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Object Occult - The Double Dream of Spring

With Spring and Summer months rapidly approaching, it's time to start to focus on the seasons' fashions. Gone are the heavy, bulky fabrics of winter and we can now usher in a new set of materials. That is what we love most about the Spring/Summer 2016 collection by Shanghai's Object Occult. Titled The Double Dream of Spring, the collection is a beautiful and delicate array of looks that are soft, breathable and ready for the heat. Using fabrics like linen, tinsel, and even lightweight wool, the clothes carry a nice subtly with amazing handcrafted qualities and discreet, impressive details. 

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The sophisticated layered ensembles are among our favorites. Linen jackets with hoods and nice pockets pair well with loose, white collarless shirts for a monochromatic look that is undeniably summer. 

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The campaign is equally as intriguing as the clothes. With anonymous models and often unisex silhouettes, there is a definitely sense of duality and genderless undertones. The masks and dark, cold setting give it the brand's signature occult feel and we love the mysterious mood of the photographs. 

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Object Occult has proven to be a seasonal favorite of The Brvtalist. With its spot on imagery and fashion that is subtly renegade, we always identify with the concepts and message of the collections. The brand also maintains a high set of standards with their use of luxury fabrics and much of the collection is handmade in Italy. With Summer seemingly already here in Los Angeles, these pieces are incredibly right NOW. For more information please visit Object Occult and Tumblr. 

-JRS 

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Wednesday 03.09.16
Posted by Jeremy Schwartz
 

More Ephemerol - "Tomb Shaker" + Q&A

In the modern world, the individual is more powerful than ever before. Today, one person is able to accomplish what used to require many. This is one reason why we admire Los Angeles-based multi-disciplinary artist Chad Fjerstad. With hands in everything from solo projects to directing to video-editing, Fjerstad has created a very impressive artistic portfolio. A member of several different music projects from The Primals, Children and Ass Life, he has also directed a video for Bustié, penned a novel and runs a multimedia production house called Ephemerol Night Terrors. 

Today we feature his music project, More Ephemerol. A synth-based offering, More Ephemerol has a debut LP entitled Fractal Bath and just released a new video directed and edited by Fjerstad himself. We are pleased to debut the video as well as present an insightful Q&A with the artist ahead of his live show this coming Friday, March 11th, at Basic Flowers in Los Angeles. Please find the video and Q&A below: 

More Ephemerol "Tomb Shaker" from the FRACTAL BATH LP Directed & Edited by Chad Fjerstad Graphics by @jmckeehen Photography/Camera Operation by Londry Produced by Chad Fjerstad & Londry

The Brvtalist: You are involved with multiple different projects. Tell us a little bit about More Ephemerol. Where does it fit in and what is the idea behind the project? 

Chad Fjerstad: More Ephemerol is my open-ended synth baby. I have an affinity for so many different sub-genres of synth-based music, I didn't want to be tied down to just one - so M.E. started as an expansive exercise for me. If you listen through the debut LP, "Fractal Bath", you will hear that every single track could be categorized in an entirely different genre. While this could be seen as either a flaw or a quality in the context of an album, I was happy to allow this versatile approach for the first release. "Fractal Bath" is more so a collection of my earliest works and experiments, rather than a traditionally focused album. When I created the initial 4 or 5 tracks, I had no idea I would be turning it into an LP, but it just ended up feeling right. Through this release, I've learned a lot about which approaches work best for me, and I look forward to doing a more honed-in release perhaps later this year.

TB: I have to ask if the name is a Scanners reference. 

CF: It is absolutely a Scanners reference. Scanners is one of my favorite films and Cronenberg is one of my favorite film directors -  his work has always been a huge inspiration to me, no matter what format I'm working with. In the film, Ephemerol is a suppressive drug used to disable scanners of their psychic abilities. There are intense moments where they are testing doses on the scanners and it never seems to be enough. I was just pulling from that moment, from that feeling, of something never being enough. As a metaphor, I generally think of stimulation first. I'm always looking for more stimulation.

TB: Tell us about the concept for the "Tomb Shaker" video. 

CF: I wanted to do a very straightforward video for "Tomb Shaker", so that's what I did. I've been producing a fair amount of music videos the last 6 months or so, a lot of them with my friend Londry, who works at a very impressive video production studio just outside of Hollywood. We shot the performance footage there. I've been doing visual manipulations myself for years now but decided that for this video I'd like to collaborate with a visual artist whose work really floors me, instead of doing it myself for once. At first I was talking to Andrew Means (drummer of 3TEETH) who is an all around amazing musician, producer, an artist - he is an absolute madman with the software VDMX. But, then they landed their huge Tool/Primus tour and a ton of other crucial projects fell into his lap - he wouldn't have the time. Then, I discovered Jeremy McKeehen (@jmckeehen) whose style of impressive CGI visual art really went swimmingly with the aesthetic I had in mind through the entire process of creating the "Fractal Bath" album. He was the right man for this collaboration - I'm very happy with it.

TB: You have a live show coming up this Friday, March 11th, with a few other great local acts, including one of our favorites, Kanga. Talk about your approach to the More Ephemerol live show and what you want to do with it. 

CF: More Ephemerol has generally only performed 2 or 3 times a year since it's fruition. For the first year and a half, I performed as a solo act. Recently, I've brought a rhythm section to the live show in the form of the talented John Kyle on drums and Josh Beck on bass. We played our first show as a three-piece at my ridiculously self-indulgent birthday party in January, and it felt fan-fucking-tastic. When I composed a lot of these songs, I was most inspired by groups like Goblin and Zombi - two groups which are primarily about rhythm and groove. There will always be an edge of prog in my compositions, and in my blood, and I think the rhythm section is exactly what this project needed to function as an effective live show. I am excited to move forward with that in mind and I'm looking very forward to the Basic Flowers show on Friday, with a lineup full of brilliant L.A. up-and-comers.
 

TB: What's next for Chad Fjerstad? 

CF: I'm always working on a few things at once. It's the only way I can function. I have a few things in the works, 1. I'm operating a multimedia production house called Ephemerol Night Terrors. So far, I'm putting out literature and music cassettes. I am honored to be putting out the new album, "Technophelia", by one of my favorite artists in L.A., Geneva Jacuzzi. It's my favorite album of 2016 thus far, easily. Tapes are arriving this week. 2. I am producing hard electro tracks under the moniker Fiercedad. I have been working on the debut music video for my track, "Portland Fuckboys". If it turns out the way I want, it may very well turn some heads. It might gross a few people out. I need to shoot a couple more things. I'm looking forward to wrapping that up soon, 3. I'm currently slaving away at my second fictional novel, which in summary is about touring in a death metal band, working in the porn industry, general ignorance, dependence, and the generally vile nature of human beings. It's going to be called Warship Satan. I put out my first novel, Popping Cherries, in 2014, under the pen name Cetus Revok (another Scanners reference). If you're in the mood for something a little juvenile but very perverse and very surreal, check the book out. I've always thought of it as a Goosebumps book for adults. 4. I want to start one more music project this year! I have a vision for something extravagant. I can't say much as I haven't even begun writing the songs yet, but I want a full ensemble - probably a seven-piece. The idea is to not be able to categorize the band by genre. But some of the biggest influences coming into writing from the beginning are going to be: Human League, Scott Walker, Uriah Heep, YMO, and Queen.
 

We would like to thank Chad Fjerstad for these great responses and excellent video. The Brvtalist is always a fan of artists who are not confined to any particular medium and Fjerstad is a great example of this. We encourage you to check out all of his other great projects. For more information please visit Facebook. 

-JRS 

Tuesday 03.08.16
Posted by Jeremy Schwartz
 

Autumns - "Das Nichts"

The Brvtalist is pleased to present the latest release by Derry-based outfit Autumns. Christian Donaghy's post-industrial project has found a new home with one of our favorite labels, Clan Destine Records. After successful releases on Downwards and CF Records, Autumns has returned with a limited cassette release that finds the project diving even deeper into blackened, electronic soundscapes. While drawing influences from early industrial pioneers and modern experimental electronics, "Das Nichts" is a powerful release that seamlessly blends an impressive array of both genres and moods. 

Autumns - Das Nichts (Clan Destine Records, 2016) 

The centerpiece of the release is no doubt the 19-minutes long "Motel Lover". The track is a twisted journey with a haunting, brvtal narrative. "Fed By Dominance" sees a more traditional techno-inspired beat, layered with loud, punishing industrial influences. We also enjoyed the blackened, distorted vocals and guitar feedback that works nicely alongside analog beats and driving kick drums throughout the release. The video for "Fed by Dominance" is the perfect visual accompaniment - filled with images of fetish, bondage, violence and harsh cityscapes. 

Das Nichts will be available via digital download and limited cassette (edition of 70) on our about March 15th. You can pre-order now at Clan Destine's Bandcamp. For more information and music, please visit Facebook and Soundcloud. 

-JRS

Monday 03.07.16
Posted by Jeremy Schwartz
 

Head Dress - "Slow Chime"

Ted James Butler is an audio/visual artist living in L.A. who creates dark and moody soundscapes under the name of “Head Dress”, and he’s also the host of a cassette-based, underground and experimental music podcast, Norelco Mori.

His latest release, “Slow Chime”, out on Hylé Tapes, is a 4-track cassette which brings us a heavily noise infused sonic experience, with dense, tribal influences.

From the artist: 

"Slow Chime, If I recall correctly, was made almost entirely on my (beloved) Make Noise system. The 4 tracks were recorded over several weeks in Los Angeles. Side A highlights some variation to repetitive themes, and the first 2 tracks are duets with a prominent percussive element amidst an atmospheric backdrop of some kind.

I was pretty devastated to hear news of Nick Talbott's recent passing, so the 3rd track is dedicated to his Warp-signed project, Gravenhurst. His albums have been a huge inspiration in my work, even though that may not be immediately evident in my recordings. This is another 2 voice piece, that quietly meanders around for a bit before slowly fading into the distance. I think I used the new KORG Electribe for the haunting pad loop, patched into the modular.”

Having a different approach than his recent "Crawl, Take" release for “Cønjuntø Vacíø.", I would say that “Slow Chime” takes the shape of a rite of passage the listener needs to experience in order to fully internalize and accept a loss, in the same way the artist did. As Lars von Trier portraits in his “Antichrist”, death is followed by the “Three Beggars”: grief, pain, and despair. Similarly, “Coats”, “Slow Chime”, and “Gravenhurst” encompass 3 different emotions experienced by the listener, who’s taken into a journey accompanied by strong percussions creating a somehow ritualistic mood. Each track seems to pick you up from where the previous left off, in an attempt to create a homogenous experience.  

After you dive in the discordant and muddy subconscious created by the first 3 tracks, “Ti11262014lT”, probably my favorite from this release (and not judging by the length might I add) comes as the final catharsis that marks the listener’s emotional transformation, a piece where all the sounds from the previous ones blend into a complex, dualistic and noisy 14-minutes long track.  While the first half creates the image of that inner darkness towards which we tend to gravitate in our most low and harsh moments, the second one abandons the noisy patterns for a more peaceful and almost therapeutic dénouement. For more information please visit the following: 

Hylé Tapes>> http://www.hyletapes.com/

Norelco Mori>> http://www.norelcomori.com/

Cønjuntø Vacíø bandcamp>> https://conjuntovacio.bandcamp.com

Ted James soundcloud >> https://soundcloud.com/tedjames 

-Marie Bungau
twitter.com/mariebungau
 

 

tags: marie bungau
categories: music
Friday 03.04.16
Posted by Jeremy Schwartz
 

The Last Conspiracy A/W 2016

Denmark's The Last Conspiracy is no stranger to The Brvtalist, and with good reason. The footwear brand's ability to subtly re-invent while maintaining its core values and aesthetic is an amazing feat. Very few labels have us lusting after boots like TLC season after season. Just as we were still fawning over some of the great sneakers and summer ready boots of the brand's Spring/Summer collection, it was already time to unveil Autumn/Winter 2016. TLC has given us an early preview of what is on the way and we certainly like what we see. Without further ado, The Brvtalist is pleased to present The Last Conspiracy Autumn/Winter 2016 collection: 

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When looking at this collection, sophistication and simplicity comes to mind. The Last Conspiracy always does a phenomenal job of showing restraint and creating products that carry a sense of intelligence, style and versatility. 

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We love the monochrome palate and cold, stark appeal of the campaign. In keeping with previous collections, details are everything. Sneakers channeling qualities of boots and for women, chunky heels and interesting shapes and zippers are all prevalent. As per usual, expect the highest quality materials and handmade craftsmanship. 

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We always love winter whites, and happy to see some striking white boots show up in this campaign. When paired with an all black silhouette, it not only adds a nice finishing touch to the ensemble, but also draws your eyes to the shoe and puts it on display nicely. 

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We would like to thank The Last Conspiracy and Ateleier Marlo Saalmink for allowing us to present this great campaign. We always say winter is our favorite season (yes even in Los Angeles) and this is a good indication as to why. Further, shoes are arguably the most important part of any outfit and you can never go wrong with footwear from this label. For more information and e-boutique, please visit The Last Conspiracy. 

-JRS

Credits: 
Photo: Mikkel Völcker
AD: Marlo Saalmink
MUA: Margrethe Yasmin at Le Management
 

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Thursday 03.03.16
Posted by Jeremy Schwartz
 

Lockdown by Chaca Q&A

The Brvtalist is pleased to present the latest collection by Berlin-based jewelry line Chaca. Submissive, shielding and versatile, "Lockdown" is an inspired collection that infuses elements of Shibari, fetish and classic elegance. We love the line's unisex appeal and each piece's ability to be completely transformed. While currently based in Berlin, founder and designer Chaca is of Danish descent and graduated from Middlesex University in London in 2012. Since then she has worked under several acclaimed artists such as Florian and Ateier Ted Noten. Instantly drawn to her work's dialog between art and fashion, along with quality materials such as gold, silver and luxurious black rope, we were very excited to speak to the designer about the collection, her inspirations and more. Please find the Q&A below. 

The Brvtalist: How does "Lockdown" build upon past collections from the label? 

Chaca: Inspired by the flexibility of identity, I continue the role-play as in my previous collection C.C. Hammer, where I invite the wearer to take on the identity as a bejewelled gangster. I love to play around with different alter egos, which is the reason I designed LockDown. The collection contains adaptable pieces inviting you to interact with the design of your jewelery and inhabit a world of multiple personalities. The black signature rope from my previous collections ties the collections together. 

TB: Talk about the materials you use for Lockdown and how do they reflect the collection and the brand? 

Chaca: As I mentioned before, I'm using the black rope as a continuing element in my collections. For this collection I decided to make a gold and a silver option, whereas before I have only made gold versions. I felt that it was time for me to explore new fields and I believe that silver and black works well with my inspiration from the fetish scene. The latex piece is a new element, which I have been very excited about launching, which obviously is also very much a piece inspired by the world of fetish. 
 

TB: The brand is based in one of our favorite cities, Berlin. Talk about your relationship with the city and how it helps feed your creative energy. 

Chaca: Berlin is indeed an amazing city to live in. It gives you a lot of space and freedom to unfold your creativity. I feel that it really opens its arm for all the individuals out there. I love to meeting people and get inspired by them. The city really offers a lot of different thing. I spend a lot of time in galleries for inspiration and joy. Another thing that I really love about Berlin is that it is one of the greenest cities on the world. There are tons of small parks where I love to sit and read by my self or just to look at the nature. I always bike no matter the weather and I love to see how the nature changes along with my rides. That really gives me a lot of energy and appreciation for the city. 

TB: There's so many great references in this collection. I can't help but think about Shibari and other fetishisms. Talk about some of your influences in art, music, fashion and more. 

Chaca: Yes, I have been very inspired by Nobuyoshi Araki for the LockDown collection. I have always been fascinated by his photographs and very much had him in mind when I created the LockDown universe. There is especially one photo of him with horn in his forehead, where he has the most fascinating facial expression. The way he ties and pictures the woman is absolutely fascinating!
 

Silver latex harness. 

TB: What's next for the brand and where would you like to see it go?

Chaca: I recently became extremely interested in crystals and stones and I'm studying crystal healing. I started a new brand called CHACA mandala where I create crystal healing jewelery. It is an extremely interesting new field for me and I am very intrigued about how amazing and powerful nature is. I’m very excited about seeing how CHACA mandala will unfold as I also have some other projects in the works within the same brand so stay tuned on chacamandala.cc. In the meantime I'm taking a small pause from the original CHACA brand, however I’m constantly seeking inspiration, wherever I go so you never know when a new adventure for CHACA will evolve. 

The Brvtalist would like to thank Chaca for taking the time to contribute these insightful responses. We admire her ever evolving world and her willingness to go in new directions and explore new, spiritual fields. We look forward to her upcoming projects. For more information please visit www.chaca.cc. 

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Tuesday 03.01.16
Posted by Jeremy Schwartz
 

New Brvtalism No. 045

A presence lurks on the tip of your senses. The delicate fear follows your every move. A quiet existence is now a harrowing shriek.

The Brvtalist is proud to present a new mix by Cute Heels. The solo project of Colombian-born artist Victor Lenis, Cute Heels is one of the most versatile and exciting producers operating in the realms of techno, electro, ebm and industrial today. Now based in Europe, Lenis has released material on standout labels such as Dark Entries and Gooiland Elektro and his unique brand of proto-techno has resonated through dance floors throughout the world. His latest release, Sympathy for Lust and Pray, is the perfect example of his industrialized, linear synth devastations, that are oozing with ebm-tinged romance. Lenis also has a release on the newly formed Kess Kill and more music for Dark Entries is on the way.  

New Brvtalism No. 045 comes just ahead of Lenis' West Coast appearances. First up, is a live performance at our very own party. Happening at Complex on Sunday, February 28th, The Brvtalist + Blk Rainbow present a special evening of music featuring Cute Heels (*live), Ariisk and HIDE, with Dark Entries' own Josh Cheon as DJ. The following Sunday, March 6th, Cute Heels will be DJing Thee Rave Dungeon at The Lash along with Silent Servant, Remy Marc, Blair Minor and more.  Please visit Facebook and Soundcloud for more music and information. 

-JRS 

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Track list:

I - Cute Heels - SV Forest (Dark Entries) 
II - Aural Treat - I smell Decay (Black Leather Records)
III - Daze - Death Whirl (Lobster Theremin)
IV - Realmz - Circulation (Sonic Groove)
V - I Y - Objection (Dynamic Reflection)
VI - I Y - Primary (Dynamic Reflection)
VII - Hennning Baer. On Craft SFT Mix (Sonic Groove)
VIII - Cute Heels - East (Dos Tonos Records)
IX - Ekman - 2 To The 64th Minus 1 (Gooiland Elektro)
X - Habits Of Hate - Limelight Roles (Electronic Explorations)
XI - Forward Strategy Group - Mandate (Perc Trax)
XII - Broken English - Channel 83 (Cititrax)
XIII - Cute Heels - Symphaty For Lust And Pary (Black Leather Records)
XIV - Cute Heels - Third Skin / The Hacker Remix (Dark Entries )

Friday 02.26.16
Posted by Jeremy Schwartz
 

Sustain by Obscur

The Brvtalist is proud to present the latest campaign by one of our absolute favorite brands, Obscur. Swedish designer Richard Söderberg has become a master of embracing dark, atmospheric moods and infusing this spirit into fashion forward clothing, accessories and objects. From brvtal footwear, to striking coats to even motorcycles, Obscur has advanced well beyond just clothing. When we saw photos of the latest collection, entitled "Sustain", at the brand's presentation in Paris, we knew we had to get the collection on site. Soon after, we spoke with Söderberg and he shared images from their latest photo shoot. We also discussed his creative process, brand and inspiration. Please find the images and Q&A below: 

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The Brvtalist: What is the mission of Obscur and how did the brand come about? 

Richard Söderberg: Its a progression and regression of the self (myself).

TB: What are some of your influences at the moment? 

RS: I feel like the longer you work within a certain field, the more complex and complicated things get. You start analyzing yourself more, your work, your ambitions, your perception, your environment - it can be very intrusive to your creative process. You also start analyzing your inspirations, what they are, and why they are. What I find more interesting than inspiration itself is actually what opens your eyes to the inspiration, and to your creativity. In my case it's about reaching a kind of primal state to remove the filters in my mind, and to narrow my span of attention. To reach this state there are a number of ways but I truly love to get lost in music, preferably with some drinks, putting me into an almost dreamlike state where there is only me and the world I want to create. Another incredibly meditating experience is riding a motorcycle, which is also hugely influential in my work. 
 

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TB:  Talk about the latest collection, Sustain. What is the concept behind it and how does it build on previous material?

RS: Slightly contradicting, the latest collection was pretty much built on the filters I'm talking about in the previous question. With many different challenging silhouettes and details that I've been working on in the past, I came to the conclusion that no matter which angle I'm looking at, being original and ground-breaking within wearable garments is extremely difficult today - if not impossible. So how do you move on from having explored the extremes of the clothing spectrum, finding that there is not much more to explore psychologically? For me, the answer was to re-boot and to conform to conservative shapes that makes the garment more discrete and subtle. To give the garment room to breathe, to let other elements come into play such as the context of the garment, the material, the face and soul of the wearer. Let the human wear the garment, instead of letting the garment wear the human, which I see far too often in fashion. 
 

TB: I love that the brand has extended into objects, such as the Yamaha motorcycle. Talk a little bit about how that came about how is it an extension of the label?

RS: Believe it or not, I have developed an extremely conservative way of looking at clothing. Thereby, the creative expression through clothing becomes very narrow - and this is where I start looking for other ways of expressing myself. 
Ever since I was little I have always been fascinated by metal, weight, severe shapes and everything that was reminiscent of danger or things that you were supposed to stay away from as a child. Also, when constructing things that are heavy or large, you immediately get the satisfaction that something is changing and progressing. The more you work on it, the larger it becomes, the heavier it becomes, and the greater the impact becomes, visually. Take that metal, apply a variety of industrial tools to create something special that ends up breathing exploding gasoline. I simply had to do it.
 

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TB: What's next for Obscur?

RS: Only time will tell! 

The Brvtalist would like to thank Richard Söderberg and Obscur for these incredible images and great discussion. We always admire artists who are continually evolving and not confined by traditional formats, mediums and parameters of the industry in which they operate. Obscur is much more than a clothing brand, but a vehicle of self expression that knows no bounds. We look forward to seeing more work from this amazing creative mind. For more information and online boutique please visit Obscur. 

-JRS

Credits: 
Photos - Cristina Cipriani
Styling - Andrei Yakovlev Mich
Model - Valentin Tszin

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Wednesday 02.24.16
Posted by Jeremy Schwartz
 

CLOG x GUNS

Since 2011, we can think of very few publishers who have been as innovative and thought provoking as Clog. Releasing books in the fields of architecture, social sciences and more, we have been inspired by the company's ability to put out physical editions in a way that is new, fresh and able to maintain a balance that both academics and casual readers can relate to. Clog is committed to slowing things down and allowing readers to fully digest topics ranging from Brutalism (a personal favorite), Landmarks, Guggenheim and even Science Fiction. When we first picked up their release on Brutalism it was a truly eyeopening experience. The book's ability to explore multiple viewpoints on the topic in a easily readable format was amazing. On top of that, each book is even presented in a way that reflects the topic which it explores. 

Brutalism, Clog 2013 

Near the end of 2015, Clog made an announcement that they would soon embark in a completely new direction. The company held a fire sale of sorts and sold out all copies of remaining editions. For fans of the publisher, we were only left scratching our heads and waiting with excitement at the same time. Then, in early in 2016, Clog released the following statement: 

For nearly a thousand years, the gun has played a key role shaping histories, societies, and lives. Today, it is estimated that there are approximately 875 million small arms throughout the world, with over 300 million of these in the United States. To give a sense of scale, there are approximately 700 million iPhones globally, with 94 million of these in the United States. CLOG x GUNS will examine the past, present, and future of this important and ever-evolving object. 

This open call for submissions welcomes anyone to contribute a written or graphic piece to CLOG x GUNS (see submission info). Any viewpoint/approach will be considered so long as it specifically addresses the object of the gun. General subjects to be explored will include, but are certainly not limited to: the history of the gun, guns in popular culture, guns used in hunting, guns used for sport and target shooting, guns used in defense and security, guns in video games, guns as design objects, toy guns, gun safety, gun countermeasures, gun control, gun legality, the future of guns, manufacturing of guns, guns used to kill, guns in crime prevention, guns in war, forensic science and guns, psychological effects of guns, the gun industry, and more. 

Loving this new direction, we reached out to the publisher and got in touch with editor-in-chief Kyle May. We asked Kyle if we could speak to him about the new announcement and the company's progression. He graciously complied and please find our Q&A below: 

The Brvtalist: First off, for those who are not familiar with Clog and its previous publications, how would you describe what the company does or publishes? 

Kyle May: CLOG was founded in 2011 in an environment where rapid digital publication was consuming architectural dialogue. While this had its benefits – young architects being given a platform they otherwise wouldn’t have had and an abundance of information at a large percentage of the population’s fingertips – we felt the substantial issues of the day were being lost in the deluge. Our reaction was to create a platform to discuss important and relevant topics in a much deeper and holistic way. Each issue of CLOG delves into one topic from many points of view. The contributions are short and accessible, and look at other forms of criticism besides from the standard text. The print issue becomes the start of a substantial dialogue that continues to our live events and hopefully in the homes, cars, and bars of our readers.

TB: We were so drawn to the previous series of books on architecture and related fields. In fact, Clog's Brutalism book has even become a definitive tome for us. Why the decision to completely change things up and start on a new topic? 

KM: We are not completely changing, but re-evaluating and expanding. After fourteen issues, we began to realize that we had created something successful – a way of talking holistically about important topics. We began to wonder if that couldn’t become even more influential by discussing topics outside of architecture. Architecture is in many ways too isolated in its rhetoric from the general public. We feel we can take what we’ve learned from the last fourteen issues and begin to discuss issues that affect everyone on our planet.

Sci Fi, Clog 2013

TB: Clog is now accepting submissions (written or graphic) on the subject of the gun. Any viewpoint is acceptable and it's an open call to the public. Talk a little bit about this new concept and what you guys plan to do with the submissions. 

KM: The gun as an object has been surrounded by controversy since its birth. Today, unfortunately, the object has become politicized, and worse, binary. Either one is for or against guns, pro-gun control or anti-gun control. There are many more facets to the object, and we intend to explore as many of them as we possibly can. At the end of the day, we hope our audience is more informed of the totality of the issue, regardless of which side they happen to, or continue to, support.

TB: How do you see the future of Clog? Your dedication to relevant topics is something that can constantly be changing. Do you see things continuing to change? Any more plans beyond books? 

KM: We plan to continue to grow CLOG into a substantial popular publication that anyone can read. There are very few resources being published that take a deep look into these really significant issues. We intend to fill that gap. In doing so, we are looking into how we use digital means as well, as there are limitations to what can happen in print. However, we do not want to have a redundancy between digital and print content, so we are looking at new types of content that are more suitable for digital consumption. But as architects and designers, we still think there is immense value in print publications and will continue to exist in print. Several people have voiced concern over CLOG’s new direction. We don’t feel we have a new direction, but are merely expanding our previous direction, and expanding beyond the realm of architecture.

We would like to thank Kyle May for taking the time out and contributing to a great discussion. In a world drowning in superfluous text, both digital and print, we admire a publisher who has successfully created something that is both relevant, tactile and progressive at the same time. We could not be more thrilled about the upcoming issues on Guns and we strongly urge our readers to submit their work. For more information, please visit Clog. 

-JRS 

Monday 02.22.16
Posted by Jeremy Schwartz
 

New Brvtalism No. 044

[Revelation 1:3]
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. (...)

The Brvtalist is proud to present a live mix by Berlin-based artist The Princess of Death. Upon hearing our first set, we were immediately grabbed by its brvtal, industrial techno, experimental performance qualities and Biblical references. The mysterious project exists only through a few recordings and appearances in Berlin. From the artist: 

The Princess of Death is the feminine artistic identity of the Brazilian artist, Diego Garcia. Under this signature, it's expressed raw, industrial and corrosive techno sounds mainly associated with patriarchal values. Her avatar is a mutant identity, always made in collaboration with other visual artists, depicting an aristocratic feminine figure (not necessarily a human form), with her mouth sewed shut (she communicates only thru music) and always carrying a fan with her (things might get hot).

Christiana Moraes

About the mix: 
Recorded live on January 29th, 2016 at Maze Berlin. 
Event: http://www.uber-berlin.de/
Vocals by Agnyantra
Gear used: 
Performance: Korg Volca Beats, Cylclone Bass Bot 303, Korg Monotron Delay, Sennheiser Mic.
Mixing/Sound processing: Ableton/Waves Pedals.
Mastering: Logic/Izotope Ozone 5

Please visit Facebook and Soundcloud for more information. 

-JRS 

Friday 02.19.16
Posted by Jeremy Schwartz
 
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