Category: Features
Vine Sensation: Us the Duo
If you know anything about Vine, you know its many uses. Whether they are used for making a funny dance craze popular, showing short clips of the news, or just you and your friends saying hey to the world, those six seconds can end up being the beginning of something amazing.
This is nothing short of the truth for Vine couple, Us the Duo. This husband-and-wife duo, Michael and Carissa, are among the most popular Viners with 4 million followers for their six-second covers of popular songs, recently including Naughty Boy’s “La La La” ft. Sam Smith.
The couple call themselves “pop-folk songwriters,” and their music, vocals, and instrumentals live up to that. The couple has a sound that isn’t really familiar, but you love it either way.
Through Vine, the duo gained a wider audience and made fans out of people who may not have known them for their earlier videos on YouTube. Both are musicians (if you couldn’t tell) and married after releasing their first self-titled album in 2012. Their second album, No Matter Where You Are, was re-released this past May and made it’s way to the top 10 on iTunes. The couple has continued making a name for itself since, performing at weddings, going on tours, and much more.
They even have a show tomorrow in Newark, New Jersey! Their set is a part of the Oprah’s The Life You Want Weekend and will be held at the Prudential Center. Tickets are available here.
To listen to more of Us the Duo, check out their Spotify.
Five Country Artists for People Who Hate Country Music
The country genre holds a considerable portion of songs that top charts nationwide. It’s easy (for me, at least) to scoff at every artist that falls under the label of a country artist, even for frequent listeners of the genre. Stereotypically, if a song is in this category, it must revolve around alcohol, tailgates, and girls in “painted on jeans.” Every so often, an artist comes along to break this tradition.
1. Eric Church
Eric Church has been stretching the boundaries of country music since he released his debut album, “Sinners Like Me,” in 2006. He is one of the few artists who writes all of his own material. In fact, there seems to be no subject that Church won’t write about. His songs range from a man on death row (“Lightning”) to reminiscing on a memorable concert (“Springsteen”) and every subject in between. Church even goes so far as to call out phony country artists, singing “If it looks good on TV, it’ll look good on a CD/Shape it up, trim it down/Who gives a damn about how it sounds?” in “A Lot of Boot Left to Fill.”
His most recent album The Outsiders arguably belongs under the rock genre, rather than country. Electric guitar solos, honest lyrics, and even a song titled “That’s Damn Rock ‘N’ Roll” are what set this album apart.
2. Kacey Musgraves
Kacey Musgraves defies the common traits found in the genre. She didn’t win a Grammy for nothing.
With her song, “Follow Your Arrow,” she sings about gay rights, religion, and double standards that plague our society. These concepts aren’t indicative of any genre, especially country. Musgraves is honest and unafraid to cover topics any artist would shy away from. Much like Church, she also writes her own music. She sings of life in a small town, most notably in “Merry Go ‘Round,” and the trouble with working a horrible job in “Blowin’ Smoke.” Her lyrics prove she is wise beyond her years, even though she’s only 26.
3. Frankie Ballard
Frankie Ballard is a newcomer to the genre, releasing his first No. 1 single, “Helluva Life,” just earlier this year. His debut album was listed on Rolling Stone’s “The 26 Albums of 2014 You Probably Didn’t Hear But Really Should Hear.” His bluesy voice carries through the album with the spirit and determination of someone who’s been paying his dues for a long time now. Like any good artist, Ballard’s lyrics are relatable. In “Helluva Life,” he sings, “Bad times make the good times better,” a line fans have memorized and repeatedly sing back to him at shows. The climb to the top may have taken 10 years, but Ballard isn’t going anywhere.
4. The Cadillac Three
The Cadillac Three is a group country fans have unknowingly heard. Lead singer Jaren Johnston, has written songs for Keith Urban, Tim McGraw, Jake Owen, and Rascal Flatts. There is no doubt the band has awesome material for songs and, with an array of authentic instruments, they are unstoppable. Having just signed with a label in 2013, the band has been hard at work releasing singles and touring. The band sticks to their roots, singing about what they know with songs like “The South” and “Days of Gold.” With only three band members, the complexity and all-out recklessness of their music is mind-blowing.
5. Little Big Town
Little Big Town has gained momentum since their release of “Boondocks” in 2005. The group is comprised of the original four members who formed in 1998. All members alternate on lead vocals, avoiding much of the conflict that can occur in any music group. LBT’s music fluctuates from emotional ballads to kick-back-and-enjoy songs, such as their first No. 1 single, “Pontoon.” The group is a hot commodity, being featured on many artists’ songs, like Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe, and David Nail.
Do Seasonal Fashion Rules Still Exist?
Climate change has been a hot topic in our nation since the whole Al Gore scandal of 2004. However, is seeing the effects of climate change influencing our fashion decisions?
Some of the hottest trends of this Fall include colorful rave prints, business cozy a la sportswear, and traditionally summery trends melted into the crisper winter months (see all white well after Labor Day, y’all).
Street stylers and influencers from LA to NY are rocking these springier trends this Fall, and with the arrival of 60’s and 70’s-inspired silhouettes in the Spring/Summer 2015 collections coupled with dark and warm color palettes, we have to wonder…are our fashion seasons shifting, too?
Thanks to celebs like Cara Delevingne and Miley Cyrus, along with the music festival fashion obsession and the resurrection of 90’s bold color prints, the rave scene look is in full swing. Companies like Lazy Oaf’s and Urban Outfitters have used this influx of 90’s counter culture to their advantage, profiting on the demand for these prints and grunge-inspired looks.
While grunge is very Fall, loud bold prints are more closely associated with the Spring equinox or Summer solstice. As the consumer drives the fashion cycle forward (or should I say backwards?), these trends are picking up on the runways.
In last spring’s Fall/Winter 2014 shows, we saw bright colors and bold prints gallivanting down the runway in the shows like Diane Von Furstenberg, Rag & Bone, and even the likes of Chanel. We also saw Pantone’s bright color of the year, Radiant Orchid, peppered throughout these Fall shows.
However, the Spring/Summer 2015 shows have just wrapped in the Empire State, and we can see the same type of backward coding throughout the runway. While neutrals have always been the name of the game for some of these designers, the dark neutrals are unexpected for the warmer seasons.
Rag & Bone’s looks consisted of dark denim and other navy blue components. Diesel Black and Gold prepared us to expect the unexpected when they showed black, white, and — you’ll never guess — gold looks for the season of new beginnings. The dreary doesn’t stop here. These dark neutrals are featured in other designers’ Spring collections as well. Check out Pantone’s coveted colors for Spring/Summer ’15 and discover burgundy, forest greens, and (my favorite) the classy Toasted Almond.
Don’t get me wrong -I like this juxtaposition between the feels outside and the feels inside. Sometimes, a summer day just calls for all black (a.k.a. when you’re mourning the end of the series you just binge watched on the Netflix, or when it’s not quite sunny enough to justify a pool day), and when summer days are drifting away, you just need to get your last drag on the season by busting out your favorite sundress and combat boots.
The climate is changing, but so are our traditional color preferences for the four seasons. Bizarre, exciting, and evolutionary are a few words that come to mind when I think about these shifting color schemes. Will they continue to shift? Or is this an anomaly? Only time will tell.
NYFW SS15: Street Style Edition
As New York Fashion Week comes to an end, we can take a moment to appreciate the fashions that are somehow more relatable and less intimidating than their counterparts that just finished tromping the runway.
It seems as though Americans have always been a little slow on the fashion side of things. Revolutionary mass production assembly? No problem. Innovative technology? You got it dude. Yet, we can’t seem to get ahead of the fashion curve…but we are finally catching on. Thanks to beautiful pieces created by masterful designers and inspiration gathered from these fashion shows, American street style is a force to be reckoned with. While most of the world’s gaze was turned to the sporty and vintage-inspired looks rocking the runways, a few heads were turned to the streets.
Street style is the phenomenon that is taking our newfeeds by storm. But what is street style, you ask? Street style is literally what people on the streets are wearing (duh). Organically grown and observed (for the most part). However, thanks to digital cameras and sweet social media platforms like Tumblr, Pinterest, and WordPress, we can now observe New York street style all the way from China if we so desire. Not to mention plenty of fashion influencers like Olivia Palmero, Courtney Trop, and The Blonde Salad have made street style blogging a spectator sport. So let’s adjust our gaze from the catwalks to the front row of the shows, and see what the audience is wearing for a change.
Here’s the guide to the scandalous, chic, and tres wearable street styles witnessed at New York Fashion Week 2014 (this is in no way a best dressed list).
Scandal — everyone’s favorite television drama (and my favorite word), but also the perfect word to describe Miley Cyrus’ get up. Oh MiCy, how we love to hate. But I say, let your freak flag fly – but maybe not at Alexander Wang’s after rave (yes, rave) next time. Cyrus showed up to Wang’s rave in little more than black jeans and sunglasses, and to hide the goods? Cyrus sported ice cream cone-shaped pasties (confidence and liquid courage to pull that off, no doubt).
*Photo c0urtesy of MiCy Instagram
This look I am calling Scandal Marries into an Upper Class Family Named Les Chic. This sports bra clad fashionista is taking this everyday item and elevating it to a classy street style ensemble. Paired with sick boyfriend jeans, a classy blazer, and some sick pumps -she literally can do no wrong.
Chic — in a word, that’s how I would describe this show-goer’s ensemble. I love the look due to its minimalistic nature and her middle finger to that old cliché, “no white after Labor Day.” Rebellious in the best kind of way.
*Photo courtesy of Elle.com.
Instagrammer and Street Styler, Irene Kim (@ireneisgood), wowed us with this 1950s Throwback. The blogger edges this look up with a cropped top, multicolored paneled midi, and her wildly colored hair. I love the new take on the old school letter sweater. The perfect amount of slouch elongates the lines on the skirt, and even Danny Zuko would be electrified by her cool composure. For more of Irene’s sick looks, check out her Instagram.
*Photograph by Mark Iantosca.
Girl, you better work. This Minimalist look is everything; from the color neutral color palette to the dramatic flair of her palazzo pants, this look screams city chic. The boxy silhouette straight from the fall ’14 runway demonstrates just how ready-to-wear the trends of spring will be.
This brings us to Wearable, my favorite street style category because not everyone can pull off a chic scandal.
This cool muscle tee and midi skirt combo is perfect for the average Jane. The layered necklaces and shear stripe give this conservative ensemble just the edge it was missing (it’s all in the details, you know).
*Photo courtesy of Elle.com
Gigi Hadid nailed the wearable look. This simple get-up is totally doable for your average fashion lover. Destroyed boyfriend jeans not so neatly cuffed, a basic black tank, and the right booties, and you are set for a traffic-stopping look.
Who knew that black destroyed denim and a white blouse could look so…good. This effortlessly sexy street style is perfect for any season (although you Georgians may want to be careful in the summer). These girls add the right amount of drama to these looks with their too cool for school shoes.
NWFW: SS15
As summer fades to fall here in the Classic City of Athens, GA, it’s a fresh spring day over in City that Never Sleeps. The 2014 Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in NYC commenced September 4, 2014, officially kicking off the big four fashion weeks. We’ll start in NY, hop across the pond to London, journey over to Milan, and come to a climatic end in the City of Love — Paris, France. While we can impatiently wait for the upscale Parisian show or the edgy London show, there is a certain amount of pride to be felt for these American designers.
Here’s an overview of some of my favorite looks of the Spring/Summer ’15 shows. These pieces also capture the overall themes of the seasons, 70’s inspiration, bright colors, exquisite prints, and bold/menswear-inspired silhouettes.
Jordan Warmflash unconventionally ties together bold prints, colors, and vintage silhouettes in her Spring/Summer collection. She tells Style.com that she was inspired by the Pop Art movement, particularly pieces from Tim Wesselmen. She declared at her spring show, “I liked how he would take ordinary objects and make something special out of them.” Warmflash was quickly moved to create her own Pop Art.
My favorite look of the collection wasn’t the simple evening gowns or white leather bib tops, but this sick romper. The bold citrus print, bright colors, and carefully crafted garment quality are a symphony to my eyeballs and truly a work of art.
*photo courtesy of Novis
Prabal Gurung held our hand and led us to complete the journey we started in his Fall ’14 collection. Using lighter fabrics and colors, he steered us through spring in the Himalayas. In this look, we see the bright colors and a cleaner silhouette than in some of his knitted looks.
It’s easy to love this dress due to its textural intricacies and slimming color blocking. Are you in love? I am.
*photo courtesy of Kim Weston Arnold and Style.com
Alexander Wang. I couldn’t leave him/one of his looks off the list, because he’s as much a part of pop culture right now as his celebrity party guests. His show was awesome and has a lot of scandal surrounding the shenanigans that took place before and after (see Miley Cyrus and Nicki Minaj). However, Wang took inspiration from menswear and—believe it or not—tennis shoes. No, this wasn’t a challenge from Project Runway, he simply re-imagined the materials of the athletic shoe.
This black and white suit is chic, classic, and fresh all at once. I personally love the high waisted black trouser that serves to lengthen the leg and slim the waist, but maybe my inner vintage queen is showing.
*Photo courtesy of Yannis Vlamos.
Kaelen Haworth is doing something right. She found the balance between masculine and feminine, boxy and shapely, sexy and cute, earthly and ethereal. I’ll have what she’s having. This macro-botanical print, boxy silhouette, and mix of bold colors make for a perfect storm.
*photo curtesy of Kaelen and Style.com
With the New York shows wrapped we can wait in anticipation for the next shows form our old favorites and new comers that will happen in February for Fall 2015. Until then it will suffice to say, Spring/Summer 2015 will be everything we never imagined and more. With athletic materials and comfort taking importance over traditional silhouettes and fabrics how can we not love the giant floral, short shifts, boxy maxis, and bright, bold prints? Spring is just around the corner…or is that a pumpkin spiced latte I smell?
Street Style Profile: Nikki Curry
Nikki Curry is pretty awesome…it’s that simple, y’all. She’s got this modern, effortless cool and also happens to be at the same time a very sweet and relatable person. Not to mention she’s got great taste, and that’s why we are so excited to show it off a little this week on our Street Style Profile. Read on, and hear about how Nikki approaches dress, what her current influences are, and special bonus: she shares her secret to getting perfect hair.
But wait, there’s more! Scroll down to hear Nikki’s super-special playlist-of-the-week!
How would you describe your personal style?
I like to think of my personal style as a mix of messy, comfortable, haphazard, and occasionally too short and tight. I stick with a pretty strict palette: whites, blacks, and dark, muted colors. Most of my outfits are layered. Like, if I wear a dress, I’ll always wear a t-shirt (knotted) over it, and then I’ll put a jacket on and tie a sweater around my waist, and of course thick socks with either boots or sandals (!). But really it just comes down to that fact that I just dress for myself and wear what I think looks good.
Do you have a piece with a special story attached?
I was recently given a necklace from a friend. She gave to me as a thank-you for letting her stay at my house for a few days. It’s a small glass vial on some twine, and inside are two squirrel bones, a piece of a wasp nest, and a few hydrangea petals. I wear with it just about everything! We just became friends last Fall, but she’s from my hometown, so it’s a long-distance thing. It sucks since we only get to hang out every few months, but when we do we just sit and talk for hours. I also like having it close, because I feel like it’s a sweet memento from our friendship, and she’s not a person I get to see very often. She’s actually moving back to Maine at the end of the year, and I’m bummed but also super happy she’s taking her life where she wants to go.
Who or what are your current influences- artistic and otherwise?
In regards to fashion, I’ve really been into late 90’s Comme de Garcons, as well as late 90’s Bjork, and of course, Kathleen Hanna and the whole riot grrl movement, also from the 90’s. And it’s not that I’m necessarily trying to emulate or recreate those looks or people, but I think being exposed to and enjoying those kinds of aesthetics have really started pushing my own style somewhere bolder and weirder. I just hope I never stop. Like is there even a stopping point? When are you too weird? I don’t think that’s possible.
I would honestly have to say that my artistic influences are really coming from the community of artists and just really weird shit I see on tumblr. It’s seriously the one website I can go to that provides images, art, essays, etc., that are totally tailored for my personal consumption.
What is one weird thing not a lot of people know about you?
I never wash my hair. Okay, I wash it like once a week. My hair was silver over the summer, so I just got into the habit of washing my hair once, maybe twice a week. The habit and stuck, and here I am. But I just wanna let everyone know that this is the secret. Do you want texture, volume, and for it to stay in place? Just stop washing your hair, or at least stop shampooing. Also, invest in lots of cans of dry shampoo.
If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I really want to go to Greece. I have a friend who’s gone the past two summers, and all of her pictures are so gorgeous. Not to mention all of the amazing food! Actually, a food and wine tour through Europe would be great, too.
Do you have a rule you live by, or any words of wisdom?
I guess I always try to trust my gut. Like, there’s a reason I’m immediately drawn to something or choose something first. You just really need to trust yourself when it comes to your style and art making. If something feels right, then it is.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Out of Athens, haha. I mean, I love this town, and it’s been great to me, but I’m definitely ready to move on and move North. I’ve really been thinking about Philadelphia as my next stop, or maybe Portland, but really just any big city doing something creative. The dream, right?
Check out Nikki’s special Vinyl Mag playlist!
And That’s Where Hipsters Come From
“Hipster” is a fun word. It’s still new enough to society’s vocabulary that a finite definition has yet to be nailed down. Until then, we can let “hipster” register in our minds however we like. Evoking visions of fixed gear cycling armies or stampedes of awkwardly waddling individuals in ultra-tight denim. See? Fun, right?
There does seem to be at least one universal requirement in dubbing an individual as a hipster. A fierce desire exists in these people to inform you that they’ve known about that band way before they were popular- they’ve been torrenting/pirating their music since grade school and watched the lead singer take his first guitar lesson at age seven. And it’s not just the process of informing someone of their discovery of a band before you found them years later, it’s the condescending tone in which it occurs. You can almost see them getting high on that superior air as they describe the “intimate venues” where they’ve seen that band perform.
I’m not that innocent. Britney Spears reference? Maybe. But what I do know to be true is that I’ve definitely been called a hipster before, and I’ve certainly called others hipsters, too – usually prefaced with expletives and rolling of the eyes. I’ve been on both sides of the “Hipster Spectrum” (it’s a real thing). When I was 14 years old, I was borderline obsessed with Green Day’s album, American Idiot. I don’t know if it’s because it was one of the first albums I bought myself, if the simplistic chord structure spoke to me or if I just thought that heart-grenade thingy was kind of cool. Whatever the reason, I memorized every lyric and preached the album’s brilliance to anyone willing to listen. My older brother, a musician, was neck deep in his punk-rock phase at this point. I remember being chastised by his posse for my newfound fandom of Green Day – told that the album was a quintessential example of selling out, and how they used to be good. They don’t even play punk anymore.
I’ve found my way to the opposite end of the spectrum, of course. A time or two too many. I recall seeing MGMT live, and this drunken kid started endlessly chanting “Elec-tric Feel”- two songs after the band had just played it. It bothered me so much that I think it actually ruined the concert for me. I remember thinking, they just played, it you assh*le. Don’t you know any of their other songs? Why the hell are you even here? Even though I kept my thoughts to myself, I was still breathing that superior air.
There are countless other times that I’ve donned the hipster persona. Cringing as I heard Old Navy and Honda commercially rape Vampire Weekend’s music. Wanting to punt a child every time I hear a teenage girl refer to Dave Matthews as “Dave,” followed by an anecdote about how his music has influenced their entire life. All the times I’ve ever said, “How have you not heard of [insert obscure band name here]?”
Now I’m wondering why? Why is it so damn tempting to act that way? Anytime I’ve heard the word “hipster,” I automatically associate it with music. But the truth is that hipsters aren’t anything new- and it is not quarantined to music alone. Think about it. Take sports fans, for example. How many times have you heard a fan describe in excruciating detail how long they’ve been supporting a team for? Is there anything worse than someone who proclaims themselves a fan of a team only after they’ve won a championship? Strikingly similar to announcing fandom of a band after a hit song.
If we make the leap to sports, we must keep leaping. Because it doesn’t stop there. Hipsters have long been weaved into the fabric of society. How about religion? Are new converts to any religion not somewhat looked upon as “lesser” by those who’ve been practicing their entire lives? What about relationships? Does a couple who’ve been married for 20 plus years not wince just a little bit when they hear the newlywed teenagers exclaim how in love they are? Don’t we tend to feel the need to say how long we’ve known a friend for when undergoing introductions at parties?
“Hipster” isn’t a new idea at all. It’s just a word we’ve finally attached to our human need to prove our commitment to something. That thing can be a band, a sports team, a religion, a person, etc. The universal root of it all remains: we’ve spent more time. Perhaps that is where the entire phenomena originates. The ultimate tribute an individual can pay to anything in this world is to dedicate time to it. Not money. Not support. Time. As mortal beings, we only have so much time to give. So of course, when we’ve spent large amounts of time following a band, rooting for a team, etc., we feel somewhat irked when we see the same passion in someone who has spent less time doing the same thing. Because if they display the same passion as you in a smaller amount of time- then well, damn, it kind of undermines your commitment. Wait a bloody minute now. Where were you when Pitchfork gave them 0 stars and condemned them to hell?
If “hipsterism” is essentially derived from a desire to prove a greater dedication to something, then there must be more constructive ways to apply this desire than to let it manifest in condescending tones and sarcastic laughs. And there is. Let’s take the “wise old man” cliché for a moment. The proto-hipster. Always some sagely advice to offer- that you might not quite understand at first. But never judgmental. Just offering new paths.
That could be the solution. How hipsters finally lose the negative stigma they’ve cloaked themselves with. When you hear a new fan talk about how much they love a band’s new, poppy, hit single, don’t reply by informing them that said band is complete shit compared to their first album’s work. Instead, tell them to check out that first album. Suggest some other bands they might enjoy too. Smile, and agree at said band’s awesomeness. I didn’t know it at the time, but American Idiot opened a door for me not only to Green Day’s classic albums, but to the entire genre of punk. We can facilitate that experience in music for others if we don’t take a new fan’s opinions as attacks on the time we’ve spent following a band. Be the wise old man. Offer the sagely advice. They might not have any idea what you’re talking about, but some of them- a few- may come to understand.
Rage & Restore: Yoga at Catskill Chill
In addition to music, a majority of music festivals have been seen adding yoga and other activities to their daily schedules. With hundreds of like-minded attendees, wide open outdoor spaces, and access to talented musicians, it’s no wonder music festivals play the perfect host to yoga sessions.
With Catskill Chill on the horizon, we took some to talk to Melia Marzollo, Director of Yoga at Catskill Chill, to learn about the power of yoga at these events, how attendees can stay centered and healthy, and how to restore after three days of – more or less – raging. Marzollo is the owner and director of the beautiful SkyBaby Studio in The Hudson Valley. Melia is also a certified instructor of Pilates, Power Yoga, Yamuna Body Rolling, and Holistic Health Counseling.
Vinyl Mag: How did you first become invoked with Catskill’s yoga program?
Melia Marzollo: I am the director of SkyBaby Studio in Cold Spring, New York, and when the Catskill Chill was looking for activities to offer festival goers, I immediately went to my happy activity and suggested yoga.
VM: Why do you believe music festivals are the perfect venue to provide yoga?
MM: For so many reasons, but at the root, vibrational energy. Music and movement create vital energy; they are the perfect couple.
VM: What are the benefits for practicing yoga at a festival?
MM: Centering, restoration, invigoration, self-love by practicing self-care, to name a few.
VM: Do you feel there is something special, and almost unifying, in sharing in a yoga class with fellow music festival attendees?
MM: I do. What happens when you move with other people? When you open and move? Good Stuff – that’s what.
VM: For someone who has never tried yoga before, what would you say to encourage them to try it out at Catskill Chill?
MM: Take on today. Try it on fully. The Teachers at The Chill are amazing lights in their industry and share the same love of music as you. You already have something in common.
VM: Do you have any suggestions on what one should wear and bring with them to yoga at Catskill Chill?
MM: I always feel best while taking a class when I dress in layers. The weather in The Catskills at this time of year can go from hot to “Chill” pretty quickly, especially when you are in and out of movement – layers are so accommodating. There will be some yoga clothing for sale in the Wellness Village where the classes will take place. I would also suggest, water, a yoga mat, and if you forgot yours, bring a towel!
VM: What are some tips you have in order to stay centered and healthy during a multi-day festival?
MM: Rage and Restore. Yin and Yang, baby. It can be so easy at festivals to get over stimulated and stay up for three days straight, leaving you wiped out in the following week. We want you to leave feeling good. Really good. Soul-shining-good. You have to take care of yourself to feel that way. Take time to stretch and sleep and love and eat good food and dance and laugh and relax and get a message and dance some more, then repeat.
VM: What are you looking forward to the most about the festival?
MM: Spending time with friends and being part of the magic that live performances bring to the human experience.
VM: Are there any artists in particular you are excited to see?
MM: Nakho and Medicine for the People. I’m also looking forward to the surprise collaborations that always seem to happen at this festival.
*Catskill Chill offers two free Yoga classes on Saturday and Sunday at 12:00 p.m., on the Northwestern Tennis Courts. When the weather is kind, practice is under the big, beautiful Catskill Sky! If the weather does not cooperate, there is an indoor studio adjacent to the courts, so show up, rain-or-shine! No reservation or appointment required. Mats are limited, so if you have your own, please bring it!
Top Five Things Not to Miss at Lockn’ 2014
Nestled in the rolling hills of Virginia, the annual four-day interlocking music festival returns to Arrington from September 4-7, bringing with it another spectacular and distinguished lineup. With iconic artists such as The Allman Brothers, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Phil Lesh & Friends, Widespread Panic, The String Cheese Incident, Umphrey’s McGee, Wilco, and many, many more gracing the side-by-side Oak and Ridge stages, Lockn’ is once again proving to be a festival not to miss.
While the lineup alone is enough of an attraction, the festival and the surrounding acreage are host to many other sights and experiences. From biking to yoga, to a plethora of craft beer choices, to a private swimming hole, the choices are endless. Here are Vinyl’s top choices in what not to miss and partake in while at Lockn’ (besides the main music, of course!).
1. The Oak Tree:
A symbol of the estate and festival – not to mention Nelson County – this majestic white oak tree is nearly 400 years old and absolutely massive. We highly recommend taking a walk to the tree one afternoon and taking a couple of minutes to bask in the presence of such a breathtaking gift from Mother Nature. The oak tree is located near the end of RV Ridge almost at Oak Ridge Road.
2. Early and Late Night Shows at the Triangle and Shakedown Stages:
If you can venture away from your camp early enough and/or can resist the urge to head back to camp for some shuteye after the headliners, these two stages (outside of the main festival venue) have great musical offerings including Keller Williams’ Grateful Grass and Grateful Gospel, and sets from Taj Mahal, Dumpstaphunk, Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi, The Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Hot Tuna (acoustic set), and Bustle in Your Hedgerow. Since these stages are located outside the enclosed festival venue, it is safe to say they are BYOC (Bring Your Own Cooler). May we suggest mimosas for Keller’s Grateful sets in the mornings?
3. Private Swimming Hole:
You awake from your deep slumber from that overbearing stagnant heat that has filled up your tent from the morning sun beating down on your tent. As you emerge, half asleep, you wish there was just any relief. Lucky for you, there is salvation! The Trinity Episcopal Church will be offering trips to a private swimming hole on the Tye River. Trips cost $20/person, and from the pictures, this place looks amazing. All proceeds will support local charities and Haitian outreach.
4. Soapstone Water Filling Stations:
Okay, so this isn’t something to do or something really exciting, but we thought it was kind of nifty of Lockn’ to team up with Alberene Soapstone of Nelson County, VA to create beautiful water filling stations made from local soapstone that showcase the beauty and resources of Central Virginia. Keep an eye out from them, and make sure you stop and fill up your Camelbak- stay hydrated!
5. Biking:
Last year, we quickly regretted not bringing our bikes to Lockn’. Maybe it was how bike-friendly this festival is, or how beautiful the estate is to ride around, or maybe it was that our campsite was miles from the venue entrance. Whatever the reason, we knew we would not make the same mistake this year. There are over 30 miles of bike trails to explore on the grounds of Oak Ridge, and with this year’s new on-site biking program, Lockn’ attendees may borrow bikes for free, and bike racks will be set up at locations all through the festival.
With so much to do, see, and explore, all of your senses will not be disappointed. For its second year, Lockn’ proves it is more than your average run-of-the-mill music festival, and we cannot wait to be back!
Street Style Profile WEDDING Edition: Anna Hall-Edwards
Anna Hall-Edwards is the epitome of graceful. She is sweeter than a summer night, and her style is just the same; laid back, easy going, and bohemian. She’s also an extremely talented jewelry designer and maker. You can always catch her working hard in the studio, and you can always count on her looking flawless, even with goggles on and a torch in her hand.
This week we had a chance to do something a little new and different for our style profile. That’s right, folks – it’s the Wedding Edition!
Once we found out that Anna was goin’ to the chapel, we knew we would have to find out how this lovely hippie-chic lady would style herself for the big day…and we can still hear the bells ringing! Read on to see Anna looking flawless for the wedding, and also to find out about her inspirations in life and in the studio.
1) How would you describe your personal style and/or your method of dress?
The way that I dress has been really funny looking back. I always dressed differently from other people, especially growing up – not necessarily in a good way! In retrospect, I realize how crazy I dressed as a kid, but hey, I felt like I looked good then! I think I have always just worn what I love…as a kid, that was bright colors, crazy patterns, and big plastic jewelry. Now, it is usually a dress with jeans and clogs or combat boots! My method of dress these days is definitely influenced by my work in the studio: dark colors so that you can’t tell that I’m dirty even when I am, closed toe shoes, and my golden rule: long and loose!
2) Can you talk about your approach to jewelry making – what is your process like, and what inspires you?
I find so much inspiration in nature. I am a sucker for a good floral pattern, and once I find one, I hang on to it for a long time, using it over and over again. I feel like the Lord has created nature to be one of the most beautiful parts of the world – awe-inspiring and breathtaking – so I never want to miss out on admiring it while I am working. It is my way of bringing the beautiful wonders of outside into a smelly studio…usually, I do a lot of experimenting, and when I find a form or composition that I love, I work it into a wearable piece of jewelry. Usually, I just make things that I personally love and then hope that other people love it, too!
3) What is one of your most treasured pieces or jewelry or clothing ?
My most special piece of jewelry that I have is definitely my wedding ring. My sweet and wonderful husband designed it for me – all a total surprise. He has always pegged me from day one when it comes to picking out things that he knows I will love. It has a series of bands, but they are all actually one big ring. It is really textured, because I don’t love shiny things, and it is even asymmetrical, which is a characteristic of things I love! Later, I found out that my diamond was his great-grandma’s diamond in her wedding ring. I knew his Mema growing up and visited her often, so I was so blessed and honored by that! When he proposed, I was stunned by how absolutely beautiful the ring was. But more than its beauty, the ring is a sweet constant reminder of the covenant that I have been so blessed by in getting to be married to the man of my dreams!
4) What was special to you about what you wore on your wedding day?
I didn’t have anything that I wore on my wedding day that was extremely sentimental, but I had so much fun coming up with what to wear and what my girls would wear! I found my dress online from Free People and loved it immediately. Prior to that, I had gone into a few wedding dress boutiques, and my mom, my sister, and I just laughed every time that I put on a dress. They all looked silly on me and were totally not my style. I was officially on the hunt for an inexpensive and “different” wedding dress. Little did I know that the combination of inexpensive and unique were few and far between. Finally, I got the idea that I could look for white dresses online at my favorite stores, and then I could change it to be what I wanted. When I was in high school, my mom let me design both of my prom dresses, because when else do you get to do that for fun? Prom was a great excuse! So I went back to the drawing board with my sweet relative who is a costume designer, who had helped me years before. When I saw the white gown on Free People, I freaked and ordered it immediately on a whim! It came in the mail in a bag the size of a gallon ziplock bag. My mom sent me a picture of the tiny bag with the dress balled up inside; we got a good laugh out of that! Needless to say, I think it is one size fits all. It fit like a nightgown and was the most comfortable thing I had ever put on. I knew I wanted flowers (my favorite thing in the world) on my dress, so I shopped for dainty and elegant stems to incorporate into the design, as well as some different laces and beading. Pam, my seamstress relative, and I had a blast, and she helped me create the dress of my dreams!
5) Why was it important that the two of you designed each others rings? Can you tell us about that design and process?
I actually had no idea that Christian was going to design my ring, although it didn’t surprise me a bit when he did. He has always been a romantic and a darn good one at that…I found out later that he actually had a drawing and a diagram (better than most of my ring designs!). He took it to our hometown jeweler and had them make it for him. Now it is just a constant reminder of how special he is. It was really important to Christian that I designed and made his ring. I guess just because its technically “what I do.” I was so nervous, because it’s kind of an important ring. I thought about lots of designs but knew to keep it really simple. Finally, I just went to work on a wax. I used some recycled gold that his parents gave me and embedded a piece of steel in it, to make it more manly. There is a teeny tiny diamond in the middle just for fun! I knew that he wanted it matte with no shine, so I filed the wax ring before casting it!
6) In what ways did you incorporate your personal style or the “feeling” of the day you wanted into your wedding?
Our hearts for our wedding day were that it wouldn’t be about the “wedding.” There are so many details that go into a wedding – all of which I absolutely LOVE – but those details can get crazy and overwhelming if you let them! We wanted our wedding to be centered on what a wedding actually is, which is an expression of the gospel that we believe. We kept it really simple and called on a lot of people to make it happen. My dad sells antiques and has a lot of doors, so he and his friend made all of the tables out of doors. My roommate, Jenna Gridley, who is a local potter here in Athens, made tons of pots, and we set them on the tables. And then I told our family friend to have her way with the flowers and do lots of greenery. Flowers are one of my favorite things in the world. Everyone chipped in, and my friends and I decorated a couple of days before. It was really fun, and I wouldn’t change a thing looking back.
My bridesmaids were also a huge part of incorporating the feeling of our wedding day. Their dresses were all different. I really wanted them to look like themselves, because they are all so cool and unique and beautiful.
7) What inspires you artistically, and what do you want your jewelry to say or do for the people who wear it?
As I said before, I am super inspired by nature and flowers and patterning. I love raw, uncanny aspects of nature and its spontaneity. It is always changing, always transforming, and always awe-inspiring. As for my jewelry, I really just want people to love it when they wear it. I want them to feel special and unique and love to put it on!
8) Do you have any exciting things happening or future plans that are exciting to you?
Yes! My husband and I are working to launch our jewelry business. It is called Dustmade, and we cannot wait to get started! We will be launching within the next month on both a private website as well as Etsy!
9) Lastly, do you have any tips for us? How do you stay creative and inspired?
I stay the most creative and inspired when I am around the people that I love. I have a precious group of friends who have so much input into what I make. My husband and my family also love me so well and give some of the best advice and encouragement. When I have a creative block, I chill. I spend time with the people that I love and enjoy rest. An idea is sure to come when you are filled up with joy and laughter.
Keep an eye out for Anna and Christian’s new project, Dustmade. For personal jewelry commissions or if you want to be on the Dustmade mailing list, shoot an email to annahall@uga.edu!
You can also follow her personal instagram @annamarieedwardz to look out for more information regarding Dustmade. There will be lots of giveaways and exciting things happening in the next month!
Also, be sure to give a listen to Anna’s wedding playlist below – and grab a listen to Jason Gridley, who played her reception!
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