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Mash Creative-State Of The Obvious

For those with an alternative style..

Check out these Mash Creative, State Of The Obvious products.

Environmentally friendly, unconventional, unique.. We love them! 

For further info, check out their website: http://www.mashcreative.co.uk/project/state-of-the-obvious

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Single from London trio Drop Out Venus, titled Love In Vein. We caught up with the band, read all about it here. 

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"We make music to stay alive."

  From the 'Love In Vein' video  

Drop Out Venus are an East-London 'Junk Jazz' trio comparable to the XX. With their mellow indie-rock/jazz sound and art-fuelled videos, there is definitely a gap in the market for a band like this. We caught up with one of the band members, Christ, to ask him about their new video, for their single 'Love In Vein', (see it here) their songwriting process, and their inspirations. 

Click here to read the interview. 

So, who are drop out venus? 

Iva, Chris and Ursula. We live in Deptford and we make music to stay alive. 

What/who inspires your sound? 

Jazz, green things and nature, Nina Simone in '76 and all the rest of the time. Thelonious Monk, all our friends and people we don't know who make us sad and happy. Chan Marshall & Dex Romweber. The need for low frequencies in popular contemporary music. 

Any plans to release EP's/Albums in the future? 

We want to reach as many people as possible who want to listen, so yes. Soon we'll do another tape and a 7". 

What was the concept for the 'Love In Vein' music video?  

Iva had a dream about the sun exploding and it seemed to fit what the song was about. 

Talk us through your songwriting process. 

Sometimes, Iva will write the words and then write the music to it, and Ursula and I will fit ourselves inside it, sometimes I write the music and Iva writes the words it makes her feel, sometimes Iva writes words and I write music it makes me feel, sometimes it all just happens at the same time. 

If you could describe your sound in one word, what would it be? 

Junkjazz 

If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be? 

Beck alive, Charles Mingus dead. 

soundcloud.com/dropoutvenus

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Stokes Croft, Bristol - Street Art Central!

Stokes Croft, once known as the very run down, poor area of Bristol is now an up and coming popular destination, thanks to its local community group, the PRSC (Peoples Republic of Stokes Croft).

In 2008, a group of like-minded individuals came together to form the PRSC, an organisation intent on starting an urban renewal project in the area of Stokes Croft in Bristol City. In April of the same year, Chris Chalkley led the people of Stokes Croft on a mission to brighten up their streets. His idea was to turn the area into an outdoor gallery. In an area already known for its graffiti (Banksy's 'The Mild Mild West', being the most famous), this was an ingenious plan that gave everyone in the community a chance to show their creative side and leave their own mark. 

   click here to read all about it and see our favourite pieces.

Known street artist's such as Banksy, Buff Monster, 45RPM, Paris, Phlegm, Alias, Epok, KaiOne and 3Dom have all painted in Stokes Croft. 

Here are a few examples of the fantastic art that can be seen while wandering the streets..

             Ice cream mural by Buff Monster, a well known Hollywood street artist.

Limited Press mural by KaiOne & Josh Rose, UK based street artists.

Red Wave painting, artist unknown. Black & white figures (left) by Phlegm, popular street artist based in Sheffield, UK. Panda stencil (bottom right), artist unknown.

'The Mild Mild West' mural by Banksy, world famous graffiti artist.

Article & Photography by Karis, Art Editor & Journalist

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A Beautiful Mess

Calling all creative types! This blog, run by vintage shop owner Elsie Larson delivers interesting posts on vintage fashion and the daily run of her shop in California, recipes, D.I.Y projects (plenty of cute upcycling - a favourite of ours), fashion, beauty, photography and house decor. We love this blog, and have drawn much inspiration of our own from it.  

abeautifulmess.typepad.com

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Fashion Spotlight: Joey D

  This Edinburgh designer is bang on trend - upcycling vintage items into more contemporary pieces. For a further view at some of our favourite pieces, click here.

otherwise, visit www.joey-d.co.uk. 

  we adore this robin hood-esque skirt - the recycled leather belt with the gorgeous shimmer light changing fabric ties in well to create a beautiful statement piece. 

  Another statement piece, this logo and mixed print jacket is not for the feint hearted.

  This mixed print trench with recycled leather belts comes with a bit of a price tag - but is worth it in quality and style. 

  Maybe not for the office - this rubber and recycled belt skirt caught our eye straight away. I shouldn't love it, but I do. (From the Autumn 2009 collection) 

  This Military Jacket and bullet belt handbag is a unique and gorgeous piece that brings life and something a little different to every outfit, while the khaki green keeps it subtle. 

  Tweed and leather handbag 

  Set off any outfit with this statement upcycled belt. 

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Some work for Russian Vogue by fashion photographer Ben Toms. Model: Meghan Collison. I love Ben's eye for colour and angles used.

Click here to see full photoset.

Check out more of his work here: bentoms.blogspot.co.uk/

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Music spotlight today: We love this track by Filipino electronica artist, Similar Objects. Instrumental Hip-Hop sounds that are light and delicate despite the catchy drum beat. Its titled "Weathered Rock Sunsets." We definitely recommend checking out his soundcloud, too. 

soundcloud.com/similarobjects

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Fashion Spotlight: Odium Apparel

  We love these new designs from Devon, England based clothing company Odium Apparel. These new "Audrey Hepburn" Spring 2012 collection T-Shirts are available for pre-order now at www.odium.bigcartel.com.

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Some work by Cork graphic designer, Conor O'Driscoll. 

click here to view more.

oneminutewith.com  

conorodriscoll.com

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Coming soon: We feature a new track from Irish dubstep artist and DJ, Archetype

Zoe, Editor

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BASE Magazine

18 year old Georgia from Glasgow, Scotland founded this Webzine in the summer of 2011.  

base issue no.2 cover ©  base magazine 2012  

BASE is passionate about art, fashion, music and photography and after reading both issues of this quaterly magazine, we love it. Each photograph is striking, each article poignant and interesting. We caught up with Georgia, the editor of BASE for an interview about her work.  

Click here to read more. 

1. You seem to have developed a web empire of sorts, between running your many blogs, making your themes, and running Base. Where do you find the time? 

Well, I haven't released a new theme in months due to being so busy with the magazine but I guess I can put having the time to manage my many online endeavours down to being self-employed and not having a very active social life, haha!

2. What inspires each issue of Base? 

I can't say specifically which inspires each issue since every one is different, but mainly what's going on in the world at the moment, the films and books I'm in to at the time, and also other people's ideas and creativity. 

3. Where do you source the content? 

The majority of the content Base is commissioned for the issue, and anything else is submitted to us by the photographers/artists themselves. We reach out to a lot of creative people and invite them to collaborate with us, but we also get a lot of work sent to us, so we are constantly finding out about new creative people.

4. Have you ever considered extending it to print, or is it being kept a webzine? 

I have considered it over and over since beginning the project, but I recently met someone who has become a 'business mentor' of sorts, and he has advised me to keep it online for now. I don't think I am financially or mentally ready to handle a printed publication just yet.

  5. Do you want a permanent career in design or journalism in the future? 

I would definitely like to be in a design oriented environment, although I've not specifically narrowed down my "dream job". I am a keen writer but have unfortunately not explored journalism very much, so I'm not sure. 

6. How long on average does it take you to put together an issue? 

Oh, it has varied vastly over the 3 issues due to many different reasons, but I'll say on average about 3 months. We basically get working on the next issue a week or two after one has finished. Even if that means just emailing people, we like to be prepared and leave sufficient time in case of any problems.

7. Is it a solo project, or are there other people involved in the running? 

I work with two lovely girls in England: Kira Wainstein and Siân Lynwen. I also have a handful of writers that are on a freelance deal. Next month we are introducing photographer Sam Moukhaiber to the editorial team as well!

Thank you very much for your time. 

Thanks for having me!

  Check out BASE magazine here.

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So, Who are we?

altrnative. is a blog with the sole aim of delivering you the best in underground media and culture - delivering you book reviews, movie summaries, fashion critique, linking you to unsigned bands, blogs of interest, artists, graphic designers, cute Etsy shops, photographers - you name it, we have it. 

If you wish to submit your own work to us, or just something you liked, simply click the 'Submit to us' tab. If you wish to get in touch, the 'Questions, Comments?' link is for you. Enjoy the best of the web.