The moment I saw this photo session in the April issue of Shoxx, I fell in love with this coat, and REALLY want to get in touch with Shou to see where he got it/ who designed it:I'm not really too sure what's going on, but the one thing I can see it TEXTURE. As if it's been harshly embossed with pyramid studs or something. And I love how the look is all dressy and he finishes it off with a cool pair of converse-like sneakers. Also, here's Nao, the drummer, rocking a particularly awesome military look:
And the hair!! Is this red hair a new trend in the VK world? We've already seen this with D=Out! Not sure if this is celebrating a new PV, but I do know they had a complete collection released recently! Way to go Alice Nine!
Overall, the entire shoot is pretty awesome! Another thing I particularly like about the entire shoot was the background they created, as if in some sort of Neo-igloo. Calls to mind Karl Lagerfeld's EPIC presentation for Chanel Winter 2010-2011. Um...you know, the one with the REAL glacier in the middle, that was freezing cold and the models had to walk through a pool of water?
Doesn't get much better than this. Images found in Shoxx and Google Image Search.
New Japanese bands every month in the summer? Count me in!
If you like j-rock and currently live in the US, chances are you go to any event you can get your hands on cause...well... they're pretty few and far between as of now. If anything, they're mostly concentrated on the West Coast. So any event is worth going to, to explore new bands and support j-rock in the US. It's important to let people know we're out there!
I just found out about an even called J-Summit NY, that according to Kazen ni Jrick Article Blog, is going to be going on every month at Webster Hall, starting this Sunday. If anyone's in the area, it's worth checking out.
Ok, so at first glance you're like, whaaaaaaaat? Isn't that an instrumental song the GazettE does at every major concert? Why yes it is, except well...it's Rockers, not Wrockers. So those who know about both might be a bit confused with what Visual Kei and Wizard Rock could possibly have in common, except maybe the music itself, and an unconventional way of dressing.
Well, not to much really, but I think it brings up a couple of interesting points on how certain fads, or trends, grow and evolve from, and with each other. Fashion and music are NO strangers, in any genre or culture, and probably goes back as far as time can tell. Perfomances are meant to take the audience somewhere else, whether that be visually or musically.
I discovered the concept of "Wizard Rock" not that long ago, although having been an avid reader of Harry Potter for a long time. Unbeknown to me, kids everywhere were picking up guitars for the first time and rocking out to HP, serenading Slytherin and rapping to Remus Lupin. This was awesome. It was the ultimate expression of fandom. And in the greatest sense of fashion every, if you're going to sing like a wizard, you kind of have to dress like one too.
Still have to find this movie!
Anyway, point being, fashion, music, and the fandoms it creates are cyclical in the best sense. For example, without those critical bands including X Japan and Malice Mizer, would we see Visual Kei as it is today? Maybe something similar (Lady Gaga is certainly chanelling a similar spirit), but without Mana, would we have Gothic Lolita in all its breadth and forms? Maybe, but maybe not.
And consider the fashion/music empire of h.Naoto. Apart from his multiple lines, he is also extremely involved in music projects like Hangry and Angry, for which all the clothes are his (not the mention the mascots!) His lines are intertwined with Visual Kei in more ways than I can count; just watch:
In any case, you get the idea. Wherever there's music, there's a voice to be heard, both in what you hear and what you see. It's a pretty simple concept, with countless examples in every musical time and genre, but each example is worth mentioning.
I'm not really too sure what's going on, but the one thing I can see it TEXTURE. As if it's been harshly embossed with pyramid studs or something. And I love how the look is all dressy and he finishes it off with a cool pair of converse-like sneakers. Also, here's Nao, the drummer, rocking a particularly awesome military look:
And the hair!! Is this red hair a new trend in the VK world? We've already seen this with D=Out! Not sure if this is celebrating a new PV, but I do know they had a complete collection released recently! Way to go Alice Nine!
