When Glitterbird met Kat von D

There was a period in my life (when I still had access to a Sky box and a real television) when my viewing pleasure of choice was Miami Ink. Ms Kat von D, tattooist to the stars, was one of my favourite teevee personalities, and last weekend I had the pleasure of meeting up with her to discuss clothes, tattooing and the life of an alternative girl.

Kat was in town (such a showbizzy expression) to promote the new collection from her clothing line, Kat von D Los Angeles, which is, as you might expect, not your average celeb fashion collection (if it was, it wouldn't be on this blog, that's for sure.) The clothes are a direct extension of Kat's own unique style, which is something I got to discuss with the lady herself...

Personal style

 "When I grew up, all I listened to was church and classical music, but then when I was about 15 I discovered punk rock and that changed everything. The way I dress has always been heavily influenced by the music I listen to." Kat explains on her website that she has been making clothes from a young age, and her love of music just encouraged her to try more outrageous ways to customise garments. "I think there are a lot of girls like that too, we did a video on my site on how to make your own ripped tee and everyone went crazy for it!"

When asked if she ever got stick for dressing in an alternative way at school, Kat shrugs it off but says that "everyday, someone will look at you in a strange way, but as long as you feel confident, that's all that matters." It's a good way to be, but something you definitely grow into...

Kat von D Los Angeles 'Treasure Coast'

"This collection is all about expressing yourself, I'm so inspired by nature and the almost spiritual aspect of it.  Also memories - I draw on my own past for inspiration. For example with the first collection, a lot of the clothes were lined with fabric that was printed with my old love letters and journals. The colours of this collection were definitely taken from nature, from the forest greens, to the dark rust, which came from the idea of a ship's chain which had been at the bottom of the ocean for years."

"I'm obsessed with detailing - from the fabrics, to the buttons, to the linings, I make sure they all have something special. I work with a great team who help me to achieve what I imagine. I also won't put anything out there that I wouldn't wear myself."

"Designing for the summer months is always hard for me because I can't make people wear black all the time... but all the pieces are available a black option, of course!" 

[Gbird: girl after my own heart]

I watched the catwalk show and can safely say that there are a lot of pieces in Kat's latest offering that I would wear myself - she's a fan of the skinny trouser/leathers, lots of motorbike detailing, slim jackets with defined shoulders and an amazing bustier dress that any pin-up would be proud of. It's still got all the gothic/dramatic/dark touches that you would expect, but they are the kind of clothes that can be styled how you want, depending how much like Lisbeth Salander you are feeling that day (today I'm on about 65%) It's great to see the devil in the details too - everywhere you look Kat has left her personal touch, just like her instantly identifiable tattoo style. Obviously, I wanted to find out all about her life as an internationally acclaimed tattoo artist, author and TV personality (jealous, me? well, alright maybe a bit.)

Tattooing 

"I did my first tattoo when I was 14 and it felt like the most natural thing. I've been drawing since I could hold a pencil, according to my mum! I just loved it."

"People often ask if it was harder for me as a girl to get into tattooing but actually I don't think that was the case, if anything then it worked in my favour. It is a male dominated industry, but it is also one that judges people on their talent and skill, so I just had to prove myself -  which is lucky, because as a girl we are good at doing that."

"Tattooing has meant I've met and tattooed a lot of my heroes. A friend of mine pointed out that it's a real honour when one of your heroes is walking round with your artwork on them, it's kind of a mutual respect thing."

I asked about her favourite clients, but Kat isn't keen to name-drop. "It's not so much the people as the projects that I'm proud of. I get excited about every new piece of work."

Not that she has much space left, but Kat is still adding to her own collection of inkings. "I'm working on my back piece because I'm just finishing off the third book - which is less of a biography, more of a visual documentation of life - and in that, I detail my back piece so it's time to get it done!" She is also still filming a documentary that should be out this year, along with taking vocal coaching lessons to prepare for recording an album. Not to mention running High Voltage, her tattoo shop back in L.A. and neighbouring Wonderland boutique where she curates exhibitions from some of her favourite artists. It's safe to say that Kat is a very busy lady right now - and to think, it all stems from her talent with a tattoo gun.

"I'm still amazed at how far tattooing has taken me today" she tells me, just before running off for the catwalk presentation. 

It's often weird, meeting someone who you admire, but I'm happy to report that Kat was everything you'd expect - she's a creative, romantic soul who is working hard and who isn't afraid to express herself. 

The Treasure Coast collection will be available soon from 

 Kat Von D Los Angeles

GL 

All images: Georgina Langford

Blood, Sweat and Ink

Recently, Brighton was invaded with a lot of tattooed people. More than usual, anyway. The reason? The annual Brighton Tattoo Convention had arrived. Organised by Woody, one of the best known tattooists in town, this convention brings together some of the most exciting tattoo artists in the country.

I made a last minute decision to go along on the Sunday - it was definitely one of the weirdest ways I've ever spent an afternoon. For a start, it was a rare occasion where I felt self conscious about my lack of tattoos. My small collection was nothing in comparison to the full-body coverings on show. There was one dude who was completely, totally covered, and there was a lot of him to cover, ifyaknowwhatimean.

It was fascinating and inspiring to see the tattooists at work; there were so many different styles in action. As well as witnessing new tattoos being inked, it's safe to say that there were some fine people watching candidates in attendance, all with different levels of body modification.

Sadly, my bank balance was somewhat shameful at the time, which meant I had to leave without any permanent souvenirs (next year will be a different story, let me tell you that for nothin'). The endless inspiration was worth the entry fee alone, because I discovered not only new artists but also the coolest, creepiest, interior design company you have ever seen.

Hold up.

Interior design at a tattoo convention? For sure...because it was this kind of interior design: 

Those are real bones, by the way. because no home is complete without a genuwine Jack Skellington in a box. Of course, these incredible artifacts are the work of EatonNott, a design studio that is the brainchild of artists Jess Eaton and Jon Nott. Jess is responsible for Roadkill Couture, which does exactly what it says on the tin. They all things weird and wonderful - oddities, antiques, specimens, their own artwork, and jewellery made of actual bird skulls. What more could you want from a shop? I'll be making a trip to 26 Preston Road in Brighton very soon.  

I digress from tattoos. Not at the convention, although I'd watch this space for next year, was an art school friend of mine called Jean Le Roux. You know when you all leave university, you wonder who is going to go on and achieve great things? Well, I have high hopes for Jean. His illustrations are out of this world...

Pretty sure that something this guy can draw will be permanently etched on me in the near future, once he has done his apprenticeship at London's Black Garden Tattoo. One to watch...

Some visual inspiration to brighten up the dullest of dull days.

Brighton Tattoo Convention

EatonNott

Jean Le Roux

PS: In case you hadn't noticed, I've taken over another tiny corner of the Interwebs. For those who love music, I have launched  

****OUR NEW NOISE***

 a dedicated music blog-type thing.

You'll still find everything else on here, but do me a flavour and have a read. 

kthankxbye

GL

Why We Are All Lana Del Rey(s)

Come and take a walk on the wild side
Let me kiss you hard in the pouring rain
You like your girls insane
Choose your last words
This is the last time
Cause you and I, we were born to die

I know, everybody is talking about her, writing about her, analysing so much as her every sneeze. But I felt left out, okay?!

So this is what this little blog is adding to the cacophony of Lana discussion (the Tower Of Rey-bel, if you will): we are all Lana Del Rey. Lana Del Rey is all of us.

Why? Because it doesn't matter who, what, when and why Lizzy Grant transformed into Lana Del Rey. She's a 25 year old girl/woman - I can feel a Britney lyric coming on there - who has found who she wants to be. I think I can state with some degree of authority, as someone who is also 25, that it is a weird age. You finally feel as though you are becoming the person you are meant to be, but you still have a lot to learn and mess things up on a regular basis. Very regular.

Discussions with a friend earlier tonight involved anecdote swapping about our late teens and early twenties. Otherwise known as 'The Dark Times'. Forgetting even the personal, academic and car-related screw-ups from that time, I can look back (read: squint through shaded eyes) at my outfit choices from just four years ago and want to DIE. Preferably QUICKLY, and where no-one will ever see my embarassed face again. I'll be honest, in 2005, I had shit hair. I'm not saying it's fantasticarama now, but back then, it was really shit. I went to three different universities and at each one, attempted to peel off the shabby layers of teenage chrysalis to unveal the sparkling, dazzling personality I hoped might lay beneath my dodgy jeans and heavy handed eyeliner applications - all to no avail. This stuff takes time.

*By the by, for anyone over the age of 25, I know this isn't exactly groundbreaking stuff. Bear with me, I have a point and will make it eventually. I promise.*

My point is (see, I told you) that sure, Lana/Lizzy looks pretty dreadful in those old YouTube videos, singing on stage in a godawful baggy green t-shirt and faded jeans, her hair peroxide yellow, her lips decidedly un-bee-stunged. Her songs are nice, her voice an even quieter version of its current babygirl whisper. But if you look n' listen closely, you can see the beginnings of Lana. The foundations of a star. 

And so, a few years later, she discovered hair dye and rollers and lipstick and/or a plastic surgeon. She got a good stylist. She worked with the best producers around right now. TA DA! She looks and sounds a whole lot better than she did before. Do you look exactly the same as you did three years ago (especially if you are 25 now)? If you do, then you might want to get a haircut. No offence. It's essentially all just about growing up.

The debate rages as to whether Lana's evolution is all just one big stage-managed piece of cynical marketing. Now, as much as I hate being sneakily sold anything, my answer to that is this: if she was completely void of talent, a hollow shell made beautiful by a money-hungry record label boss, then how would she get so many people to fall in love with her? There are twenty two million views and counting on Video Games. If that's not fans, then that's a lot of people who are morbidly curious.

Her live performances are shaky, nervous, awkward - and yet we are all fascinated by her. There is a difference between someone who is genuinely vomit-inducing awful on stage (anyone remember a pregnant Katie Price in a pink PVC catsuit, attempting to sing a Eurovision entry? Yeah, I had repressed that one too) and someone who is not conventionally perfect, who maybe makes mistakes, yet still has something special about them.   

I reckon Lana is special. I like everything about her. Maybe she is just a young woman, still discovering who she is. Or maybe she is a figment of a marketeer's imagination. If she is a made-up character, then I like that made-up character. Either way, she has hit on something genius, which has made her the fastest rising star on the planet.

That other bird who we all used to talk about, Gaga whatsherface, once said that we were all Born This Way. That's kind of true, but even she was Stefani Germanotta not so long ago.

GL

#nowplaying Lana Del Rey - Born To Die (obviously)

All images & video: Lana Del Rey, Interscope

2012: The Year Good Stuff Happens To Pretty Neat People

 
So this is what 2012 looks like...weird.

Many posts have appeared then vanished from my brain over the past few weeks but seriously, who needed yet another 2011 round up? We had enough 'best of' lists to last us 'til next Christmas and anyway, Charlie Brooker covered off anything you needed to know about 2011 in his Screenwipe. He's such a clever chap, that Brooker. Funny, too. Let's just not mention farm animals.

My current plan of attack for 2012 is childishly simple. No looking back. Je ne regrette rien, or whatever that Piaf bird sung about (incidentally, if you happen not to have seen La Vie En Rose, rectify that immediately.) 

Last year saw yet another surreal chain of events occur on a global scale, but also in the life of YT, so with the view that things will probably get a bit 'round the twist' again, I am focusing on the good stuff that will definitely happen.

First up, the Refused and At The Drive In reformation. Oh hi, two of my favourite bands who I never thought I'd see play live. Who gives a flying flip that they are being paid big $ to play again, as Daniel P Carter pointed out, at some point professional musicians do need to earn some actual cash.

New Noise by Refused changed this little girl's life; when I first heard that song it was like someone lit a touchpaper in my brain. There was a punk club night that went by the same name in a tiny bar in Kingston when I was a student - none of my friends liked rock music, so I'd get in my car and drive there alone, just to listen to the songs. This plan worked really well until someone recognised me from my Myspace profile picture. Now THOSE were the days of social media glory, friends. (Truth be told I was mortified and left pretty sharpish.)

Obviously, being a resident of Brighton and not Los Angeles, earning a crust as a young journalist, circumstances have yet again prevented me from obtaining a Coachella ticket, so as yet I will just have to imagine their live sets. And hope, pray, beg that they come to the grotty old UK and play Reading. What a dream... Because yet again, I know come bank holiday weekend in August I'll be wearing an anorak in a muddy field, drunk at 2pm in the afternoon, living the high life at Reading Festival. Oh, the glamour! There's also Sleigh Bells and Florence gigs to look forward to, plus many more in between. Who could forget two highly anticipated and threatening-sounding albums that are due for release in the imminent future? Born to Lose and Reign of Terror, welcome to my iTunes.

It's an exciting time for music, if you ignore most of the dross nominated at the Brits (sorry, Ed Sheeran? I still don't get it.) Away from major labels, in both suburban towns and big cities, there is the feeling of desperation in the air, which in turn leads to frustration, which eventually leads to anger and a whole lot of people making angry, noisy music.

Bring that on, thank you please. Dubstep just isn't going to cut it in the current social and economic climate. 

In other forms of culture, I'll be counting the minutes until This is England '90, the final part of Shane Meadows story about the kids in Nottingham. Vicky McClure and Joseph Gilgun are hands-down two of the most exciting young actors in the UK today and as far as I am concerned, they can do no wrong and lots of right.

When I'm not reading, watching or listening to something, I'll mostly be following the progress of all the incredible people I was lucky enough to meet last year. And old friends, still striving to achieve their dreams, or just to make life better. Mainly girls, each talented in different ways, working like mad to make things happen. Things will indeed happen this year, they have to.

#nowplaying Brand New, Sowing Season

GL

PS Talented people alert:

Pamflet

Le Blow

Ella Dror and friends

Katy Brown

Traams

Curxes

Miles Langford @ Elite

Hannah Clark

Melanie Hick

Hannah Dick

Sophie Determann

Jena Birch

Jill Adams

And many more who haven't got a somewhere I can link to just yet. 

Anti-Punk Police Need To Step Off

We are all well aware that there are unspeakable atrocities happening all round the world, every day. Violations of human rights, dictatorships, the continued existence of Simon Cowell, etc etc. I am continually horrified by the forced marriages in Asia, anti-homosexuality laws in some parts of Africa and all the other injustices that Amnesty International are doing their best to raise awareness of.

However, I will admit that one such story yesterday, while it's not as earth-shatteringly horrible as other examples of prejudice, it particularly made my blood boil.

*cue the beginning of a Gbird rant. Sorry.*

Over in Aceh, Indonesia, 65 punk rock fans were arrested by armed police at a show. Purely for being punks. These kids were dragged off, had their hair completely shaved, piercings removed and any 'offensive' jewellery removed. They were then thrown into a pool for 'spiritual cleansing' and made to complete a ten day military discipline program plus religious classes.

I'm just going to pause for a second to hold back the torrent of rage that is about to flow forth.

Apparently, this province of Indonesia is governed by stringent Muslim law, which was all the justification the police needed to arrest these people.

RIGHT. This is one of the reasons I no longer have any kind of religious belief. As far as I'm concerned, religion is fine and dandy for those who want spiritual guidance, something to believe in which makes them feel they are not alone, something which gives them rules in order to structure their lives by. What is clearly not fine is when people impose their beliefs on others, or even use it as a tool to repress others. In this case, so-called religious law is being used as an excuse for abuse. Abuse of the simple human right to wear whatever the hell you like, to listen to music that inspires you. If these punks were not harming anyone, were not in any way being abusive to others, then there is no justification for the way they are treated in Indonesia.

These people are not criminals. I don't care what Muslim law says. If someone is a Muslim and they chose not to listen to punk rock, then that is fine by me. They simply CANNOT then tell others that they are not allowed to be punks. We live in an officially Christian country, but the UK doesn't force every non-Christian to abide by the 10 commandments. Too often, throughout history, religion has been the cause of some of the worst atrocities against our fellow human. I'm not even going to start listing every war that was sparked by religious tension. Mainly because that would cover the majority of wars which have ever happened.

This subject is obviously extremely contentious, so I'll be clear: Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism - I have no issue with religion as such. But faith aside, I strongly believe that no-one has the right to suppress other people's self expression (unless that expression is physically/mentally harmful to others - I'm not saying being a Nazi is in any way justifiable).

 
Punk rock is a subject close to my heart, as is the issue of being able to demonstrate your personality and passions via your appearance. The Indonesian police need to leave these tattooed kids well alone. Their mohawks and nose-rings are part of who they are, and removing them is a violation of their rights as a human. It's also fucking pointless - if they really are punks, do these police genuinely believe that a buzzcut and a bath is going to cleanse their blackened souls? Of course it won't. They'll endure the program through gritted teeth, go home after the 10 days, and listen to their music again. You can force someone to change how they look, but you can't alter what's inside.

#nowplaying Refused: New Noise

GL

Reign of Terror:: A Christmas Treat from Slay F**cking Bells

I've been absent from the Internets because, quite frankly, I was pretty sure the end of the world was nigh with all the utter crap going on in UK politics and abroad. When you are watching a government shut down one of the most important series of protests from the last 30 years, it makes you fairly immune to seeing the beauty in other things. My inspiration was disabled, so to speak.

It was going to take something pretty frickin' loud to snap me out of it.

And then, along came Reign of Terror.

Hell yeah, Sleigh Bells are back! It's incredulous that it has taken me this long to express my undying, unwavering, unbridled passion for this band. Alexis Krauss pretty much changed my life the first time I saw her jump into the crowd at Audio - after she and bandmate Derek Miller had exploded our ear drums, that is. I'm going to make a bold assertion now: Sleigh Bells are one of the greatest bands of my lifetime. It's probably a naïve belief, but they seem like one of the only real bands we've got. With none of the BS that surrounds other new acts (they have tweeted the grand total of once, which was today, to post up the website of the new album. No "Hi, x-amount of thousand tweeps! How you doin' today?" nonsense. Just the url. THAT'S IT.)

So, Treats pretty much ruled the end of 2009 and early 2010. The combination of Derek's hardcore guitars and Alexis' sweet warblings are simply addictive - not to mention riffs that threaten to break your speakers. My love for them was so strong that I think I had to physically stop myself from playing that album on repeat for the rest of my life; gotta give some of my other favourite bands at look in, at least. Also, Treats is something that should be saved for just that, a treat. A sweet n'sour audio brain freeze that leaves you feeling all tingly inside. But one that could genuinely damage your hearing if that is all you listen to *ahem*. I had to go cold turkey and block them out of my brain for a bit - short of when I looked like a crazy lady at Reading as I shouted to a complete stranger "I love your t-shirt!!" with regards to his "Slay Fucking Bells" attire, I haven't thought about my American dreamteam in a little while. 

So today, I sleepily stumble onto my F.AM train to London, looking like a homeless because I have got the dreaded winter lurg and was wearing no makeup in protest against the germs that had invaded my face (attractEEve), I peel open my eyes and look at Twitter. And there it is, the greatest news I have heard all week, from @Spin magazine: Sleigh Bells release trailer for new album Reign of Terror.

Reign of Terror? REIGN OF TERROR? Why has this insanely great title never been used for a record before? (Apologies, 'Embrace Distruction', I know you released an LP called that in 2009 but I'm not counting you) Even abbreviated it's good. Reign of Terror = R.O.T. Alexis and Derek, you is the coolest. And let's talk about the video. On it's own, exclusive website, the video plays the usual Sleigh Bells trick of acting all quiet for a second then BAM! Oh, we're gonna hit you in the face with some really, really loud guitar which is going to make you jump out of your skin at work. And here's Alexis, looking like the Bond villain babe from Hell. In all seriousness, just watching it makes my heart beat faster. If I'm going to lose another year of my life to Sleigh Bells, 2012 cannot come quick enough.

WATCH IT HERE:

Reign of Terror.tv

GL

Youth Gone Wild: Why We Need Student Protests

 

This has been one of the hardest posts I have ever had to write. My head is feels like it is about to explode with the pressure of trying to get the multitude of thoughts into coherent, logical order. Just as I was about to admit defeat, I saw this (above) on my walk home from work and realised that this wasn't something I could give up on. As much as I would like to catch up with Lady Gaga and One Direction and maybe even a bit of Kitty 'cringface' Brucknell from last night's X Factor, there are more pressing concerns at hand.

"Police have been authorised to use rubber bullets."

It's not often that the first sentence you read on a Monday morning resonates with such intensity that it clangs around in your brain for the next seven days, but that one did. The amount of emotions that get stirred up by such a provocative statement is hard to articulate, but the primary feeling, aside from anger and shock, is disbelief. How did it come to this? (Mike Skinner moment of the day, check.) In all seriousness, it is incomprehensible that the police force think it is OK to plan the same defence strategy against a peaceful student protest as they would a potential re-run of the August riots (100 days ago today, not a night any of us will forget any time soon). 

It is obvious to all concerned that the issuing of that statement was a simple preemptive ploy to dissuade potential protesters from leaving their massively overpriced and under-maintained student accommodation last Wednesday, and by the looks of things, it may have worked. Not that it would have made much difference if a couple of extra thousand undergraduates had showed up; it appeared that every police officer within a five mile radius of the City of London was on duty to ensure last week's protest was about as riotous as a kid's birthday party.

 

'High vis is the only thing to be seen in, don'tcha know.' 

Police or no police, I digress. My point is this: ever since last year's student protest, the public reaction has been the same. "What does it matter? What difference will it make?" and, even more infuriatingly, "They don't even understand what they are fighting for, they have got it all wrong."

I'm not saying that I have got everything right. I know I will most certainly have got things wrong. As someone who has only been able to vote in the last two elections and who has grown up amongst peers for whom politics passed us by, it has been a short, sharp learning curve with a long way left to go until we do know exactly what we are talking about (which seems to be the same for most of this country's politicians *ahem* Nick Clegg *ahem*)

But I know enough to say that I for one am in full support of last week's anti cuts and anti privatisation demo, and hope that they continue to happen, on a more regular basis. With action scheduled for the 23rd and 30th of this month, it seems protest is becoming a part of normal London life, and bring it the hell on. Occupy LSX too, for that matter. I die a little bit inside every time I read another patronising article referring to the 'crusties' and 'layabouts' who have set up camp outside St Pauls; there has even been talk of disciplinary measures against a policeman who drunkenly fell asleep in one of the donated tents after a boozing session (he was celebrating passing a firearms training unit: rest peacefully, London dwellers, these are the folks that have your safety in hand). 

Occupy LSX and it's international counterparts are the most exciting, innovative and encouraging things to have happened to the political landscape since Wikileaks, and the work these camps are doing is going to change our future. The protesting students, the occupiers; they are doing the one thing that is essential to saving our country from being ground into the dirt: they are showing everyone that there is a different way. The occupiers are proving that we don't have to sit around and wait for the powers that be to dictate how we will be allowed to live our lives, and the students are showing that they won't stand by and see their futures suppressed by debt and a void of prospects.

To all those who harp on about students missing the bigger picture that although fees are high, the loans won't have to be paid back until you are earning over a certain amount: have you looked at the job market recently? It now appears that graduates are being discriminated against for being over qualified, and so many of them are finding themselves in a worse position once finishing their degree than their friends who didn't go to university. Even if the loans don't impact directly on graduate's immediate finances, who wants to go into their independent adult life with the shadow of an average £24,000 weighing over them? I fully agree that not every single person should go to university, we should be offering 18 year olds various options, but those who do want to go shouldn't be weighed down with that level of debt. If other countries can offer all stages of HE for nothing then why can't we?

Having just watched the first half of Scorsese's George Harrison documentary, in which the 'quiet Beatle' cheerfully goes off to India to expand his mind and understand the crazy world he lived in, I believe more than ever that the minute we just accept our lot, we are done for. We have to keep striving. Education and self improvement will surely make the country better as a whole. Which is why students need to keep fighting, and non-students also need to support the cause. Even if Cameron and Clegg look the other way while people march through the streets of London, it shows that we haven't given up. We won't be quiet, we won't accept the way things are, and we won't let the future of this generation be taken away from us.

GL

Images: graffiti from Brighton and Brick Lane, photos from Getty and friends