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kpop · 25 days

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K-Pop Spotlight: DAY6

Come one, come all to a K-Pop Spotlight that is sure to dazzle and delight ’til the final curtain. This week, all eyes are on DAY6 following the release of their eighth mini-album, Fourever, and brand new title track, "Welcome to the Show." We caught up with the band to discuss their goals as they approach their 10th anniversary and their ever-growing connection to their fans through their music. Check out our full interview below!

Tracks like “Welcome to the Show,” “The Power of Love,” and “Get The Hell Out” seem to have very different themes. Can you tell us a little about how these songs relate to each other and what aspects make this album cohesive?

SUNGJIN: As we pursue the idea of being a 'band that sings every moment,' it seems like our albums, including the recent one, prioritize diversity in songs and situations rather than unity. Consequently, our albums contain various genres and narratives. However, there seems to be a commonality in most songs, depicting situations that everyone has either gone through or might experience.

Young K: First and foremost, I would say this album is a compilation of the best songs we could create. There's definitely a theme of love running through it. "Welcome to the Show," "The Power of Love," and "Get The Hell Out" all talk about the concept of love.

What goes into creating titles for DAY6 songs and albums, especially those that don’t come directly from your lyrics? Do you find it hard to condense the intentions and themes of a song into a title?

Young K: While there have been cases like that, all the songs on this album came from the lyrics. Sometimes, when choosing a title, we select the one that best describes the song—other times, we choose to give it a twist or make it more intriguing.

WONPIL: Naming songs involves a lot of deliberation. We often contemplate which title will catch the eye and capture the song's essence. Usually, we try to take it from a verse in the chorus. This can be a challenging part of the songwriting process.

Is there a creative project you’ve always wanted to work on but haven’t gotten the chance/found the time?

SUNGJIN: I'm very curious, and have a principle of "trying to experience as much as possible." There are so many things I want to try musically and personally, especially among the things I know but haven't tried yet.

DOWOON: I hope we can have a song that we can collaborate on with My Day, like a choir.

What does your work/studio setup look like? Where do you feel the most creatively inspired?

DOWOON: We try to keep the studio as tidy as possible and make it comfortable for practice sessions.

WONPIL: When working on songs, we talk a lot. We get inspiration from little conversations, joking around, sharing stories, and listening to music from various eras regardless of genre while giving opinions. We also try to build emotional connections with the songs. There’s a lot of communication going on. The songwriting process takes place in the studio of our long-time collaborator, composer Hong Jisang, with whom we've been working together since our debut.

How do you want to evolve as a musician/producer?

Young K: I want to be eagerly anticipated and awaited as an artist. Without those who wait for us, we wouldn't release or even step onto the stage. So I’m always thankful for My Day.

WONPIL: My biggest goal is to make good music for My Day and the public, so I think I'll continue to ponder. When working on songs, I pour my sincerity into them. I constantly strive to express this sincerity musically, fully capturing the emotions I want to convey. I hope to create songs that can still be listened to even after 10 or 20 years.

Design your own Tumblr blog: choose an aesthetic, a blog name, and would you be a frequent poster or lurker?

SUNGJIN: I think I’ll use it to catch up on friends' updates. For the blog name, THUMB BLUR sounds good to me. I might end up being a lurker who never posts.

DOWOON: Maybe a blog for plants? I think I'll post it like a diary.

Want more DAY6? Check out their new mini album Fourever and the music video for the title track “Welcome to the Show,” both out now!

#day6 #day6 kpop spotlight #kpop spotlight

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lafemmemacabre · 1 year

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Goth 101

🦇 tl;dr version for those who prefer that format

Goth is a music-based subculture that started out in the UK in the late 70s/early 80s and spread internationally from there. It spawned from the UK Punk scene, keeping the DIY ethics but turning the music more melancholic, introspective and experimental.

The music genres that the subculture was built around are (dark) Post-Punk, Gothic Rock, Darkwave, Ethereal Wave and a few other smaller subgenres.

While the fashion and other non-musical aesthetics are very prominent and beloved by goths, they're non-essential to the subculture. What defines a goth is the music we listen to.

Our "big 4" bands are The Cure, Sisters of Mercy, Bauhaus and the Banshees. However, 3 out of 4 of those bands are Post-Punk acts (Sisters of Mercy being the exception Gothic Rock band), and while very influential to the rest of the goth music scene, they by no means are the end-all, be-all of what goth music sounds like. The genre has evolved through its over 40 years of existence, creating diverse sounds. Anyone darkly inclined can find something to love, even if it takes a bit of research.

The Dark & Gothic playlist on Spotify is a pretty decent way to get started into goth music. In my old blog I had entire tags dedicated to goth music as a whole, and separately to Post-Punk, Gothic Rock, Darkwave and Ethereal Wave too. I had a few playlists based on popular goth aesthetics here.

The longer description of goth music will include playlists for each bigger goth subgenre, but please keep in mind they're made by me in a way that appeals to my personal tastes for each subgenre. I don't know every band that exists and my personal taste is biased towards the 90s.

Now, to a more detailed introduction to the goth subculture...

🦇 Dark alternative vs Goth

What a lot of people need clarified is that the goth subculture doesn't have a monopoly on the dark alternative world, nor are we the home for everyone sad, spooky and weird who doesn't fit in and might listen to any sort of sad, spooky or weird alternative music.

There are SO many dark alternative music scenes that have nothing or very little to do with the goth subculture. We've influenced a lot of them fashion-wise, but just because they copied us we look alike doesn't mean we're interchangeable.

There's no scale that goes from Prep to Goth and measures how Valid™ your inner darkness is, in which if you're anything below goth then you're a poser and lame. It's perfectly fine and cool to be dark alternative without being a goth. Goth isn't a badge of legitimacy or honor, it's just one specific flavor of dark alternative among so many.

Goth is a very small and obscure subculture despite our superficial hypervisbility (our looks and infamy are hypervisible, what we're actually about is extremely buried underground), and most dark alternative people aren't goths.

🦇 What does it take to be a goth?

There's one rule, and one rule only: LISTEN TO THE MUSIC. You wouldn't call yourself a metalhead without being a fan of Metal music, would you? The same principle applies to goth.

There are many types of alternative subcultures; some examples are fashion-based subcultures, another are lifestyle-based subcultures. A third type of subculture that's very prominent (especially in the West) are music-based subcultures.

Goth is a music-based subculture, just like the metalhead, punk, emo, rivethead/Industrial, hip-hop, rave, K-Pop and grunge subcultures are.

This means that, while the music isn't THE ONLY aspect the subculture has, in order to be a goth you have to listen to goth music, and we have a specific set of music genres that our subculture was built around, so not just anything dark and melancholy will do, as we don't have a monopoly on that, but we do have something closer to a monopoly on a specific sound and musical legacy.

You don't have to listen to goth music EXCLUSIVELY to be a goth, that'd be insane. You don't even have to limit yourself to dark alternative music either. You just have to listen to goth music to a relevant degree and be passionate about it and you're in, the rest is up to you.

This means too that the way you dress has no impact on your validity as a goth, whether you don't have the gothic wardrobe of your dreams yet or you just don't want to dress goth at all. I'm TikTok mutuals with a girl who dresses exclusively in pink-white sweet lolita coords, but who's passionate about goth music. She's a goth, no questions about it. On the other hand, a lot of the influencers you'll see online who look like a lost Addams cousin aren't goths at all, and no house decor or outfit will make them gothier if they don't listen to the music.

🦇 What music counts as goth?

From the previous points I made you probably gathered that Industrial and Metal ⁠– both genres that outsiders usually associate with the goth subculture ⁠– aren't actually part of the goth genre. So, what is goth music?

Goth music developed initially in the UK in the late 70s/early 80s off of dark Post-Punk. Post-Punk itself developed from UK 70s Punk Rock, being also influenced by Glam Rock, experimental electronic music, and many other influences more specific to each band that took part in this musical development (Bauhaus were very influenced by Reggae!).

What characterizes the goth sound are elements such as; being bass-driven rather than guitar-driven (in almost every case), guitars playing more of a decorative or atmospheric role instead of being the main focus (which contrasts starkly against genres such as Metal), preference for voices with a lower vocal range (altos, this is your genre to shine in!), optional use of synthesizers, recurrent replacing of human drummers with drum machines, and common use of lots of reverb and delay effects everywhere for an extra sensation that you're listening to music recorded in a catacomb.

Dark Post-Punk was the starting point of the goth subculture, and from it, all other goth music subgenres developed. Depending on who you ask there's a billion goth micro-genres. In my opinion a lot of those subgenres are rather meaningless (a lot of them are just specific flavors of Post-Punk or Darkwave) but the main 4 subgenres of goth music are:

(Dark) Post-Punk

Gothic Rock

Darkwave

Ethereal Wave

POST-PUNK:

Post-Punk took the standard sound of Punk Rock and its DIY ethics and made the sound more melancholic, romantic, experimental, less angry, and more introspective. Dark Post-Punk in particular was influenced by gothic literature and old horror movies (including their soundtracks, the Banshees created their characteristic guitar sound after the violins in the Psycho soundtrack).

Besides the 3 Post-Punk bands I listed as part of the goth "big 4", there's bands such as Skeletal Family, Twin Tribes, Specimen, She Wants Revenge, Sex Gang Children, Xmal Deutschland, Lebanon Hanover, Cruex Lies, The Secret French Postcards and The Birthday Party.

GOTHIC ROCK:

When goth became slightly more established in sound, Gothic Rock is what happened. Less experimental than Post-Punk, a bit more Rock-based, more decidedly dark and miserable than Post-Punk necessarily is, and finally severed from goth's punk roots. Sisters of Mercy is THE most popular and influential Gothic Rock band; they popularized the use of extremely low baritone vocals and drum machines. Despite existing since the 80s, its popularity peak was in the 90s.

Goth as a whole has its "big 4", but the subgenre of Gothic Rock has its own "big 3", which are Sisters of Mercy, The Mission (UK), and Fields of the Nephilim. Other Gothic Rock bands are Rosetta Stone, Corpus Delicti, Inkubus Sukkubus, Mephisto Walz, Angels of Liberty, Two Witches, Nosferatu, Wisborg and Soror Dolorosa.

DARKWAVE:

Goth going electronic! There's basically two types of Darkwave; the one that's more a combination of Post-Punk + Synthpop (very popular in the past decade), and the one that's more a combination of Gothic Rock + electronic music in general (most popular in the 90s). EXTREMELY danceable, but then again goths can dance to literally anything. This genre has existed at the very least since the second half of the 80s and has never stopped being relevant in the goth scene, save maybe during the Deathrock revival phase.

Clan of Xymox might be the single most influential Darkwave band. There's also The Frozen Autumn, The Crüxshadows, Switchblade Symphony, Collide, Dark, Ghosting, London After Midnight, She Past Away, Drab Majesty and Boy Harsher.

ETHEREAL WAVE:

This genre is heavily linked to Dream Pop, Neoclassical Darkwave and Shoegaze. Like with Darkwave there's basically a few styles of Ethereal Wave, I can pinpoint three; the one that's like, regular Goth Rock/Post-Punk but with a lot of extra delay and reverb and other stylistic choices that make it sound, well, Ethereal, dream-like. There's the type that has lots of Folk influences (be it Medieval/Rennaisance-ish type of Folk or "ethnic" type of Folk), and there's one that's synth-based but, unlike Darkwave, sounds like what ketamine must feel like. This genre has existed since the mid 80s but its peak in popularity and relevancy in the scene was in the 90s.

Dead Can Dance is THE most influential Ethereal Wave band, but there's others such as Cocteau Twins (started as Post-Punk, ended up as Dream Pop and Ethereal Wave), Miranda Sex Garden, Faith and the Muse, Lycia, Claire Voyant, Hamsas XIII, Love is Colder than Death, SRSQ, Black Tape for a Blue Girl and Mors Syphilitica.

What about Deathrock, Gothic Metal and Industrial?

Deathrock is goth's American twin, basically. While in the early 80s in the UK morose ex-punks were playing Post-Punk, in the early 80s in the LA Punk scene morbid and brooding punk kids were playing Deathrock; it's closer to Punk Rock in sound than Post-Punk, being more about being spooky and brooding than about being eerie and romantic. Goth is to vampires and witches what Deathrock is to zombies and werewolves.

To summarize the consensus on Deathrock and its place within the goth subculture; it's rare to find a goth who's not also into at least some Deathrock, and even rarer to find a deathrocker who's not into goth. Personally, I think Deathrock is its own separate though very similar thing, but I don't mind Deathrock being lumped in with goth music.

I made a whole TikTok video on why Gothic Metal isn't a goth subgenre, but in summary; Gothic Metal is a Metal subgenre that was somewhat influenced by goth music in its earliest stage of development, but is for the most part a cross between Doom Metal and Death Metal with lyrics inspired by gothic literature. By adhering to a Metal sound it doesn't fit the type of sound goth music has. The goth influences in Gothic Metal were mostly only present in the earliest bands and a majority of the newer acts are completely disconnected from the goth scene.

As for goth's ties to the rivethead subculture (and thus, Industrial music): We've been sibling subcultures since at least the early 90s. Both very, very small and underground scenes that despite being different, had enough similarities in music, idiosyncrasy and aesthetic sensibilities to comfortably band together for the sake of scene viability. That's why you might hear people talking about the "gothic-industrial scene".

Keep in mind too that 80s and 90s Industrial music sounded very different from how it does now (compare your average Grendel or Combichrist song to your average Skinny Puppy or Die Form song). There was a lot less influence of raver music in the rivethead scene back then, and a lot more influence from 80s dark alternative music and New Wave, which are key influences for the goth scene as well.

As told by goth YouTuber Angela Benedict (goth since 1995), every goth back then listened to at least some Industrial, every rivethead listened to at least some goth music, and they all loved 80s New Wave, so DJs at shared club nights had a very easy time entertaining both audiences simultaneously.

🦇 Trivia & other things to know

The term "gothic Rock" was being used in music journalism as early as to describe releases by The Doors and The Velvet Underground, but the word "gothic" there wasn't so much used to point to a specific type of sound at that stage, it was used to imply the mood of the music and that's not where the subculture gets its name.

We don't know for sure why this subculture began to be referred to as "goth", initially the music was called either New Wave (just a darker and more underground variety of it) or Positive Punk. However, one of the potential roots of this name for our subculture is that it comes from an inside joke from members of Southern Death Cult/The Cult about Andi Sexgang (Sex Gang Children) about how he was a creepy little guy obsessed with the macabre and dark romanticism living at the Visigoth Towers, so they called him a "goth goblin" and if he was a goth, then his fans were goths too.

From the comments that the goth bloggers/vloggers I follow get, apparently it's common for baby bats and people interested in the subculture to think that they HAVE to find a goth "type" to lock themselves into, like "trad goth" or "romantic goth" or whatever else, and if they don't, they're a poser. This isn't true at all. Most goths wax and wane between fashion styles and goth music subgenres. These terms are far more useful to describe aesthetics rather than people or music.

If you ever hear people talk about "1st/2nd/3rd wave goth/Gothic Rock"; that's an (in my opinion) outdated and not too functional terminology to differentiate between "eras" of goth music, 1st wave being between 1975-1985, 2nd between 1985-1995, and 3rd between 1995-? That terminology was used widely when I was a baby bat but not so much anymore.

"Baby bat" is what a lot of more established goths call newbies! It's NOT meant as an insult nor to be condescending. It's a loving cutesy term and while of course most baby bats are very young, it's perfectly plausible to be a very grown adult and a baby bat if they just got into goth instead of getting into the subculture as a teen.

Most goth bands are easily found on Spotify except for more underground ones that haven't been active for a while (I have so many beloved bands and songs that just don't exist on Spotify), but the real goth jackpot is at Bandcamp.

Facebook is still useful for one (1) thing and it's for finding goth events; that's where I've found out about gothic fairs, goth nights and gigs; from the largely popular ones in my local scene to the very underground ones.

The song most of the subculture agrees is THE first official goth song is Bela Lugosi's Dead by Bauhaus, which was recorded as a singular take. It was the first track the band recorded together, too.

The Batcave is infamous nowadays as a huge goth night club in Soho (London) during the early 80s, owned by the band Specimen, BUT as told by the very people who used to frequent the nightclub, the whole thing has been a little overblown and its current reputation is more legend than fact. YouTuber Gothcast has a great video on the subject that was praised by members of Specimen itself!

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Most of the most iconic pioneer goth musicians HATE being referred to as goths or to have their music referred to as such. When the term "goth" was first starting to be used to describe our music and scene it was a pejorative used by outsiders and/or mostly associated with the campier and more "low brow" bands (Specimen and Alien Sex Fiend come to mind). Andrew Eldritch from Sisters of Mercy especially hates it, to the point he refuses to even say the word and refers to it as "the G word". Which is hilarious since he sounded the most stereotypically gothy out of the big 4 and looked like this at the time he started to be a piss baby about it:

Goth isn't really a "youth" subculture anymore if you ask people within the scene. Unlike people from many other subcultures, goths have a tendency to stay goth far into adulthood (even if covertly). When you go to any events, besides teens and people in their early 20s, you're gonna see plenty of goths in their 40s and older, a few of them will bring their kids along if the event is family friendly.

Besides the obvious chance of many goths being professional creatives (musicians, writers, artists, etc), for some reason A LOT of goths work in tech and healthcare!

Metalheads headbang, they and punks also mosh. What do goths do to vibe to our music together? We dance! We don't dance the same as non-goths but we LOVE to dance to our music, together or solo. There's no established dance styles to adhere to; it's just letting your body flow to the music. Some goth dancing is very intricate, some of it is very simple, it depends on the goth in question. Just in case, this is NOT like the dance gifs of cybergoths/rivetheads under that damned bridge. Think less that and more Wednesday Addams dancing to The Cramps, or the girl from the Night of the Demons movie. Here's some videos about how goths dance:

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We fucking love 80s New Wave. No, Depeche Mode isn't a goth band; yes, you'll have to dig deep to find a goth who doesn't ADORE them. The only one I've come across who disliked Depeche Mode liked Soft Cell instead.

Goth IS international! Not just in the sense that there's fans of goth music basically everywhere, but that there's local goth scenes with their own local goth bands everywhere. Outside of the US + Europe + Canada, there's huge goth scenes all over Latin América (our Deathrock and Post-Punk are at times even popular among 1st world goths), and there's also smaller but still present goth scenes in Africa, Asia and Oceania. She Past Away is very much one of THE most popular goth bands in recent years and they're from Turkey.

The goth scene has always been in friendly terms with the LGBT community. Not only are many of our biggest icons LGBT themselves (the whole band Specimen, AVC from Sopor Aeternus, both members of Diavol Strâin, the vocalist from Male Tears, Cinnamon Hadley, and many more) but plenty of cishet goths (especially the men) embrace gender non-conformity and/or androgyny. In most local scenes, goth club nights are held at gay bars/nightclubs, as they don't tend to have privately owned venues. And either way, at any goth night there'll be tons of gay and gender non-conforming goths no matter where they're held. To varying degrees depending on the locality of the scene, gay and bi people are completely normalized in the goth subculture, and gender non-conformity and androgyny aren't just encouraged, but praised and coveted.

There's goths of any religion you can think of, but Neo Pagans are somewhat over-represented in our community compared to the rest of larger society (for better or worse). Funnily enough, very few goths are actually Satanists of any sort. I'd say the numbers go more or less similar to our local non-goth peers. In the West and westernized countries I'd say it goes; majority culturally-Christian atheist or agnostic goths (usually not militant about it), a few practicing Christians of whichever denomination (usually whichever is dominant in the country they inhabit), the rare but entirely plausible Jewish, Muslim or Buddhist goth, and a bunch of Neo-Pagans. Probably one (1) or two (2) actual Satanist goths per state/province/etc, tops.

World Goth Day is celebrated every year on May 22nd.

"Mallgoth" isn't a type of goth in either a musical or fashion sense. I made another TikTok about it, but in summary; it was originally hurled as an insult towards a very specific type of poser; the American kids in the late 90s and early 00s who imitated how goths dressed and called themselves goths while only listening to Nu Metal and maybe the most mainstream Industrial Metal. They tended to congregate at malls and behave particularly obnoxious to everyone there, further ruining our already delicate image (especially at that time).

Cybergoths aren't really goths either. Their music scene is centered around EBM, which is basically slightly darker and slightly more aggressive raver music that may or may not have Industrial influences. And to be honest they behaved like a rapacious invasive species in goth club nights to the point that they almost decimated the actual goth scene and it took us a while to recover from that.

Goths are sometimes perceived as too self-serious but honestly? We love making fun of ourselves and we tend to have a very silly or dry sense of humor. We're just tired of the same cheap and inaccurate jokes made by people who don't know anything about us. The best jokes about goths will often come from goths ourselves; you can only properly make fun of something you understand well! The few times outsiders get it right though? (Sad to confirm that the South Park goth kids are hilarious and I wish they were in a better show) You'll see goths sharing the SHIT out of it, such as me being obsessed with the goths from Ridonculous Race, or the clip below:

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#goth music #music #goth #gothic #gothgoth #goth subculture #trad goth #gothic rock #post punk #darkwave #ethereal wave #Spotify #goth 101

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art · 2 years

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Creator Spotlight: Pablo Lobato

Pablo Lobato was born in Trelew, Patagonia, Argentina, in April 1970. He studied graphic design at Universidad Nacional de La Plata, as well as Painting and Engraving. He moved to Buenos Aires to work as a graphic designer in the editorial field. After five years, he got bored and decided to give one more chance to his true love: portraits. Represented by Anna Goodson, he started working as a collaborator in magazines and newspapers: Rolling Stone, The New Yorker, Wired, New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, TV Guide, and The Village Voice, among others. His work has been featured in Illustration Now Vol.3 and Portraits! by Taschen editorial. Lobato has taken part in numerous collective exhibits in Argentina, the United States, Italy, Chile, and Portugal.

Check out our interview with Pablo below!

Can you take us through a day in the life of working on a project like Wendell & Wild?

I worked on this project during the lockdown because of the COVID pandemic, so I was home all of the time. My days consisted of zooms with director Henry Selick, work, play with the kids, work, make dinner, watch a series on Netflix, work, and more work. While everyone was trying to figure out what to do with their free time, I was working like never before.

What was the inspiration behind the character designs in Wendell & Wild, and which character was the most challenging or interesting to develop?

Each character was inspired by different people or things. Wendell and Wild are caricatures of Keegan Michael Key, and Jordan Peele. The inspiration for Kat was a blend between the Afropunk movement and ancient African masks. Manberg could be an Israeli Marlon Brando.

What do you wish you had known when you first started out creating art that you know now?

How to be a character designer!!! This was my first time, so I had to learn in the process.

What is one habit you find yourself doing a lot as an artist?

I find myself looking for new things all the time, finding new directions to go in, and making mistakes.

How many unfinished/WIP pieces do you have? Care to share a sneak peek..?

Hundreds!!!!!

How has your style developed over the years?

At the beginning, my work was very sketchy—very rough. Then, I started using the computer, and everything was cleaner and more geometric. Now, I think I’m going back to more organic shapes.

What does your work set up look like?

It’s a mess. Please don’t ask me for pictures. I will never show it.

How has technology changed the way you approach your work?

It was a big change when I first started using the computer. But technology keeps growing, and I’m using the same old software as 20 years ago.

Who or what on Tumblr inspires you and why?

I appreciate the diversity that Tumblr has. Thousands and thousands of different art projects popping in front of your eyes. It’s like a brainstorm on your screen.

Thank you so much for stopping by, Pablo! Check out his work with Netflix’s Wendell & Wild over at @netflix!

#creator spotlight #artists on tumblr #pablo lobato #wendell and wild #netflix

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culther · 2 months

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⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀❝ 𝐀𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐘𝐀𝐇’𝐒 𝐔𝐍𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐏𝐏𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐋𝐔𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 ! ❞

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀AALIYAH’S UNFORGETTABLE FASHION SENSE ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀EXPLORED, ─── AN ARTICLE WRITTEN & PHOTO ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ EDITS MADE BY MIA GOLDS

If you ask anyone in the world to define the legacy of Aaliyah, you’ll receive a myriad of responses. Some will praise the rising IT Girl whose precious life tragically ended too soon, while others will reflect on the profound impact she’s made on their existence in one way or another.

Many others will recount her evolution from a young R&B sensation to a mature artist exploring pop music and other sounds on the brink of her prime. But regardless of the response you get, one thing reigns true as the definition of her essence: her iconic fashion sense.

From the moment she burst onto the music scene in 1994 with her first album “ Age Ain’t Nothing but A Number “ as a fresh-faced teenager, Aaliyah captivated audiences not only with her angelic and smooth vocals but also with her distinctive sense of style.

In her early years, she came out the gate pushing the envelope of what it means to be a budding artist and a free-spirited young black girl. Many of her looks effortlessly blended streetwear stylings with subtle couture pieces, rocking oversized sports jerseys and baggy pants paired with sleek, feminine touches like crop tops and crop jackets to create uniquely balanced silhouettes and cuts.

A fashion format she carried throughout the entirety of her career, through time she changed the way she presented it but the elements of it remained. As she soared into her stardom and maturity as an artist, so too did her fashion sense.

Later she embraced more feminine and refined aesthetics, favoring sexy silhouettes, tailored gowns, and minimalistic elegance. Her iconic tomboy ‘ sweet but street ‘ chic look became synonymous with effortless coolness, and inspired countless fashion trends.

Establishing her as the true style icon she was, ahead of her time and still remains today. Regardless, it was her ability to seamlessly transition between various fashion personas that truly set her apart from any of her peers.

Whether she was rocking a glamorous gown on the red carpet or effortlessly slaying in a baggy tracksuit on stage, Aaliyah exuded confidence and authenticity in every ensemble.

That very same confidence and coolness continues to resound in the world around us today. From celebrities and influencers, to everyday fashion enthusiasts who pride themselves in their physical expression.

The beauty of creating art is that it is big— and permanent enough to live beyond us. Within her short time on earth, she continued to push boundaries and explore new musical territories, and her fashion choices unwound alongside her, reflecting her growth as an artist and into a woman.

From the streets of Brooklyn to the stages of the world, Aaliyah's fashion journey was as dynamic and diverse as her music, leaving an unforgettable imprint on the industries of fashion and music alike.

𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐘 𝐒𝐓𝐘𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒: From Tomboy to Tommy Girl

During her debut era in 1994, Aaliyah not only captivated audiences with her smooth, soulful vocals on hits like “ Back & Forth,” “ At Your Best ( You Are Love ), “Old School, “ & “ Age Ain’t Nothing but A Number “— the title track of her debut album, to name a few… but also with her distinctive sense of fashion.

The way she dressed didn’t just resound the casual and laid-back lifestyles of the R&B & Hip-Hop scene of the 1990s, but it also reflected her confident, humorous, yet collected personality.

There wasn’t a single teen girl in America that didn’t want to be like Aaliyah. Black girls everywhere aspired to make oversized jerseys, baggy pants, cropped tops, statement sunglasses, numerous colored bandanas, and baseball caps look as chill as she did. Her uniqueness quickly made her a sensation and role model to look up to.

In addition to her loose-fitted hoodies and starter jackets, a wrist full of silver bangles and standout nail polish colors added feminine contrast to anything you’d see her in, and how could we forget her “ A “ initial necklace? Simple but effectively iconic.

Her early appeal and aesthetics can be attributed to the legendary fashion stylist Derek Lee. From 1994 onward through her career, Derek was instrumental in crafting her trendsetting tomboy aesthetic. It was his hard work and vision that helped to shape her distinctive fashion sense and solidify her status as a style icon.

Under his guidance, she became known for her effortless blend of masculine yet sweetly feminine elegance, taking risks, setting trends, and inspiring fans worldwide. Derek has also styled Lil Kim, Bobby Brown, and Macy Gray, to name a few.

As his muse, Aaliyah landed her first significant collaboration campaign for Tommy Hilfiger in 1996. Tommy Hilfiger is a brand whose name still holds the same weight today as it did in the 90s.

Becoming a Tommy Girl allowed Aaliyah to express her creativity in a new way. Their collaboration blended urban streetwear-inspired styles to cater to the day's youth and offered a sense of high-quality exclusivity. Her laid-back touch perfectly complemented Tommy’s preppy dynamic and made a memorable partnership that we still recognize and associate with the R&B star.

Working with Tommy also introduced Aaliyah to her best friend, Kidada Jones, the fashion stylist and designer, who is also the daughter of music legend Quincy Jones. Their shared interests in music, fashion, and culture are said to have led to a natural connection and friendship over time. The two young women were just alike.

𝐖𝐄 𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐍 𝐄𝐕𝐎𝐋𝐔𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍: Get it? Anyways, Aaliyah’s Evolution from Teen Idol to Full Blown Superstar!

In the Mid to Late 1990s, Aaliyah’s style evolved into something with the makings of a rebirth—a renaissance for her womanhood. The teenage tomboy crooner had grown into a young woman navigating mainstream success, and her fashion began to reflect that portion in her narrative.

Many of those who adored her for her music also adored her fashion sense as it became less practical and increased in intricacy. She traded her baggy pants, oversized leisure wear, and cropped tees for sleek leathers, fitted dresses, and high-fashion-grade ensembles that added more contrast and texture to her wardrobe.

Though she never shied away from wearing color, her palette during this era took on a more toned-down colorway to emphasize her maturity: rusted earth tones, browns, grays, and lots of black.

Her red carpet looks became increasingly refined during this era, showcasing her versatility and ability to transition between different fashion personas seamlessly. As she navigated her way through the entertainment industry, tackling acting roles and additional modeling campaigns, how she presented herself began to attest to her evolution as a person with each project she put out.

Her ‘One In A Million’ era was the dawning of a new point in her career, with the sophomore album marking a transition into a more cultivated sophistication in her artistry and welcoming bolder accessories for her coming-of-age narrative. She showed versatility as she was praised on cover shoots for teen magazines nationwide and reserved her edge by allowing her signature shades, oversized jackets, and necklaces to appear.

Her self-titled “ Aaliyah “ album era was the last project released during her time here. This era was the pinnacle of her evolution. This portion of her art saw her embracing sultry vocals and lyrics, all the while coming into the glamor of stardom and confidence with every public appearance. Statement pieces and bold colorways once again found themselves in her look. Avante-garde designs, high fashion designer-brand labels, and intricate detailed pieces and patterns, to name a few— demonstrated her fearless approach as a trendsetter and tastemaker.

This era leaves a bittersweet imprint in the minds of many. While we applaud the woman she was becoming, we cry for the sweet spirit we lost so tragically and too soon.

𝐀𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐘𝐀𝐇, 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐄: Her Homage to High Fashion

Her partnership with Tommy Hilfiger in the mid-1990s was a groundbreaking moment, as she became the face of Tommy Jeans, effortlessly blending mainstream fashion with hip-hop culture.

Aaliyah's influence also reached luxury fashion houses like Versace, Gucci, and Alexander McQueen, where she was admired for her daring fashion choices and ability to push boundaries.

She seamlessly incorporated pieces from these brands into her wardrobe during photoshoots, music videos, and other public appearances, showcasing her impeccable taste and fearless approach to style.

Aaliyah's affinity for luxury fashion not only elevated her image but also helped raise the visibility of these brands within the urban music and fashion scenes.

She famously wore a custom-made Tom Ford for Gucci leather jumpsuit in the music video for her song "Try Again," a look that continues to be complimented.

She rocked a stunning black silk organza gown from Alexander McQueen’s Spring/Summer 2000 collection in her final music video for "Rock the Boat." Along with designs by Thierry Mugler, including a metallic silver jumpsuit during her performance at the MTV Video Music Awards in 1998.

Her legacy as a style icon inspires designers, artists, and fashion enthusiasts worldwide, solidifying her status as a timeless muse for high fashion designer brands with an unstoppable influence.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐔𝐍𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐏𝐏𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐋𝐔𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄: 23 Years Later…

Aaliyah's influence on fashion transcends time, resonating even in present-day trends 23 years after her untimely passing. The entire thesis of this exploration is to emphasize how her style continues to inspire a new generation of fashion enthusiasts, celebrities, and influencers all these years later. I aim to stress how her incredibly unmatched talent and passion for fashion collaboratively created a legacy that still holds her light.

Modern-day stars like Zendaya, known for her boundary-pushing fashion choices and effortless blend of streetwear and high fashion, often cite Aaliyah as a source of early inspiration.

Similarly, Ciara's bold and glamorous style pays homage to Aaliyah's rule-breaking approach to fashion, with her outfits and statement accessories reminiscent of the late icon.

Tinashe, an independent artist and producer, embraces Aaliyah's signature tomboy-chic aesthetic, infusing it with her own modern twist to create a unique and captivating look.

Aleali May, who in my opinion is a fusion of Aaliyah & Kidada Jones’ essence, is a designer stylist and continues to be a rising star in the fashion world, channels Aaliyah's relaxed and understated elegance in her streetwear-inspired looks and all of her designs, proving that Aaliyah's influence knows no boundaries.

Even global superstar Rihanna, known for her daring and trendsetting style, acknowledges Aaliyah's impact on fashion, paying homage to her in her music and fashion choices. Along with the beautiful and eclectic Teyana Taylor further attesting to the power of a legacy as well.

Beyond celebrities, influencers and public figures across social media platforms continue to celebrate Aaliyah’s fashion that came before her time, reinterpreting it for the digital age and keeping her legacy alive for generations to come.

Aaliyah's style and unapologetic individuality continue to serve as a reminder that true fashion icons are immortalized not only in memory but also in the enduring influence they leave behind. Great art never expires.

━━━━━━━━━━━━ 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐂𝐄𝐒 & 𝐒𝐎𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐀:

CULT HER INSTAGRAM

CULT HER TWITTER

PERSONAL TUMBLR PAGE

ADDITIONAL LINK TREE

COPYRIGHT & REPOSTING NOTICE: All written content and picture edits in this Tumblr post are original creations by me, from my own mind. Reposting or unauthorized use without permission is strictly prohibited. Please respect my work. I also have stated numerous times I do not own the original images used in my edits for this post. I claim no ownership over those. © MIA GOLDS / CULT HER.

━━━━━━━━━━━━ 𝐅𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐎𝐖 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄!

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mysweetlixe · 4 months

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24 Hours: Day in the life |Felix|

Summary: In the dazzling world of fame and fashion, "Vogue" offers an intimate glimpse into the extraordinary life of Y/N, a globally renowned sensation, and her equally charismatic boyfriend. For 24 hours, the documentary captures the couple's captivating daily routine, blending glamour with authenticity.

Words: 580

M.list

The gentle rays of the early sun peeked through the curtains, creating a cozy aura around Y/N as she sat at her vanity mirror, brushes and palettes spread out before her. The room was filled with the hum of excitement, as today was no ordinary day. Vogue, the iconic fashion magazine, was shadowing Y/N for a day in the life of a successful YouTuber. Her subscribers knew her for her insightful lifestyle vlogs, engaging beauty tutorials, and occasional glimpses into her personal life. Today, they would get an even closer look.

Y/N carefully applied her makeup, blending shades with precision as the camera crew from Vogue captured every stroke. The room buzzed with activity as stylists and assistants moved around, ensuring every detail was perfect for the shoot. As she focused on her makeup, Y/N felt the familiar warmth of Felix's arms wrapping around her waist. His presence, a constant comfort, made her smile.

Felix pressed a soft kiss to her cheek, "Good morning, beautiful."

"Morning, Felix," Y/N replied, turning to share a quick kiss with her boyfriend. The Vogue crew snapped photos, capturing the intimate moment between the couple.

After finishing her makeup, Y/N moved on to selecting an outfit for the day. Felix, ever the fashion-forward companion, offered his opinions on various choices. Their playful banter and genuine affection were a joy to witness for the Vogue team.

As Y/N prepared for the day ahead, Felix took a moment to film a short greeting for his fans. Stray Kids' fans were eager to catch a glimpse of the group's activities, and Felix never failed to deliver. The duo's collaborative energy shone through as they exchanged friendly banter on camera.

The day unfolded with a series of events that showcased Y/N's and Felix's diverse professional lives. Y/N took Vogue behind the scenes of her YouTube studio, sharing her creative process, brainstorming sessions, and the meticulous planning that went into each video. Felix, on the other hand, offered a peek into the world of a K-pop idol, taking Vogue to the Stray Kids' practice room and giving insights into their rigorous rehearsal schedule.

Lunchtime provided a brief respite for the couple, and they chose to spend it in a quaint cafe near their workplace. The Vogue crew discreetly captured stolen glances, laughter, and shared secrets, creating a narrative that resonated with their audience.

The afternoon continued with more adventures – from Y/N attending meetings with brand collaborations to Felix participating in a photo shoot for a magazine cover. The chemistry between the couple was magnetic, drawing viewers into their dynamic world.

As evening approached, the Vogue team followed Y/N and Felix back home. The couple shared their nightly routine, cooking a simple dinner together, playfully arguing over the best way to season the dish. The genuine love and companionship they exuded were heartwarming.

The day concluded with Y/N and Felix snuggled up on the couch, watching a movie as they enjoyed each other's company. The Vogue crew discreetly captured the couple's quiet moments, emphasizing the authenticity that made their relationship so relatable to viewers worldwide.

With the closing of the front door, the 24-hour journey with Y/N and Felix came to an end. The Vogue feature highlighted the couple's individual successes and their ability to balance demanding careers with a loving relationship. It was a testament to their authenticity and the genuine connection they shared, making Y/N and Felix not just idols to their fans but inspirations for anyone navigating the complexities of life and love.

#stray kids x reader #stray kids imagine #felix x reader #felix #straykids imagines #felix imagines #stray kids felix #felix imagine #skz imagine #skz imagines #skz x reader #skz felix

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ashirisu · 4 months

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hey, everyone!

My name is Ley (pronounced like "Lee," she/they) and I'm a fiction writer/editor based in the PNW. I haven't done a proper writeblr intro in a while, so I figure the new year is a great time to reintroduce myself to the community!

— about me

An important thing to understand about me and the way I talk about writing is that this stuff is literally my entire life. Even outside of work, I don't think I have a single interest or hobby that doesn't relate back to storytelling in some capacity. I'm an avid media consumer and critic, and will hyperanalyze just about anything that catches my fancy for more than a minute.

I love science fiction and fantasy, and my goal as a writer is to take all the genres I loved growing up and create stories that are a little more diverse, inclusive, and queer.

— about the blog

I came to writeblr mostly to share my work, but also to find an active community where I can get excited with other writers and talk shop. Marketing is obviously a really important part of the publishing industry, but I get tired of having to filter every thought I have about my work and experiences through the lens of aesthetic micro-trends just to put it out in the world. Sometimes I just want to pop off about scenes I'm proud of, you know?

Above all else, I really just want to connect with more writers like myself, ones who got their start in fandom spaces and are working to take their writing from a hobby into a career. I see you, I am you, I love you, let's be friends!

— about my writing

I write a lot, though most of it is disconnected nonsense. Flash fiction and short stories are where I really thrive as a writer. I don't tend to commit to long-form projects, but I have a few projects that I'll occasionally share details about!

I like to describe my style as "earnest and character-forward," which is a fancy way of saying that I like driven protagonists who think too much and are emotional to the point of it being a character flaw.

My goal is to share more of my original writing moving forward, so hopefully you'll get to see all of this for yourself. If I'm totally honest, though, you'll probably see more of me discussing my work than actually writing it.

— about my projects

Here are the things you'll most likely see me posting about:

Agnomen: A sci-fi retelling of Hamlet and Coriolanus, currently in its very preliminary stages. It is literally my Roman Empire, except it's set on a moon of a planet that I'm calling Jupiter as a placeholder (but please note that it isn't actually Jupiter, as Jupiter is a gas giant and therefore a scientifically impossible setting for large sections of the plot).

Alter Ego: A superhero fic in which not-so-mild-mannered reporter Drew Derrick fights for mutant rights and can't seem to get his act together when it comes to keeping the complicated parts of his life separate.

Untitled Fantasy Project: The very first project I ever wrote, and the piece I return to every so often when writing is feeling more like a slog than a fun hobby. I set a lot of one-offs in this world and follow a few key characters around without them having a real plot.

D&D: I write a lot about Baz, my Wild Magic Barbarian. He's a regency noble with a lot of problems, and I care about him very much. I also have various other settings and characters, but he's my most active PC at the moment and therefore gets the most attention.

Short Stories: Sometimes I write these, and sometimes I like them enough to share!

— tag directory

ley rambles: my (often wordy) opinions about things

ley writes: not necessarily my writing, but talking about my writing

my writing: stories, blurbs, and other content I've written

not my writing: reblogs and creative writing that I liked, shared, and sometimes commented on

#also i am open to asks and tag games!#looking forward to getting to know you all #writeblr intro #writeblr #writing #creative writing #writing community

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sugarpasteltmnt · 2 months

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i am currently catching up on neon void, and it is a delight to read. your descriptions of leo’s mind is mesmerizing and grabs the reader’s attention so well. it’s very diverse and unique compared to other interpretations and fics♥️

i’m curious to know what your thinking process was like while writing leo’s insanity and his own thought processes.

(spoilers for ch11) the scene that stuck out to me the most was when leo was about to infect donnie. it felt so vulnerable and raw ahh

anyways i just want to dig into your mind a little to know how it works.

keep up the great work, you are doing wonderful.

WAAA THANK YOU SO MUCH 😭😭😭 you are so sweet thank you!! 💙💗‼️and ohmigosh what a fun ask.

tbh i sat on this one for a while to think of how to dive into it-- beware of my (VERY) long ramblings below!

this question really got me Thinkin' and i kinda popped off but!! If i may indulge myself, here's sort of a wild explanation of how i approach Leo's Insane Brain for this specific fic:

does it meet R.I.S.E???

R - Realistic? I - Interesting? S - Silly? E - Existential?

R - Realistic

"How the hell do i make this sound realistic" is often an obstacle i run into. but it's also the Secret Sauce. What really gives the thought process direction. Given Leo's current situation, he's battling between what he wants and what he needs to do. Which is often a very real problem real people have. Exaggerating it helps create a fun back-and-forth dialog that can make his thoughts seem muddled.

With Leo in this fic’s setup, there are about five main key factors i rely on with his decision making:

Happiness The root of Leo’s general personification. He’s the guy who beat Krang One. The one who escaped a place worse than Hell. After years of missing home so much he’s FINALLY home. He’s drunk on happiness. He was finally home. And that relief and joy is what makes him so jubilant and goofy.

Awareness of his goal Though Rise Leo is a very funny dude, he's still a Leonardo. Throughout the series, Leo is the voice of reason when things are getting out of hand or are potentially dangerous. Leo's had nothing but time to think. Wishing what he'd done different. Wishing he had been more serious. After five years obsessing over his mistake and missing his family, the moment he see's the opportunity to make sure this never happens again he'll latch onto it. And when the stakes are high, accentuating that tension can help with frantic impact of his thinking.

His desire to see his family This desire often clashes with point number 2. Writing his internal struggle between the two helps with the “overwhelmed thoughts” vibe. It’s hard for him to choose! And he doesn’t wanna have to choose! Playing out the conflict between his 'want' vs his 'need to do' helps me bring out his nervous thinking process.

He's self-reprimanding thoughts We all love an Angsty Leo. It was hinted in the show that he had some self-esteem issues, but who doesn't love ramping it up to 11 for a fic??? That, and he was trapped with Krang this whole time. After hearing he was nothing but trash for five years PLUS the guilt of nearly ending the world, the guy doesn't exactly see himself in a great light you know? This can help clash with point 1, again helping with that 'what he wants' vs 'what he needs to do' inner conflict.

Instinct to Survive / Feral Tendencies This one is super fun. I love feral AUs/tropes. With little to no socialization in the Prison Dimension, Leo's sanity started to slip, leaving his body's natural instincts to become more profound. Plus, with the Krang Parasite, I like to exaggerate how feral/dangerous he could be outside of 'turtle' instincts. (Seeing that parasite hosts in the movie were very violent). Sprinkling in feral moments is just a delicious thrill I love adding, and it makes the insanity factor skyrocket and it's so fun to write 🩵🩵🩵

I - Interesting

Is Leo's thought process interesting to read??? Honestly, I just gun for what I think is the most interesting; Leo's relationship with his brothers (especially Raph), and the cause and effects of his shenanigans.

Also, I liked to experiment with wonky texts to help emphasize key moments or words to grab attention. Mostly because it feels like a fun surprise to read them in my opinion. Though not necessary in writing, I thought using some funky fonts might entice and excite 💙

S- Silly

THE BIG ONE!!! EVERYONE'S FAVORITE!!! 🎉🎊🥳🎉 Something I really love love love about Rise's style is that it's silly It's unique! It's fun! I love that Leo and the others are goofy and have some slap-stick moments. And I wanted to keep that with Leo despite everything. Plus, I ADORE that in this iteration of TMNT, the characters are such showmen. They are DRAMATIC. They are SILLY. And that's something I wanna celebrate!! Plus, as much as I love angst, writing nothing but pure angst is exhausting. (And I'm sure reading pure angst isn't enjoyably to everyone.) Throwing in Silly moments is like a little moment of refreshment to me 🩵

I also like to believe that Leo kept his sense of humor out of sheer SPITE. The 'wipe that stupid grin off your face' line in the movie really stuck with me. I feel like Leo would smile through his fear and still be a clown just to spite Krang One.

E - Existential

At the end of the day, Leo is dealing with a VERY big issue. I felt like the Rise movie did an excellent job portraying the severity of an alien invasion for the setting Rise had. And the weight of the situation would be too great for one person. And this is often what I refer back to to make Leo snap. A relapse in clarity of mind. A moment for the panic and PTSD to come back in full force and make him rely on his instincts. Usually the feral instincts he became more attuned with while fleeing/fighting Krang One. It also goes hand-in-hand with his awareness of his goal (as mentioned in 'Realistic' above).

And that's kinda a word-vomit of how it goes!! Honestly??? The tug-o-war between conflicting thoughts helps me write the madness in his head. It's been super fun and interesting, and I hope it's been fun to read!!! (Though I'm telling you now I will NOT be doing those floating text tables again OOF)

Thank you again for the ask it was super fun to think about ;w; 🩵‼️

#thank u for coming to my Ted Talk #long post #sorry i kinda Went Off (affectionate) on this lmao #does this make sense??? only Pizza Supreme knows 😔#pastel prattling

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informalmajesty · 9 months

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Jimin is not being sabotaged by his own label

This tag used to be (mostly) fun and now all I see are large text posts pitting Jimin and JK against each other and, look, it’s not as complicated as many of you are making it out to be, nor is there some grand conspiracy to *checks notes* pit JK and Jimin against each other or *keeps checking notes* a SPECIFIC vendetta against ONLY Jimin, their artist who *scrolls scrolls scrolls through notes* went number 1 on Billboard.

So here is a large text post on the woes of American capitalism (yes. Really).

Here’s the reality

Billboard DID Sabotage Jimin

Let’s get the big sabotage that did happen out of the way — BILLBOARD (and friends. Will circle back to this) ARE RACIST SNAKES AND ALWAYS HAVE BEEN.

Billboard has a history of keeping Black artists off of the pop charts. One example, R&B was largely created as a separate chart to move a category of Black artists from the Hot 100 pop charts. It was a big deal—as (1) example—when Boyz II Men crossed over to the pop charts multiple times.

And then what happened? The American music industry caught up and started cranking out white boy bands that wrote and performed R&B but. Funny. Somehow it was now considered JUST pop on the H100 POP charts. They weren’t pushed immediately to R&B and had to work their way over.

This was considered R&B for the R&B charts that was a “crossover”

And this was considered mainstream pop that needed no crossover.

Yeah, Billboard have always been racist snakes.

So flash forward to 2023. We know they tried HARD to keep BTS from the H100. Going into Proof, BB limited digitals, reduced the weight on sales and upped weight on radio. Why? American music labels can control radio. They cannot control sales and it’s legally far more messy for them to do so.

But then. JIMIN happened.

ARMY got Jimin to H100 #1 with the rule change and the American music industry lost their collective shit.

Why do I say COLLECTIVE and not just Billboard? Well.

This is so essential to the punch line of this rant.

American capitalism only cares about its friends.

What does that mean?

I work in Silicon Valley. You want to know why there is a major diversity problem in Silicon Valley? Yes. There is explicit and obscene misogyny and racism, but the biggest problem is less explicit albeit just as systemic.

White men tend to hang out and befriend other white men already in their “circle.” When some rich person or VC firm’s buddy is like “hey I need money for this thing” they are like “yes, of course, buddy, here you go!!” And they get tons of cash without having to prove anything.

I will not say the startup I worked at but it’s valuation was in the billions and their funding was in the billions with NO product built yet. How they got those billions? A well known stunt performer was besties with the then CEO of a major major tech company and he said “hey bestie give my friend over here hundreds of millions of dollars.” And then this startup got hundreds of millions of dollars. Was there due diligence done? Absolutely. But would the CEO of a major tech company give a crap if his best dude didn’t vouch for the startup? No.

Humans are extremely relationally driven. Merit is basically bullshit. Merit is so so rarely considered in anything. Who are you friends with? That’s how most things are done.

So, Billboard has a lot of friends. Those friends are in major record labels. And those friends only care about making as much money as possible while retaining the status quo.

What goes against all of that? A group of non-white, non-American men that they make very little money from because their label is completely seated in a different country.

So when Like Crazy—a solo record by a Korean artist under a Korean label with a Korean songwriting team—comes in and dethrones FLOWERS, Columbia Records’ darling for the year (no hate to Miley or the song, it’s solid, love Miley), oh my god were they SEEING SOME RED.

The MONEY they PAID to see Flowers on top of radio, of playlisting, of cultural consciousness and a NON AMERICAN NON WHITE MAN just dethroned that.

My GUESS (I don’t know, also keep in mind BTS didn’t seem to have the friendliest exit from the Columbia distribution deal) is that Billboard’s BFFs at Columbia threw a fit. And Billboard responded by saying “of course, bestie, we’ll remove the problem.”

And there goes 100k sales in the next week. Deleted. Gone.

Who is going to call them on that? Hybe could propose an investigation, sure, but here’s the thing — it’s not illegal. Billboard didn’t break any law. It’s THEIR completely made up chart that they can change at any time depending on what labels want (this is how Wall Street works too, btw). Everything is made up to appease the same 50 white men. Bleak but true. Music industry is far from the exception.

Okay so moving forward — now we have Jungkook’s Seven coming out. And Billboard a week before release finally decides to tell us the rule they CREATED BECAUSE OF JIMIN (it’s a shitty rule of course but damn Jimin’s power)—D2C sales no longer count.

Jungkoook makes it to #1 anyway because ARMY is freaking amazing AND yes. Yes, Jungkook got more US promotion, help on Spotify, general promo, radio etc than Jimin.

BUT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN BECAUSE BIG HIT FAVORS JUNGKOOK AND SABOTAGED JIMIN

Remember — everything is determined by rich men in power and who they are friends with.

What did Jungkook do? He went to an American producer who is besties with Scooter Braun (Andrew Watt has worked with several of Scooter’s artists including Justin Bieber, namely on Peaches) who has power to contact his besties at Spotify and wherever else.

And what does going to an American producer unlock for Jungkook? A pop track highly likely to do well in America. So then what does Bang PD do? Recognize that because the dude is a billionaire and he likes money and he says (and we know he said this) “this is going to be a hit.” And there you go, you have the Seven marketing campaign that Like Crazy didn’t quite get.

This isn’t “oh my god BigHit / Hybe hates Jimin.” This is “Jungkoook took an easier, more commercial route.”

If Jimin wants to go get a song like Seven….he can go get a song from an American producer who is friends with the right people.

Instead he wanted to work on a personal project with Korean producers and it’s amazing and beautiful and also went number one and was also a huge success.

And Jungkook wanted this really great and incredibly commercial pop song.

Both are valid. Both are going to unlock different resources for the artist. And both Jimin and JK know this. They chose what they chose. That’s it. End of story.

As for Seven v LC album stock— stock is highly likely determined by basic predictive analytics models (exponential smoothing, maaybe a regression, maybe even something as simple as moving avg idk). LC was a sizable increase from Astronaut and other BTS singles. So then Seven likely adjusted to that increase. Again. That’s it guys. That’s literally it.

So can we please have the tag back and stop pitting JK and Jimin against each other and respect that Jimin chose to do a more artistic, personal project while JK (at least for now) did not?

If you want to be mad at something, be mad at American wealthy white men and their friends.

#jikook #jimin #jungkook #seven by jungkook #like crazy #jimin and jungkook

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bonefall · 1 year

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The Queen's Rights

[ID: A sketch of a white cat and her kitten]

A short guide to an important social concept in the Bonefall Rewrite, so I can have a guide to link folks to when these questions pop up.

The Queen's Rights, also known as Darkstar's Commandment, is an addendum to Law 14 of the Warrior Code. The Law states that kittens are to be protected regardless of origin, and the addition is to protect children from paying for the 'sins' of their parent.

After all, a kitten would not be safe if its parent was forced to face punishment for its birth.

Thus, Queen's Rights can be claimed by any parent whose kittens have an uncertain origin. Single parents, infertile and same-sex couples, even just adopted ones.

Law 14 was created in response to Mapleshade's kittens drowning in the river, and so the addendum is named for what should have been her right to not reveal the father. Darkstar's Commandment made it clear that if the queen has been disloyal, StarClan will judge them. Not flawed, mortal Clanmates.

The introduction of Law 14 replaced and outlawed an older tradition which kept Clan genetic diversity stable; Kitten Stealing.

More detail on in-universe feelings towards the law below the cut.

"How does this fit in with the political changes in Better Bones?"

This is an in-universe law, ergo, different cats have very different feelings about it. Each character is an individual, but generally Clan politics can be understood through the three major ideologies;

Cats who support Thistle Law are opposed to Queen's Rights.

It's antithetical to their idea of purity and punishment, and even contradicts the Law of Loyalty. Thistle Law supporters are defined by how they make the Code harden and despise its softer elements; the Queen's Rights are ALWAYS one of the laws that gets targeted.

Examples: Thistleclaw accusing Bluestar of having halfclan kittens, Brokenstar reviving kitten stealing, Tigerclaw persecuting Stone and Misty for their heritage.

Cats who support Traditionalism think its contradiction is unfortunate but necessary.

After all, three kittens died for it. Surely that was proof to StarClan that mortals aren't capable of being objective about this; there's just no way to interrogate cats on if they've violated the Law of Loyalty without catching innocent kittens in the crossfire.

Plus, having kittens with someone doesn't mean you LOVE that cat, or are loyal to them over your Clan. There's also surrogacy, abandoned rogue kits, honor sirings... so, as long as the parents are silent about the origin of the kittens, quite frankly it's rude to pry.

When secrets are revealed or when cats from other clans try to make claims on the kittens, the tune MASSIVELY changes. They will sometimes call for the enforcement of the Law of Loyalty when it's proven to have been broken beyond a reasonable doubt.

Cats who support Fire Alone think it should go further.

Some of them would even prefer that the Law of Loyalty be changed to allow mates to swap Clans, or even for cross-Clan co-parenting.

Some of them, even, secretly think that perhaps Clerics should also be allowed to raise their children.

They think that the majority of the problems with the law come from how it all still HAS to be hidden, meaning that loving parents are separated because of a border, parents can't openly ask their surrogate's family questions, and secrets are kept pointlessly.

#Queen's Rights #Bonefall Rewrite #Warrior Code

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cult-of-the-eye · 4 months

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MAG 89 LETS GOOO

HE FOUND JUDE PERRY OH MY GOD

she sounds kinda hot ngl

heehee they're both pricks

he thinks its cause of the cold lol adding to my folder of evidence for autistic jon hc

love how he says i'm not stupid while meeting up with someone who has literally killed someone

oh god i remember the abbattoir statement...that made me queasy

i don't get what he's trying to do here? like get more info? why is he trying to corroborate the statement? to check if it was real? surely he would know that? i guess that's what its trying to highlight, the fact that jon has no idea what he's doing

ooh jonny boy's trying to stand up for himself

i wonder who would win in a fight, jude perry or michael the distortion

ooh shit she's intense

i love how he's attempting to make jokes in the face of danger like ok then jon pop off i guess

ok so he's catching on to the whole system

HE'S TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HE'S STILL TRYING TO GAIN KNOWLEDGE EVEN THROUGHOUT ALL OF THIS HE'S STILL SERVING THE EYE

that's interesting i wonder if she's met gertrude? i wonder what type of capital A Archivist she was...she was fighting against it her whole time so i guess she tried not to be a good one along with the whole the archives are a mess thing in s1

ooh the compelling

HIS WORDS OMG how interesting that its become his little ritual, something that he just created to try and help do his job has now become a metal link in his shackles

oh wow ok so she's saying give into the compulsion to get statements, feed yourself the knowledge and don't feel bad about it

pretty good advice for not literally burning out lol but probably not for jon

diversity win! the avatar for the literal destruction of the world is sapphic!!

oh wow girl was in love with Agnes jesus

i guess its that kind of cult leader charisma and the devotion of her followers that could be mistaken for love

oh wow this actually made me scared for a bit, for the other avatars it never seemed personal but this actually made me sad for the guy

wow i guess his powers are stronger than i thought, if he managed to compel another avatar

"she demonstrates how easy she is to mould" jesus christ

love how he gets defensive like i could be a good avatar for a fear god focused on beholding!! bro its not a compliment

what's her lot?? how are the entities divided??

man jonny its your fault for naming so many of your characters michael but at least we get bits of charades trying to guess which one it is

fairchilds oh my GOD the VAST

don't shake the fucking hand jesus christ he's gonna shake the hand of course he is

oh her soft like chuckle and her "i lied" oh my god

nice note to end it on, jon's screams of pain

#tma #the magnus archives #jonathan sims #jude perry #mag 89 #the desolation #the mag pod #cult listens to tma

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alainbm-mods · 4 months

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Dreams & Nightmares Mod by AlainBM:

Hello, Simmers! I'm excited to announce the release of my new mod for The Sims 4 called "Dreams & Nightmares". This mod adds a whole new dimension to your Sims' lives by allowing them to experience dreams and nightmares in the form of buffs or moodlets. Let me walk you through the amazing features of this mod!

A Multitude of Dreamscapes and Nightmarish Adventures:

Experience the wonders of dreams and nightmares as your Sims' inner thoughts come to life. After waking up from a restful sleep of at least 30 minutes (in Sims time), your Sims will be graced with a buff or moodlet reflecting their dreams, adding depth and complexity to their emotional journey.

This mod offers an extensive collection of dreams and nightmares, catering to both kids and adults. Kids can explore over 30 unique dreams and 30 nightmares, while adults have access to more than 180 dreams and 110 nightmares. Get ready to be captivated by the diversity and creativity within these dreamscapes. And let me tell you, I had an absolute blast adding hidden pop culture Easter eggs throughout these extraordinary dreams!

Unique Experiences for Every Sim:

Every Sim is special, and "Dreams & Nightmares" celebrates their individuality. With traits, age, and life states taken into account, your Sims will receive dreams and nightmares that are distinct to their personality and circumstances.

Among the vast array of dreams available, there's one dream that I find particularly intriguing and noteworthy: the "Wet Dream" This dream provides a unique experience for teenage male Sims. They can further explore this topic by researching it on computers or discussing it with their parents or friends, adding a touch of realism to their lives.

The "Vanished Dream" Buff:

In the realm of dreams, even the most vivid experiences can slip away like a wisp of smoke, so just like in real life, Sims sometimes forget their dreams. If this happens, they will receive the "Vanished Dream" buff. This sad buff reflects the disappointment of forgetting a dream and it varies depending on the Sim's age.

Dream Sharing and New Interactions:

I've always been passionate about adding fresh interactions to my mods, and this one is no exception. Sims can now share their dreams with others. Engage in captivating conversations with friends, family, and loved ones on a deeper level by discussing their dreams. From animated conversations about the last dream to intriguing discussions about the latest nightmare, you'll discover a variety of unique responses and buffs, creating dynamic and immersive interactions each time.

DreamCatcher: Your Sims' Dream Companion:

Take control of your sims' dreams and nightmares with DreamCatcher, a website available on all in-game computers. Let's explore the features DreamCatcher has to offer!

Seeking Help from a Therapist: Embark on a therapeutic adventure as your Sims seek guidance and support from DreamCatcher's virtual therapists. This immersive experience allows Sims to process their troubling dreams, gain insights, and find solace in the waking world.

SleepGuard Tablets for Peaceful Nights: Discover the magic of SleepGuard Tablets, available through DreamCatcher's store. These tablets provide 24 hours of uninterrupted sleep, free from the disturbance of nightmares. Help your Sims enjoy serene and rejuvenating nights with this dream-enhancing solution.

Dreamland Diffusers for Nighttime Protection: Create a tranquil and protective atmosphere for your Sims' dream adventures with the Dreamland Diffusers. These essential oil diffusers not only guard against nightmares but also offer customizable lighting options. Set the perfect ambiance for dream-filled nights as your Sims bask in soothing scents and gentle illumination. (Note: The diffusers' effectiveness relies on the Sim being nearby or in the same room).

Unlocking New Social Interactions: Engage in captivating conversations with friends, family, and strangers about DreamCatcher. Unlock two new social interactions with unique and dynamic answers.

Two Brand New Reward Traits:

Eternal Dreamer:

Gameplay Impact:

- Sims with this trait will experience dreams more frequently, while nightmares are a rare occurrence.

- Since they have good dreams all the time, your Sim will improve the skills related to creativity 20% faster than those without the trait. It's like a creativity supercharge!

- They recharge their energy 50% faster and see a slower drain, losing it 30% slower than usual. It's a win-win for both night owls and early risers.

- If they have 5 good dreams in a row, they'll get a special buff that makes them learn creativity-related skills even faster—by 50%:

- But it's not all sunshine and rainbows. Since they're so used to having dreams fuel their creativity, when a nightmare comes in, it hits them hard. Their creativity-related skills growth drops by 20%, and their energy drains 30% faster, making them function like a regular Sim for a bit:

- Sims with this trait can now perform a unique interaction: Gift a Night of Dreaming Harmony (usable once a day per sim). This interaction grants both the Eternal Dreamer and the sim receiving the gift a beneficial buff (with the buff description varying based on the recipient's age). The sims getting this Dreaming Harmony will enjoy 24 hours of nightmare-free dreams thanks to this interaction.

Tormented Sleeper:

Gameplay Impact:

- Sims with this trait will experience nightmares more frequently, while dreams are a rare occurrence.

- Since they have bad dreams all the time, your Sim will improve the skills related to creativity 20% slower than those without the trait. It's like their dreams are on a creativity strike!

- They recharge their energy 20% slower and see a faster drain, losing it 20% faster than usual. Night owls and early birds, prepare to struggle!

- If they have 5 nightmares in a row, they'll get a special debuff that makes them learn creativity-related skills 50% slower:

- It's not all nightmares and cold sweats, though. Since these Sims are so used to the bad, a good dream really flips the script. When they have a good dream, their creativity-related skills grow 20% faster, and their energy drains 30% slower, leveling the playing field for a bit:

- Sims with this trait can now perform a unique interaction: Share a Night of Tormented Sleep (usable once a day per sim). This interaction gives both the Tormented Sleeper and the sim receiving the vibe a brand new buff (with the buff description varying based on the recipient's age). Sims experiencing Tormented Sleep will have nightmares if they go to bed within 24 hours.

Sims with any of these traits also gain the ability to sense whether another sim had a dream or a nightmare, allowing them to initiate conversations about it. These two interactions, "You Had a Dream, Right? Tell Me About It!" and "You Had a Nightmare, Didn't You? Let's Talk It Out," trigger a reaction in both the initiating and the targeted sim, reflected by a corresponding buff (the buff description for the recipient sim varies based on their age):

I've also implemented some rules around these new traits to balance the gameplay. Just a heads-up so you know they're part of the mix.

- Sims can't have both 'Eternal Dreamer' and 'Tormented Sleeper' traits at the same time. So if you purchase one of the traits in the Rewards Store while having one of them already, the new one will take the place of the old one.

- An Eternal Dreamer won't be able to gift a night of Dreaming Harmony to another Eternal Dreamer.

- A Tormented Sleeper won't be able to share a night of Tormented Sleep with another Tormented Sleeper.

- Sims can either share their latest nightmare or their most recent dream with others, but not both at the same time. Seems like their memories aren't too great—once they've moved onto a new dream or nightmare, the previous one's outta there! (Next update: Dream Diaries?👀)

- If a Sim has the 'Nightmares Protection' buff from SleepGuard Tablets, the 'Refreshing Aroma' buff from a diffuser, or the 'Disable Nightmares for This Sim' cheat enabled, then Tormented Sleep shared by a Tormented Sleeper won't touch 'em. They're basically sleep Teflon at that point! 😴

- Whether it's an Eternal Dreamer trying to gift a 'Night of Dreaming Harmony' to a Sim with a 'Night of Tormented Sleep,' or vice versa, the original buff holds its ground. Neither will override the other, and both the giver and receiver end up with a brand new moodlet (with the buff description varying based on the recipient's age). So yeah, don't expect any dreamy miracles here:

Upcoming Updates and Exciting Features:

I am constantly working to enhance the Sims' dream experiences with regular updates. Here's a sneak peek of what's to come:

- More dreams and nightmares with deeper impacts on gameplay and Sims' lives.

- In-person therapy sessions with the DreamCatcher feature.

- Expanded therapy options on DreamCatcher, addressing not only nightmares but other situations.

- New objects, including more diffusers, pills, and dream catchers.

- SleepGuard Tablets for kids, with adult supervision and half the effect.

- A new life state: The Dreamer

- A new type of death.

- New job options including Dream Interpreter.

- And much more!

***

Languages:

- English (Default)

- Spanish (Default)

- French (by Miyaji)

- Chinese (by Orchard Team)

- Russian (by Origamika Group)

***

Download Links:

- Beta Access: Patreon

- Early Access: Patreon

- Free Access: CurseForge

***

💖Support and Patreon💖

If you enjoy the Dreams & Nightmares Mod and want to support its ongoing development, consider joining my Patreon community. Your support enables me to dedicate more time and resources to improving and expanding my mods, ensuring an even more immersive experience for all Simmers. Thank you for joining me on this incredible journey into the realm of dreams and nightmares.

Let "Dreams & Nightmares" awaken your Sims' imaginations like never before. Happy dreaming!

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purrpickle · 1 year

Text

It wasn't that Mon said no.

It was that Mon made it clear she only saw Sam as an Honorable Lady.

Sam, several times in the series, has professed that her status isn't anything important, and has made overtures to get people to stop treating her differently - like telling Aon he could treat her as a normal person over the phone in Ep 3; telling Mon that her rank was only one step above being a commoner when Mon questioned that she didn't eat only Royal Thai food in Ep 2; and more recently, when she tried to get Pohn and Aon to sit back up on the couch when she sat on the floor to pet Singha, Ep 9.

As much as Sam benefits from her status (and definitely leans into it sometimes!), for the majority of her life, being an Honorable Lady has been a suffocating shackle keeping her tied down to her grandmother and her grandmother's expectations of her, up to and including requiring Sam to get married, have children, and give her company to Kirk to become a stay-at-home mother, etc. You see these expectations in her teenage flashbacks, all the way up through Neung and Song's flashbacks as well, and then more and more during the present shown in the show.

So, not only has Sam lived with her Honorable Lady title creating trauma and repression for her her whole life, but she's also seen her sisters suffer from the title as well, when who they were conflicted with the expectations of their rank.

...

So what does this all mean?

It means that, growing up the way she did, it's clear that under everything, Sam wanted someone to see her. Not her title, not her family, but just... her.

Kirk didn't see her as just Sam. Her grandmother certainly didn't, as well as her employees. She was a celebrity with interviews that she lied in, so fans never would, and her friends came close, but it wasn't the same with them; Sam still felt that they laughed at her, and she never truly bared her soul or confided private things to them.

But then along came Mon!

Mon, who dared to treat Sam like she hadn't been treated before. Who stood up to her, and wasn't afraid to speak or act plainly around her, in a different way than her friends did. It was this defiance and familiarity that initially made Mon stand out, which led to her being hired as the admin for Diversity Pop. And it was this defiance and familiarity that continued to keep Sam drawn to her, far past solely existing as employer and employee.

Because to Sam's joy (and sometimes frustration, let's be real), Mon didn't stop treating her any differently! For example, she dared to tickle Sam back in Ep 3, didn't immediately drop to the floor when Sam went down on her knees to become ChamCham in Ep 6, and then actually wanted to be her girlfriend in Ep 7! Aside from her predominant use of Lady Sam (which, expected), and random comments here and there that seemed to ease after Sam stated they'd get to slowly know each other in Ep 4, Sam was pretty well convinced that she knew where she and Mon stood.

That they were lovers. That Mon loved her just like Sam loved her back. That Mon saw their relationship the same as Sam saw it.

That, finally, Sam could be herself with someone who had seen past her title to simply love her for who she really was. (Helped her become better too, yes, but still, for who she really was.)

But then Mon looked at her after rejecting her marriage proposal, and answered her "Why?" with, "I'm not good enough for you, Lady Sam. You are the Honorable Lady. I'm just a commoner."

And that's when Sam went silent.

Because Sam realized that her belief in how Mon saw their relationship, her belief in how Mon thought there was any future in their relationship, and her belief in how Mon saw her was wrong.

And it all came crashing down.

Why Mon was so resistant to Sam breaking up with Kirk so she and Sam could date publicly.

Why Mon didn't want her to repeal her One Rule at work (and presumably date openly) because it would make people look badly at Sam.

Why Mon was suddenly hesitant to hold her hand in public.

Why Mon was always so quick to say she didn't have any good points or she wasn't worth it whenever Sam broached something about their relationship.

All of this wasn't just because they were two women, but because Mon, aside from suddenly being concerned that they were two women, thought that she and Sam were two women who couldn't be seen together for a different reason than just homophobia.

Because all Mon was ultimately concerned with...

Was Sam's rank.

Her title.

Her privileged place in society.

And how Mon was different than her.

Was less than.

Would never be good enough for her.

That, in her eyes, not just in the eyes of others, Mon would never be able to see her or love her as an equal.

Because Mon was a commoner...

And Sam was an Honorable Lady.

...

So no. It wasn't Mon saying no.

It was, even if Mon meant it or not, Mon telling Sam that their relationship was built on a lie that Sam had ever been seen or loved for who she really was.

And that fucking sucks.

#yes i'm ending this post with that last line #i just realized i had a lot of thoughts again #gap the series #khun sam #mon #monsam #gap the series spoilers #rambly ramblings #have an opening sentence or section that explains what this is going to be about?#no not today

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floralflytrap · 8 months

Note

Maybea few more s/o photographer headcanons - Killjoy, Raze, poly nanobomb

I had quite the fun writing this! Tysm for the request :D

Killjoy, Raze and Nanobomb with Photographer S/O | HEADCANONS

KILLJOY

When she first finds out this girl is FASCINATED! She would have past use with cameras (being a tech nerd and all), but admits that you truly have an eye for a good photo

She asks politely if you can take photos of her latest tech projects. They are like her babies, she needs photos for every single machine she builds <3

You take photos of her working a LOT! She never notices because she’s too busy focusing on her work

Whenever she takes you to raves you always have a camera on you to sneak some sick pictures

You guys also love to take silly photos with a polaroid camera, she keeps them around her room and in her tech lab

Photobooths at random events? a must!

Always the silliest photos with the last picture being a big smooch (it’s staying that way)

She also takes photos of you! She doesn’t believe they are that good but you love them. Killjoy is pretty damn good at whatever she does, and that includes photography

She’s also good at modelling for photos. You’ve done a few photoshoots with her to test compositions and have fallen in love with multiple results.

You love figuring out ways to contrast the environment against Killjoy’s hair due to how bold the dark colour is.

Your favourite photo of her is when she was happily posing with a new robot she created. Her smile was so bright you could see it from the moon!

RAZE

She noticed the polaroid photo you kept in your phone case and asked to see it, then ensued a conversation on how she always wanted one but never ended up biting the bullet and buying one.

You had multiple cameras so why not let her borrow it?

She took multiple pictures of inventions or failed ones

You were shocked when she said she ran out of film so quickly and begrudgingly got her more (not without grilling her on how expensive it is for damn polaroid camera film)

She saw you fiddling with one of your more expensive cameras when she popped in to your room to say hi