roomsmagazine

Sons Between Guns release EP Red 1:

rooms magazine — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:44:51 +0000

Octave Cat had a chat to Paul and Tom from electronic duo Sons Between Guns. Their music is an intriguing fusion of electronic sounds stemming from a drum & bass background and emotive indie songwriting.

How did the name SonsBewteenGuns come about?

We wanted a name that referenced something historical or mythological, an event or character and and we happened to come across this old phrase- Sons Between Guns. Looking further into it we loved the meaning of it – it’s pretty much a term for people whose mothers had been taken on board a ship by a sailor for a good time between the cannons. Hence these children were sons born between the guns. There’s no literal truth in the name to either of us – I think anyway! It appealed to us as we could play around with the association of the name, in videos, our logos and even the sound of our music.

What inspires your music?

Anything that appeals to our eyes and ears. The visual inspiration on our music is almost as strong as what inspires us musically. Ideas for songs have grown out of clips of old movies and newsreels. The song Galatea on our E.P. was based on a painting of a sea nymph. The lyrics are usually based on something that doesn’t necessarily come from a personal experience. They usually build up out of our subconscious after being triggered by an image, and this has an effect on the style of the music. We both listen to a wide range of music which undoubtedly has an impact on how we write songs and produce songs, but we never approach a song with a particular sound in mind. It is a common occurrence for us to take out the parts we started with as a track evolves and turn it into something new. Once we have the beat right, we might take out the original guitar part or vice versa. We just usually see where the song takes us. The main goal of our music is that no matter what inspires us, be it an Isaac Hayes grove or a Fairport Convention melody, there has to be something new and modern in the sound.

Tell me about the coverart? How are you both involved in visual aspects of your music – art and videos?

We are both lucky knowing people who are involved in art and design, even luckier that they are willing to help us out. The meaning of the band name is quite playful and we want that to come out in the visual aspects of our music. We wanted the psychedelic aspect of our music to come through in the cover art. Our friend is an artist http://www.facebook.com/PrinceLilly and she designed us a gun made out of a Chameleon head with musical notes. Then another friend suggested gun smoke spelling out our name and he made that happen for us. As we’ve mentioned earlier the importance of visual media as an inspiration that is important to us. We like they way old animators and film makers could manipulate images with limited resources to create something imaginative- it’s not a far cry from what we’re trying to do musically. We want to start using more projections in our live performances;-the idea of stimulating an audience’s eyes and ears is something that is grounded how we make music.

You seem to like using animated visuals for your videos. What do you see as the connection between your music and these animations/visuals?

The video that we had made for a track called Living like Dogs used clips from an old stop motion animation called The Mascot by Wladyslaw Starewicz. It’s a story about a little dog’s adventures as he tries to get an orange for his owner, literally going to hell and back. It is both dark and playful and we felt it suited the lyrical content of our song. We’re excited by using our music as a soundtrack for pre-existing visual material. When we played our first gig at the New Diorama Theatre we projected Man with a Movie Camera in the background. The beats within our tracks that we were performing live had an uncanny way of melding into the fast editing of the old Russian film. We’ve got plans to incorporate more projections into our live performances.

Check out Sons Between Guns on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SonsBetweenGuns

Their Red 1 EP is available from ITunes now:

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/red-1-ep/id502731236

@LAZYGRAMOPHONE IS CALLING FOR ILLUSTRATORS!!

rooms magazine — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:54:19 +0000

Get a chance to see your work published in the new Lazy Gramophone book!
Publishers Lazy Gramophone have an exciting project on the way, based around the theme of TIME.
They are looking for two artists: one artist to produce three illustrations for a story (deadline April 1st) and another to produce a single illustration for a poem (deadline March 1st).
If you would like to know more, email Sam Rawlings to request the project proposal, including some links to previous work at sam@lazygramophone.com
lazygramophone.com

Daisuke Sakaguchi At The Big Egg Hunt 2012

rooms magazine — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:00:36 +0000

Click to view slideshow.

by adan jerreat-poole

Photography: Nicola Saint-Marc

Why is everyone excited for February 21^st? It’s the launch date of London UK’s 2012 Faberge Big Egg Hunt! 200 artists with aesthetically powerful and wildly diverse styles will be featured, each painting one gigantic egg constructed from flame-retardant fibre glass and a steel stand. They will be located all over the city for viewers to find, making this cultural and beautiful experience a fun adventure. Anyone can participate in this avant garde Easter egg hunt, lasting 40 days— just buy a treasure map or use the Egg Map app. The eggs will be auctioned off online to raise money for two charities: “Elephant Family” and “Action for Children”. The goal is 2 million pounds.

If Daisuke Sakaguchi’s art is any indication of the quality of work in the show, they are sure to meet this objective. Daisuke’s fully hand painted “Mirai” (Future) Egg was inspired by his passion for the art of Irezumi: traditional Japanese tattooing. His design, like the egg itself, represents life, rebirth, and a connection between the human world, natural world and spirit world. Hope is embodied by the Phoenix, who is reborn from the ashes. The elephant holding the key to the temple also signifies hope: specifically for the Asian elephants these funds will help protect from extinction. This dimensional canvas and ellipsoidal shape creates a hyper-stimulating visual experience; one you won’t want to miss. Check out these fantastic photographs by Nicola Saint-Marc. Love it? See more of Sakaguchi’s work at www.the27life.com.

Q: Hi Daisuke, how are you feeling?

A: Energised, 2012 is My Year!

Q: Where are you?

A: In my element!

Q: What time is it?

A: 2.27am, I’m nocturnal!

Q: How did you get to where you are now?

A: I have been drawing, painting and making objects since I can remember. My family couldn’t afford extravagant toys and computer games, but they gave me a much greater gift that money cannot buy: the ability to create art. The rest is self-belief and the support from my loved ones encouraging me to never give up.

Q: How did you get selected for this project?

A: I discovered the exhibition in the newspaper. When I learned that it was to raise money for two awesome charities, I thought to myself, “I Most Definitely Have To Do One!!!” I called the organisers and told them about my interest. They had already invited 180 artists, so there were only 20 places left! I went forth with the application process and put my heart and soul into my design submission! When I got the call that my design had been accepted, it summoned a feeling that was the closest thing I’ve felt to flying, next to bungee jumping!

Q: What does this project mean to you?

A: My Life and my passion for being an artist.

Q: Do these charities have any significance for you?

A: Yes, they are extremely important to me and I feel that they play a vital role in society. Both of these amazing charities inspire me to always stand proud and never to let anything or anybody get in my way.

Q: How would you define art?

A: Art can cure people. Art can change the way we see, hear, taste and touch everyday boring objects whilst we live in this very short life we have. Art is a state of mind and it can sometimes give us mortal humans the ability to become immortal by giving us the opportunity to inspire the next generation.

Q: How have your surroundings impacted your art?

A: Where I was born, my blood line, my friends, the tunes played on UK pirate radio, the weather, has all created the melody for my work. Rave music and 90′s rock, eating Japanese packed lunches at school, watching Dragon Ball, and being surrounded by original London graffiti throw ups.

Q: Can you tell us where your egg will be located?

A: No, but here’s a clue: mine is in the Carnaby Street Zone!

Q: Is there anything you’d like our readers to know?

A: A quote from the movie A Bronx Tale, ”The saddest thing in life is wasted talent and the choices that you make will shape your life forever.”

http://www.thebigegghunt.co.uk/

www.the27life.com

BAFTA Shorts 2012

tsfmplus — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:24:57 +0000

Last Sunday the British film industry celebrated their example of the creme dela creme in filmmaking from 2011. Accolades were handed out left right and centre, to expected well known films such as ‘The Artist’, ‘The Iron Lady’, ‘Tinker Tailor Soilder Spy’ and ‘The Help’.

But also, alongside the features stood a selection of short films; three animations and five live actions, ready to claim the golden faced trophy and make their mark on the film world.

With all honesty, considering the standards you would expect from such a prestigious ceremony, I wasn’t wholly impressed with the animations, they were okay, but failed to rouse any fresh offerings or excitement.

I did however lean forward in praise for two films in particular which contended within the live action section. ‘Pitch Black Heist’, a filmically nice black and white comedy about the bond between two thieves (which took the award home), and my personal favourite; ‘Two and Two’, a contemplative short, exploring themes related to obedience, conformity and rebellion.

If you really want to know who will be making an impact on cinema in the future, be sure to check out those filmmakers in training, the ones who are experimenting with their art through the delights of short film

The Nominees were;

SHORT ANIMATION

ABUELAS Afarin Eghbal, Kasia Malipan, Francesca Gardiner

BOBBY YEAH Robert Morgan

A MORNING STROLL Grant Orchard, Sue Goffe (WINNER)

SHORT FILM

CHALK Martina Amati, Gavin Emerson, James Bolton, Ilaria Bernardini

MWANSA THE GREAT Rungano Nyoni, Gabriel Gauchet

ONLY SOUND REMAINS Arash Ashtiani, Anshu Poddar

PITCH BLACK HEIST John Maclean, Gerardine O’Flynn (WINNER)

TWO AND TWO Babak Anvari, Kit Fraser, Gavin SHORT ANIMATION

By LaToyah Gill

Paintshop Studios with DJ Format

rooms magazine — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:28:42 +0000

by Jeremiah Tayler

The origin of animation can be rooted back to a Frenchman by the name of Emile Reynauld in 1892; he was a keen illustrator who drew directly on to film and showcased his work in small theatres. He died a poor man, inundated by debt.

Kick a few more years ahead in time and this single image aesthetic was combined with the camera’s ability to capture successive stages of movement. Given a few more years, and what we have is the still-used-today ‘stop motion’ technique of making still life move before our very eyes.

Many might first think of popular kids’ choices such as ‘Wallace and Gromit’, but think less malleable clay, and more stiff brick and mortar. Paintshop Studios set a classic formula to a large wall on their latest project. Working with DJ Format, the guys have painted a series of these ‘illusory’ moving pictures to showcase some of the new album Statement of Intent.

Whilst listening to the tracks list, you can enjoy the MC’s appearing before yourselves to spit their lines to a hand constructed, bedazzling background of monochromatic synchronicity. The project culminates to a boldly outlined explosion of colour as the team work hard to keep things fresh and entertaining. The style is simple, but the piece- music and all, is above all else, pretty outstanding. It’s a combination of dope rhymes and an art style that’s a much and longstanding associate to the hip hop scene.

Check it out and prepare to be impressed.

Christa Vi talks about Mint’s remix of her song ‘Long Way Home’. Mint’s remix EP release entitled ‘Switchback’ is out now on Boltfish Recordings.

rooms magazine — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:12:17 +0000

For a free download go to:

http://boltfishrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/switchback

Christa says:

After meeting Mint (aka Murray Fisher) through mutual friends at a party – on a carpark rooftop actually! – in South London, we got discussing music. Mint has been making music and has been involved in electronic production since the mid-1980s. He co-runs the label Boltfish Recordings with his friend and fellow electronic artist Cheju.

I was impressed by the way Mint manages to fuse organic and electronic sounds creating glitchy mechanical soundscapes which still sound very warm and playful. I am a big fan of Bjork and the minimalist production and remixes of her tracks in the late 90s/ early 2000, which were quite experimental at the time and really introduced me to the world of IDM (intelligent dance music) or glitch / electronica. I wanted to see what Mint could do with my song Long Way Home with these ideas in mind.

So Mint agreed to the remix and I’m really pleased with the result – it’s like he has re-imagined the song, created a new, lighter atmosphere around it taken it into Mint’s own world! And I’m excited that Mint has decided to release this track as part of his own remix EP. I’m planning to release the original version of Long Way Home as a single EP with Mint’s remix and two other exciting remixes by Asa / Eleven8 and Super Class sometime in May 2012. My first single EP for ‘Your Heart’ comes out on 23rd March – with more remixes by Show Your Shoe, Reggie Pepper and The Dark Lights. busy times!

Three films to look out for in 2012 (3)

tsfmplus — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 04:21:17 +0000

(As seen at the 55th BFI London Film Festival last October)

Martha Marcy May Marlene
Dir: Sean Dirkin, starring Elizabeth Olsen & John Hawkes

Martha Marcy May Marlene focuses on a young woman called Martha (Olsen), who finds sanctuary at her sister’s lake house after having escaped from a manipulative abusive cult. Unsure as to what is real combined with a twisted idea of social etiquette, Martha’s behaviour takes a disturbing turn as she begins to reflect on her time spent at the cult.

The films slow but enticing pace, soft use of nostalgic colours, exploration into the complex power of the mind enthrals; quite similar in fact to the hypnotic charm of the cult leader as revealed in flashback.

Aside from the tongue twister of a title, which I always have problems remembering correctly, MMMM is a curious crafted specimen of a film which weaves in and out of dream, wonder and reality. Olsen’s fresh niavity tinged with a sinister vacant bewilderment makes perfect casting as we ourselves, are left intriguingly perplexed as to where the films reality begins and end.

Watch trailer here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_k3wCsOgqk

By LaToyah Gill

Three films to look out for in 2012 (2)

tsfmplus — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 05:05:39 +0000

(As seen at the 55th BFI London Film Festival last October)

Shame

Dir. Steve McQueen, starring Michael Fassbinder & Carey Mulligan

If you are the type of film lover who enjoys psychologically centred human character studies, combined with artistic storytelling and thought provoking themes, then perhaps the best film you will see this year is Shame, the second feature by Turner Prize winner; artist and filmmaker Steve Mc Queen.

Set in the bright lights and arousing streets of New York City, Shame immediately drops us into the life of a seemingly normal thirty something single man called Brandon (portrayed by the ever impressive and talented Michael Fassbender). From the outside Brandon effortlessly appears to be straight laced; he works in a busy professional environment, lives in a reasonably expensive apartment and never fails to dress dapper. However, like most cases looks are proved deceiving, as the film reveals and explores Brandon’s secret life as an apathetic satyriasis.

Carey Mulligan also stars and delivers a convincing, raw portrayal of Brandon’s emotionally unstable sister, Sissy, who turns up announced and disrupts his nonchalant existence. One invasive scene showing the two sat on a sofa with their backs to us, (bickering spitefully at one another) depicts a realistic representation of complex sibling ambivalence. Although no background story is revealed as to why they suffer such a deeply strained relationship, it is suggested that both of their promiscuous ways may play homage to a shared troubled childhood.

With no real beginning, end or even resolution, Shame offers an insight, rather than a conventional story. Provocative all the way, Mc Queen paints an explosion of cinematic artistry, brilliant acting, suggestive imagery, emotive music and an empathetic examination of a very common human condition. Bearing in mind a few over ambitious elements, and some excruciatingly minor flaws every art work should have, Shame has reignited my faith in great cinema. Without appointing myself as the films very own enthused street promoter, I highly recommend seeking it out whilst on the silver screen. Raise your head and believe the hype!

Watch Trailer here www.youtube.com/watch?v=arD1Hmjlqag

Released, January 13th

By LaToyah Gill

Schematics A Love Story by Julian Hibbard

rooms magazine — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:00:22 +0000

In Schematics: A Love Story, Julian Hibbard meditates on schematics, demonstrating how love and loss intersect with time. Every spread pairs a quietly unfolding, enigmatic narrative with a visually arresting schematic diagram. Whether they plot simplistic dance steps or chart chemical decomposition, the illustrations complicate and supplement the deceptively simple narrative. As readers try to reconcile how the images and text interact, they will find themselves more and more engaged with the puzzle, making new discoveries about the nature of memory. The book also includes an index explaining the original schematic diagrams and an afterword by philosopher David LaRocca, which add another layer of intrigue to this short but memorable fiction.

iniva. Social fabric

rooms magazine — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 09:38:39 +0000

Social Fabric

Exhibition: 19 January – 10 March 2012. Press view: Tuesday 18 January 2012, 10am-12 noon, talk at 11am

An exhibition focusing on the textile industry and its relation to capital, labour, colonialism, international trade and radical politics. Contemporary artworks are shown alongside original journals from Marx, Indian Chintz, films and mill workers’ recordings.

Iniva (Institute of International Visual Arts) presents Social Fabric exhibition at Rivington Place, in which textiles are used to explore colonial history, international trade, labour and militant politics. In the 19th Century Karl Marx’s account of the cotton industry tracked fifty years of boom and bust and the effects this had on workers in Britain and its colonies (and in particular India). Social Fabric cross references different accounts of textile history, focusing on works by two contemporary artists Sudhir Patwardhan and Alice Creischer, presented alongside extensive range of recent and historical archival material.

Listings information

Exhibition: Social Fabric
Dates: 19 January – 10 March 2012
Venue: Rivington Place, London, EC2A 3BA
Rivington Place public opening hours:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 11am – 6pm
Late Thursdays: 11am – 9pm (last admission 8.30pm)
Saturday: 12noon – 6pm
Admission: free
info@rivingtonplace.org
rivingtonplace.org