Musical Chairs: Kimbra

Surprisingly, my introduction to Kimbra wasn't the smash-hit she duetted on with Goyte in "Somebody I Used To Know", but my dear friend Simoa saying that she reminded her of me! After seeing her on Tumblr a few more times I finally decided to watch a video of hers (Cameo Lover) and it was love at first listen.

Not only is Kimbra incredibly talented (for Settle Down - written when she was only 17 - she loops her own voice to create the beat and sings lyrics about the pressure to grow up and get married), but her aesthetic is INCREDIBLE.

When she isn't wearing dresses made specifically for her by designers (like this banana dress that I ADORE), she wears pieces found at the thrift store and alters them personally with her own "bad" sewing and safety pins.

"I love a lot of vintage styles and 50′s dresses, I’m also drawn towards artists like Bjork & Prince etc who embrace theatrics in not only their music but they way they present themselves visually. It just helps create a ‘world’ for the music, and add other dimensions on stage."

Another element of Kimbra I love is how her style is usually read as super sweet, but she still loves to veer on the darker side when she dons almost black lipstick, a see through top, or leggings Beetlejuice would be jealous of.

I highly recommend watching her truly infectious live performances - she smiles in between serious lyrics and dances around the stage effortlessly whilst wearing towering heels!

Now please excuse me while I go put on a petticoat and bright lipstick ;D

REQUIRED LISTENING
Cameo Lover
Settle Down (Live)
Come Into My Head
Warrior (Live)

PICTURE SOURCES
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 = ?

Musical Chairs: Björk

"I like fashion when it’s a creative thing, and it’s about expression. when it’s about waking up in the morning and feeling a certain way, and putting clothes on that will support you as an individual."

I just noticed that I don't really have a feature specifically for musicians, so welcome to "Musical Chairs" in which I will be fangirling over various musical artists! Who better to kick of the series then Björk?

Have you ever realized you like an artist, but haven't actually listened to a full album of theirs? For me, it was disturbing to make this realization over Björk after going through my sister's iPod last week, and so I decided to fix this injustice by listening to her 2001 album, Vespertine - and haven't really listened to much else since? Watching her video for Pagan Poety, I was absolutely speechless - her performance was filled with such intense, raw emotion that by the end of the video, I was crying. AND THEN WATCHED IT AGAIN AND AGAIN AND CRIED SOME MORE ;_;

I really respond well to musicians who intertwine their music with a highly visual context, and I feel like Björk is the perfect example of the visual and musical going hand in hand in absolute harmony.

"The reason I do photographs is to help people understand my music, so it's very important that I am the same, emotionally, in the photographs as in the music.

Most people's eyes are much better developed than their ears. If they see a certain emotion in the photograph, then they'll understand the music. So instead of having to listen to my album ten times, they'll get it the first time."

She also comes across as being wholly original and fearless - who else recycles a Comme des Garçons dress from a photoshoot and wears it whilst strolling through the neighborhood, goes to balls with Jeremy Scott, wears a dress with Michael Jackson's face in sequins to the Golden Globes, and totes around owl bags?

I notice in popular culture, people are always poking fun at Björk, and it bothers me because I feel that if she was a man, she would be hailed for her genius much more freely. My first exposure to her was not her actual music, but mockery from the press for wearing something different to the Oscars. Björk definitely isn't for everybody, but there is a certain amount of skill and obvious effort that she puts into her work that I feel deserves respect.

REQUIRED LISTENING
Pagan Poetry (please note this video deals with explicit content and you must be over 18 to view this on Youtube)
Venus as a Boy
Isobel
It's Oh So Quiet

PICTURE SOURCES
Björkish, All Is Björk, & Björk.fr

♥, Kailey

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Style Inspiration: Debbie Harry

One of my favorite icons in music, Debbie Harry has a style all her own. Harry's career has spanned genres and decades - from her history-making role as Blondie's frontwoman, to her roles in films (such as Videodrome, a film by David Cronenberg) - it is no secret she has made a huge impact in pop culture.

Framed by her stunning eye make-up and mop of blonde locks, her style shines - I would absolutely love to raid her closet consisting of structured blazers, slinky dresses, graphic t-shirts, statement-making sunglasses and berets.

Images courtesy of Fuck Yeah! Blondie

Required listening:
Call Me
Heart of Glass

See also:
Victoria's Debbie Harry post

Who are your favorite female vocalists?

♥, Kailey

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My Record Collection

I thought it would be fun to share a portion of my record collection with you! It's funny, going through my dusty and sometimes very worn assortment of records, I realize there is a story behind each of them.

80s party! Left to right: Adam and the Ants - Prince Charming, Michael Jackson - Thriller, Janet Jackson - Control, David Bowie - Scary Monsters, Prince - Purple Rain, & Blondie - Eat to the Beat

Aww, the beautiful 80s! These are some of my absolute favorites, I could stare at the vivid and graphic cover art all day *__* Michael Jackson's Thriller was actually sent to me by a dear friend Victoria, and my siblings and I found Purple Rain for only $1 at a library sale!

Disney! Left to right: Lady & the Tramp, Walt Disney's Merriest Songs, Pinocchio, Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella (center)

I went through stacks and stacks of records at a local Goodwill searching for something interesting. It wasn't until the very last stack I found this Cinderella soundtrack - a true gem for me since Cinderella is my favorite Disney film!

Film soundtracks and some of my favorite vocalists. Left to right: Judy Garland at Carnegie Hall, Gigi film soundtrack, Liza Minnelli's Liza with a Z, & Funny Lady

A kind soul struck up a conversation with me outside of the same Goodwill as mentioned above and asked me what kind of records I was looking for. I told her I loved Judy Garland and musical soundtracks, to which she responded she had a few Judy Garland record in her car truck! She disappeared and came back with a Judy Garland at Carnegie Hall record in excellent shape, handed it to me and said I could have it. I was completely taken aback and thanked her profusely!

Do you have a record collection? I'd love to hear about it!

♥, Kailey

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