Douga: The Silent Well

A recent illustration of the band Douga for Amelia's Magazine.

You can listen to their new album The Silent Well in its entirety here.

It's pretty neat.

David Byrne & St Vincent: Love This Giant

At the end of 2012, two of my favourite artists got together and released an album.
David Byrne & St Vincent:

You should give them a listen, 

they've put together the best use of brass instruments I've heard in a while.

I can't help but feel like dancing when I listen to this record, 

a cliché at best, but the truth, you might feel it too. 

Unfortunately I didn't manage to see them when they went on tour in the UK late last year, 

and that's something I'm still coming to terms with!

Lend them your ears, whilst I go and dream about them making a second record together:



On a related note, there's a chance you've seen St. Vincent's face pop up everywhere recently, and quite rightly so, her new self titled album is quite fantastic, theres a chance I'll talk about that another time.

Owlle: Amelia's Magazine

An illustration I recently did of the musician Owlle for Amelia's Magazine.

What's her music like I hear you cry? Well, this.

Ellie Goulding X Monsieur Adi

Yes this is Ellie Goulding, and that is not Monsieur Adi:

One day in 2010 I stumbled across this music video for Monsieur Adi's Remix of 

Ellie Goulding's Starry Eyed:

That drawing makes a little more sense now doesn't it.

This video has had a tendency to creep in and out of my head at will for the last few years.

I'm not sure what it is.  Maybe it's the good balance of creepy and whimsical. Maybe it's that the Starman could become any of our doppelgängers by the tiniest stretch of immagination. 

Or maybe it's a well edited simple video with a premise.

It could just be me though. I guess I just really like this video.

Unfortunately it feels a little underrated.

The film was made by a short film collective called Hand Krafted Films, which seems to have gone a bit quiet (on the internet anyways) this year, if anyone knows what they're up to now let me know.

Also, for fun, some more Ellie Goulding and Monsieur Adi, 

with some added Daft Punk for good measure:

Lucy Rose: Watch Over/Middle of the Bed

This is Lucy Rose:

After one of her London gigs near the end of last year, 

I told her I to her face was going to draw her.

I mean, I explained I was an illustrator first, but it just occurred to me how odd that still would have come across.

Then I went home and did the illustration. Then held onto it for half a year, because I don't know.

Her debut album 'Like I Used To' was one of the best things I'd heard all of last year.

If you were to get hold of it you wouldn't regret it.

Don't trust me? Just listen.

Near Killer

Hai thar gauise

As I expressed a few posts ago, I finished all my markable work for my degree.
Man, building up that portfolio was stressful, but hey, it was a mere taster of the rest of my life.

On the road to hand in I was taking work in progress pictures with my phone and tweeting it every other day. It was my way of forcing myself to do work, as in "if I have new stuff to tweet, I've done a substantial amount of work." Sounds a little silly, but I think it worked.

Just over half of the above made it onto twitter,

the rest of the images remained on my phone.

This in a way is a sneak-peek at some of what you'll see from me in my degree show in June.

I'll post the details super soon, hopefully you'll enjoy it.

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Now, because I mentioned twitter,

a shameless plugin for my twitter.

Simply, follow me if you like what you see:

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Oh, and if you ever need calming down, like I do these days:

Laura Marling: Folk Deity

So, this is probably my last post of the year.
So all at once, Merry Christmas, and have a Happy New Year.



Looks like I'm ending this year on a note pretty similar to the beginning of this year.
Way back in October I had the pleasure of seeing Laura Marling perform again.

Once again she managed seemingly effortlessly blow my mind.
If you ever fall upon a chance to be in her audience, I suggest you take it.

The image above depicts the performance of two songs back to back from her most recent album 'A Creature I Don't Know,' titled 'Don't Ask Me Why' and 'Salinas'.
These songs are meant to be heard together, and just for a bit of clarity, I think you should have a listen:

Don't Ask Me Why/Salinas (Live at the WFVU)


This album, that she finished this year, may be my favourite Laura Marling album so far, and is one of the many incredible albums released this year.

I've been tempted to do a typical 'Top # Albums of 2011' post, but instead I've settled on creating a playlist full of some my favourite songs from these albums. I know that's equally as low on the creative scale, but still. I enjoy it.

I hope you do too, just click below to listen:



So yeah, to re-iterate Have a Happy New Year.

Lets start again next year.
In the best possible way.

Metronomy. The Look. The Bay.

Back in April I had the pleasure of seeing Metronomy perform at Rough Trade. At the same time I manage to finally get hold of their long awaited 3rd album, The English Riviera. Afterwards with their song 'The Look' stuck in my head I sat down for a while and did this:





I've become aware that all I draw in my personal sketchbook these days are musicians,
but I'm OK with that.

After their performance in a typical fluster to get my album signed I nervously met the band and ended up having the tiniest of conversations with them, which ended up with me receiving these buttons:



I think all I managed to blurt out afterwards was, 'these are awesome!' And then I huddled off. I'm currently annoyed with myself about this encounter, as I completely forgot to ask them who did the illustrations on the buttons, as they're great! If anyone reading this happens to know could you please tell me!

I've always admired the music videos Metronomy come out with, they almost always find the perfect balance between distinct style and narrative, and when they don't, they always excel in one or the other. To keep it short you'll want to see all of their music videos.

Just watch these and you'll see what I mean:

Their last single:


Their latest single:


And I think I'll end with what is my favourite Metronomy video, and probably my favourite music video ever so far. There's no question about it, you will enjoy this:

Ghostpoet. Liiines.

I've been listening to a lot of Ghostpoet recently, particularly this song:

Liiines


Hot damn, I think this man must be at least 60% of what I want to be.

I'll admit, drawing on lines was a conscious decision, but only because Roxie Vizcarra very indirectly suggested I do so...
I didn't have any graph paper OK.

Folk Goddess: Laura Marling

Alright.



Back in late November, the 23rd to be exact, I went to a Laura Marling concert at Conway Hall.

In very few words, it was awesome.
She and her supporting band were incredible.

After the gig I thought it was imperative that I draw the sultry goddess of folk herself.

Sadly I only just got round to finishing the said drawing.
Just one example of my work backlog these days.

Now have a listen; I have not bestowed the aforementioned moniker upon her for nothing;
not that I'm honourable enough to bestow anything:



The video's not too shab either.

Glasser. Ring.

This is Glasser, aka the one woman orchestra Cameron Mesirow.



She has become my latest aural preoccupation
with the recent release of her debut album Ring.

The story so far:

Listened to Ring.
Mind blown.
Bought Ring.
Saw Glasser on 10-10-10.
Met Cameron Mesirow.
Saw Glasser again within 2 days.
Would see her perform again if I could.

Ring is certainly one of the best things I've heard this year. It will definitely be high up there on my top 10 albums of 2010 when this year comes to an end.

It's one truly eclectic piece of work, full of bewitching synths,
swirling woodwind, and simple, yet beautiful melodies.
Just listen ok:

Treasury Of We


I think Glasser has become my new musical obsession,
but once again, can you blame me?



No.

Thank You.

iamamiwhoami; b

This video is part of a mystery viral.

I suggest you google iamamiwhoami if you don't know the whole story behind this, as there's just too much to explain! It appears the mystery has now been solved, but I got a feeling there's much more to it.

I'm excited for this, it feels hit or miss, and I'm hoping for at the very least a black eye.

Frostbite

I am obsessed with her...

...but can you blame me?

STILL HERE

Ah I've been drawing in my sketchbook quite a bit recently, so I thought I'd share my current favourite pages. It's been a little odd drawing for myself again I'll admit, but I'm getting back into it. So yeah, enjoy some of my pictorial ramblings from the last couple of weeks!

My odd depiction of Nanna Øland Fabricius aka Oh Land, I've fallen aurally in love with this woman.



Much more of this to come I'm sure, but that's all for now!