New work by my favourite street artist Mateus Bailon in Brick Lane.
Legendary Legacy
Adam Reign and Etienne Truchot’s documentary film trailer for We Are Legend
This documentary shows the once underground world of “Voguing” within the transgender community and documents how rapidly this is becoming a global phenomenon.
Credits:
River Pulse (Live) – Nitin Sawhney with Anoushka Shankar
Love this uplifting music. Nitin Sawhney has been working with Anoushka Shankar recently to produce River Pulse for her new album. Can’t wait!
VERSUS | Studded leather mini dress
I have fallen in love!!! This is pure heaven with a little bit of naughtiness thrown in.
Black leather with gold stud details. Rock chic status is yours wearing this little number.
George Benson | Inspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole
Legendary George Benson is releasing one of the most meaningful albums of his career: Inspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole. Featuring heartfelt renditions of some of Cole’s greatest songs, the album sees Benson backed by the 42-piece Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra and is complemented by duets with Tony Award winner Idina Menzel and rising star Judith Hill, and a special collaboration with multi-Grammy and Pulitzer Prize-winning trumpeter Wynton Marsalis.
A dream project for Benson, this album is a love letter to Cole and a tribute in gratitude for his deep musical inspiration. It also demonstrates how uniquely suited Benson is to recreate and interpret these timeless treasures. Highlights on the album include an adaptation of Nelson Riddle’s arrangement of Just One of Those Things, with a signature Benson vocal/guitar scat solo, and Benson’s reading of the original chart of Nature Boy, which he previously interpreted and made a pop hit in the late ‘70s. The album also contains stunning duets with Idina Menzel on When I Fall In Love, and Judith Hill on Too Young, as well the incomparable trumpet work of Wynton Marsalis on a fresh new arrangement of Unforgettable.
Release Date: June 10th 2013
Ready to Go with Republica
Republica fans can rejoice as they are back and once again in the studio. 2013 marks the year they deliver their new single Christiana Obey, whilst planning gigs, playing at the likes of the Isle of White Festival later this year and working on their album.
Originally formed in 1994, Republica have achieved global sales which some bands can only dream of. Republica have not just been huge in America, but their track ‘Ready To Go’ was number 1 in 18 countries, featured in Hollywood films, TV Shows, international advertising campaigns and adopted by sports programmes and stadiums around the world. Not to be out done ‘Drop Dead Gorgeous’ was used as the theme to ‘Scream’, for the Wez Craven Horror Movie.
Public Description caught up with lead singer Saffron:
Elle: It’s great to see Republica back who or what was the decision behind Republica reforming?Saffron: 2 and a half years ago we got offers to play string of gigs in places we had never been including Dubai, Bahrain, Bucharest and Transylvania Romania.
Saffron: They were great shows and amazing audiences that from those experiences we got back the touring bug so went on to do more festivals and decided to go back in the studio and write new songs!
Elle: You have all been working on individual projects, and you have been particularly busy. Can you tell us a bit more what you have been up to?
Saffron: We had all been doing other projects. Jonny had his own band Cheap Glue plus another project Contramundum with Tim also, who had been DJing/mixing other bands and a side project Greedy Soul with members of his former band Flowered Up.
Myself had the honour of working The Cure . A duet on a track called
Just Say Yes which went on their Greatest Hits album. We also did a video and live TV shows in Paris!
I worked with my old friends The Prodigy on a track called Fuel My Fire on the album Fat of The Land. Plus I wrote 3 songs for the Junkie XL album Broadcast from the Computer Hell Cabin which was Number 1 in Holland. The tracks were Crusher Spirits and Beauty Never Fades which was also a Number 1 Dance single and used in the films The Animatrix and A Scanner Darkly with Keanu Reeves.
I also was special guest when he headlined Pinkpop Festival Holland.
I did a world tour with my old friend DJ Carl Cox to promote his album Second Sign. My track is called Get What you Paid For.
Other artists I’ve collaborated with include Jeff Beck, Gary Numan, Ed Case, Ace from Skunk Anansie, Suicide Sports Club, Tarantella and Redanka, Deepsky and Russian band Mummytroll.
I performed at Ian Durys Tribute concert I’m an honorary Blockhead!
I’ve DJ’d for Versace, Tommy Hilfiger,The Sultan of Brunei and lots of gay clubs.
I’ve just appeared in my first short film Banana Pearl directed by Ben Simon who did the Christiana Obey video. I play a Female mob boss!
And I’ve recently performed with my old school friend John Partridge for his Dames n Dudes show
He is best known for playing Christian in Eastenders but is the lead and Producer of
The current hit show A Chorus Line in the West End.
Elle: Wow! Thats a lot you have packed in there, and some amazing artists you have worked with. Pretty speechless after that 
Elle: You have also just completed a UK tour with Tenek who have remixed your new E.P titled Christiana Obey – and you are also working on your new album – how does it feel to be back in the studio?
Saffron: Yes Tenek are good friends of ours and did a great remix of Christiana Obey.
We had such a great tour with them. I’m actually performing with them at BAS Festival, Basildon on 26th May as special guest.
Republica went to Cornwall recently to our friend the actor Kris Marshall’s house in Polperro.
It’s really beautiful down there. We set up a studio and just wrote new songs. It felt like it did when we first started the band. Very Exciting.
We wrote a song called Hallelujah which I’m very proud of. It was so popular on the UK tour we played it as an encore!
Elle: You are performing at The Isle of Wight Festival in June, that’s fantastic, what do you love most about performing at these festivals?
Saffron: We were very excited about playing the Isle of Wight Festival this year. The lineups great, Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, The Killers and Blondie!
I love playing festivals as you get to see lots other bands plus its the whole outdoor atmosphere.
Elle: You have had phenomenal success with Republica, does that bring with it a degree of pressure when making a new album with how to top that?
Saffron: For me the pressure is to write a great record. That’s what makes it successful not based on how many copies sold. Yes we have sold millions of records but you know what if just one person loves your songs, that’s ultimately the goal.
Of course you wish to touch as many people as you can. But you can change the world with one song.
Changed mine..
Elle: Rihanna often sparks debate and controversy with her behaviour off stage, how important do you think it is to be a role model to your fans?
Saffron: I am a fan of Rihanna and any artist with that amount of success and popularity has their life under a microscope. I’m endeared to her in the fact she speaks her mind and seems to behave as herself It’s not a staged squeaky clean sterile persona.
Do I think its important to be a role model?
Well define role model?!
For pop bands whose audience is kids to a certain extent yes. But for artists who write and perform there own music. To inspire certainly but we’re just like anyone else its our job.
What’s important to me is that I represent Possibility..
I’m an Idea.. For young girls who wish, want, desire or feel the need to express themselves you can!
Anything is possible and its ok, I’ve done it and people laughed at me at school when I told them my dream..
I said Fuck You and just Made it happen..Haha.
Elle: There have been so many incredible achievements with Republica, what’s been the overall highlight for you?
Saffron: Yes we have had incredible achievements it’s very difficult to pick just one highlight
But you know having written songs that have lasted and are still played worldwide today 15 years later makes me proud.
To still be playing shows worldwide. Whether they be in the mountains of Transylvania where kids had travelled 14 hours on a train to see us, to our recent UK tour where hardcore fans who have stuck with us singing all the lyrics at the front. To a letter from a fan in Honduras who learnt English as he was inspired by our music..and went on to get a college place in Florida.,Well it means Everthing..!!!
Elle: What’s your advice to new bands in how to break into the music industry today?
Saffron: Advice to young bands would be to learn your craft, write your own songs,do lots gigs,
Speak and share with other bands. Be very careful what you sign. Always get advice from a good music lawyer. keep as much control as possible..your publishing Merch and live gigs are Yours!
Get a good manager and live agent.
Be prepared to Work Hard and Play Your Music Hard. If you love it this will be easy.
Above all Enjoy it. As soon as you don’t split up!
Elle: What’s the plan next for Republica?
Saffron: Republica play Isle of Wight on 16th June, Midnattsrocken Festival Norway 12 th July,
Forever Sun 16th August. Nedstock 22/23 rd November with Neds Atomic Dustbin and Cud.
German and US dates tbc.
We are writing and recording our new album in between….!!!
Elle: Thats a full on year ahead you have! Wish you all the best and thank you for talking to Public Description!
Rita Ora | Hunger TV
Credit:
Iris Apfel | More is more and less is a bore
I want to grow up to be just like Iris Apfel, what an incredible woman. In her 92nd year, she makes Yoko Ono seem like a spring chicken.
I so hope this film by Albert Maysles comes out soon! Heres a preview:
Credits:
This is also a great insight into the icon. Speaking here with Ari Seth Cohen for The Avent Garde Diaries
Credits:
- Producer | Julia Wilczok
- Filming & Photos | Fridolin Schoepper
- Editing | Konterfei
- Sound | Ryan King & Alexander Hankoff
- Hair & Make-up | Ren Nobuko
- Music | Shakeup
ASTR – Operate
I can’t stop playing this!
Yousuke Fuyama: Melting Pot
Yousuke Fuyama is a sound and visual artist from Nagano, Japan who’s skillful computer graphics and musical experimentation is gaining him fans all over the globe.
Yousuke gave Public Description an insight into his world:
Elle: Your introduction into art started from a very early age, can you tell us a little bit more about this please?
Yousuke: Ever since I can remember, I had piano lessons. It was typical western classical style. I remember I used to go to concerts of Bach’s pipe organ works frequently. For musical education, I had some private lessons, so I touched much classical music in early childhood.
In addition, it is very strange but…
I remember in my early childhood, I liked gazing at the vortex inside of the washing machine, almost everyday. I really liked to do that.
I think my strange habit links to what I am doing in art now.
Vortex makes complex noises and vibration to my eyes and ears.
Elle: Where do you find your inspiration? Do you have any particular influences that translate into your creativity?
Yousuke: All the things in everyday life. Or the world of all that can be recognized by my own. Every little things surround me. It is like the soundscape that was sounded by accidental. I found insane inspirations in unremarkable phenomenon.
For example, I love very beautiful contrasted sounds, which is the mix of the sound of airplanes flying above and the murmur of trees blown by the wind, and the pattern of cracking on the pavement where I walk. These are everyday events, which are easy to feel inspired by.
I think this attitude is close to the philosophy that was written in the “Silence” of John Cage, and yes, I was influenced by his music strongly, and many of his early experimental modern music.
So I can say, on one side, why I am using algorithm with a laptop is to realize the updated version of chance operation that was founded by Cage, in this digital-data age.
Elle: What is the greatest thing about working in your industry? And what would you change if you had the opportunity?
Yousuke: The thrill of the fight with others.
Making things and doing art is always a fight with others for me. It’s like a brutal battle with a real sword. The sword weapons we use are made by aura, spirit, insanity, like that kind of the source of creation that is living in deep under, or in the upper mind of themselves. Fighting always decides on a winner and loser, but in here, It is more important to get process and to feel the thrill of a creator’s fight.
I always try to adapt myself to the situation that was given to me, because I can find out many unexpected value that is inherent in my own particular fields. Sometimes it is difficult to adapt myself, but to change the situation more easily to suit my present condition, is not interesting to me, because to stay with the same style, always give me the same view.
Prefer keep rolling and feeling the thrill, this is the greatest thing in my place.
Elle: Can you Share with us your proudest moment in your career so far?
Yousuke: When I played in a event “DPG chapter.7 (discord proving ground – http://www.geocities.jp/made_in_nakano/dpg/archives/07/about/about.html) in Tokyo.
Until then, I was in a graduated school for a Master Degree. A academic environment, for research in sound art and computer music department. That was nice but sometimes I felt it was too narrow minded for me.
It was a big turning point for me to play in DPG. I could then go outside of the academic scene and perform my style very freely. After DPG, fortunately I got a pass to the Tokyo underground scene that is one of most insane art scenes in the world with my style.
Elle: Finally what’s next for Yousuke?
Yousuke: I will do tour to some countries in Asia and Europe this year with my live audio/visual set. It is going to be a new system that is applied biological and a molecular biological data experimentation.
I will be releasing some computer music and electro acoustic works from a label and some music video works soon.
I will also establish my own label “FossaMagna”. This is for handmade limited physical stuff.
