tag:coconutspaceship.com,2005:/blogs/interviews?p=2Interviews2022-10-08T14:44:47-07:00Coconut Spaceshipfalsetag:coconutspaceship.com,2005:Post/70770562022-10-08T14:44:47-07:002023-10-16T08:00:52-07:00A DOSE OF DESERT DAZE - LA ARTISTS COVER THEIR FAVORITE ACTS FROM THE FESTIVAL'S 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY SHOW<p><strong>By Jeanna Fournier</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_small"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/3aa10a12f038724f43516746eb787811877ea993/original/kinggizzard-thelizardwizard-nikkineumann-dd22-54.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Photo by Nikki Neumann</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Desert Daze has become a staple in Southern California’s psychedelic music scene over the past decade, and my first dose of the inter-dimensional festival last weekend served to be a delicious concoction of trippy ear candy and mind-bending acts that altered my previously defined vision of “psych” music. From the shredding King Gizzard set, to the thumping bass lines of new-to-us Belgian electronic duo Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul, to the wavy synthesizers blazing the beach from post-punk femmes Automatic — all of the acts provided a taste of the eclectic, psych underground that felt fresh on the festival circuit. Not to mention a “Meat The Beetles” bug tasting, kaleidoscopic art installations, and the surreal view of Lake Perris on the desert shore — it was a weekend I’ll never forget. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">I ventured to the festival with my companion, galactic dream pop artist Polartropica, armed with festival supplies and our little mushroom hats courtesy of Wicked Hippie. Surrounded by thousands of music aficionados on the sand, I still experienced the intimacy of a home show with good vibes and great friends all around. So I asked local artists who made the trip from La La Land to the desert to join in covering some favorite acts from the fest. Let’s start with a couple of my picks, L.A. Witch and Sloppy Jane, who we’ll also feature later on in interviews along with heavy-psych rock French band, SLIFT… </p>
<hr><p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/d37d0c03538dffd7500c4207992d2ddb8a85e660/original/jeanna-1.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_none" alt="" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_small">Photo by Nikki Neumann</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong>JEANNA FOURNIER - SINGER + GUITARIST OF LITTLE GALAXIES </strong></h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>Music Picks: L.A. Witch + Sloppy Jane</em> </strong></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/0730a21768566bcf2e31ddc50f833c26f4688820/original/dsc-0389.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_small">Photo by Jeanna Fournier</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">L.A. Witch</h2>
<p style="text-align: center;">The rumbling low end and retro vocals akin to a rock n’ roll Nancy Sinatra radiated the air just beyond the water on the Beach Stage. With jangly guitars on high-octane, L.A. Witch’s set was everything I wanted to hear after blaring their song 'Fire Starter' on repeat since they released the garage rock banger in 2020. They landed in full-force with fierce style in the late afternoon — bass player Irita Pai pulsing rhythms in a pair of red, cat-eye shades and rhinestone mesh flaring in the rays…lead singer Sade Sanchez ripping solos steeped with reverb in a black, studded bikini top — the LA natives melted our eyes and ears in the most wonderful way under the desert sun.</p>
<hr><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/3edbd2b4a1c66c91aad99e40c46a775e7f9a1cc2/original/dsc-0244-2.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_small">Photo by Jeanna Fournier</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">SLOPPY JANE </h2>
<p style="text-align: center;">There’s nothing messy about the musical theatrics of Sloppy Jane’s punk orchestra. The artist commanded the Block Stage with a set ranging from what she calls “goth Freddie Mercury” to the cinematic stylings of her impeccable band complete with a string section. She courageously climbed atop the bass drum in a pair of shiny blue stiletto boots, joined her band members for a line of kicks, and even conducted, waving her hands in the air with precision and grace. Her matching sparkly blue bodysuit, velvet cape, and dripping eyes were the perfect accessories to her animated performances on scorchers like 'Where’s My Wife', when she rolled to the ground, legs floating above the masses. She even ended the set with a New Years countdown with the whole crowd chanting along. The only thing we could have asked for is more. </p>
<hr><p style="text-align: center;"><strong><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/f796b8fcfe4069b28a28ab98f974751efd2ea157/original/ali-carzon.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></strong></p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<strong>ALI CATRON - Fashion Stylist + Music Aficionado </strong> </h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>Music Pick: Automatic</strong></em></p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/3517b1e67cd508ef46069b5877df3c81446307b2/original/dsc-0553.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></h2>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_small">Photo by Jeanna Fournier</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><strong>AUTOMATIC</strong></h2>
<p style="text-align: center;">"Several times throughout the weekend Automatic had come up, so I knew I wanted to check them out come Sunday. What the band calls a 'dystopian sci-fi opus' – I found myself bouncing on the beach and kicking up sand dancing to their dark doom pop synths and mechanical beats. Managing to combine the playfulness of '80s New Wave, with monotone vocals that at times felt eerie yet charming. If the apocalypse is brewing, I’m glad these ladies are supplying the soundtrack." - Ali Catron</p>
<hr><h3 style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/5c08a1ae77211702b9d57d063e7991682b818175/original/polar-1.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_small">Photo by Jeanna Fournier</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong>POLARTROPICA - DREAM POP ARTIST </strong></h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>Music Pick: Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul</strong></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/b9773c3d7860a0db3a1521311f6d775024fc774a/original/dsc-0720.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_small">Photo by Jeanna Fournier</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul</h2>
<p style="text-align: center;">"Shimmering, pulsating glowing oasis of Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul's sparkling set post nightfall on day 1 at the Sanctuary stage still resonates hard in my soul. The duo powerfully commanded the stage, and we were completely entranced with the entire crowd following every word and delicious beat. The tracks were intricate and sassy, performed with a playful coolness, intercut with moments of absolute bliss." </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">"Charlotte and Bolis' storytelling felt intimate, and in the groovy delicious beats were messages and wisdom… moments like this really help me believe in the humanity and transformative power of art and music – the amazing kind are when the message translates in a way that you can feel in your core, and this set did just that. Standout surrealist delightful moment was when Charlotte dedicated 'HAHA' to anyone that took mushrooms ~ it encompassed the vibe of the night, and even helped anyone not on mushrooms easily feel the contact high."</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">"Charlotte and Bolis were also a vision on stage, with fashion on point – Charlotte's fuzzy multiple piece set, complete with hat complimented her vibrant, cheeky dance moves and Bolis' jumpsuit with brightly colored intricate patterning really accentuated his modern-day wizard mastermind persona onstage constructing hot beats behind his sonic workstation."</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">"Friends always ask who I'm most excited to see at festivals, and I'm always most excited to see something I didn't even think existed that blows my mind in a way that I see the world differently or feel something I haven't felt before - and this set was it for me. Hands down my favorite of the entire festival and possibly 2022, which I know is saying a lot considering the epic lineup this year." </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">"I can't thank Shazila enough for the hot rec, I'll never forget walking up to the oasis-looking Sanctuary stage, tired with my hot vegan nachos in hand, barely able to believe my eyes and ears at the fantastical delight of Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul with the jovial crowd. As a musician and lover of music and art with every part of my being, I know I'm not alone in the sentiment that I absolutely cannot wait to see them again! Thank you Desert Daze." </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">"While I was jamming out and eating nachos, someone in the crowd came by and was like, 'When I see two mushroom hats I know I’m in the right place, that’s where the good music is at.' " - Polartropica</p>
<hr><p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/2771d38d2a30dd6eae30193038e336aa9f444630/original/velvet-starlings.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong>CHRISTIAN GISBORNE - SINGER + GUITARIST OF VELVET STARLINGS </strong></h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>Music Picks: King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard + SLIFT</strong> </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/a7688794b19e1839427dd8b78e16dadeef39f966/original/kinggizzard-thelizardwizard-nikkineumann-dd22-48.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><span class="font_small">Photo by Nikki Neumann</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD </h2>
<p style="text-align: center;">"You’d think the first thing that comes to mind when you picture Desert Daze may not be people trying to dance to a metal riff with a 9/8 time signature, but at a King Gizz show anything is possible! I figured they’d play to their audience and start with some trippy psych rock tunes that Tame Impala fans might dig but Stu and Joey came out holding their thrash guitars and the rest is history." </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">"What I think is most impressive is their ability to go from the chill, synthy festival vibes of 'Magenta Mountain' to <em>Infest the Rats Nest’s</em> metal closer 'Hell' and have it somehow feel so cohesive in a set. This was my 5th KGLW show this year! And I’m headed to Denver next week to catch them twice for their 3 hour marathon sets. By next week they’ll have 3 more albums out. And that’s not even me joking. Look it up!" - Christian Gisborne</p>
<hr><p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/88a7ac4258e2553a02985c12220e0772863682ee/original/dsc-0924.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_small">Photo by Jeanna Fournier</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">SLIFT</h2>
<p style="text-align: center;">"Desert Daze was packed with amazing artists who’ve graced the stage on past lineups, graduating from early morning slots on small stages to playing night time on the Block and Moon stages. However, French psych power trio SLIFT made not only their Desert Daze debut, but I believe it was their 3rd US show ever!" </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">"I was able to catch them at their sold out show at The Echo with Death Valley Girls opening just days before, but their Desert Daze performance was something else. They hit the stage with some trippy, pulsating projections while Jean was setting up and once the drums kicked in for their 2020 psych hit 'Ummon', the entire crowd was going crazy. We’ll see them on the lineup in 2023 or 2024 no question." - Christian Gisborne</p>
<hr><p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/6c442cc42c8a0daf949a06e7b501a2aa25cd8415/original/shane-graham.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong>SHANE GRAHAM - DRUMMER OF DREAM PHASES + SUPERGLOOM</strong></h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>Music Pick: Tame Impala </strong></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/6b358d02bbad3576f89abbe88979dfefade755f9/original/tameimpala-nikkineumann-dd22-4.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></strong></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_small">Photo by Nikki Neumann</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><strong>TAME IMPALA</strong></h2>
<p style="text-align: center;">"Tame Impala returned to Desert Daze for a nostalgic-fueled set performing their sophomore album <em>Lonerism</em> in its entirety. As soon as they kicked into their first song, 'Be Above it', the crowd went crazy with a thunderous roar. It seemed like nearly everyone had their phone out to film and capture each epic moment. The band extended the tune with a dancey flare, reminiscent of their more recent releases. A personal favorite was 'Apocalypse Dreams', which was the third song of the night. They extended the half-time psychedelic section and did an incredible jam that broke down into just the guitar by itself and then was followed by monstrous drum fills and the half-time section a couple more times with a tight ending. When they kicked into 'Elephant', the crowd was dosed with amazing laser lights and went into a frenzy." </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">"They performed every song off the album with precision accompanied by amazing visuals. The vocals were a bit more clear than they are on the record, which was a nice change to clearly hear the melodies. The band has some of the best sound and stage production in the industry. Toward the end, Kevin Parker had to stop and take a moment to soak the whole experience in. The last time Tame Impala performed at Desert Daze in 2019, they were shut down after 3 songs due to rain and a thunderstorm. Kevin said he thinks about that day every day. Tame Impala did not disappoint this time around and they by far had the largest crowd of the weekend!" - Shane Graham</p>
<hr><p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/934ef2648a40fcc19145f70aad65a5587c6513c1/original/sean-fleming.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_small">Photo by Nikki Neumann</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong>SEAN FLEMING - SINGER-SONGWRITER</strong></h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>Music Pick: Lady Wray</strong></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/a9e2871e2180278e1aa7c51b59cf03b1f94a1cba/original/dsc-0381-2.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><span class="font_small">Photo by Jeanna Fournier</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_small">LADY WRAY</span></h2>
<p style="text-align: center;">"Lady Wray’s Desert Daze 2022 set was magic. Festival attendees like me, who danced under the brutal sun during the 2:30pm set, were rewarded handsomely with a peaceful, easy feeling which I still cannot shake. During earlier heavy Covid lockdown days, I spent many solo dance parties rocking out to Lady Wray’s many gems, such as 'Come On In' and 'Piece Of Me.' It was an absolute treat to experience Lady Nicole Wray live — shining bright, bringing a swaying crowd of music kind music lovers together — all the while, wearing a groovy disco cat suit, sparkly tail and all! Shout out to Phil of Desert Daze for an incredible weekend, Brainstory, the incredible band who backed Lady Wray, and Big Crown Records for giving great artists like Lady Wray a home." - Sean Fleming</p>
<hr><p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/7c272a7de7698d9fe69dc81264241e1feebc5683/original/image000000.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_small">Photo by Nikki Neumann</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong>SEAN FORTIER - SINGER + GUITARIST OF THE NATURAL SUPERNATURAL </strong></h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>Music Pick: Kikagaku Moyo</strong></em> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/7da687e302ddf8d72e8741ac2e928a673279a37b/original/kikagakumoyo-nikkineumann-dd22-69.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><span class="font_small">Photo by Nikki Neumann</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><strong><span class="font_small">KIKAGAKU MOYO</span></strong></h2>
<p style="text-align: center;">"It was my birthday. I was sitting in a cozy independent radio station in the back of a rock memorabilia stuffed bar called the Boogaloo in North London. An acoustic guitar resting on my lap. It was my first time performing on air, and now I was being interviewed by an amazing keyboardist named Mickey Beans. And I was frozen in place, my mouth hanging open – " </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">'Kikagaku Moyo...' </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">'I love them!'</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">'They’re breaking up.' </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">'Wait what?' </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">It was my birthday... </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">"At the 9th Annual Desert Daze, 4 months earlier, Nikki slips a festival band on my wrist and looks me in the eyes – 'I’ll meet you right here for Kikagaku Moyo', before launching herself into the photo pit, camera clicking like an overgrown cicada. We never found each other, but I did watch the set on the strength of her vociferous recommendation. Oof. What a band." </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">"And now a year later, the last time I see Kikagaku Moyo, Nikki and I finally caught them together at The Wiltern a week ago. She’s in the photo pit again. I’m walking with Jeanna and Polartropica, newly minted artist wristbands hanging from their wrists – we part company as they meander backstage. Intricate, melodic sitar lines hang in the air writing glowing cursive in the neon haze. Kikagaku Moyo." </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">"I find myself backstage, then sidestage. My black sequined blazer and long hair good enough to shuttle me through security. I find Jeanna and Polar (her mushroom hat a beacon), just as Go, Tomo, Kotsu, Daoud, and Ryu slip into a groove tasty enough to make Thomas Keller blush, filthy as a pair of Desert Daze dress shoes." </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">"Geometric shapes (Kikagaku Moyo) emblazon on my eyelids as acid guitar riffs bloom out of the fertile, polyrhythmic soil, seeping rootlike tendrils into all of us – dissolving skin and pooling spirit and soul into a resplendent mixture that shines like the rainbow moon over Lake Perris. It’s tribal. It’s ancient. It’s forever. A band practiced in the art of psych rock as a psychedelic." </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">"I won’t see Kikagaku Moyo again. They’re breaking up. I missed the years of busking in Japan. I missed the endless, roiling jam sessions. They’re breaking up at their peak, because they’re at their peak. 'We’ve accomplished what we wanted to as a band.' What a thought." </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">"As the final notes ring out and Kikagaku Moyo give their final North American Festival bow, an overwhelming sense of love and gratitude pours out of me. I look around, people are crying. Others shuffle off to Shannon and the Clams, others jockey for a spot for Tame Impala. I stand in joyful silence. I’d seen a life well lived, and there’s no sadness in me." </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">"The night draws to an inky close and I close my eyes, sequestered in a tent buffeted by campground revelry. I’m myself again, but desperately more. I’m shivering with inspiration. Kikagaku Moyo…The band that reaches forward through time and inspires me time and again: Thanks for the past, the present, and the future. I look forward to our next adventure." - Sean Fortier </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/252951d228092e900fc0517eb8876799f2104d46/original/kikagakumoyo-nikkineumann-dd22-80.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><span class="font_small">Photo by Nikki Neumann </span> </p>
<hr><p style="text-align: center;">Thank you to all of the wonderful LA musicians and creatives who contributed to our article. And special thanks to Nikki Neumann for the rad photos! You can give them a follow at the links below.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Featured LA Artists:</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Sean Fortier - <a contents="The Natural Supernatural" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/thenaturalsupernaturalband/?hl=en">The Natural Supernatural</a></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a contents="Sean Fleming" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/sven_fleming/"><strong>Sean Fleming</strong></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Shane Graham - <a contents="Dream Phases" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/dreamphases/">Dream Phases</a> / <a contents="Supergloom" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/supergl00m/">Supergloom</a></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Christian Gisborne - <a contents="Velvet Starlings" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/velvetstarlings/">Velvet Starlings</a></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a contents="Polartropica" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/polartropica/"><strong>Polartropica</strong></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a contents="Ali Catron" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/ali_catron/"><strong>Ali Catron</strong></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Jeanna Fournier - <a contents="Little Galaxies" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/littlegalaxies/">Little Galaxies</a> </strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a contents="Nikki Neumann" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/nkknmnn/"><strong>Nikki Neumann</strong></a></p>
<hr><p style="text-align: center;">Congrats to Desert Daze on their 10 year anniversary! It was one hell of an exploratory adventure and we can't wait to see what next year's lineup looks like. Until next time! 🚀 </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/eab761e737c1fe2c71abe7a557f68a5fa5e77517/original/dsc-0970.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/c9d4822684f9e5014c4551d1b76418e6b9185f89/original/dsc-0159.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>Coconut Spaceshiptag:coconutspaceship.com,2005:Post/70387252022-08-16T07:00:00-07:002022-10-08T13:58:48-07:00Miss Jupiter’s New Album 'Phallacy' is a Space Age Rock Odyssey Exposing the Fallacies of Modern Society <p><strong>By Jeanna Fournier</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/d10631ecb08bd13e0b1f1bd00e2338f36619639d/original/digital-cover-art-copy-rgb-by-parker-day.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Michelle Rose is the local legend behind Echo Park-based cosmic rock goddess Miss Jupiter. A musician, artist, designer and local business owner, Rose fully embodies the ethos and aesthetic of Miss Jupiter when she’s both on and off stage. Whether she’s roller skating topless on the streets of Manhattan, or making music that revels in rebellion and freedom of expression, Miss Jupiter bares it all with art that is unafraid and unapologetic. Broadcasting the absurdity and revealing the naked truth, she has a sound and style that provokes the mind and stirs the senses. </p>
<p>On the cover of her new album <em>Phallacy</em>, Miss Jupiter is painted head to toe with a psychedelic and colorful, star-tinged geometric pattern, complete with a phallic reference (which she explains later on in our interview). The 12-track album is a rock ‘n’ roll odyssey with a touch of space age fantasy and lyrical themes that expose the fallacies of modern society. <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/15880770ae9d19c9b0fbc96fdb8409226fd9c506/original/miss-jupiter-by-don-q-hannah.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 0.8em;">Photo by Don Q Hannah</span></p>
<p>Rose is originally from Chicago and attended fashion school in the city, where she honed her skills to craft unique handmade pieces and curate wild finds for her Echo Park-based boutique, Spacedust. She’s been in LA for about 15 years now and opened the shop almost 8 years ago in 2014. I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Rose over the past year after having seen Miss Jupiter perform several times at venues like the Moroccan Lounge, Bootleg Theatre and even her own shop for Echo Park Rising. It was a performance at Coconut Spaceship’s inaugural Lunar Bloom festival last November that truly blew me away with her otherworldly performance art. </p>
<p>On a warm autumn evening approaching the end of a long day, the audience was transported under the spell of Miss Jupiter in the most magical setting. There was an immediate mysticism in the air as the band took the stage in the intimate room at Oracle Tavern; a colorful jellyfish painting on the wall illuminated in the light appeared as if it were floating in the ocean, amidst hanging plants and a godly framed Yoda watching over us all. Seeing Miss Jupiter perform was how I imagined it would feel to witness innovators like Peter Gabriel dazzling in theatrical costumes with Genesis, or David Bowie with the glam rock fits of ‘70s Ziggy Stardust. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/59f08379741837593cc0fcad9e313fb914aa2ce6/original/dsc-0342.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_small">Miss Jupiter at Lunar Bloom</span></p>
<p>Lunar Bloom was a celebration of rebirth, a re-emergence of live music after two years in the dark with so many beloved local venues shut down. Miss Jupiter manifested the spirit of Lunar Bloom, enchanting the audience in a metallic ensemble she custom-designed for the festival, complete with crescent moon and flower nippies. In a social media post, she explained her outfit was “shaping up to be something like…psychedelic love child of Harley Quinn & Pris performs with ABBA in outer space.” </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/0c358d54b20f707b6e452429af64a9b67004e04b/original/dsc-0345.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_small">Scott Europa at Lunar Bloom</span></p>
<p>Miss Jupiter’s band also wears her custom designs on stage, and each of her bandmates have taken a last name from the moons of Jupiter. Bass player Scott Europa sported a gorgeous black velvet jacket with metallic lining, while effortlessly grooving on a sunburst Rickenbacker. Börnabin “Bobby" Callisto was draped in a haunting black cloak with only his fingers visible, scaling the keys with vibe and precision. Sean Io held down the rhythm behind a pair of white specs and duo-tone trousers. Their outfits were the perfect complement to Miss Jupiter channeling the outer limits with a Moog theremin, waving her hand to the sci-fi sounds as if she were receiving transmissions from another galaxy. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/38a00fcce0d02c00023afb9e37bb81ef5317a093/original/screen-shot-2022-08-15-at-8-36-30-pm.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.png" class="size_l justify_center border_none" alt="" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_small">Miss Jupiter at Lunar Bloom</span></p>
<p>The new album <em>Phallacy</em> is just as much a rock ‘n’ roll space odyssey as are her shows, from the ‘60s doo-wop vocals on “The La La Song” to the ‘70s high-octane guitars, on to the ethereal drone of “Home of the Strange.” The opening track “Modern Revelry (I Won’t Hide)” sounds like a celebration of stepping out of the shadows cast by the powers that be, with fuzzy guitars behind Miss Jupiter’s vocal prowess, complete with a rollicking piano that rounds off this classic inspired and poignant rock ‘n’ roll track, concluding with some sweet psychedelic synthesizer tones. </p>
<p>The following track “Pizza For Breakfast” immediately caught my attention with a Pink Floyd-like brooding intro soon juxtaposed by the wonderfully absurd lyrics, social commentary at its finest. Playful in its approach, but quite serious in its message, the song highlights where we’ve arrived as a society in terms of our food nourishment and consumption. “Pesticides for breakfast…hormones for lunch, GMOs for dinner…”. Pizza for a regular breakfast may not seem so far fetched after all. “I can’t eat anything” she exclaims in the song, while I ate up the track and wanted seconds. </p>
<p>“The La La Song” takes another step back in time. With a cheerful chorus melody and harmonies that bring to mind ‘60s girl groups like the Angels, the music pays a most respectful homage to that sound, which is beautifully executed in both the production and performance. Classic cinematic strings and bells are a nice touch to the nostalgic arrangement. Who knew a song about a misogynistic predator could sound so delightful? We’re humming with our heads hung. </p>
<p>The album takes a turn with “Home Of The Strange,” which I would say is the most modern track on the album. Miss Jupiter’s ethereal, soaring vocals take center stage on this space ballad, with dreamy synth pads and droney cathedral organs. Reminiscent of an emotive Chrissie Hynde vocal performance, I could also imagine this on a Beach House album. It’s a standout modern minimalist track that keeps you floating in Miss Jupiter’s buoyant atmosphere. </p>
<p>“To Stay in this World” is another notable track that brings back some Floyd vibes with its jazzy saxophones, performed by James Geraci. With lyrics, “I don’t want to fight to stay in this world,” perhaps this is a mirror on society’s fascination with interplanetary life, or on the difficulty of existing on our own planet and everything that comes with it. When we’re coping with society’s constructs, maybe it’s easier to imagine that it must be better somewhere else…perhaps in another galaxy. The trippy outro makes it easy to envision such things. </p>
<p>The title track “Phallacy” is carried by a spacey synthesizer which serves as the perfect bed for Miss Jupiter’s commanding vocals, as she tackles the controversial topic of the modern ritual of circumcision. She explains her views on this in relation to the album title in our interview. </p>
<p>“Human Club” is the penultimate track with a message that we are one as humans, and not limited to society’s labels, whether gender, race, or class. It’s an important message that is as timely as it is classic. Miss Jupiter reminds and reassures listeners, “You’re always a member of the human club, even if you fall, we are there to catch you.” </p>
<p>Miss Jupiter’s <em>Phallacy</em> is a sonic odyssey with thought-provoking themes that explore the outer limits of rock ‘n’ roll and call out the modern fallacies programmed into society. The album was produced by Michelle Rose, co-produced by Neil Soiland and Alexx Magic, and engineered and mixed by Scott Barber at the Barbershop Recording Studio in Los Angeles. It was mastered by John Greenham at Clearlight Mastering. The cover features photography by Parker Day and body art by Ally McGillicuddy and Mimi Meyer. </p>
<p>We asked Miss Jupiter to answer a few questions about the music and intentions behind this masterful work of art... </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/dcb44a3a8be8be127a928421c0a0a0a34a33e055/original/cce7af63-e366-4682-874f-c3a93fbe3906-by-parker-day.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_small">Photo by Parker Day</span></p>
<p><strong>What is the inspiration behind the album title and cover?</strong> </p>
<p>The title track “Phallacy” is about the travesty of infant circumcision, a practice only widespread in a few parts of the world – mainly the United States and the Middle East. I am working on more resources to spread the truth about the damage that this surgery, forced upon infants in their most vulnerable and defenseless state, causes to both people with penises and people without. This is an issue that has enraged me since I found out about it, and what’s most striking about this practice is that one might not think that the patriarchy would harm its own – but it does. I thought it quite poignant that this album came out the same day that Roe v. Wade was overturned, because while I don’t want to take away from that cause, I desperately want to add to it. We are fighting for women’s bodily autonomy, but barely anyone is speaking up for the approximately 60% of infant boys who still endure this cruel mutilation without consent; and misinformation about its supposed purpose, and the downplaying of its effects, are still rampant. </p>
<p>I consider this to be one of the biggest falsehoods in American society, and combined the words Phallus with Fallacy to express the concept. The rest of the album contains many more observations of things that are wrong, from the food industry, to the consumption of demoralizing media drivel, cancel culture, war, and more – and how we are brainwashed to accept (and even celebrate) so many fallacies. </p>
<p>It’s only visible on the back cover of physical copies of the album (CDs and the future vinyl records), but for the cover photo, I donned a flaccid packer dildo with foreskin to represent the phantom penis I possess that allows me the empathy to fight for the abolishment of infant circumcision. And because this practice is rooted in religion and its puritanical attempts to diminish the natural pleasure involved in sexuality and creating life, I chose to be painted as a stained glass window. In a way, my penis is breaking through the façade of holiness that I wore on my skin. Because there is truly nothing more sacred or holy than creativity, which is sexuality, and it should never be disturbed. </p>
<p><strong>Who are some artists that have influenced your sound and style? </strong></p>
<p>It’s hard to say what influences might come out in my music or appearance, having never consciously attempted to espouse any particular artists. But I can say that Electric Light Orchestra is my all-time favorite, and artists like Frank Zappa, Poly Styrene/X-Ray Spex, Jim Morrison/The Doors, Pink Floyd, Love, and Jefferson Airplane are some of my longtime heroes for their innovative styles and unapologetic outspokenness, and are a few that seem to have come out quite a bit on this album. </p>
<p>Besides these, I remember in particular that I had had a strong resurgent David Bowie phase right before he died; a major immersion into Earth, Wind and Fire before Maurice White passed, and a deeper exploration of Prince than ever before in the months leading up to his (most untimely) demise. They all left this planet in 2016, shortly after I wrote “Modern Revelry (I Won’t Hide)”, and the same year I wrote “Fear & Fame” and “ISIS 2121”. I think it would be safe to say that all of them have also influenced my style. But the vast breadth of my musical taste and human experiences all bleed into the music I create. And of course 2016 was a pivotal year in political bullshit, when a lot of us were utterly confused and pissed off. I needed to rant! </p>
<p>I think a lot of what comes to mind when I’m asked about my influences, and what people hear most in my music is a lot of the more well-known classic artists that I discovered in my formative years. But I’m also very immersed in our local Los Angeles music community, and various contemporaries who inspire me include Fancy Space People, Diva & The Pearly Gates, Amo Amo, Polartropica, Little Galaxies, and Secret Stare. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/c643b0b4f34f1477447b2cf973255f4842315980/original/04-12-18-mr-20180324-02212-copy-by-don-q-hanna.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 0.8em;">Photo by Don Q Hannah</span></p>
<p><strong>Can you tell us about your custom designs? That was quite an outfit Jacob was wearing at Harvard and Stone! </strong></p>
<p>Emerging from pandemic lockdown and playing our first show back in September 2021 gave me the impetus to dedicate more thought and time into our stage costumes than ever before. While I’d always created looks for the band and myself, I saw this resurrection from dormancy as an exciting opportunity to take the visual aspect of performance even further. </p>
<p>For my three longest-running bandmates who I’d known for a while (Scott on bass, Sean on drums, and Bobby on keys), I challenged myself to create a group of cohesive looks containing a through-line of elements – the colors black and silver, circular shapes representing the moons of Jupiter, and lines alluding to the tendrils of mycelia – while also honoring their unique individual styles. I was familiar with each of them enough to guess at what they’d like to wear and surprise them with their garments, and it gave me tremendous delight when they did indeed align with & enjoy what I’d created! </p>
<p>For Jacob Adrastea, our newest member, I had an idea of what to make for them, but without much time before our recent first show together, I wanted to avoid the potential for do-overs and give them a chance to have some input on the piece, so by contrast, they knew what to expect. Though my initial design instincts didn’t need much modification, as I knew perhaps intuitively that they would love to wear a dress on stage, and would appreciate a somewhat gothic-romantic style. </p>
<p>Clothing has such a potent capacity to coax out our most raw personae. The most important thing in creating costumes for my band members is for them to feel not only comfortable on stage, but empowered! </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/38825b6d1bdc43d6ed3fc614f490000696070f64/original/screen-shot-2022-08-15-at-9-18-53-pm.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_small">Jacob Adrastea at Harvard and Stone</span></p>
<p><strong>What is the meaning behind the “Pizza for Breakfast” lyrics? </strong></p>
<p>“Pizza For Breakfast” is about my increasing paranoia about what I’m eating. Well, and actually what the majority of people in the US are eating. These days it seems normal to eat such things as pizza, burgers, and tacos with such frequency that it’s almost unsurprising that they could even comprise one’s breakfast. But most of what we consume is filled with toxic chemicals (why is organic produce a specialty, when it should be the norm?); disease-inducing additives & synthetics; hormones & even anxiety passed down from animals kept cruelly in cages; etc. </p>
<p>Even if it doesn’t make me physically ill, it makes me sick at the way nourishment has become an industry. Food, as well as other essentials for survival such as shelter & water, should never be allowed to be profitable. Morals and accurate science are too often abandoned for financial gain. In my own attempts to find food that isn’t questionably safe, I have experienced a lot of frustration in wondering whether I can eat anything at all. It seems almost everything is tainted with corruption these days. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/0ef4102d041554d1c48701741620ba1eb4dee4d0/original/screen-shot-2022-08-15-at-9-18-26-pm.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_small">Miss Jupiter at Harvard and Stone</span></p>
<hr><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Miss Jupiter’s new album <em>Phallacy</em> is available for purchase and streaming everywhere at the links below. Take a listen and follow her to stay tuned on upcoming shows and releases… </strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a contents="https://www.instagram.com/_missjupiter_" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/_missjupiter_/">https://www.instagram.com/_missjupiter_</a></p>
<p><iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/7dnlEacMa6Ep0IgHXML7ON?utm_source=generator" style="border-radius:12px" width="100%"></iframe></p>
<p> </p>Coconut Spaceshiptag:coconutspaceship.com,2005:Post/69224722022-03-15T00:31:00-07:002022-08-15T22:30:52-07:00THE CHURCHES OF TRISHES: LIVE SHOW AT THE SUN ROSE <p><strong>By Jeanna Fournier</strong></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/06e1de120fbea3ce131d8d7c478c9c83f9064bcb/original/dsc-0302-lowres.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />After winning tickets to see TRISHES at West Hollywood's newest venue, The Sun Rose, I was excited to check out the project by Trinidadian-American artist, Trish Hosein, who I discovered recently through her elaborate looping videos and thought-provoking pop. Her latest album <em>The Id</em> (following her debut EP, <em>Ego</em>) is a 16-track trip through the human psyche featuring her original songwriting garnished with spoken word and accompanied by her hand-drawn monochromatic album art, a project she says was created to “express Freud’s constructs of self” and “work through [her] inner conflicts.” </p>
<p>The Sun Rose is part of the newly built Pendry Hotel and Britely Social Club. I had mixed feelings about the beloved House of Blues turned luxury hotel, but I was glad to see they are preserving the rich musical history with a beautifully designed venue featuring exquisite sound. With a buzz around the inaugural residency featuring Jeff Goldblum & the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra last year, it’s now the new hub for the weekly <em>It’s A School Night</em> showcase. It was a Friday night and I headed to the posh Sunset Strip venue in full fashion, brought my psych-grad date along for the ride for some good-old Freudian conversation, and kicked off the night with a dirty martini overlooking the gorgeous Hollywood Hills view from the balcony. </p>
<p>In a world where social media reigns and many producers re-enact their productions in “live looping” videos, I was especially intrigued to see TRISHES craft her intricate songs and sounds in action. It’s no easy feat to pull off looping vocals and synths live and TRISHES did it with precise musicianship, style and a little theremin to top it all off.</p>
<p>Draped in a long white shawl with a tribal stripe cascading down her face, TRISHES came in warpaint and all to conquer the misconceptions, purify the lost souls and preach her Freudian truths. I felt like a student at the Churches of TRISHES and I was ready to dive deep into “The Id” of my mind. I watched as her sonic sermon hypnotized the audience with splashes of spoken word and lush layers of vocal hooks swimming through rich synthesizers and deep hip-hop beats. </p>
<p>I thoroughly enjoyed the performance of “Big Sunglasses,” the second single from her album that was featured by <em>Billboard</em> last year. With lyrics that contemplate the man-made shields that alter our perceptions, TRISHES delivered a powerful performance that shivered the senses. The accompanying music video for the track is equally powerful, featuring the artist portrayed as all three participants in a Milgrim Experiment-esque plot. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="lI2mGz6oFA0" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/lI2mGz6oFA0/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lI2mGz6oFA0?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p>Dipping further into the themes of <em>The Id</em> and the suppression of fear and shame, TRISHES’ song “Animal” looped through rhythmic vocal layers as she declared “Maybe I’m no good,” searching for an answer to the primal self and the innate urges of the human mind. She further emphasized these themes<i> </i>in her cover of Nirvana’s “All Apologies,” transforming it into a swaggering, stripped down song that soothed the psyche, concluding with the looping and detuning of “All we are is all we are” over a big dance beat. </p>
<p>Joined by her bandmates on drum pads, bass guitar and synth, the late Hollywood crowd went wild when she triggered a glitchy vocal stutter on an effects pedal during “Instant Gratification,” a song that explores the human desire for immediate pleasures. The performance certainly did just that. Churning out an entrancing melody with the wave of her hand during a theremin solo, it’s those embellishments that make TRISHES’ live show truly captivating to watch and listen. She has a unique ability to expertly blend sounds and textures together with her silky and powerful vocals that are immensely gratifying to the ear. </p>
<p>I was truly impressed with TRISHES’ live performance at The Sun Rose and will be looking out to catch her next shows. Until then, I’ll be listening to the psychological-pop songstress on repeat and I recommend you do the same!</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/fbb890068a6b108caf64041343ca725f33e8bbc8/original/dsc-0301-lowres.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Photos by Coconut Spaceship</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Listen and follow TRISHES at the links below:</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a contents="https://www.instagram.com/trishesmusic/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/trishesmusic/">https://www.instagram.com/trishesmusic/</a></p>
<p><iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="80" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/6RryavmMkJl83hP2S5rIvL?theme=0" width="100%"></iframe></p>Coconut Spaceshiptag:coconutspaceship.com,2005:Post/69184642022-03-09T19:21:08-08:002022-03-09T19:46:05-08:00Just Say "OH YES!" - Harry Katz and the Pistachios Release New Music Video<p><strong>By Lauren Marsh</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="-LdHy1K3LQc" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/-LdHy1K3LQc/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-LdHy1K3LQc?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p>Harry Katz and the Pistachios released the music video for their new single “Oh Yes!,” which Katz explains is “a love song for the modern day all about affirmative consent” and the beauty of building trust in relationships. </p>
<p>This is truly a band to watch. Their video and single have already been featured in <em>Rolling Stone India</em>, <em>Atwood Magazine</em>, <em>Culture Collide</em> and more. We are so proud to know them and be some of their biggest fans! </p>
<p>The music video takes place in an empty theater and its backstage area, which made me feel like I was back in my high school theater days, hanging out with friends during and after rehearsals. I love the aesthetic of the video. Everything from the font choice and star swipes in the title shots to the zooming in close-up shots, costumes, facial expressions, and mannerisms of the performers that remind me of <em>LaVerne & Shirley</em> or <em>Happy Days</em>, and give me that warm, fuzzy feeling like I’m watching a favorite show. </p>
<p>I enjoyed the nods to the classic <em>Back to the Future</em> guitar solo scene, and quirky Benny Hill chases. It is filmed so well too; the panning and angled mid-shots keep things dynamic. You can tell everyone involved had a lot of fun making this video. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/bbdcd5b099ba40ec017f457c66442f88fb71e65d/original/2fffc8a5-cb08-41cb-a7b8-e3e0fe2f7c65.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Even the music itself is an all-around good time. The vintage, creamy guitar mixes so well with Harry’s gritty vocals, and both of those are delightfully interspersed with bouts of jazzy brass, and lilting harmonies. “OH YES!” is a groovy, well-constructed tapestry, where all parts are woven together with skill. </p>
<p>You can check out this amazing band for yourself every Wednesday this month at the Silverlake Lounge from 8PM to Midnight. Katz is pulling out all the stops with his ten-piece band and we will be celebrating the new music plus The Cabbys’ debut EP release there with a free show on March 23.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/429b8b4cdae7a5554b9a50f12a578db7b05c0c96/original/pistachio-poster-week-4.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Check out photos of Harry Katz and the Pistachios from our LUNAR BLOOM festival below, and follow them at the links below:</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a contents="https://www.instagram.com/harrykatzandthepistachios/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/harrykatzandthepistachios/">https://www.instagram.com/harrykatzandthepistachios/</a></p>
<p><iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="80" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/artist/3vGADnA8y7gdCIy4u2JJj6?theme=0" width="100%"></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/10fc9f18c23d771698e322bcf92c8fce973ee051/original/dsc-0086.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/2f1233ab08648a90eade4c1e0534eae3d739fff4/original/dsc-0078.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/0f26cf0cb832dbc8df34a9c868fc312805881964/original/dsc-0047.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/a509900d91838909dbc21ccf7d8c79a9bab53697/original/dsc-0044.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></strong>All photos by Coconut Spaceship</p>Coconut Spaceshiptag:coconutspaceship.com,2005:Post/69111872022-03-01T22:36:58-08:002022-05-17T12:21:54-07:00FAN GIRL CAFE ROCKS WEHO WITH FEMALE+ LINEUP<p><strong>By Jeanna Fournier</strong></p>
<p><strong><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/bb5608159e15ed2bfea420a915545444bc341ed5/original/dsc-0228.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_none" alt="Noah Vonne at the Troubadour. Photo by Coconut Spaceship." /></strong></p>
<p>I had the pleasure of attending Fan Girl Cafe's event at the world famous Troubadour last Sunday night featuring some of today's hottest up-and-coming artists including Jax, Kat Cunning, TRACE, Alicia Blue, KingQueen and Noah Vonne. The event also showcased artwork by some of LA's most talented female+ photographers and artists including Michelle Shiers and Tammie Valer, and was hosted by on air personality Megan Holiday of KROQ and drummer/podcast host Jess Bowen (The Summer Set, Tessa Violet, Babes Behind the Beats).</p>
<p>Betsy and Cynthia Martinez are the "friendly, queer, music obsessed partners" behind Fan Girl Cafe, who posted "[their] goal is to raise awareness (and a little bit of funds) for the opening of [the] forthcoming space, but most importantly, to bring you a night you won't forget!"</p>
<p>It was certainly a night I won't forget with engaging performances from female+ artists mostly new to me, spanning genre, time and space. Joined by our head of artist relations, Aimie Lovett Sommer, we enjoyed taking a night off from working behind the scenes at our own events to Fan Girl the F out! What better way to kick off Women’s History Month than spotlighting these fierce female+ artists...</p>
<h2>NOAH VONNE</h2>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://coconutspaceship.com/galleries/911864/noah-vonne"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/3b1858e2b191a0e7f57b6189a2a465cbe88e573c/original/dsc-0109.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_none" alt="Noah Vonne at the Troubadour. Photo by Coconut Spaceship." /></a></p>
<p>Noah Vonne kicked off the night with her stellar all-girl band, featuring co-host Jess Bowen on drums. She serenaded the audience in a shiny jumpsuit with her rock infused, melodic soul pop that was just as infectious as accessible to new listeners like myself who were not previously familiar with Vonne's music. The band's precise musicianship on songs like "Love Move," a doo-wop ballad I imagine Meghan Trainor would take a liking to, caught my attention. You could tell they were all having a good time on stage with the guitarist all smiles ripping solos and energizing the sea of fan girls and boys in the packed room.</p>
<p><a contents="VIEW FULL PHOTO GALLERY" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://coconutspaceship.com/galleries/911864/noah-vonne">VIEW FULL PHOTO GALLERY</a></p>
<h2>KINGQUEEN</h2>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://coconutspaceship.com/galleries/911865/kingqueen"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/48b536e83ad7f01e774a5117bdcb527bdee16458/original/dsc-0470.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_none" alt="KingQueen at the Troubadour. Photo by Coconut Spaceship." /></a></p>
<p>80s inspired pop rock band KingQueen took the stage next, pumping up the crowd with fierce vocal chops and anthemic melodies, bringing to mind the likes of Heart and Pat Benatar. I first saw the band at El Cid a few months back when my friends Brandon Valerino and Cooper Bombadil of local rock outfit Westerner played alongside powerhouse frontwoman Ina. Bombadil was filling in on bass, and had actually learned all their songs that day due to some sort of emergency with a band member, and he did a commendable, killer job! Nonetheless, it was great to see the band in full force on the big stage with Valerino on keys and their usual lineup doing a fantastic job backing up the force to be reckoned with that is Ina. </p>
<p><a contents="VIEW FULL PHOTO GALLERY" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://coconutspaceship.com/galleries/911865/kingqueen">VIEW FULL PHOTO GALLERY</a></p>
<h2>ALICIA BLUE</h2>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://coconutspaceship.com/galleries/911867/alicia-blue"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/9a525870492253ffa26e826488c00cd9d3d11d0b/original/dsc-0548.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_none" alt="Alicia Blue at the Troubadour. Photo by Coconut Spaceship." /></a></p>
<p>Alicia Blue is an artist I've been hearing about in the LA music scene for quite a while, but never seen perform, so I was excited to check out the folk rock songstress live. Leading the audience on a storytelling journey, Blue enchanted us with her poetic lyrics, craftful arrangements, and sweet melodies. I was particularly drawn to a song she said was co-written with Grammy Award-winning duo The Civil Wars. Commencing with a kick drum and haunting harmonies, the room stood still as Blue sang her heart out and mesmerized us all. </p>
<p><a contents="VIEW FULL PHOTO GALLERY" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://coconutspaceship.com/galleries/911867/alicia-blue">VIEW FULL PHOTO GALLERY</a></p>
<h2>TRACE</h2>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://coconutspaceship.com/galleries/911868/trace"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/6f2247586c9d1875ed2fdf563b7f635fe431e711/original/dsc-0966.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_none" alt="TRACE at the Troubadour. Photo by Coconut Spaceship." /></a></p>
<p>TRACE delivered an intimate performance to a packed house, chanting her name as they awaited her entrance. Bringing some west-coast cool to the stage with her dreamy pop and R&B songs, her smooth vocals swayed over ethereal guitars and modern electronic elements with sultry, subtle hooks that reminded me of the reason I fell in love with Lana del Rey's music. TRACE had me intrigued; I've been digging through her catalogue ever since and it's no wonder she's racked up over 45 million streams with songs like "Low" and "Honey." </p>
<p><a contents="VIEW FULL PHOTO GALLERY" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://coconutspaceship.com/galleries/911868/trace">VIEW FULL PHOTO GALLERY</a></p>
<h2>JAX</h2>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://coconutspaceship.com/galleries/911869/jax"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/94aafec23b2175bee8e867ba413be999ce3df763/original/dsc-0170.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_none" alt="Jax at the Troubadour. Photo by Coconut Spaceship." /></a>Jax packed a punch with her charismatic pop punk and parody songs, taking moments between to give fans a little inspiration and tell the stories behind the tracks. The New Jersey raised songwriter swooned us with her band and stripped down solo on the keys. She was quite the entertainer and I came to learn about her TikTok stardom that has earned her millions of follows and high-profile appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Access Hollywood and more.</p>
<p><a contents="VIEW FULL PHOTO GALLERY" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://coconutspaceship.com/galleries/911869/jax">VIEW FULL PHOTO GALLERY</a></p>
<hr><p>Disclaimer! We recently discovered Kat Cunning and their insatiable dance pop banger “Boys." I was looking forward to seeing them, but was unable to catch their performance, so I'll be looking out for their next shows...</p>
<hr><p>Thank you Fan Girl Cafe, Betsy and Cynthia Martinez for empowering us with a fantastic night of female+ artists! </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Want to donate or learn more about Fan Girl Cafe's mission? Follow them on IG and check out the link below:</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a contents="Follow @fangirlcafeweho on IG!" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/fangirlcafeweho/">Follow @fangirlcafeweho on IG!</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a contents="https://ifundwomen.com/projects/fan-girl-cafe" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://ifundwomen.com/projects/fan-girl-cafe">https://ifundwomen.com/projects/fan-girl-cafe</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/fangirlcafeweho/"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/e696ba931cf3335f962b705593d83410752c309c/original/https-cdn-evbuc-com-images-201684969-57011670541-1-original.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">All live music photos by Coconut Spaceship.</p>Coconut Spaceshiptag:coconutspaceship.com,2005:Post/69012712022-02-18T10:25:21-08:002022-03-26T00:35:56-07:00Guyville Releases Anti-Valentine's Hit<p><strong>By Lauren Marsh</strong></p>
<p>Who can’t relate to a regretful romance? Los Angeles indie rock duo Guyville (made up of Kat Hamilton and Emily Huslander) released the perfect song for this past Singles’ Awareness/Greeting Card Money Grab/Valentine’s Day. “Should Have Never Dated” is their latest track and it's one badass ballad. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/8323851eaf171c612de508315f7fa09b80b343ed/original/gv-2.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Combining their favorite elements of pop, 90’s rock, and Americana, Kat Hamilton and Emily Huslander are a match made in indie rock heaven. You may have heard their debut single “Nothing” released back in September, about the beautiful moment when you finally feel nothing after a breakup. In a similar vein, this single proves a worthy successor. </p>
<p>In “Should’ve Never Dated,” you’ll love the nostalgic, grungy discord of the rhythm guitar matched perfectly with crystal clear, passionate vocals. The story told in their lyrics is one as old as time: friends to lovers to haters, but the history behind the lyrics is even better. Hamilton shared,</p>
<p><strong><span class="font_large"><em>“[We] had both had bad experiences of dating music collaborators and bandmates. We both talked about how we wished we had kept those relationships platonic. This camaraderie is really the basis of our musical partnership. It was really fun for me to bring my queer experience to the track. It was a cool way to highlight the ways Emily and I had similar problems in mixing work with pleasure, regardless of the gender of our lovers." </em></span></strong></p>
<p>The pair are truly poets as well, serving us bars like “You knew me as a habit. Now I know you as an accident,” and “We could’ve kept the friendship / Now I’m sitting friendless, crying in the bathroom.” If you need some rockin’ out time put Guyville on at max volume and blast out. You’re welcome.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Stay tuned for more new music from Guyville and follow them at the links below:</strong></p>
<p><iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="80" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/22dybT3WkmlIdualIgqQM0" width="100%"></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a contents="https://www.instagram.com/guyvilletheduo" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/guyvilletheduo">https://www.instagram.com/guyvilletheduo</a></p>Coconut Spaceshiptag:coconutspaceship.com,2005:Post/68914212022-02-07T18:15:22-08:002022-02-07T18:24:35-08:00Floating “On Top of the Clouds” with ASTRINA<p><strong>By Lauren Marsh</strong></p>
<p>ASTRINA’s latest release “On Top of the Clouds” is the energizing bop that we need right now. Starting with a powerful and energetic kick snare quickly followed by ASTRINA’s airy, resonating vocals then leading us through a short verse and into the rarified chorus, we start to feel lighter and the ascension begins with a high melody nicely juxtaposed by a syncopated synth underbeat, reminiscent of 80’s electronica, leading into the crescendo as ASTRINA sings “Now I’m on top of the clouds,” and so are we. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/6304dfcb6729877b021b7c7ccadf5ddd505d7237/original/png-image-68.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>ASTRINA is an artist who can produce quality music in an assortment of different genres and styles from alt rock to electro pop. Starting out in film scoring, she launched her solo artist project in 2018. Her knowledge and skill of music composition is evident throughout her works. You may be familiar with her single “Not That Girl” from her 2020 album Between the Mirror, which has a more edgy, moody tone. Perusing her discography, you can hear the influence of her early, more classical inspirations like Ravel & Debussy as well as her more modern inspirations like Muse, The xx, AURORA, and Radiohead, whose song “There, There” she covered in a relaxed, folk-rock style...</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/30dc9ca82308fe1ddc977468d099d9ef902457b0/original/dsc-0298.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_none" alt="Astrina at Coconut Spaceship's Lunar Bloom Festival, Fall 2021" /></p>
<p>“On Top of the Clouds” is the kind of instantly danceable song that makes me want to drive in a convertible that I don’t have, feeling the sunshine and freedom pulse through me. I want it to be my anthem for 2022: </p>
<h3>“I’m letting gravity go, I’m done with living below / Now I’m on top of the clouds and nothing here can bring me down.” </h3>
<p>If you are looking for the song to get you out of the usual seasonal depression, look no further than “On Top of the Clouds.”<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/72176d8047436a40141e03b85ecb4017e298d37c/original/png-image-170.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Look out for ASTRINA's sophomore album coming this Spring, and follow her at the links below:</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="80" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/2xWm23mlB3XYQq5da2WAdx" width="100%"></iframe></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a contents="https://www.instagram.com/astrinamusic/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/astrinamusic/">https://www.instagram.com/astrinamusic/</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>Coconut Spaceshiptag:coconutspaceship.com,2005:Post/68795942022-01-25T22:15:51-08:002022-01-25T22:22:55-08:00CONTEMPLATING "COLDER" - NOKILLSHELTER TAKES A CHILL TRIP WITH NEW SINGLE<p><strong>By Lauren Marsh</strong></p>
<p>“Colder” is the latest release from NoKillShelter featuring vocals from Mariah Priddy. This is their fourth successful collaboration following their previously released singles: “Balanced Love,” “Just See the Coast” (which you may be familiar with if you’ve played <em>Rider’s Republic</em>), and “Moments Made.” Their newest single is truly a team effort with both artists having input on lyrical and sonic elements. The crystalline, ethereal vocals and slow-build beats make for a marvelous mosaic of music, with downtime industrial style elements in the synth sounds that keep the energy going in this overall mellow track. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/a1d883dbd5824cdd2e6ae6544bde0ff030c15ded/original/dsc01664-edit.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>The first few measures are filled with synthesized strings calling to each other. A gentle bass track and vocals enter next. The reverberations have a contemplative effect. “Colder” transports the listener to a different plane, evoking images of a cave or perhaps a mirrored hallway, fitting the motif of self-reflection in the lyrics.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">“If I only knew what I knew then, Be like a child again, I can see the difference now.” </h3>
<p>The artist fills things out by adding some higher tones and flute-like notes at the bridge, then drops us into a softer, yet upbeat chorus using overlapping repetitions to lead us to the crescendo. Electronic beats, almost like an organ, slow things down and bring us into the verse, with its rhythmic, hypnotic lyrics. The intro to the second verse is different, adding more reverb on the vocals and harmonization of sounds, keeping us on our toes, then slowing down again for the second chorus. In the end, it gently lets the listener back down where they started with some gorgeous alto strings and softer beats, with just the final vocals to haunt us. </p>
<p>“Colder” is the perfect song to unwind and contemplate existence to, or just listen to on repeat. Look out for the music video coming out in a few weeks and two more singles set to be released this spring. </p>
<p>You can catch NoKillShelter at Coconut Spaceship’s next indie music festival <a contents="Touch Down" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://coconutspaceship.com/home">Touch Down</a> on February 12th at Oracle Tavern, where he’ll be performing as the house DJ between sets and a 2 hour block at midnight.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/25163e59443d340a689f1a3fb58da341a04f38ac/original/dsc02914-edit.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Listen to "Colder" and connect with NoKillShelter + Mariah Priddy at the links below:</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="80" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/3tgOAm1d2xnVe37U7ihzKC?theme=0" width="100%"></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a contents="https://www.instagram.com/nokillshelter/?hl=en" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/nokillshelter/?hl=en">https://www.instagram.com/nokillshelter</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a contents="https://www.instagram.com/mariahpriddy" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/mariahpriddy">https://www.instagram.com/mariahpriddy</a></p>Coconut Spaceshiptag:coconutspaceship.com,2005:Post/68400092021-12-14T11:43:30-08:002022-01-29T12:18:37-08:00A PROFILE OF FOX VIOLET<p><strong>By Tom Rubio</strong></p>
<p>On October 15th, LA dream pop/indie rock artist Fox Violet released their first full length LP <em>Prisms</em>. The album is a dark, colorful voyage through a cavernous and majestic landscape, and I was absolutely enchanted by its gorgeous sonic story. Over the past few weeks, I was lucky enough to see Fox Violet perform twice, and also got to chat with lead singer Thea Stevenson and her guitarist about the record, their creative process, and much more. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/4f1518fbf4b964a9e4ebe443f041d1c6a7e835c3/original/image-6483441.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_none" alt="Photo by Anna Azarov" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_small">Photo by Anna Azarov</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_small"><em><strong>“Comedy is tragedy with time.” </strong></em></span></h3>
<p>This is how our conversation begins, on a cold street corner outside the parking lot of Lunar Bloom, a festival put on by Coconut Spaceship. I ask whether Thea considers <em>Prisms</em> to be, in the Shakespearean sense, a comedy or a tragedy. “I make fun of myself all the time…I think that when you can write about deeply personal things that are pretty painful, then it allows you to let it go,” she says. I can hear this sentiment brought to life throughout the entirety of <em>Prisms</em>. The project is grungy, epic, vulnerable, but above all, free. Every song is its own statement about walking this earth without fear or boundaries. </p>
<p>But more than that, <em>Prisms</em> is a lush and layered story. Thea tells me that she imagines the album as “a train going through your subconscious,” akin to the elevator from <em>Inception</em> that Leonardo DeCaprio’s character uses to travel through the dark levels of his own mind. Pulling from a past of homelessness, struggles with mental health, and a love of fairy tales, Thea is a storyteller as much as she is a singer, and with her first album, she weaves her biggest tale yet. As our conversation progresses, we start to get more into the imagery behind <em>Prisms</em>. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/94d71f354ee365c9dc06051309f0ec4c587bd36b/original/png-image-128.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.png" class="size_l justify_center border_none" alt="Photo by Anna Azaraov" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_small">Photo by Anna Azarov</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_small"><em><strong>“I’m very obsessed with water imagery and rebirth…I’d like people to feel like they are at the bottom of the sea, but not alone…still in this massive expanse, and maybe there’s life out there, but you can’t quite see it.” </strong></em></span></h3>
<p>The songs of <em>Prisms</em> create a mystical landscape that the listener is free to wander through and marvel at. For Thea, the album is an expedition into her mind. We talk about the artwork, which looks like some kind of being pulling back the layers of themselves, albeit in a gentle way. “I wanted to give the impression that I was leaving my body,” Thea explains. She touches on how much of her creative process is done through the lens of an observer; someone outside themselves looking in at the emotions and experiences of their past. But Thea doesn’t shy away from those darker places and emotions. “I think a lot of people are really afraid to feel things deeply and love deeply,” she says. “I walk through life as an open book, cause I wanna feel that I really fucking felt shit in my life.” </p>
<p>Our conversation wanders, from lucid dreaming, to Thea’s degree in Ancient Archeology and her fascination with abandoned structures, to other pieces of media that inspired the album like the paintings of Wassily Kandinsky. Thea is also a photographer, and we chat about how much she loves the adventure of going to an obscure location just to get that one perfect shot. </p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/5ade1738a1048a9b2ea18aba571eee70508b766d/original/dsc-0118.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_none" alt="Photo by Coconut Spaceship" /></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_small"><em><strong>“I think it's about curiosity, and you can develop that…I’ve always just been very baffled by everything.” She explains. </strong></em></span></h3>
<p>Later on that evening, I watch Thea and her guitarist play a more stripped down set on the acoustic stage at Lunar Bloom. The way she is able to translate the intensity of <em>Prisms</em>’ emotional journey into a performance is astounding. The picture that the lyrics paint on the album becomes more apparent with Thea’s vocals front and center, echoing through the relatively small space of the Oracle Tavern in stunning fashion. </p>
<p>And then after a month of waiting, I finally get to see Fox Violet, in full force. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/526b183e7603a2cbb47bc9670238be6f3c46b28f/original/img-6892.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>On a Tuesday night at The Troubadour, the band brings the entire breadth of their sound and absolutely blows us away. The ferocity of Thea’s vocals are only strengthened by the pounding of the drums and groove of the bass behind her. She pulls the crowd into a ride that is bumpy yet beautiful, tender yet tenacious. The set peaks with a raw, unhinged performance of “Torn,” the penultimate track off of the new album. In that moment, I can see every part of Fox Violet’s story that I’ve experienced over the last month all at once, and it is truly something to behold. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Listen to <em>Prisms</em> and connect with Fox Violet at the links below:</strong></p>
<p><iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/1HA0EjDOjCI2px3e6fENeg" width="100%"></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/fox_violets/">https://www.instagram.com/fox_violets</a></p>Coconut Spaceshiptag:coconutspaceship.com,2005:Post/68203872021-11-30T14:03:28-08:002021-12-14T11:54:39-08:00A LOOK BACK AT LUNAR BLOOM: MOMENTS FROM THE INAUGURAL INDIE MUSIC FESTIVAL<p><strong>By Tom Rubio </strong></p>
<p>A little over ten days ago, I was lucky enough to attend the first ever live event put on by LA indie label Coconut Spaceship: a two stage festival called Lunar Bloom. I started working with Coconut Spaceship only a few weeks before the festival, and had become more than ecstatic as the day drew nearer. I started listening to some of the artists on the lineup in anticipation, but nothing would really prepare me for the experience of seeing any of them in person. I think that every fan, artist or curious concertgoer who came out could tell that this was something special. From the diverse mix of vendors offering visual art, tarot readings, and CBD oils, to the multicolored tube lights that stood at the front of the outdoor stage, to the jellyfish painting juxtaposing a portrait of Yoda inside the tavern, Lunar Bloom had something out of this world for everyone. </p>
<p>For some context, the event took place in and around the Oracle Tavern in Chinatown, Los Angeles. Throughout the evening, artists brought the full force of their respective sounds to the Bloom Station Stage outside, sometimes having as many as eight instrumentalists performing at a time. Past the merch and inside the tavern was the Lunar Oasis Stage, where we were treated to more stripped-down sets from singer-songwriters, but still given some outright epic shows from three to five piece bands. But what were the performances like? Well, here are some of my favorite moments from what turned out to be a truly magical evening. </p>
<p><strong><em>*Disclaimer: I tried to see as many artists as I could, but I wasn’t able to catch every set. Also, I’m inherently biased towards my own musical taste, and these aren’t meant to be a “ranking” of any sorts, but simply a few performances that I felt captured the heart of the event. </em></strong></p>
<hr><h2>
<span class="font_small">Boy Deluxe </span> </h2>
<p>Among the many eclectic genres and sounds that were on display, perhaps one of the wildest was Boy Deluxe’s “electro-funk, dark noise pop.” Their set was the most raw physical experience of live music I’ve had in a long time. I felt rebellious, intrigued, angry, and unsettled, but most of all, I felt like moshing until I passed out because it was so damn fun. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/2ee87864e06e1734f136c4dcb21c75e874743fd6/original/20211113-215143.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<h2>
<span class="font_small">Ryan Cassata</span> </h2>
<p>Later in the evening, the indoor crowd laid witness to the triple threat of actor, activist, and singer-songwriter Ryan Cassata, who was just coming off of a top 40 charting album release with “Magic Miracle Mile,'' his first self-produced and recorded LP. Armed with an acoustic guitar and backed by a fiddle player, Ryan wove together sounds of folk, hip hop, and pop. His captivating story was one of empowerment for the LGBTQ+ Community, culminating in the crowd chanting along to “Gender Binary (Fuck You).” </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/f8d3cbf40feaec460e48667e7f9959c0176da85a/original/dsc-0154.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<h2>
<span class="font_small">V Torres</span> </h2>
<p>Having just played a stripped-down set at BeachLife Festival with guitarist Kira Lingman, V Torres was ready to bring the full force of her sound to a bigger stage for the first time since the pandemic. Torres’ blend of americana rock, pop, and blues set a tone both charming and fiery, taking the crowd on an easy ride down the backroad of a folktale. If the first few artists on the Bloom Station Stage were taking us to another place, V Torres’ set felt like landing on a new, yet familiar, home. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/2a121b496cfb3d3cac77073a9942021094f098ac/original/dsc-0169.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<h2>
<span class="font_small">Lucy Clearwater </span> </h2>
<p>I think it’s rare that you see a singer-songwriter who truly requires nothing but their own voice and an acoustic guitar. Lucy Clearwater might be one of the few exceptions. Gracing the Lunar Oasis Stage, Lucy’s indie folk storytelling was nothing short of immaculate. Her cover of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” was so incredibly and delicately gorgeous, and may have been my favorite moment of the entire evening. We also were given a taste of Lucy's new duo project LININ, as she performed with fellow guitarist Jason Sibi-Okumu. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/2b10ead7d8bbafa6798c1a56f40b0eac3a753f09/original/dsc-0030.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<hr><p>So that’s how the evening went! Lunar Bloom was peaceful, upbeat, emotional, and mystical; an elegant sonic collection of stories that took us to places strange and far, all within the earthly confines of a bar and a parking lot. We hope you enjoyed the evening and made a few stories of your own, and we can’t wait to see you at the next one!</p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_small">LISTEN TO LUNAR BLOOM ARTISTS</span></h2>
<p><iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/0FHUq6ZhTBl8a5kYDtDpEQ?theme=0" width="100%"></iframe></p>
<p>All Photos by Coconut Spaceship </p>
<p> </p>Coconut Spaceshiptag:coconutspaceship.com,2005:Post/67209532021-08-23T10:28:37-07:002022-01-25T22:14:17-08:00XINOVIA & AIMIE LOVETT SOMMER UNVEIL NEW SINGLE “ON YOUR SIDE” + MUSIC VIDEO <h3 style="text-align: center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/27bc87468d00510de438ad554adc6e3006af75f1/original/oys-cover-v3-large.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></h3>
<p>"On Your Side" is the debut song and collaboration from producer Xinovia and singer-songwriter Aimie Lovett Sommer. Aimie’s sparkling vocals and infectious harmonies soar through a dark wave of pulsing rhythms and a palette of glossy synths that uplift the listener with the warmth of a helping hand. The electronic infused production makes us feel like driving under neon lights, while evoking the emotive style of Kate Bush and more recent synth-pop collaborations like M83 and Susanne Sundfør. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Tu1G89x6DPg" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p>The complimentary visuals in the new music video, directed by Selena Moshell and Marie-Michele Jasmin-Belisle, sail through scenic desert landscapes in ethereal drone shots with an alluring dance performance by Frida Dawson alongside a mysteriously cool and collected Xinovia. Aimie appears in an effervescent, hand-sewn dress, like a floating goddess with her cloud-like sleeves catching the breeze in the soft light as the sun escapes into the desert darkness. </p>
<p>We chatted with the duo about how Aimie piecemealed her costume for the new music video, the process of working together, and an upcoming international collaboration... </p>
<h4><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/69697e23588ba846432e060040070051d6be6a9f/original/aimie-lovett-sommer-press-photo.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></h4>
<h4>“I'm not a seamstress, so I had to throw it together by hand and I didn't use a sewing machine... I kind of piecemealed it... I’m really big on making Halloween costumes every year. So I was like okay, from building pieces together, throwing pieces together, to end up with a costume at the end. I was like, I think I can do this. And it worked, I think it turned out pretty well.” -Aimie</h4>
<p>After quitting music for several months, the indie-pop performer and DJ formerly known as Danni Ammon reincarnated her sound and emerged as Xinovia. While many of us continued to drift into the desolation of a pandemic, she honed in on her woodwork skills and took it upon herself to build her own studio. With just a drill, saw and a helping hand from her wife, Xinovia created Daisypants Studio. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/3cb90a2b0e3fa4331045fe2279d9af9c87a18dc0/original/xinovia-press-photo-6.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<h4>“…we had a couple of people that we could have called and they were like, “yeah, call us, call us, we’ll come over, we’ll help you out,” and they only live like around the corner, but every time we got to that point, we were just like, “we’re going to do it ourselves. We’re going to show them we can do it,” and we did.” -Xinovia</h4>
<p>“On Your Side” is Xinovia’s debut release as a producer. Xinovia says she drew inspiration from Scottish band Chvrches and the Serum, a digital synth she says is her favorite piece of gear she used to create this synth heavy pop song before handing it over to Aimie to write the lyrics and melody, evolving the song together. </p>
<h4><em>“When I wrote this track, I wanted to do a synth heavy track with big drums, but something that could also be a little bit danceable, a little bit upbeat, in sections. And the main inspiration, if I’m going to go down the alley of telling you the artist I was listening to, Chvrches was a big influence, because I love everything that they do synth-wise, like everything they use just sounds amazing.” -Xinovia </em></h4>
<p>Once the instrumental track was in Aimie’s hands, she listened to it on repeat during her long walks until she came up with the melody, which inspired the lyrics. </p>
<h4><em>“The lyrics are about having lost friendships or lost connections with someone, but still maintaining that love and care for somebody and seeing them in pain and wanting to reach out and in someway let them know “hey, I’m on your side no matter what” and hoping that they will accept that help when they need it. But just trying to remind someone who you were once close with, that it doesn't matter that we are no longer close; if you need my help, I'm going to be there for you.” -Aimie </em></h4>
<p>The two artists met on Instagram when Aimie was putting together a Tom Petty tribute show with her production company, Softer Sex, and she asked Danni to play. The artists shared a laugh when Xinovia recalled Aimie accidentally messaging her instead of another performer, but Aimie remembers discovering Danni as she was searching for pop artists who could bring variety to the night. </p>
<h4><em>“Now I’ll have to go back and look at the message because I thought she was someone else replying, but I absolutely wanted her to play it. Because she just had that really fresh, pop girl sound and I wanted her to do it and she did an amazing job.” -Aimie </em></h4>
<p>Danni later joined Aimie’s solo project, Loretti, as the drummer. After discovering they were practically neighbors, they spent 3 years hanging out and bonding over music and everything else. </p>
<h4>“Danni as a producer has influenced me because she pushes me in different directions vocally than what I focus on for Loretti. For my solo project, Loretti, it’s very specifically influenced by childhood memories of music and working with Xinovia, the producer, really pushes me into different directions vocally and draws on areas that I don't usually access otherwise.” -Aimie </h4>
<p>The debut single from Xinovia and Aimie Lovett Sommer is just the first of many to come, including an international collaboration with Vancouver artist Elle Wolf. We are excited to hear more from this dynamic duo firing up the LA music scene with their catchy and heartfelt indie-pop tracks. </p>
<h4>“If there’s one thing that I have learned over the last 3 or 4 years, it’s a very important thing; it’s to play to your strengths and don’t try to do everything. So I can do everything a little bit, so it’s really easy to fall into the trap, just like I’m going to do everything. I’m going to sing, I’m going to play every instrument on the song, I’m going to do this, but you end up getting a better product when you get someone else in. Like, Aimie is going to write the song, this person is going to sing it, I’m going to get my neighbor who is an awesome guitar player to come and play the guitar line because I’m not as good as him. So once you learn to do that, I think you make better music…” -Xinovia</h4>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Listen to "On Your Side" and connect with Xinovia and Aimie Lovett Sommer at the links below:</strong></p>
<p><iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="80" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/64Ma4M6opVhV0aKNa36tVy?theme=0" width="100%"></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><a contents="LISTEN ON SPOTIFY" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/album/64Ma4M6opVhV0aKNa36tVy?si=BkEr3ySvQgCBxmqchtvqGQ&dl_branch=1">LISTEN ON SPOTIFY</a></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><a contents="https://www.instagram.com/shaimie/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/shaimie/">https://www.instagram.com/shaimie/</a></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><a contents="https://www.instagram.com/xinoviamusic/" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/xinoviamusic/">https://www.instagram.com/xinoviamusic/</a></strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>Coconut Spaceshiptag:coconutspaceship.com,2005:Post/66605342021-06-15T17:06:35-07:002022-09-25T17:34:31-07:00An Interview with Venice Beach-Based Musician + Multi-Instrumentalist Javier Olmedo<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/aabd421ae81dea38194bef89cb75334d5553d72b/original/dsc-0680.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>We caught up with Venice Beach-based guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Javier Olmedo, snapped some photos and talked about his new improv project Galaxy Twins, his favorite gear, and how he learned to play the drums this past year. Javier brings his atmospheric guitar and synth melodies to Galaxy Twins' “festival electronic rock” sound that is taking audiences away to another dimension...</p>
<p><strong>Tell us about your new project Galaxy Twins. </strong></p>
<p>Galaxy Twins is a new live improv project composed of myself, and my two good friends Jonathan Burkes (Bass) & Ian LeBlanc (Drums). We were bored sitting around during quarantine, with all of our main projects on hiatus -- and decided to start jamming together. One thing led to another and our friend Josh dubbed us the Galaxy Twins. Musically, we all bring a bit of our own influences -- ranging from rock to pop to electronic. I'd say the band we're most similar to is STS9 -- 'festival electronic rock' if that makes sense. </p>
<p><strong>How has the past year impacted you musically? Can you tell us something positive that came out of it? </strong></p>
<p>The biggest positive for myself has been learning to play the drums! They've been my therapy this past year. Although I play guitar/synth in this project, I've learned so much about the impact drums have on a band, especially when it's a 3-piece setup such as ours. </p>
<p><strong>What piece of gear has inspired your playing the most? </strong></p>
<p>Can I pick two pieces of gear? Ha. First I'd say the Novation Bass Station II Synth Keyboard, it allows me to play lead parts (melodies) and switch to bass on the fly, perfect for when Johnny wants to switch to playing guitar. His rig is capable of switching between guitar & bass, which allows us to cover lots of musical territory. The second piece of gear is the Xoia guitar pedal by Empress. It's a programmable guitar synth/sequencer, I can get pretty much any sound I can dream up out of that thing. I've barely scratched the surface but already it's proven to be quite the pedal. </p>
<p><strong>Do you have any upcoming shows or releases coming out soon?</strong></p>
<p>We've got two shows this week! Friday 6/18 at Harvelle's in Santa Monica, one of our old stomping grounds. It feels a bit like homecoming. The following day (6/19) at DiPiazza's in Long Beach, one of my new favorites. We played our first official show there a few months back. As for releases -- since we're primarily a live improv/jam act, we'll be recording each show and use those as our 'releases'. You'll never hear the same show twice :)</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/e8cfcbf82a376f59872ffa730907ab80fecff3f2/original/dsc-0822.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/d777a9ac357f8f88cbd78562a2a4d701e644de6e/original/dsc-0890.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/542781/0d2f0ea7c5b178f1937b94183ac01d6e3582a4b0/original/dsc-0502.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">All photos by Coconut Spaceship</p>Coconut Spaceship