IamBrenda

My life devout of music videos and whatever else I may spew...Shout out to Fab Ciraolo for turning female icons into empowering hipsters.

[iambrendaburgen]

Joywave  – Tongues (2014)

As my friend Donovan exclaimed while we were piss drunk and dancing wildly at the Joywave/Metric concert, these guys are going to be BIG. You just wait.

And I agree. I came across Joywave in 2012 when they came out with their first album Koda Vista and I was strutting around art school and thought shrooms were cool. I’ve been shazaming their songs ever since. 

The only reason why I wanted a smart phone in the first place, duh. 

Not only does Daniel Armbruster, the lead singer of the the band, have a quirky but inviting stage presence, the light display blew my fucking mind. These guys stop at nothing to enjoy their own show and that’s the best kind of dance party. As a performer, I love going to concerts and seeing musicians actually enjoy what they do, I mean, it’s their god damn passion right? Right.

I also just wanted to shout out to Joywave for their never ending supply of interesting music videos. I stumbled upon their music video for Tongues, coincidentally my favorite song by them, and I wanted to point out and share their obvious use of imagery to convey our ideals of freedom. 

We as rebel youth often are plagued by the idea of being free, perhaps spreading our wings to start anew. I find myself unable to relate to the standard of living in the place where I grew up because I’m just not acclimated to their traditions anymore. The world is changing just as fast as we are every day. There’s a time to come to a place but their is also always a time to go. As an artist it is easy to become misunderstood. I face challenges every day that dictate if I get the chance to follow my dream or not.

But, letting such negativity control how you live your life is toxic. I have been bogged down by so many people who don’t believe in my art and have tried to tear me down with their own insecurities. I refuse to let that happen anymore.  

Thank you Joywave for giving my the courage to follow my heart and not be afraid to be who I am and take a chance by moving to a new city. Music is a powerful element of this world, constantly influencing us one way or the other. How magical indeed.

NOW GO LISTEN TO THEIR MUSIC AND DANCE 

[iambrendaburgen]

alt-J –  Breezeblocks (2012)

When I was in college, one of our favorite drinking games was to get really wasted and read the lyrics to alt-J songs. Why you ask? Because...well...maybe you should see for yourself...

Fitzpleasure by alt-J

Tralala, In your snatch fits pleasure, broom-shaped pleasure, Deep greedy and Googling every corner. Dead in the middle of the C-O-double M-O-N, Little did I know then That the Mandela Boys soon become Mandela Men. Tall woman, pull the pylons down And wrap them around the necks Of all the feckless men that queue to be the next. Steepled fingers, ring leaders, Queue jumpers, rock fist paper scissors, lingered fluffers. In your hoof lies the heartland Where we tent for our treasure, pleasure, leisure, les yeux, It's all in your eyes. In your snatch fits pleasure, broom-shaped pleasure, Deep greedy and Googling every corner, Blended by the lights.

Dude, Alt-J doesn’t even know what they’re singing...

I have scoured the dark depths of internet to find the true meaning behind Fitzpleasure and this is what I found: NO. ONE. KNOWS.

!!!

They’re so mysterious and enigmatic that their name is literally the Greek symbol for delta but pronounced the way you create the symbol using your Macbook keyboard. It’s like Prince all over again, changing his name to an unpronounceable symbol. Unlike Alt-J, Prince did this out of spite because he couldn’t get out of a shitty contract with Warner Bros who wanted him to slow down his CD production so he can be reinvented. Like that makes any sense.

But that symbol does make a really cool electric guitar. 

Like Prince, Alt-J’s fans have joined forces to support their new love for the quirky band by flocking to their concerts and throwing up their hands 3OH3! style (more about that in a later blog post). My theory? Classic Illuminati infiltration. They already have Beyonce and Jay-Z working for them so why not alt-J with their entrancing beats and mumbled Gregorian chant-like tones? 

...

But I can’t say that alt-J is associated with the Illuminati because according to several interviews, they want to remain undefined to all of us. Can you blame them though? I would be tired of living in a world where everybody is trying so desperately to define every little detail about their lifestyle (insert barfing noise here). Furthermore, how can you musically define a band that draws from influences all over the spectrum: acid house music, trip-hop ambiance, indie rock eccentricity, hip-hop beats, heavy electronic synth, poptastic discourse all wound up into rock-rattling bass that accompanies intimate lyrics that make no sense at first. It’s hipster magic. 

But mom, look how much fun we’re having...

So I now I present the artist formerly known as Daljit Dhaliwal and Films, the infamous ∆. The video for Breezeblocks should be watched with an open mind. Don’t assume because well...you know how that saying goes...

[iambrendaburgen]

of Montreal -- Heimdalsgate Like A Promethean Curse (2007)

In honor of my very first post, I am presenting to you the madness that is of Montreal and they’re infamous leading man, Kevin Barnes (aka my favorite band of all time).

Back story of how I discovered this band and their beautiful front-man: I was dating an agreeably cute drummer in high school -- don’t worry guys; the charm wore off when he ate free garlic bread at our dinner for senior prom. One night we’re out cruising with some of his buddies when his friend Chewy introduced me to this song: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8cCPH1qnYI

Recognize the tune? That’s because the Outback Steakhouse theme is basically the same song. Don’t believe me? Check it: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Mvm6KfJDE0

Now, that being said, let’s fast forward to my freshman year of college where my newly found friend group discovered that of Montreal was going to be playing nearby. I was 18 and basically down to do just about anything so we loaded up the car and had some “fun” on a school night – school nights don’t really exist once college hits because you can always justify all of your actions, “It’s just one more (insert drug/alcohol here).”

Long story short, the concert was INCREDIBLE. Not just a show but a trippy mind-blowing experience that I’m sure could never be duplicated (especially the part where he shook my hand and gave me a pouch of fake blood as a souvenir). The venue was perfect, the music touched my soul, and even when he’s decked out head to toe in lady’s underwear, Kevin Barnes is still the sexist man alive. Seriously, who can resist this face?

 Look! He’s even best friends with Susan Sarandon.

If you want to know what an Of Montreal concert extravaganza looks like, look no further:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnezWNrddLE 

Trust me, if I could have sex with Kevin Barnes while wearing a pig mask as he vomited glitter all over my naked body in front of thousands of people, I would. No payment necessary. Besides my bestial fantasies, here are ten interesting facts about Mr. Barnes:

1. He has mixed feelings for Radiohead: “I feel like most of the time when a Radiohead song comes on, I find myself thinking like, ‘Ah what is this? It’s putting me in the weirdest mood right now, like, someone tell me, like, who this is,’ and it’s always Radiohead…they deserve love like everyone else.”

2. In his younger days, he stole a switchblade from a pawn shop. He claims he hasn’t stabbed anybody with it...yet..

3. He thinks mainstream American cinema is “boring”.

4. He understands banality: “My shrooms experience was fun but then I went into this apartment and they were watching Pink Floyd’s: The Wall and I was like, ‘Agh, this is so cliché,’…but I liked it when I was out in the forrest and looking at the leaves.”

5. He likes sports. Mostly American football: “It’s really uncool. It’s terrible. I have to do it in the dark, in the closet or something.”

6. He doesn’t believe in karma or an afterlife that resembles this life. He hopes that, “When we die, we lose our sense of individualism and become energy for the universe.” (that’s some deep shit).

7. He’s utterly sarcastic when asked about his debauchery: “Happy face emoticon doing something unexpected in a carefree manner.”

8. His drink of choice is a Gin and Tonic. However, when he is writing, is preferred beverage is Yerba Matte.

9. Of Montreal is not from Canada: “I mean, I like Canada, I kind of wish I was from Canada, you know what I mean? It would have probably been easier for us early on to get some government support or something.”

10. When asked, “Which moment would you say has most fulfilled you as a musician,” this was his response: “All fulfillment is fleeting so i don't really carry around happy memories, i'm always chasing the feeling and hoping it will come again, but when it passes it was almost like it never happened.” (Woah)

So go and be free to enjoy of Montreal’s insane emotional baggage to cry over for ages to come. I know I’ll be prepped with my Nutella and a spoon.

 Today’s blog post brought to you by Of Montreal Muffins! Mmm…