to the brand and it will appeal to them. A few magazines it has featured in are dazed and confused, nylon, w magazine and the fader. I think the overriding feature, making this brand so indie, is that the models used, look like what I would describe an indie kid! It couldn’t be any more obvious what the target market is here, there is definitely a specific type of person who buys this brand and indie kids are one of them! Its cool, fresh and preppy, I really like it.