Justin Tranter - high caliber, multi-faceted talent

With the release of the new EP Aviation, lead-in to Semi Precious Weapons' third studio album coming in April, I had the opportunity to interview frontman Justin Tranter.  Justin crosses over between the Chicago, NY and L.A. tribes along with being part of the population of the capital of Boston's arts community, Berklee College of Music.  Prior to attaining his music degree in three years, he was a student of the Chicago Academy for The Arts.  It is quite an impressive pedigree. It is especially impressive for any glam rocker.  Justin is also a jeweler and is owner of Fetty jewelry company in Brooklyn. 

The conversation started with my three signature questions:

TTOA:  All artists create in more than one medium.  What other arts do you create it?

JT:  All of us in the band create different things. Cole is a great visual artist and DJ. Stevy is an amazing experimental film maker. Dan produces music and makes beats pretty much all day. I write songs for many artists besides SPW as well as make jewelry. 

TTOA: What are you go-to arts to unwind, purge, find inspiration, or mourn.  

JT:  Well, I'm a big fan of binge watching TV shows. But mainly I write songs. I write normally 6 days a week, if not 7. Songs are my favorite thing in the world. 

TTOA: Finally - what is the one art you positively suck at but wish you didn't?

JT: Drawing. I really wish I could draw. And the art of language. I've tried to learn many other languages, and fail every time. 

TTOA: You are part the arts communities in L.A., NY and Chicago but you are also a member of a tribe not talked about much on this blog or in the media in general.  Tell me a little about the Boston arts community. 

JT:  The Boston Arts community is a big ol' college campus, segregated school by school. But the times when bands were making something special enough for it to reach other schools it felt pretty awesome. There was this band Moonraker that was kids from Berklee and BU, and they were so good that the whole city knew them. I remember going to those shows and thinking it was coolest thing I'd ever seen. 

TTOA: Does having an arts education help or hinder in the creation process, specifically having an understanding of music theory especially when working pop, dance electronica and glam rock?  Do you feel that once you have the basic building blocks is it easier to experiment..."the rules are there are no rules"?  Is there a point where academic arts education should stop and artists should just be encouraged to go with their guts?

JT: I think that playing music and writing songs is something that has to come natural to someone. But after the initial spark, learning more about what you are doing and the history of what you are doing can only help you. However the one danger is that a lot of musicians then start making music from an academic point of view, not from an emotional point of view. Which I know I was guilty of for a while. 

TTOA: Recently I did a feature piece for FourCulture on Sutan Amrull and an interview for The Tribes with Rahab.  With both of them I talked about androgyny as a part of their body, mind and spirit.  Tell me about that side of you.

JT: I have just had a very strong feminine side to my personality since as long as I can remember and I have always loved that side of me. I truly believe there is something beautiful about having who you are on the inside be reflected on the outside. 

TTOA: Two other jewelers I have connected with from the tribe are Joshua Titchcosky and Shannon Shiang.  Are you familiar with either of them and/or their work?  

JT: I am not. But I will look them up right now! When it comes to jewelry I'm obsessed with the classics, but there are some modern day designers I worship like Pamela Love. 

TTOA: Fashion plays a big role for you.  Who are your favorite new designers?  If given the opportunity - what house would you like to design for?  Whose runway show would you like to walk for?  

JT: There is a new designer out of New York named Jake Oliver that is blowing my mind. I would love the chance to do some sort of collaboration with him. Obviously anything Karl Lagerfeld is involved in I would happily remove a leg or two to be a part of. And Gareth Pugh is clearly having direct conversations with the goddess that I wouldn't mind eavesdropping on. 

TTOA: Do the arts in general have a responsibility to give a voice to the fight and take their place in political, social and cultural revolutions? Do you feel that people in positions of power/controlled feel threatened by artists? Why?

JT:  I feel like if people are telling their honest story in whatever art form it is, it will have political and social effects on the world. Because the more specific you are as an artist, the more universal your story becomes. Thats at least the path I'm choosing to take, and I hope my story effects people in whatever way it's suppose to. 

NY, NJ and CT - Wanna see IAMX for FREE on 4/26?

The best new arts 'zine, FourCulture have 2 tickets up for grabs from woobox to the first stop of IAMX's "Animal Impulses" tour at Irving Plaza.  Chris will be premiering tracks from his new album "The Unified Field".  It's been quite a while since IAMX has done a U.S. tour.  Don't miss out.  I already have my ticket so I'd love to meet up with the winners at my favorite NYC venue to share a libation and some great, great music.

Fourculture will be giving away two pairs of tickets for IAMX’s April 263 show at Irving Plaza in NYC…wooot!

We were approached to give these tickets away so this is kind of a big deal…Fourculture got noticed!

The contest is set up on Facebook: http://woobox.com/kkm5fe  

It begins Wednesday, April 10 at 8 AM EST and ends Tuesday, April 16 at midnight.

Please help keep this contest in everyone’s face for the next week with RTs and shares!   

Thank you in advance!! 

Camp TLC's Sandy Project

Camp TLC:

'via Blog this'

TLC are friends of my buddies DoArt Foundation.  As you will read, they are in the planning stages but this is such a great program at this time of destruction and devastation that the people of the NY Tri-State metro area has never seen.  To try to create a healing arts space, especially for kids, is an excellent idea.  Young people in particular will bear the brunt of this trama.  Things that can provide some comfort and restore the belief in safety is as important as getting them back into a a safe and secure home, back to school and eventually returning to daily routines.  Please keep TLC bookmarked and help them however you can.  We are all "Together Living A Challenge".

Peace.

In the eye of the storm - Lucent Dossier gives back to its new home

Lucent Dossier gives back to its new home

	Lucent Dossier at The Liberty Theatre, NYC Huricane Sandy Fund-Raiser this Saturday night Bring Blankets, Coats and Food Tickets Available Here photo by Seze Devres We hit the ground running and quickly nested inside the Liberty Theater on 42nd Street in Times Square, right in the heart of‘Broadway’, WOW!  After days of rehearsals, costume detailing, lights, sound and tech we launched opening night with a BANG.  The venue was at SOLD OUT capacity all night, a full house of revelers and party seekers. The door reported that they turned away over a thousand amazingly dressed people who decided to take a chance on last minute door tickets rather then getting them in advance.  But for those that made it inside, it was a blast!  We saw a lot of friends from the West Coast, thank you to all of you that made the journey! photo by Seze Devres Then we got the news that Hurricane Sandy was making her way to the East Coast. Just a mere two days after our opening night the devastating storm touched down.  It was the largest Atlantic hurricane on record, as well as the second-costliest Atlantic hurricane in history.  The city fell silent; the trains, subways and buses came to a halt and much of Manhattan and the surrounding cities fell into darkness. photo by Seze Devres We had our second show at the theater the following Saturday and though the room filled with beautiful souls excited to feel some joy and playfulness in all the darkness, we definitely felt the effects of the storm that night.  There was a good turn out of people ready to stretch their restless limbs again but there was also a feeling of sadness for those still affected by the storm.  After all that, this Wednesday brought in the Nor’easter, New York’s first snow storm of the season…Mother Nature just keeps on working overtime it seems… hundreds of thousands of people are still without power as the temperatures continue to drop. photo by Seze Devres This Saturday as we go into week three we find ourselves, more then ever, wanting to give what we can to the relief efforts that surround us.  This Saturday the Liberty Theater in conjunction with Lucent will be having a coat, blanket and food drive fundraiser for the victims attempting to put their lives and homes back in order. We will dedicate this weekend and a portion of profits to this effort. Please come join us, bring coats, blankets and food to donate to the needy.  We will be waiting for you… you can get advanced tickets to our event HERE Take care of one another. Shine on, Lucent For bookings or sponsorship information: info@lucentdossier.com www.lucentdossier.com www.facebook.com/Lucentdossier www.twitter.com/lucentdossier www.myspace.com/lucentdossier

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West meets East-Lucent Dossier is coming to New York

Some wonderful "friends I haven't met yet" are coming to Manhattan and are setting up shop at The Liberty Theater in Times Square. Lucent Dossier Experience have been invited to make the trek from Los Angeles to be "artists in residence" at the recently restored Liberty Theater just off Times Square.  They are kicking off this residency this weekend.  What better way to start Halloween than with this band of silly, crazy, talented, creative performers?  Their costumes may be the best ones in the house.


Who are Lucent Dossier you ask?  Well, if you are/were a fan of Panic! at The Disco or the Dresden Dolls or have attended Coachella you probably know.  If your a TV viewer who has watched the Grammys, the Scream Awards or Top Chef Just Desserts last seaon, you may have seen the cirque troupe They've also performed with Motley Crue, Aerosmith and The Black Eyed Peas.

Lucent Dossier was founded by Dream Rockwell and first performed on New Year's Eve of 2004.  The Los Angeles based troupe is the epitome of post-modern gypsies-traveling performers who create with what is around them.  Wild costumes from repurposed materials, music concocted from instruments and electronic gear members brought with them.  In Dream's own words, "We are curators of environmental experiences and we do it our way. We're a little bent, we're deeply sensual and we love to have fun. The fashion or style of Lucent that people often talk about is super important to us, just 'cause it's imaginative and takes us all on a journey. The technique of our craft, which sort of falls into the realm of carnival or cirque arts is all part of it, but at the end of the day we are most interested in human alchemy.

As for the New York "Encounter specifically Dream went on to say, "I think that what's important about the NYC Lucent Encounter is that people get ready to experience something new. We are creating a little oasis for people to come into and dance and get silly, express themselves, feel a kind of unique connection with other beings, dress wild, be free. We're excited to create a space for people to come into and explore, to find new ways of relating to other humans, to find freedom of expression in all it's forms, a place to celebrate the uniqueness that is inside each one of us, a place to just get your wiggle out! Life can be hard, earth is a tough venue but when we come together in celebration it makes it all worth it, it makes it easier to get through the tough times. We're excited to build community in NY and play with new friends."

As for the Liberty Theater, this renovation and reopening is just another wonderful addition to the make-over Times Square has been experiencing for the past two decades.  The project has been the love-child of Times Square Hospitality Group.  They have not only given the old theater a face lift, they have added the option to provide catered tabled events.  The house can hold up to 1500 people now and the entire lighting and sound system has been upgraded to state of the art including projection equipment.  The design was with the intent to create a new and needed option to New York City nightlife.  Ray Trosa, co-founder of TSHG, who had seen Lucent Dossier perform, believes the cirque is a perfect match for this venue.

Lucent Dossier is managed by Andrew Cohen of Art House Live. "Lucent Encounter" is produced by Lucent Dossier and Jody Levy of Stitch Experience Design.  To purchase tickets and learn more about "Lucent Encounter" and the Liberty Theater click here.

OUR LADY rises in NYC by Our Lady — Kickstarter

OUR LADY rises in NYC by Our Lady — Kickstarter:

This project speaks to me in a number of ways.  It is a battle cry for the LGBT community.  It is a cry for help.  It is about saving our kids.  It is about the amazing, painstaking art of drag. It is a tribe-like event in my part of the world.  Please check out this Kickstarter and help if you can.  I think this is a project that needs to happen.

'via Blog this'

Sonic Chakra Yoga | Omega

Sonic Chakra Yoga | Omega:

This is a "must attend" program.  Share with Andrea Brook in the experiences of Chakara Yogo combined with the wonderful sounds of the Earth Harp.

'via Blog this'

The key is THE KEY

Last May I was introduced to my current favorite painter, Hans Haveron.  After seeing just one small element of one of his works, I hunted down the whole piece and then started digging up as many photos as I could find of the rest of his portfolio.  Even before I interviewed him the first time, I knew that I had a spiritual connection to his art and the symbolism displayed in it.

Haveron loves talking about art; his own, his friends' and anyone's that he has experienced over the years.  A child and grandchild of artists, paint runs through his veins, music powers his nervous system, performance fills his lungs.  He takes his own talents and encourages others, mentors them and inspires them through collaboration.  Arts are this man.

Once he gets talking, well...he's an interviewer's dream because he just goes and all I have to do is make sure the recorder is working.  In that waterfall of words, comes stories and one of those stories was the explanation of the symbolism of "Sepia's Secret".  The interview question had just been, "do elements of your paintings have meanings?".  Not only did he share with me the story of the painting by how he had told the story to Adam Lambert who felt so connected to it that he bought the painting. That in turn inspired  him to have the key tattooed prominently as a reminder to always create from his "child".

"The key" has also affected other artists in Hans' circle.  One of those people is Shannon Shiang.  Shannon is a jewelry designer and creator.  She has two jewelry lines; Shiang New York and Skins and Stones.  Shannon is an L.A. native who has relocated to NYC and is a long-time friend of Haveron's.  After producing some prototypes of Sepia's key, one or two of which turned up at Burning Man this year, Shiang worked with Haveron to come up with a version that will be produced on a larger scale (200 units to start).  Presale orders are being taken now for product to ship on March 20, 2012.

These artists and their work have affected my spiritual focus, not only the particular keys depicted in Hans' paintings and their symbolism but keys and locks in general.  As we enter the Age Of Aquarius or the coming of the new age foretold by the Mayans, there are things that need to be locked away and new doors and windows that need to be opened.  However, the keys involved may not be a metal object designed to insert into a lock and turned.  Maybe it refers to the key a song is written in.  The Christian bible speaks of the "new song".  Maybe this is the era that that song will be written.

Maybe it is a cipher key.  A word, a letter that provides the code to unravel a hidden message.  There may be some secret manuscript previously unnoticed by man because it just looked like some foolishness.

Or maybe it is a keystone.  That piece of material that holds an entire structure together.  That structure could be a building, a person or a society.

I will be posting pretty regularly a new "key" to this blog.  If you feel something in your life or the spaces around you needs to be added let me know.  I firmly believe there is something to this theme.  Peace always and don't forget to check out The Key at http://skinsandstones.bigcartel.com/product/hans-haveron-design-adam-lambert-tattoo-skeleton-key-pendant