December 21, 2007 | New Products | by Kenneth Yu |
Professional socialites aside, anyone who has traveled solo or rolled up to a party alone knows how daunting it can be to strike up a real conversation. Enter the HoboHookah, a pipe that turns liquor — and other types of bottles — into hookahs. Its inventors, two guys from America, both spent time living in the Middle East and picked up on the considerable hookah culture there. Upon returning to the US they decided to design a hookah to fit in with their western culture. And out popped the first hookah built to ‘travel far and party hard’. Read more
August 23, 2007 | New Music | by Kenneth Yu |
Dating or married musician duos are always interesting beasts. Their intertwining affections and chemical reactions make for a potent alchemy of musical magic. Along the same vein of O-era Damien Rice and Lisa Hennigan, Glen Hansard (frontman of The Frames) and Marketa Irglova are the latest lovey-dovey couple with longings expressed in fingerpicked guitars and mourning cellos. Read more
July 24, 2007 | New Illustration | by Kenneth Yu |
Shawn Kuruneru has a hair fetish. The Canadian-born artist’s illustrations of long, flowing, shampoo TVC-worthy, liquid-looking locks wrap around various portraits and situations, forming an intriguing mix of medieval folklore, nature and elements of the human form. Featured in publications like Tokion and Arkitip, this is the world’s first enactment of Rapunzel’s Freudian dreams.
April 22, 2007 | New Music | by Kenneth Yu |
Epiphanies are wondrous things. Those little orgasmic sparks that ignite flames in the deepest recesses of one’s soul, etching burn marks that ensure one’s life is never quite the same again. The National is a living, breathing epiphany, playing a brand of guitar poetry of such heart-stopping beauty that the only way to react to it is to submit to its molding. That is why 2005′s Alligator coloured my lenses with delicious despair and melodious melancholy. That is why 2007′s Boxer will do the same thing. That is why spiritual arson will be the theme of my year thus far. Boxer will be released on 22 May. [see also The Paper Scissors]
February 22, 2007 | New Music | by Kenneth Yu |
The twee Malaysian cover band, The Ferns’ debut album On Botany comprises of actual Astroturf glued on to cardboard, epitomising their quirky charming sound. Sweet dreamy melodies and the innocent coo of a falsetto play the role of rainforest oxygen to the weary trekker. It’s the aural equivalent of a gentle make-out session on the meadow, virgins frolicking in a virgin rainforest. Recently named as Rolling Stone’s Top 25 Best Bands on Myspace, this whiff of foliage will permeate 2007 on an international level, mark my words.
February 10, 2007 | New Fashion | by Kenneth Yu |
Wabi-sabi, meaning ‘beauty in imperfection’ in Japanese, has been a trend in the fashion scene for quite a while, manifesting itself in the recent deconstruction craze and the love of all things handmade. However it has never been the domain of jewelry, where polished perfection has always been its defining quality. Till now, that is. Argentum, a Singaporean accessories label, produces intricately crafted jewellery pieces that drip with wabi-sabi. With an errant fray of a ribbon here and a metal mesh poking its head out there, it’s the ultimate ornamentation for urban tribes-people. [see also Lydia Holt]
February 2, 2007 | New Fashion | by Kenneth Yu |
The whole electroclash-in-fashion trend was supposed to be a phenomenon that promised to revolutionise menswear. Alas, it has fizzled to a whimper. A mystery really, since electro acts like Ladytron and The Knife are still going strong. Well, in-season or not, fashion label Macabre makes really good stuff of that ilk. Combining cyberpunk with theatricality and androgyny, its designer costumes hint at a 25th century Phantom of the Opera performance. [see also Now You Own Us]
January 30, 2007 | New Fashion | by Kenneth Yu |
pH suggests balance, the optimum level for the healthy cleansing of skin. In the same manner, fashion label pH by phillia incorporates that sense of purity in its creations. Monochromatic pastel colours, simple yet elegant cuts and Japanese embellishing mash together to form highly-wearable vintage offerings. [see also Bird]
January 27, 2007 | New Fashion | by Kenneth Yu |
If the rumblings in the fashion underground about Athens-born designer Romina Karamanea are to be believed, she will soon be the darling of Anna Wintour and her cronies. Dubbed the ‘goddess of intellectual clothing’, it is not hard to see why. Cut and proportion are the leading elements in Romina’s work, where every billow, silhouette and stitch has purpose and place. She combines sensual sophistication with mystery to construct clothes like no other. [see also Master/Slave]
January 24, 2007 | New Photography | by Kenneth Yu |
Loretta Lux is the hotshot millionaire artist you’ve probably never heard of. Her Village of the Damned-like photographed portraits of emotionless children are big sellers in the market. Given her fine art background, she shoots and composes her subjects like traditional portraits, then Photoshops every inch of life and warmth away. The result is empty, beady eyes staring back, ghosts in fleshly form, a beautiful style of artifice. [see also Simon Hoegsberg]
January 20, 2007 | New Music | by Kenneth Yu |
For Malaysian band Furniture, there is a satisfaction found in becoming a soundtrack to some anonymous sci-fi romance held in the confines of space. On their debut album Twilight Chases the Sun, the four-piece post-rock outfit constructs romantic atmospherics with simple melodic distorted guitars and frontman Ronnie Khoo’s shimmering vocals layered upon a foundation of standard four-chord formations. The human intimacy is overwhelming, a series of ‘this-was-once-our-song’ Hallmark moments, bringing comfort to the loneliness of gazing into a starry, starry night. This is hipster music for lovelorn Trekkies. [see also Futon]
January 16, 2007 | New Illustration | by Kenneth Yu |
Malaysian-based illustrator FY.Simone is currently attending CAHS and The College of Visual Arts in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She has a unique fascination for ink and watercolour droplets, creating a trademark style of paint splatter juxtaposed with whimsical imagery and an experimental sensibility, the result being an oeuvre of mesmerising art. [see also Pok Pok Design]
January 12, 2007 | Cool Travel | by Kenneth Yu |
There is not much difference between a futon and the music of part-Thai, part-English electro outfit Futon – both are made for mind-blowing sweaty one-night-stands. Futon is all about filthy electro grooves channeled with a God Save the Queen-era punk snarl and the glam level turned to 11, facilitating all manner of animalistic lovin’. With their recent stellar performance at Heineken Thirst Studio 2006 Malaysia and rapidly increasing international tour dates, this is a band that is not so much electroclash as it is a culture clash. [see also Steim]
January 11, 2007 | New Illustration | by Kenneth Yu |
Since John Peel passed on in 2004, there hasn’t been a concerted effort to record live, exclusive, and reworked performances from up-and-coming bands in the vein of his famed sessions. Till now, that is. Daytrotter, founded by veteran independent music journalist Sean Moeller, attempts to fill that gap. Bands passing through on tour stop by the publication’s Illinois-based studios and lay down exclusive cuts to analogue tape. Existing installments include Bonnie Prince Billy, Mates of State and Annuals. Also, don’t miss illustrations by the underground’s finest and the ever-expanding cache of features and reviews. One of the most exciting developments in the online music world this nascent year. [illustrations by Peter Tucker]
January 10, 2007 | Cool Travel | by Kenneth Yu |
Jean-Christian Bourcart is a photographer whose shoelaces other photographers are unable to untie. His specialty seems to be plunging into the heart of darkness, such as the Frankfurt brothels [Infertile Madonnas, above left] and the S&M and swinger clubs of New York & Paris [Forbidden City, above right], emerging with unparalleled images that are at once fantastical, haunting and mesmerising. His prolific collection of work expands magical realism from the realm of innocent wide-eyed children into that of depraved hedonistic adults. [see also Sex In Art]
Miaow is a Boston-based line of handmade plush animals. They use really fantastic fabrics, and the birds and penguins have articulated wings. I wonder how well they’ll go with my Iron Maiden bed sheets.
I love this Tumblr. Not just because my own father could probably make the grade, but because it also proves that despite what our Williamsburg friends may believe, nothing they do hasn’t been done before. Read more
This entertaining documentary follows a group of seemingly clichéd American teenagers in their last year of high school. Through a comprehensive recording of their lives it reminds us that, when examining anything in detail, there is no such thing as a cliché. The naivety and hope of each student shines through, providing a memorable and accurate portrait of a middle-American high school. Read more
My town is one of foghorns at five am, the smell of salty air and the sound of seagulls, Peets coffee, steep hills and die hard fans and loyalists. For those of us who have been here in San Francisco for some time now, we know all the secret gems of this small city — from Clarion Alley, to Army Street, from Irving to Broadway. Read more
In the lead-up to one of the most anticipated and controversial Olympic Games in Beijing, Boston.com cobbled together a bunch of surreal photos from the wires that depicts the hyper-sanitized, white-washed, and quasi-futuristic city Beijing has become. Read more
I love this track by London based rock group, Scanners, which is off their latest album, Submarine. Having toured with acts such as The Horrors, The Wedding Present, The Charlatans, Electric Six, and Juliette & The Licks, Scanners could well blow up in 2010. Figuratively speaking, not literally. No, that wouldn’t be fun.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
They may be incredibly eccentric, but these ten inch platforms are physical proof that it is actually possible to create somewhat aesthetically pleasing heels out of elephant faeces. UK-based artist INSA designed the shoes as part of a recent art exhibit at Tate Britain which features the individual work of various artists responding to Chris Ofili’s controversial The Holy Mary elephant dung painting made fifteen years ago.
WE'RE POSTING / SOME OF THE BEST
Benjamin Edminston’s psychedelic heads seem to have some fearful wisdom behind their blissed-out eyes. Read more
It’s refreshing to see artists like Joe Kievitt who are contented to explore the beauty in simple forms and asymmetrical patterns. Read more
A little infectious lollipop rock anyone? Feel free to embarrass yourself singing along at the stoplight. If the other drivers give you that look, roll down the windows and spread the love.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Cookie Boy’s creative cookie designs
I don’t eat cookies, so good thing Cookie Boy’s cookies are little pieces of art too pretty and cute to eat. Read more
Michelle Blade’s psychedelic artwork
Michelle Blade’s washed out paintings are deceptively simple, her washy acrylics creating psychedelic textures and conjuring ghostly figures from the past. Read more
Created by graphic t shirt label, the-affair, and printed on beautifully soft American Apparel. Limited edition of 200.
If you have a Twitter feed that focuses on cool pop cultural things and you’d like to swap Tweets with Lost At E Minor and other like-minded Twitterers, drop us a note (with Tweet Swap in the title). We have a system in place and we’d like to have you in on it! [illustration by Brad Fitzpatrick]
FOLLOW US
DISCOVER MORE
SO...
SEARCH: Can't find what you're looking for? Do a search..
IS IT GOOD FOR YOU TOO?
We hope you're enjoying your time on Lost At E Minor, but it's not over yet. Got something to share? Tell us about it and we'll look to publish it. If you want to have your work featured on the site, we'd love to hear from you. Pssst, we also have an online store stocking some of the goodies we feature on the site.
If you're a media agency and want to use this platform to connect with our readership, then drop us a line and tell us about it. Oh yeah, and we do digital consulting for cool brands that want to reach the sort of demographic that visits this site.
