pop up video — blog — Nicki clyne

one of my favorite things about music is how it can transport you to a time + place in no seconds flat. as i've been reflecting on the last year, i've naturally been digging into some of my old playlists. here are some of the songs that kept me company in 2012... my dear friend caspar made me a wonderful playlist for my birthday last year. he truly makes an art of it, meticulous + thoughtful. and because i couldn't figure out the settings on my new smartphone, i ended up strolling the grey streets of vancouver with this song on repeat. it was absolutely perfect. [embedplusvideo height="365" width="450" standard="http://www.youtube.com/v/6dPIK9Qe7K4?fs=1" vars="ytid=6dPIK9Qe7K4&width=450&height=365&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=0&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=&notes=" id="ep1539" /]

though this album is a few years old, i discovered 'the xx' last year and fell in love. their minimal and melodious sounds mixed with some sweet synth riffs are perfect for reading, or writing too. just the right amount of ambience and familiarity to drift off, but enough emotion to engage if you're in the mood. [embedplusvideo height="365" width="450" standard="http://www.youtube.com/v/UfTfHTUUee4?fs=1" vars="ytid=UfTfHTUUee4&width=450&height=365&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=0&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=&notes=" id="ep1120" /]

i can't remember where i first heard this song, but it was way before you could hear it on the radio every five minutes. luckily, it holds its grace and i still can't help but smile + crank up the volume when it's on. i'm really looking forward from these guys. #icelandrocks

[embedplusvideo height="281" width="450" standard="http://www.youtube.com/v/ghb6eDopW8I?fs=1" vars="ytid=ghb6eDopW8I&width=450&height=281&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=0&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=&notes=" id="ep8436" /]

it was an unlikely match when i first met this goth band from virginia. they were headlining a sci-fi convention i was a guest at and my first introduction was an acoustic version of 'earth angel' (during which they clearly courted richard hatch, not me). but once i got to know them, i decided to give them a chance and was completely blown away by their compelling harmonies, dark and emotional lyrics, and just all-round awesome sound. i literally cried when i first heard this song, and i still get chills when andy hits some of those low notes. beautiful stuff. (he also has a solo project called 'the rain within' + another great act as 'brighter fires.')

[embedplusvideo height="365" width="450" standard="http://www.youtube.com/v/sGc7dIjMAb8?fs=1" vars="ytid=sGc7dIjMAb8&width=450&height=365&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=0&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=&notes=" id="ep3118" /]

and now for something completely different. i decided to take hip hop classes last year (something i've done on and off over the years), but this time we actually had a performance at the end of it. oh i'm sorry, a "recital." it was so great, especially since we were followed by clumsy little girls in sequined tutus. probably better that they were backstage for this one anyway ;) but this song remains close to my heart for [embedplusvideo height="281" width="450" standard="http://www.youtube.com/v/4JipHEz53sU?fs=1" vars="ytid=4JipHEz53sU&width=450&height=281&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=0&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=&notes=" id="ep8977" /]

getting back on track, here's a little throwback to the nineties. i had the good fortune to attend a screening of a documentary about the drummer from Hole (among other cool bands as well), and after the screening and the q & a, all the members sans Courtney Love got up and played a few songs. it was epic. one of the songs was sebadoh's 'brand new love' and i quickly became re-obsessed with it. i literally made a playlist with as many covers as i could find. here's the original, but the deadsy version is also pretty deadly. [embedplusvideo height="365" width="450" standard="http://www.youtube.com/v/WUA9fF8RYDI?fs=1" vars="ytid=WUA9fF8RYDI&width=450&height=365&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=0&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=&notes=" id="ep5531" /]

this song is fairly recent, but it totally blew me away when i heard it. i love the way it builds and the sheer drama of it. it's also great for running because it has a steady tempo and crescendos in a beautiful, ethereal way that makes you feel like you're in the middle of your own movie. [embedplusvideo height="281" width="450" standard="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ek0SgwWmF9w?fs=1" vars="ytid=Ek0SgwWmF9w&width=450&height=281&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=0&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=&notes=" id="ep7185" /]

another newer track that continues to haunt me. i just love her voice, something about it sounds other worldly. [embedplusvideo height="281" width="450" standard="http://www.youtube.com/v/UznHTBZIa8E?fs=1" vars="ytid=UznHTBZIa8E&width=450&height=281&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=0&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=&notes=" id="ep1308" /]

there are so many more, but i don't want to ramble. to close out, here's a beautiful number by first aid kit that's apropos for the occasion. it also happens to have accompanied me on several late, contemplative nights. [embedplusvideo height="365" width="450" standard="http://www.youtube.com/v/PiZ1sMkspJQ?fs=1" vars="ytid=PiZ1sMkspJQ&width=450&height=365&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=0&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=&notes=" id="ep3641" /]

thanks for listening and hope you enjoyed the assortment of tunes. feel free to share yours + may 2013 be filled with a bestselling soundtrack of your own!

I can't remember when I first learned about Chinese artist Liu Bolin, but I've never been able to forget him... Even though I couldn't really see him... Actually, especially because I couldn't see him. His self-portraits have him blending in with a diverse array of backgrounds, so much so that sometimes passersby don't know he's there until he moves. For me, they evoke sensations of isolation and the harsh reality of how we objectify ourselves and each other. There's something about seeing someone painted like that, like an object, that screams out: you can't hide humanity. I find it so powerful. Not to mention the sheer artistry and dedication it takes to create such pieces. They're absolutely breathtaking, beautiful and unforgettable. Here's a sampling of his photographs and a short video: