50 Shades of Black

50 Shades of Black

Let’s talk about fashion. Now, I’m not going to pretend that I know anything about the fashion industry, or fashion in general. It is as alien to me as I assume music production is to many other people. However, I do try and keep relatively up to date with fashion, and living in London has exposed me to many different forms of fashion, both alt fashion and otherwise. As usual, my thoughts and opinions are impartial.

2012 saw a ‘studs and spikes’ era for mainstream high-street fashion in the UK; we couldn’t move for spikes on random accessories and items of clothing. Dangling crucifixes, triangles and other symbols were somewhat popular. While many alternative people disliked this movement because they felt it infringed on their personal space, I embraced it, to a degree; I genuinely liked where it was going (though I found it impossible to find a spiked cardigan). Many people I know used it as an excuse to expand their wardrobe, and it was all very well and good. I mentioned earlier that triangles featured prominently, and to anyone that follows the genre known as ‘Witch House’ (or ‘Drag’), the triangle is a well-known trope. The fashion found in witch house also, to me, seems very similar to the popular looks in 2012, and that surprised me. Witch House is a relatively small subgenre, with a small cult following, and I was amazed to see the fashion and symbolism out on the street. Did one inspire the other, or is it just a strange coincidence?

The current trend I’m seeing in the darker side of ‘high fashion’ is currently very Asian-inspired. I’m not referring to kimonos and Lolita and the like, but instead the smart, modern street fashion. Large cowls, long hoodies, combat boots; it’s very interesting to me, and I love how very different it is to the bland fashion we have over here. Male fashion seems especially popular, which I sincerely hope translates to our western markets.

So, what does that mean to us goffs? In my recent trips to the infamous Slimelight, I’m certainly beginning to see a trend; the cyber fashion fad seems to be beginning to come to and end, with gas masks becoming an unwanted cliché. Leather is beginning to make more of an appearance, with a much more ‘hollywood rocker’ spin being taken on. I’ve noticed more than a few people beginning to make steps into the afore-mentioned Asian style of dark fashion, and I have to say that it fits right at home.

I have no idea what is happening in other parts of the world. I’m especially interested in finding out if cyber fashion is still popular, or if people have moved on. In any event, I will be signing off for now. From time to time I will post another article on fashion, if I see a new and interesting trend surface. Until then!

~Bio

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Matthew Simpson- Musings on a Scene

So, I’ve just returned from the UK-based Resistanz Industrial festival, and thought I’d share some musings on some eye-opening moments I experienced up in the frozen wastes of Sheffield. Firstly, I must say that everything I write is my own opinion; I speak freely and uninfluenced (something of a blessing in this scene, or so I’m led to believe).

There were two shows that people talked about the most this weekend. The first was iVardensphere, a ‘tribal industrial’ band I’d heard of, but never listened to. Their show was an absolutely primal experience, speaking to the crowd on a level that music is truly meant to do. There wasn’t so much fist pumping as there was shining eyes and deep expressions.

The second was the popular artist, Celldweller. I don’t really need to write much about Klayton and his work, as it’s widely listened to. What is of most interest to me, and hopefully my reader, is that that, to me, these two acts were the least ‘industrial’ of the weekend. This got me thinking; what are we looking for in a scene when an idea from outside the scene is seemingly more popular? Why do we go to the same clubs and the same shows if what we are looking for is lying outside of these places?

It’s a bit of an odd question, really. On the one hand, I’d say because it’s where we are all most comfortable; all the people we know like to hang out in the same clubs, like similar bands, and so it’s easier. Conversely, I get the feeling that many feel that they are not especially welcome outside of our little stompy bubble, and this leads me to share another experience I had in Sheffield. On the Friday night, the venue holds a mainstream night, with slight alt influences. Speaking to some of the regulars, many of whom had never heard of industrial, they all agreed that we added a real atmosphere, and that ‘this was the best night they’d had there’. This got me thinking; are we really unwelcome at all? No, I don’t think we are. I think we’re strange and quirky, but ultimately we do all have a lot of fun and we know how to enjoy ourselves. I think that if our little bubble (to use my past analogy) opened up a bit, or we dared to go outside of it for a while, we’d find that both us and the people we’d never normally get a chance to meet would find it an enjoyable experience. It’d do leaps and bounds for our closed-up stereotype, and give us a chance to experience what we crave but cannot have inside the scene.

So next time you want to go out, maybe try a different club with your friends. Roll the dice. Go and watch that band you want to see, regardless of what ‘scene’ they’re a part of. Roll the dice. Wear those clothes, regardless of if they’re ‘gothy’ or not. Roll the dice.

~Bio

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