Despite being in a rush, I had to stop to take a snap and ask Leah a few questions. Her orange hair, eccentric vintage style, and welcoming attitude for one-of-a-kind.

1. Where do you work?
-I used to work at Retro Rock and it is now closed, am now about to apply to Lolita’s!

2. Where do you shop?

-Thrift stores.

3. What do you think makes you stand out?

-My hair, my orange hair.

4. How confident would you rate yourself? On Scale of 1-10.

- 9, I’m pretty damn confident.

5. Do people look at you on the street?

-Yeah they do, but I don’t care. It was worse where I’m from in New Zealand. If somebody were to say something bad it might upset me, but in the end it’s there problem not mine.

Thank you Leah! Good luck finding a job in Vancouver-hopefully employers are as charmed as I was.

My two friends and I walked into the Vogue Theatre on Friday, April 27^th, with our cameras in hand – and soon enough a beer in the other – ready for the night approaching. I instantly tuned in to the music coming from inside the theatre doors. I Break Horses, a duo from Sweden, was captivating the crowd with their relative ambient, heady sound. We slowly migrated through the crowd, and wound up in close proximity to the stage. Although we arrived ‘fashionably late’ (aka couldn’t get our shit together), I got to enjoy the last few songs of their set. Accompanied by an abundant applause, the stage was empty yet again, awaiting the act of the evening: M83.

We stood relatively silent – waiting, listening. Suddenly, our attention was brought to centre stage where a recognizable pig-like monster stood; hands slowly raising as the crowds anticipation came to a boiling point. As hundreds of twinkling lights illuminated the backdrop in front of us, and hues of blue, purple, and pink flashed violently from the series of strobe lights, the stage became the perfect host to the viral sounds of ‘Intro’ (off of their most recent album Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming) which started off the show.

The chords pulsed through the packed theatre as we heard an ever-familiar whisper: “We didn’t need a story, we didn’t need a real world. We just had to keep walking, and we became the stories. We became the places. We were the lights, the deserts, the faraway worlds. We were you before you even existed.”
The energy was contagious, so much so that the song was drowned out by the screams of anticipation. It was then that front man Anthony Gonzales led M83 onto the stage and took his place comfortably beside his soundboard, followed by drummer Loïc Maurin, guitarist Nicholas Fromageau, and temporary member and keyboardist Morgan Kibby. Anthony leaned towards the microphone and the screams subsided. This was the moment we had all been waiting for. “Carry on, carry on. Carry on…”
M83’s stage presence was captivating, however it was Morgan Kibby, the beautiful keyboardist (and tambourine extraordinaire) with charming brown locks and a maxi dress that really held her own.

Anthony led the crowd through a frenzy of memories, playing ‘Teen Angst’ and “Graveyard Girl’ from M83’s previous records, followed by his more recent single ‘Reunion’. Although I stood at the very front of the crowd, I turned around periodically to take a good look at everybody behind and around me. You could see the music sinking into each individual, caressing their senses and bringing a feeling of unity to the packed theatre. It is evident M83 has embodied the essence of contemporary ambient, indie-electronic music. Although the primary sounds are that of synthesizers, there is a certain air of intimacy that makes M83 so impactful. It isn’t easy creating sounds of that magnitude that can translate harmonically into a live performance.

As the night progressed, M83 transitioned seamlessly through their set, playing a crowd favourite ‘We Own the Sky’, and an unexpected but well received cover of Daft Punk’s ‘Fall’. ‘Midnight City’ and ‘Guitar and a Heart’ collected what was left of their energy, with an incredible sax solo to boot, and brought the evening to a close. As the four bandmates exited the stage, an unwavering applause erupted throughout the crowd, and the predictable “Encore!” chant began. Only a minute or two later, M83 took the stage one last time with ‘Couleurs’ and ‘Skin of the Night’ to conclude what could be described as a cinematic and unforgettable performance.

Written by Jenny Therrien
Photographed by Savannah Golding

Video coming soon…

With weed culture taking over the city, it was nice to escape the downtown area and hang out at the April edition of Ice Cream Social Rock & Roll Club. The Biltmore was packed and a lot happened…some of which I don’t remember….but it happened none the less. Peep the pics, and while you’re at it check out the ICS fan page on Facebook and like that shit!  Also Remember ICS Rock & Roll Club happens every 3rd Friday of the month. You can also catch them at The Waldorf Hotel every Monday night!!

www.facebook.com/pages/Ice-Cream-Social/305650929450424

Skye Wallace @ Falconetti’s!!

Check out her tunes by clicking HERE!

Photographs by Jenny Edmunds

By now we should all know that music festivals aren’t just about the music. They have also become fashion shows sans the catwalk – ones where you don’t have to be Mary-Kate and Ashley to have front row seats. Something about the combination of sunshine and live music brings out our more adventurous sense of style. Sitting in the warmth surrounded by beautiful people, absorbing the sounds of some of your favorite artists… How can you refrain from tapping into your inner fashionista when you have that heeding sense of freedom?

While some are setting the trends, and others just keeping up with them, festivals are the perfect opportunity to try new things. Sure, sift through your closet and drag out your old summer clothes. But here’s your excuse to raid the thrift stores, and purchase loads of new items (which of course you NEED). Be unpredictable and break the rules, because the sky is the limit.

My girlfriends and I spent a day getting inspired for our own road-trips coming up (Coachella, Sasquatch, Osheaga… here we come!) and thought we’d share with you the 2012 trends that inspired us.

Pleats:Be it tops, skirts, whatever! Pleats are always on trend – especially when they’re transparent!
Bra Tops/Crop tops:No, we aren’t talking about that just-above-the-belly-button crop. We mean way up there! The more risqué the better.
Doily Lace: Think on the larger side of the scale. Try wearing lace head-to-toe for a real impact.
Cut Outs/Transparent: Show some skin, ladies! Wear a see-through skirt with hot pants and you’ll be sure to turn some heads.
Floral Print: Sure, florals may be ultra feminine, but edge up a floral skirt or trousers with studded accessories and a menswear inspired shirt – or vise versa.
Demin: Don’t forget your staples… Cutoffs and denim vests are always cute!
Accessorize: Incorporate brights to accent any outfit. An easy way to use a pop of color is with your shoes, or your bag. Also, keep the sun-stroke away with a trendy little chapeau! Laying in the sun sipping an overpriced beer… the last thing you want is to wind up with a killer sunburn and the constant urge to use the little girls room (you don’t want your face by that toilet).

The countdown has begun! Happy packing! :)
COACHELLA: 17 days | SASQUATCH:  60 days

 
Written by: Jenny Therrien

Photographed by: Jenny Edmunds
Produced by: Katie Edmunds and Jenny Therrien
Styled by: Meghan Labadie and Sara Grieve
Makeup by: Sarah Saunders

]]> http://thefuturists.ca/feeling-festive/feed/ 0 http://thefuturists.ca/m83-april-27-2012/ http://thefuturists.ca/m83-april-27-2012/#comments Mon, 26 Mar 2012 19:31:09 +0000 JennyEmily http://thefuturists.ca/?p=42641 In the everlasting warfare of modern music, M83 is something special; a wild card of sorts. Named appropriately after a spiral galaxy – Messier 83 – front man Anthony Gonzales has embodied the essence of contemporary ambient. Since breaking into the music scene in France in 2001, the band has continued to explore their sound and build a steady following not only in Europe, but worldwide. Their fifth and most recent EP ‘Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming’, released mid October of 2011, has seen M83’s transition onto the mainstream music map. Their songs have been featured in various TV series as well as the well-known snowboard video ‘The Art of Flight’. Behind the atmospheric sounds are lyrics that speak of the existential beauty that we often overlook. Headlining this year’s Coachella lineup, and selling out shows across the globe, M83 will be playing at the Vogue theatre on April 27^th.

“We didn’t need a story, we didn’t need a real world. We just had to keep walking, and we became the stories. We became the places. We were the lights, the deserts, the faraway worlds. We were you before you even existed.”

Written by Jenny Therrien

Click here to view the embedded video.