.rapt is breathing

If there's anything in this world worth writing about; worth pouring my soul into....it's that world of lights, late nights, and sound. The world of music.

If I can keep that inspiration inside of me to continue reviewing, enjoying, and freely listening... clutch my fists around it and never let it go..... then I'll always have something to dream about. Something to strive for. Something to conquer.

My goal is to bring .rapt out of hibernation and really devote myself to it. Even if I'm the only one who knows it exists...It's here, and it's mine. I will delve into this blog, even if it kills me. Which wouldn't be awful. Being devoured by the thing you love is the best way to go out.

So how was your week? Did you stumble upon something unprecedented and revered that sends waves of joy down your spine and attacks your skin with chills and heat?

Is it something you can hear? Is it a track you can close your eyes and feel?

I hope so.

x

.rapt is off to the desert!

As the years before, you can follow my Coachella adventures on .rapt's twitter!

See all of you there!

On the Rise; Coachella 2014

What was that about .rapt reawakening..... last September?

I'm just horrible. Feel free to send some hate. But I really have been busy. The past 7 months have been a roller coaster of changes in my life and I've really had to give up a lot of my free time.

For the moment, however, I have quite a bit of time on my hands. And time is an awful thing to waste, am I right? So let's reawaken .rapt for real this time, shall we? And what better way to do that than to scream and shout about something a little spectacular happening in T minus 9 days and 14 hours.

That's right, bromigos. In just over a week, the largest and easily greatest music festival on the West Coast begins! Get your knapsacks ready, because the lineup for Coachella 2014 is on another level.

 

 

With Empire of the Sun, Broken Bells, The Glitch Mob, Foster the People, MGMT, Krewella, and STRFKR to name a few, this year's set has easily become the highlight of my spring and potentially the best year I've ever attended. There are no regrets in purchasing the pre-sale passes. In fact, I highly recommend going that route for those of you who weren't able to score wristbands for 2014. I can't tell you how phenomenal it felt to sit back in January while millions of others battled in the online sales.

While I'm unsure of how many more Coachella's I'll be attending after this year, I'm fully devoted to making 2014 my best experience yet. For those of you who have followed my blog since day one, you'll know that I sprouted .rapt from the soil of my first venture to Coachella Valley. Standing in the enormous crowd, completely awestruck by the sweat, music and lights was what made me realize how momentous and powerful the music scene can be. I wanted to be a part of it, somehow. I plan to hold onto the memory of my 2010 adventure for the rest of my days.

So .rapt readers, who's visiting the desert this year?

I'll be prancing around during Weekend Two, surely sporting some sort of frilly white nonsense. Make no mistake, the preparation process for Coachella is endless. Because the weather is reliably blistering (How could anyone forget the heat wave of 2012?) it's important to garb yourself accordingly. So I've made it a point this year to carefully plan out my daily attire. But while fashion is a rather important element in the festival world, it's better to be comfortable than suffocatingly hot. Which is why it's crucial not to overspend on new outfits. All a fest-goer really needs is a swimsuit, some shades, and an awesome pair of kicks. I've decided to go the Kaftan/pullover route this year, with a fresh bikini top from Frankies Bikinis and a few accessories from Etsy. I still have some purchases to make... camping gear, etc. But for the most part, I'm solid!

As the dates approach us, I'll throw some more blog updates your way! Thanks for sticking with me through the quiet times. But it's time to get loud!

x

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.rapt is reawakening....

Have a freshly released Empire of the Sun music video set to Ice on the Dune's second single DNA......

 
 DNA is quite literally my favorite track out of both EOTS records. Seeing it come alive in a production is amazingly thrilling for me, to say the least. I wasn't sure what to expect. Although unmindful of other Empire music videos (i.e. not set in different cultures or strange lands, teaming with outer-worldly creatures), it didn't fail in sending the viewer on a unique part of Emperor Steele and Lord Littlemore's journey. It was almost refreshing to see the duo paired with modern-day party kids in the heart of San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles. When I first saw the promo for the video, I was worried that the band might be trying to appeal to a more narrow-minded crowd, as it has a feel to it reminiscent of the every day poppy-trash music videos we see on the regular. A small part of me still feels that that's what DNA's film is doing; appealing to more mainstream culture. But there are also elements that any Empyrean can pick out to denote any negatives the production might have. For example, seeing Steele behave as he would in an unfamiliar land, innocently fascinated with common things did it for me. I found myself desperately loving the story the film told and the majesty it brought, highlighting the trials Steele and Littlemore face as they enter a world more familiar to us than to them.

All in all, the production won me over. I wouldn't be a very devoted member of the empire if it hadn't, right?

I'm thrilled to announce that I'll be meeting EOTS for the second time this year on October 31st at the Shrine Auditorium in LA. I'll be dressed to impress (I've yet to figure out as what) for possibly the greatest Halloween I'll have to date. I'll keep .rapt updated as the day draws near!

It's gotten hellishly late. I need to sleep.

It's good to be back, everyone!

x 

Who's this chick? Where'd she come from?

Whoa, hello!

I realized the other day how much I miss blogging about my musical muses and that I should probably devote some time to my beloved .rapt instead of venturing off into boredom land like I normally do in my down time lately.

How has everyone been? Is there anyone even still out there? I've been preoccupying myself with tumblr (aka my secondary real life) and fandoms here and there. Music, as always, remains a major part of my everyday somber, and although I always intend to write down and remember everything I want to say about certain songs and bands, I never seem to bring myself to do it. No more of that! I'm putting a stop to it now. I have way too many feels and there's only so much room inside my little head to keep them all.

But where do I even begin?

Empire of the Sun has become one of my most favorite bands as of late. I find myself wondering how glorious it would be to meet Emperor Steele and Lord Littlemore in person. Of course, this is purely the fan-girl in me. To give you a dose of how bad my love for them is, I've often been dreaming of what my face would look like smothered in Native American war paint, dancing under the sun alongside EOTS's leading imagineers. It would be great, right? I'm smitten, needless to say. Which is why I took a leap of faith and (with the little money I have) purchased a GA pass for myself to the Hard Summer Music Festival held in Los Angeles this August to see Empire of the Sun preform live. The festival as a whole is going to be worth while, I'm sure. But I've wanted to see EOTS for a couple of years now and L.A. was the closest venue near me that they'll be visiting. I'm more than enthralled. I can't wait to witness them in powerful, translucent, and true force. Oh yes ~

On September 25th, I plan to pay a visit to The House of Blues here in San Diego to finally see The Naked and Famous live. The boy and I have been quite fond of them for a couple of years now (they were featured as one of my Band's of the Week in 2012), and we missed their tour date in Seattle by an inch back in April of 2012 due to flying home from Coachella on the same day (insert sad face). So when I received word that they would be playing downtown, I jumped on tickets faster than a cat on a dot of light....(Ouch, bad metaphor.) The band hasn't released anything new since Passive Me, Aggessive You Remix and B-sides record, which dropped this past May. Somewhat of a refresher to their debut album of the same title, which was released back in 2010. There are however some newer songs showcased on the B-sides, which include Sow, Wild, Bright Lights, and Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No! Let's not forget about their two EP's which came out in 2011, This Machine and No Light, both of which are wonderful in their own right. I'm looking forward to hearing all of these at The House of Blues, but nothing beats their hit single Punching in a Dream from their debut, which I'm pining to dance to as they serenade SD this September. Any of you lot from the So-Cal region should really join me. Tickets are still available on TicketMaster.

I suppose the only other music-related news I have to offer you, loyal .rapt readers, is my biting the bullet and jumping on the payment plan wagon that is Coachella-bound in April 2014. After not attending this year's festival, I really felt like I had betrayed myself. I feel that it's crucial that I attend at least one more year of messy Coach madness before hunkering down into hardcore student life in the Fall of 2014. SO.....I'm slowly but surely paying my debt for two Weekend 2 passes for next year's Coachella Music and Arts Festival. Joy is felt within my broke and happy heart.

As far as my personal life goes, I can't complain. Working hard and planning out an extraordinary summer. I've got a pool down the road, the ocean 5 miles west, tequila in the freezer, the desert sun directly above, and a flower crown tangled in my hair. What more could a girl want?

x

Hello Hello

I truly don't enjoy neglecting my blog for too long....

At the moment I don't have internet at my new place, so it's been difficult to keep .rapt current. Life has been rather repetitive for me... I work more often than anything, but it's been paying off well. I'm in love with my new apartment. Just the fact that it's mine and I make the money to pay for it. It's different... I've never done anything like this before. It's an exciting new chapter in my life.

I rung 2013 in with high spirits... I think that this will be a good year for us all. It's about time for good to come our way. 2012 had this feeling of untimeliness.... Everyone seemed to question whether or not the apocalypse was near. Now that we have that concern out of our systems and we know that the world won't be ending anytime soon, I think we can let ourselves breathe a bit easier and allow better thoughts to fill our minds. I would hope, anyway.

Coachella 2013, anyone? Although I can't state my claim on a pass just yet, I do plan on attempting to go. The lineup, although quite nice, was slightly disappointing for me this year. It seemed that many of the bands were repeats from previous years....and it was surprising that there weren't bigger headliners. I wasn't jumping up and down right away, but after taking a closer look, there are several sets that I am eager to witness. One primarily being Red Hot Chili Peppers...They've always been on my 'Must See List' and I'm ecstatic to potentially check them off. I'm also keen on seeing Blur...as any Gorillaz fan should.... There are a few others whom I've always wanted to see....such as Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs, Tegan and Sara, Band of Horses, Grizzly Bear, and La Roux. Bands that I've already seen, but would like to pay homage to include Modest Mouse, Bassnector, Passion Pit, Metric, Yeasayer, Franz Ferdinand, and Vampire Weekend. I'll certainly give some of the other sets a go, but it was a shock to me that other bands and artists that I had been anticipating aren't going to be in attendance. I had hoped very highly that The Naked and Famous would be there, as well as a certain Deadmau5. But you can't always get what you want, yeah?

While I may still be without a Coachella pass, I do possess tickets to dearest Ellie Goulding's Hollywood Palladium show on February 12th. It was a gift from the boy. It's our 3 year anniversary (dating) this month, and he was kind enough to buy tickets for us both.

 I last saw Elena Jane live in early April 2011 at Seattle's Neumos venue (highlight above). Her set was spectacular and did far more justice to her music than her recordings. I except nothing less this time around. I may be seeing her in a much larger room with a thousand more people than in the previous small venue of collective fans back in Seattle nearly 2 years ago, but I'm certain that she will still deliver a show well worth seeing. I'm proud to say that I've been a fan of hers from early-on in her work. I can hardly wait to see her again.

While I'm sure I can sit here and ramble on about other going-ons in my life, I'll end my post here. Happy 2013, lot! Let's make this year an amazing one ~

xx

On this the eve of the end....

I'm sitting here watching the on-screen yule fire on Netflix, wondering to myself why I haven't updated my blog and how on earth I'm to expect myself to face Dec. 21st, 2012 without at least posting one last entry to .rapt.

.....

Although the only thing that might cause the world's end tomorrow is that digital Pegasus springing to life and turning murderous from last night's butchered rendition of Ellie Goulding's Anything Could Happen by newly established Fifth Harmony girls on The X Factor. God, save us all from that mutiny....

It is unsettling to consider what may happen come daybreak tomorrow morning, but I have very little doubt that things won't be fine. What I've come to believe is that the Mayan's intended tomorrow to be the ending of an era rather than the end of the world....and whether that's correct or not, I'm standing by it. Despite how hopeless society might seem sometimes, I still have faith in this world. Even if I'm the only one that feels this way, I refuse to give up on something so overwhelmingly meaningful and life-giving. There are too many unexplainably beautiful and tremendously soul-swelling things about planet earth to simply lose faith in it. I know there's still good people out there....and I know that I try to be one of them. I know that there's a God, no matter what or where he is, and I trust that he still recognizes us and our endeavors.
Whatever happens tomorrow will simply... happen. And it's important to remember that every ending is followed shortly by a beginning. In light of this, I'll be treating tomorrow as a clean slate. It's never too late to try harder at being better to ourselves and to others; to live fuller and appreciate more. I'm going to wake up in the morning with these things in mind.

DOM ; Band of the Week Aug. 6th - 12th

That time again? Stop, I know I'm late.

I thought I would share with you lot a band that I discovered last year while at Seattle's Bumbershoot Music and Arts Festival. Since seeing them, I've purchased both of their EP's, finding that they are equally as good on track as they are in person. I feel like I always appreciate a band more when I discover them live.

This is DOM, ladies and gents. An indie rock quartet from Massachusetts who'll fool you into believing they hail from the sandy beaches of SoCal. Their music is reminiscent of a new-age Beach Boys... Perfect tunes for the surfing brood, and all beach bums alike. I don't regret getting dragged to their set that September day in 2011. DOM's become one of my favorites, but this goes without saying.

Dom, Bobby, Erik, and Dylan make up the foursome with the two EP's that captured PitchFork Media and Spin's attention over the past 2 years. Having formed in January 2010, DOM is fresh and ready to take flight. Songs such as Jesus from EP Sun Bronzed Greek Gods (2010) and Damn from EP Family of Love (2011) have reeled fans in by the thousands... and perhaps a few more after this post?

It's honestly difficult not the like these guys. They're fun, collective, and different. Although they characterize that typical indie rock genre, they also have unique ideas. I feel like they won't just be thrown into the ocean of lo-fi bands... they'll stand out. At least to my ears.

Enhance your final weeks of summer with an earful of DOM! .rapt's Band of the Week August 6th-12th.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Week Two ~ In love

Although it hasn't been easy...what with the many stresses and upsets, and of course a few tears... when I look out over the ocean, I feel a wave of happiness pour over me. I'm in love with the sea. I want to stay! And I'll do everything in my power to ensure that my life remains on these beaches.

Friday marked week two of my new-found life. It's still so strange to me that I'm actually living here in San Diego and not just visiting. I feel like I'm due to head back to Washington any day now. I have to stop and remind myself that I won't be going back, at least not for a long while. I think my brain is still a little confused though. My new reality probably won't set in until I get into a better routine.

It's discouraging when you apply to so many different jobs and not one of them gives you a call back. I've tried all over San Diego and yet no one seems to want to give me a chance! Several times a day I wonder what I'll do if I can't land a job. I have barley enough money to sustain my bills and rent for August and then its do or die come September. If I don't have some sort of a job figured out by then, I'll more or less be out of money and I'm not one to ask for hand-outs. But I don't want to leave. I feel so invigorated here; so alive! I barely remember what it was like before I moved. I feel like it's always been this way and I never once lived that dreary life back in Western Washington. It's a good feeling.
So I'm hoping for a miracle to happen so I can stay.

Life otherwise has been fairly laid back. Although it's frightening to not have a job, it's been nice not having any obligations. But I DO need to eat, so we'll see how things go with applications this coming week.

I'm trying to remember all of the things I've been doing during this second week....The only thing that really stands out in my mind is my horrible sunburn on my shoulders that I got in PB last Monday, which is currently peeling like mad. And also my bicycling adventure around Mission Bay, where I found myself riding a beach cruiser for the first time. I had an immense fear of falling off of it, for the seat on the bike was about half my height. I don't know how you beach bums do it.... I felt like I'd never ridden a bicycle in my entire life. I think I just need to find one that's the right size for me. What's the fun in riding a bike when it's a huge task to get on and off of it? I about died each and every time! My advise to you lot, don't ride a bike if you can't touch the ground when you're sitting on it.

Everything is so simple and fun here. Really, as long as you have a little cash in your pocket for food you don't need money to have fun. I'm enoying every minute. But I'll enjoy it even more once I have a yob!

Are any of you .rapt followers locals around these parts? If so, leave a comment and tell me what your favorite things to do here are! I'll try my best to follow suit and give your recommendations a try in the coming week.

Photos of my second week in the southwest are featured below!

Neon Indian ; Band of the Week July 30th - August 5th

Hey. I know. It's not the 30th. It's the 1st. You'd be late updating your blog too if you were consistently job searching and shitting yourself every time you try and get anywhere on the multiple freeways of doom around here. San Diego, you will either make or break me.

What's this psychedelic color-fest that you're viewing? A few synthesizers, echoing bass, and hypnotic vocals? This is none other than Neon Indian, lot. One of my favorite bands and .rapt's Band of the Week!

I think I discovered this lone soul in the Fall of 2011. His latest record had dropped and I happened to come across it sporadically on iTunes. My ears were pleased. This is exactly the type of music that I pine for 90% of the time.... Unique, weird, and drenched in reminiscent 80's sound. You can't get much more awesome than that! Neon Indian was one of the sets that I made sure to catch at Coachella 2012, and I wasn't disappointed.

Originating from Mexico and later relocating to Texas, founder and composer Alan Palomo began realizing his musical calling during his teenaged years. Debut album Psychic Chasms was released October 13th, 2009, which hit the right note with highly acclaimed Pitchfork Media, among many others. In September 2011, Era Extrana was let loose, doing it's job in reeling me in like a cod. Currently at the ripe age of 23 and with 2 successful records on the rise, Palomo represents the notion that the youth of today can acheieve anything; standing strong in premise creativity. 
Palomo does all of his own work, but accompanying him on his live ventures are band members  Leanne Macomber (Keyboard, Vocals), Jason Faries (drums), and Lars Larsen (Live Visuals). Together they've played at dozens of music festivals including SXSW, Coachella, Sasquatch!, and upcoming Lollapalooza 2012 and have performed on NBC's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. This Texan kid is moving up in the world fast and I plan to remain loyal to his extravagant display of synthpop for as long as my heart holds out.

If you're looking for something new to listen to, maybe something to inspire you to dig deeper into your psyche, look no further than Palomo's Neon Indian. Era Extrana is my favorite record, I love the way it makes me feel...Like I'm floating off of this smog-infested planet into a world much greater and colorful. Best track by me: Halogen (I could be a Shadow)....It's pleasant, while also enigmatic. Don't you love my descriptive words today?

All big phrases considered, check Neon Indian out, lot! If you've been clueless to this band before now, then consider this my gift to you for the month of August.

WEBSITE
TOUR DATES

Week One ~ Cactus & Sea

I lied a bit ~ I said I would update about my adventures every Friday.... but I think it would be safer to give myself more of a range with that. I'll update every "weekend." Don't judge. I have a lot going on and not a lot of time to work with!
But there's always time for .rapt and it's illusive readers!

 

 Friday marked week one of my new life in SoCal. It's been a bit interesting.... I've run into a few unexpected obstacles... one being that here in the south, ants are a huge problem. And if a household doesn't keep up with it's chores, the ants TAKE OVER. This couldn't be more true for the abode I'm currently living in. Being a house full of people in their 20's, not much cleaning gets done....And so there are ants erupting from every corner!... Pretty sick, yes? Not as sick as the lack of cleanliness. I'm so used to living at home and having a mother to do all the tidying-up. It was a huge wake up call to enter a home where nothing is ever taken care of. I took it upon myself to buy some cleaning supplies and scrub every inch of the bathroom I'll be using, as well as my new room. The kitchen however is a lost cause. I tried one afternoon to bomb the ants that reside in that part of the house, only to come out defeated. There are too many and it's way too dirty and disgusting to even put effort into it. So I bought myself a microwave for my room. I assure you lot, I won't be doing much cooking unless it comes in a microwavable container.
I never knew how much dedication it takes to keep a house clean until now. I've somehow become OCD about it and I'm actually okay with addmitting that. Someone has to become the mom in this dump of a place!

Despite the cleaning issue, the area I'm living in is gorgeous. I'm in a canyon surrounded by desert and cacti. What a way to live... :)

I'm still job hunting. I had my first interview on Friday afternoon for a lovely place downtown... It would be an ideal job, but I'm a bit fearful that I bombed the interview... Merely because there was an aptitude test that I feel I did horribly on. There were so many questions on it that I would have never known the answer to... The manager who did my interview was also a bit gruff. I suppose all I can do now is wait and see if I get a call back. In the meantime, I'll continue applying to places and hope for the best. It's certainly discouraging being jobless though, especially when everyone else in my household has a job and is bustling about all day while I'm laying on my new futon pondering life and wishing I wasn't so poor.
I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed though.

Not everything has been discouraging. For the most part, I'm in love with the sea and the climate here. The views and the plants alone make me want to melt.... I truly believe that I belong in the southwest. I just need to keep my chin up. There is so much in life still waiting for me. I need to take full advantage of this opportunity and run with the wind! Something is bound to work out eventually.

You're all great. Comments are loved! If any of you have suggestions for me, I could certainly use a few. At least for assistance with my job search!

Photos and film of my first week in the desert sun are featured below!

Band of the Week Update tomorrow.

And so my new life begins....

I'm on my way to my new home in sunny San Diego! I'll miss Washington.... but not the rain. It was hard to say goodbye, especially to my mother and pup. But it's time to go out and see what life has to offer me...Try to find my happiness. I know it's out there somewhere.

Today (July 19th) was the first half of my two day journey south.... Just me, my car 'The Power', and anything I could fit in her. It's been great, one big cluster-F of a road trip. I can feel all my clutter weighing my poor hatchback down... But we'll get there, slow but sure. I'm currently spending the night in a quaint little motel with no food except tea to satisfy me until morning. Just one of the many pleasant things I've encountered throughout my long, unending day. I'm slightly alarmed that I'm still coherent.

I've wanted for a long time to incorporate more of my life into .rapt, rather than just focusing on music.... Despite the fact that music is a large part of my life. Maybe you (the reader) and I have more in common than we think?  It would be cool to find out, possibly? I don't know, bare with me while I try some new stuff out.

I am angry with myself though for not featuring a Band of the Week for quite some time, so from now until the 30th, let's throw M83 at your ears.
 I'm sure most of you know of this collaborative band already, but in case you don't..... PLEASE LISTEN. It took me several years to truly appreciate their music, but once I gave M83 more of a chance, I was hooked. Everything about their music screams inspiration to me. I don't think there's been a day since April that I haven't listened to at least one of their songs.


There are many, but give these particular tracks a listen:
Steve McQueen (Hurry Up, We're Dreaming record), Don't Save Us From The Flames (Before the Dawn Heals Us record), Graveyard Girls (Saturdays=Youth record), Kim & Jessie (Saturdays=Youth record), Reunion (Hurry Up, We're Dreaming record), Teen Angst (Before the Dawn Heals Us record), We Own the Sky (Saturdays=Youth record), and Claudia Lewis (Hurry Up, We're Dreaming record.

Don't get me wrong. All tracks on each record are immaculate, but these are my personal favorites.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE 

As much as I want to go on about my day, I think it would probably be wise to get some sleep with what little time I have to do it. I still have to take on the majority of California tomorrow.
Despite what people have told me about CA (good things or bad things) I intend to base my judgment of the state and the people in it on my own experiences. So if any of you are locals, make a good impression on me! So far, I have nothing but good feelings.

Wish me luck, lot!