Thoughts on Joey Bada$$' new one

Initially I was going to post a real review of Joey Bada$$' All-Amerikkkan Bada$$ earlier this month on my music blog, but I just never got round to it, and I feel like it's too late to do that. So instead I offer this much less thought out and more personal reflection.

First up, musically it's a solid record. Naturally as an artist he's matured; while his first one was quite hard hitting and abrasive, this one is very subtle and his thoughts have become more refined and pensive, and the production mirrors that too. 

But the content and overall meaning is what I really want to get into. Joey is the same age as me, so we're from the same generation. Now, of course we come from different backgrounds and we're shaped by very different experiences; especially since though I am also a person of colour, I will never face the oppression and prejudice he faced/continues to face as a black man. But one thing we do have common is we're both 22 year olds living in the same world context. And for me this record is symbol of the life of a young person in 2017.

My favourite track and one that I think represents the record as a whole is Babylon. In the song feel like he's saying 'all this injustice is happening around me and I'm so angry and sick of this and though I am privileged and have a power many of my people don't have, I just don't know how to help in  world that's not listening and I just feel like giving up.' Hence the lines from Babylon -

I'm running away/I just can't cope with the pain/You just won't understand

This sentiment is one that speaks to me on so many levels. I feel like because of my age (and my gender) people think that 'you don't know anything about anything, you're too young to understand and offer anything beneficial or worthy'. This kind of stuff really gets me down. My life is about striving for equality for all people and I want give all I can to the cause. But  I feel like what's the point of putting in all this effort to make a change when it's falling on deaf ears. But then I remember I need to keep going. And artists like Joey help with that, because by the end of the record, he's like 'nah, fuck my doubts, I'm going to do this and make a difference'. 

This is why I feel like Joey is the voice of a generation, my generation. And it is why I connect to this record a lot.

Now Kendrick's Damn was also released a few days afterwards and though I think it's a great record (like come on, it's Kendrick, it's gonna be great. Though I don't think it's a good as TPB) but I just don't connect to it in the same way I do with Joey.

I was going to end this post a little differently, but there's something that ties these two records nicely. On DNA, a song from Damn, there's a sample of news reader who says "hip hop has done more damage to young African-Americans than racism in recent years" which is directly in response to a performance of Kendrick's Alright. 

Firstly, that statement is just the most incorrect thing I have ever heard. It's just pure insanity, for one in general, but particularly to someone who just spent a year of her life studying hip hop culture. But more importantly it shows how blind people of privilege, white people in this case, are to the plights of people who aren't 'them', 'the others'. 

So, I think for this reason alone, it just proves how important Joey (and Kendrick and all the other wonderful young rappers around at the moment) is in educating people what's really going on in this this day and age. So I guess, on behalf of all the politically minded kids, thanks Joey. 

Eight out of ten - Seoul trip 2

You know, I thought it was about time I wrote about my second trip to Seoul. Of course, in my usual fashion, this post is a key procrastinating tool. This time for my thesis. Seriously though, I really have no motivation to write my thesis right now. I just want to be doing other things, for example, I'm feeling really motivated to study Korean. I'm even feeling really inspired to write the journalistic story I'm going to write and get published after the thesis is all done and dusted. But then I'm like, no you gotta stop and write your thesis! But I'm like ehhh, and so I waste time on the internet, which is 10 times worse.

In my defense though, I usually have the two month break between semesters, and of course that has not happened. As soon as I got back from Seoul, I hit the ground running. I'm pretty proud that I smashed out 6K words of my thesis in a couple of weeks. It's just so intense.

But hey, let's talk about Seoul. I just had such a great time. It was just the best, and my kind of idea of a good time. Plus the weather was so nice! I've got the worst shoe tan, but at least my arms are basically the same colour as my legs; a world first for me. More importantly though, how did I go on the gig front?? I put in a pretty solid effort I think. Eight out of the 10 nights ain't bad! Even though you can't really call them all gigs because some of them involved clubbing, still.

My friend, who's a music journo among other things, took me to Ultra Festival. Even though he said it was totally "not your style" I ended up seeing some stellar Korean music. I saw this amazing funk disco band Sultan of the Disco. They're completely insane and wear costumes, yet they are completely brilliant music wise. I also saw this indie band, The Koxx and they were sick! I haven't had a good old fashion mosh like that since I was 15! Then I saw one of my favs, Zion T and of course he was amazing. I also saw Knife Party and Axwell & Ingrosso, they were ok, but I'm not an EDM kinda gal.

I also went to Itaewon this time, both during the day and night. Itaewon's club scene is mint of course. I was there three nights in a row. I went to the famed Cakeshop (I saw Jinbo just hanging out and my biggest regret in life is not going up to him, and I also got to see DJ Soulscape DJ which was awesome). I also went to this club where I saw Paloalto DJ and saw G2 and him both hanging about, and of course I didn't go up to them. And I also went club hopping with my friend, because we were low key scoping out his competition haha.

In the day Itaewon cool and really nice to walk around, too, but at night I definitely prefer Hongdae, it's a little more laid back. I also just don't like a lot of foreign guys that hang out in Itaewon, most of them are just douche bags. Also since I stay near Hongdae, I may be a little biased because it's a pain to get home (and actually costs money) haha.

Of course, I hung out in Hongdae, I went back to my fav club, The Henz Club. I went there on my first night to see Miso's DJ set and she killllled it!! I stayed for the rest of her squad, Club Eskimo and it was the best. I was worried about going alone clubbing for the first time, but I had nothing to worry about. I just got turnt on my lonesome and it was great! Out of all the clubs I went to, I 300% recommend Henz, they just play really top notch music.

Also Dean showed up and he walked past me twice, once actually brushing past me. Like damn, the first time I'm in Seoul, I see him in concert and we share a moment i.e. we had eye contact, then this! So next time I'm in Seoul, we're gonna be married haha.

Anyway, I ended up staying till about 1:30pm, which I think is a pretty good effort considering I had been traveling for 30 hours previously. AND as I was leaving in ran into Nochang, which was funny because they had played a Beenzino song he produced, that night. And then I told my friend the next day, and he told me a funny.. let's just say altercation, they had together.

I also went to this club called Cocoon in Hongdae. I had heard of it and since it's not really my type, I wasn't even thinking of going there. But, Sean L, one of the rappers I interviewed is actually the MC and kindly invited me along, so I was like what the heck. Overall, I did have a pretty good night. The music was mediocre, but still dancable, (though the did play like three K hip hop songs and I did drop it like it was fiery hot), but damn, it was so god damn loud. My ears were ringing for two days after, I'm not even joking. Legit, I have no idea how the staff have any hearing left. So while I did have a fun time and ended up staying out till 3am on a Tuesday (pretty solid effort for a gal just sipping on water) 3/10 would not recommend.

Yeah, so for the interviews, I was right in just letting things go with the flow; things fell into place. I was worried initially that I wouldn't get any at all, but before I knew it, I had them both organised within a few minutes (Emma, you are truly an angel and I can't thank you enough). The rappers were just genuinely sweet guys, who just truly love hip hop. And from the interviews I got what I needed for my thesis. I just actually have to some how find a way to organise all the information I have into something even slightly coherent.

Oh and in other news, I'm presenting my thesis at a legit conference (like with legit academics who have been doing this for so many years) at my uni of all places. Of course it's an amazing opportunity, and it's going to be cool to actually talk to people about all my hard work, but damn, I'm going to be shitting myself on the day. Like for realz, I don't know how I'm going to go. 

Oh, oh, oh and I'm going to see THE SONICS in September. I can't even believe it. I honestly thought I would've had to made a time machine to see them, but nope! It's gonna be insane!

And now I leave you with a song from C.Cle who I also interviewed, and who just dropped his new EP.

Returning

A photo I took on my day off to visit Namsan Tower

I thought that I better get around to writing, even just a quick post, about my trip to Seoul. Especially considering the other day I picked up my flights for my second trip to Seoul. Yep that's right, I'm going back. Ok, so I just looked back at my previous posts and I don't think I actually mentioned it. Oh well now you know. I went to Seoul in March to do some research for my thesis on Korean hip hop.

I fell so hard for that place. Seriously, within a few hours I knew I wanted to live there. I am 100% not exaggerating. I met up for my first interview after being in the country for like three hours and just walking around made me love it. Hongdae is the place to be. I was right in thinking it's a cross between Melbourne and Hong Kong. I think I would fit in well because it reminds me just enough of home with an Asian twist.

What I loved most were the people. Korean people, and even foreigners that have lived there for a while are just so lovely and that was just from every day experience. And in terms of people that I actually hung out with... I met some of the most amazing people and had some of the best conversations of my life. And it was so great to be surrounded by people who love music as much as I do. Yeah, that was one of my other favourite things. It's the kind of environment that I want to be surrounded by.

I also I really learnt a lot about myself on this trip, but I think the most important is that this music journalism thing is what I want to do, and I really think Seoul is where I want it happen.

I had such an interesting experience too because I was doing things I normally do like going to gigs, doing interviews, shopping, catching public transport and hanging out with homies. So I didn't feel like I was in another country at all.

Also I feel like people didn't treat me as a tourist, which is 100% what I wanted. I don't know if it was the vibe I gave off, the clothes, my ability to scrape by with the language or having a bit of an understanding of  Korean customs. Most likely a mixture of all those elements. #assimilationcomplete

Though I must say, and I talked about it in my diary (yeah I'm kinda betraying you and going old fashioned with a physical diary) but I'm not 100% sure if it was the experience that made me happy, and it just happened to be in Seoul, or it was Seoul itself. It's probably a bit of both to be honest.

I'm not going to mention much about my hip hop observations because I want to keep it for my article that I'm writing along side my article. So stay tuned for that bad boy to hear about that.
But I will mention that Hongdae is lit, I saw Simon D out while seeing Illa J, went to the Illionaire concert in which Zino looked at me and I got to sing "fuck these broke ass motherfuckers, peace out" at the top of my lungs with 4K other people and one of Korea's top hip hop music critics called me a real Korean hip hop fan.

But yeah, I loved it so much that I'm going back for 10 days this time. This time though it's more of a holiday. It's basically a completely selfish trip to make me happy. And you know what, I think I deserve it. I don't really do that many big things for myself, so I was just like fuck it, I'm going.  Also it's going to be the only real break I get till the 21st of October which is when I submit my thesis. So I probably really need it too.

What will I do there? Well I plan on doing what I do best (and love most) which is go to gigs, and I'm really gonna try a go to a different one every night. I don't know how I'm going to go, and how much it'll cost, but I'm just going to wing it. Winging it and going with the flow was the key to success for my last trip, so I'm going to try and do the same this time round. It's also going to be summer so I am so going to be in my element. I'm already getting excited just imagining the sun blazing down on me. It's going to be great.

Alright, I better get back to studying now; I've got a conference tomorrow where I'm presenting my essay on Kendrick Lamar and the messages in hip hop. I'm actually quite excited because it's something that I genuinely enjoy talking about.

Catch ya.

Take the fruit

I just finished watching Mark Ronson’s TED talk about sampling. It’s one that I wanted to watch for such a long time, but had never gotten around to doing so, but finally it has been done.

Lately, as in the past two days, I’ve been listening to hip hop real hard core. And no, it’s not Korean. Yeah you read that right.

I though that I should educate myself a bit more in the original genre considering I got into honours for next year and am going to write my thesis on Korean hip hop and how it’s reported in the US (I’ll talk more about it in another post). So that was the initial reasoning for this and I’m loving it.

As I’ve said, I’ve only really gotten into hip hop this year with Korean hip hop. And in the past, it was not as if I hated it, it was just that I never really seeked it out like I did with post-punk, for example.

So I feel like people could be like, ‘who is this bitch, thinking she knows all about hip hop and shit now’ considering I’ve just gotten into it recently and I’m going to head off a write a thesis about it.

Firstly I think the whole point of doing research is looking into something you don’t know about because what’s the point. Secondly, after watching that TED talk and a bunch of videos of People Under The Stairs talking about music, I really got to thinking about it, and it’s just a natural progression for me, particularly since I’d been listening to a lot of jazz prior. I’m surprised it’s come so late to be honest.

For such a long time, honestly as long as I can remember, I’ve always really loved when classical and traditional instruments were used in modern music. A string or brass section always makes songs better! And I think that when this fusion initially seems abstract and opposing, actually makes the songs so much better when they come together to form a true piece of art.

Take Patrick Wolf’s record Wind in the Wires (or even his music in general honestly). This is one of my favourite records ever and it’s a true testament to his categorisation as folktronica. By folk I don’t mean Mumford and Sons banjo strumming, I mean Gaelic, cloak wearing, moor rambling soundtrack probably created using a super rare renaissance instrument (yep he’s one of those weirdo’s that can play every instrument in existence). Then imagine, accompanying that is the loop of a fuzzy electric drum beat and with his haunting poetry on top. Ah jeez, just listen.

And even if you look at my favourite bollywood songs, they have one layer of the song that is a really classic Indian sound with a pipe or violin section and then the rest of the song is made with more modern instruments. Oh but there are always killer dhol beats! Check it.

Ok, so going back to hip hop it’s completely built on this idea of taking from the past and putting a new spin on it, pun not intended. Then I don’t think it’s hard to guess that I have an inclination towards jazzy hip hip. I really love songs that you can chill out to. So far I’m really into Hieroglyphics, A Tribe Called Quest, Deltron 3030 and Madvillan, with the list surely to grow and grow. But People Under the Stairs are hands down my favs; not only is their music slick, but they also have sincerity in that they write about both sides of life, as opposed to just writing about getting money and bitches. True poets.


I leave you with my current jam and the expectation that I may complete that k-hip hop post soon. 

Yesterday, today, tomorrow

I decided to write a quick blog before I start editing the drafts of my assignments because I'm just feeling really happy at the moment. This is something which I attribute to the weather. I sat outside in the sun listening to Foals new record (what a ripper, let me tell you) and colouring in one of those de-stress books. I'm so glad that it's social acceptable to use colouring books. I got a Japan one and a Paris one, and there's so many more I want, but I dream of getting a William Morris one (I just goggled it and this exists!!).

I'm pretty happy with my Korean progression considering that since I started going to uni I haven't started level two of TTMIK (an amazing and free resource -minus the textbooks- for learning Korean, 10/10 would recommend), so I've just been revising and trying to increase my vocab. I'm mainly happy with my progress because I can now read and understand Hangul, which I'm really proud of.  The problem is 95% of the time I have no idea what it means.

Actually learning Korean has inspired me to revise my Italian. Last week I actually wrote a couple of diary entries in my diary that I've had for five years! It was interesting looking back and the entries and seeing how my handwriting had changed. There was even a diary entry of my first day of work, which made me very nostalgic.

Now that I think of it, I've been very nostalgic this past week, today in particular. I read a letter that I got from my brothers grade three teacher who I've been writing to for 10 years, and we both can't believe that it's been 10 years since we've met. It's so weird to think back to that time because even though I'm 20 now, I still feel like the same person I did when I was 10. I think back to my thoughts about something back then, and still feel the same way today.  For example, I remember going to my cousins wedding when I was 9 and being worried about looking fat, which is something I do every day now, but when I really think about it, it's something that I've constantly done throughout my life (not to mention that it's crazy that I was concerned about that sort of stuff at that age. Thanks society).

But at the same time, I'm looking to the future and I think for the first time in my life I feel confident in what my future holds after uni and I'm really excited. I've decided that I will vlog about my life and stuff and more importantly do gig and album reviews. Don't worry I'll still keep blogging on this ol' blog here, because who knows, people actually might start reading it.

I promise too once I get some time, I will write that Korean underground post, but let me tell you, it will be quite a task because literally every day I'm discovering new artists. It'll be a labour of love though because I just love sharing music with other people.

Oh I got Big Bang tickets and I just know how good a night it's going to be, especially since I'm making a costume (T.O.P's blue suit from the Doom Dada film clip). And I'm going to make sure that T.O.P sees it and I get on the Big Bang tour report video.

I leave you with this dope track released just two day that features a heap of cameos of some great rappers to give you a taste of what's to come.

Seeing BTS

About this time last night I was on the train home from the city. What was I doing in the city last night you may ask? Seeing my boys BTS that’s what was up!

They totally exceeded my all expectations. I was expecting them to be amazing, but not this amazing!! Taking as a journalist and music fan they were truly spectacular; they were so polished, effortless and completely owned the stage. They’re all so talented and this is what they were born to do. They’re not just some boy band that will be over in a few years; they’re going the whole way. (Maybe I should do a proper review on my music blog? I’ll keep you posted).

Ok, back to fan girl mode. The setlist was seriously awesome. Of course some of my favs didn’t make the cut, but it was ok because even the songs I didn’t really like were done so well. And you can tell when someone is good live when after seeing a song that you previously didn’t like, live, and loving it afterwards. Of which this song is a prime example. (Tbh I don’t really know why I didn’t like it that much because I feel like it’s a classic me song, but anyway… also as I was listening to it then it just started raining!)

My highlight was when they played Cypher pt.3 and I absolutely lost my shit. As mentioned in my ‘K life’ post it’s my all time fav BTS song and the rap line absolutely slayed. Like ugh it was just the best. Anyone reading this from the gig who was behind a girl with long hair in row C I sincerely apologise for dancing erratically and looking like I was possessed by the devil, but that’s just the way I am. #babyiwasbornthisway

They even played Hip Hop Lover which I wasn’t sure if they’d play it but they did (I even tweeted them to play it and Cypher pt.3) and it was sick.  Another moment that sticks out in my mind was the transition from Cypher pt.2 into War of Hormone, it was on point. I just love when shit like that happens (think Bombay Bicycle Club and The Giantess/Emergency Contraception Blues, I actually tweeted them to play this and they did!)

I’m really proud of the Armies (BTS fanbase) and proud to be part of such a cool fanbase. Honestly I was worried because from watching videos of just pop concerts in general (particularly where hot boys are involved) and the screaming. Now when I say screaming, I mean constant screaming, like throughout the whole concert even when the artist is speaking or they’re singing and emotional song or whatever. And I can’t stand when people do this, it just drives me insane; there’s a time a place for it. But last night was great!
The whole atmosphere of the concert of was one of the best I have experienced. Actually the atmosphere is exact reason why going to concerts is my favourite thing in the whole entire world.To be in a space where you’re with a huge group of people that love an artist as much as you do, where there is this collective adoration of this artist and everyone sings and dances along, it’s just the greatest feeling. I live for this.  And it’s sad that some people don’t see the worth in seeing artists live.

There were so many great moments, but I felt like it happened so fast and I couldn’t dream of remembering them all. But in closing I just want to say seeing BTS was the second best gig I’ve been to ever, second only to The Horrors of course. Actually, in all honesty if the Horrors weren’t my favourite band and weren’t a band where their music is meant to be experienced live, BTS would have been number one.

Oh yeah and Jimin and I totally made eye contact. And I maintain that my boi Suga looked at me at least once. Oh yeah, I was actually really happy with the seats (though my friend and I stood up the whole time) I ended up getting because they were basically at eye level and I could see them perfectly and it was just good.

P.S they are all 300% more good looking in real life.
P.P.S my friend and I may or may not be twitter famous because we are in a photo of one of SBS pop asia's host's photos from the night (my friend especially hahah) 
P.P.S Big Bang are now coming to Melbourne and even though it’s in the last week of uni, I’m going!!
P.P.P.S I’m learning Korean and have decided that I’m going to Korea to teach English for a year. Meaning I’ll be able to go to the hip hop clubs in Hongdae all day everyday.

Songs written by other people

I was actually thinking about this in the middle of my 'K music' post and I thought it would be something worthwhile to pursue properly. Notice here how much more eloquently I'm writing in comparison to my usual trash, so you know I'm down to argue some real shit right here.

You may or may not know, but I'm pretty critical of pop music, and up until the past couple years I was so against all pop music.

I remember reading an article a number of years ago about a lady who wrote songs hit songs for pop artists and some music producers. And this lady talked about how she wanted to get into the industry but no one would sign her so she was just sticking to writing songs. It just made me so angry that this lady could write these amazing songs and someone else would completely take the credit for it.

I also had this misconception that all pop was manufactured shit, but I just got over that and realised that it was just another genre of music. Since then I've sort of embraced it and if I like a pop song, I like it, simple as that.

But there's basically one other underlying factor, apart from the music obviously, that I think affects my music taste and that's artist input.

For me when I find out that a musician has some input into the music they're representing, it's a huge tick in my book and automatically results in respect for that artist regardless whether or not I like their music or not. So of course I'm drawn to musicians who are super talented.

As I was writing the 'K music' post I was thinking maybe the reason why I seem to have this inclining towards 'self-written' music is the music is more real. Real is probably not the best word to use, so maybe genuine. Genuine because the music in response to someone's experiences and emotions.

When someone sits down and writes a song it's a totally organic process where someone is expressing themselves and their experiences through music and lyrics. While not always the case, there are a heap of songs that are inspired by the things the writers have gone through and so the songs are deeply personal.

This is a really important part because for me music isn't just something to just have on in the background. It sounds pretty silly, but it's part of the way I react and make sense of things and so songs that affect me emotionally I'm deeply connected to.

So when you listen to these songs you can just hear the pain or happiness in the music and it's so much easier for the audience to connect emotionally with the music because the audience can link the music to their own experiences and emotions.

For me there is a point of difference between your average manufactured love song and a love song written by a singer-songwriter. I'm not saying that the writers of these songs aren't writing from their personal experience but it's their job to write hits and I think that there is a certain formula to the process.  But there is an individuality of the song since no one can go through the exact experiences of the songs writer.

So when someone shares their experiences through music I think it's a privilege and I will end by saying thanks to the wonderful musicians in this world for so openly sharing their lives with us all.

The K life

Well, well, well. It's that time again. I am in bed, recovering from a hard day of doing nothing important, but also whatever I wanted. In all seriousness though it's my first official day on holiday and I'm so happy. Well that's not completely true.

Usually when I post blogs it's on the good ol' Windows Live Writer because it's how I've been doing it for however long I've had this blog (I just checked and it's been 6 years, and oh god the grammar!!). But for this one I'm doing it on blogger. Why? Because I recently had to get a new laptop (my poor trusty laptop shit itself, but I still hope I can revive it, especially since iTunes, ya feel me) and I've tried installing WLW but alas, to no avail because it's a little shit.

I was actually getting really mad especially at the thought of having to write a blog on word which I was really against because I think I would be in an assessment mind set which is in no way a good thing. So I reluctantly logged onto this, but it's actually not bad at all. Which is really good because I can feel a really long blog post coming on. Here we go.

Korean music obsession has hit hard! Like, on a level of zero to Tokio Hotel, Tokio Hotel, and we all know how hardcore that was.

It all started at the end of Feb when I was in search of an music video. I had seen it on SBS' Pop Asia which I used to watch every now and then because I was a fan of the music videos #masterpieces though I didn't really care for the music; like most pop music for me. Anyway I was searching for this video for hours! While I was searching for this video, I was listening to some of the songs and I was really loving them and it just started from there!

You'll be somewhat happy to know that I think I found the video I was looking for. Check it out below, and not only is the video dope, but the song is too.

The first musician I got into was G-Dragon. Now I had heard of GD; just like I had heard of Shinee and Super Junior, I actually remember looking them up in prime Tokio Hotel time and not liking them lolz. I even recently remember seeing his video for Coup d'etat on Pop Asia and thinking wow so he's pretty hardcore; in terms of the electronic sound. I think I must have re-watched this song and fell in love and I just kept listening to his music. His second record also called Coup d'etat is really great and probably has a place in my top 20!

I have to thank this video because initially I didn't really like this song but I loved the video with my whole heart and after watching the video a million times I really got into it.

I really (oh shiiittt this song just came on shuffle) love how well the video goes with the lyrics of the video. This is one of those songs that the music is so upbeat and it disguises the true meaning of the song. Which is exactly what the song is about; someone who on the outside puts on a tough guy act, but in reality they're breaking down on the inside. The lyrics are amazing and they're a perfect testament to GD's genius, and to some of his sadness. I can really relate to these lyrics. And the video shows this perfectly.

Back to less hardcore analysis  I may or may have not stolen four items of clothing from this video (fur coat- oh yeah I made a fur coat and I'm so proud of it even though it cost me $80 to make, everything is good - red striped t-shirt, striped polo and red shirt) #sorrynotevenremotelysorry. In terms of GD's fashion though, he looks amazing in everything; even when he wears something hideous, he just pulls it off so well. I also got a custom made tote bag with a still from this video and I love it.

I could talk about GD and his talent for 100 year but I've already spent enough time on writing this post and I'm not even half way through, so moving on. GD and this guy called T.O.P made this amazing album together. It's got this really cool old school vibe going on.

T.O.P, aka my second husband, is the most attractive Asian guy I have ever seen in my life and I basically hate him. Just watch that video and see, like mateeeeeeeee and if all men dressed like him i would actually be dead. He's also a really dope rapper. These two are part of a group called Big Bang, and they're sorta the biggest kpop group ever to ever exist.

To be completely honest I actually was pretty disappointed when I listened to Big Bang, because while some songs were really great, I just couldn't get into them. Mainly probably they're a bit too ballad-y and pop-y for me, but also I think it's because a lot of their songs are really date-able; they're not timeless at all. Even they're new stuff, which I'm really loving, esp Bang Bang Bang (listen to this right now, you can thank me later) I think in a few years time, you'll listen back to it and you'll be like this is so 2015. But as group of people I love them all because they're such losers and make me laugh, oh and they're super talented.

The next big obsession comes in the form of BTS aka my boyssssssss. They're a hip-hop idol group composed of seven members and I love them all so much. Entering into the world of kpop I've encountered a number of new terms, but none more important than bias. It's pretty self explanatory, but it's your favourite member of a group. It totally makes sense and why it's not used in other fandom's is lost on me! In terms of BTS they're all amazing and all the members have their individual traits that I adore so it's really hard to pick just one; they're all so lovable, just watch this! What a bunch of losers.

 I do have a top four though; Rap Monster, Suga, V and J-Hope. Mainly based on talent because people who are talented is the ultimate attraction for me, and then there's V haha. But I would probably have to say my number one is Suga. I only say this because I my brother bought me a BTS jumper with a members name on the back and when he asked me, my gut told me Suga and I still stand by that decision. So it was my subconscious telling me who.

They recently released a mini album (but it has 8 songs so its basically a full record) and it's really on point especially it has a really clear theme running throughout. Just listen to it.

It's really strange because for the first time in my life I like a group where some of the members are the same age as me! The youngest member is actually two years younger than me, seriously what is this madness! It makes me feel pretty shit because I'm like, what am I even doing with my life, but anyway.

Now not only is their music amazing, and they're super talented (they all have input in their music) but their dancing is so on point, particularly their synchronization; even my brother recognizes how good they are!! And they do this while singing live at the same time!!

Oh and did I mention, I'M GOING TO SEE THEM LIVE IN A MONTH AND TWO DAYS!?!?!? I'm fucking excited words can't even explain how excited I am, but safe to say I haven't been this excited since I saw the Horrors!

This is probably my favourite song and I'm pretty sure when they play this I'm going to start crying at the same time I'm trying to rap in Korean.

Again I need to move on but I could talk about BTS for 200 years, so please check them out, they're really amazing.

After a while I started to get into less mainstream Korean artists. I was going to say that I couldn't remember how I got into into, lets just call it alt K for typing purposes, but I do because I was listening a cool playlist that just happened to have a Beenzino (god and giver of life) song on it.

I really have to thank 8tracks and some wonderful people for helping me discover some fire musicians. While we're on the topic of 8tracks, check out my own playlists, they're dope #shamelessselfpromo.

I'm super tired right now so I'm going to do another post that looks more in depth into my favorite alt K musicians. Because I'm into so many more artists from the K rnb, rap and hip hop 'scene' than Kpop so it'd be morning before I'd be finished.

So for now here's a teaser in the form of  an awesome track that features a few of my favourite alt K musicians, from my fav Korean record company Amoeba Culture which has all the best signed.

I'm actually really grateful for this obsession. You may or may not have noticed, but music is my whole life, butt over the past couple of years I had been facing a slump. Yes I always kept up to date with my favourite bands, but I never really discovered much new music (apart from Indian music, but it was a different experience).

But with this, I feel like I've fallen in love with music again and the experience of finding new musicians. I had totally forgotten how good it felt to discover new music, so it's really great. It's just sucks a little because I can't show people the music I've found like I used but that's ok, and it's
probably why this post is so long!

Oh but in non Korean music news I'm going to have my most hardcore music experience yet in the form of #3gigsin3days. I'll be seeing The Wombats, Mark Ronson and Years & Years in three consecutive days and it's going to be amazing! But I seriously doubt my body will be ready to handle all that dancing. At least I will have BTS a couple days earlier to prepare me haha.

Sarah out *mic drop*.

Happy new year

It’s 15, 16 minutes into the new year. Happy new year. I had initially started this post as a classic ‘whut i’m posting not at the end of the uni semester’ but that was this afternoon and now its just after midnight. With that first sentence I feel like I’m writing a story and so I feel sorta weird writing, like I’m trapped between two sides of writing; writing for a particular purpose and just writing down crap that just comes to mind (aka my blog). I blame this on the fact that I’m reading Gone Girl, because yeah the characters are supposed to be expressing/writing down their own thoughts, but it’s actually the author writing pretending to be these people. Ok I better stop before this gets philosophical.

Lately I’ve been watching a lot – and I mean a lot – of anime. I hadn’t really realised how many I’ve watched until I decided to get an My Anime List account. Compared to my brother my list is pretty small, but most of the watching was done only in the past couple of weeks.

It’s all I’ve really been watching. Only before was I watching a ‘normal’ tv show; its Da Vinci’s Demons. I’ve only watched one episode but I like it. And it’s pretty interesting because for once, watching a program based on history, I actually know the people they’re talking about (thanks to uni).

All the while I’ve been watching anime, I’ve been making clothes. I made a dress (the one that I included a picture of the pattern in the previous post), skirt and shorts. I’m pretty happy with all of them. Oh but the other day I spent $70 on fabric at spotlight. Whoops. And then I went in a bought some patterns two days later (but they only cost $10 and were on special from $40, so don’t even tell me that’s not a bargian). Ok, well I’m too lazy to go on, so farewell, enjoy the first day of the new year.

Cramming

Hey! You know what time of year it is if I’m writing a blog. Yep I’ve finished uni for the year. In fact today I got my results and I’m very happy with them especially since I got a HD for a unit for the first time ever!
My brother and I had a bit of a anime movie session; we watched two -Hotarubi no Mori e and Byousoku 5 Centimeter. I was expecting them both to be amazing, but I was a little disappointed. I didn't really like the latter, but I did like the former, just not as much as I was expecting.

You know what, I’ve been watching a lot of TV shows since I started my break. I started watching Downtown Abbey again and also got my mum hooked. After that, I finished watching Avatar the Last Airbender and started Legend of Korra, which I am really enjoying. Of course it’s not as good as Avatar, but it’s still really great and now that I’m up to date I have that feeling of not knowing what to do with my life haha. I also watched another anime called Hakuouki which I also enjoyed, and that got me in the feels quite a bit, which is good. For me, I judge things on their ability to get me emotionally attached to the characters and they become real and not characters anymore (Sarah’s quality control system). So I always pick things that puncture my heart and make me want to die (I’m constantly looking for new otps) because my life is so pedestrian #seriousmentalproblems.

I have also been sewing a bit, which is nice. I’ve a nice collection of some really cool patterns which I hope to all make. So far thought, I’ve sewn a 60s A-Line dress (which I love, but haven’t had a chance to wear it), just a plain black skirt, some stuff for the house and most recently I attempted to make another dress. However this dress has been causing me a lot of grief and I’ve given it up, and its all down to the zip. It doesn’t matter now because I bought fabric today to start a new dress which I have been waiting to start ever since I got the pattern below). I’m making the coral coloured one, but in a navy, dotted and small flowered pattern (it sounds a bit crazy, but its pretty simple).

Oh and just while we’re on the subject of handmade clothes, I finished my cardigan ages ago, but only wore it in public for the first time a couple of weeks ago. And also on this vein, I’ve become addicted to lipstick and perfume.

In exciting news, my brother is getting this super fast gaming computer. Which means that I will be able to properly play the Sims again and that means I can continue my amazing family tree. Have I mentioned it on here? Regardless, here’s a refresher, I’ve had this sims family that I’ve kept going with for 10 generations now, where all the sims I’ve created are named after musicians, actors, characters etc that I like. I'm very proud of it and I hope to continue it for a long time.

So what happened, was the computer that I’ve got it all on at the moment started glitching up and I haven’t been able to fix it so I haven’t played in ages. But once my bro gets his new computer it won’t glitch and I will be able to play yay! The only problem I have is that I’m running out of female names!!
Also, this year I’m really sucking at doing my reading challenge. But I just feel I haven’t had the chance and throughout the year I wasn’t as motivated to be reading other books. Like it took me like two months for me to finish Persuasion, I’d pick up the book before bed and read a page and be over it. However once the holidays started, I started reading again. And even though I probably won’t finish the 8 I need I’ll try my best (and then lower it to the amount I’ve read #sorrynotsorry)

oH AND I READ THE LAST SKULDUGGERY PLEASANT BOOK!! To be completely honest – and I was thinking about it this morning - I was really disappointed with it. Well actually its the ending I’m not happy with. I feel like it didn’t actually end and the book was part of something in the middle. And, for me personally I think some parts could have been taken out, some more developed and some added in to be more resolved. But anyway I’m not the author.

Looking over this post I realise that I’ve been trying to cram a lot of things into my spare time (because I’m working 5 days a week at work because my other boss/friend has gone to India and I’m filling all her shifts). It’s not working too well, but oh well I’ll just have to take everything as it comes.

Mandatory end of semester blog post

Yes that’s right, I’ve finished for the semester! I submitted my final assignment this afternoon.

A couple of weeks ago I bought my first sewing machine (well that’s not completely true because first dad actually paid for it but its an early Christmas present and I bought this really cheap sewing machine for like $30 and it basically sucked) which is a singer and I love it. I’ve been waiting till I finished uni till I could start using it and so finally yesterday I got a chance (yesterday I submitted my last major assignment).

I did a few practice stitches and seams on a 100 year old pillow case and then I had a go of turning it into a skirt. I then repaired a pair of my dad’s pants and then I started altering a dress of mine of which I finished today.

I’ve been buying a heap of patterns from the op shop which are super cheap and also really cool; I bought this jacket pattern from 1960!! So I can’t wait to go into spotlight and get some cool fabric and start making.

Also I’ve be constantly knitting my cardigan and it actually looks like one now.

Ok I can’t be bothered writing more, soz too busy watching TMNT.

Crafts and ninja turtles

I’ve actually been wanting to write a blog for ages, but alas, uni has been keeping me busy.

Over the past few weeks I’ve had assignment after assignment, admittedly to my own fault. I thought that I would be smart and for my two subjects that needed oral presentations do them early, but I miss calculated and found that there were one week after another. So with that plus my other assignments I’ve been dead.

But I’ve just finished my last assignment for the while and now I’m finally able to do things I actually want! What are those things that I want? Well crafts and watching TV shows, that’s what.

Every time the weather starts getting colder, my need to knit gets stronger. So I headed on over to spotlight and bought some nice yarn. God, over the past few weeks I’ve spent so much money at spotlight, but I’ve bought so many nice yarns. I decided that I needed to get a membership so I could grab some bargains.

In terms of projects I’ve got a couple going on, planned and finished which calls for dot points.

• I finished my first beanie ever that I made for my cousin, of which I don’t have a picture.
• I’m currently working on a blanket, which is really great for doing which watching TV because its one stich so you don’t have to concentrate.
• Also I’m working on one of those snood things, with yarn in a teal colour with specks of other colours.
• I bought this beautiful soft yarn (in the grey and a light brown) which I want to turn into a scarf.
• I bought this yarn in this colour and in a grey. In the red I’m going to knit another scarf and in the grey I’m going to do a cardigan. It’s going to me by first cardigan and I’m that excited. I’m getting the cardigan pattern from this pattern book I bought, of which I just want to make everything inside.

But knitting isn’t the only thing I’ve started. I’ve just gotten into embroidery. Last night i finished my first embroidery project, see him below. It was a practice for a thing I’m making for my mum for mothers day. Once I’m finished I’ll post a picture of the finished product.

 

Now in regards to turtles, if you look back to previous posts you’ll see that I was super depressed because I couldn’t get TMNT. Well guess what?! I got my hands on a copy!!! In fact I’m watching it as I type!

I was so scared that it would be really shit and my whole childhood ruined, but there was nothing it be scared of. I think  love it more than I did when I was a kid! The episode I’m up to is part 3 of 3 of a series of eps and its pretty deep. They’ve gone underground and befriended these guys who were once human, but were turned into monsters after experiments, and there was one guy talking about how he was soon to descend into madness and stuff and it was just super deep. Also right now its pretty creepy and my hearts pounding a bit, to be honest. On a lighter note, also Mikey is hilarious. Ok, I think I better get back to paying 100% attention, smell ya later.

Of elves and stuff

This blog post is sorta a continuation of a set I posted on polyvore. I finally finished the Lord of The Ring yesterday, so I decided to make a set inspired by the detailing of when they Frodo and co go to the Havens.

As I said in the polyvore post, I hadn’t read it, nor seen the movies and never really had any drive to read or watch it. In all honesty though, I’m not really sure why I never had any inclination to even watch the movies, especially since one of my favourite games ever is Warlords Battlecry, of which I’ve been playing since I was ten, at least. Now if you’re unfamiliar with Warlords, you basically pick a race of warriors (for example humans, orcs, the undead, minotaurs and my go to race, wood elves - already you can see the similarities of LoTR and the game) and you have to build up your army to fight other races to conquer regions. Also, from my last post you can see as a kid I wasn’t really a girly girl, so why I didn’t get into it, it’s a mystery to me!

Anyway, my best friend/housemate had been telling me that we’d have to have a LoTR marathon and I was like “yeah ok whatever” but it hadn’t happened because I wasn’t that interested. But one day while I was having a look in an op-shop and I found a copy of the the LoTR for $4! So thus, I finished the last book I was reading and then read it, but not without reading the Hobbit first.

Speaking of the Hobbit I just finished watching the first one, after I have been harassing my mum for the past few days to bring it home. Now we will be able to go with my cousin to see the second one. Also I will now be able to have that LoTR marathon which will make my friend happy.

Now that I’ve finished the two books (I probs wont read The Silmarillion or Unfinished tales) I’ve moved onto the second last of the Skulduggery Pleasant series, Last Stand of the Dead Men. I really cant believe its nearly over, but there’s been eight books already! So that means I’ve been reading those books since I was 12, that’s pretty ridiculous!

But now this blog post is coming to an end and my wood elf troops are calling me into battle, and so hear their call! (I’m going to play Warlords, and here’s some of the soundtrack that you should listen to).

Don’t even tell me this is not kickass!

.

“Boys cartoons”

Right now I’m half watching the good old cartoon Teenage Mutant Turtles. The reason I’m doing this is to save myself from going mental, and the reason I was going mental is because I realised that I really really want to watch all my favourite childhood tv shows, but I can’t.

If you were to go on my favourite childhood TV shows (primarily cartoons) you would have to call me a tomboy. My favourite cartoons were Spiderman (the early 90s version), Teenage Mutant Turtles (the 03 version), the old Transformers (80s version) and even the original Yu-Gi-Oh.

I know that I preferred these versions of Spiderman and TMNT because they’re quite a lot darker and more serious (in the sense that they’re more detailed characters, especially TMNT) than some of the other versions I’ve seen. Well I mean, I think that’s why I still really like them now as a so called “adult”. So I assume that’s why I liked the other two, maybe.

Now the problem for me is that I really want to watch all of these, but alas, basically all I cannot buy, even online! So there you see my dilemma, which will probably never be resolved. First world problems at their finest.

Here enjoy this -

(All of the theme songs for my four favs are super cool, especially Yu-Gi-Oh, but since I love TMNT and are watching them now you get this).

Words?

I originally started doing a post reflecting on my first year of uni and doing a sorta 101, but I soon got bored and felt like a bit of a douche.

Now that I’ve finished uni, I can start working on my Goodreads reading challenge. This year I set it at 40 books, but I’m not going too well and I blame that on uni.

I thought that as soon as I finished school and started uni, I would have heaps of time to read. Boy was I wrong. We have to do so many readings for each subject, each week and plus I had books to read for literature.

This is really bad because I think I have a problem with buying books. Despite my inability to find time to read my books, I still buy them. And generally I don’t just buy one, no, I buy in friggen bulk. There is one exception however and that is when the books are full-priced-non-bargain-bin-second-hand-super-booksale books.

Anyway, hopefully now that I’m stopping literature I’ll have a bit more time to do my own reading. Eh, probably not considering I’m doing history, but I can hope.

I just started reading To The Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf and so far I’m liking it. All though the stream of consciousness is always hard to grasp, I’m liking it better than Mrs Dalloway.  I read Mrs Dalloway for lit, but I didn’t really like it that much because I found the central events (the whole party thing) so boring despite the scream of consciousness to keep it interesting.

Speaking of writing methodologies (sorta) I’ve just been looking through some of my old post, like circa 2010 and my god, my grammar and writing was so horrible! I feel really embarrassed, especially when I stumbled off a post about one of my old fan fics, which led me to follow the post to the good old THF. But some of the stuff I found there… god it’s a surprise they let me post it considering they have mods to check the chapters before they’re published. At least that’s in the past now, because check out this grammar!!

But looking at my old THF page made me want to start writing again, so maybe I might just start! It could be what I do in the Philippines for the holiday in Feb….

Ok bye, I’m going to have a look in the ol’ fic folder.

Same old, same old.

I realise this must just be a thing, this late night blogging. Maybe I’m some sort of blogpire or something. No probably not, that’s just me watching too much Supernatural. I’ve started watching the seasons all again now that I’ve finished uni, well almost. I’ve still got a exam to go and that’s for literature. To be completely honest I have no motivation at all to study, and I think it’s because this semester I haven’t gotten into lit as the previous semester. I liked the course itself, but I didn’t really like my tutor and I haven’t been getting the best marks. So that’s why I’m dropping lit next year and picking up history. I’m doing first year medieval and renaissance history, even though I’ll be in second year but I’m not even bothered by it because people don’t even care at uni.

When I wrote the first sentence of this blog “I realise this must just be a thing, this late night blogging” I was thinking yeah this has happened heaps of times, as if there had been a few days elapsed between posts….yeah no, try a year ago two times!

It’s really funny reading old posts, especially since I’m basically just repeating the same things over and over again. Like, I’m still watching Supernatural, I still want to play the Sims (but I’m up to my 9th generation now) and I’m still nearing the end of some sort of study period. Can you actually get a more boring life than that?! Well I’ll tell you one thing that is a exciting and that is I’m going to the Philippines in Feb. So it should be super sick, especially since I’m going to get some dresses custom made because it’s cheap to do so there, and it’s festa time!!!

So with that, here’s a super sick courtesy Connan Mockasin -

TV shows and their shit.

If life gave us all that we wanted, I would be watching season five of Supernatural right now, however, since my mum didn’t end up renting it, I am writing this blog post.

It’s been a while between posts; I just checked and the last post was in February. Well let’s see, what have I done in the past five months? Nothing really apart from going to uni. Believe me, this is no exaggeration. Whenever I go somewhere apart from uni my best friend/housemate and I call it a “Sarah’s day out.”

But now, guess what? It’s our break, and a four week one at that! Actually in all honesty, I’ve already had another three weeks off, and in that time, one exam hasn’t stopped me doing what I do best: get emotionally involved with TV shows.

In about I three days I watched a season of Community, which is a pretty good effort considering from about midday till 4:40 (I would do a practice exam at the exact time that my Lit exam was on) I studied the non stop. Once I finished my exam though, I let it rip; on my own I finished season two of the Hour (talk about feels) watched about four guilty pleasure chick flicks, and with my best friend/housemate we watched most of Hannibal (I have two episodes left and I’m dying because people keep posting about it on tumblr).

But my.. I’ll just call her my friemate, and I still have to watch season three of Game Of Thrones (now being part of the GoT fandom on tumblr, and not having watched the third season is the worst; three words for you, The Red Wedding. Yeah spoilers are the bane of my existence!) and season 2 of Hart of Dixie (don’t judge me on that one, it is the most addictive show in the world!).

Oh and then I also bought  Parade’s End and Supernatural (I bought seasons 1-7 box set, which was only $120 on special, plus I has a gift card, so talk about a bargain!) ages ago which I have to get through too, so looks like it’s busy and not to mention emotional times for me.

Yeah, so for the past few days I’ve just been watching Supernatural, and today mum and I just sat in the lounge, both in our pyjamas, watching it, until the season ended and we couldn’t go on to the next one because the box set is at my house in the city.

You know what, this blog post took away my need to watch Supernatural for a few minutes, but now I’m just back to where I started. Tomorrow I’ll probably be worse and when I’m taking orders at work I’ll ask people they’re names and I think they’ll be saying Castiel but really they’re name will be just be Luke or something.

Niente.

Just summing up my past few weeks.

I got an offer into a Bachelor of Journalism at Monash Uni in Melbourne which was my desired course. I was so surprised that I actually got into it because my score was lower than required, and as you can imagine I was ecstatic.

Along with a required Journalism major and a Journalism Studies minor, I’m doing Behavioural Studies and Literary Studies, which I hope shall be interesting and thus, enjoyable. I’m glad at least, that I’m not doing maths.

Big Day Out was last weekend and it was pretty good. It wasn't as good as a whole in comparison to the past to years, however, Foals were so fucking good they just made up for it.

Throughout the past week I’ve had a pretty bad flu, so for once in my life I’ve actually stayed in bed for the whole day while I’ve been sick – and I mean for the whole day on one occasion. What do you ask have I been doing in bed? Well because I could not read (yes, I was that sick) I just watched films and TV shows. Examples were Sherlock and Wuthering Heights (the one with Tom Hardy as Heathcliff, who does a really good job and is also an ultimate babe).

In the spaces between this I basically have just been working, reading and reading some more, which, coincidentally is what I’m off to do now. (It’s Great Expectations by Dickens, which is not only a book that has been sitting and waiting on my shelf for a long time, but also is a book prescribed to me for uni!

Ciao!

Things not to do when on ‘holiday.’

I started learning German again today. I had decided a few days before my final exam that I would start up again. I think the my use of “again” needs a bit of clarification. Back in the days when the dreaming of Tokio Hotel’s, instead of Horrors, was at it’s peak, I made my parents buy me a teach-yourself-german-kit, and I had started to ‘get into it,’ but then I was hit by my final year of school. Even though I am not as infatuated with Tokio Hotel as I once was, now seems the right time to recommence my lessons in this wonderful language.

Honestly though, I don’t know why I would want to do this because it’s just like still in school. Also as, I’ve said in a previous post, I’ve started writing again, which is not very holiday-like. However I think I spend much more time researching (trying to find good houses) than I actually do writing – which could, as a matter of fact, be good in the long run. And then there’s the reading. God damn it, these are supposed to be my holidays!!

I’m either going mental or it’s a way for my subconscious to remain in a education mode so that my mind doesn’t turn to mush when I go to uni. I think I’ll take that option.

Mind you, I have been playing Fable II a mighty lot so that could make up for my scholar-type activities, and I also enjoy the things that I have been doing so it’s not really that bad.

OH but I tell you what is bad! The fact that the current season of Merlin is going to be the last one ever! It’s so depressing. I’m going to buy the box set of it so that my mum can take series 3 and 4, that we have on their own to meet their fellows 1 and 2, back in the Philippines when she goes back for Christmas, and then I can be depressed forever watching it.

Oh and ya know, just mentioning that I’m going to see My Bloody Valentine in February. It’s just gonna be my, ya know, first 18+ concert and I’ll just be seeing a band that hasn’t come to Australia in maybe 21 years. 

First world problems.

I should be happy. I just finished my final exam, which means that apart from graduation in two days, never have to go to school again. In a few months I’ll be off to university to learn my trade of journalism. I’m ready to start a new chapter of my life, but I just feel like I’m being held back.

If I was writing this blog post yesterday morning, my mood would be the complete opposite to it’s current status. It’s just been certain events in the past 24 hours that have led me to feel like shit and not good enough. I entered into this blog post preparing to write down everything I’m feeling now, but I don’t feel I will.

So I think I’ll just have to go to my favourite depression cure; Vampire Knight, so that I can at least my life is not as bad a Zero’s who abhors vampires, but is one himself. #fangirl4lyf

Actually, this sort of mood is great to write a new story that I just started writing. I haven’t written anything (well non school related) in months, so I’m really excited about this. This is the first thing that I have written without it tying in with any fanfictions, which is an achievement. It’s a period gothic inspired story which I’m rather fond of.

It’s true that writing stuff - well in this case typing – down actually helps to make you feel better. So smell ya later.