Australian artist Pom Pom and I first bonded over our mutual love of band Felinedown and admiration for their kick ass frontlady Brodie-Ann Wright. After a little correspondence I found out that Pom Pom makes music herself that she describes as “a distorted crossbreed of Trent Reznor, Fever Ray and Peaches.” When not making music she teaches dance, drama and music. Here’s our little Q&A…

Tell me a little bit about yourself.
I write dark electro alt pop (or industro-pop). I grew up in the industrial coastal city of Wollongong, NSW. I started programming electronic music a couple of years ago. I’ve been living in Sydney for the last couple of years, and gigging pretty regularly in Sydney, Wollongong, Brisbane and Melbourne. I migrated my way down to Melbourne earlier this year with my live band mates to pursue the rock n roll dream (sub-text for eating 2-minute noodles and drinking $4 bottles of red wine)

How did you first come to playing music?
I grew up singing and dancing. I started playing in a rock band with my best friends in high school. That same line up became pretty serious when we finished school. We were an all-girl art rock band and post school called ourselves, Blackbird. I started writing songs from as soon as I basically picked up a guitar at the end of high school. As my tastes in music have changed, I’ve transitioned from writing very guitar driven tunes to writing music with more of an electronic edge but still with a rock attitude.

What do you wear on stage?
Always a pair of high chunky heels. Usually a lot of clashing toxic colours and textures; sparkly hot pants, vintage cheerleader outfits, military, and utility wear. Skirts made of fairy lights and hyper coloured catsuits.

How important is your stage outfit to you?
I love performance and performances that go all out! For me that entails everything from strong songwriting, committed sweaty performances and a killer outfit.

Make-up-wise what’s your onstage must?
These days theatrical eye lashes, black or blue lips are a bit of a love of mine at the moment as well. Drawing on my face and body too for the ‘f” of it.

What’s your biggest beauty indulgence?
Highly impractical purple feather lashes that look great from afar but can be hard to see out of!

What are your offstage outfits like?
A combination of tomboy punk and super girly-ness. ripped stockings, my 11 year old purple Doc Martin boots, belly tops and hair bows. A marriage of baby girl vintage, Harajuku and rock.

Who are your style icons?
I don’t really follow fashion or labels as such but musical artists whom I admire their style includes:
Gwen Stefani, IAMX, Cyndi Lauper and Michael Jackson.

What do you do creatively when you’re not creating/playing music?
Choreograph dance or go out dancing. Dress up. Go on spontaneous adventures. Op shopping is a creative thing for me also! The thrill of a random find and re-working it into an outfit is addictive.

What makes your musical style different?
I take elements of 80s synth pop, 90s grunge, industrial electronica and pure pop whirl them around and spit them out in a glittery wall of sound!

Have you ever encountered sexism within the music community?
Sure. You just get used to being described as a ‘girl band’ or a ‘strong female artist’ after a while… it gets really boring, I don’t even notice anymore. The Lady Gaga references constantly get really boring too.

How do you deal with the haters?
I learnt this from Mama Pom when I was 10. Haters only hate ’cause they are jealous. Deal with them by not even giving them a moment of your time. I do things that make me happy. I love writing and performing and dressing up. I don’t mind if people don’t like what I do.

Tell me about your latest projects.
About two months back I released my debut film clip online for the song, Your Little Flower, from my debut EP, In The Gaps Between. I’m working on a few collaboration tracks at the moment with some different artists as well as my second release which is looking like a mini album which I will release just prior to heading to live overseas sometime in the middle of next year. Also, a song of mine was recently picked up for an episode of Canadian Sci-Fi TV Show, Lost Girl, which is pretty cool. I’m half way through filming my next film clip which will be off the forth coming release also.

in the dark by pom pom

For more Pom Pom.

I hope you’re enjoying your holidays!

Hugs & hearts,

Readers of ConversationsWithBianca.com will know that I love print magazines. A little while ago I posted my favourite magazine covers of 2010. With the year drawing to a close I thought it was time for a post of my favourite covers from 2011.

All the covers I’ve chosen feature female musicians. Once again for the most part, magazines specifically music-based let me down as far as representing awesome lady musos on their covers – as usual it was the pop culture and fashion magazines that (thankfully) delivered the goods! Without further ado here’s my favourite covers from 2011…

What have been your favourite covers for 2011?

Love & light,

Western Australia band Boys Boys Boys! are indeed an exciting find! Every aspect of them is super, super fun! Influenced by CSS, the B-52s and Le Tigre they’ve definitely become a new favourite! Members Koko and Bridget answer my Qs while Nelly is on holidays overseas lounging in pools!

What do you wear on stage?
Koko: On stage wear has just gotta be as bright, colourful and fun as possible! I LOVE anything that sparkles, the sparklier the better! So lots of sequined tops, shiny, lycra pants and crazy sneakers. And lots of bling to top it off! Anything that makes you POP is a must. A girl’s gotta look her flyest on stage after all!

Bridget: Anything I can scrounge from the wardrobe that passes the smell test. It gets more ticks the more outrageous it is and less stains it has on it.

How important is your stage outfit to you?
Koko: Our music is super energetic, so dressing up to the max, so that you feel like a pop star, is important ha ha. The crazier and funner you dress, the more crazy you wanna perform onstage. I really enjoy creating the aesthetic for the band—it’s one of the funnest parts! It’s not every day you get to wear the crazy things we do when we play, so we might as well go nuts! Plus we LOVE lycra!

Bridget: Not important because I know if I rock up a mess Koko can sort me out.

Make-up-wise what’s your onstage must?
Koko: Tons of pink/sparkly eye shadow, a trusty foundation, sweatproof mascara and GLITTER.

Bridget: Lipstick that doesn’t smudge too much because after the mic gets all up in my face I can end up with it everywhere that’s a bummer.

What’s your biggest beauty indulgence?
Koko: Me and my girlfriends like to get together, bring ALL our nail polish colours and give each other ‘ghetto nails’ as we call them, with lotsa crazy patterns. I also love a nice, fruity moisturizer for after showers, so you smell fresh and sweet, mmm…

Bridget: I like to get massages. All the time. I even like the ones in the shopping centres that the masseuse is talking on the phone in another language whilst rubbing you. I love them.

What are your offstage outfits like?
Koko: My wardrobe is outta control right now! I have a huge mix of clothing styles, plus a WHOLE section dedicated to just sequin wear for onstage. I go by whatever I’m feeling on the day really. I could go for hip hop flavor with an oversized rapper tee, African print leggings and high-top sneakers. Or if i want to dress up a lil’ more, I could go indi with a bowler hat, bow tie, high waisted jeans and brogues. I LOVE clothes!! Ha ha.

Bridget: Less outrageous. I really like wearing jumpers that your mum would have worn in the 80s. I’m not looking forward to summertime I don’t want to let them go.

Who are your style icons?
Koko: Anyone who likes to makes things larger than life and really push boundaries with their fashion. Designers like Jeremy Scott and Vivienne Westwood. Celebrities such as M.I.A, Uffie, Gwen Stefani, Gaga, Kanye West, Yolandi Vi$$er, Nicki Minaj, Michael Jackson and Prince. Gosh I love Prince!

Bridget: I like Zooey Deschanel for bringing back the girl next door. She is flawless and beautiful. Other than her I’d have to say Koko she’s the most stylish gal I’ve ever met.

What do you do creatively when you’re not creating/playing music?
Koko: If i get any free time at all, I also like to sketch or write. Or even a bit of sewing, to work on those special fashion pieces.

Bridget: I’m a photographer by trade so you can usually find me retouching brides and bands in 80s mum’s jumpers.

What makes your musical style different?
Koko: Our live show is pretty different to any other bands, because we mix the elements of a pop show like Britney Spears with a rock show too. The funnest, most original aspect to our show, is that we have choreographed dance moves for almost all our songs. And we’re really not afraid to look like dorks too! Our music is like a hyperactive kid on red cordial! Weeeee….

Bridget: I think it’s different because it’s unashamedly pop and fun. It is what it is and it doesn’t try to be anything else. I have never seen another band like us. I’ve seen a lot of bands that look and sound amazing but never seem to be having any fun and I find that less interesting to watch. I like it when a band tries to perform even if that means they come across as big dorks. That’s why our style is different. No one is covering that “dork market”.

Have you ever encountered sexism within the music community?
Koko: Sexism? Hmm… only a little bit. We haven’t had any truly bad experiences with it. It’s more funny than anything. Some guys in the biz will just assume that we’re weakling girls who can’t help with carrying the gear. But then we will jump right in and move the heavy stuff too, and boy are they surprised ha ha!

Bridget: Not really. Not in our little community. It’s all love.

How do you deal with the haters?
Koko: In this biz there will always be someone that doesn’t dig what you’re doing, and that’s fine. Everybody is different. But haters are still no fun. I’ve learnt just to brush it off, and focus on the good things, like all the people who you make smile and party like they don’t have a care!

Bridget: I never read anything negative, I’m of the opinion that if you haven’t got anything nice to say you shouldn’t say it. People who are haters have flaws of character and I think their words say more about them than they do of us. That said we aren’t everyone’s cup of tea and I respect that too.

Tell me about your latest projects.
Koko: Our next plans are to finish recording our second album, make it super awesome! Make another amazingly rad video clip, keep playing gigs and to keep having HEAPS of fun!

Bridget: At the moment we are working on pre-production for our second album. It’s a pretty annoying part of making a record. I way prefer playing but it has to be done. Pretty soon we will be working on a clip to follow up Ticky Boom and tracking our record which is way more exciting! Woop!

For more Boys Boys Boys!

Have a most excellent day lovelies!

*Photo credits: BBB live by Chantel Concei

• I am so excited that Major Lazer is working on a track with No Doubt for their new album!
• Tim (Armstrong from Rancid)  Timebomb’s Rock n Roll Theatre.
• Hip hop artist Immortal Technique talks ‘Cohesive Strategy and a lot of Brainstorming’ at Occupy Wall St.
• Excitement plus! Australian illustrator DrFaustusAU is recreating the classic H. P. Lovecraft tale The Call of Cthulhu as a Dr. Seuss-style children’s book.
• A short film Courtney (Love) In Wonderland by Vanity Fair! Plus there’s an in-depth feature in the November issue!
• A visual feast! Concert/band posters at Gig Posters and Magnificent Beard are just a pleasure to ogle at.
• A favourite artist Shepard Fairey Paints Asbury Park.
• Spinnerette’s Brody Dalle plugged into an amp as recently as last week! Looking forward to a new record, apparently she’s ”slowly making my record , about halfway there” (according to one of her tweets!)
• This was a lovely find, an interview with corset maker Mr Pearl. He’s made creations for Dita Von Teese, Kylie Minogue, Victoria Beckham and more and worked with designers John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, Thierry Mugler, Antonio Berardi, and Christian Lacroix. The answers are handwritten by Mr Pearl himself as he doesn’t believe in computers, e-mail, or mobile phones. I just adore handwritten things.
• Food for thought: I Love My Job, But It Made Me Poorer by Le Tigre’s JD Samson
• Want to know if you should work for free? Consult this handy chart. Definitely made me giggle, after 17 years of doing what I do I can relate to this so much.
• Once again Australian zine Rest Assured delivers more awesomeness: Mini Doco on McRad and Chuck Treece.
• Puurfect Pineapples make the most amazing cruelty-free lingerie! So beautiful and cutesy made with the best of intentions: sweat shop free and animal free.
• Hey, Ho! Let’s Go! The New Girl Rock’N'Roll Underground by Joyce Raskin at Collapse Board. Girls Rock Camp! I wish they had that when I was growing up.
• The Roots x Yo Gabba Gabba live on Jimmy Fallon!! So rad!!
•  And lastly, if you’re after a book that is bizarre, odd or downright weird, The Weird Book Room is for you! Some of the titles totally have me laughing out loud!

Mucho love & sparkles,

*Photo source: V

Brodie-Ann Wright frontwoman for Brisbane-based band Felinedown is without a doubt a rock goddess personified. Whether performing burlesque or rocking festival crowds with her band she’s got the moves (not to mention an amazing wardrobe!).  

What do you wear on stage?
Well it changes all the time but right now – although I love me some sexy heels – I’ve been wearing my ‘Cons’ (sneakers) more and more. I think as the music changed and got faster and heavier I just felt the need to be able to move more and more. I guess although I still think my tastes fall on the flamboyant side my clothes are a little less Bowie/Goldfrapp this record and a little more Gwen Stefani/ Shirley Manson/the Prodigy lads. I need to be able to rock the fuck out and not feel restricted by my clothes, but apart from that anything goes!

How important is your stage outfit to you?
Like with theatre or dance I feel like my stage outfits and make up help me get in the head space of performing. Getting ready and putting that clothing, jewelry and make up on is a bit of a pre-gig ritual for me.

Make-up-wise what’s your onstage must?
Probably my eyeliner if I really had to choose… I just don’t feel right without my cat eyes on ;)

What’s your biggest beauty indulgence?
I’d say most expensive would be getting my hair done… right now it’s going from black to blonde… no easy feat! But most indulgent would be massages. After a recent gig my muscles and “mosh neck” were so bad I had to go and get a massage. Pretty indulgent huh? Also the Buffy bar and Rose Lavender water from Lush…so, so nice!

What are your offstage outfits like?
Apart from when I really have to tone it down for work… they really aren’t that different from my onstage ones. I love getting dressed up and the style varies day to day depending on what music/movie/ book I’ve been obsessing over that day. I’m pretty sure the guys are always wondering… who the hell is going to show up at rehearsal this time?

Who are your style icons?
I’m inspired by a lot of characters in books and films but also by people like Vivienne Westwood, David Bowie, Debbie Harry, Vali Myers, Helena Bonham Carter, Gwen Stefani, Joan Jett, Dita, and Shirley Manson. Basically anyone who wears what pleases them and never worries about what’s current or on trend. I love style blogs like Face Hunter, Sartorialist and Style Scout too seeing street fashion from all over the world is wicked inspiring.

What do you do creatively when you’re not creating/playing music?
I love to dance and paint and in the last couple of years really discovered how much I love to cook. Get me in the kitchen with some wine and great tunes and I dance around all crazy and have me some messy fun.

What makes your musical style different?
I think the blending of so many different styles and influences from us as a song writing team really makes it something different. In Oz there aren’t that many bands making industrial-dance-rock-pop-triphop-blues-noise music, especially fronted by a chick. It sets us apart yes but we also feel it allows us to play in lots of different line ups and to lots of different crowds.

Have you ever encountered sexism within the music community?
Not particularly. I guess coming from a background in burlesque you tend to view being a woman and being on stage differently. I’ve never viewed being female and being in a band as a negative, in fact I think it’s in a lot of ways an advantage. I tend to be told my onstage performances are quite sexual in nature and I make no apologies for that, even though I doubt if I was a man my performances would be described in the same manner. I don’t think that devalues or detracts from the music we write. That’s just the way I’m feeling in the moment and the content of our songs. The only time I’ve ever felt insulted because I was a girl was when a guy from another band backstage one night asked me ‘so…which band is your boyfriend in?’ assuming I couldn’t possibly be there to play music myself. Noice one man… good work!

How do you deal with the haters?
I guess you just have to realise that there is always going to be people who dislike you and or your music and for lots of different reasons. You’re not going to nor should you aim to please everyone. How many of your musical, artistic or cultural heroes have been slandered, turned away or worse? Who cares?! We’re all made of the same stuff and headed back to the same place so there really isn’t any need to sweat the small stuff…but hell I’m only human and some things still sting a bit. I just try to keep the above in mind and do my best to be true to myself. Being surrounded and supported by my band and my family goes along way too.

Tell me about your latest projects.
Really it’s been heads down arse up for the last 12 months and all my focus has been on Felinedown. I put any other projects on hold and rightly so I think. I want all my energy and passion poured into this new record and into the shows. I’m so happy with ‘Trap Rebaited’ and I can’t wait for all the upcoming shows too!

Listen to/watch Felindown:

You can also check out a previous chat I’ve had with Brodie here.

See Felinedown… tour dates:
Friday 7th October – Gaelic Hotel, Sydney
Saturday 8th October – Uber, Brisbane
Friday 14th October – Fowlers, Adelaide
Saturday 15th October – Revolver, Melbourne

Keep dreaming big, big, big!

*Photo credits: 1 / 2 – Jessie James / 3 – Ian Day

I was so excited when I found Los Angeles’ Hot Riot! recently. Frontwoman Kelly has so much energy, can write catchy electro-rock songs that get stuck in your head like nobody’s business and is not afraid to speak her mind. I cannot wait for her debut full-length record she’s currently working on!

What do you wear on stage?
My “go-to” as far as stage wear is boots with shorts and some sort of oversized off the shoulder vintage T-shirt. I also like to layer neon colored fishnets with ripped up tights over.

How important is your stage outfit to you?
Very important! When I step out on stage I want to feel like I’m giving something special to the audience. Not just with my music or performance but with how I look too. I never go on stage in just normal street clothes. I make sure it looks like a sort of a costume.

Make-up-wise what’s your onstage must?
Dark eyes and I do war paint on my right cheek just below my eye. NO lipstick or lip gloss! My hair gets stuck in it.

What’s your biggest beauty indulgence?
The Daily Resurfacer by Dermalogica. It’s expensive but it makes my skin flawless.

What are your offstage outfits like?
I’m a big fan of oversized hipster dresses. The kind that just kinda hang off ya. I like to wear that with an old pair of cowboy boots, ya know… the kind that has duct tape holding them together. And then of course the good ol’ go-to, tank top and skinny jeans.

Who are your style icons?
Gwen Stefani, and as of lately Ke$ha. I like how sloppy she is ’cause I’m kinda sloppy too.

What do you do creatively when you’re not creating/playing music?
I love to paint. I find weird things on the side of the road (old windows/ pieces of wood) I take them home clean them up and paint something rad on them. I also like to make my own cloths or change up something I already own to make it one of a kind.

What makes your musical style different?
Well my music is very electro/ dance, a bit like Lady Gaga. But what makes us different is I add in some harder guitar, almost metal you might say. Also my arrangements are very cinematic, which makes it extremely soundtrack friendly.

Have you ever encountered sexism within the music community?
YES!!! At the venues and in the recording studio. It seems like if you are a girl in the music industry that sings and only sings… you’re golden! But if you write music, play an instrument or have a strong opinion, NO ONE wants to hear it. Most producers I’ve come in contact with just want a puppet, someone that will do what they want when they want them to do it. And, if you’re not the lead singer… HA forget about it!! Just with girls though. Don’t get me wrong, there are people out there that don’t think that way but honestly they are few and far between. So all us girls just have to WORK HARDER and BE BETTER but the payoff is most EXCELLENT!

How do you deal with the haters?
I just try to not let them affect me. Everyone has a right to their opinion. Goodness knows I have some strong ones. Good and bad. Plus constructive criticism could really open your eyes about something otherwise you’d be blind to.

Tell me about your latest projects.
Right now I’m working on all the pre-production for my first full length album. I should be hitting up the recording studio soon. The producer I’m working with is one of the original founders of Dubstep so I’m excited. Also a couple of my songs just got placed in two movie trailers and one movie. So I’m looking forward to when all that comes out.

Listen to Hot Riot!:
Bang Bang Kiss Me (Remix) by HotRiot

Nowhere to Run by HotRiot

For more Hot Riot!
Share the lady love! Tell your friends!

Support female musicians!

India Rose is Australia’s premier alternative model. When she’s not in front of the camera or on a runway she rocks the mic with her surf-punk-horror-a-go-go band The Go-Go Haunters. She’s one of the hardest working ladies I know with a very distinct style and an inspiring determination to achieve all her heart’s greatest wishes. Go India!

What do you wear on stage?
A custom made outfit, although I’ve been rocking a tasselled bra and disco shorts lately. Abigail Greydanus (who designs latex for Katy Perry & Lady Gaga) is creating my latest costume. I’ve joined the epidemic of female performers wearing latex on stage. It’s a fitted bodysuit with stockings and suspenders attached, it’s in the ‘Haunters’ colours: black and acid green; can’t wait to wear it at our next show!

How important is your stage outfit to you?
First and foremost, it’s always aesthetically pleasing – comfort comes dead last (unfortunately!). It allows me to become my on stage persona, even the boys are in costume, we call it our ‘haunters uniform’.

Make-up-wise what’s your onstage must?
I’m exaggerated to the max—big lashes, bold lips and back-combed hair. My favourite brands to use for stage are Masquerade and MAC. I keep a powder compact, lipstick and mini mirror on top of one of the amps in case I need a mid-show touch up. The boys make-up has been perfected to black and acid green skeleton ghoul faces which remain surprisingly intact the entire set.

What’s your biggest beauty indulgence?
I’m obsessed with organic skin care products, hair treatments and face masks.

What are your offstage outfits like?
High waisted black denim shorts, American Apparel disco pants (in every colour available), any modded out/chopped up T-shirt (usually favourite bands from the 80′s) and a cropped leather jacket. My favourite accessories include my metal fang ring and religious jewelry.

Who are your style icons?
Debbie Harry, Alice Cooper, Vivienne Westwood, Dinah Cancer, Joan Jett, Morticia Addams, Axl Rose, Nikki Six, my bestie Cheyenne Sarfati, Gwen Stefani and my friend/couture designer Rebecca Cobbing.

What do you do creatively when you’re not singing?
Thinking up new concepts for photo shoots, experimenting with make-up techniques and planning the itinerary of my next overseas trip.

What makes your musical style different?
I love that the Haunters can’t be put into just one genre; we’re a hybrid of surf, garage and punk with a mix of spookiness. We should coin the sub-genre “Goth-a-Go-Go” or “Horror-Punk-A-Go-Go”!

Have you ever encountered sexism within the music community?
I haven’t dealt with sexism at this point, as far as my band’s concerned I’m one of the boys … if every boy were to load in and out in 6 inch heels every show.

How do you deal with the haters?
I put my blinkers on with negativity, out of sight, out of mind. The only people with time to hate are the ones who don’t have dreams they’re willing to sacrifice everything for.

Tell me about your latest projects?
Collaborating with the designer Romancing Jezebel and brand Tentacle Threads. Also recording The Go-Go Haunters EP.

Listen to The Go-Go Haunters:

Create forever!

*Photo credits: 1 & 2 – Benjamin Nichols for Big Fry / 3 – Mark Mawson

Magazines are one of my all-time favourite things in the world. I have my mum to thank for that passion. She always taught me that reading was important; she taught me it’s a great way to learn about things, people and places and it can be a form of inspiration – a nice way to spark ideas that can kick start you dreaming of life’s possibilities. She especially loved profiles and biographies of entertainers and humanitarians (maybe it explains in part, my own lifelong affinity for the two). Magazines and books were a huge part of our household. When I was young I’d sit with her at all hours of the day and devour glossy page after glossy page – mostly women’s magazines, culture, food, lifestyle, travel and true crime. No grocery trip to the store was ever complete without picking up at least a couple of titles off the rack and no newsagent could be walked passed without popping in for a look.

I’ve always been fascinated with who, what, why, where, how and when – magazines (along with books) sated a lot of these curiosities—for a little while. I always wanted more—always thirsty for knowledge, always excited to fawn over pretty pictures. It was a given that I’d end up working in the publishing field in some capacity. It makes sense that today (for the past 14 years actually) I write for various publications and self-publish (I’ve been doing that for 17 years this year).

A favourite thing about magazines besides the features, accompanying pictorials, smell of the paper and luster of the pages is: the cover. I love a great cover! I’ll be honest and say sometimes I do buy magazines just because one of my favourite entertainers or humanitarians etc. is on the cover regardless of what’s inside. Yeah I get suckered in, LOL. If I ever see Gwen Stefani, Angelina Jolie, Courtney Love, Brody Dalle, Santogold/Santigold, M.I.A. or anything to do with/or inspired by Frida Kahlo I’m a goner! I’m also a huge fan of illustrative covers and covers which seem like their covered in handwriting scrawl. Each year, I keep a folder on my laptop desktop devoted to my favourite covers that I come across—to me a great cover can really be a beautiful piece of art.

Below I’d like to share with you some of my favourite covers from last year, 2010. The 2011 folder is still taking shape but I will share that in due course too – I haven’t come across many things that have blown me away as yet. If you see something AMAZING please send it my way, I’m always on the hunt for new titles (especially with incredible covers). Right now some of my favourite magazines out there are Nico, Dazed & Confused, Venus Zine and Interview. Some of you may be surprised to find out that I don’t really enjoy music magazines these days a whole lot. I find most are written and designed for teenage guys. I ask, don’t intelligent, thoughtful adults enjoy music too? I also enjoy the art that is Vogue Paris. Carine Roitfeld, VP’s editor of 10 years until recently, is one of my favourite editors she has consistently delivered great envelope pushing covers and content. Whether or not VP continues to be a favourite now she’s gone remains to be seen.

I found 2010 had a theme: women musicians/performers. I observed though, that the covers I’ve chosen (bar two – Rolling Stone Germany and Uptown Strut, also from Germany) weren’t solely dedicated to music. I for one would like to see more female musicians featured on actual music magazine covers (and not in the semi-naked to naked way they’re usually styled either).

Enjoy lovelies!

Lily Allen - Harper’s Bazaar (Australia)

Erykah Badu – Uptown Strut (Germany)

Nicki Minjai – Out Magazine (US)

Kelis – Trace Magazine (US)

Vogue Paris (France)

Katy Perry – Harper’s Bazaar (US)

Alicia Keys – Fabulous (UK)

M.I.A – Complex (US)

Dita Von Teese – Genlux Magazine (US)

Lady Gaga – Vanity Fair (US)

Madonna – Interview Magazine (US)

Sade Adu – Rolling Stone (Germany)

Here’s also a few other covers I’ve loved featuring female musicians from year gone by:

Brody Dalle – Inked Magazine (US)

PJ Harvey - i-D Magazine (UK)

Santi White – Anthem Magazine (US)

Gwen Stefani – V Magazine (US)

Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain – Sassy (US)

Have a wonderful day friends…

CREATE FOREVER!

“To me, making a tape is like writing a letter — there’s a lot of erasing and rethinking and starting again. A good compilation tape, like breaking up, is hard to do.” ~High Fidelity.

As a teen I’d sit in my bedroom at night and listen to the radio. I’d sit beside my mum and dad’s cassette player, fingers on the play and record buttons, ready to capture a song I like the sound of. I’d then take them (along with my meagre CD collection) and compile them into mixtapes for myself. On the weekends you could often find me holed up in my bedroom making them. I’d make a mixtape for ANY occasion! I was (and still am) the biggest music dork. I liked to make themed mixes or mixes that were perfect for different emotions. I even made cover art for them.

Once I started going to all ages shows I made friends that shared my enthusiasm and love for the art. When I started making zines and corresponding (by post—this was way before internet became a household thing) with other zine makers we used to send each other mixes of our favourite tunes—still to this day one of my favourite mixtapes was sent to me by Cade who did a hardcore punk zine from Australia called Circle One. The man has great taste!

I have always enjoyed receiving mixtapes from others. It’s one of the best ways to discover awesome new (to you) music. More often than not if someone has gone to the trouble to make you a mix they’ve put a lot of time and effort into it, they’ve taken care to choose some of the best material from artists they love (you’re getting a personal introduction to the act). It’s always been refreshing to be exposed to music I wouldn’t necessarily seek out myself.

Mixtapes have been made and celebrated in both the punk rock and hip hop communities for years. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Afrika Bambaataa, Kool Herc were all mix tape creators ‘back in the day’. DJ Roofeeo the drummer for one of my favourite bands the MFDS has recently made a rockin’ mixtape for download here. Another of my favourites Kanye West made the Can’t Tell Me Nothing.

For more info on mixtapes click out the Wikipedia entry.

Now without further ado, I give you the very first (there will be many, many more! I’m going to make it a regular thing!) ConversationsWithBianca.com Mixtape with beautiful art by my partner in crime Jhonny Hobo (among many things Jhonny is one half of Hobo DJs you can peep a sample of their work here)…

MISS BIANCA’S DIGITAL MIXTAPE 1

Messer Chups – Flash Of The Night

Hobo Obituaries – Sad Trumpet

The Bronx – False Alarm

The Death Set – Around The World

Operation Ivy – Sound System

Uffie – Pop The Glock

The Roots – Don’t Feel Right

Moby featuring Gwen Stefani

Santigold – Creator

Deltron 3030 – Positive Contact

Gogol Bordello – Start Wearing Purple

Shmoe – Knees Up

Rancid – Red Hot Moon

M.I.A – Jimmy

Death On Wednesday – Stranded

Felinedown – Devil’s Playground

The Bouncing Souls – Anchors Away

N*E*R*D – Wonderful Place

What are you guys listening to? Send me mixtapes & new music! Hope you’ve found something new (to you) in my mix. Please support the artists do see them live, buy some merch and music… as I’ve said many times before “we have too much to lose as a society, economy & culture if we do not ensure Creators’ efforts are rewarded” your mission if you choose to accept: really & truly support the music you ♥ & artists that create it!

Hugs & hearts,

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“I’ve come to believe that nothing’s impossible if you can imagine it. There’s nothing new under the sun. When you’re moved, you’re moved, and you should seize the moment to express the feeling. It’s that moment of expression that I define as art.” ~Pharrell.

One of my fav hip hoppers and creators Skateboard P a.k.a Pharrell Williams has been flexing his creative muscles in the art world of late designing a line of chairs and candles. He has also launched an online art community ARTST Guild & Gallery. It’s billed as a “community where artists meet share work and collaborate”. I urge all of my camera wielding, music making, sculpting, writing, brush and pencil pushing, creative friends to check it out!

Artwork by Sanjai Bhana (a featured artist on ASTRT). Sanjai also has a blog crammed full of illustrative goodness. I especially like his Joey Ramone piece and Mr T tee.

For more info on ARTST Guild & Gallery check out an interview with Pharrell here.

Pharrell also recently spent some time at (one of my favourite photographers) David LaChapelle’s working on a collaboration. LaChapelle’s work is a kaleidescope of pop culture and art his images have featured some of my favourite artists: Debbie Harry, Courtney Love, Andre 3000 & Kelis (all Egyptian stylee), Chris Rock (contains nudity), Kanye West (as Jesus), Bjork, Gwen Stefani and (a naked) Moby (vs. robot)!

Thought for the day: Art is limitless (my Jhonny and his art remind me of this fact every single day).

Hope you all have a productive, creative day!

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