WE'RE SUPPORTING

We asked New York-based photographer Baldomero Fernandez about his Cuba series and whether there was a particular mood that he was looking to capture: ‘Usually I tend to photograph quiet scenes that are empty and have a feeling of solitude. The surreal part that comes through is usually more because of anachronisms, or maybe something is just out of place. It’s not straightforward surrealism. Reality usually tends to be far stranger than fiction’. There’s an exclusive interview with Baldomero Fernandez on the Feature Shoot website.

WE'RE TRAVELLING TO

As I sit writing, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m breaking an unwritten code among travellers. How do you write about a destination that’s paradise because no one knows about it? You tell the right people. So before I change my mind, here goes. Take a boat about two hours off the south coast of Cambodia, and you’ll reach a tropical hideaway called Lazy Beach on the Island of Koh Rong Saloem. Run by two English guys who’ve redefined the meaning of chillin’, it’s turquoise waters and white sands are everything you’d expect. From beachfront bungalows with snorkelling right off the beach, to a restaurant that cooks up the local fishermen’s daily catch. This is one deserted island you won’t mind being stranded on.

WE'RE WEARING

It’s a recession and I don’t need to buy any more handbags. But these? Umm, too awesome to pass. The ad photos are as fantastic as the products. My favorite is Pursuader. But don’t go to the airport with one! Read more

WE'RE THINKING

We’ve been featuring some interesting guest contributors on Lost At E Minor over the past six months. Included among them are Angus Andrews, from The Liars, Ben Lee (who wrote about his festish for vintage Rolexes, amongst other things), Brendan Canning from Broken Social Scene, designer Deanne Cheuk, artist Sam Weber, singer-songwriter Laura Veirs (who brought Juana Molina to our attention), and Tegan from Tegan and Sara.

WE'RE READING

We invited Greg Gillis, aka Girl Talk, who aside from being the DJ of the moment is also the remix whiz behind tracks from Beck, Tokyo Police Club, and Grizzly Bear, to give us a rundown on the songs he’s wearing out right now for our sister site, My Secret Playlist. He started off by propping Beyonce’s anthemic single, Single Ladies [listen below]. Go figure! ‘This is one of my favorite Beyonce tracks ever. It has so much energy, and the chorus gets dark in a great way. The clapping never stops. The video is a flawless execution of a performance style clip. It’s perfect’. Read the rest of Girl Talk’s Secret Playlist.

Sufjan Stevens creates autistic music for introverts — soft, shy, naive, full of shadows, windows, and insecurities. Yet it all sounds slightly forced, his enigmatic songwriting as comforting as it is unsettling.

WE'RE LISTENING TO

Oh man, close your eyes if you will and transport yourself to a place far, far away; where disco is in, polyester is up, and everyone bows long and deep to the gravitational pull of the almighty afro. Sister Self-Doubt by The Shakes takes me there. It takes me front and centre, feeling that slippery, incidenary groove as it crunches my spine and works its way to my feet. Hmmm, the feet. It’s always in the feet. And now I’m dancing and twisting, onwards and upwards, like a manic spinning top thinking nothing of today and even less of tomorrow.

Listen to The Shakes track, Sister Self Doubt.