I was about 8 or 9 when I first watched the original Nightmare on Elm Street, and it definately had a lasting effect putting the chills up me for months if not years afterwards. As the franchise expanded (and I grew up), Freddy became more of a comedic caricature of himself – the only scare being how more ridiculous he could become. He even appeared in a commercial for the Italian snack food, ‘Fonzies’, where he breaks into a house during a party to eat the salty Cheeto-like snack. There was also going to be a game show from CBS in 2005 that never ended up airing called A Nightmare on Elm Street: Real Nightmares. Freddy was the host making contestants come face to face with their nightmares in an attempt to help them overcome their fears. However he was still an iconic figure of the 80′s and Robert Englund will always be heralded for bringing so much to the part.
So when I heard there was going to be a 2010 remake with Englund, I instantly thought it was scraping the bottom of barrel. However I do think it looks rather good. Director Samuel Bayer has tried to round the character off with a sympathetic intro storyline, and the whole ambience looks suitably creepy rather than gory. Jackie Earle Haley who played Rorschach in the Watchmen, looks quite convincing and as the lead role too. The film is not out until next April, but I definately think it’s worth the wait.
What I love about Vancouver based photographer, Dina Goldstein is her ability to brilliantly execute simple concepts and messages with the greatest of ease. There’s no extra faff or nonsense on display. Everything is purposeful, meaningful and in the case of the “Fallen Princesses Series…” magical.
There are very few music artists out there as engaging as Mia Riddle. With just 2 records under her belt, she has demonstrated the ability to write beautiful sincere songs which have a universal appeal. She’s an enthusiastic traveller with her creations, who’s out to show the world that the good old-fashioned honest approach is what it’s all about. She just lives and breathes her music. We caught up with the fabulous folk-rock songstress where she reveals all about her new album, songwriting process and life in New York.
Hello from the UK! How are you?
Hey there! I’m great.
For the wider audience, can you tell us about Mia Riddle and the life she lives? You started writing music when you were really young right?
I am a transplanted Californian living a somewhat bohemian lifestyle in Brooklyn. Our band all lives within a block of eachother, so we hang out a lot at the bar downstairs. It’s really fun. I started writing music when I was a kid, and have been in a bunch of different bands. This one has evolved from a solo project to a 6-piece rock band. It’s been really organic, how that happened, and it took a lot of time. I think that process really defined the sound.
Photo by Eric Luc
You’re in the studio recording your new album at the moment. How is that going?
It’s been going really well. We went upstate to the country for six days and recorded all the instruments. We played it all live, so it definitely has a sort of vibrance and rawness that we haven’t captured before. I’m going to sing on it in October at some point, but it won’t probably come out till late winter/early spring.
You also did some sessions for my new favourite website www.daytrotter.com! What was the best part of that experience and is there anyone else on there you’re particularly digging?
Daytrotter is awesome! It was such an honor. The best part of the experience for me was the essay that Sean wrote – he really cares about the music so much. My favorite Daytrotter session is still the Bon Iver one. It’s unreal.
Photo by Eric Luc
Technically, your song structures are so richly layered with hooks and melodies, but you manage to bring it together with one unique sound. What’s your usual process when you come to writing the songs?
It’s usually a pretty fast process. I’ll write a song in an afternoon or two, then after I’ve mulled it over for a couple of days, I bring it to our drummer Jeff, and we come up with the drum part, and then present it to the band, and we all start working out the final arrangement together. This is all a new thing in the last year, the process is a lot more collaborative than it used to be. I love that, everyone is so good at what they do, we’re really bringing everyone’s experience to the table.
Your approach to music is one that I feel is so romantic and genuine, with quality songwriting about real moments and experiences. You all seem to just enjoy what you’re doing together and appreciate life as it comes. I get the impression that the music is almost like a product of the laid back lifestyle that exudes from you? Would I be right?
Haha! I guess so….but I’m also one of the most uptight people around. I’m a little stress-ball, so it’s a balancing act. I just try to be as honest as I can, and tell stories with the best words that I can find.
Photo by Eric Luc
You’ve been here a few times over the years, but when are you coming back to the UK? You should definately come to Liverpool! Where else in the world would you love to tour?
We’re hoping to come back to the UK next spring, and we’d love to go to Liverpool, I’ve never been. I’d also love to tour more in Europe, we had a great time a couple summers ago in Paris.
Which other bands / acts are you currently enjoying?
All my friends in Brooklyn are making such cool music, it’s a great time to be here. Motel Motel are phenomenal, Scary Mansion’s new record is going to be great. Matt Pond PA, Holly Miranda, Abandoned Lighthouse, La Strada, Au Revoir Simone are all making great sounds right now.
Who would be your all time favourite band you would love to play live with?
I’ve always wanted to open for Pedro the Lion, if he would let me sing some backing vocals with him I would die. Also the Breeders, and if we were going really big, Neil Young or Fleetwood Mac would be epic.
How do you ‘chillax’ when you finally get time out?
It’s funny, when we finally get a break from working on music around here, I always really want to go play music.
Bryan Bruchman
Visual art
What visually stimulates you and those around you?
I grew up in the desert, and when I went away to university it was the first extended period of time that I spent around forest and nature. I think that seeing that kind of beauty on a daily basis is really good for you; now that I live in a less-than-beautiful city I try to get out to the country as often as possible. That dichotomy of city and forest figures really prominently in what I write.
I think your own CD covers have also been great pieces of art, particularly the bemused tiger heads on your first album.
Who does your artwork and do you have much involvement in the design process.
That’s nice to hear. My best friend Daria Tessler did the Tigers art, as well as that of the previous two solo EPs. Tumble and Drag’s art is from a painting by my friend Stian Rassmussen, in San Francisco. I really like to have art made by my friends, and I do the layout and design parts myself. The next album is going to have a crazy illustration by my friend Helen. It’s such a huge part of the album-making process for me; when all the songs are laid out and you can find a common thread between them, and then find a title and a piece of art that speaks to that, it’s really satisfying.
Tigers by Mia Riddle
Also, if you don’t mind, could you explain the concept behind the video to Open Wide. I have to say it’s beautifully shot and the dog is adorable!
Sure, that video was written and shot by our good friends Arlene Mueller and Marcin Nadolny, this brilliant Polish filmmaking couple. It’s a story about a lonely girl in the big city, looking for solace in the uptight little world she’s created for herself. Meanwhile the grit of real life is closing in and ultimately shatters everything, and she’s left in the rubble of her once-pristine apartment, eyes opened, possibilities suddenly everywhere. Which is awful and also exciting. Making that video was the highlight of the year; we and our friends did it all ourselves, built the breakable wall, borrowed the motorcycle….it was a truly epic experience.
Debate
What’s really ticking you off at the moment?
Overdevelopment of our neighborhood, being broke, the impossibility of getting health coverage.
What are your “buzzing” and totally happy about?
The new record, the change in the weather, the intense concentration of good music and creativity that always happens in the fall in New York.
Finally, what would would Mia Riddle do to change the world we live in?
You may notice the fantastic scores and title sequences in movies, and often have high adrenaline soundtracks pumping through your ipod. But there is always a much more interesting use of sound happening in the films you watch.
According to wikipedia. The Foley artist on a film crew is the person who creates many of the natural, everyday sound effects in a film.
So the crazy guys at You Look Nice Today attempted to reveal the mysteries and unearth the understanding of this process.
It may seem a strange place to start a classic album series but rediscovering Bring It On by Gomez brought about this idea. In hindsight maybe it better be called ‘nostalgia corner’ or ‘soundtrack to my life’ but the point is the albums may not be widely considered classics they are as influential on a personal level as the greats that everyone will agree on.
The enjoyment from listening for the first time in a long time to an old favourite is incomparable, so let this series begin with Bring It On by Gomez.
Southport bred Gomez in the late nineties hit the lofty heights of three UK hit records, toured the US, where they are actually more successful and met the fall back down to earth with reunion tours to escape crummy jobs in the local supermarket.
When Bring It On arrived in 1998 the country was awash in a post-Britpop apocalypse. Tony Blair was fresh in power and Ttianic won 11 oscars. The world was strange and topsy turvy place. Somewhere between a seaside town north of Liverpool and Sheffield university four guys were not quite prepared to shake the world.
Bring It On, Gomez’s debut album was recorded, supposedly, on a four track cassette recorder but in truth these demos were the original blueprints for the album recorded in 1997 in Merseyside bedrooms using a Roland SP-202 featured in the video for Whippin’ Piccaddily.
The rasping yet gentle vocal of Ben Ottewell meant Gomez had something not every other band were able to offer. Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder and Nick Drake aside, there are few voices that sound like stones eroding under the waves; smoothing, scraping yet natural.
The second single from Bring It On Whippin’ Piccadilly, an upbeat acoustic track laden with progressive effects, the story of a day trip to Manchester put Gomez top of the pops. However big an alt-classic this track may have been it only reached #45 in the UK charts.
From the etheraeal opening Get Miles to the poptastic Whippin’ Piccadilly the story develops. The theme of travel is a consistent one, from Manchester to Tijuana. Get Myself Arrested and Bubblegum Years showed Gomez’s ability to nail the melody but in their more intelligent structural moments of Free To Run they were able to orchestrate an almost divine transcendency. The nine minute reggae enthused folk jam of Rie’s Wagon showing just how far the band could take their spaced out recordings in the home studio, Gomez’s area of excellence.
An album without a weak track is worthy of a Mercury Music Prize nomination and it may surprise some to recall this was 98′s winner of the coveted award. Gomez partly contributing to the now rubbished ‘curse’ of the prize. Gomez may never hit the heights of the Oasis’, Blur’s or even the Suede’s but a career dreams are made of lay before this young band with their debut album release.
Those of you who remember this late nineties period as a proud and summery time when Gomez ruled without fear; Dig It Out, Stick It In and Bring It On!
As a drummer I have always admired Travis Barker’s technical skills and musicianship. I think he’s got a great playing style and always had a bit of showmanship onstage, which set himself apart from other drummers within the pop punk genre, who might be just as good if not better. Travis had previously played on tour with a broken hand, obviously limiting his playing technique, but adding to his dexterity as a musician. But his latest tour stunt just blows that away, by him playing on a 360 degree revolving levitated stage which sees him eventually playing upside down. The stunt is reminiscent of the Motley Crue Aerial drum solos performed by Tommy Lee back in the 80′s. To be fair I’ve seen Travis do better solos, but it’s definitely worth watching.
Recently I’ve been visiting Learn Something Everyday – a new site which aims to deliver a little known factoid of information whilst trying to amuse once a day.
These illustrations are brilliantly executed and make me smile everyday. It’s educational and a whole lot a fun. Just what the internet was made for.
The site was created by manchester based design maestros We are young.
This is an old one but a goodie I found on Vimeo.
To introduce Ty Morrow to the team, Federal Bikes hired a van and sent him and Dan Lacey up the country to chill with a few of the other Federal riders in and around Hastings, London, Nottingham, Milton Keynes and Sheffield.
Some people just have too much time on their hands. Those people need to look at websites with old robots.
The old robots is an archive of your favourite mechanical friends from the 80′s to modern day. The great thing is that they have all the original manuals and packaging too!
Wow! TODAY (9th September) toymaker Hasbro will be launching a world-encompassing live version of Monopoly using Google Maps as its game board!
Monopoly City Streets has dubbed this little gem as the “world of property empire building on an unimaginable scale”.
Using the Google Maps API as the game board, players begin with a massive $3 million Monopoly dollars to “buy” actual streets and build up their property portfolio anywhere in the world. Each street comes on a first come first serve basis and players earn rent each day based on the property they own, and chance cards offer the ability to make bonus buildings like parks, schools, and there are even wind farms and hazards to mix things up a bit!
A Hasbro spokeswoman has mentioned the game will be free to play as a viral campaign to coincide with the latest release of the physical board game, Monopoly City. She added that in most cases, if players can find the street on Google Maps, they’ll be able to purchase it.
Monopoly City Streets was developed by the Hasbro’s UK agency, Tribal DDB, with a little bit of help from Google. The game will be available in English, Spanish, German, French, and Dutch.
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