This song truly embodies classic early ’00s music, so enjoy below!

Happy Friday!

Being the avid and (usually) nonjudgmental music lover that I have become, I am always searching for the newest underground voice that is trying to make it in this tough industry.

I recently chatted with Vieem, a Brooklyn-bred indie pop singer/songwriter, to discuss her music as well as her personal journey of getting where she is today.

From her early years of life, Vieem has been surrounded by music. Her father is a music teacher while her mother has a long experience of singing in the church choir. Vieem first found her voice in the church at the young age of 6, where she discovered that she had a passion for singing.

She honed in her passion during high school, where her girl group would perform and eventually sing in talent shows. Vieem began to take singing even more seriously, “I eventually ventured out on my own.”

“I got my first professional job at 19 at a dingy bistro in Brooklyn. From singing at the bistro I got the opportunity to go overseas to sing with a European artist,” Vieem says.

When describing her sound, Vieem says “I like to tell a story with melodies. [My music] has European and new wave undertones; I am a storyteller.”

Growing up singing in church, Vieem’s main inspiration derives from Southern Gospel. But her taste does vary, with her dropping names like Jim Reeves, Cyndi Lauper, and Tina Turner. She notes that discovering 80s rock and pop has influenced her personal taste as a songwriter.

Even with her various influences, Vieem stresses that her sound is all her own.

But her journey to becoming a singer/songwriter was not easy. “It was a long time coming,” she says, “I was recording two albums at the same time. I met with producer Dave Kim [to record]. We were supposed to do one song but the vibe was so great and he understood me as an artist.”

When asked about how her style separates her from other indie artists she says , “I take pride in the fact that I know who I am yet I pay homage to the music I grew up listening to.”

“I love that my music is personal. I like to infuse different themes, surprise my listeners and give them the unexpected,” she says.

I asked her where she saw herself in the next ten years and she said while laughing, “I’m trying to get to first base!”

She continues, “I’ll be happy as long as I have a career of doing what I love with people appreciating me and my music. This is all what I have done [in my life], it’s what I love.”

In her debut album Be It Hated, Vieem’s tender voice carries on the themes of love, infatuation and the rollercoaster feeling of emotions.

Listen to “If Only You Know” below:

Like what you hear? Click the picture above to purchase Be It Hated!

Be sure to follow Vieem on Twitter, subscribe to her Youtube account and check out her website for more updates!

Until next time…

It looks like Miss Nicki Minaj was fooling us all with this wack pop songs (see “Starships”) when she dropped the heavy-hitting “Roman Reloaded” via Hot 97 not too long ago.

The track shows Minaj reverts back to her hood style, with a crazy beat and her actually RAPPING. But the combination of the repetitive hook and beat avert your attention from the lyrics, which aren’t that substantial.

I could definitely do without Lil Wayne…

Click here to listen!

You can officially download “Roman Reloaded” officially on iTunes.

Look out for Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded dropping on April 3rd.

Photo Courtesy of: Wonderland Magazine

But I did find three collections that caught my eye!

(I’ve had a falling out with Burberry’s collections a while ago, so don’t expect that name to pop up here…)

3. Dion Lee

I’ve never heard of this label beforehand, but the futuristic cutouts, minimal silhouettes and stark colors of Dion Lee’s collection definitely piqued my interest! While the collection is body-conscious, it is not overtly sexual. For the designer to find and hone in that difficult balance is amazing.

Click here to view the full collection!

2. Mary Katrantzou

From the 3-D like patterns to the immaculate and architectural construction, Mary Katrantzou’s Fall ’12 collection was very intense! The looks were all very risky but none failed due to Katrantzou’s immense talent of designing. I loved the original silhouettes she created; I can’t recall seeing them anywhere else. The intense color schemes packed a serious punch. This collection was strictly British, which I loved!

Click here to view the full collection!

Read on to see my number one pick!

1. Giles

Click here to view the full collection!

I usually boast my love for edgy and futuristic brands, but I’ve always had a soft spot for classic romanticism when it comes to clothes; I think it is beautiful how that theme can present a story in a collection. Giles Deacon’s Fall ’12 collection fully embodies this theme, which left me pleasantly speechless. The tailoring was on point, the fabrics moved effortlessly and the prints cemented the richly vintage feel. My favorite look was the water-stained gown, lovely right? I’m also a big fan of laser-cut fabrics, and a majority of the looks had a TON of it! This collection is almost like a fairy-tale with the way the clothes are presented. Simply magical.

All photos courtesy of: Style.com

Filed under: Fashion, Runway Reviews ]]> http://youthandhysteria.wordpress.com/2012/02/23/london-fall-12-fashion-week-my-top-3/feed/ 0 bgracie16 dl dl1 dl2 dl3 mk mk1 mk2 mk3 giles giles1 giles2 giles3 http://youthandhysteria.wordpress.com/2012/02/23/music-bite-2012-governors-ball-line-up-announced/ http://youthandhysteria.wordpress.com/2012/02/23/music-bite-2012-governors-ball-line-up-announced/#comments Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:48:01 +0000 Bianca Gracie http://youthandhysteria.wordpress.com/?p=3041 ]]>

The music festival news just keeps on coming! If you were a fan of last year’s Governor’s Ball, then you will love this year’s line-up!

2012′s Governor’s Ball will take place on Randall’s Island on June 23 and 24.

Check out the mega line-up below:

View the line-up annoucement video as well:

Click here to purchase your tickets!

[Source: Pigeons & Planes]

Raf Simons

The fashion industry shook as news broke out early this morning of Jil Sander’s creative director, Raf Simons, officially leaving the house after the Milan Fall 2012 runway show this Saturday, according to a joint statement by the Jil Sander Group and Simons.

According to this statement, his successor will be announced in a few days.

Simons, who has been designing for the brand for the past seven years, has helped to cement Jil Sander as minimalistic, modern and clean.

Now that Simons is leaving, questions quickly arise circling the open directorial seat at the house of Christian Dior. Will Simons now take John Galliano’s place at the Parisian luxury house?

*UPDATE*

Jil Sander, who founded the brand in 1968, is officially returning to head the brand once again!

This is amazing fashion news!

[Source: NYT Style]

Photo Courtesy of: Style.com

Today marks my 250th post for youthandhysteria! I knew I would get here at some point but I just did not know when. Looking back at the time when I celebrated my 100th post last November, this blog has grown tremendously.

The biggest highlight I have experienced this year is -hands down- my Lana Del Rey Born To Die album review making WordPress’s homepage “Freshly Pressed” three days in a row and receiving 8,000+ views and 200+  followers over the course of three short days. When I wrote that post, I never EVER thought it would receive the praise that it did (and continues to do). So I thank everyone who has supported me and read my article!

Another highlight has been interviewing Vieem, an indie pop musician who found me via the Born To Die review, for youthandhysteria for the first time! Look out for that post coming in the next few days!

Definitely keep me on your radar, I don’t plan on stopping any time soon…

Crystal Castles has teamed up with Vs. Magazine to release a new video for “Suffocation”, off their 2010 self-titled album.

The video, directed by Ethan Kath (one half of the duo), is very arthouse-inspired with Alice Glass sporting glamorous couture pieces as she broods in an abandoned NYC mansion.

Click here to view it on Vs. magazine’s site!

Sleigh Bells dropped a grenade onto the music scene with 2010′s Treats, a debut album that was filled with messy distortion and deranged guitar riffs. Their sophomore effort Reign of Terror (released today) has softened that blow, reflecting the duo’s understanding of sonic refinement.

The album opens with “True Shred Guitar” – an arena-like prelude that pumps up the listener for the wild journey they are about to take on Reign of Terror. Following is the first single “Born To Lose”, the weirdly cool mash of Krauss’ euphoric vocals and Miller’s thrashing guitar riffs.

80′s pop is the driving factor on this record and is best found in “Crush”. It begins with cheerleader-inspired handclaps, crazed hair metal melodies, playful guitar wiggles and Krauss repeatedly breathing “Oh Oh/I got a crush on you…”

“End of the Line”, an unexpected mid-tempo ballad, serves as the isolated comedown to the other fast-paced tracks. It is oddly romantic and has an air of nostalgia as the lyrics reflect on a lost love. John Hughes is looking down wishing he had it for the Pretty in Pink soundtrack.

“Comeback Kid”, the second single off the album, shows the duo’s growth of creating complete songs of traditional pop’s verse-chorus-verse formula that is ridiculously catchy. Who could resist the shockingly 90s-sounding vocals, slight R&B influence and weird metal riffs?

Reign of Terror exemplifies its vicious message with “Demons”, a dangerously unfuckwithable theme song made perfect for a Brooklyn street gang. Warning: may provoke listener to smash someone in the head with a bottle.

“Never Say Die”, a haunting Michael Myers-esque track, continues the menacing theme with its effect of a killer chasing you through the woods. It makes your skin crawl as Miller’s guitar riffs sink into your eardrums and Krauss’s moody vocal echoes show no mercy.

Sleigh Bells has cemented a depth in their music via actual melodies, with the album taking obvious influences from 80s metal instrumentals from bands Def Leppard and AC/DC and 90s teen pop vocals from S Club 7 and B* Witched that makes the album sound cleaner than Treats.

But with a name like Reign of Terror, referencing the deathly violent time period after the French Revolution, one wouldn’t expect such breezy songs like “End of the Line” or “You Lost Me”. At times, Strauss’s teenage vocals are aggressively stomped on by Miller’s delirious guitar riffs to the point where her lyrics become too distant to hear. While the thematic harmony is lost, the record’s strength comes through its production clarity.

Sleigh Bells were not kidding when they said Reign of Terror was going to be loud, but the record’s rambunctious power almost tips it over the edge.

Here is my small advice for the next record: turn down the volume.

Overall Rating: 3.5/5

Songs on Repeat

“Comeback Kid”

“Demons”

“Road To Hell”

Songs to Skip

“D.O.A”

Santigold has dropped another record from her upcoming sophomore album Master of My Make-Believe called “Disparate Youth”. Stronger than the recently released “Big Mouth”, “Disparate Youth” has that rumbling street sound that fans have grown to love from Santigold.

The new track is available for download on iTunes today.

Enjoy below!