Locked
Very cool short someone sent me this morning. The twist at the end makes it worth reading 9 minutes of subtitles.
Enjoy
Trevz
GTKU – Natalie
Life is like a box of Chocolates, so are people. That is the inspiration behind the Getting to Know You project. Meet Natalie who I met walking across the Williamsburg bridge, Natalie’s mission is to fold a thousand cranes and document it on her tumblr.
GTKU – J.R. Melanie & Basquiat
Life is like a box of Chocolates, so are people. That is the inspiration behind the Getting to Know You project.
This past Monday I finally got around to seeing The Jean-Michel Basquiat documentary Radiant Child. Director Tamra Davis did a great job presenting a more disarming and thoughtful side of the talented but tormented artist. The commentary from Nelson George about the artist struggle with being a black man in a mostly white scene is fresh and insightful. And if you are a fan of the Julian Schnabel bio pic Basquiat you’re going to love seeing much of it play out through photos, video and interviews. One major critique I have is the poor camera and audio on some of the interviews. Nelson’s being the worst. Still I would higly recommend seeing this film.
After the film I thought it would be great to get a review from a fellow theatre goer. Say hello to J.R. and Melanie. They seemed like a great duo and I just had to approach them as a part of my Getting to Know You series.
BTW the film only runs through August 3rd. For more info log onto the film forum website.
Enjoy
Trevz
GTKU – Sarah
When I first started TheNewPop in 2005, I use to love touring NY documenting the colorful mosaic that makes up this city. Back then I use to rent my camera and wanted to get as much milage out of that rental as I could. So after a full day of shooting a video I would travel the city through the night shooting anything and everything that caught my eye. Mostly simple things that normally go unnoticed. I used my video camera in very much the way a photographer would use a still camera. Those early days were pure magic.
Since those early days I have tried many times to return to that free spirited approach without much luck. However thanks in part to owning a smaller DSLR camera (which for me also satisfies a long time desire to shoot photos), lately I have been more inspired to document city life again. This week I started doing a series of street interviews which I titled Getting to Know You. The title originally came from Theophilus London who guest hosted an episode on The New Pop that he titled, you guessed it “Getting to Know You.” They say life is like a box of chocolates, I say people are too. This is the inspiration behind this project.
This first episode features Sarah who works in a little Ice Cream Truck you may have seen around town called heartschallenger.com. Sarah was more than happy to tell us about the company and how she got involved with it. There will be more folks to meet this week.
Enjoy the series
Trevz
New Orleans Bounce – Big Freedia
Check out this cool piece I found on The New York Times website about Bounce music featuring Big Freedia who was featured on New Pop not too long ago. It is really well shot, and well done.
Go Freedia!!!
Our 2009 Piece on Big Freedia shot at Glasslands
A Cold Splash of MiMA
A much needed cold front is headed to the city, and its coming from the Caribbean. MiMA (Yarimir Cabán) lived on and off in New York until five years ago, when she released her folk-bossa self-titled debut at a packed Joe’s Pub and then headed off to the Basque Country, Texas, and elsewhere. When she landed back home in Puerto Rico, she pretty much tossed all of her beautiful, singer-songwriter crowd- pleasing material and started from scratch. And off she went, on to a winding road of her own, turning down countless record deals along the way and becoming a powerful voice, always stubborn in her DIY approach. MiMA has been constantly playing and experimenting live, but a proper second coming has not released or even finished due to evolving ideas, lack of funds, and her trademark perfectionism when it comes to recording.
Now, MiMA’s second coming will manifest itself in the flesh in Brooklyn, at Public Assembly on Sunday, July 25th. She brings along Macha Colón y Los Okapi, for their first foray outside the island. MiMA will also open for Bomba Estéreo at SOB’s on Tuesday, July 27th. Expect other shows and subway jamming sessions to be announced as well. She says the new album is in the works, due out this fall (for real!). Even if it is, one thing is certain: it won’t be the same as the magic we’ll be fortunate to witness this week.
Let these moving images telltale a glimpse of her potential.
Nuria Net
Full Bleed
Here is a piece from VBStv featuring some of the people involved with the new book Full Bleed. It documents 30 plus years of Skateboard culture in NYC. What I really like about this piece is the barebone focus on the storyline. It is an approach many filmmakers present company included are intimidated by. No soundtrack, no cute editing, no cool camera angles, just a damn good story. VBStv strikes again.
Enjoy
TrevZ
The Hardest Working Taxi Driver In America
Mitchum recently held a video contest called The Hardest Working Person in America. I decided to do a video on Clyde Bayack who also happens to be my Dad. He has been driving a NYC Taxi cab 12 – 15 hours a day 6 to 7 days a week for 35 years. The video failed to make the final round but thought I would publish the video here anyway. Booo to Mitchum, hooray to my Pop’s.
Enjoy
Trevz
Styles of the Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit event
So I hit up that event for the Need For Speed - Hot Pursuit game premier with Trevz the other night for The New Pop. I was in hot pursuit of some great fashion, and of course, this being NYC, I found it. I couldn’t help but notice that style was out in droves. I felt inspired by what I saw at the Classic Car Club – the dope fashions ranged from a vintage couture look to empire-shouldered frocks in the vein of pop starlets like Rihanna and Lady Gaga.
Enjoy.
M
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- From left: Angela, Stephanie and Alina smile pretty at the Classic Car Club.
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- From left: Bryan Arenas and Luiza Solano looking ultra fly.
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- From left: Models Melanie Tillbrook and Vanessa James pose at the Need For Speed premier event.
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- From left: Terry Kosic and Amina rock ubercute frocks.
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- Hiraku Morilla dons a vintage couture style.
Need For Speed Hot Pursuit – Video
Here is the video from the EA Sports gamer event that took place at the Classic Car Club NY this past Wednesday. It was a hands on VIP sneak peak at the yet to be released game Need For Speed Hot Pursuit which looked pretty cool. The last game console I owned was ColecoVision, so take whatever praises I give out with a grain of salt. If you missed this event there is going to be a 7 city tour, next stop Lollapalooza (Chicago).
Enjoy
Trevz
Need For Speed – Hot Pursuit
Last night I covered the release for the new EA Sport video game Need For Speed – Hot Pursuit. Saw a few old faces and got to hang out with some fabulous people once again. I thought it would be cool to take my summer intern Mickey out to see how the pro’s cover the scene. Haha. After being away from nightlife action for so long I thought I would be as jaded as I was when I left, but it wasn’t like that at all, in fact I think I had some fun. Mickey ceartainly did.
Enjoy
TrevZ
ArtErotica
So after the Need For Speed event, we walked across to Arterotica which is the best kept secret in town. It’s a monthly event held at Madame X on Houston that gets pretty erotic but keeps it classy. By the time we got there all the events were over and most of the folks had already left, but it was still great just sitting chatting and taking in the vibe.
Enjoy
Trevz
Light Asylum, Asa Ransom, These Are Powers (and more!) @ Cameo Gallery!
Yo kids,
So I had a great time last night and I’m here to fill you in. My girl Amber filled me in on another show happening in good ol’ BK, so I had to hit it up. This time, we, and a new friend, an indie artist named Lelia Broussard from LA, hopped the L to Cameo Gallery. (Check out her tunes, by the way!)
I’d never been, but was immediately impressed by the sort of cocktail lounge feel in the front, and the standing room only stage part in the back. We sipped a couple $4 Miller High Lifes and (FREE!) shots of bourbon, and headed to the dance floor.
In the back, the room was lit up with strobes and stage lights of every color imaginable. People were dancing and the energy was perfect.
The first group I caught was Light Asylum, which is fronted by Shannon, whom I met after the set. We caught the last song, but I want to hear more. There was something vaguely Crystal Castles meets Yeasayer about them. Shannon announced a (FREE!) show Wednesday on 12th and Bedford, I believe…. you guys should check them out. Whatever it was, it was hot!
I only caught one hot track, but I still got a decent pic! 
As the speakers boomed hood joints all night long (Soulja Boy and Ciara club mixes), I was meeting people. This hot couple below, Marie and Joe, head the band Hexa-Whorra. Their mashup of electronica and acoustic music would’ve suit them well for the venue.
YES.
Next up was Asa Ransom – Amber had heard them before and told me great things, so I went in with high expectations. They were exceeded. They had a very dark, Bowie-glam vs. She Wants Revenge stomp to it. The guitars crunched and buzzed and the bass driven beats evoked something delightfully evil.
I ran into The Loneliest Monk’s Michelle and Miles, from the last post, who were still in town, heading to Providence, Rhode Island for a show. Michelle and Miles played in Chicago with Asa Ransom a few times.
This is how I officially decided they were good.
Check the guitar! Hot, right?
Dark harmonies accentuate bitchin' rock dance tracks.
Finally, I saw These Are Powers. Before and during the show, lead singer Anna Barie was handing out popcorn and candy. When I interned at Secretly Canadian in Bloomington, I remember they were a band signed to SC’s sister label, Dead Oceans. My, has their sound (and look!) evolved.
They hit the stage with what I’d like to call “electro-hood.” Anna caught my attention with her Karen O-isms. She squealed and squawked and purred and harmonized (while breakin’ it down) over some of the hottest beats I’ve ever heard. I hadn’t heard much of their new material til now. Check out their MySpace for more. My fave is “Candyman,” naturally. I’d love to catch up with them for an interview.
THESE. ARE. POWERS!
It was also during this time that I met a “chocolate Marilyn Monroe,” in the form of a man in drag. His explanation?
“Marilyn’s been sleeping.” Marilyn did go onstage during These Are Powers to sing “Happy Birthday” Mr. President-style to a friend.
Tomorrow, I head to an EA Sports event with Trevz- should be loads of fun. In the meantime check out the hot pics after the jump.
The "Chocolate" Marilyn.
Can anyone else say FIERCE? Check out Becca's fly hair.
Amber in her cut up Misfits tee. <3 I. Love.
And yours truly.
XO,
M
The Roots Webisodes – Episode 4
So this is the final installment of The Roots series. This final video in a nutshell is everything the label wanted and pretty much what every corporate client wants, a happy upbeat montage of people living fabulously. If you have been following the series you know I wanted more. I wanted to capture the human side, the relationships, a portrait of artists at work. In the end it wasn’t worth the energy needed to fight the corporate beast and I gave in. The label was happy with this final video, but less so with the first three. This taught me a valuable lesson that is helping me maintain my artistic integrity in a corporate world. My friend Luca who owns the Atlas cafe on Havemeyer put it best. He said ‘Do one for them, do one for yourself.” A simple elegant solution. No more fights over artistic merit. If they are paying you the best you can do is make suggestions and move on. Leave the bold artistic statements to the projects you can control.
That being said it’s not all bad working for the corporate beast, especially when it involves getting paid to hangout backstage and onstage with The Roots, Kanye West, Lykke Li, and lots of beautiful and talented people.
Enjoy
TrevZ
PaperFleet, Jenny and the Holzers, Hollows and The Loneliest Monk @ Bruar Falls!!
Hey kids,
So yours truly, Mickey, is back after a week’s hiatus. The week has been filled with Gaga craziness, which I’ll fill you in on in a bit.
Until then, here’s a recap of last night’s festivities. I headed to good ol’ Billyburg with some friends for what I thought was a diverse and interesting concert at Bruar Falls. I had only been once, and was in love with the fact that they had $3 Rolling Rocks (!!!!). Oh, and yummy tap water to battle the heat. Plus, it’s just a chill bar in general, which I guess is a word to describe many bars in Billyburg. HA
Merch.
First up: Jenny and the Holzers. They had an aggressive, punk-driven sound, and were lead by vocalist Sarah Liller. Many of their songs were two minutes tops. I got a 90s garage feel, like a girl-power Less than Jake or Barenaked Ladies, even.
I told Sarah afterward that I could have easily been watching MTV’s ol’ skool classic, “Daria” and listening to their music. Songs like “Abuse of Power” and “Go All Out” definitely made me feel like a hard-headed teenager, in the best way. Check out their music here.
Jenny and the Holzers bring the punk to Bruar Falls.
PaperFleet was up next. The quartet brought something that was much louder and rockier. It reminded me of something distinctly Southern, motorcycles and chain-smoking.
Three words I’d use to describe them are acceleration, power and heart (3 of the 4 members were on guitar). The venue got more packed as the band’s meaty sound powered the crowd.
“Jailbreak” was a favorite of mine, with its youthful lyrics, and hard-edged sound. I caught up with singer and guitarist Jim afterward and he gave me a copy of their new CD, “Hi Sailor.” If you’re looking for something to toss ur hair to, their a good listen. Check ‘em out on their website.
PaperFleet take flight at Bruar Falls.
Now for the Chicago half of the post. Maybe I’m partial because that’s my hometown (WHAT UP CHI-CITY!!!!!), but these next two bands were amazer-lazers.
Hollows rocked my (white) sox. The crowd was smiling and bobbing their heads to cute songs powered by keyboard, guitar, drums and seamless harmonies.
The mostly girl-powered band (minus the male drummer) all raced together like one of those artfully fucked up kindergarten finger paintings. The ladies sounded like schoolchildren (from the 50′s!) playing at recess.
It’s all quite delightful, actually. The band even played a song called “Muncie, Indiana,” what up MIDWEST?! It was refreshing to see them play. Here’s their music.
Hollows mix 50's malt shop pop and trouble in the best way.
Finally, it was time for The Loneliest Monk (born from the time that MTV VJ Tabitha Soren messed up the pronunciation of Thelonious Monk.
Also hailing from Chicago, this band, comprised of 4.5 year partners Miles and Michelle, are friends of Amber’s from her days in Chi-City.
Their music was just as passionate as I’m sure the relationship is. Michelle plugged in her cello to give it an electrified sound. It was nothing short of breathtaking and beautiful.
Miles got his Gothic Gaga on, as he took to the stage in a masquerade mask and drummed his heart out to their haunting, well-balanced songs musing on love, lust, loneliness and heartache. I hope they move to New York and bring that ferocious talent with them. Music. HERE.
The Loneliest Monk KILL IT. 'Nuff said.
After the show, I told them how great I thought they were. Michelle told me that “Music is therapy.” While many artists say this, I believed her.
It was awesome to see such a diverse range of talent do their thing.
Headed to The Roots!
Peace & Love,
M
The Roots Webisodes: Episode 3
In Episode 2 you witnessed a compromise in visions. I wanted to present a behind the scenes candid portrait of The Roots and the world they occupy. The label wasn’t on board with my vision and the videos started to evolve into a carefully controlled montage of all that is cool about The Roots. Clearly I was a bit naive thinking that I could tell it my way when the label was paying the bill. I had to fight for every inch of creative freedom and at some point all the re-edits just aren’t worth it. At this point it felt like I lost the trust I needed from the label and the group. There seemed to be tension every time I turned on the camera. Not having sufficient trust is a documentarians worst enemy.
What you see in the video below is a montage piece, highlights, which I can do in my sleep. What you don’t see is the story I really wanted to tell. The creative process, the brotherhood of the band. I wanted to show the human side of The Roots. A story of a bunch of guys who happen to be really good at what they do. I think thier audience would have appreciated that. This video takes place at The Roots picnic 2009.
Enjoy
Trevz
GOD? – Chapter 1
Why did I choose to do a photo/video series on God? I am not sure, lets just say I find the subject fascinating. When people find out I am doing a series on religion responses range from concern to curiosity. Friends wonder if I have been brainwashed by some sort of religious cult, folks in the scene wonder why would I choose a topic so “uncool.” In the end I find myself compelled as an artist and storyteller to explore this subject matter and see where it takes me. My personal view of religion; well I claim neither faith nor disbelief in God. I am what most people would define as Agnostic. This has not always been the case. I spent the first 21 years of my life as a devout Seventh Day Adventist. When it comes to dedication and the ritual of religion the S.D.A’s can give the Jews a run for their money. Like Judaism the S.D.A. Sabbath starts at sundown Friday and goes thru sundown Saturday. At that time there is to be no TV, no radio, no magazines, no playing, no music, in fact each and every Sabbath we were not allowed to do any secular activities that did not uplift God’s name. The rest of the week was no holiday either. For a person who doubts the existence of God as I did when I approached my teens these sacrifices can become grueling. These demands contributed at least in part to the men in my family leaving the faith. Today we are reminded by my mom on a weekly basis that we are destined for eternal damnation if we don’t get our asses back in church. While I find it draining to challenge my Mom every time she challenges my faith, my Dad takes pleasure in taking up a good fight in the name of agnosticism. It makes for good theatre and is the genesis for this series.
The latest battleground for this debate took place at the World General Conference for the Seventh Day Adventist. Every 5 years the S.D.A’s take over a city somewhere in the world and tens of thousands of devotees flock to worship together for two weeks in a display of international fellowship and love that would give the Olympics a run for it’s money. This year it took place at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Partly as a show of support, and in part because it is such a colorful event, my dad and I decided to attend this event along with my mom, family and their friends. I thought it would be a great way to start off this series.
Enjoy
Trevz
New Pop Vintage 2007: Junk Science – Granddad’s Nerve Tonic
In 2007 our friends from Junk Science produced an album titled Granddads’ Nerve Tonic. What was really interesting about this album was the fact that they were having a Beer made after it. I thought this needed to be documented. While shooting the interview at SixPoint Craft Ales in Redhook, the owner of SixPoint threw on some tracks from the Nerve Tonic album and Baje One the lead MC started to lip sync. It was a you dropped your peanut butter into my chocolate moment. It occurred to me that adding the musical element into this documentary might just work. I told Baje One to roll with it. It worked out so well that we utilized the concept throughout the entire video. On this day in the year 2007 the musical documentary was born.
Enjoy
Trevz