Ireland Road Trip: Driving to Clonakilty

We knew that once we left Cork we just wanted to find the sea. We wanted to take coastal driving routes and see little villages and towns that we'd never heard of before, and once you're a few kilometres down the road that's exactly what you find. We knew we wanted to get to Clonakilty for our next B&B, but we had all day to get there so we headed up, up, up some steep roads to get a real sense of why Ireland is known as the Emerald Isle.

Being a Collector

Since I can remember I've always collected something. At a small age it was badges and pressed pennies, then from the age of about 10 it was anything with Eeyore on it. Bags, clocks, notebooks; I had a rug in my bedroom, pyjamas, bubble bath - I was The Disney Store's biggest customer by miles. As I entered my teens, my fascination turned to music and a dedication to owning every release in every format possible for my band of choice. First of all it was Blink 182, then it was The Cooper Temple Clause and overlapping the both of those was Nine Inch Nails. The latter is the one that I've continued collecting and have been doing so now for over ten years.

2014 Review: Culture

I started compiling the list of cultural things I've done this year and was really surprised by how much I've done. As with my 2014 Review: Eating and Drinking post, living in London makes it really easy to take advantage of new shows and exhibitions frequently, and you can guarantee that any band that tours will always drop into the city for at least one night.

[Music] Monthly Mixtape #6

Busy Earnin' by Jungle

This whole album is a total gem, and well deserved of its Mercury nominated status. Everyone I know who has even a vague interest in dance-oriented music loves these guys. They're completely chilled out and incredibly catchy, especially this one song. You'll probably recognise it from that Amazon advert where she buys tickets for their show off her phone. Yeah, it's not that easy to see them live, every show is sold out and I'm gutted I didn't get a ticket!

Say You'll Be There by MØ

I love a good cover version, especially when (in the rare occasion) the cover is even better than the original. Placebo's version of Kate Bush's 'Running Up That Hill' used to hold the title of Best Cover Version Ever Ever in my heart, but this has taken that coveted first place. A smooth, soulful version of the Spice Girls classic, with all the same harmonies you inevitably know so well. This is the pop song you don't need to be ashamed about, it's so much better than your average guilty pleasure!

Duality by Slipknot

I'm prepared for some criticism about this choice but since Slipknot announced their huge tour with Korn, I've been harking back to my 14 year old self and remembering some early 00s metal classics. I maintain that Slipknot are one of the best bands I've ever seen live though; their seemingly endless energy is really infectious and spurs on their crazy fans (or Maggots as they're 'affectionately' known!). Duality is an easy route into Slipknot, and I didn't want to scare you all away too much!

Even If I'm Loud It Doesn't Mean I'm Talking To You by Tove Styrke

And prize for the longest song title goes to...! This is one of those songs that I've heard on adverts and in bars for quite a while and only realised it was her when I found her in 'Related Artists' to Lykke Li on Spotify. This is stupidly addictive and reminds me of other Scandinavian pop princesses like Robyn. If you're free this Thursday, she's actually playing at the Old Blue Last in East London for free! Annoyingly though I'm busy so can't make it. Let me know if you head down there!

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The 'Wrecking Ball' Necklace

I'm rather a fan of a statement necklace. You may have seen my amazing haul from the Tatty Devine sample sale over the summer which backs up that statement perfectly too! I think they perk up an outfit so perfectly, and people always comment when I wear something a bit out of the ordinary. However, I've never had such a sheer number of comments as when I wore this amazing necklace from Town Design.

Known as the 'Wrecking Ball' necklace, this long gold chain has a large faux pearl on the end being straddled by a naked lady based on a well-known controversial singer. I'm no Miley Cyrus fan, but I do love something with a good pop culture reference, especially when it's so beautifully designed.

My favourite thing about the necklace is its subtlety. You'd never know, unless you look really closely, that it's such a funny object. With its pearl focus, I've been wearing it with more formal outfits to work and it feels a bit naughty to be in a meeting at work with a cropped blazer and smart blouse, with naked Miley dangling from your neck!

Town Design have a small selection of designs in their 'The World is Your Oyster' collection, including Atlas holding a pearl on his shoulders, and a gorgeous little globe. You can find them on Etsy and they ship worldwide from New York. Go and show them some love!

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Monthly Mixtape #5

I haven't had the chance to write one of these posts for a while, predominantly because I spend bloody ages picking which songs I want to share with you. These Monthly Mixtapes are pretty personal as I think they show all facets of my personality and taste, both of which are open to scrutiny! As I've said before, I don't think of myself as a musical aficionado, but what I do pride myself on is having a really varied taste, and having something to tune into whatever my mood may be. Let me know what you've been listening too in the comments!

Figure It Out by Royal Blood

Have you heard the Royal Blood album? WHY NOT?! You do know you can listen to it on Spotify AND read this blog at the same time right? In the first time for a long time, there is a guitar band that are taking my fancy. If you count listening to their album four times in a row a 'fancy'...

I'd Rather Go Blind by Etta James

When Etta James died last year, I listened to her 'best of' in memorium and realised how many classics can be attributed to her. This song is just so incredibly lovelorn and beautiful, you just don't get songs like it now without them sounding incredibly moany and miserable. This is simple and pure and delicately gorgeous.

Introdiction by Scroobius Pip

I was livid this week when I realised that I'd missed Scroobius Pip's free drinks meet-up. The rapper/spoken word poet promised he'd buy a drink for everyone of his fans that turned up, to celebrate reaching 100k Twitter followers. To make up for it I've been listening to his solo album and it really is one of my favourite releases in the last few years. Make sure you watch the video for this too, it's shot in one take!

Sissy That Walk - RuPaul

I did say I'm not a music aficionado! I am a HUGE fan of RuPaul's Drag Race, and recently finished watching season six on Netflix. If you've watched it before, you'll know that each season coincides with the release of one of Ru's singles and this time it was Sissy That Walk. It is so god damn catchy and the video is bloody hilarious too. If you're looking for disco tack that doesn't take itself too seriously, whack this on before going on a night out!

Field Day Festival

I'm wearing:

Coat - Uniqlo

Sunglasses - Tatty Devine

Tshirt - Finders Keepers (bought Amy Valentine on Depop)

Necklace - Vintage

Shorts - Beyond Retro

Boots - Doc Martens

I always feel like I'm kind of done with festivals, until that June-September period rolls around and I find myself lusting after stellar line-ups and pining for a overpriced, warm pint in the company of thousands of pissed music lovers. Let's face it, I like to have a shower everyday, know that the nearest toilet isn't covered in something heinous, and sleep in an actual bed, which is why the appeal of a weekend no-camping festival sounds fine and dandy to me. 

Field Day isn't huge in size, it's not in the middle of nowhere (unless you're not particularly familiar with Hackney...), and it doesn't have the household name headliners, but it brings in a dedicated crowd of music lovers who are looking for something a bit different to your average festivals. Gone are the chip pan death trap food vans you'd expect, and instead you're treated to gourmet (by festival standards) grub from Street Feast. Choose from Indian wraps, pimped up mac n cheese, or maybe a big old venison burger if you just want gold old fashioned meat in bread. The booze isn't your regular selection either. Yes you have your basic piss poor plonk for the less discerning palate, but I was loving the Meantime Brewery van, keeping me refreshed with quality cold ale instead. I may sound like a snob, but I'm not one to drink to get drunk, I actually like the taste of a good beer, and Meantime always delivers in that respect. 

As for the music, there was a great line up. I only went on the Saturday, which in my opinion hadn't he best bands on offer. I managed to catch Sky Ferreira, Blood Orange (who did an ace version of Mansun's 'I Can Only Disappoint U'), SBTRKT and Simian Mobile Disco amongst others. The best act by far for me though, was SOHN. You'll have seen from two of my recent Monthly Mixtapes that he often features highly on my 'I LOVE THIS' spectrum. Having recently seen him in the intimacy of his gig at the Village Underground, I wasn't sure what to expect from a festival atmosphere, but the crowd knew how to create the right ambiance to appreciate his gorgeous sound. I left even more in love with him than before, and I still cannot recommend his album 'Tremors' enough.  

With the sun shining until the end of Metronomy's headline set, we were chilled out, happy and a hell of a lot less smelly than your average festival goer. Dare I finish by saying we did in fact have a 'field day'? Yeah, why not.

Nine Inch Nails: A Ten Year Love Affair

 It's been a week since the good people of the UK enjoyed their last Bank Holiday until August. I chose to spend mine in a slightly less conventional way, sat on concrete floors outside two of the UK's biggest concert venues for seven hours, waiting to be one of the first to get inside for this year's Nine Inch Nails tour. This was my 11th and 12th times of seeing Nine Inch Nails live, the first being in 2005 when I was 16. A now ex-boyfriend had introduced me to them and I knew straight away that they were something special. I had passed my obsessive stage with Blink 182 that had been with me from the age of about 12, and had space in my heart for something new, something different.

Nine Inch Nails are not what you would call 'happy' music, but they make me happier than I can express. Trent Reznor's music has developed in so many ways even just in the ten years I've been a fan, but even more so since his first album, Pretty Hate Machine, came out in 1989 (that's just a year after I was born!). From electronic synths to insane drum machines, through to beautiful melodies on piano (Reznor is a classically trained pianist), searing guitars and the angriest of vocals - it's hard to pinpoint what NIN do exactly, especially when they do everything so well. I say 'they', but really Trent Reznor is the only constant in the band, putting together a team of awesome musicians to play live. Every NIN release is called a Halo, and I've joined the other obsessives in collecting them all. Sat in my mum's house is my full collection, all stunning to look at, which sums up Reznor's vision. Everything is does is art; from tour productions, CD sleeves and merchandise - he controls it all and ensures that it fits in with his aesthetic. 

My collection has expanded to include rare foreign releases, plectrums and set lists from gigs, a tambourine I once caught at a 2007 Brixton performance, and signed CDs from when I met the man himself at a meet and greet in Nottigham, also in 2007. I was a member of the short-lived fan club The Spiral, have sold my soul to get tickets to last year's infamous show at London's Scala, and met countless other fans at meet-ups and gigs around the country. And so many people are baffled by this. They find it amusing and quirky that I would take a day off to queue in the cold to be on a barrier at the front of a gig, to then be squashed by up to 5000 strangers for about three hours, just so I can get the best view of the band.

But it's not really hard to understand. Seeing, listening, experiencing the band is just something that I really enjoy! They don't tour very often and when they do I have so much fun. When a new album comes out I get excited because it's something new from a band that rarely disappoints (and generally signals a new tour could be on the cards too). My life doesn't centre around the band, but they are a little piece of beauty that I love to indulge in when I can. This tour tired me out; I was covered in bruises, I was hoarse and I was dirty, but it was worth it. And I can't wait to do it next time, whenever 'next time' is!

All photos by me unless otherwise stated. Please do not reproduce without permission.

Photo courtesy of Dani Muehlbacher on Instagram @dani_mue

Life: May 2014

May has been a surprisingly fun month. I've made the most of wandering around wonderful London, eaten far too much, and spent time with fabulous friends. A happy social life balances out a stressful work life, keeping me from being too grumpy!

I made my first chess cake and it worked out OK!
I bought the beautiful Humans of New York book, based on the famous Facebook page
Wandering around Neal's Yard in Covent Garden
Our European food feast for our Eurovision party

Strolling through Shoreditch and photographing awesome street art
Drinking Moosehead lager in The Maple Leaf Canadian pub
Polaroid pics with the besties
Eating more food than physically possible at Il Bordello in Wapping

Geeking out at Comics Unmasked at the British Library
On the barrier for Nine Inch Nails' gig at The O2
Watching La Traviata being screened live in Trafalgar Square
Completely guilty of enjoying these bad boys from Iceland

Monthly Mixtape #4

This month has seen my playlist has been inspired by celebrity news stories, festival line-ups and a corker of a new release. As ever, you can follow my favourite tunes playlist, Good Things, on Spotify here and let me know what you've been listening to!

Some Things Never Seem to Fucking Work by Solange

It was the now infamous video of Solange losing her shit at Jay-Z in a lift after the Met Gala that reminded me of how much I love this song. I'm surprised by how many people only know her as Beyonce's sister, when she's very much a great musician (and style icon) in her own right. If you haven't listened to her before, this is a good place to start.

Diggers by Bitter Ruin

FINALLY Bitter Ruin have released a fully fledged album. It's been a long time coming, but it has been worth the wait. As I said with SOHN last month, it's so rare nowadays that I hear a new album and listen to it from beginning to end and completely fall in love, but Waves actually made me tear up when I first listened to it. The opening track Diggers is the epitome of what Bitter Ruin create: haunting, melodic and stunning. Please listen and then buy this album to support a fledgling talent that could be (and should be) a massive musical force.

Everything is Embarrassing by Sky Ferreira

It's a mere week until I head off to Field Day, so I've been filling my ears with all the bands I plan on seeing. I'm super excited to see Sky Ferreira. She is reminiscent of Ladytron, with soft electronic vocals and repetitive choruses, but rather than leaning towards an industrial feel, it's a lot more pop focused. Plus she always rocks an awesome outfit on stage, so there's a lot of opportunities for fan girling!

Miss Alissa by Eagles of Death Metal

Thanks to that Nike World Cup advert, this song has been in my head for about two weeks straight. I have it somewhere in the depths of my iTunes, but it's been bumped right up into my favourites on Spotify recently because it is so damn catchy. It's frantic, high-pitched and a bit stupid - definitely something to inspire you to get through a busy tube station a bit quicker!

Monthly Mixtape #3

This month has been a month of musical discovery: new discoveries and rediscovering songs that I'd forgotten how much I love. Excuse me while I gush at how awesome all of these songs are, and as ever you can listen to them right from this here blog post. Aren't I helpful?

On Off On by The Cooper Temple Clause

Oh the sheer joy that coursed through me one drunken night when I got home and discovered that this wonderful, wonderful B-side was on Spotify. As a hardcore fan of The Cooper Temple Clause, I've been known to be one of those people that talks about the lesser known tracks with particular gusto, but really, honestly and truly, this song is so beautiful. 

You & Me - Flume Remix by Disclosure

A colleague told me about this song recently. He'd first heard it on the latest Lacoste advert and went hunting online to find the full length version. It's not my 'type' necessarily, but it's got a drop to it that you can't help but move to. With guest vocals from Eliza Doolittle, you'd expect this to be much more twee, but it's anything but that.

Artifice by SOHN

This song makes me want to shout as loudly as possible, 'PLEASE GOD LISTEN TO THIS SONG'. Every month I seem to find a song that I play on repeat for large chunks of the month, and April has been the month of Artifice. I've featured SOHN before on Monthly Mixtape, but this new single from his album Tremors warrants more awareness of this quality talent.

El Manana by Gorillaz

An oldie but a goodie. I didn't even realise Gorillaz had had so many singles until I found their best of on Spotify. And weirdly I knew most of the words too; they're one of those bands that have slipped into the nation's subconscious which is extremely rare and brilliantly clever. In my opinion, this is their best.

Banks - Koko, London

Source

Banks is a name that only came on to my radar at the very beginning of 2014 when she featured on a Spotify playlist of 'upcoming talent'. Her song Waiting Game was unlike anything I'd heard before, and that is genuinely a very rare thing for me to say. It was dark and grimy, but also sad and even sexy thanks to Banks' sultry vocals. I was hooked and listened to it on repeat for the majority of the day.

Thanks to the wonderful Songkick app, I found out she was playing at one of my favourite London venues, Koko - however, it had already sold out by the time I could get a ticket. When she released a second date due to demand I knew I had to go; if a new artist is selling out gigs then I want to make sure I'm seeing them when tickets are actually affordable!

Banks was joined on stage by just two musicians, but she had a dominating presence, despite being so tiny. Her big voice hit all the notes promised on her recordings and her sultry wanderings around the stage kept everyone transfixed, which so important when her music is so ethereal and down tempo. My friend who came with me hadn't heard of Banks and I found it so hard to describe her beforehand. During the gig we compared her to everything from 90s dance, industrial metal, grime, RnB and early 2000s indie - I'd love to know how she is accurately described by the music press and what radio stations play her because I find her incredibly hard to pinpoint. That's probably the main reason I like her so much.

Considering Banks has a limited discography, being such a new artist, she filled an hour with already well known tracks, some of which she changed to be more acoustic, and even some covers. It was short and sweet, but I think it will be a gig that I will be able to talk about in years to come. I predict big things for Banks.

Monthly Mixtape #2

The last month has rolled around so quickly, but I guess that's always the way when you're on holiday! I've been listening to so much music as I've been travelling around, it makes journeys go faster and wandering around less lonely. To be honest, I'm still obsessed with the songs from last month's post but these are some of the tunes I've been listening to on repeat in addition to those:

Break In (Knightlife Remix) by Owl Eyes

This song has the funk essence of a disco classic and a beat that makes me wish I had an afro and platforms. It's totally something I'd dance to in a club (if I ever went to clubs...), and is just the sort of thing I would've played on my student radio show back in the day. Catchy as anything!

Wide Open Space by Mansun

Ah, an old classic! This takes me back to being 16 and mixing with an oh-so-Indie crowd at The Cooper Temple Clause gigs. This is just one of those songs that everyone knows the words to, a good karaoke belter with lots of emphasis and not understanding how he catches his breath while singing really long notes. A crowd pleaser on any playlist. 

Once Upon a Dream by Lana del Rey

OK, this is a bit of an odd choice, but ever since I heard these haunting vocals over the top of the latest Maleficent trailer, I fell in love. The song is perfect for the film: an update of a classic Disney product, turned dark and spooky. It's all about her voice in this, although the choral element and dramatic strings are suitably dramatic and just as engrossing. I cannot wait to see this film!

Bright Lights by Gary Clark Jr

This guy is a friend of a friend and was introduced to me via Spotify one evening whilst I was in Sydney. The vocals are very similar to that of The Black Keys, and in fact the whole sound of this guy is reminiscent of their Rubber Factory days (their best days too, in my opinion). It's a bit more down-and-out blues though; I imagine a dingy bar on a hot evening. Tempted to see him at his Shepherd's Bush gig in June, I think he could become something quite special very soon. 

Monthly Mixtape #1

This series has been a long time coming. I am verging on obsessive when it comes to hunting down the next song to take over my life. It doesn't need to be brand new, it could be an oldie that my radar had somehow missed but there are very few things I love more than finding a song that takes over my brain. The kind of song that I put on repeat and can't believe I haven't heard before that one fateful moment.

Each month I'm going to share with you the songs that have made their mark and demanded my attention. I'd love to know your thoughts and recommendations, let me know in the comments or on Twitter at @charlienin. 

Bloodflows by SOHN

This song is just gorgeous. In fact his whole EP is simple, delicate and astounding. I've bought tickets to his only UK tour date in April at Village Underground in London and I can't wait. 

Waiting Game by Banks

This girl's voice oozes so much sex appeal that I instantly developed a new girl crush. The deep bass beats under the high pitch of her vocals is contradictory and unexpected but completely works. Again, I've bought tickets to her London show in April. I predict big things for this lady, catch her while you can. 

Les Nuits by Nightmares on Wax

I'd forgotten how much I adore this song. It's epic length makes it the best chill out track out there, even if it is nearly as old as I am. From the opening strings section I am unwaveringly taken in and calmed down. Perfection. 

Who's Gonna Save My Soul by Gnarls Barkley

Everyone knows this guy for that 'Crazy' song we are all tired of hearing but don't let that put you off. This song played at the end of an episode of Breaking Bad and I instantly Googled it, absolutely needing to know what it was. It's slow and smooth with stunning vocals that make me feel every bit of the story behind the lyrics. 

Goodbye 2013 (and good riddance!)

Finally, 2013 has come to an end!

This year has been full of huge ups and downs, and frankly I cannot wait for it to be over. 

On the downside, I've had to deal with relatives and friends being seriously ill, resulting in me knowing the hospitals of London a lot better than I wish I did. On the plus side, I earned my first ever promotion! It's obviously come with a lot more work and pressure, but it's a big step in the right direction for my career.

On that note, let's keep it positive! Here are my top 10 moments from 2013:

1) Retreating to the idyllic silence of the Lake District twice, once in January and then again in December

2) Taking an epic road trip to Scotland with my wonderful housemate and being proper tourists

3) Learning to ski in Austria at the Snowbombing Festival

4) Buying my beautiful Mulberry Del Rey!

5) Camping out on the Sherlock set (twice) and meeting Mr Cumberbatch himself!

6) Revisiting my old uni town of York, remisicing about days gone by and catching up with distant friends

7) Spending a solid seven days on a beach in Spain with my boyfriend

8) Getting tickets to see Nine Inch Nails at their tiny sold out Scala gig (and then again at Reading Festival a week later!)

9) Exploring Cornwall and eating my weight in pasties and ice cream

10) Dancing like a crazy lady at Future Cinema's Dirty Dancing event

2014 so far promises more Nine Inch Nails gigs, a big house move and an amazing month long trip to Australia! It's looking great already.

Happy new year!

xxx

Life: August 2013

I ate a LOT of ice cream at Roskilly's Dairy in Cornwall
I tried porridge for the first time ever. With cinnamon and bananas. Yum!
The amazing Charlie & the Chocolate Factory afternoon tea at One Aldwych
I made a Cookie Monster birthday cake for a colleague

I met Benedict Cumberbatch! He signed my book and spoke to me and I died of happiness
I want a puppy :(
Window cleaners on The Shard
Dug out my 2005 NIN tour t-shirt for Reading Festival

Watermelon nail art for Dirty Dancing Future Cinema
Willy Wonka nail art for afternoon tea
Swirly nail art
Kiehl's discount event at work is VERY dangerous!

Gig Planning #1

I'm constantly planning which gigs I want to go to. There is always a band I love announcing tour dates, and there's very little that I enjoy more than experiencing live music. Here are the gigs I'm planning for and don't forget you can see what I'm listening to on Spotify here:

Sebastian

XOYO, 23rd Aug

Image source

I can't remember where I first heard SebastiAn's 'Love In Motion' but it's a staple in any Favourites playlist I put together.
Buy tickets here.

Bitter RuinThe Garage, 7th Sept

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From them playing in my living room at university, down to the announcement that they're new manager is comedian Matt Lucas, I've been a long time supporter of the beautiful gothic duo Bitter Ruin. Make sure you check out 'Soundproof Box'.

Buy tickets here.

Au Revoir Simone

XOYO, 17th Sept

Image source

I think the picture says it all about Au Revoir Simone. They're twee and cute, with a harpsichord and softly spoken vocals. My favourite is 'Sad Song'.

Buy tickets here.

Giant Drag

The Borderline, 17th Sept

Image source

So so annoyed that Giant Drag are playing on the same night as Au Revoir Simone. I'm going to have to flip a coin. Typical indie at its best before it went off on a load of sub-genres. I love 'This Isn't It', but their cover of 'Wicked Game' is also ace.

Buy tickets here

Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros at Somerset House

Every year, on top of London Fashion Week, an open air cinema and the city's most famous Christmas ice skating rink, Somerset House is home to the #AmexSounds Summer Series - a number of gigs from a wide range of musicians, all in the beautiful surroundings of the historical building in central London.

Playsuit: Alexander McQueen
Esparilles: Office

We were so fortunate to have good weather for this, a light breeze but still so warm which meant I could wear this denim playsuit (donated by my big sister!). I love all the pinafores and playsuits that are available at the moment, I think they're perfect for slightly more formal summer wear while still being casual enough to not feel dressed up. I didn't have any accessories with the playsuit, as it felt like a statement in itself really. I do love my little anchor espadrilles though, they are so cute and playful don't you think?

 The gig we went to see was Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, a band I was introduced to by an old uni housemate about 4 years ago and who I've loved ever since. They're most famous song 'Home' has been used in adverts and quoted on romantic posters on Etsy and propelled them into a cult status group. There are two types of gigs that I absolutely adore: the ones where they hardly play any instruments but they still make incredible sounds, and then the complete opposite. That is, the ones that have so many instruments the music is a glorious jumble of exotic noises that confound but delight my musically talentless ears. Edward Sharpe are definitely the latter. There's 11 members of the group and each one got to show off  their multiple talents; each one could sing with a unique style that somehow still fit the folk country indie pop they've created. 

But the amount of people on stage didn't overcrowd the stage. They were infectiously active, all in harmony with each other's excitement, bouncing on (and off) the stage. It was never raucous, it's not the sort of music that can create that sort of atmosphere. Instead it radiated happiness, which is so rare at gigs. Everyone was dancing and cheerful, singing along and laughing. They played until the last second of their curfew, dragging out songs with extra bridges and handing the microphone to the audience in order to drag out their time on stage. They, and the audience, were savouring every moment - it wasn't so much of a show but a collaboration and a meeting of friends. Adorable.