photo by Aaron Robert Duartephoto by Aaron Robert Duarte
This was way back in 2014 for Supercrawl here in Hamilton, ON. James Street sure was the shit back then – still kind of is, but it definitely had a bit more grit than you might find nowadays.
It was the year we also had the opportunity to style Mr. Charles Bradley after his luggage was lost on his way into the city. Remember it being so sad to hear that this legend of soul passed back in 2017…we will be forever grateful for that opportunity and being in the pure presence of this legend!!!
Fatefully we would also have the pleasure of running into the stylish foursome – “The Beaches” whose lead singer walked away with that smashing shiny black PVC trench coat (made in Switzerland if my memory serves me correct) and wore it for their kick ass performance, which I was privy to watch, as well as sneak some behind the scenes takes.
The Beaches kicking ass in The Eye of Faith! photo by Aaron Robert Duarte
photo by Aaron Robert Duarte
photo by Aaron Robert Duarte
photo by Aaron Robert Duarte
photo by Aaron Robert Duarte
photo by Aaron Robert Duarte
photo by Aaron Robert Duarte
photo by Aaron Robert Duarte
photo by Aaron Robert Duarte
photo by Aaron Robert Duarte
photo by Aaron Robert Duarte
photo by Aaron Robert Duarte
So lets give it up for Jordan, Eliza, Kylie, and Leandra for all their wicked success since! As well as winning Best Breakthrough Group at the 2018 Juno Awards, the group has also been centred out by an extremely prominent rock n roll rebel icon … Sir Elton John!
+ Thank you ladies for keeping it classy and not assy +
Too many thots in the mist…
Just a thought.
+
Love how they always sport a bit of a vintage edge like any cool Toronto girl would, and of course should! Check out their videos below.
Their latest, “Snake Tongue”, which is an epic ballad for the young millenial woman (“Stop sending me all your dick picks They are boring me to pieces”) followed up by the song that caught the attention of Elton John – “T-Shirt”! Love the video for that one since they do a cool throwback to 70s television music showcases.
Lets give these bad ass ladies some love, shall we?
Well it sure has been a minute since we’ve had the chance for another addition to our beloved {MUSIC MINUTE} corner of our blog. Things have been really hectic and full, which is great, but with summer officially in full swing we are hoping to take the opportunity to put up more content here to ensure treasures of the {PAST} can be upheld here in the {PRESENT} and hopefully continue shaping our {FUTURE}…
Here we have a wicked piece called “The Devil is Loose” by one of those icons that everyone should know (but doesn’t) – Asha Pulthi! This song is from her album by the same name, and was her third of eight recorded albums.
Asha was born in Mumbai (formerly Bombay) February 4, 1945 and trained in classical Indian music and opera before falling for the devils of jazz which she infused into her traditional roots. After graduating from a public University in India, she received a scholarship to go to New York City and study with legendary choreographer Martha Graham (that aspect will make total sense when you see her moves in the video).
Her fate was setlled when her appearance on “Aint it Peculiar” by the Peter Ivers Band which was covered by major music magazines like Billboard and Rolling Stone. Her reckless abandon and joyful reverie was heard (and you can hear it too here– HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) and soon she had avant-garde jazz saxophonist Ornette Coleman knocking on her door, or calling her phone? We may never know…but she would make the most prophetic and signature vocals for his out-of-this-world improvisational jazz album Science Fiction, and the rest is history!
She was signed by John Hammond who most famously discovered Billie Holliday, Bob Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen – so very good company indeed!
Like I mentioned, this is from her third album of the same name (“The Devil is Loose”). Sadly not much is written about this album at all (at least in English) since it never saw its release in the US. But throughout, her vocals are sultry, soft, sweet, soulful and mysterious… her voice vaguely reminiscent of Diana Ross and then at other times as great and grand as Aretha Franklin.
Unfortunately for Asha, the money men at CBS London found an easy way out of hoisting her up and getting paid her proper dues when she became pregnant which effectively brought an end to her escalating royalties.
But before they could stiff her completely, performances on British television would ensure her the right to negotiate royalties that only major acts such as The Beatles were able to obtain at the time- 14%!!! This and coupled with her pregnancy, Asha was shipped off to Germany much the same way The Beatles had been shipped to Hamburg.
However, unlike The Beatles, this choice by CBS London essentially hindered her career much more into obscurity and allowed for artists like Donna Summer to build their brand off what Asha had rightfully developed.
She herself claims that Donna Summer, alleged Queen of Space Disco, copped her style- not only vocally, but literally too!
According to Asha, during one of her performances in Germany in the early 1970s she was approached by Ms. Summer herself.
Donna was in this moment “belting out songs” according to Pulthi, rather than the subdued dreamy vocals of Asha, inspired by her Hinduistic classical training, which gave that otherworldly style that would become the virtual sound of any major Munich disco…and would soon be adapted by the now famous Disco Queen that EVERYONE has heard of.
Not only that, Donna Summer allegedly approached Ms. Puthli backstage asking where she could find Asha’s custom made dress, to which Puthli would not oblige.
Donna, unbeknownst to Asha, went ahead and asked designer Bill Gibb to which he refused. Them’s the breaks, I guess.
“A lot of people say that this album [The Devil Is Loose] and the other album are templates that later on Donna Summer, Pete Bellotte, Georgio Moroder all ripped off from my sound. Now, remember I’ve mentioned to you that I was suspended because I was pregnant. So at that time was when they jumped on the bandwagon, apparently. This is what I’m told by people in Germany, in the industry. Because when they called me up they said, ‘We want to work with the real McCoy,”
Nonetheless, she is more and more recognized in importance and relevance for her ethno-fusion cosmic disco avant-garde synthy soul vibes, her out of the world stage presence (her moves have also been centred out as a major influence to Kate Bush), and undeniable individuality. A rebel spirit through and through.
Her first album “Asha Pulthri” was shot by Mick Rock who was David Bowie’s official photographer (she would also go on to hire Pierre LaRoche, Bowie’s iconic makeup artist), and was admired by art influencers such as Richard Avedon, Manolo Blahnik Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol, Diane Vreeland, and even headlined at Studio 54.
Her style was always changing and was always an eclectic mash up of her heritage, the {present} day (for her, {past} for us), and the unknown frontiers of space and time….So, how about that Donna Summer?
She most notably also made an appearance in the obscure Merchant-Ivory art film “Savages”, as one of the three wild women leaving very little to the imagination.
Her music was even literally blasted into space in 2009 from the Goonhilly British Satellite Earth Station on the 40th Anniversary of the Moon Landing. Why, you ask? Well
“{her music is} a form of free-floating, ultra-sexualized intergalactic disco that matched hyperventilating time with erotic electronics and surreal sonic environments. Puthli has gone so far out that she has space walked into inner space.”
As well, she has been sampled by the likes of P. Diddy, The Notorious B.I.G., Redman, 50 Cent, and Dilated Peoples. She even owns writing credits to “The World is Filled” by Biggie Ft. Too Short and Puff Daddy…so yeah!
SHE’S A BOSS
Nowadays the notion of a globalized pop star like Asha isn’t too uncommon. Artists like BTS get millions of fans around the world; or take for instance, K-Pop Girl Band BLACKPINK who just performed at Coachella…even the song ‘Jai-Ho’ from Slumdog Millionaire went on to win both an Academy Award and a Grammy!
That is NOW…but back THEN, artists to cross-over these racial boundaries were even rarer which is why still today, we can look back in awe on the incredible artistry, bravery and honesty Asha put forth to just be who she is!
I was not encouraged to do my own songs. They wanted me glam, more Shirley Bassey than Joan Baez. I insisted upon including at least one of my own songs, just one. They (the CBS record producers) already thought I was difficult because I wouldn’t change my name. There is a cognitive dissonance when you have a name like mine….They gave me suggestions like Ann Peters, Ann Powers. I said no as I had already won the Down Beat at that time and had a fan base in India. As Asha Puthli!”
Some people might even blame THE DEVIL…which I’m sure is why she created this cosmic disco masterpiece.
See for yourself below:
HOW EPIC WAS THAT?!
{the dress, the moves, that audience, the song…EVERYTHING}
Luckily, so much of her music is resurfacing so we hope this post will help in the manifestation of her glory. Please enjoy “The Devil is Loose” and let us know what you think in the COMMENTS.
If you are intrigued, Red Bull Music Academy has a wonderful interview with this legend published just this last February, 2019.
We barely scraped the tip of the iceberg with this one, so don’t let us down! Go check her out, channel her spirit, and play those funky cosmic disco sounds hard into the night…
Since the beginning of time (or at least, the beginning of our blog) we have been saying there is a definitive relationship our collective {PAST} plays into the {PRESENT} – always influencing and helping create what inevitably will be known as the {FUTURE}!
Well here we have a case of {PAST}, {PRESENT}, {FUTURE} featuring the notoriously infamous billionairess Kylie Jenner and her new man, Crown Prince of Rap, Mr. Travis Scott on the latest cover of GQ causing controversy for being a “cheap rip-off” of a now forty year old photo shoot of iconic French couple of cool Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin shot by Helmut Newton.
It is absolutely undeniable, and I don’t think they were trying to be chill about the inspiration, or rather recreation, but who is to judge her for that. If anything, I find it strange that Paola Kudacki, the photographer, would feel comfortable putting her name on such a mainstream copy of the work of a great artist like Helmut Newton! Now the controversy has flooded the internet, but then again, for the right paycheck these days, a little backlash isn’t the worst if it pays the rent.
Obviously, inspiration from the past is one of the cornerstones of our beliefs, but being 2018, it might be nice to have a fresher interpretation of the past than just a flat out copy. Where’s the fun in that?
Take the past, and turn it on its head. Blend one influence with another. Go on a ride through the past and bring me forward into the future…
And if you take a look at the original photo series shot way back in 1978, the rawness, sexiness, and coolness really shines through! How can you be a rebel if you’re trying….Serge and Jane are just so relaxed, irreverent, and thereby: BAD ASS!
Needless to say, Jane and Serge will always be on top in most versus situations, so….sorry Travis and Kylie- maybe next time. And maybe next time, just be yourself!!!
I know Travis and Kylie have turned a few looks, but Jane and Serge really TURNED LOOKS! Just a few below!
FRANCE – AUGUST 28: Premiere : “Slogan” by Pierre Grimblat in Paris, France on August 28, 1969-(16555) Serge Gainsourg, Jane Birkin and Pierre Grimblat. (Photo by Yves LE ROUX/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
We need more originality these daze . . . be inspired, but make it your own! That’s half the fun of life.
Not the most creative choice, but different strokes for different folks! Definitely appreciate her bringing to a whole new generation the beauty and boldness of Serge & Jane (who are definitely due for a {STYLE IDOL & DIVINITY} post or a {VINTAGE RED CARPET ROMANCES} story) … that is a really cool thing.
We know this story is all over the internet right now, but still wanted to give our E.O.F. P.O.V. on the whole situation.
So, let us know what you think in the comments section below!
We’ve been getting thoroughly entertained by these “Diva on Diva” videos by Clippety on YouTube, and this one is a real interesting treat.
Two icons of sex and beauty brought together for 1970s camp classic “Myra Breckinridge” based on the controversial novel by the iconic Gore Vidal.
The film, like the novel, broke many boundaries tackling transexuality and machismo attidues in Hollywood, but was pretty much panned universally, and some consider it the worst film ever made. But, you have to give Raquel Welch much credit for taking on such a cutting edge role, and it really makes us love her so much more!
Myra Breckenridge is the antithesis of sex symbol. She’s revolutionary; she’s a warrior.
-Raquel Welch
The themes and tone the film exhibit would never fly today, so it really is a treat to watch!
So, take a look at what Raquel Welch had to say about working with Mae West, an icon of sex from the 1930s! 40 years between their stardom, you’re only bound for a little drama!
Divas be divas . . . but they have the right, don’t they?
There is so much power and pleasure in knowing who you are and literally wearing it on your sleeve, we really wouldn’t have life any other way than just being the real you! That’s why we always promote the joys of individuality, and showcase people who have applied this in their life and style.
But today, we wanted to showcase a strange new trend on the runways that was really epitomized by Moschino’s bondage inspired Pre-Fall/Winter 2018 collection: The Hidden Face!
Yes, indeed! Beautiful models covered in rubber latex so the only thing visible is their eyes and mouth mostly (very a la Season 1 of American Horror Story). For centuries people have seen faces in toast, trees, the moon …now it seems we are aiming to cover the face entirely…take a look at some pics below from the collection:
We weren’t too shocked however, because we had already been sourcing some strange style inspirations from the deepest depths of the web of +Larvatus Prode+ (“I wear a mask…”), and thought this would really appeal to our more adventurous readers who love when we explore the dark side of style!
Some cover up for modesty, others for pleasure, and many for secrecy and protection. Whatever the reason, these images truly fascinate us with their strange oddness and beauty.
So, in classic {PHOTOBLAST} fashion, check out this collection of images dedicated to those who present themselves masked…
+LARVATUS PRODEO+
And remember, we say don’t wear a mask, but if you’re feeling it…
Back in 1999 a quirky cool show came out called ZENON: Girl of the 21st Century and now that we are actually in the 21st century its cool to see they weren’t so far off!
We always say the past informs our future, so when speaking on this idea of retro-futurism its so fun to notice visions of the future from the past, and usually in this context we speak often of a retro-future from the 40s, 50s, even 60s . . .but now we are seeing retro-future ideas taken from the 90s.
Jeremy Scott really took it there 100% with this vibe in his Autumn-Winter 2018 collection from the pastel millenial metallic palette with strokes of neon… to some really quirky weird sci-fi silhouettes.
The wigs brought me back to another 90s sci-fi gem which may be a bit more obscure unless you lived in Canada than guaranteed you watched this show if you grew up in the 90s: SPACE CASES!!!
The show first aired back in 1996, and has since stuck in our minds as a really rad adventure series featuring some cool talent. I think the plot was best summed up by Bethany on IMDB:
One day at an academy, 7 people sneak aboard a mysterious spaceship. The people consist of 5 students, who are Harlan, the athletic leader from earth; Catalina, the Saturnian rainbow-head with a sonic scream; Bova, the negative sour-pus Uranian who can generate electricity; Rosie, the happy Mercurian who radiates heat; and Radu, the Andromedan with super strength and hearing; the other two people are Mrs. T.J. Davenport, the principal at the academy and Commander Seth Goddard, who is their teacher/commander. While on-board they meet an android named Thelma who informs them that they are on a spaceship that is half living and called the Christa. Just when they meet up they become aware that they are approaching a hole that if they get sucked into, they will be stuck in space for 7 years. They eventually do and along their journey they encounter many hardships and enemies that they work together to overcome. They also meet some new people like Suzee (Catalina’s imaginary friend from another dimension who gets pulled into this dimension during a warp, putting Catalina in her dimension; she can read minds and has gills), Elmira (Sponge daughter of Warlard Shank), Warlard Shank (the arch enemy of them), etc.
The wigs immediately gave me some serious Jewel Staite as Catalina vibes; although, hers is just that much more with the multi-colored rings representing her home planet Saturn. Am I wrong?
Oh, and sorry about the strange captions in the two photos there. They are entertaining, nonetheless. Since it is a more obscure show, it was hard to find some great images, but I think you get the vibe, and especially with a few of the looks from Jeremy Scott’s AW 2018 show sandwiched between- I think the inspirations are undeniable!
Boy, Canadian television in the 90s was wicked…and man, Jeremy Scott’s interns must have been binge watching some serious shit, because you can’t deny that the painted ladies of Jeremy Scott’s Moschino Autumn-Winter 2018 show really give me crazy Rosie comparisons!
Granted, Jeremy Scott’s inspiration for this collection was Jackie-O, Aliens, and Conspiracy Theories so its not that far off…
Some other designers you can’t deny took a very similar route were Prada:
And, Maison Margiela Couture Autmn-Winter 2018 which was a symphony of hologram! Our jaws were dropethed watching one look after another walk down the runway.
If you have a chance, watch the actual show so you can see how magically these fabrics react to light- its magnificent and really shows the art of textile design and the incredible things being engineered today.
Since we are on this topic, I wanted to throw in some pics of a few more Canadian 90s aliens from the cult show ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK? – episode: “The Thirteenth Floor”!!!
Two kids get lured by stylish 90s aliens to a strange toy company that just happened to open on the 13th floor of their apartment complex where they usually play floor hockey…moral of the story is, if you think its weird a toy company opened overnight on the 13th floor of your apartment complex then just stay away!!! Especially when they’re dressed like that!
Never would I have imagined in 20 years I’d be talking about Are You Afraid of the Dark or Space Cases in the context of fashion and style…its actually kind of shocking how many designers landed on this vibe, but nevertheless its really interesting to have this kind of nostalgia prevalent in the scene, and no doubt we will be seeing more and more of this as time goes on.
The {past} repeats itself, even if that {past} is imitating the {future}!
Something about this vibe has always been in us, and we have been tending to lean towards this style many times – from metallic foil shirts, to PVC jackets, and definitely anything hologram! I guess, we like to be ahead of the curve, and it really goes to show the power in staying relevant with the past.
Here are a few pieces in our {SHOP} right now that epitomize the 90s Back to the Future vibe that is taking over!
A high school basketball team gets in a bit of a mix-up thanks to a nosy girlfriend who needs to ask herself the question. What you saw, and what you heard are very different things, and the coach does a good job to illustrate this while also give some sure-fire tips to make sure your honesty is top notch!
Again, some really great vintage style inspiration; true classic Americana all around, while also showing some wicked 1950s sports looks which are as hot now as they were then. Obviously they thought nothing of it at the time, but today these looks still fly!
Vintage style is alive and well – just look around and open your eyes and you will see!!!
So, how honest are you, people? Check out the video below from OLD TIME TV and let us know in the comments below!!!
You a nice girl…why you lie?
We’ve got some spiffy time traveled pieces to channel the Honest vibe.
Had a lot of fun posting “Shy-Guy” yesterday, so thought we’d continue showcasing some of these awesome and entertaining vintage educational films. They sure were worried about the self-esteem of teenagers.
This one shows how feelings of self-consciousness keep a high school boy from doing his classwork well or making friends easily. Poor dude feels so out of whack ALL THE TIME, until he realizes everyone else feels self-conscious too and if you learn to remind yourself of this, you will be fine!
And when he realizes this watching his buddy totally goof at ping pong after just being so dashing in a tuxedo, he should have realized that of course he felt better wearing a tux! Who doesn’t feel bad ass in a tux?!
Again, a great collection of classic American style from the early 1950s which still has that timeless 40s vibe lingering. This is a look that seems to be really permeating in the fashion world more and more lately. . .
Especially couldn’t take my eye off a wicked panther graphic sweater one of the featured students wears while yacking on the phone with confidence…check it out! The panther motif is a super bad ass graphic that was quite popular, and today, a very rare vintage find.
Love anyone bringing vintage styles to the masses, but its always good to know your shit and see the influences in the world around us. This is how the {PAST} helps inspire the {PRESENT} and shape our {FUTURE}.
Well enough ado. Thanks OLD TIME TV for uploading this and all the other wicked vintage content you post on your channel!
Please enjoy and let us know what you thought in the COMMENTS BELOW!
Take a look at some of the pieces waiting in our {SHOP} to be brought back to life on the streets that channel the “Self-Conscious Guy” vibe!
There must have been a really urgent calling to help young men who suffered from social anxiety during the Post War period, because this is just one of dozens of educational films distributed to schools throughout America dealing with this.
This one is one of the best called “SHY GUY” and stars Dick York who played the first Darrin Stephens in the cult classic “Bewitched”!
Its quite entertaining, and on top of that, the classic vintage styles of these high school students are on fleek! Special shout out to the many wicked graphic sweaters that the “popular” kids are ALL rocking.
“Whats he got that makes people like him so much?”
attitude.
I think its best to be yourself, but this boy trades out his dapper suit and ties for the more relaxed cool kid vibe of some trousers and a graphic sweater, but sure enough it works, so what do I know?! So many cool jackets and bombers, and then there’s the classic hair!!!
They don’t make them like they used to! Enough hype, watch the video below courtesy of Old Time TV on Youtube!
BEST ADVICE FROM DAD: Just observe what people are doing then imitate them (well, essentially that’s what he says)….thanks Dad! Sociopath much?! As always, I say be yourself and the rest will follow.
“…you don’t know how to get people to like you and you end up holding a grudge against them…”
Life can be so hard for your average teen!
We have some pieces in the {SHOP} we thought reminded us of the “SHY GUY” vibe!
Visit our {SHOP} for more details on these and more time traveled vintage finds…
VIVA MAGAINE: The International Woman’s Magazine {circa. January 1977}
Cover Photograph by the iconic HELMUT NEWTON (hence, the undoubtable chic-ness of this image). Published by icons Bob Guccione and Kathy Keeton of PENTHOUSE fame, this is a prime piece of classic porn chic.
First coined in a highly influential New York Times article in 1973, porno chic describes a distinct period between 1969 and 1984 where American pornos were hitting the mainstream consciousness and pocketbooks hardcore. Andy Warhol kicked it off in 69 with Blue Movie, and films like Deep Throat, Behind the Green Door, Caligula, The Opening of Misty Beehtoven, A Night at the Adonis, and Flesh Gordon are among the films that encapsulate the Golden Age of Porn.
But it wasn’t just about the films. This period also saw a surge of amazing publishing prowess seen by magazines like PLAYBOY, HUSTLER, OUI, and of course PENTHOUSE dominated the scene, but for the first time publishers turned their attention to the female gaze, and offered pleasures like PLAYGIRL and VIVA with the male form objectified freely and openly to ease the tensions of the day.
I know it seems cliche to say, but its about the articles, too! Especially adult magazines of this period, you will find some powerful political, cultural, and historical content that just can’t be beat! Some of the articles included in this VIVA Magazine include:
The Blue Angel: Inside New York’s Naughtiest Night Club Minnie Riperton Raps About Fashion The Real Brenda Vaccaro The Naked Cowboy Dustin Hoffman & Robert Redford on set of “All the President’s Men” Do You Have What It Takes to Be Happy?
Not going to lie; what really stood out to us was the top story on the cover: HOW TO MAKE LOVE LIKE A WITCH!
The things they targeted their demographics with back in these times is fantastic! Imagine if they had published topics like this today?? People would have a fit! But, seriously we need more of this!
That’s just what makes this piece so god damn amusing. Keep pieces like this for entertaining treats for your guests- some pop culture, history, and a little eye candy.
They don’t make them like they used to …
And I always get a kick with cigarette ads from this period. They are always so special and great. Like this one:
Just out in the park picking flowers and placing them in my pretty flower basket and smoking a cigarette. . .
+LADY BE COOL+
I don’t know how things have taken such a drastic turn. It’s rather sad, really…but luckily, we do have pieces like this to remind us of these lost times.
This is a rare item especially considering the super sensual and chic Helmut Newton cover, and VIVA being of lesser popularity as PLAYBOY or even PLAYGIRL. If you have any questions? Send us a message to the.eye.of.faith@gmail.com
