The (Orange) Suit Project Ft. Riskology

So last Sunday night in Orange Rooms was special. For those that don’t know it; Orange is the jewel of Southampton’s prestigious Bedford Place crown. When you head there, you expect the usual hustle, bustle and dancefloor antics but tonight really felt a little bit different.

Seeing a stage full of hip hop performers as you walk through the doors is not unique or unexpected in Orange Rooms or even Southampton. However, the live spectacle of creative energy on display tonight would likely be a first time experience for anyone. The interaction of Live art London painting a canvas to music in motion with seamstress Ieva Poriete sat at the sewing machine, plugging away, singing to the lyrics and dancing along to the music, is a very unique and entertaining tour de force. Musical accompaniment comes in the form of several upcoming local music artists like Shannon Baker and Daniel Eagle all contributing to the Riskology Karma album launch. It was this impromptu choreography that had me thinking I had walked into a music video being filmed live. Indeed, there were camera crew to support this theory.

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A post shared by Christine Walters Artist (@liveartlondon)

However, on closer inspection after a conversation with the night’s promoter, Mr J Fashole the event operated on a deeper artistic level.

So the artist painting the canvas has the medical condition synesthesia, where the person can see noise in colours and thus reconstructs this sensation in a visual, artistic context. Then the seamstress takes the content of that canvas and expresses it in the form of clothing. The process resting as a backdrop amid the live music is entertaining enough but as the event goes on, the synchronicity of the varying mediums of art begins to combine into some sort of cathartic circus. At first seemingly chaotic and divided but coming together to work under one huge narrative of expression.

I would say this effort gives Orange Rooms an almost bohemian glow tonight, slowly acquiring their own Arthouse credentials that will put them up there with… well, the Arthouse.

 

Disclaimer: The soundtrack to the video above was not a live recording from the album launch and added from Riskology’s Soundcloud, due to technical difficulties recording live. 

 

Philistines to Fascism

Recently I have noticed two separate incidents of mindless vandalism against public displays of art.

Both within a relatively short time.

Both within an even shorter distance.

The new ‘cultural quarter of Southampton‘ has been host to many examples of art and music and even increasingly more so since the completion of the million pound NST theatre complex.

Even before the arrival of homogeneous mainstream food franchises masquerading as symbolic multi-culturalism… There has always been a naturally occurring homegrown bohemia in the form of local businesses like Belgium & Blues and Mango. But none more dedicated to the  truly artistic idiom than the Art House.

Somewhere along the story, the corporate franchises,  local businesses,  the council and the will of Southampton’s artistic community joined forces and made something wonderful.

The conclusion to this is that many good things now happen in Southampton, in the name of ‘art’.

Now, to my point: Over the last week or so, I have seen two incidents of seemingly mindless destruction of  inoffensive artwork.

EXHIBIT A:

The panel painted on the wall outside the Art House seems to have incited unwarranted destruction from some angry philistine:

EXHIBIT B

 

These cheerful patrons were minding their own business.

Were they mouthing off?

Or were they looking at somebody the wrong way?

Years ago our multi-colourful rhino trail took a bit of a battering too.

I am not saying Southampton high street is without any history of drunken anti social behavior. That would just be ridiculous but in the rise of the new cultural dawn… here we see elements of philistine mentality.

It is far too early to say but at the risk of sounding dramatic, continued destruction of public artworks.. is perhaps an early warning sign of of the rising tide of fascism?

Or just the usual Friday night piss head taking out their frustrations on something they don’t understand?

OR…. (*Spoilers* -cliche ahead) .. BOTH!?

 

 

[*Photos courtesy of Dave Hubble and Cat Eliza T )

 

Skindred @Solent University

Clearing out all my old work history and stumbled across this old article I  wrote when the awesome Mikey & Arya from Skindred came to visit Solent University. 

 

Introducing Mike Brown Illustrations

OK. So it’s been a few months since I’ve posted but now is good a time as any because I get to introduce the talented illustrations of Mike Brown, all thanks to his spanking new website ( available here).

Mike has been writing, performing and generally living music, art and culture for years. Browners has been running and playing live music events for nearly a decade now. He also does the illustrations for them, hence why he now has a website. The latest event is held weekly and you can attend here in Southampton.

Incidentally, if you are ever looking for free live music in Southampton then please feel free to join the local community group on Facebook.

 

 

 

Lily Allen Dancing at Bestival 2015

Strangely my crystallizing memories of Bestival this year were not the bands.

The Bollywood stage is a standard festival marquee tent  but with an amazing bright pink indian temple décor with constantly thumping dance music blaring out all weekend.I rushed down like a little love struck fan boy to see if the billing Lily Allen presents Funlord actually meant she was there.

She was, it was great.

Lily is stunning in person and equally as glamorous, seeing her smiling and dancing around reminded me of any happy go lucky lady on a night out.

A mixed crowd with teens to middle aged yet everyone loved it, nobody looking remotely unhappy or upset. My friend even commented how nice the atmosphere was in comparison to how Dance nightclubs are normally aggressive but there was no tension here.Everyone just dancing and enjoying themselves. People apologised when they brushed past you as they do at festivals.

Real mellow vibes.

I guess there was no competition to get to the bar, or get in, no competition means no potential for confrontation.

Some great music coming out, mainly of a grime/hip-hop nature and Lily performed one of her new songs.She spent most of the evening dancing on stage and hopping down to the adoring fans at the front crowd barrier. She kept firing the smoke gun out into the crowd with a big smile on her face, brandishing it like Katy Perry in her Californian Girls video.

Kudos Evening Standard

Here is a lovely pic from the Evening Standard pretty much summing up the joyous occasion close up

The Evening standard captured the event fairly well in their six photograph long sequence [without the need to add spurious gossip] published in the article below. Admittedly using the word ‘racy’ in their headline but still a very informed and unbiased piece reflecting the event well via things called ‘facts’.

http://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/lily-allen-shows-off-dance-moves-during-racy-bestival-performance-a2946501.html

So where was the story?

The story reported should’ve been how much fun everyone was having [including Lily] but that wasn’t enough for the tabloids who have been obsessing on circumstances surrouding Lily’s personal life recently.

( if they even existed )

One article from the Mirror’s 3am girls rambled on outside of the parameters of her Bestival set:

“Lily Allen cosys up to DJ Hudson as shes lets her hair down at Bestival”

and another 3am article titled:

“Lily Allen shows off her raunchy dance moves as she parties at Bestival”

 . .before going on a tangient with speculation about her personal life.

  .  . . . . . .At least these headlines admit Lily was enjoying herself i suppose.

[See original articles online here]

www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/lily-allen-shows-raunchy-dance-6434385

www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/lily-allen-cosies-up-dj-6435493

In true Puritan spirit the good old Daily Mail reported on Monday her ‘VERY risqué’ dance moves . . 

but to be honest  it just looked like she was having fun to me.

[Checkout the misogynistic attempt of slut shaming from the DM photo]

www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3233213/Lily-Allen-snaps-selfie-enjoys-low-key-end-Bestival-following-risqu-antics-onstage-just-hours-before.html

Now compare it to a pic published in the mirror from the same dance sequence, see how the DM has chosen the deeper angle to when she is bending over more.

I saw many other women dancing like that in the audience but that wasn’t in the article though.

** Click on all the links to compare the coverage in their original context to decide for yourselves**

If you google Lily at the moment you find numerous tacky tabloids articles about her personal life and speculation about her personal circumstances . . that shes  ‘falling apart’  and whatever.

She recently split from her management team a few weeks ago and ever since then shes has been hounded .

Days after Bestival Mirror’s 3am girls report shes seen ‘ leaving party in tears after fight with ex’ .

I do wonder if the tabloid’s gossip orientated coverage created tension which contributed or reinforced the very personal life issues they speculate on . . kind of like a self forfilling prophecy . .

www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/lily-allen-shows-pink-hair-6483936

I also partly wonder if theres a conflict of interest between the Mirror publication and her former management company?

I would imagine celebrities long in the public eye have learned to shut out this kind of unwanted attention by now but isn’t this kind of tabloid trolling reminiscent of Amy Winehouse or even Princess Diana . . we all know how that turned out.