NEWMUSICMONDAY: Indie, Local and Instrumental.

Well good morning all! Its a new week, and it is a Monday.
I find that a lot of people detest and resent Mondays, but recently I found this image from just surfing the world wide web and though this is a perfect way to change all that.

I personally love Mondays, I feel like its giving me a fresh start to begin my new week, a new habit and new trends. And fittingly I am starting to optimise my blog by posting a regular feature on Amped+Dangerous: New Music Mondays. 

This week brings us four new artists that I have found through my endless search for new music. And I have been heavily loving instrumentals/experimentals and very nuevo jazz stuff. Its chilled out music and can sometimes be a little eerie. My love for this type of music comes from listening to Gotye, Mark Ronson, dubstep, RJD2, and so on. I find that music with a complicated instrumental section and not much lyrics really makes me calm. I also feel that most of this type of music are mostly in minor chords (oh yeah.. here comes my knowledge of Grade 11 and 12 music). I love me some minor chords. Especially when writers use minor chords and the song still sounds happy. :)

Where do I go hunting for new music?
Quite frankly everywhere... I do a lot of digging and listening. The way I look at it is that there are tons and tons of new and FREE music on the net that you can search for. Its like any good research, and I am very good at researching and finding new info - I kind of have to be in order to be ahead of the rest. And once you find that one band/song/album that you love listening to.. you're hooked to keep looking for more on the net.

I do a lot of Youtubing and blog reading. If you love some good old Hip Hop - definitely check out Good Good Blog. This girl is so amazing and has some siiiiiiick music taste. I also know for a fact that Dee loves The Hype Machine as much as I do. I also found a new blog; This Bonus Track. I love what these boys are about. Spreading the love of new music for everyone to enjoy. So if you love any of these Indie genres definitely go and check these guys out.

1. GUTS - The Livin Aint Easy
A very talented French band, who I found whilst searching through one of my favourites outlets for new music: Hype Machine. And then I read more about them at This Bonus Track. This song uses a sample from Summertime, which is one of my all time favourite songs. This version is so hip and cool. The Guts are very hard to find so try searching other blogs for more of the band's material. Their other stuff is also very very cool if you like this one. They also have a new album coming out soon called The Stomach. Cant wait to get my hands on it.

RIGHT CLICK AND OPEN IN A NEW TAB

its a quick time file :)

2. BONOBO - KONG
Oh wow, what can I say but that I am absolutely in love with this song. It could be because it reminds me of a favourite Tamil song of mine.. but it could also be because of it smooth melody and perfect rhythm. The song has like perfect timing of all the instruments.. but still is able to tell a story without any lyrics. It even has a splendid build up to its bridge. Okay enough.. just listen to it. Bonobo is from the UK and has a lengthy portfolio. I believe he is a DJ, but more on the production side of things.. all his songs are just crazy chilled out, something you would love to have playing while the rain tap tap taps on your window. The steaming tea/mocha on the side doesn't hurt either. My other favourite from Bonobo is Ketto. 

3. BEDROOM SANCTUARY - Lagu
Bedroom Sanctuary are a Malaysian Indie piece who have melodies that would make angels fall from the sky. It doesn't hurt that the lead singer also has one of the smoothest voices I have heard since Sinatra. He also has a killer set of hair. Lol, anyway.. Lagu translated from Malay to English is simply: Song. And thats exactly what this song is all about. Its simple, catchy and makes me wanna bop along every time I hear it. The band is based in KL, Malaysia but have also travelled to Australia for some gigs. The band seems to be a underground favourite overseas and is slowly building an immense fan base. This man also performs under several different aliases. Bo, Amir Iqram, Mr. Fluff, Bo Amir Iqram. Crazy. Myspace / Youtube

4. jj - Still
jj, are a Swedish band whom I have never heard of until last week lol. This song is so, oh so pretty. And that is all I know people. But I do have some links where you can check out some of their other stuff. Last.fm / Wiki. They have been cited as one of the most elusive bands known on the scene now.

SO I HOPE YOU HAVE A LOVELY MONDAY, AND HAVE FOUND SOME NEW MUSIC LIKES AND SOME NEW SITES TO GO AND SEACH FOR :)

THANKS FOR READING, AND SEE YA SOON GANG!

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Lah Lah Land Bazaar: Jewellery and Vintage Clothing Galore

LAH LAH LAH.
No, I am not Ke$ha'ing it up.
I am simply happy from my little trip to Lah' Lah' Lands Global Business Park Bazaar that happened today at Petaling Jaya.

The ubiquitous word lah ([lɑ́] or [lɑ̂]), is a Malaysian colloquialism  used at the end of a sentence, can also be described as a particle that simultaneously asserts a position and entices solidarity.

Lah Lah Land itself is sort of a hybrid of an online boutique, blog, fashion movers and shakers and event organisers. I found out about their fashion festival/bazaar through their blog here. And can I just say it was sooooo cool.

The jist of it?
They hired out a big hall and got vintage boutiques, online fashion boutiques, fashion bloggers, designers, thrifters - pretty much anyone from the world of thrifting and vintage shopping to set up shop. And the people of Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya came and shopped :)
If I compared it, it was basically the Malaysian Suitcase Rummage, except in air conditioning and with amazing music blasting.

There were ornate and vintage jewellery. There was newly polished handbags and those with worn leather straps and YSL badges. Lah Lah also got vendors with some reallllly old school vintage clothing.

 

Saw some amazingly well dressed people, some ridiculously good quality vintage items.. I tried to ask some of the vendors where they get the stuff. But they were on to me...they weren't giving away their gold mines to nobody. And of course I bought some stuff. And the  price for most of the stuff being sold were actually so reasonably priced. None of this trying to rip you off stuff that happens in Brisbane.


Vintage clothing is only just taking off here in Malaysia/Kuala Lumpur. So you can still get your hands on some very good quality stuff at bargain prices. Its like how they used to be. What I bought:

Vintage Military Envelope Purse (RM50 = AUD$20)

 Adorable Leaf Earrings (RM5.90 = AUD$2)

 Feather Earrings (RM8.90 = AUD$3)

I went with my beautiful cousin, where I got her a shirt and we tried on heaps of jewellery. And ended the day with some delicious cupcakes.

 

linkage
for more information on the event and its vendors.
1. Lah Lah Land: blog / facebook
2. Bee Yin: She had some real one of a kind jewellery and a look that is so unique (especially for a resident KL'er) and her blog shop here.
3. Small Porcupine: where I got my gorgeous, ridiculously priced earrings from.
4. Zikkos: They were such nice girls (they gave me a voucher code for their store YAY), and were rocking some of their pretty jewellery, loved the head bracelet.

Hopefully it was as much a success for you Lah Lah kids as it was for me. Cause I am sure that this should be a monthly event!

kazz, ☮ + xo.
amped+dangerous.

2011: Well planned, rebranded and optimised.

The magic number for resolutions seems to be 4.
But this year I have 3. And another 3 for Amped+Dangerous specifically.
They are a bit more abstract this year, so hopefully I can still stick to them as good as last years, which you can read all about here. I surprisingly followed through on all four, and they have stuck with me through to 2011 too.

1. SAVING FOR A NEW YORK CITY TRIP FOR 2012.
It is time that I do something about my dream to fly across the skies and plant myself in New York City, New York. For the resolution to work, I need to do some research on how much I am going to need and how feasable is my idea of staying there for at least one to one and half months. Thats the ultimate timeframe. And it seams 2012 is the year to travel. Most of my close friends are all jet setting to different parts of the world. As most of us graduate at the end of this year :)
....Oh yeah! I graduate this year :D

2. FREELANCE MORE + LEARN HOW TO ASK FOR MONEY $$$
I already do some freelance jobs but I intend to increase that. Like I said, I graduate this year, so I want to gain more work experience. More to the point that my CV/Resume looks ridiculous. I have been so lucky that 2010 brought me amazing opportunities in the fashion industry. I would love to continue all that and do more in Entertainment + Media. However one issue I have been having at the moment with my freelance gigs is that I feel so uncomfortable in asking people money for my services. I know my ideas are good, and I am very very good at what I do. So I feel like I am justified in getting paid.. I just need to learn how to ask for money :S As blunt as that sounds.
I received one great advice:

"You just need to go for it! Ask for such a ridiculous amount that you think they will turn you down for. And you will actually find out that they will agree to pay that amount anyway".  Juan Martitegui from MindValey in Malaysia. 

3. BE MORE PATIENT...

SPECIFICALLY RELATING TO AMPED+DANGEROUS
As I guess, if youre reading this, you intend to know how I am about to up my game for 2011.

1. A COMPLETE REDESIGN
I got myself an external hard drive, and now am waiting to grab myself the new Photoshop suite. Then all I need is a scanner - cause while I am waiting for my photoshop.. I have been free drawing most of the designs.


2. STUDYING TO MAKE IT A BETTER BLOG 
I have already started.. words like SEO, branding, monetizing, AdSense, optimization has already changed the way I look at my blog, and the way I am using blogger. :)

3. CONSTANT CONTENT
As advised by the genius Jason Manley himself. But of course the content needs to apply.


HOPE YOUR NEW YEAR BRINGS YOU MANY OPPORTUNITIES AND HAPPINESS.
IF YOU WANNA JOIN MY NEW YORK PARTY, LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW ;)


kazz, ☮ + xo.
amped+dangerous.

Guess Shoes, Iced Teas and nose rings in Kuala Lumpur

I am sitting here at my grandparents house, a quintessential, wood paneled walls and granite floors, Malaysian home blogging on my Mac and drinking an Iced Lime Tea or a Teh O' Ice Limau. If someone were to take a photo of me right now, it would be the perfect balance that is my hometown Kuala Lumpur  (KL).

I am here in KL for the next month and a half, and though I make this pilgrimage every year, this time around my trip back has been one of the longest. Therefore, I am here to just relax and do everyday things. Well an Amped+Dangerous version of everyday activities. These consist of:

A bit of lounging around, watching a lot of movies (I need to catch up on my Tamil cinema), shopping, driving. And this is only the start of it. The good times are about to roll in the next couple of weeks! My amazing friends, Chloe and her sister Kirsten are coming down to KL town for a visit. So, I cant wait to show off this city to them! Plus some of my family members are coming to visit during an important Hindu ceremony/holiday: Thaipoosam. I am hoping to bring my EOS along for that one. But it will be tough.

I have been weirdly taking photos of movies, I like how it turns out.

 I just loved Raavanan starring Aishwarya Rai and Vikram, and the cinematography for this movie is like mind blowingly genius. Check out the trailer << Seriously although you might not understand the dialogue.. you just need to check it out. 

Shopping: KL is one of my favourite places to shop. Suria KLCC being at the top of the list. Because for its variety and abundance of shops. The exchange rate also doesn't hurt. Although I have been having to save my money for my Bali trip which is coming at the end of this month.. I cant wait for that! I have sufficed some of my shopping cravings, new shoes (a pair of Guess, a present from father) and DVDs but I am still on the hunt for a polaroid camera for my cousin. Apparently they are pretty cheap here.. and if the rumours are true - I am getting one. Um.. I also have had to buy a new suitcase cause I have just wayyy to much stuff. Crazy.

 Guess Shoes, they were MYR$100 - so around AUD$30-$40. Also my DIY knitted flower ring, more on that here. And of course the BB. 

Check out the vintage light switch :)

I also managed to get through a 3 hour ordeal of getting my nose ring changed. I wont bore you with the crazy details. But basically I wanted to get a new nose ring and it ended up that I had to get one custom made and it had to be pierced into my nose about 4 times. And honey, this is KL and I come from a traditional Indian family.. so we did it the old school way. There was blood and there was pain. But I love the result.

These just some Photobooth pictures, I just cant get my EOS to take a pic of my nose ring.

AND NOW MY ICED TEA IS FINISHED. 
GOING FOR ANOTHER ROUND.
HAVE A GREAT WEEK PEOPLE. 

kazz, ☮+ xo.
amped+dangerous.

MTV's The American SKINS!

Looks very very disappointing.

Happy New Year Gang! Hope your New Year Eve was amazing, did you get dressed up and party like it was 2010?

As we head into January 2011, I and many other have been feverishly anticipating the Americanised version of Skins being premiered by MTV in the end of January 2011. Heres the trailer. For more hardcore fans, we would have seen this back in October 2010. But I haven't seen it being passed around here in the Australian webesphere.

MTV Shows

Got the video of Perez's site. And he is right - the show looks like a major copy of the original series. From the characters, to the styling and the blatant NO NAME CHANGES. Its literally a carbon copy of the original Skins with American actors thrown in. Well, except for the fact that MTV changed one of the characters. Maxxie is no longer, MTV has changed the popular gay character to a lesbian counterpart.

Its The Office controversy.. all over again.
I honestly do not undertand why they just remade it? The original Skins was amazing. Nothing needed to change. So I definitely get why MTV just Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V (copy and paste). But it wasn't like the original series was in different language so that the American audience couldn't understand it?? I just don't get it.

It was actually painful to watch this trailer. Anyone else hear a faint/fake English accent in some of the characters in the trailer? Its creeeeeping me out.

I really wanna hope that this is just for the first episode, and that they just get some screenwriters in there, before MTV goes in the red for this series. It will not sell, it wont have the same hype that the original Skins series has. I am guessing this is all that MTV is chasing. 

kazz, ☮+ xo.
amped+dangerous.