Join me on an epic new project… a collaboration with the Industrial/Goth music underground, to aid Japan!

It’s hard to believe the earthquake and tsunami struck almost one year ago. The human toll was enormous: 25,000 killed or missing, and 117,000 displaced. Cities were submerged, and Fukushima’s nuclear reactor was devastated.

Today, Japan still needs our help in rebuilding. La Carmina, tank9 and Mary Nine have teamed up to take action.

Inspired by Ridley Scott’s Japan in a Day project, we’re filming an Goth-industrial dance video that raises funds, and commemorates the anniversary of the disaster. And we want you to join us. Read on to learn how!

Mary Nine and tank9 make inspiring industrial dance videos, which you can see on YouTube. We’re filming one together, to show our love and support of Japan, especially its vibrant underground.

Ken and Kiwamu from GPKISM kindly gave us permission to feature their song Iudicium. GPKISM’s activities were put on pause because of the earthquake, and we want to give them support through this project.

We’re also submitting the video to Ridley Scott and Fuji TV’s Japan in a Day Project, which invites people around the world to record their lives on the anniversary of the earthquake.

Seattle friends — join us this Sunday! Meet us at Resurrection, the industrial club night, and be in the video.

WHAT: Come to the club night, bring your friends, and be filmed for our charity video
WHEN: Sunday March 11th, at 11pm
WHERE: Club Noc Noc, 1516 2nd Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101 (21+)

All day long on March 11th, we’ll be collecting donations for Direct Relief International. The non-profit aid organization is well-regarded, and earmarks these funds for Japan.

We urge you to keep Japan in mind, and take action to help. Donate. Do something to raise awareness.

You can start by spreading the word on our video project (just click the Like/Share/Tweet buttons below). We’re grateful for your support.

Arr, we be sailing to new social media territories!

La Carmina is now on Tumblr and Pinterest. Will you be so kind as to add me? I’ll follow back, pinky swear.

♥ La Carmina’s Tumblr – let’s be friends!
♥ La Carmina’s Pinterest – let’s scrapbook!

These sites contain brand new content: NOT recycled posts from my blog. Think of it as a visual extension of my coffin-cute world: Gothic ballgowns, Jrock hotties, dark lipsticks, nail art inspiration. Thanks to my pirate-pal Alcy for the collaboration.

I’m currently sorting through a mountain of New York Fashion Week photos. Unexpectedly, one of my favorite days was February 16th, when Yukiro and I did nothing NYFW-related.

We met up with Shien Lee, the lovely creator of Dances of Vice (who has thrilling creative projects on the horizon). We went to Williamsburg, Brooklyn to kill all the hipsters.

Or, if you can’t beat them, join them. We spent a good hour in Beacon’s Closet, the motherload of vintage shopping. Shien found a leopard one-piece, breezy black dress, and red London Fog coat. Yukiro got red and black checkered velvet trousers — score.

The three of us had spicy Thai food, followed by thick Honduran hot chocolate at City Bakery.

But the sweetest moment was winning the lottery. Yukiro and I scored front-row tickets to the drag-tacular Broadway musical — Priscilla, Queen of the Desert!

The musical, about three drag queens journeying across the Australian desert, was perfection from start to finish. We gasped at the outrageous costumes (feathered headdresses!) and bopped along to gay anthems (Madonna, Pet Shop Boys, Gloria Gaynor).

Priscilla Queen of the Desert is a must-see. Do check out the film and the Broadway cast recording.

Hungry for more glam-Gothic inspiration? Please add my Tumblr and Pinterest for tons of new posts.

Also, feel free to leave a comment with your Tumblr blog link, so that more people can add you.

Have you seen any Broadway shows? Which are your favorites?

It’s a big week… my new travel video series debuts tomorrow. The first episode co-stars the Amazing Race Goth team, Kent and Vyxsin! Are you excited to see what we’ve come up with?

I’m pumped for New York Fashion Week, thanks for your big response. Can’t wait to cover runway shows for you: Vantan Tokyo, Leather Japan, Project Runway, Emilio Cavallini, Heart Truth Red Dress, Venexiana and more.

A few quick snaps from my secret filming project in Rome.

Flower hair fascinators: handmade for me by Angelica Brigade. Perfect for Gothic Lolita outfits, and made with fine materials like silk organza. She also makes necklaces and custom bouquets; check out her site!
Purple kitty scarf: got it in Tokyo
Jacket: h.NAOTO
Purple sweater top: Algonquins
Skirt: Spider, Hong Kong
Boots: Michael Kors

And now, for some Jrock coverage. My cousin, Ken Yuen, went to Sugizo’s Hong Kong concert in December. He wrote this in-the-moment review of the Luna Sea / X Japan guitarist’s live:

Sugizo comes out with a raised hand, everyone cheering! A steady bass drum beat. Heavy distortion and sustain. What a riff he is playing: classic Sugizo style sliding all over the neck. Everyone has their hands up keeping the beat.

Now everyone in the hall is up and waving the Sugizo 3-fingers gesture. He’s walking left and right, interacting with the audience. Just gave us the finger! And said he misses us, in Cantonese.

Five songs and he is still going. The band is tireless. The silver boy just went on stage: he shines.

6th song. And finally the drum beat has stopped. Sugizo alone on stage, playing a minor tune on the violin. A sea of cheers and shouts.

After 8 songs, Sugizo leaves the stage. Back on the guitar. The V of course. He plays a Chinese-y song, but in a very rock style.

After intermission, he speaks about Japan reviving after the Earthquake. “I really appreciate you supporting us… We are together… We are family… I really wanted to come back here… I love you so much.”

Last song. Acoustic clean sound from second guitar. He is playing the violin. The back wall has a feather flower and snow projected on it. Fits the song very well at the moment.

Taking a bow, the whole band now. Thank you thank you.

Sugizo threw a pick over this way and I almost got it. A guy and a gal was fighting for it over 5 minutes on the floor while everyone was leaving! The guy won in the end. I should’ve joined in.

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Thank you, cousin, for the concert review! Don’t forget to read the rest of my Visual Kei live reports. And please join my mailing list (enter your info in the box above), so you won’t miss out on announcements, giveaways and more.

Are you a Sugizo fan? What was your favorite concert of 2011? What are you looking forward to this year?

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