Action movies and reality TV depend on quick cuts to heighten what’s happening on screen. But sometimes, one continuous take can pack an even bigger punch. Here are six music videos that push the limits physically, emotionally and technically of what’s achievable in a single take. No editing required.
Call Your Girlfriend, Robyn (2011)
With the stamina of a world-class athlete and the fashion sense of a dystopian teddy bear, Robyn dances her heart out for three-and-half minutes straight in an empty soundstage. Perfectly timed lighting changes and 360-degree camera moves bring out the triumph and heartbreak in Robyn’s vocals and elbow thrusts.
No Surprises, Radiohead (1997)
This one will leave you breathless. Thom Yorke stares straight at you from inside a diver’s helmet as it slowly fills with water. His literal suffocation excruciatingly echoes the metaphorical suffocation in the song’s lyrics. You can get a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the video in the classic Radiohead documentary, “Meeting People Is Easy.”
Two Weeks, FKA twigs (2014)
What’s better than FKA twigs? A giant FKA twigs surrounded by a handful of miniature FKA twigs dancing. Here, the multi-talented Brit presides as a golden goddess over a bevy of mini-twigs in one glorious panning shot. Though she typically directs her own videos, this one was directed by Nabil.
It took one day of shooting in a studio and months and months of post-production to put together this uncanny and futuristic video. In a pure white environment, a purely bald Bjork shifts shapes between her human body and that of a translucent blue polar bear. She’s alternately the hunter and the hunted, beautifully underscoring the song’s lyrics and her own struggle to find creative expression. Her longtime creative collaborator, Paul White, directed the video.
Although technically only the first couple minutes of this video were shot in one take, we’re including it because time-lapse makeovers are such fun to watch. This one came out a couple years before Cut Videos’ wildly popular “100 Years” series. Through hair, makeup, costume and set changes, Ingrid Michaelson transforms herself into seven music superstars before your very eyes. She proves her lyrics right: “we’re all the same under a different name.”
This Too Shall Pass, OK Go (2010)
Leave it to OK Go to dress a marching band in ghillie suits and get them to dance in a swamp. This exuberant and flawlessly executed video is actually the second one for “This Too Shall Pass.” The other one features an elaborate Rube Goldberg machine and was also shot in one take, the band’s now signature visual hook.
In the spirit of Pablo Neruda’s marvelous poetry about ordinary things, we’ve compiled a photo essay spanning the seven continents. Plato taught us long ago, that the “beauty of style and harmony and grace and good rhythm depend on simplicity.” Let’s take a moment to celebrate the design of everyday things.
Africa: Ostrich Egg
Homes all over South Africa include ostrich eggs in their array of objet d’ -art and it’s easy to see why. Perfected by nature, oversized ovals are a unique surface for artisans to decorate. Enameled, painted, or even untouched, save for a stand, the results are astounding.
Antarctica: Ice
Contemplating the ice of Antarctica is a meditation in white. Something commonly thought of as one color, is in the purity of the Arctic landscape, many, many hues. Behold shades of ghostwhite, floralwhite, ivory, lavenderblush; yes, lavenderblush, all in sheets and bergs of ice.
Asia: Bangles
Among the most beautiful creations in all corners of the Indian subcontinent are stalls of shimmering, fragile, glassy, colorful bangles sold by the dozen. A proper “sleeve” of bangles requires at least three dozen bangles. Since they’re glass, they’re expected to break. Shattering one by one, it’s time for another visit to the bazaar when they’ve all broken away.
Australia: Didgeridoo
Indigenous Australians created this exquisite instrument almost 1500 years ago from hollowed out tree limbs. How does one hollow out tree limbs? Termites do it for you. Decorative motifs vary depending on the provenance of the person making the instrument, and makes for a variety of styles and sounds. Its familiar droning is inextricably linked to the culture and people Down Under.
Europe: Tulips
It’s a flower so gorgeous it inspired a frenzy in the 1600s. Legend has it that at the height of their value, certain tulip bulbs commanded prices 10 times the yearly income of a skilled craftsman! To this day, economists use the phrase “tulip mania” when speaking about fluctuations in the intrinsic value of goods in the marketplace.
North America: Maple Syrup
During early European colonization in northeastern North America, indigenous peoples taught arriving colonists how to harvest sap for survival. Many years later, Civil War abolitionists opted to use maple syrup rather than southern sugar cane. And during WWII, maple syrup was the go-to sweetener in a time of increased rations. This is a flapjack syrup with some serious historical cred.
South America: Caipirinhas
The classic libation of Brazil that’s as fun to drink as it is to say: KAI-PE-REEN-YA. A refreshing concoction that goes great with Rio’s hot, hot, hot beaches. You can order them with a variety of fruits like pineapples, grapes or strawberries but we recommend taking it classic: a little lime juice, cachaça (sugar cane hard liquor) and a hint of sugar. Saude!
It seems like a fairly safe bet that most decently-populated destinations in the U.S. have something in the way of live music, if you look hard enough. But certain cities have built their whole identity around their music scenes, which makes them the perfect places to visit if you’re an enthusiast.
But let’s be real — who doesn’t like to see live music every once in a while? That’s like saying you don’t like to have a good time. These are some of the best destinations for live music in the country.
Nothing fosters the flow of live shows like the lack of a last call. Bars in NOLA stay open all night, which means you should plan to take an Uber, pace yourself, and make sure you bring that tube of lipstick. You’re in it for the long haul.
Things take a turn for the country when you head over to southern Texas. Known as the “Live Music Capitol of the World” due to the sheer volume of the acts happening around town on any given night, Austin’s particular flavor of country has a progressive, counterculture twist.
But as the host for big-name festivals like SXSW and Austin City Limits Music Festival, Austin is far more than just a country, blues, and rock music destination. It’s branched out to all different genres, and also exists as a hub for beginning artists looking for somewhere other than Nashville to get noticed.
The first time someone mentioned this to me, I was like, “Say what?” It seemed pretty random. But apparently, Fayetteville, with a population of around 80,000 — a figure that is up nearly 40% since 2000 — is a small, Southern community that loves its arts and culture with a fiery passion.
For instance, this spring, they’re hosting Buddy Guy at the Walton Arts Center. And their most popular venue, George’s Majestic Lounge, is the oldest venue in Arkansas and the host of a long list of popular musicians over the years, including Leon Russell, Eddie Money, Pat Green, and Sam Bush.
Check out this Fayetteville itinerary for some suggestions, and make sure to tweet some personal reviews if you make it down.
4. Asheville, NC
The “Land of the Sky” is known for being a standout, free-spirited hub in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Another Southern arts town (like Fayetteville, just bigger), Asheville keeps it lively with a constant stream of musical acts and festivals year-round.
Blues is the name of the game in Asheville. When you look at the history behind some of Asheville’s iconic venues, you’ll see musicians like the Black Keys, Madeski Martin & Wood, Bob Dylan, and Sharon Jones — but it’s a progressive environment with a place for R&B, rock, soul, pop, and electronic music, as well.
Check out ExploreAsheville.com, the city’s website, for a great rundown of the local scene.
5. Brooklyn, NY
With its rise to hipster fame in recent years, this seems like a no-brainer for great music. In fact, if you try to look online, the variety of options seems overwhelming. But Brooklyn faces a different challenge than smaller towns like Fayetteville do when it comes to sustaining growth: gentrification. With some long-standing venues shutting down due to increased rent, the Brooklyn live music scene is changing.
If you’re planning a trip and looking for a starting block, Vogue has a pretty good live music guide that will show you where to go dancing and where to chill out. For a slightly more local opinion, check out Brooklyn Mag.
6. Denver, CO
Finally, we arrive at jam band central — or, maybe, what used to be jam band central. Nowadays, what you hear about Denver’s music scene is actually regarding its diversity of genres, which includes punk, electronic, rap, and the like. Another thing you hear about Denver’s music scene is that there’s opportunity for growth, and it seems an influx of transplants are taking advantage.
Regardless of the country roots and jam band undertones, Denver now has a little bit of everything, from large stadiums to warehouses to small, gritty bars. Check out what the Guardian has to say about where to party in Denver before you travel.
There are over 800 music festivals in the United States―in fact, in 2014, 32 million people attended at least one, according to Billboard. Flamethrowers, fog walls, confetti cannons: indie music festivals pulsate with an electric energy, uniting every single concertgoer. Their atmospheres forge the unlikeliest of friendships, the liveliest of water cooler stories, and the happiest of memories.
In the 1970s, indie was the buzzword for a DIY attitude, a small-scene subculture, and the heartfelt territory of music. However, with the rise of mainstream indie bands like Vampire Weekend, Coldplay, and Snow Patrol, the term has become a titled watercolor painting, dripping in some places and swirling together in others. That’s fine with us. In our minds, indie music is for grab-it-by-the-horn people who want to share experiences that are a little bit ugly, a little bit kooky, and a little bit out of the lines. With that in mind, here are six indie music festivals that’ll help you seize the moment.
Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival
Okeechobee, Florida
Carpets of wildflowers, groves of cabbage palms, and the sparkling waters of Okeechobee, Florida’s largest freshwater lake: it’s easy to see why every year 35,000 people flock to the Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival, the Bonnaroo of the Southeast. A four-day “retreat from reality”, it presents 100, multi-genre DJs, artists, and bands. Headliners include the Kings Of Leon, Usher & The Roots, Bassnectar, The Lumineers, and Mumford & Sons. Hit up Aquachobee, an all-day beach stage with live music, Chobeewobee Village, where “there will be a lot of art installations, intimate performances, and comedy…just a little vibey area to hang and relax,” according to co-founder Paul Peck. “And then there’s Yogachobee, where we’ll have yoga, meditation, spirituality workshops, massages, healing, and a tea sanctuary.” This “big waters” festival also features some seriously good eats, from Vietnamese noodles to vegan corn dogs.
The Voodoo Music +Art Experience
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a city of “bons temps rouler” second lines—street parades thrown, sometimes on a whim, by smaller, funkier, more ragtag versions of marching bands— that has a dark undercurrent of cynicism and violence, making it America’s most haunted city. On Halloween-weekend, the Voodoo Music + Arts Experience attracts “mystics, madmen, femme fatales, gods, goddesses, and music lovers of all kinds under one collective consciousness.” Only second to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, it’s a musical gumbo stirring together 2,000 acts (including Kendrick Lamar, the Foo Fighters, and The Killers), interactive art installations, macabre costumes, and local cuisine like gator sausage po’boys, fried duck quesadillas, and of course, beignets.
Noise Pop
San Francisco, California
A quarter of a century old, Noise Pop is a musical grab bag. It’s catapulted the careers of multi-genre bands like The White Stripes, The Flaming Lips, The Shins, Bright Eyes, and more. Stretching over 11 days, the Fog City festival offers an appetizer of mini-films like My Buddha is Punk and Stronger than Bullets and a buffet of monoprints, which are often “accented by dirt, bent corners, footprints, beer spills, and sundry other accidental imperfections”. On Sundays at the Swedish American Hall, Noise Pop hosts a Smörgåsbord of free events, from the 1-2-3-4 GO! Pop-Up Vinyl Store to Litquake: I Thought It Sucked—where Bay Area musicians, writers, and performers trash talk the world’s most acclaimed albums, music legends, and even historic venues.
Austin City Limits
Austin, Texas
Welcome to the “Live Music Capital of the World”, Austin, Texas, where the beats are hot and the weather is even hotter. Who’s cranking up the “music-o’-meter”? Why it’s Austin City Limits. The 16-year-old festival has a lineup of modern music power players: Jay-Z, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, The XX, Gorillaz, and more. Here’s another reason to drop that bass. Austin City Limits offers a place for Mama and Papa bears to kick back: Austin Kiddie Limits. From noise-canceling teepees to punk-hairdo stands to hip-hop workshops, kids will be turning up their trebles. Festivalgoers can also swing by a cowboy boot-toting art market, large-scale sculptures (Our favorite? A giant picture frame for upping your selfie game!), and Tex-Mex food carts—proving everything really is bigger in Texas.
The Meadows Music & Art Festival
Queens, New York
The Meadow Music & Art Festival might only be in its sophomore year, but it’s drawn in a billboard billing: Run the Jewels, Future, Big Wild, Blood Orange, etc. Between the pyrotechnics and the confetti storm reminiscent of New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, you’ll be able to throw up hand-horns for over 60 artists. Aside from the golden lineups, you’ll want to taste the yummy nosh of Queens. There’s Colombian Arepas, Indian Pani Poori Duo, and Chinese Dumplings—it’s basically a gastronomic globe-trek. We recommend rounding out this four-day, musical tour-de-force by viewing local street art, snapping usies in Bosco’s GIF photo booth, and visiting the Unisphere and the State Pavilion.
Big Ears Festival
Knoxville, Tennessee
K-Town’s Big Ears Festival features the heroes of the 60’s and 70’s underground, modern boundary-pushing art-rockers, and renowned classical performers. Debuting in 2009, this genre-spanning, four-day festival rounds up over 60 artists each year. Past line-ups have included Blonde Redhead, Wilco, Stephin Merritt & The Magnetic Fields, and Henry Threadgill, a composer who clinched the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Music. Declared “one of the most quietly earth-shattering, subtly luminous festivals the world over”, it’s a fine arts hotbed, sponsoring free poetry expos, literary pub crawls, music Q&As, secret concerts, indie films, and art exhibits.
Out here in the west, we do things a little differently. And we’re okay with it. Sure, you’ve got your Lollapalooza and your Bonnaroo on the east coast, but we’ve got plenty of music—and, not to mention, mountains, rivers, deserts, and some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the country.
Whether you’re turned off by the fashion show that has become Coachella, or are more into festivals that include camping, hiking, and other outdoor adventures, there’s something for everyone out here in the Rocky Mountain region. From celebrating whitewater rafting and community in central Colorado to jamming out to the nation’s best bluegrass acts at the base of a ski resort in Wyoming, consider some of the best mountain town summer festivals.
Music on the Mesa
Taos, NM
Located across from the Taos Regional Aiport, between sagebrush and the Rio Grande on its namesake mesa, is Taos Mesa Brewing, HQ for the second annual Music on the Mesa. Resembling the funky, eco-inspired architecture of neighboring funky earthships, and featuring two outdoor stages, the brewery itself is a spectacle—and the beer brewed on site and food ain’t so bad either.
Due to its rather isolated location, and its inevitable cosmic vibes, the festival is admittedly going to be out there. However, those looking for a truly unique location will be more than impressed with the desert sunsets over the Sangre de Cristo mountain range.
Bonanza Campout
River’s Edge, Heber, Utah
Nestled near the old mining town of Park City, River’s Edge is a secluded area perfect for the brand-new Bonanza experience. The weekend will merge live music and local art installations with local breweries and eateries.
Telluride Bluegrass Festival
Telluride, CO
One of the nation’s premier bluegrass experiences, Telluride Bluegrass Festival is an unforgettable four days of music, mountains, and magic. Nestled in in the historic mountain town in southwest Colorado, the Telluride Bluegrass has evolved into one of the crown jewels of all summer festivals.
Need proof? Every June, droves of festivalgoers make the annual pilgrimage to the isolated but breathtaking box canyon.
FIBArk
Salida, CO
River rats unite! FIBArk is the nation’s oldest whitewater festival. Located at the base of the Rockies and on the banks of the mighty Arkansas River in the charming mountain town of Salida, the unique festival features all sorts of river and land events. Above all, the family-friendly event highlights the tight-knit Coloradan community.
Not sure what to expect? Competitions such as the Downriver Race—the longest, oldest, and perhaps toughest whitewater race in the country—and Freestyle Kayak competition test participants’ athleticism and fearlessness. Events such as the Raft Rodeo, which hands out awards “for nothing but silly moves,” and the Hooligan Race, open to anything that floats and is not a boat, highlights ingenuity and innovation with a healthy smattering of absurdity.
International Climber’s Festival
Lander, WY
A celebration of the climbing lifestyle, the International Climber’s Festival draws dirtbags (we use that term lovingly, of course) from all across the world for a weekend of climbing clinics and competitions, art, food, music, and beer. Never been to a climbing-specific event and unsure what to expect? Climbers of all abilities can find something, from classes on gear and strength training to more intensive bouldering and lead climbing clinics.
To keep festival-goers busy between getting vertical, the dog-friendly festival features morning yoga, trail runs, live music, and happy hours. The weekend also features talks, panel discussions, and some of the climbing community’s well-known athletes.
Targhee Fest and Grand Targhee Bluegrass Festival
Alta, WY
Anyone who has ever laid eyes on the imposing, jagged Teton mountain range knows that the place has a magical draw to it. And for the past several decades, Grand Targhee Resort has been giving music lovers two reasons to revisit the northwestern corner of Wyoming: for both Grand Targhee Bluegrass Festival and Targhee Fest. Drawing on the spirit of music, mountain-town charm, and sustainability, these festivals bring together food, music, and outdoor culture for two separate occasions.
The Grand Targhee Blue Grass Festival is considered the grand daddy of bluegrass festivals in the Northern Rockies. No matter your musical preference, the festivals are one of the prime escapes to hang out in the shadows of the Tetons. (Video is from the 28th Annual Targhee Bluegrass Festival in 2015)
Divide Music Festival
Winter Park, CO
Located a short drive from Denver in the ski town of Winter Park, Divide Music Festival uses the splendor of the Continental Divide as a background and highlights some huge national acts. The outdoor festival features some of Colorado’s best craft beers, local food selections and artisans and promises to be one hell of a party.
Reserve a camp spot, and be sure to pack up your mountain bike and hiking shoes—thanks to flowing rivers, scalable mountain peaks, and lush valleys, Winter Park is a veritable summer playground.
Vertex Festival
Buena Vista, CO
This festival aims to create “a modern-day frontier where anything is possible.” Surrounded by snow-capped 14,000-foot mountains at the foot of the Continental Divide on a sprawling ranch, Vertex definitely has prime real estate. However, its eclectic array of hip-hop, DJs, and rock bands will convince music fans that the festival boasts more than a pretty location.
Above all, community-minded Vertex plans to showcase the best of Colorado, including music, art, and outdoor adventures.
One of the reasons music exists is to enhance any and all situations; some is best for thinking, others are for distraction, and then there’s music for celebrating (to name a few). The celebrating kind is easy to pick out – it’s punchy, exhilarating, and just plain happy! Now we all know that it’s the little things in life that matter and whether it’s an entire night of extravagance or simply getting three and half minutes of bliss through your headphones, any moment of joy can certainly become an occasion.
As if you needed any more reasons to jump for joy on a Friday — goodbye, work – hello, world! — we’ve put together a list of the happiest tracks to get you on your way to a fabulous weekend.
Whether you’re a self-proclaimed member of the Beyhive or just another innocent onlooker, the fact that Beyonce just released a brand new album will not have escaped your attention – at least not if you’ve so much as glanced at social media in the last week.
If you’ve heard anything deeper about the release, it’s likely to be this: The central theme is her husband Jay Z’s infidelity. There’s allegedly truth in that, and make no mistakes, Queen B is full of vengeance in the first few chapters of the album. (The visual version is laid out much like a novella.) Before now, we’ve seen her Crazy in Love and then, a little later, Drunk in Love; but this is the first time we see her truly angry in love. It’s something rare and beautiful to see her show this darkly fierce side within her music; and it’s fascinating too.
If that plot line – the one where her husband cheats on her and she repays him by immortalizing his sin in verse – were the only notable feature of the album, it would still be a masterpiece. Yet, there’s so much more you need to know about Lemonade, about what’s woven between each sure-to-be hit single and why it’s culturally important.
The album features an array of pure musical legends
There’s just no denying the fact that Beyonce is a legend in her own right. When you talk to people about her and her work, everyone has a firm, unyielding opinion. She divides people so that we fall into two camps: Either people recognize her as one of the world’s great contemporary artists, or they resent the fact that she’s become so popular, given that they can’t see what all the fuss is about. Those in the latter camp will do all they can to persuade you that her fame and all that surrounds her is nothing more than well-thought-out marketing – an illusion of sorts. Still, the rest of us know the truth. Like legends before her, she has weathered the storms of the music industry, grown and changed with each release and still managed to remain relevant.
So, arguably, to work with her on a project like this one, you’d have to be someone of notability – another great of the industry. Here, Beyonce has pulled together some of music’s most creative artists. From an unexpected collaboration with Jack White and writing credits from Robert Plant to her sampling the likes of The Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Animal Collective, this is a highly diverse album. Forget your average pop record; Beyonce has used her industry influence to entice some spectacular artists. That in itself should be reason enough to listen to it in one sitting – from start to finish.
The visual album will be submitted for an Emmy
For those of you still under the impression that Lemonade is merely a collection of music videos and catchy tracks, perhaps this will change your mind. Since the visual album first aired on television a little more than a week ago, it is actually eligible for Emmy consideration. Unsurprisingly, the executives at HBO have decided to submit the video release. Despite the fact that the album was available for just 27 hours, it still had its initial release on TV – and that’s all the panels needs to go on. Sadly, you can no longer catch the full visual album on the channel, but there are still options. You can buy the album on iTunes, which comes complete with all the videos, or you can sign up for TIDAL (that’s Jay Z’s music streaming service) and watch it there.
It absolutely is about the experiences of black women
Aside from the undeniably real focus on the instability of her marriage, there is yet more to this album than a mere tale of a love story gone wrong. Within the visual album, she quotes Malcolm X, stating:
“The most disrespected person in America is the black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the black woman. The most neglected person in America is the black woman.”
Those who listen to and watch the album without acknowledging this fact may still enjoy it on a surface level, but it is by no means something that should be overlooked. Throughout the videos, she includes a selection of symbolic imagery to this effect: hoards of black woman coming together to hold hands and tell their individual stories to the camera. These women are here to be seen.
This is Beyonce making a statement about her history and heritage, about the struggles that many women like her face when it comes to being recognized by the greater community. It is her telling the world that this is still an issue today, even in a Western society that many of us perceive to be more equal than ever.
It’s a convincing and weighty sentiment. What’s more, it marks a change in Beyonce’s statements, a more political side of the songstress. This is the woman who just three years ago, in Vogue, replied to the question of whether she was a feminist with:
“I don’t know. That word can be very extreme. But I guess I am a modern-day feminist.”
“Hot Sauce” turns out to be a baseball bat
Back in January, Beyonce released the single “Formation” – the same song she performed live at the Super Bowl less than a month later. The song and performance were controversial for numerous reasons; but among all the hype, there was one lyric that stuck in all our minds: “I got hot sauce in my bag.” Wait, what? Why was Beyonce carrying hot sauce everywhere she went? Surely, she’s the kind of lady who frequents the type of restaurants where the condiments are thrown in free of charge, right? We were all a little baffled by this reference in an otherwise flawless, not to mention sensical, song.
Well, all becomes clear when you watch the second video of her album, the one that accompanies the song “Hold Up.” Clad in an outrageous yellow dress, Beyonce is seen smashing up the streets with a baseball bat. Look a little closer and you’ll see a faint inscription on the weapon: “hot sauce.”
The poetry between songs is just that – and it’s not by Beyonce
While the audio album is nothing short of brilliant, it lacks something that the visual album has to offer – poetry. In the film version, Beyonce punctuates the gap between each song with readings of strangely vivid poetry extracts. In fact, the words are the work of another rising star. Warsan Shire is a Somali–British poet who already has a cult-internet following. I’ll admit that before this, I had no idea who she was; I’d not so much as heard the name. I doubt I’m alone. Now, though, she will undoubtedly widen her audience further still, and so she should.
A stand-out line, which is likely to stick with you long after you’ve finished the album, plays with the idea of love – both family love and romantic love:
“My father’s arms around my mother’s neck, fruit too ripe to eat. I think of lovers as trees … growing to and from one another. Searching for the same light.”
Hearing Beyonce’s voice-over of these words – this striking imagery against the backdrop of her bizarre visuals – is utterly awe-inspiring.
Of course, you don’t have to know all of the above to find joy in Beyonce’s latest musical offering. It stands alone as a catchy R&B album with a few rare digressions into soul and even country too. It asks nothing more of you if you’ve nothing you’re willing to give. Dig a little deeper, though, and it’s a work of unlike any other in mainstream music; showcasing the most mature version of the star yet and allowing her to break violently into a new era of her career.
Staring out the window as rain slips down the glass panes, I’m draped in a culmination of winter layers, the warmth of a hot coffee dripping down my throat. The spring collection of Free People’s Kaleidoscope Skies is indulging my excitement for summer. Festival season is soon approaching, and I’m getting ever more hopeful that I will soon be able to shed my black winter wardrobe for the colorful classics of festival season.
Festival life has a fashion all its own where you can leave your city esthetics behind and adorn yourself like the colorful, rainbow flower-child inside. During festival season we are able to indulge that part of ourselves that only gets to blossom a few times each year when we’re frolicking in the fields, with music humming in the air, surrounded by strangers, united by music.
FANCIFUL IN FRINGE
At festivals I love fringe. Fringe jackets, fringe vests, fringe necklaces, fringe skirts, fringe you cut up and make yourself. Fringe makes everything more festive.
PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER IN A ROMPER
Rompers are definitely my go to at summer festivals. Shorts, pants, tight, loose, fitted, there are so many options to fit any mood. It’s the perfect Sunday outfit when the long weekend of fun and debauchery leaves you wanting to just throw something on and enjoy the day, hassle free in full comfort.
ELECTRIFY THE DANCE FLOOR IN PATTERNS
Often in my non-festival life I feel a bit shy of over doing it with colors. I use festivals as a time to wear the brightest and most electric colors to decorate myself.
ALWAYS LOVELY IN LACE
Lace adds a feminine touch to the sometimes boyish look of ripped up cut off jean shorts. Simultaneously, lace looks beautiful with long skirts, and lace vests are a great addition to wear over summer dresses. A perfect way to accessorize, lace just gives you an extra little hint of lightness.
Bring any or all of these along with you to the festival grounds and you’ll be feeling like a beautiful summer babe on the dance floor.
It’s that time of year again: time to get out your cut off jean shorts, throw on your favorite dancing shoes, and get into your best festival gear. Summer festivals are the highlights of this sunny season we wait so patiently for every year from our winter abodes.
As touring becomes one of the only viable ways for musicians to make a living, more and more music festivals are popping up across the country. Festivals are what draw us out into the exploratory summer season to see who’s who and what’s what and dive into the never-ending hopes of what might happen on the dance floor. Discovering new music and hearing old favorites are what create the ecstatic memories of summer days. Here, we’ve put together some of our favorite festival choices for this summer’s musical lineups.
SASQUATCH – May 27th to 30th – The Gorge Washington
Sasquatch has to be the most scenic festival that happens all summer. Held right over the beautiful gorge in Washington State in a natural amphitheater, it is the best backdrop for any artist, and this year their lineup is spectacular. Sasquatch has an eclectic lineup of musicians from hip hop artists like A$AP Rocky, to the electronic tones of Grimes.
PITCHFORK – July 15th to 17th – Union Park, Chicago
Following in the footsteps of longstanding festival Lollapalooza, the well-known music blog Pitchfork has been hosting an annual music festival in Chicago. Pitchfork has become famous for being on top of the up and comers in the music biz. During the Pitchfork festival they host a wide range of those artists just hopping on to the main stream scene. Musical acts like FKA Twigs, Porches and Blood Orange are just a few of the varied musicians Pitchfork will be showcasing this year.
COACHELLA – April 15th to 17th and 22nd to 24th – Indio, California
Each year the best of the best from the music industry make the trek out to L.A. to catch a glimpse of what’s happening at the forefront on the global and national scene. Because of the crazy crowds I’ve heard its best to try your luck staying out of the festival grounds and hitting the VIP parties in and around Los Angeles You never know who you might find in the city streets.
WANDERLUST
Wanderlust festivals occur throughout the summer in various places across the U.S. This is not a music festival, but rather a yoga festival. Wanderlust festivals offer a space to deepen into your personal practice, find other like-minded individuals, and enjoy a high caliber of teachers from all over the world. The music is more of a side note but some of the acts are quite extraordinary.
PANORAMA – July 22nd to 24th – Randall’s Island Park, NYC
For the past few years Governor’s Ball festival has been holding down the summer music vibes on Randall’s Island in NYC, but this year Panorama is making its island debut. With headliners like LCD Soundsystem, Kendrick Lamar, and Arcade Fire, I have a feeling it’s going to be an East Coast adventure not to miss.
MO POP – July 23rd and 24th – West Riverton Park, Detroit
Detroit is landing more and more on the lips of those talking about artistic movements. It has become a hotspot for a growing art scene, which has sparked a number of festivals in the city, including Mo Pop. This year’s lineup is especially exciting, with many of the headlining acts being musicians I love, yet rarely find on festival flyers. Artists like Father John Misty, Shakey Graves, Glass Animals, The Head and the Heart, M83 and Haim will be sharing their musical styles.
SYMBIOSIS – September 22nd to 25th – Woodward Reservoir, California
In the world of West Coast electronic music festivals, Symbiosis is the best. Held just a few weeks after Burning Man, the Symbiosis team brings many of the musicians and art installations from the dessert out to the lake. People engage in a fantasy land of lights, color, sunshine and water for a camping gathering that’s all about the art.
Now that we’ve helped you on your merry festival way, get that sunny weather outfit ready and book your tickets to memory-making, music land U.S.A.
Janelle Monae is WCW every day for her amazing, soulful voice, empowering and creative music, as well as her down-to-earth treatment of her fans and her work as an activist. Here are a few things we love about The Electric Lady herself.
MUSIC
Janelle Monáe has won Black Girls Rock! awards, a Soul Train Award, an MTV Video Music Award, and numerous other awards. From this, you can tell there is something extraordinary about her. One of her most well-known tracks is “Q.U.E.E.N.” from her 2013 album The Electric Lady.
While there are a lot of empowering songs out there, this song is fantastic because it addresses and empowers marginalized groups with a groovy blend of funk and hip-hop.
FAN INTERACTION
Janelle Monáe cares very deeply about her fans, often encouraging them to embrace what makes them unique and underlines the fact that they don’t have to be perfect. At the 2012 Black Girls Rock! Awards, she delivered a moving speech telling them not to change who they are because she didn’t have to do so to become a Covergirl.
In 2014, she got up close and personal with a ten year old fan named McKynzie Duhon on The Queen Latifah Show. After hearing how Mckynzie was inspired by her, Janelle Monáe decided to surprise her backstage before the show and gave her sound advice on air.
ACTIVISM
One of the lyrics in Janelle Monáe’s song “Q.U.E.EN.” is, “March through the streets ‘cause I’m willing and I’m able”. Last year, she put these lyrics into action when she led peaceful protest marches with members of her record label Wondaland in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
In addition to this, she also released the protest song “Hell You Talmbout” and performed it during the protest marches in Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York.
A lifestyle magazine inspired by author Sylvia Day