TRANIMAL is a collaboration between Austin Young, Squeaky Blonde and Fade-Dra.
Click for more + behind the scenes video:
Sunday, 31 March 2013
GAY CULTURE: London Gay Scene + Drug Use
I've just read a couple of very interesting articles over at PinkNews, commenting on London's gay scene, and the drug use that comes alongside it - and whether it is a form of self-harm within the gay community. A more recent article addresses NAT's (National AIDS Trust) urgent call for London councils to tackle drug use within the gay community. They also link the use of drugs to the sharp rise in the numbers of gay men diagnosed with HIV.
"According to the most recent figures from the Health Protection Agency, 3,010 gay and bisexual men tested positive for HIV in 2011, the highest ever number of HIV diagnoses among the group."They're an interesting read to say the least. It's known that drugs come hand-in-hand with clubbing - among the gay scene particularly, and opinion can vary greatly as to whether this is a positive or not. There does need to be the sensibility to protect yourself and others however; both with the sex and the use of drugs that is an inevitable part of gay culture.
Remember to get tested roughly every six months and always use protection.
MUSIC: Jodie Harsh April Mixtape
Jodie Harsh has literally just dropped her April Mixtape. It's been a while since the last one, but they never disappoint. Give it a play if you're out tonight or just winding down your weekend.
ART: Things What I Drew
Things What I Drew
"I started drawing in November 2012 after a 21 year break. I was very surprised to find my new toy, an iPad mini became for me primarily a sketch pad. I have a long way to go but I'm enjoying it hugely as I learn."
The results are hilarious! Follow his tumblr at thingswhatidrew
Click for more:
MUSIC: Chlöe Howl - No Strings
18 year old Chlöe Howl has just put out her debut EP - Rumours. It contains three tracks, No Strings, Rumours and I Wish I Could Tell You.
She's got a voice and style reminiscent of Kate Nash and her lyrics are sharp . You can download her EP for free via ChloeHowl and also watch a video for each of the tracks.
Click more for the incredible Unicorn Kid remix of Rumour:
VIDEO OF THE DAY: Diana Ross
1983, Central Park
This will make you smile if you're feeling hungover and partially dead today!
MUSIC: La Roux - Tropical Chancer
Get me a Long Island, love! La Roux are back - Tropical Chancer is a steel drum and island rhythm GEM! From the sound of the new clips, it looks like the new album will be a lot more percussion based, giving the primary synths of debut album La Roux a bit of a break.
La Roux (Elly Jackson and Ben Langmaid) first played the new track during a low key tour that began this week in Brighton, which will be followed by performances in Coventry and Bristol. The tour is part of a comeback by the duo - who also performed three other tracks: Kiss & Not Tell, Sexoteque and Uptight Downtown.
Click for more.
Friday, 29 March 2013
EVENTS: Eastern Electrics
Eastern Electrics will be held in Knebworth Park, 2-4th August 2013.
HIGHLIGHTS:
SETH TROXLER - MAYA JANE COLES - BLAWAN - JOY ORBISON - CLAUDE VONSTROKE - EATS EVERYTHING - DJ SNEAK - ÅME - MACEO PLEX - MIGUEL CAMPBELL - DAMIAN LAZARUS - SAHSA
Thursday, 28 March 2013
MEDIA: Ballroom History
Taken from Michelle Visage's Twitter:
"Ballroom History: Vogueing Clock the date of this SELF Magazine article, Madonna's Vogue came out in '90. Just sayin"
MUSIC: Matrixxman ft Mykki Blanco
New music from Matrixxman featuring hotOctopus BABE Mykki Blanco. It's a dark trap sound and if this gets dropped while you're out, you'll know about it. Bitches will be t w e r k i n'.
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| Mykki Blanco. Photo by Marco Van Rijt, 2013. |
EVENTS: Lovebox 2013
Today was the first wave of lineup announcements for this summers Lovebox Festival. This is the first year that MAMA Co will be presenting the festival after buying out Groove Armada late last year. The lineup for the main stage is still to be announced, along with more artists for each stage - but at this stage, I'm willing to pay full price for my ticket to see this lot alone!
HIGHLIGHTS:
JULIO BASHMORE - JOHN TALBOT - SBTRKT - DISCLOSURE - ANNIE MAC - DUKE DUMONT - A-TRAK - JAMIE JONES - ART DEPARTMENT - KIM ANN FOXMAN - HEIDI - BICEP - FRANKIE KNUCKLES - ZEBRA KATZ - BENOIT & SERGIO
SUPERB.
Tickets start at £29.50 for a single day ticket, with a full 3-day weekend ticket costing £99.
FASHION: Aqua
Starting today and lasting all weekend is the Aqua sample sale and clearance! Get down to the Big Orange Shop -Truman Brewary, Brick Lane!
MUSIC: Steed Lord - Ghost Of Sky (Steed Lord Remix)
Steed Lord have just released a badass remix of one of my favourite tracks from The Prophecy: Part I. The Ghost Of Sky remix is dark, disco and exotic. Give it a listen and download it now!
Tuesday, 26 March 2013
LGBT: US Supreme Court - The best Equality Posters
#EQUALMARRIAGE
For more information on the Equal Marriage debate in the Supreme Court, California today, visit Huffington Post. In the meantime, here's some of the best signs from today:
Click for more.
MUSIC: Slow Knights - Cosmos
Today is the day. Slow Knights' debut album is now available via iTunes or vinyl. After a good few listens today, I have to say it is firmly the best album I have listened to this year (closely followed by Deptford Goth's, Life After Defo). Take a listen to Under Attack above.
If you don't know already, Slow Knights is a project of Del Marquis' (aka Scissor Sisters guitar/synth). Also a part of the album is hotOctopus fave, Bright Light Bright Light, along with Xavier, Mykal Kilgore, Bridget Barkan & Chrissi Poland.
Imagine a Paris Is Burning after-party smack bang in the mid-80s, fabulous bitches, and partying on (a/the) pier. The sound spreads from disco, synthpop, funk to soul and will get.you.in.the.mood.
It's excellent start to finish, there's nothing more I really need to say. Plus it's only £6.99 on iTunes - you probably spend more on that in Pret or Eat for your lunch.
That's basically my 'review'. Go and buy it.
Standout Tracks: Legendary Children, Shame and In The Quiet.
Monday, 25 March 2013
MUSIC: Say Lou Lou - Julian
New track from the stunning Say Lou Lou. Julian is a dreamy electropop track, following suit from their last, Maybe You.
Julian will be released May 6th.
GAY: A$AP Rocky on 'the gay thing"
Talking to Interview magazine, A$AP recently said that he wants to use his platform to tell people his thoughts on 'the gay thing'.
“So now that I’m here and I’ve got a microphone in my hand and about 6,000 people watching me, I need to tell them how I feel," he said. "For instance, one big issue in hip hop is the gay thing. It’s 2013, and it’s a shame that, to this day, that topic still gets people all excited. It’s crazy. And it makes me upset that this topic even matters when it comes to hip hop, because it makes it seem like everybody in hip hop is small-minded or stupid -- and that’s not the case."He also said that there are many people in the hip-hop world who do not think like that - Jay Z, Kanye West, and himself. He also said that he treats everybody equal, and wants to make sure that his followers and listeners do the same if they want to represent him.
"I treat everybody equal, and so I want to be sure that my listeners and my followers do the same if they’re gonna represent me. And if I’m gonna represent them, then I also want to do it in a good way.”It's good to see more support coming from the straight hip hop community - especially after the beauty that is Frank Ocean coming out last year. Hi5 to A$AP.
More photos from his Interview shoot below:
Saturday, 23 March 2013
Friday, 22 March 2013
MUSIC: Hard Candy x Chordashian
Hard Candy X is back! This time it comes from Brooklyn based duo, Chordashian. It's a lively house mix, and definitely one to get you in the mood for the weeeeeekend.
Click more for tracklisting, including Lana Del Rey, Gossip, Sky Ferriera and more.
MUSIC: Jessie Ware - Imagine It Was Us
AMAZING! New music from the incredible Jessie Ware. Imagine It Was Us will feature on her upcoming rerelease - Devotion: Gold Edition.
The new track is disco/house/soul inspired, and her insane vocals work PERFECTLY.
I will update with a HQ link when one is available.
Wednesday, 20 March 2013
MUSIC: Lulu James
Geordie Lulu James has just released this video for new single Closer. It oozes 80s synths and 90s vocal vibes. The single is released 7/4/13.
Click more for a free download of a Kidnap Kid Remix of this track thanks to Annie Mac.
LOVE: Pink Stops Show To Comfort Crying Child
So here's just a little reminder of why Pink is/always will be my ultimate favourite.
At her Philadelphia show last night, she stopped her acoustic performance of Who Knew to find out why a young girl in the crowd was crying. There was a fight in the crowd that had upset the child - "Y'all are fighting around a litte girl?!". She then gave her a cuddly frog toy and a Rice Krispy treat that had been thrown onto the stage, telling her, "You're beautiful, don't cry. Cry when you're older. Thankyou for coming!".
WOULD YOUR FAVE?
Tuesday, 19 March 2013
FASHION: Lazy Oaf Sunglasses
I LOVE these new Lazy Oaf / Spitfire sunglasses. They were launched online today. Click more for the full collection.
LGBT: 12 Year-old's letter to Chief Justice Roberts
Daniel Martinez is a North Californian 12 year old, adopted by a gay couple. He has written this deeply personal letter to Chief Justice Roberts (father of two adopted children) asking him to shut down Proposition 8 this month.
Daniel suffers from a genetic disorder that affects his whole left-side, and was adopted alongside his younger sister seven years ago. He said that his two dads gave them both a wonderful life when nobody else wanted to, and that they should be treated as equal as any other family.
MUSIC: Slow Knights - Shame
Slow Knights is a project from Scissor Sisters' Del Marquis. Shame is the first single taken from the forthcoming album Cosmos.
The track is smooth, with elements of R&B and House, and will fit perfectly in the buildup to summer. Plus it's a FREE download.
MUSIC: Beyonce - Bow Down
The Queen is back - with the suitably titled Bow Down. There has been no official word on what the track is for, just the original post on B's tumblr.
It feels like a hype track, I doubt it'll be the new album's first single. It has certainly created big hype though - good work to her team for just throwing it out there with no messing about and boring countdowns or buildups. Get it on Soundcloud and she's smashing it without a single bit of promo. You may notice the second half of the song is the instrumental from the 02 Mrs Carter Show World Tour advert.
She's coming.
Sunday, 17 March 2013
Saturday, 16 March 2013
MUSIC: Mutya, Keisha & Siobhan
It's smooth, the vocals are tight and it's looking like their forthcoming album is going to be something special.
MUSIC: The xx - Kim Ann Foxman Remix
The unbelievable Kim Ann Foxman has done it again with her remix for The xx's new single, Sunset.
MUSIC: AB Soto - Keep It Moving
Directed by: Silas Howard Janis Vogel
New video from AB Soto! The ever fabulous bitch is bringing banjee realness along with a shit loads of his mates, as well as a dance routine to make any Butch Queen proud.
GET IT ON THEN GET ON IT.
Friday, 15 March 2013
MUSIC: Gat Decor V Whitney Houston
So it's Bright Light Bright Light time again. This time a Whitney / Gat Decor bootleg for a set in NYC.
The free download makes it even better.
Thursday, 14 March 2013
MEN: Pavel Petel
Click read more for more of the INCREDIBLE Pavel Petel. He'll be featured a lot more on hotOctopus from now on.
GAY: Vaginas & Penises
Favourite quote: "It's the birth canal of life..."
Favourite quote: "I think it smells like... Cocoa Puffs. Or a Twinky. Cause I've never smelt one."
MUSIC: Kelly Rowland - Kisses Down Low
So as much as it pains me to say this - because she's one of the most annoying women ever - this song and video are really, really good. Plus she looks flawless. There's something about oral sex I just can't turn down...
Tuesday, 12 March 2013
GAY: Anderson Cooper - "Being gay is a blessing"
The ever beautiful Anderson Cooper said this week that 'being gay is a blessing', during an interview with Michelangelo Signorile. Whilst in Rome to report on the Conclave, he took the time to discuss other issues such as coming out, his brother's 1988 suicide, and receiving the Vito Russo Award at the March 16th GLAAD Media Awards.
Cooper said that he "doesn't think he is worthy" of the award, but that "if it helps more people know who Vito Russo is" then it is worthwhile. He said that he was 'stunned' to learn that Madonna would hand him the award.
Keep on being a babe.
You can listen to the interview here.
MUSIC: Azealia Banks - Yung Rapunxel
I was hesitant to post this track - purely on the basis of how much she has irritated me recently. If you haven't unfollowed her on twitter yet, you'll see that there isn't a tweet that goes by where she doesn't either unnecessarily attack somebody (it was the turn of Shystie and Rita Ora this week and Diplo not long ago), or put herself on a pedestal much higher than the little stool she's currently still on... (still riding on the back of 212)
MUSIC: AlunaGeorge - Attracting Flies (Video)
AlunaGeorge are COMING for 2013.
The just-released video for the amazing Attracting Flies is a modern day, council estate fairy tale. Little Red Riding Hood,
Monday, 11 March 2013
MUSIC: Kazaky
Ukrainian foursome Kazaky have just released new single Crazy Law along with some very interesting visuals. It features them in their signature 5.5 inch heels (fact) and an large amount of leather and pvc. The choreography will make you gag.
Some blogs are calling it a response to neighbouring country Russia's anti-gay law. It is filmed in what looks like an Eastern European prison and features lyrics like:
Why am I feeling?More Kazaky:
This is a crazy law
You can have many laws, even how you’re born
Why am I feeling, this is a crazy law.
I’m not trying to show you something wrong
Saturday, 9 March 2013
MUSIC: Major Lazer Blood Diamonds Remix
The incredible Get Free remixed by the incredible Blood Diamonds = INCREDIBLE.
IT'S THE WEEKEND.
Thursday, 7 March 2013
MUSIC: Deptford Goth - Life After Defo
"Soulfully articulated, machine-driven melancholia from rising south Londoner." - BBC Music
Daniel Woolhouse, or Deptford Goth as his stagename goes, will release his debut album this month on the 17th March. Think of The xx, James Blake, How To Dress Well and Jessie Ware - the latter also being from South London. Life After Defo would easily fit alongside those albums, but is distinct enough to have something really special about it. It's a great cohesive album but with each track having it's own identity, and not one feeling like a 'filler'. He may not have appeared on many big 'One-to-Watch' lists for this year, but he's definitely on mine.
LGBT: Couple from Uganda marry in Sweden!
BIG LOVE to Sweden for granting asylum to Lawrence and Jimmy, a Ugandan couple who fled their home country to marry abroad, after they received death threats.
Uganda is known for it's exceptionally monstrous views on homosexuality and homosexual relationships, and is currently battling to bring in the 'Kill-The-Gays Bill', which would make homosexuality punishable by death.
SLUT OF THE DAY: Christian Teen Raps Every Anti-Gay Stereotype
Note that the video is called: RATED T FOR TOLERANCE.
I will happily "bake in the lake of fire for the name of love's sake". I have no words for this pathetic video, other than to say that she is certainly no Lil Kim on the rap-front.
More at Huffpost Gay Voices.
MUSIC: Bright Light Bright Light - In Your Care (Demo)
So Rod Thomas, aka Bright Light Bright Light has released a demo of a song from his upcoming second album - a follow up to Make Me Believe In Hope.
As with all his songs, it's heart-wrenchingly beautiful - definitely give it a listen. It'll be great to hear the studio version, which I'm sure will be equally as amazing as everything else.
Video below:
Wednesday, 6 March 2013
MUSIC: Zebra Katz - Y I Do
Presented by VMagazine - new music and visual from the forever-incredible Zebra Katz. The track is produced by Jepordise.
I've already seen Ojay twice before, and will happily buy tickets to see him again next time he's in London.
MUSIC: Kate Boy - In Your Eyes
KATE BOY is a four-piece group, consisting of Australian Kate Akhurst, and the Swedish production team of Oskar Sikow Engstrom, Markus Dextegen and Hampus Nordgren Hemlin. This month, they will release their debut EP, Northern Lights. They've already caused quite some noise with the first single, title track Northern Lights - a powerful electro track that gets you hooked on first listen, and In Your Eyes is just as excellent.
Tuesday, 5 March 2013
WORLD: Sydney Mardi Gras Police Brutality
All details taken from the YouTube account:
Sydney Mardi Gras 2013 between 11- 11:30pmThe level of force used by this Officer is absolutely sickening. The fact that the man is cuffed, and is still THROWN to the floor with such force is horrific! It seems that no matter how many incidents of this sort happen around the world, Police Officers still think it's alright to use excessive force when dealing with incidents. No matter what had happened before the arrest, the force and aggression is totally unnecessary.
Pavement just off Oxford St, Corner of Riley and Burton Street
Assaulting officer - FAIRFIELD LAC 266
LIVE: Garçon Garçon at Mardigrasland
A nostalgic blend of modern electro pop with an inherent 80s teen spirit. Derived from the colliding worlds of classical and rock, Nathan Mahon and Nick Tsirimokos create a personal, bittersweet, and unashamedly tongue in cheek brand of electro pop music.
Continued:
Monday, 4 March 2013
MEDIA: James Franco for Attitude
The gorgeous James Franco is on the cover of the latest Attitude for their LA Style Issue. Also this month, his gay/queer film 'Leather. Interior Bar.' will be screened at the BFI's Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. Both screenings have already sold out.
Attitude is out this Wednesday.
MUSIC: Simian Mobile Disco / LIVE
*****
Simian Mobile Disco have released 'LIVE' this week, recorded during their 2012 tour. It features singles such as Put Your Hands Together, Seraphim, Cerulean, and Hustler. It consists of 15 live tracks, into one mix.
It is definitely worth a listen, and if you get the chance to see them live, make sure you go. They played in Fire, London last year and blew me away. The highlight tracks on this are Cerulean and Cruel Intentions.
Sunday, 3 March 2013
GAY: Let's Have A Vatican Kiki
How the Papal Conclave choose the next Pope. Nothing more needs saying.
LIVE: Kim Ann Foxman / Urulu
Last night I went to see Kim Ann Foxman and Urulu play at Basing House, Shoreditch. It was a NeedWant label party, and it was incredible. Her set was one of the best I've ever seen. Support also came from Sean Brosnan, who's set I missed.
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