Maark Abeenir, the 18 years old designer of Pretty Hipster, feels a little bit like a celebrity. “I’m still an amateur. I haven’t had any training and I’m still in high school, but I feel so grateful when people contact me for photo shoots. It makes me feel like I can do something people can appreciate.”

Abeenir started getting into fashion design in Grade 9. “I was so interested in Project Runway, and I thought  I should try to do this, but I never studied for it.” Bishop McNally, Abeenir’s high school, currently does not have Fashion in its curriculum.  ”I just do it. I just sew something and  start building up, building up.” According to Abeenir and his accessories assistant, Emily, Abeenir had built up over a hundred pieces!

Pretty Hipster does not have collections based on seasons or themes. This young designer works on his fashion piece by piece. “I didn’t think it would get this big. Now, I’m getting nervous about it,” says Abeenir with a smile. “I am going to make a spring collection, though. There will be florals, hi-lows…I like making hi-lo dresses – it saves on fabric. I know, I’m cheap,” says Abeenir, “but I spend all my pay checks buying fabrics! Designing is what makes me happy. Some parents say, ‘you should stop playing video games’, but my mom says, ‘you have to stop sewing!’”

“I just look at Vogue and get inspired,” says Abeenir. Abeenir also finds his inspirations from role models like Alexander McQueen, Emma Watson, and the Royal Family - “I just love their styles”.

On the side, Abeenir works with his dad in renovations and says it has really helped with his fashion. “I learned how to measure and work with geometry. I always design in my head first – figuring out the pieces and what I need to add.”

Pretty Hipster is a ready-to-wear couture fashion line centred around confidence. “I can make people feel confident, so they don’t have to be afraid of what they’re wearing,” says Abeenir. “I used to have low confidence”, Abeenir admits, “but now, I feel blessed with this talent and I feel like I have to share it.”

Elle Nguyen || Images Courtesy of AYuen.Photo

He We Go Magic released their second album “A Different Ship” last week. Follow up to 2010 “Pigeons.” There is a growth in the band between the two albums. The band was sought out by Nigel Godrich (Radiohead) after performing at Glastonbury Festival. The best part of the Nigel Godrich and Here We Go Magic union, as stated in their bio, the band was performing hung-over, before noon and the crowd wasn’t giving them anything to work with. Two guys were rocking out in the front of the crowd,Temple decided that he was playing for them, and then realized it was Thom Yorke, and Nigel Godrich.

I spoke on the phone with drummer Peter Hale at the end of April about the upcoming record the band was just heading back from their rehearsal place, they had taking some time off after recording “A Different Ship.” The had only played the new material live once Dessert Bay, a festival in California and wanted to make sure that “We just needed to rediscover the record, and a lot of the old stuff too. So they all sound cohesive live.”

When I ask Hale if work with Godrich open doors that Here We Go Magic he told me “He is a real engineer, a lot of producers, I have been told don’t really do the dirty work. He really gets in there, and is really responsible for the actual sound of the record. He makes it so beautiful and with a lot of depth, that’s a result of him knowing how to record music. He is the first person that we really let inside our circle creatively who is not in the band.” The results of working with Godrich is a 42 minute music journey. It paid off letting Godrich in the Magic creative circle to have someone push the band to open the doors to places they have never gone.

“A Different Ships” was unexpected after “Pigeons”, the opportunity to work with Nigel Godrich isn’t one that you have to think about too long, or let pass by. “The making of it had such a funny, somewhat romantic and idiosyncratic birth; I don’t think any of us at one point where like we’re going to make the best thing ever! We actually felt a lot of pressure, so I don’t know what expectation we had. Personally, I am more proud of it then anything I have ever done.”

“Hard to Be Close” is the first track (beside the intro), there is the element of folk that Luke Temple still possessions, and it very presence on this track. He sing the “it’s hard to be close sometimes” and the vocal slow back off symbolizing what he is singing in the song.

“Make Up Your Mind”, brings the bass and guitar sound that I loved about  The Police. I asked Hale is there was any influences from Sting or The Police on the new album, “You’re not the first person that said that (about the Police), and we have no answer. But influences are all in there somewhere.”

“How Do I Know” is the first single, along with a great music video that involves a robot at first you think that it might be a girlfriend, but at the end it is more a dance partner, because the guy in the video girlfriend is in a wheelchair. That is one thing that Here We Go Magic never fails to do, they make music videos that make you go what the fuck is going on here. At the end of the video for “Casual,” Peter Hale has a full frontal, that is one thing that I keep thinking about when we first started talking.

“A Different Ship” is something to be proud of, Here We Go Magic took themselves out of their comfort zone, and let someone else take the reins for bit, and it helped them create a lovely sounding album that took them out of their element. They should be pleased as punch.

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Seven years ago, Jen Maslak, co-owner of Catalaya Floral Designs and Gifts, helped transform a meagerly decorated community flower shop into a trendy flower haven filled with gorgeous arrangements, cute crafts, and fashion accessories for all ages. Catalaya Floral Designs and Gifts is a hidden gem tucked away in the community of Hidden Valley. “We wanted to bring in a bit of downtown to the outer areas without the high downtown prices”, says Maslak, “and we do everything – every type of floral design. Every floral shop showcases their day-to-day arrangements and wedding decor, but I want to show that we do other things – fresh or artificial designs for costumes, hair pieces, accessories, etc.”.

What makes Catalaya so special?
“We go the extra mile for our customers,” says Maslak. On one occasion, Maslak has gone out of town late at night, so a man could give his girlfriend a single rose! “We don’t have a minimum for deliver. If other stores won’t take your order, chances are we will. We will do our best.”

“People are looking for stuff that is unique and not mass-produced”, says Maslak. That’s why Maslak dove into the fashion industry and now dresses fashionistas with day-to-day floral accessories. “I can make them look like jewelry using fresh or artificial flowers and still make them look fashionable”.

According to Maslak, it’s all about the weight of the arrangement and the type of flowers used for hair pieces and jewelry. “I always recommend calla lilies and orchids. I’d be careful with quite a few others for weight – you don’t want anything really heavy. To add colour, I would bring it in with accents – ribbons, gems, feathers, and beads.”

Maslak finds her inspirations from fashion magazines. “I’m a fashion magazine nut. I pull out the pages of everything that inspires me. When I see a dress I like,  I think to myself – I can make a hair piece like that”. Customers, however, are not limited to what Catalaya carries in store. Catalaya is open to custom orders for arrangements of any kind. “It’s rare that I make something twice”, Maslak exclaims, “I always want to make one-of-a-kind pieces for my customers”.

Hair Pieces by Catalaya

Catalaya carries little hair pieces for $5 – perfect for trendy children, but more sophisticated items start at $10 and incorporate more expensive  fresh or artificial flowers and arrangements. Headbands with signature Catalaya arrangements can be purchased for $20 and up.

Jewelry by Catalaya

Fashionistas can find or order custom Catalaya jewelry for $20 and up, depending on the materials used.

… and more…

Accessories are not the only fashion items that Catalaya offers. “I pretty much do all the crafts.” Besides the arrangements, hair pieces, and jewelry, “the gift bags and cards are all handmade, and I take custom orders for them, as well, for any occasion”.

On top of all her talents, Maslak also creates fantastic masks for decor or play. “There’s not a real market in Calgary for custom masks,” says Maslak. “So, I make one-of-a-kind pieces with fresh or artificial flowers that are still inexpensive.”

Even kids’ accessories are not safe from Maslak’s fashion powers. First spotted at Ruby Ellen’s “Walking in Sunshine” event, cute hair clips were instantly swiped up by happy customers. “Do you know how many little girls would love these?”, says RJ MacDonald, a customer who picked up a handful of clips for his daughter. He believes that these adorable accessories are worth a lot more than what Maslak is selling them for. “They should be available at all the salons for moms to pick up for their daughters, ” says MacDonald with a genuine smile.

For more information, visit Catalaya.ca.

Elle Nguyen || Images Courtesy of Fela Photography

Everyone remembers what a success April’s Runway Monthly was – and if you don’t – you won’t want to make the same mistake twice.

“but off the boat they stayed awhile then scattered across the coast, once a year I’ll see them for a week or so at most”

Passion Pit! Passion Pit! Passion Pit started with a string of songs that Michael Angelakos for his girlfriend on Valentine’s Day. Be still all of our hearts, what a guy. Making girls want him and guys hate him for making them look bad. It’s almost 4 years since the release of “Manners.” Which was probably the soundtrack to a lot peoples summers, it looks like 2012 summer soundtracks will have Passion Pit in the mix. “Take a Walk” was released this week, and I have a feeling that PP won’t be disappointing us with their sophomore album. “Take A Walk” will put a hop into your Thursday, it’s upbeat, and catchy in Passion Pit pure fashion! Enjoy!
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May 7^{th, 2012} Great Lake Swimmers played at the sweat box known as Central United Church downtown, not the Knox Church where I went first. Cold Specks opened armed with just a guitar. She took the time to joke with the audience with some cannibal jokes. “What’s the meaning of trust?” I heard a woman behind me whisper “Oh, that is a really great question.” The room went silence waiting enlighten with her wisdom, “one cannibal giving another cannibal a blowjob.” I tell you, church humor gets me every time.

 Great Lake Swimmers are touring to support their last album New Wild Everywhere. All GLS albums stay true to their Canadian roots, and their live shows are no expectations. Dressed in flannel, with the new addition of fiddler and singer Miranda Mulholland, Tony Dekker was thoughtful and charming as the lead man to the show. Erik Arnesen puckled away on the banjo, Bret Higgins played the upright bass and mandolin, and Greg Milson on drums.

 Majority of their 80 minute set was showcasing New Wild Everywhere, Dekker did reach into the vault to give the band a couple song breathier with performing solo “Moving Picture Silent Films” off their 2004 self titled, along with “I Saw You in the Wild” off 2005’s “Body and Minds.” One thing that was apparent Dekker’s vocal were soothing to the ears. “My Rocky Spine” had all the crowd clapping and singing along.

 The Great Swimmers lyrical seemed to have moved backwards from the strong lyrics at start of their career. The live show is nothing but perfection, besides the poor view from the second level from theCentralUnitedChurch, and the heat that almost had me fanning myself like a 50 year old, everything sounds better in churches, except religion.

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I have been trying to apply the motto that parents taught their children growing up, “if you don’t have anything to nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” I’ve only had to walk out of a couple things in my life, first was Bob Dylan in 2002, I decided that I prefered to watch M. Night Shamayla’s “Signs” instead of trying to figure out what Bob Dylan was saying or singing. “The Grudge,” this was a free movie as well. Then last Tuesday, Neon Indian. Don’t get me wrong, my love of Neon Indian is still 100% intact, but after 6 songs my ears couldn’t handle it. The first song the static was unbelievable, this lead into the worst feedback I have heard in a live show. It drowned Alan Palomo vocals, and made me wish I brought ear plugs.

The stage prescene was there, Alan exchanging high fives with the crowd. I had a couple other people I knew in the crowd that loved the show. There is a part of me that blames myself for not shuffle around to find a better place to stand. One of our writers Sarah Little was there, and I asked her to write up a couple things for me on her take of the show.

Amidst the fog and flashing lights engulfing the crowd, Neon Indian took the stage last night at the Republik.  Following Silent Diane and Lemonade, the night carried the air of 80’s revival from floor to stage.  Alan, lead vocals for Neon Indian, graced the stage with such confidence and took the energy in the room soaring through their set.  The true talent these guys embody shines through on stage, and they sound as if you are playing a Neon Indian record (the most crisp, pure way to enjoy music). 

 My favorite part of the show was the way lead vocals Alan Palomo, danced around the stage (very Molly Ringwald circa The Breakfast Club) with such inhibition and freedom while rocking the keyboard.  The set, I felt, was very inspired, allowing the crowd in that moment to be whoever they wanted to be.  This is the vibe I generally get while listening to Neon Indian, let it be about the moment, the music and the person you feel you are on the inside and celebrate it all at the same time.

 Neon Indian played a fantastic show, covering many of their crowd – pleasing favorites including Polish Girl and Deadbeat Summer.  The fan following for these fine young gents is quite impressive as I found that they are new news to a lot of people withinCalgary.  Their songs are ones you want to crank while in the shower, while driving and pretty much any given time you want a little extra pep in your step!”

A friend of mine, Adam Goring (drummer for Calgary’s own Run Romeo Run) and I were texting back and forth, he was having the same issue with the feedback, but he soon moved to the dance floor. He said “the highs are killing me. Sound guys ears must be blown out. Sound great from the dance floor.” He also liked the stage performance the band gave as well.

 Another friend and local Calgary artist, Ashleigh Bartlett, had this to say “While the overarching feel of the show was interesting, the vocals were masked by an enormous muffle of static. Strings of noise overlapped and battled with the acoustics of the room. If Neon Indian had played any of my favorite songs (I should have taken acid with you, Psychic Chasms, Polish Girl) they fell into a fog and I couldn’t make out one song to the next. The band engaged the audience through movement, dancing, clapping, and bright lights, but this collision of sound forced me and many others out of the venue early. A live performance that served for the eyes rather than the ears.”

Numerous twitters, instagram, and facebook updates also made me start thinking this was a case of “It’s not you Neon Indian, it’s me. But I still want you in my life.”

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Thanks to Sarah, Adam, and Ashleigh for their take on the show.

Adam Yauch (1964-2012)

Right after I posted the song of the day I found out that Adam Yauch of The Beastie Boys passed away. He was diagnosed in 2009 with a tumor in his salivary glands. He underwent surgery and radiation treatment. Further more, he took on a strict vegan diet and ancient Chinese medicines. I honestly didn’t realize he was still fighting for his right to live, I thought he was cancer free.

Yauch was only 47 years old, and what hit me hard was that my Dad had a simaliar cancer in 2004. Stage 4, a tumor on the base of his tongue. He underwent treatment, and has been cancer free since 2005.

The Beastie Boys were introduced to me by a babysitter named Jill. I must have been 10 years old. The only music I really knew of was the stuff my parents let me listen to, and The Beastie Boys weren’t on the same playing field as Amy Grant. I was working a coat check with her at an event. My parents put me to work at a young age, the tip jar at coat check keep me in BOP magazines and 1 cent candies. This was about the time III Communication came out. Jill had brought a CD player with her and just had got the album. We listen to it all night; it was completely foreign to me. I think the only rap song I had heard was Run DMC and Aerosmith “Walk This Way.”

There were a couple things that came from hearing “III Communication.”

            -“Sabotage” is to this day one of the best music videos of all time. In fact at a Halloween Party this year, a couple guys dressed up as the Beasties from that video and all I wanted was to be their friends all night. It was a brilliant costume idea. If you watch the video now, they were Jackasses before Johnny Knoxville.

            -My love of punk rock stems from the track “Heart AttackMan.” I loved loved loved this song, the last song I would think today I would enjoy from an ab, but from the intro where I am sure the boys are stoned I loved it. The guitar was fast and dirty, the vocals were grimy and distorted.

            -Then there is “Sure Shot” the best song with a flute in it, and a dog intro.

“Hello Nasty” was released when I was in High School. I had forgotten about the Boys until then, but looking back they hadn’t released anything since “III Communcations”. A pot smoking friend loved them, myself, her and her boyfriend would drive around Calgary smoking weed and listening to “Hello Nasty.” I have a big soft spot for “The Move.”

Everyone is going to have something to say about what MCA and Beastie Boys meant to them and this is just a little bit of what he meant to me. I could write for days all the memories this group has given me, but I just wanted to keep it short. The Beastie Boys were a revoltion, they stood for the human race to be equal, women’s right, and buddist lifestyle. They meant something.

All I know is I have to drive to Rockies after work, and Beastie Boys will be the soundtrack to drive.

Rest Easy MCA

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“Something not alright here! What is it missing?”

Couple of friends of mine saw Foster the People last October in Las Vegas. A band called Reptar opened for them; they didn’t have anything really to say about the band except they weren’t into the performance. I gave “Oblangle Fizz Y’all” a couple listen and moved on pretty quickly, with the exceptions of the song “Rainbounce.”

There’s been a lot of music blog talk about this band though, and I knew I was missing something. “Body Faucet” was release this week; “Orifice Origami” has been my favorite track off the album. The background vocals remind me of “Oh Yeah (Yello Song),” you know, Ferris Bueller’s theme song.

This album has made a great impression on me. Graham Ulicny vocals have a hint of Vampire Weekend in them, the music is a cross between pogo-pop-power and college radio station trendy music, press play a prepare to dance.

Click to buy Body Faucet

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This likely duo is unknown outside their group friends. Lindsay and That Guy, have known each since Lindsay was born (not related, but might as well be). They don’t play live, can’t think of a name (Dead Pets is pending), and Lindsay rarely practices. She recently just finished her 4 years at ACAD, while he disappeared to Kenora, to build stuff to make some money until June. Don’t expect to see them live, but they do have a couple tracks on bandcamp that you can download, and their songs are creative and catchy to the ear in a Moldy Peaches kind of way.

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