Monthly Archives: May 2012

Blog of the Week: The LC Issue

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Name: Lindsay Cowie

Blog: The LC Issue

How long have you been blogging for?: I’ve had a couple of blogs over the past three or four years but struggled to stick to them. I started this version of The LC Issue in December 2010 and so it has been going for nearly 18 months!

Describe your blog: It is a lifestyle blog that features posts about my personal interests; fashion, beauty, food, holidays and days out, hobbies and my work, for example – whatever inspires me really. In the past, I tried writing fashion and media student blogs but, as I said above, I found it difficult to stick to one subject and that is why I started all over again and created The LC Issue. I try to write different types of posts, from outfit posts and wishlists to Top 10s and general ramblings; I think it has a bit of everything.

How did you get started?: It is a hobby; I work as a Features Writer for a regional publishing company so this is something I enjoy doing once I get home from work and at weekends. If there was something I was thinking about, something I liked, I blogged about it and it just grew from there.

Highest point?: In March of this year, I was invited to one of my favourite make-up brand’s event for the launch of a new foundation. I travelled all the way from Grimsby to London by myself – a first for me! – and had an absolutely brilliant time. I hope I get to some more things like that in the future. And I also love it when people tell me they have read my blog and enjoy it – it’s the best feeling!

Lowest Point?: I don’t think I’ve had one yet; I really do take great care in what is published on my blog so if I’m not sure something should be posted, I won’t do it! There is the odd occasion where I get ‘bloggers block’ and worry about missing a post, but I believe that quality is what is important so as soon as I’m ready, I get back to it!

Favourite blog?: I don’t think I can pick just one! Personal favourites are The Goddess Guide and The Londoner, and I think Big Fashionista has some very funny posts. I like reading fashion and beauty blogs such as LLYMLRS, VIPXO, Fashion Train and Pearls & Poodles, and raspberricupcakes.com has some lovely looking recipes! My blog choice really does depend on what mood I’m in.

Inspiration? In terms of my blog’s content – anything! Outfits I like, new beauty products I’m trying, places I’ve been or what’s been going on in the world. I find it very inspiring looking at other peoples’ blogs and it makes me more determined to make my blog even bigger and better!

Top tips for other bloggers: Just enjoy blogging! What you write about, how your page looks – I think that personality is so important to blogs and if you enjoy what you write and put effort into it, other people will hopefully enjoy it too. Also, network with other bloggers, even if it’s just through tweets or blog comments – it is a great community to be a part of; I love it!

Do you make a living blogging? No, it is just a hobby for me. But who knows in the future?!

Matt Norris & The Moon – This Kingdom EP | Music Review

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Matt Norris & The Moon formed back in 2009 from the ashes of various other bands, having met at various open mic nights on the burgeoning Edinburgh folk scene. The band have spent the last couple of years honing their sound, played some pretty big support slots (including the mighty Primal Scream) and gained plenty of attention from both the press and radio stations.

This four song EP is sure to gain them even more followers. The release begins with ‘Roots Below’ which begins with strum-strum campfire guitars with solemn trumpeting over the top before building to a rousing folk-pop chorus with a trumpet hook catchier than an STI on a holiday to Magaluf.

‘Eyes of a Storm’ is a more laid-back number, begins with the campfire guitars and really stays there, adding accordian to create a warmer, oakier folk sound. ‘Shadow from the Sun’ has a more urgent pop sound with a nice bit of flute joining the party, sounding like a band driven by something. ‘The Shallows’ wraps things up nicely with more campfire strumming, value-added stings with a five party harmony of detuned opera singing (opera music’s just vowels, right?).

 

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cChp1xsu86s&w=560&h=315]

 

On the evidence of this EP MN&TM are a band to watch. Their sound is an enchanting mix of big hooks and bigger harmonies coupled with an impressive array of instruments. For fans of Fleet Foxes, First Aid Kit and Mumford & Sons this is a band for you. Watch them explode.

 

‘This Kingdom EP’ is released on 17th May via 17 Seconds Records

Links:

17 Seconds Records

Matt Norris & The Moon Twitter

Matt Norris & The Moon Facebook

Matt Norris & The Moon Website

News Kindness video unveiled | Music News

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Kindness, known to his parents as Adam Bainbridge, has announced the new single for ‘House’ taken from his critically acclaimed debut album ‘World, You Need a Change of Mind’.  The single comes backed with a number of b-sides and unheard mixes and we can now reveal the video directed by Adam and Dan Brereton. Have a watch of it here:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmwCxCVsWV4&w=560&h=315]

 

‘House’ is released on 18th June via Female Energy/Polydor Records.

Real Estate to release ‘Exactly Nothing’ as a single | Music News

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Rockers Real Estate will release Exactly Nothing as their next single on 2nd July 2012 via Domino Records. The New Jersey band will be back to the UK to play their biggest show to date at London’s Electric Ballroom on Wednesday June 27th and will be joined by New York’s Frankie Rose and London’s The Proper Ornaments.

The show comes in support of last year’s critically lauded Days album and following sold-out shows at London’s Scala and Koko alongside Kurt Vile.

 

We don’t have a video for ‘Exactly Nothing’ yet but you can watch the band’s full set from Coachella in full here:

 

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKJ9RE1q7Hw&w=560&h=315]

Katy Perry’s Meow!

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Celebrities have been bringing out their own perfume since Elizabeth Taylor, the canny and glamourous Hollywood icon, saw a business opportunity. In the celebrity world now you are no-one until you have your own fragrance.

Katy Perry has brought out her second fragrance ‘Meow! following on from Purr back in December. We got sent one to to the Frost office to review, and we liked! First of all, the packaging is of a cat. A pink cat. Frankly, it rocks. Perry is know for her imagination. It is evident in her music (we are a fan), her music videos and her clothes. What’s more, she is an unashamedly girly girl.

Katy Perry Meow! smells sweet it was made during her California Dreams tour. She wanted it to be fun and sensual spirited.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Katy is a huge fan of cats herself as they are independent animals and she mimics this attitude.

The Meow! fragrance is made of honeysuckle, and pear, and has a base of vanilla, musk, and amber. It is sweeter than her previous fragrance. I think this fragrance was made pre-divorce. I am excited to know what her next fragrance will smell like. If her new music video is anything to go by, it will be a lot tougher. Perry seems tougher and less girly post-divorce. Let’s wait and see. Until then: we think her new fragrance is the Katy’s Meow.

St Ives Event at The Hospital Club

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Last week I went to two Handpicked Media events. This one and this equally amazing St Ives event at The Hospital Club.

St Ives Apricot scrub has always been my favourite facial scrub. It is a high-end scrub with a budget price. I have been buying it for years. I did get a goodie bag with the scrub inside and I am doing their 7 day challenge. My skin is already glowing.

PSYCHOLOGIES Beauty Director Emine Rushton gave an amazing beauty talk, apparently the Egyptians used to exfoliate with a pumice stone! Ouch. Oh, and they still use Cochineal (E120 on ingredients list) which is the ‘crushed carcasses of the female Dactylopius coccus, a cactus-feeding scale insect’. Nice.

There were Apricot based cocktails and I tried them all. Another blogger also won the cute edible tree below. Brilliant night.

Autumn/Winter 2012 collections from Modalu, Nica and Fiorelli.

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I went along to see the Autumn/Winter 2012 collections from Modalu, Nica and Fiorelli. It reminded me of the quote that bags are to women what cars are to men. I already have enough handbags, but seeing the collections made me want to buy more.

Nica has an overall vintage feel, beautiful top-quality handbags. I love their Jessica handbag. Nica Kim launched her collection after winning a competition at Creative and impressed them so much she got her own collection. Fiorelli are fun, fashiony and good quality with lots of timeless designs. Modalu have based this collection on London Society and a celebration of quintessential British Style. Luxury accessories worth putting a dent in your bank account for (though it will be a small one, the bags are reasonably priced). I love their Pippa bag. Leave this page open on your computer as a hint to your boyfriend….

Cass McCombs unveils new video for ‘Bradley Manning’ | Music News

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American folker Cass McCombs has unveiled the video for his latest song, ‘Bradley Manning‘, about the US Army Soldier who has been incarcerated on suspcion of passing classified material to the whistleblower website Wikileaks.

The video is a poignant tribute having been filmed, by director Bradley Beesley, in Manning’s hometown of Crescent, OK on Independence Day, allowing Beesley to capture iconic and patriotic visuals that create a mood eerily complimentary to the song.

Cass heads to the UK to play The Green Man Festival in August.

 

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vhcOn1Yn_U&w=560&h=315]