Showing posts with label Drugs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Drugs. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Hump Day & Chill - Tom Connan


Multi-Faceted artist Tom Connan has just released a remix of his song "Chaos" which tackles the subject of drug addiction in a very direct and realistic manner. I just had to know what inspired Tom to "go there" so without further adieu let's Hump Day & Chill with Tom Connan!

MSI love your song Chaos, obviously it resonates with many others as you did a "Black Mix" of it and a whole new video. What made you decide to do a song addressing drug addiction?

TC: I wanted to make a song addressing drugs because several friends of mine fell into that trap, went to rehab etc. It's a horrible phenomenon which is also closely linked to everyone's personal history. Nobody takes cocaine or things like that just because it's "fun". I see a lot of people feeling depressed and trying to escape with drugs. To my own point of view, I think our modern society creates a lot of psychological frustration which sometimes become a real pathology. It's not exactly the same as alcohol, even if it's also some kind of drug, after all. But with cocaine, or heroin, people are looking for something new, some brutal effect in order to erase their negative thoughts. Except it doesn't work. However, I have a lot of empathy for drug addicts as life can sometimes be a very sad and tough experience.

MS: Requiem For A Dream is one of my favorite films. I am guessing you have seen it based on the video. What are your thoughts on it?

TC: I love Requiem For A Dream and I'm very happy that you mention it. I was a child when I first saw it, but then I saw it again a few years ago and I was absolutely fascinated. Not only because it's so realistic, but also because it has this ability to grab you and force you to see what you don't want to see. I think this is precisely where cinema is the best among any other arts. With the combination of music and images, you can't help but looking at it and being focused. Of course normal people feel bad when they see that kind of movie, but sometimes we need to see embarrassing things to increase our awareness about something. I enjoy feeling embarrassed. All the time we watch stupid shows and stupid ads on TV, and it's easy for the mind. With movies like Requiem For A Dream, or Fight Club, or Eyes Wide Shut, we really learn something and become someone new -at some level.



MS: While you show plenty of skin in the re-mix video, you showed a little more in the video for the single. Why did you decide to leave your booty out this time?

TC: Lol, I don't want to show that booty too often. More seriously, this new video was something like the "dark" side of the first one. With the original video, I was trying to show the recreational aspect of taking drugs, which is obvious for everyone. With this second one, I wanted to describe how it can evolve. I have the feeling that in any phenomenon, we can find a "positive" and a "negative" side -we all know that-, but also that we can't delete one part for the other. You can't have the positive if you don't want to take the risk associated with it. If you want to have fun, you have to accept that, at some point, you can put your life at risk. It's the same in love affairs. Love can be a fantastic experience, but when it ends -which happens quite often- it can drive you nuts, so nuts that you want to kill yourself. Love is dangerous, drugs are dangerous, life is inherently dangerous.

MS: Your look in the video is very reminiscent of David Bowie in The Man Who Fell To Earth. Especially when you are shirtless, am I on to something?

TC: Honestly I don't know very much of David Bowie, I was more into singers like Michael Jackson (or even Marilyn Manson). That said, I'm a big fan of transgender and genderfluid pop icons like Bowie, Cher or Prince. Playing with feminine and masculine sides of the human body is so interesting. My own body changed quite a lot the last few years, and I enjoyed all the different levels, if I can say so. We only live once, for me, we need to experience different versions of ourselves. French poet Arthur Rimbaud said something like that in the 19th century.



MS: I love that Tom Connan has gotten freer and more out there creatively.

TC: I think you're totally right about the "freer" person I became. Back a few years ago, I was obsessed with other people's opinion. Now, I just don't give a fuck. My work is not understood by everybody, including in my family, and I think that's good. If you follow what your parents or your brothers want you to do, you'll never achieve your dream. We need to stick to our own model, that nobody can copy. There are tons of singers and artists out there, I don't want to look like them. I want to express my personal, and radical freedom. Otherwise it's absolutely useless.

MS: Spill about your other ventures outside the music world.

TC: The last two years I worked a lot on other ventures outside the music world, I changed the project name many times, and I finally decided to simply choose one name for every division of the brand: Connan. That's simple, that's neutral, that's honest -it's my real last name- and there's no confusion with my full artist name. It's currently a website (connan.io) when you'll soon be able to find different cultural products: music (not only mine), tv, books, fashion and art. I'm currently working with other artists for the music division, as well as authors for the publishing division. It's super exciting as I'm working on several levels at the same time: my next novel will be published by a well-known French publisher called Albin Michel, but I will also publish myself other authors as an entrepreneur. It's great to have this opportunity to work as an author as well as a publisher. The best is yet to come. 

MS: If you could be any famous person fictional or not, who would you be?

TC: I'd love to be Tyler Durden, that Fight Club character played by Brad Pitt. He's gorgeous, he's radical, he's clever, he wants to revolt against society. That's a role model for me. No joke.

Get social with Tom at:
https://connan.io/

Monday, June 8, 2015

You Are My Sweet Baby: Love Song For Jeffrey Dahmer

Dudley Saunders
Dudley Saunders latest is disturbing, haunting & beautiful....

Since nobody extrapolates on their own creations better than Dudley here is what he has to say about it:

Here is the seventh lyric video from IN THESE BOXES (and also the album THE EMERGENCY LANE).  

The unusual thing is that I removed the song title for IN THESE BOXES, which made it more of a straightforward S&M love song (depending on how straightforward you feel an S&M love song can be). So it was an interesting bit of artistic re-purposing.  

Here's the text from the performance, which nods lightly toward Dahmer without tipping into serial murder, keeping it in the sphere of perverse romance:
 

"This memory was murdered.  This life was a secret.  It did not require drugs to be released.  He was transformed, as a hero should be in a proper story.  He found happiness.  The happiness was so upsetting that much care was taken to blot out any memory of it.   To ravel the story so it’s pattern could not be seen.  But his happiness had been here, in that Detroit basement that was soundproof."

Prepare yourself and watch the video after the jump.

It's Time For Dudley at:

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Sweetie Darling: Absolutely Fabulous The Movie

"Sweetie, don't you need some help, or something?"

Saffy: Where are you going?
Edina: New York.
Saffy: I didn't think they let people with drug convictions in.
Edina: Darling, it's not a conviction.
Patsy: Just a firm belief!

Get ready it's time to celebrate with a shot and a line, more news comes from Jennifer Saunders regarding the Absolutely Fabulous feature film and it goes something like this...

Sometime earlier this year, Saunders confirmed that she had started writing the script for an Absolutely Fabulous movie. With a release aimed for the end of 2015. Well she recently made another announcement regarding it, that is a awesome news to fans like myself.


Saunders has leaked that the show’s original cast will be back to play their roles in the film, and hopefully every star who made a cameo appearance in the show’s five-season run will appear as well.  “I haven’t got the storyline completely sorted out yet,” she said, “but I want to cast everyone who has ever been in the show in it.”
Have A Drink, Kate Moss

Wow! So hopefully we will get to see the likes of: Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Helena Bonham Carter and Sir Elton John, bringing their fabulous selves back to the film! 

Y-e-s!!!

Time for another celebratory shot and a line, Woo Hoo! I am looking forward to an Absolutely Fabulous 2015!

Be "Fabulous" at: http://www.bbcamerica.com/absolutely-fabulous/ 

Thursday, August 15, 2013

R.I.P: Lisa Robin Kelly


Lisa Robin Kelly

Lisa Robin Kelly passed away from problems having to do with addiction today, although she had only copped to alcohol addiction in the past, judging by the recent photo I have seen of her, I suspect drugs might have been involved.

She will always be known best for her role as Laurie Forman - Eric Forman's older sister on "That 70's Show".

Creative people in general tend to be predisposed to alcohol and drug abuse and Lisa was no exception. The lucky ones are able to beat their demons, unfortunately her demons got hold of her before she tamed them.

Let's remember Lisa as the vibrant human being she was, someone who entertained us all as one of the best "Mean Girls" on TV.
The "That 70's Show" Gang

Thank You, Lisa Kelly for bringing Laurie Forman to life, the character and the show will live on in syndication and our memories forever.

Peace.








Lisa on IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0446605/?ref_=fn_nm_nm_1

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

For Immediate Release: Margaret Cho Is A "Mother"!


A Message From Margaret Cho:

Hi!!

I'm excited to finally announce my new tour -  MOTHER! I'm playing small intimate venues on this leg of the tour, it's going to be fun!

My all new standup show, MOTHER, offers up an untraditional look at motherhood and how we look at maternal figures and strong women in queer culture. It's probably my edgiest show to date, filled with riotous observations on race, drugs, sexuality - gay-straight-everything in between, celebrity, culture, politics - nothing is sacred - least of all this MOTHER.

I'm so excited that I made 2 tour posters! Thanks Austin Young and Michael Gaughan for doing such an amazing job.

I'm signing some special limited run posters (the Michael Gaughan one below) for fans who buy tickets BEFORE JULY 1ST! Details here.

I'll be going to lots of places, hopefully near you, so come on down!

xo - Margaret


A few dates went on sale early, so please see my TOUR page for ticket links.

DATES / CITIES
Aug 11 - 18: Provincetown, MA - The Art House
Aug 19: Cherry Grove, NY (Fire Island) - The Ice Palace
Sept 6: Las Vegas, NV - The Mirage
Sept 8: Shreveport, LA - Robinson Film Center
Sept 16: Atlanta, GA - Punchline
Sept 17: Charlotte, NC - Comedy Zone
Sept 18: Louisville, KY - Improv
Sept 19: Nashville, TN - Zaines
Sept 20: Birmingham, AL - Stardome
Sept 21: Knoxville, TN - Bijou Theater
Sept 22: Asheville, NC - Orange Peel
Sept 24: Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
Sept 25: Annapolis, MD - Ram's Head OnStage
Sept 26: Charlottesville, VA - The Jefferson
Sept 28: Ridgefield, CT - The Ridgefield Playhouse
Sept 29: Portland, ME - State Theater
Sept 30: Concord, NH - Capital Center for the Arts
Oct 2: Burlington, VT - Higher Ground
Oct 3: Albany, NY - The Swyer Theater at The Egg
Oct 26 - 29: London, UK - Leicester Square Theater

Ticket information HERE. Don't forget, I'm in Santa Rosa, CA this Sat 6/2 and in St Louis for Pride & 2 shows on 6/23!!



Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Ariel Beez: "Snow White" Goes Solo

Ariel Beez formerly of “Snow White & The 7 Slutz” is now flying solo - ya know, the usual band disbanded for various reasons sort of thing.

This weekend she has a gig at “Hillbillyhip” in Topanga, CA, Saturday February 25th 2012, let’s check in with the now Slutz- less “Snow White”.

MS: So what happened to the Slutz?

AB: Well, our bassist moved to Orange County, and I kind of wanted to pursue solo stuff.

MS: Cool, so are you still going to be doing punk at your upcoming gig?

AB: Yeah, the upcoming show is like a punk/folk show - my part, I’m not really sure how to describe it, I play ukulele, I am opening for a big band on the punk scene called “Ramshackle Glory” It’s a good opportunity to be opening for them. Part of the show is electric and part of it is acoustic.

MS: I love acoustic! Do you remember me from your childhood at all? It has been a while.

AB: Were you in Uncle Phil’s (Esposito) acting class?

MS: Yes, I was that is how I met your Mom (Nina Savelle- Rocklin).

AB: Vaguely, I was really little.

MS: I’ve actually met your Dad too (Matt Earl Beesley, Producer on
“Revenge“) and “Revenge” is one of my favorite shows.

AB: Oh, that’s awesome!

MS: Speaking of Phil, you, like myself, love tattoos and your first one was honoring him, tell us about it.

AB: Phil was very important in my life, he was like a Father Figure, he and his partner Joseph. The tattoo I got to honor him is on my forearm, it’s an infinity sign, but I had it done like a vine, and it has his birth date written in the infinity.

MS: Very nice.

AB: Also I have another quote tattooed on my back, it’s from “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest” the quote is “It’s the truth, even if it didn’t happen”. It has to do with my past and the fact that I’m a writer. So to have such an amazing piece of literature on my body by such an amazing author like Ken Kesey is really important to me.

MS: Obviously you write all your own songs.

AB: Yes, I do.

MS: That is awesome! So other than acoustic what can people expect from your show this Saturday?

AB: All around the show is going to be an amazing time, because it is so many different groups of artists. One of the bands is my boyfriend performing with a friend of mine and an accordion. My music? I wouldn’t really know how to categorize it, I wouldn’t call it punk, it’s more quirky and a little bit whimsical. Folk/Punk is something I really like, it’s fun to take punk subjects like: Drugs, Sex & Rock-N-Roll and then put them across in a folky way.

MS: Sounds Great! I am making a point of being there Saturday.

AB: Thank you so much for this opportunity, hope to see you there!

Get hip this Saturday: http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100002517776293