Sites worth mentioning

When I tend to be bored or when I simply feel that my ipod is lonely and is in need of some good, toe-tapping music, I browse the web for hours on end in order to find sites with brill music recommendations. Thing is, most of the time, I don't end up finding much and I tend to slam my laptop shut in frustration, with no music, no nothing. So, I decided to mention hereeee three sites which when I found, I fell absolutely in love with them. They are well-worth looking at, and I'm sure you will discover some true
jems. Take a look, or should I say, a listen.

(1) Pull the Metal: http://www.pullbear.com/pullthemetal/category/playlist/

Don't let the words metal fool you; this site has a whole section which features various playlists combined with rising indie and folk bands and singers, along with some electronica and funky techno beats too. Most of the artists which are featured in these brilliant playlists are not always well-known, but through this site I have managed to find out about some great tunes. Check it outtt

(2)  For Folk's Sake: http://www.forfolkssake.com/
This is a fab site for all us folk-music lovers, featuring the newest arrivals in the folk music scene, whilst it also showcases the  most recent album releases, along with   music reviews, interviews and great recommendations .  With featured artists ranging from  Eels, Bon Iver  and Mumford&Sons (MY LOVES) to Bob Dylan,   The Beach Boys and  Regina Spektor, there is a massively great variety of good music on this site, so if you're into folk, you will be sure to adore it. 

(3) Burberry Acoustic: 
http://us.burberry.com/store/content/experience/acoustic/index.jsp
The site showcases a wide variety of Birtish bands, in lovely locations, usually in places where the bands themselves have originated or where they have spent their childhood years. A very relaxed
"atmosphere" with good music and sweet charm,
which  alone from letting you discover some new and aspiring
artists, it will also demonstrate the unique
 British feeling  that the bands have incorporated. Give it a go. 

Let me know what you think :)

It's Local and Native: The Local Natives

I think, if I remember correctly, that I stumbled upon the Local Natives sometime back in January(?) of this year. It was definitely this year at least. I took a listen to one of their songs "Sun Hands" and I liked it, a lot, especially its drumming beat and the interesting guitar tunes, combined with the vocals. However, I only decided to look at their album more closely about a week ago, and I think they are worth a mention. I did my research, and here are my findings.


The Local Natives formed initially as a trio in Orange County during their high school years. In time, two more members joined the group and decided to be based in Silver Lake, Los Angeles and the group became what we know today as the Local Natives, consisting of the five band members, producing indie rock/psych folk music with a wide variety of interesting melodies and beats which are incoporated in their songs.


Their debut album, "Gorilla Manor" made a splash, and the band then attracted more popularity after playing at the 2009 "SXSW Festival" in Austin, Texas, where they were described as the hit of the entire festival. The band is also compared on many occassions to higly popular Vampire Weekend, Arcade Fire and Fleet Foxes, whilst other comparisons include those of Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Freelance Whales, Passion Pit and Bombay Bicycle Club. In fact, the band's tunes have been described as having “afropop-influenced guitars with hyperactive drumming and hooky three-part harmonies”. Songs such as "Airplanes" and "Stranger Things" are hits, however I prefer "Sun Hands", "World News" and "Sticky Thread". Nevertheless, enjoy and take a listen below, whilst make sure you check out the website http://www.thelocalnatives.com/, not only because the band has true potential, but also because the website itself is an absolute stunner. Happy listening folks.

Foster The People: Torches

Recent arrivals, band "Foster the People" from Los Angeles are said to be this summer's new breakthrough in the indie pop scene- their debut album "Torches" which was released in May has already got people talking, whilst their first single "Pumped up kicks" quickly toped the UK single charts and the Billboard charts.

The aspiring trio have been compared to a mix of MGMT vocals, the electronica indie pop sounds of Two Door Cinema Club and some influences such as Maroon 5 and The Drums, however, their music tends to take on a different approach than the bands mentioned above, making their debut album an easy listening, summer delight. However, people have questioned whether the band's synth sounds and interesting vocals will indeed shoot the band to
stardom, or whether Foster the People will remain a one-time summer success. In my opinion? I think they will go further, they combine interesting tunes with catchy lyrics. Do I like? Yes, yes, they are definitely growing on me, and "Pumped up kicks" is a song which is constantly playing on my Ipod. It's worth
looking at this fist single, Pumped up Kicks, on the link I attached below, whilst visit their official page, http://www.fosterthepeople.com/us/home for more information about this bright new band and for a free download of some of their tunes. Let me know what you thiiiink. :)

ps. Thank you so much to everyone who commented on my last post about the "Naked and Famous"- I realy enjoyed reading your comments and thank youu- I would reply to you, except I don't know how. I'm working on it currently. :D

The Naked and Famous

Ok, so I recently stumbled upon a rather new band, "The Naked and Famous" after seeing one of their songs featured on one of my friend's facebook page. The song I originally heard, "Girls like you" was likeable to me, but I didn't really get into them until I heard another of their songs, called "Young Blood." Now, with a five star rating on my ipod, I decided to dig deeper, find out about the band and discover some more of their music and therefore, I share it below. 

The band originates from New Zealand and consists 

of five members, who formed in 2008. The band is described as "indie", including indie pop/electronica too, whilst their single, "Young Blood", which I recently found, debuted on the New Zealand charts 

at number one in 2010. Now, with the release of their debut album "Passive Me, Aggressive You", the naked and now, famous, are said to be making a splash, especially this summer. So, make sure you check them out on their official webpage: http://www.thenakedandfamous.com/?c=-1 and take a quick listen at "Young Blood". Other songs to make sure you listen to from their album? "All of this", "The Ends" and "Girls Like You".

Let me know what you think :)

LoveLoveLove!!

I absolutely adore anything to do with vintage-looking photography and I have even taken a course in dark-room photo development, using traditional film and camera chemicals, so when I came across these cameras, I fell head over heels for them. If you are the kind of person who loves taking photos the "old-way", you will love love love these cameras. I was told about the site by a friend, and there's a full range of different cameras to choose from, including the lomography diana f+ range, diana f+ with flash, holga camera starter kits and the lomography fisheye cameras which I have purchased myself, and is in the post. 

The cameras can be purchased online or at the store(look below for link) and until now, I had no idea that Urban Outfitters supplied home ware, let alone cameras. 

They are also very cash-friendly, as they are low-cost, especially compared to separate fisheye lenses for example, which sometimes cost more than a digital SLR camera. In this case, the cameras on the site cost between 45-90 pounds, whilst the holga cameras cost a little more as they come in a full kit. The cameras use 35mm film for the fisheye, whilst 120 medium format film for the diana cameras and are usually delivered within a week of purchase online. They are truly little gems, check them out and I will sure post some of my own snapshots when my fisheye arrives. 

In the meantime, tell me what you think of the camera range on the site and stay tuned for more updates from me, relating to lomography sites and events which can be found all over Europe!

Where to find the cameras? http://www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk/homeware/photography/icat/photography/&bklist=icat,5,shop,home,homecategories,photography

Starter

I wasn't sure in the firstplace how to start writing my blog. I don't know whether to say hi, hello, bonjour, kalimera etc etc. Truth is, I feel a little clueless at this moment in time. I tried starting the blog last night, just before midninght, as a welcoming gesture to the entrance of the new month but I was in a rather foul mood yesterday so after one hour and two deleted word documents later, I decided that it was not a great idea to start writing it. Until this morning that is. Truth is, this isn't my first blog. It is not my second actually either. But after a year being away from the blogger world, I've decided to return. And I thought this would be an appropriate starting post, even though I feel that I am ranting a little. So, since the weather is scorching where I am at the mo, I've decided to cut this post short, get outside and snap some pics, and I will return shortly with the snapshots, along with some fashion goodies which I recently stumbled upon online. Oh and nice to meet y'all too. I'm getting into blogging again :)