Category Archive for Visual Kei + Music
Sedona, Arizona road trip: Vortex energy, New Age Center, Chapel of the Holy Cross.
Heavy metal adventure team… activate!
I’m in Sedona, Arizona with Leon and Geist of the band Colosseum Thesis. Can you mix Jrock and Aliens? Read on to have your eyes opened.
Sedona is a 2-3 hour scenic drive from Phoenix. The red rock’s known as a haven of spirituality… and alien encounters.
Skull hair clips: gifted by Kreepsville 666
Art Nouveau sunglasses: gifted by Lumete
We blasted metal and Visual Kei on the drive north, which took us through cacti landscapes and rock corridors. Bassist Geist and I strike an alien pose.
It was right before Christmas, so the aliens were wearing Santa hats.
Our first pit stop: the fascinating Center for the New Age.
The store offers vortex tours, aura photography, psychics, palm readers, healing stones and crystals, and more.
A rich selection of books and Buddhas.
No matter what your spiritual leanings are, Sedona is special place. There’s a feeling of re-charging here.
Sedona has a number of “vortexes”, or sites charged healing and awareness.
Not everyone “feels the power.” Nonetheless, Sedona’s an unbeatable place to hike, relax, and take in nature.
We had outstanding French food at Rene in Tlaquepaque, across from the New Age Center.
I could have stayed in the Southwestern courtyard all day. My white dress is Japanese brand Liz Lisa, bought in Hong Kong. Here are photos of the Liz Lisa boutique.
Closeup on the boys’ rings and gloves.
The spinach tofu salad and fresh crepes were out of this world.
Ravioli for my Arizona guide, Leon Lindon (singer, composer, musician, producer, and leader of Colosseum Thesis).
With stomachs satiated, we went on to another spiritual place.
The landscape makes an epic backdrop for photos.
My Liz Lisa ankle boots aren’t really made for climbing.
We ascended the spiral walkway…
… to the Chapel Of The Holy Cross, an architectural marvel completed in 1956.
The Catholic chapel’s windows reflect red rock, and the shape of a cross.
A powerful place for prayer.
Inside, we listened to soft chanting and basked in the light.
I’ve been to ornamented churches around the world, including Prague and Mexico — but none had the energy of this simple Chapel.
As Leon puts it, “Sedona is a place that encourages people to look upward.”
Photos can’t convey the feeling of this place; I hope you’ll come and experience it for yourself.
Thanks to Leon and Geist for the epic road trip. Their band, Colosseum Thesis, is a surprising new visual music act that uses a progressive blend of genres such as rock, neoclassical, and jazz, complete with grandiose theatrical performances. Can’t wait for their debut performances and demo later this year.
Were you surprised by Sedona’s spirituality? Where do you go to regain calm and re-charge?
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DNR Rock Princess music video! Dreams Not Reality new PV, filmed in Rome Italy by Solobuio. Fashion by Luisaviaroma Florence.
It’s beyond my dreams… I’m in a music video!
Introducing Rock Princess, the new PV by Euro-Visual band DNR (Dreams Not Reality)… featuring red-haired La Carmina.
“Get on the stage and start the fire / so lovely temptress / you’re the one shining like a star!”
Come on and watch our music video above, or on DNR’s official channel.
It was a pleasure to work with Italian director Carlo Roberti of Solobuio Visual Factory, and his professional team.
Our designer clothes were generously loaned to us by Luisaviaroma of Florence. You’ll recall that Seby and I took part in their fashion blogger event twice.
Do you like the panda bear necklace? It’s from our Pray for Japan collection - click to order one.
I became friends with DNR through Seby, who’s in the band.
Sieg looks dashing in his suit from Luisa.
These scenes were filmed in Rome, June 2011.
Ash, Axia, Sieg, and Kira play along to the Rock Princess track.
Goofing off during the food break.
The neon makes everyone glow.
“How does it look?”
In January 2012, Seby and I filmed additional scenes.
This time, I wore Angelica Brigade hair flowers and a dress I got in NYC a long time ago.
This is my first major role in a music video. What a thirll to play a Rock Princess!
Watch Rock Princess now — your rates and shares will help support DNR’s music. Can’t wait to hear what you think!
What were your favorite elements of the music video? Did you like the cute storyline between La Carmina and Seby?
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JAPAN IN A DAY, RIDLEY SCOTT & FUJI TV EARTHQUAKE PROJECT: GPKISM INDUSTRIAL DANCE VIDEO WITH TANK9 & MARY!
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.
What are your thoughts on Japanese disaster and response, one year later? How can we all continue to help?
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LA CARMINA ON TUMBLR & PINTEREST! PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT, NYC BROADWAY DRAG MUSICAL, BEACON’S CLOSET.
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?
LA CARMINA
