ASM: for your consideration

This started out as an e-mail. Then it turned into a diary like entry. But because I have no diary it will be memorised in my blog.

SATURDAY evening.

I managed to meet some friends during the day, catch up, talk about life and all its happenings. I got home just in time to watch the European cup match Spain-Sweden. Sadly I am not interested who will win or what is going on. I am saving my energy for Germany’s game. Facebook and Myspace have been checked, important messages replied to. But no news have arrived that would solve my current unknown future. Where will I be in two weeks time? I have an idea but no set future.
So I wander around. No, I do not want to eat anything. Tempting though. I look at my new novel; I am too lazy to continue reading. It is certainly too early start watching my daily episode of 24. I go upstairs. Turn on football. I don’t watch it. I then turn on iTunes. I have 14 hours of new music. I start listening to MGMT. Will I really like it? I’m not a fan of track one and two. But I love track three and four. I’m getting into it. I then grab a book I once bought for fun at Urban Outfitters:

“The Long-Distance Relationships Guide”

A fun read for a lazy saturday evening. And an interesting guide to every day situations it turns out. Let me show you the guide:

“How to Clean Up in Under an Hour”

1. Put on some entertainment. Choose some dance musicthat you can sing along to or a book on tape to keep your mind occupied.
2. Tackle the clutter. Make the rounds of your place holding two bags: one for trash, the other for everything else. Pick a starting point and make your way around the place clockwise, not letting yourself get distracted at any point.
3. Dust. Using an electromagnetic dust cloth (like Swiffer), work your way around again clockwise, dusting every surface you come across from top to bottom.
4. Vacuum. Make sure you get into the corners and along the floorboards. Don’t worry about going beneath and behind furniture – this is only a surface cleaning.
5. Dispose of clutter. Remember the bagof „everything else“ from Step 2? Unless there is something in it you’ll need that weekend/day, throw the whole thing in a closet, to be sorted and organized later.
6. Bathroom/kitchen surface cleaning. Again, focus on the superficial and obvious.
a. Clean the bathroom after a hot bath or shower: the steam will have loosened the dirt.
b. Definitely use a toilet cleaner.
c. Spritz and wipe off surfaces with lemony disinfectant.
d. Empty the sink of dishes.
7. Disguise funky odors: Light strong-smelling candles or incense. Dab perfume or cologne on a light bulb – the heat produced when the light is on will release the perfume.
8. Dim lights for good measure.

The music has now switched to Yeasayer. I’ve listened to it before. I like it even more now. For the mellow ones listen to Joan As Police Woman and Martha Wainwright.

References:
Tiger, C. (2005) The Long-Distance Relationship Guide. Philadelphia: Quirk Books.
MGMT – www.myspace.com/mgmt
Yeasayer – www.myspace.com/yeasayer
Joan As Police Woman – www.joanaspolicewoman.com
Martha Wainwright – www.marthawainwright.com

Tracklisting was provided by 2151.

Hello again. I have already got a long list of topics that I want to write about. It is a selection of stories and newsfeeds I have read the last few days. So stay tuned for further reading regarding the funding of future music, the importance and role of management for artists and the emerging or rather increasingly important development of the band and the brand.

But for now I will focus on a very girlie matter: the new Sex and the City movie.

Did I like it? Jain – the German word for yes and no simultaneously.
I have to admit, I was always more of an Ally McBeal fan than a Sex and the City girl. As many of my close friends can confirm, I am more of a geek, a hopelessly romantic and someone striving for a successful career, like Ally McBeal. But I did discover Sex and the City last year when I was staying with my lovely Norwegian friend Birgitte, and we escaped to the mountain cabin somewhere in the middle of Norway with a few beers and season four of the four girls in NYC. I liked it. A lot. And like any other Sex and the City girl, I wanted to see Carry finally get married to Mr. Big.
I went to go see the movie on the preview night with a friend in Frankfurt. The movie was on on five screens simultaneously and it turns out that most were sold out and the cinema was filled with girls all dressed up!.We did get some tickets in the 4th row.

So the movie starts and the clichés start flying in. And I started to get bored because frankly, as much as I love romantic comedies the clichés have started to really bother me. And then I wondered: Does such an endless girl friendship ever exist?

Yes, I have very good friends, girls and guys alike. But to be honest, I think there will always be jealousy involved in a group of four successful females. Especially once you are in your thirties striving for a successful career and a suitable husband for future family planning. Do you really think the Sex and the City Girls would be able to live side by side not wanting what someone else in the group has? Are there really selfless girls ‘groups’ existing in the western world? Because I haven’t experienced it. In many cases where I was very close to friends it ended up splitting up because the other got jealous after a while. It is simply in our nature, I believe.

But at least the movie does its job to entertain you for a good two hours, with a few tears, great dresses, a few jokes and the big question: do these girls and their friendship really exist?

You tell me.

I am back. I was planning to write a lot more…but what can I say.

Today has been eventful. CNN Breaking News reports Yves Saint Laurent has died. I was surprised that I didn’t find a  bulletin by one of my  ‘pseudo’ myspace friends reporting the death of one of the most influential designers of all time. To be honest- I really wouldn’t know. Yes, I love fashion, but I have always tried to ignore the catwalks because I prefer to travel the world than spend a ridiculous amount of money on designer wear. But I have to admit, that fashion can be very exciting. Sadly, the only YSL fashion I really know is the one he hasn’t created. YSL Rive Gauche always has incredible outfits, but they were created after his designing times…

Oh no, hold on, I do remember one thing YSL has created: the suite for women. If only I had incredibly long legs like Nadja Auermann, I would without a doubt, wear YSL suits. All day. I like my masculine style. At times, anyway.

Alright. Moving on. I read an article of a journalism meeting in Copenhagen where they contemplated who will rule the future of written media: the journalists (online + print) or maybe the consumer & the blogger, the average person next door… They didn’t find a conclusion.. I think the journalists will always have their say.

Done and done.

Then I read about Bronfman stating that he believes in 5 music sales platforms within the next 5 years. One of them he is very keen on: mobile sales. Me personally, I would never buy a track over my phone. I like to transfer my favourite mp3s to my mobile (USB or bluetooth) and have them as my ringtone. I wouldn’t pay a penny to do otherwise. And now that I am looking for a new phone, I want a small phone with 3 attributes: UMTS (3G), at least a 3.2 megapixel camera and preferably Bluetooth. It should be able to play mp3s but doesn’t have to have over 1 GB space, because I will never ever use it all. It is a phone after all.

But then I think about a 12-year old friend, who uses almost every aspect of his mobile and mobile downloads. Am I already getting old with 21? Really?

In Asia, especially Japan and South Korea mobile downloads are one of the main platforms selling music. Digital media is huge over there. But will it ever be over here? Costs for mobile internet and transfers are still fairly high. with faster mobile internet connections 3G or UMTS in Germany it might be possible. But it seems to take a while to catch up. My friend Oliver did a presentation on mobile downloads over a year ago, reporting on the success in Asia. Another friend said media on mobile phones won’t be as successful. They will merely be used as navigation systems, and use handy softwares; not entertainment.

I haven’t used either and I would rather plan to use it as a navigation system- in fact, the phone I’ve been keeping an eye on has an integrated navigation system. It certainly sounds interesting! I wouldn’t mind. The amount of times I have sent myself a picture of maps so I wouldn’t get completely lost is certainly higher than ever wanting to buy a track via my mobile….And I am sure it won’t change in future.

I have more to say, more in my head but I will save it for later. Come back soon for more.

what a reunion..

I very much dislike these two characters.

Source: Perez Hilton

I’m back. It’s a lazy sunday night calming down after a weekend filled with sunshine. I just got home from my favourite Liverpudlian place FACT watching an astonishing movie called Persepolis. It is an animation movie on the life of a girl growing up in Teheran during the revolution and war. It has the perfect mix of comedy and seriousness to bring across the story of a young girl in a troubled life as an entertaining but also educating manner. Have a look: http://www.sonypictures.com/classics/persepolis/ or http://www.myspace.com/persepolismovie

The other week I also went to see Lars and the Real Girl- and I have to say, I’ve never laughed so much in my life; but also it made me cry and thing about a lot of matters in life. It is definetly worth watching- Better than any ’street kings’ or ‘ironmans’ in my opinion. Here is the official website with some trailers to watch.

And Ryan Gosling is still incredibly hot when he as a dillusion going out with a plastic doll…

Now to music. I have been to a few gigs the last few weeks. The other week I witnessed one of the most boring concerts ever. Matchbox 20 at the Apollo. They played some songs I knew and really liked, but the crowd was very slow to get into it, and the band was by far the uncoolest thing I’ve ever seen. My boyfriend neraly died of boredom and we decided to leave half way through. To be fair, they did an ok job musicially and the sound was great, but it was simply not exciting.

Similar with Ladytron. They played a warm up show in Liverpool and I got bored as soon as they hit the stage. the crowd again, was very slow. My friend and I had a listen to some new tracks and then walked home after 35 minutes. It wasn’t my thing and it certainly didn’t blow me away.

Also, my friend Alyssa has been getting some great responses. She was featured on Record of the Day, a great newsletter on music. Check out her new tracks, which I love: http://www.myspace.com/alyssabonaguramusic

Over and out.

… is the name of the new Guillemots album. And I like it a lot!

My friend from university was absolutely in love with these guys, but I never took the time to have a listen. Now I’ve got their spankin new album on my desktop and I am very intregued. Very pop with some indie rock going on. Have a listen on their myspace. I really like “Falling Out Of Reach”

Also, Kids in Glass Houses are embarking on their UK tour soon. Then Japan for the Summersonic festival, a festival that is definetly on my list of events to attend. Along with coachella and benicassim and byron bay bluesfest. Anyway. Check em out. Their album should be coming soon.

That’s all.

I’m back. Finally. With a new blog.

I heard that Prince was going to play Coachella in California this weekend. Something I never expected! But Prince is full of surprises… I’ve never been to Coachella, nor California to be fair, unless you count a 6 hour stop over at San Francisco airport a California visit… I like their line-up and it seems like a great weekend, allthough I predict the croud to be über indie and wanna-be. But who am I to judge. I may be just as indie as all of them…

Back to Prince. RSS fed me this: “Prince covers Radiohead at Coachella Festival”

He played Roadiohead’s ‘Creep’ and ‘Come Together’, the classic by the beatles. I wish I could’ve seen it, not only is Prince the best performer I have ever seen amongst the many performances I got to experience in my life (thank you dad, and everyone at MLK). but Prince also has an astounding talent to write songs and interpret them. Even though I was not a very big fan of him covering the Foo Fighters at the Super Bowl half time show last year.. (I am trying to find it on youtube, but it is nowhere to be found anymore - I am sure they had to take it down after prince demanded all material of him to be taken down, even by fan websites)

But, can you imagine Prince doing Radiohead??!?!!!! I am intregued.

Moving on. Apparently the same day MGMT played the festival. A new band I have heard from through 2151. He has also suggested Yeasayer (love it!), and while you are at it, have a listen to the German band Benevolent.

And finally, I got to see The Kooks play an intimate radio 1 show at the barfly in Liverpool (400 capacity), introducing their new album. It was a great show, but I can’t say the new songs are as good as their first one- but it is very difficult to follow up their debut (I am a huge fan). They are now on their UK tour, which I got to witness at the extremely beautiful art deco “Apollo” in Manchester. The sound was brilliant, the light show amazing at times and the Kooks spot on, even though the lead singer seemed to be quite drunk - but he managed it well.

I also had the honour to meet and see Dallas Green a.k.a. City and Colour at the Royal Northern College of Music. An intimate classical concert style - 400 capacity room - where his folky acoustic music caught the full attention of all audience members (youtube results). It was an absolutely stunning 80-minute set, with the most amazing voice I have ever witnessed. If you have never listened to him, please do so now. I am awaiting an amazon shipping with all three of his official releases. He will be back in fall for more shows, so have a look out and get your tickets!

For now check his gig in Berlin: you tube results

And this to witness his amazing voice (and new single) here

PS: You may have heard him before with his band Alexisonfire, a great contrast to his solo stuff

On a personal note, I am enjoying my last few weeks of my second year in Liverpool, with some emotional ups and downs, but really there isn’t anything to complain about. Next weekend I am going up to Glasgow to relax and take a few days off with my better half.

This one is in german.

Sie haben eine neue Nachricht bei Facebook! Aufregend! Es ist von JaundKo. Jan hat mich im neuen Blog getagged und folgende Nachricht hinterlassen: du hast schon monate nichts mehr geschrieben, darfst es auch gerne als myspace bulletin weiter schicken, die myspace fragebogen sind momentan anscheinend deine lieblings beschäftigung.

Ha! Es gibt also doch noch Leute auf myspace, die Bulletins lesen! .. Ich muss zugeben, ich war sehr faul, was das bloggen betrifft. Viel Arbeit, eine 3-wöchige Reise nach Australien und Singapur und eine priese Faulheit haben mich von all dem abgehalten. Nun sind wir hier. Ein Blog Spiel.

Ehrlich gesagt sind mir die Blog regeln alle noch ein wenig unbekannt, aber hier das Spiel:

Die Regeln:
1. Setze einen Link zu der Person, die dir das Stöckchen zugeworfen hat. (siehe oben)
2. Erwähne die dazugehörigen Regeln in deinem Blog. (siehe hier)
3. Erzähle von dir 6 unwichtige Dinge/Macken/Gewohnheiten. (siehe unten)
4. Gib das Stöckchen am Ende deiner 6 Antworten an 6 Leute durch Verlinkung weiter.
5. Hinterlasse bei jeder der gewählten Personen einen Kommentar in ihrem Blog, wonach sie getagged wurde.

6 unwichtige Dinge/Macken/Gewohnheiten.

1. Jedes mal, wenn ich meine Zahnbürste nass mache, muss ich sie 3 mal ausklopfen.

2. Ich schiebe gerne Dinge vor mir her. Vor allem, Leuten zu schreiben, anzurufen, etc.

3. Control freak.

4. Mein bestes Geschenk zum 21. Geburtstag war eine goldene Schallplatte von Prince.

5. Ich esse Doritos gerne mit Natur Joghurt.

6. Ebenso wie Jan, fasse ich ungern Türklinken oder Schwingtüren in der Öffentlichkeit an. Eklig!

So, das wars.

Hier ein paar Bilder aus Australien. Einen Report gibt es hoffentlich bald… Wenn ich meinen Business Plan fertig geschrieben habe..

RSS sent following NME article through: The BBC’s selection of 2008’s talents. Here you go!

1. Adele - as Lasse said: an amazing voice
2. Duffy (above)
3. The Ting Tings - fun electronic hipsters
4. Glasvegas - as mentioned previously
5. Foals - as mentioned previously
6. Vampire Weekend
7. Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong
8. Black Kids
9. MGMT
10. Santogold

source: http://www.nme.com/news/adele/33458

…of 2007!

Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
Kings of Leon - Because of the Times
Radiohead - In Rainbows
LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
Robert Plant & Allison Krauss - Raising Sand
Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
Land of Talk - Applause Cheer Boo Hiss
Band of Horses - Cease To Begin
Mark Olson - The Salvation Blues
Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger

thanks!