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Foster The People in Spokane (2017) Taken by me, Payton Norberg
Foster The People is an indie-pop/rock band formed in 2009 from Los Angeles, California. Foster The People broke through the indie-pop music scene in 2010 with their hit "Pumped Up Kicks" from their first album/EP, Torches. The band originally included three members; Mark Foster, Mark Pontius, and Cubbie Fink. Cubbie Fink left in 2015, and the band added Sean Cimino and Isom Innis. Mark Foster, the genius behind the music, is the writer, lead singer, guitarist, and pianist. Mark Pontius is the drummer, Sean Cimino plays guitar, piano, keyboards and backing vocals, and Isom Innis mostly plays piano, keyboards, and percussion. Mark Foster writes virtually all the songs but always gets input and help from his fellow bandmates. Foster The People have 3 albums; Torches (2011), Supermodel (2014) and Sacred Hearts Club (2017). Each album has proven their creativeness, talent, and range. Foster The People won Top Rock Song at the Billboard Music Awards in 2012 for Pumped Up Kicks, along with 4 nominations in other categories. Foster The People have been nominated many times for their albums and songs, and are recognized as an iconic and influential indie-pop band in the 2010s that shaped the genre for the upcoming years. Foster The People has been my favorite band since I discovered them in 2012. They are now one of the biggest bands in indie-pop, but I hope I can show more people their breathtaking music.
Foster The People not only has amazing music, and to me, not one bad song, but they also recognize their huge platform and use it for good. Mark Foster, the owner of the Foster The People Twitter account, regularly posts about politics, as a progressive activist. Foster actively recognizes the inequalities in society and the media today and uses his platform to address and call attention to it. Mark Foster (and the rest of the band) have addressed multiple times their opposition about Trump and his administration, and the racist, sexist, xenophobic, and corrupt ideologies he has. Foster The People are constantly advocating for change and helping people do so by informing and providing directions on how to get involved. This band not only provides us with great, talented, and mesmerizing music, but also uses their platform for good.
This link to a Los Angeles Times article explains the political agenda of Foster The People's second album. Mark Foster is interviewed since he writes the songs, and explains the political agenda he wrote about on their second album, Supermodel. Foster explains how the album sort of "exposes" modern day politics, and the people we tend to put on Pedestals. Foster draws attention to Western culture, consumerism and the dangers of Capitalism. He says that we tend to "worship" politicians and make them a huge celebrity.
In this link, Relix showcases Foster The People and their new (at the time) album, Sacred Hearts Club. In the beginning of the article, the main keyboardist is showcased, sharing how much time and effort he has put into the album, with little to no time to relax. The band explains how they wanted this album to have a 60's/70's psychedelic rock feel. It in fact did, but they also included a lot of other genres on this fluid album. Foster and Innis started making the album in 2014, right after the Supermodel tour. The album ended up being a great success, and showed their fans and audiences how versatile and creative they can really be.
In this CNN article, Foster focuses on the gun violence in America, and how he brought awareness to it in their breakout hit, Pumped Up Kicks. This article was written in November of 2017, when the Las Vegas shooting was still fresh and lingering. He explains that the song is about a boy fantasizing to shoot up his school. Foster says that he wanted to draw attention to gun violence with this song, hoping it would get better, but it in fact, got worse. Foster explains how the lawmakers have made little to no progress with the gun violence epidemic, and that needs to change.
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Monday, February 24, 2020
Foster The People
Travis Scott
Travis Scott
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/how-travis-scott-became-musics-best-performer-761320/
Travis Scott is known for putting on a show. The main theme of performances is that everyone needs to be raging with energy and excitement, if the fans do this he promises them the best show of their life.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/travis-scott-mn0002998422/biography
Travis makes sure to let the people know where he is from, Houston Texas. This web sight gave all information there is to know about anything Travis Scott related.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/4538342/kylie-jenner-baby-stormi-webster-dad-travis-scott/
This website gave a lot of insight on the different side of Travis Scott with his baby girl Stormi and his wife Kylie Jenner.
Sunday, February 23, 2020
Rylee Anuheakealaokalokelani Jenkins
Anuhea is a Hawaiian born pop, reggae, and acoustic soul singer/ song writer. She was born on Maui just like me and she soon became a known name in Hawaii. Anu does collaborations with various other artists like Sammy J (Sammy Johnson) , J Boog, SOJA, Katchafire, and more. Her songs are calming and can put you in a good mood. Although she didn't complete her higher education she has an Always Aloha Foundation to give scholarships to deserving Hawaii students. Through this Anuhea connects to her family of educators and her fans to encourage higher education.
With the primary influences of Jack Johnson, Bob Marley, India.Arie, and Jason Mraz, Anuhea made her recording debut in 2009 with the One Hawaii Music Label. The album featuring the song Right love, Wrong Time was number two on Billboards World Albums. Anuhea remains humble when she's referred to as one of the top musicians from Hawaii of all time.
Anuhea was born on Maui and boarded Kamehameha Schools on Oahu, enjoying sports then music. Anuhea has various accomplishments like preforming as the headline act at the 2011 NFL ProBowl Halftime show at Aloha Stadium.
A self-taught guitarist who blends engaging music. From Miss Congeniality 2nd runner up to preforming in local coffee shops to the reputation of Hawaiis #1 female artist. The Maui songbirds future is bright with her continuous determination, passion, optimism and raw talent.
Ansel Adams
I chose to talk about the work of ansel adams who was a photographer and captured some of my favorite photos. I code him because of his admiration for nature which I really connect with.
anseladams.com
this website contains a collection of various images by ansel adams.
he is quoted in saying “ You don't take a photograph, you make it.”
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.theartstory.org/amp/artist/adams-ansel/life-and-legacy/
Ansel Adams did a lot of work in the national parks and spent a lot of time taking photos.
he is quoted in saying “ You don't take a photograph, you make it.”
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.theartstory.org/amp/artist/adams-ansel/life-and-legacy/
Ansel Adams did a lot of work in the national parks and spent a lot of time taking photos.
Wayne White
Wayne White is an American visual artist, who has worked on several different projects over the course of his life. One of his most notable projects was his contribution to the TV show Pee-wee's Playhouse. White designed the set and puppets for the show, which ultimately won him three Emmy Awards. He was hired as the art director for music videos for Peter Gabriel and the Smashing Pumpkins, which also won him several awards, including the Billboard award for best art direction in a music video. In recent years, he has been focused on his painting and visual art. While he has worked with 3D mediums, his most well known work is a series of paintings titled "Word Paintings". In this series, White searches for mass-produced lithographs at thrift stores and paints words and phrases over the piece in a bold, 3D style. These paintings are often light hearted and humorous, which effectively changes the tone of the original work from boring to interesting. Wayne White's work is particularly compelling because he strives to turn mass-produced or cookie cutter artwork into an experience for the viewer that is interpretive and interesting to the eye. All of his work is bold and colorful, with a background that juxtaposes the subject of the piece. His work on Pee-wee's Playhouse is rather distinct, and earned him his reputation in the art community as a comedic and tactical genius. A lot of his work is attended to bring joy to the viewer; he works to make people smile. However, he also excels at creating work that successfully sends a message to the viewer, displaying his world views and morality. For example, in his word painting entitled "Beauty is Embarrassing" (pictured above), White aims to playfully tease human nature and the need to appear flawless, by claiming that the act itself should cause shame. He is definitely a talented artist, with original ideas, and is particularly notable, in an age where the norm is to take one's own self too seriously.
https://waynewhiteart.com/
This is Wayne White's personal website, where he displays all of his work, both present and past. Artwork is available for purchase on this website.
http://davidsheltongallery.com/artists/detail/wayne_white
Wayne White's work was featured in David Shelton Gallery for an exhibit. The link above provides a summery of the artist, and images of the work included in the exhibit.
https://www.artsy.net/artist/wayne-white
This is a separate website where Wayne White sells his available artwork and displays his pieces. One could also find other visual artist's work on the site.
Sam Toft
Sam Toft
Most people don't know who Sam Toft is. She is an artist based out of England, and her work is very distinct. When I was in high school, I had to do an assignment where we mimicked an artists work, and I chose Sam Toft. Her artwork always caught my eye because there is a running theme in her paintings, there is always a man and almost every time there is a dog. It is never the same dog, but it is always the same man in each painting and he is always doing something, such as going for a walk, riding a bike, or going to the beach. This always intrigued me because I would think it is hard to come up with new ideas when you're painting the same thing over and over again. But somehow Sam Toft seems to do it and its very interesting. Her artwork is quirky and humorous because she always draws the same subject but in different scenarios that aren't quite normal. I just think it is interesting how most artists have different gallery and draw or paint different things, but Sam Toft draw the same person over and over again and sticks to it.
https://samtoft.co.uk/
This website provides an insight to Sam Toft's life and her background before she became an artist. You can buy her artwork and be updated on different gallery's she is in and new art she is producing.
https://www.dianehuttgallery.co.uk/sam-toft-artist-biography/
Biography of Sam Toft. It provides a video of Sam Toft and how she goes about her drawings and more about her life.
https://www.thepawpost.co.uk/meets/artist-sam-toft-tells-spotting-dog-in-park-changed-her-life/
Interview with Sam Toft and how she found inspiration for her work.
Saturday, February 22, 2020
Chris Cornell
American singer, songwriter, musician
July 20, 1964 - May 18, 2017
I imagine that most of us have heard the iconic vocals of legendary singer, Chris Cornell, who can be heard in Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog, and Audioslave. Gone before his time, Chris Cornell touched the hearts of millions of people around the world, partially due to his disheveled, yet classically charming blue-eyed look. Along with his alluring appearance, Chris Cornell had some killer vocals, which I would describe as being soulful and melodic. He was also the world's first introduction to grunge music. Most notably to Chris's singing would be his four-octave vocal range, which can be heard in every one of his songs. Chris Cornell started his prosperous career in the early 80's with his first band, Soundgarden. Early in their career, Soundgarden achieved global recognition after the release of singles, "Black Hole Sun" and "Spoonman." Whilst in Soundgarden, Chris Cornell partnered with Pearl Jam to release a single album called Temple of the Dog. This album reached great success with the partnership of Chris Cornell and lead Pearl Jam vocalist, Eddie Vedder. From Temple of the Dog, songs such as "Say Hello 2 Heaven" and "Hunger Strike" were most popular upon release. Soundgarden rocked the nation between the years 1984 and 1997, when the group split up due to tension between the members. This wasn't the end of Chris Cornell's career though, as he was contacted by Zack de la Rocha from Rage Against the Machine, in the hopes that Chris would consider forming a new group with him. Only a few years later, Audioslave released its first album, with incredible success and recognition from the vocals of Chris Cornell. From this 2002 album, songs such as "Like a Stone," "Cochise," and "Show Me How to Live" launched Audioslave into triple-platinum status in the United States. Audioslave remained a group from 2001-2007, when the band split and Chris Cornell was yet again, left to himself. Of course this wasn't the end of Chris's career, as he went onto do soloist work until his untimely death in 2017. The death of legendary vocalist, Chris Cornell, was a massive loss to the rock music industry. Unsurprisingly, Chris Cornell's music is still played by millions of people around the world. A year after Chris's death, Vicky Karayiannis, Chris's wife, collaborated with his bandmates and friends to create the tribute album, Chris Cornell, to highlight the legend's work over the years.
I would highly recommend anyone who has an appreciation for rock music, to check out Chris Cornell's work if unfamiliar with it! Part of my love for Chris Cornell comes from childhood memories of my parents playing his music from Soundgarden and Audioslave. Since gaining a greater appreciation for music, I have sought after many songs of Chris Cornell, because not only are they nostalgic, they are just fun to rock out to. I could, without shame, blast Chris Cornell in the car with all windows down. Down below are links to Chris's most notable albums, and other resources to learn more about his life and music career.
This is a link to Soundgarden's album, Superunknown, released in 1994. Most notable on this album are "Black Hole Sun" and "Spoonman."
This is a link to Temple of the Dog released in 1991. Chris Cornell's partnership with Pearl Jam to create Temple of the Dog happened during his Soundgarden career. Most notable from this album are "Say Hello 2 Heaven" and "Hunger Strike."
This is a link to Audioslave's first album, Audioslave, released in 2002. This is personally my favorite album of Chris Cornell. Most notable from this album are "Like a Stone," "Cochise," and "Show Me How to Live."
This is a link of Chris Cornell, released in 2018. This album was created by Vicky Karayiannis, Chris Cornell's wife. She partnered with Chris's band mates and friends to create a tribute album of the legendary works of Chris Cornell.
This is a compilation of Chris Cornell's interviews over the course of his career, I would view this video as both an educational documentary and an amusing way of getting to know Chris Cornell as he describes his musical inspiration.
This is a biography about Chris Cornell's life. It touches on his upbringing and childhood, as well as his early music career, eventually launched into a legendary world-renowned career. It also talks about foundations created by Chris to raise awareness for underprivileged children around the world. Not only was Chris Cornell a rock-and-roll legend, he put his earnings into foundations and charities, doing his best to help as many people as possible.
Friday, February 21, 2020
Trent Mitchell
Trent Mitchell
Australian Photographer
Figure 1: photo from project, Inner Atlas - pt. 1
Some mentionable awards Trent Mitchell has received includes
2018 Nikon Australian Surf Photo of the year and 2015 Moran Contemporary
Photographic Prize. Mitchell also has self-published two photo-books of his
projects, “above/below” and “Chasing the Curve”. These photo-books were both award winning and limited addition.
Figure 2: photo from project, Inner Atlas - pt. 1
To learn more about Trent Mitchell, view these links below:
In this interview with Trent Mitchell, he dives into his background in photography and how he taught himself everything about film from the beginning. He also describes his favorite locations to shoot photos and the aspects about surf culture that makes his experience worthwhile.
This link will take you to Trent Mitchell's personal website. View here his greatest pieces, projects and series to get a feel for his unique style.
In a more personal interview, Trent Mitchell describes his
process behind shooting photography, the benefits of using film and the best
advice he has ever received.
Thursday, February 20, 2020
Karliene Reynolds
Karliene Reynolds hails from Scotland, but currently lives
in Australia. She started writing music and singing as a hobby in 2010, and began
posting uploads of her singing on YouTube in the same year. She’s now singing full time. Reynolds also
draws fanart in her spare time, her most recent being a portrait of Yennefer
from Netflix’s The Witcher. She also sings songs inspired by her Celtic
roots, or by TV shows like Hannibal, The Witcher, and Game
of Thrones. Reynolds has said before that her songs are borne of
some kind of obsession, and I can really see it when she sings the historical
story “Gentleman Jack,” or “The Beast Within,” a song inspired by Hannibal that
really places me, as the listener, as both hunter and prey.
One of the most admirable things about Reynolds is that, in
her own words, she enjoys exploring “new ways of telling stories through
sounds,” and this comes out through her music. Her songs elicit powerful
emotional reactions. Furthermore, her songs either place me, as the listener,
in the perspective of her characters, or let me imagine my own. This is
important because it allows me to experience a new perspective other than the
one I live through my own eyes and ears.
- Karliene Reynolds’ YouTube channel featuring her music, and also some short details about her life.
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- Her personal website where you can support her music by buying it, listening to it, or connect with her.
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- A fan account outlining the ways in which Reynolds’ music has impacted them/interested them
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- An interview with Karliene Reynolds about her inspirations and music.
Sonny Rollins
Walter Theodore Rollins, AKA "Sonny", is widely recognized in the jazz world as an influential saxophonist. Born September 7th, 1930, Rollins still lives today, alongside his powerful works of jazz. As someone who wanted to be remembered for always wanting to be better, Rollins did more than live up to his goal. Having had recorded over 60 albums, Rollins is known for his skills in improvisation.
Rollins tone echos through his saxophone in each piece he performs. The way he sings each song to the audience through the vibration of the tenor is an inspiration for many. His songs reflect a multitude of emotion, making each piece related to everyone. Sonny received his first performance Grammy for This Is What I Do, and his second for Without a Song, in 2004. To make 2004 even better, that year he was also awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
As someone who enjoys thinking outside the box, Rollins is credited for his unique, risk-taking music style. Consequently, he was one of the first people to improvise without following the tempo, successfully. This was a huge milestone in jazz music. Rollins is also credited for swinging within a solo while his band members kept a strict tempo. Overall, Rollins' playing is groundbreaking, and introduced many of jazz's key characteristics into present day music.
1.) https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/sonny-rollins-jazz-saxophonist-interview/
In the article titled, “I Was Always Trying To Get Better”: Sonny Rollins On A Life In Jazz, Rollins is asked about the journey that brought him into jazz. Through various quotes from Rollins himself, the reader is able to get a feel for the strong will and passion Rollins has for the tenor saxophone. Furthermore, the reader is able to gaze into what Rollins' life used to be like, and hear him laugh at the mistakes and successes that has made him who he is today.
2.) https://sonnyrollins.com/
The website above supports Rollins' music while giving inside information and sharing interviews about his unique character. In his bio section, the reader gains background knowledge about the life of the player and his journey through fame. Consequently, there is access to his music as well as a Q&A which gives voice to Rollins.
3.) http://www.bluenote.com/artist/sonny-rollins/
In the website above, Sonny Rollins is portrayed in his true form: "the greatest contemporary jazz saxophonist of them all." The biography of Rollins discusses the life that led him up to becoming the well known player he is today. This life includes his time working with other instrumentalists, as well as on his own. Furthermore, various recordings are discussed as well as available for listening.
Rollins tone echos through his saxophone in each piece he performs. The way he sings each song to the audience through the vibration of the tenor is an inspiration for many. His songs reflect a multitude of emotion, making each piece related to everyone. Sonny received his first performance Grammy for This Is What I Do, and his second for Without a Song, in 2004. To make 2004 even better, that year he was also awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
As someone who enjoys thinking outside the box, Rollins is credited for his unique, risk-taking music style. Consequently, he was one of the first people to improvise without following the tempo, successfully. This was a huge milestone in jazz music. Rollins is also credited for swinging within a solo while his band members kept a strict tempo. Overall, Rollins' playing is groundbreaking, and introduced many of jazz's key characteristics into present day music.
1.) https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/sonny-rollins-jazz-saxophonist-interview/
In the article titled, “I Was Always Trying To Get Better”: Sonny Rollins On A Life In Jazz, Rollins is asked about the journey that brought him into jazz. Through various quotes from Rollins himself, the reader is able to get a feel for the strong will and passion Rollins has for the tenor saxophone. Furthermore, the reader is able to gaze into what Rollins' life used to be like, and hear him laugh at the mistakes and successes that has made him who he is today.
2.) https://sonnyrollins.com/
The website above supports Rollins' music while giving inside information and sharing interviews about his unique character. In his bio section, the reader gains background knowledge about the life of the player and his journey through fame. Consequently, there is access to his music as well as a Q&A which gives voice to Rollins.
3.) http://www.bluenote.com/artist/sonny-rollins/
In the website above, Sonny Rollins is portrayed in his true form: "the greatest contemporary jazz saxophonist of them all." The biography of Rollins discusses the life that led him up to becoming the well known player he is today. This life includes his time working with other instrumentalists, as well as on his own. Furthermore, various recordings are discussed as well as available for listening.
Wednesday, February 19, 2020
HR Giger
Hans Ruedi Giger (1940-2014) was a swiss painter who was most famously known for the creation of the alien from the 1979 movie “Alien”. Although alien might be what he is primarily known for, Giger is a very successful artist who focused on horror sci-fi drawings and paintings. Most of his art has very pleasing geometric proportions due to him studying architecture before he started making visual art. Giger's art has a very dark feeling to it and part of that feeling stems from Giger living so close to Germany as a young child during WW2. He used that fear and translated it into his art. Another influence to Gigers work was the artist Salvador Dali. Although Giger may Have died 6 years ago his art still lives through his museum in Switzerland which he designed to represent his accomplishments.
- This website is an auction site with alot of copies of Gigers work, it also includes a short paragraph about the artist.
- This website goes into detail about Gigers life and influences and experiences.
- This website is a description of the museum where Gigers work is stored, it also shows a lot of the work in the museum.
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