Traveling is one of Kiki’s top priories and passions. A short list of the destinations that she has traveled too include, Israel, India, Bora Bora, Jordan, and Antartica. As is evident with her trip to the Southern-most continent, the further the journey, the better as far as Kiki is concerned. While the South Pole is far away physically, she also seeks out travel that is far away from her “normal” New York upbringing. Trying new things, eating exotic foods, and posing for photos in diverse backgrounds inspires her to the best person she can be. Zip lining through jungle canopies, spending a lazy afternoon on a stand-up paddle board, or riding ATV’s is fine with this girl. But don’t forget, just because she likes going on adventures doesn’t mean she is a tomboy. Kiki takes a lot of pride and enjoyment getting dressed up, painting her nails and doing her make up. She loves looking her best and for that, we applaud her.
Leonor Alves is bright and beautiful young lady from Brazil. She is the featured undiscovered model/influencer for the week of January 3, 2021.
It seems fitting to begin a new year with such a hottie. For many in 2020, it was a year of frustration and loss. However, there were many that 2020 was a year that included some great achievements. With a fresh set of months, a fresh face is a simple yet effective metaphor.
French composer Remi Buriez, aka M.A.D.E.S, has returned to the forefront of the Synthwave musical scene.
M.A.D.E.S newest album,Arrival, is now available on Jet Set Trash Records. It has eleven original tracks and morphs between Darksynth, Outrun and classic melodic Synthwave.
Power, suspense, speed, atmosphere and imagination are some of the words that come to mind immediately when thinking of “Arrival”. The LP is a worthy follow up album to his debut “Motor”. It also proves that Synthwave is still alive and kicking, and has artists who produce excellent albums. If you don’t where to find these artists, checking out JST Records is a good place to start.
M.A.D.E.S, which is an acronym for “Make a different electronic sound” is based out of Lille, France.However, as most electronic musicians spread across the globe, Buriez has built a dedicated following online. He plays both guitar and piano at a high level and continually works on digital music workstations to improve his programming.
Slickster –Remi, it’s good to hear from you again, and thanks for the new music.Arrival shows that you have been busy and developed quite a lot in your musical skills since the release of Motor.In what ways do you feel that developed most in your music, outlook on life, and programming?
M.A.D.E.S – It took me a long time to compose this new album because I wanted to develop my music more. I wanted to explore other horizons while keeping my own signature.
Slickster – The last time we spoke you said that, “in my opinion, music creation requires a lot of “FOOD”.Did you eat a lot of food when you wrote the music for Arrival?
M.A.D.E.S – Personally, I have lost weight since 2018! Seriously, life has to nourish me so that I can write and imagine music. 2019 (and 2020) were full of different emotions. I tried to put that in my music, even if the album was mostly composed in 2019.
Slickster – Of the seven tracks on Arrival do you have a favorite track?
M.A.D.E.S – My favorite is “2077” even ifI’m attached to “Hope“ in a different way.
Slickster –Track #6 on Arrival, “Jungle War”, stands out as a favorite of mine.Was this inspired Predator, the video game Contra, The Vietnam War…?What was your inspiration for this track?
M.A.D.E.S – For this title I wanted to recreate this 80s movies atmosphere. Predator is a very good reference and I really like these exotic vibes. This type of project allows you to include sounds and instruments that add that extra special touch to the mood of the song.
Slickster –Ok, same question, but for Track #2, “1984”.Were you inspired by George Orwell’s novel of doom and despair or Van Halen’s classic rock album?
M.A.D.E.S – 1984 is symbolic because George Orwell’s novel is a pillar of science fiction literature. This type of story leads the reader to reflect and imagine what our future might be like.
I’m a big fan of Van Halen! I must tell you that I have been a guitarist since I was 14. So… yeah I’m a big fan of Van Halen’s band \m/.
Slickster –You are based out of France.When you released your last album France was suffering from the effects of the Yellow Vest riots.At the time of this interview, there is more civil unrest in France.Largely this is coming from a recent law that forbids people from collecting video footage of law enforcement officers.How would you describe the current state of social-political affairs in your native country?
M.A.D.E.S – France has always been a country ahead of its time, but also a country which has great difficulties with reforms. Why? French people are “revolutionaries”. They don’t hesitate to go out on the streets when they don’t agree. The situation is tense because we are going through a very serious health crisis, which is increasing the pressure on society. It’s an explosive cocktail and I don’t know where all this will take us.
Slickster – Do you feel that the music you composed for Arrival is a reflection of the turmoil that has been widespread in the year 2020?Perhaps, in way it colored the tones and timbres of the album in a way that you may not recognize?
M.A.D.E.S – A large part of the album was composed in 2019 so it was not affected by the events of this year. 2020 has been a very difficult year for a lot of people and I think my next work will inevitably be marked by these events. You should expect something darker for my next release.
Slickster – In our previous interview, you shared your love of movie soundtracks with us.Which film scores are you currently listening to? Do you have a favorite film composer that you frequently come back to?
M.A.D.E.S – I am currently listening the soundtrack fromGreen Book.
Hans Zimmer is a great source of inspiration like other composers such as: John Williams, Alexandre Desplat, James Horner, Howard shore… and many others.
Slickster – France is known for beautiful women, great wine and bread.Why do none of these stalwarts of French culture make it into your art?Especially the hot babes of the 80’s?
M.A.D.E.S – You just give me a great idea. Maybe the next art of my future album will show a pretty nice woman holding a big baguette in her hands (A cyberpunk Baguette of course! Haha).
Slickster –Where do predict the state of Synthwave will head to in the next five years?
M.A.D.E.S – This genre will have to evolve in order to last over time. This style is quite new in the musical world and is still quite underground even if we can see sometimes the influences of 80s (TV, advertising, marketing…). In my opinion, Synthwave will gain popularity and major sound innovations will come. It’s really exciting.
Slickster – Thanks again for sharing your new album, Arrival, with us and taking the time to do another interview.What message would you like to share or talk about that we didn’t get the chance to bring up during the questions?
M.A.D.E.S – I want to announce that I am already working on my next album and expect something very powerful and dark…
AJATON’s new single is heavily inspired by gameplay and visuals of modern video games.
Finland’s, AJATON, have released a new single Inverse Records. The highly stylized and understated track, Runner, checks in at just under four and half minutes long. Listening to the single takes the listener on a psychedelic journey through the modern state of synthwave.
Runner features an extremely simple, yet staunch melody. Whereas the melody is simple, it allows the rest of the ambiance and textures to develop around the main motif. There is tasty drum and bass elements, silky smooth pads, and a haunting female vocal that entice keep the track constantly evolving.
On the first listening to Runner, it sounded like a work in progress, but there was something that brought me back. It was hard to describe, but there was something intangible in the track that beckoned me to listen to it again and again. It could have been as simple as the track was instrumental, and there were no lyrics to distract me, or it might have been something else. Regardless, as I listened to the track over and over, the more I liked it.
The track title, “Runner”, conjures images of great sci-fi and electronic music from the previous decades. Instantly the memories of the movies Logan’s Run, The Running Man, and even Escape From New York […it doesn’t have “run” in the title, but Snake sure had to do his fair share of running in that movie!] come to mind. Runner would easily fit into a current remake of any of those, and even a video game.
According to the Ajaton’s Facebook page, the track was inspired heavily by video games, especially Cyberpunk 2077;
“Our new single ‘RUNNER’ is now released to celebrate the new Cyberpunk 2077 -video game. This new single is heavily inspired by the pre-released materials and visuals of the new video game. ‘RUNNER’ takes the listener in to the future where corporations and evil empires rule the galaxy.”
ALL HAIL AJATON!
Slickster: How can you describe the state of music in Finland right now?
Ajaton: There’s a lot electronic music in Finland. Most of it is mainstream but it’s mostly pop and rap-oriented. As I imagine the case in every other country.
Slickster: Is there a lot of electronic music? Do people support the music scene?
Ajaton: Something like Synthwave or Dark Synth is underground and niche stuff here.
Slickster: Your new single is composed for a video game. Can you please explain to us how to compose music for video games?
Ajaton: Actually our newest single isn’t composed for a videogame. It might seem it, but it’s more like influenced from video games like just released Cyperpunk 2077 and from it’s world. For the whole video game music composing is a whole different thing.
Slickster: The single, Runner, has a very minimalistic feeling, and relies heavily on atmosphere. Was this intentional?
Ajaton: Yeah. You could say that. It’s very bass line driven with “dreamy” synths and aggressive stabs!
Slickster: What is the secret to writing a good melody for a new song?
Ajaton: The secret is to write how you feel. Then do that multiple times and arange that to a good melody. Dark, broody and some hopeful lines connect and make something special.
Slickster: When will the game be released and can we get a free copy?
Ajaton: Heh. I wish we had a game! But when we do you get the notice!
Slickster: Thanks for sharing the new single. Is there anything else you would like to add to the interview that we didn’t get the chance to talk about?
Ajaton: Thank you for you time and you can check Ajaton’s new single on Spotify and Youtube!
Starting a business is no easy task. It takes vision, determination and the innate ability to take risks. Slickster Girl of the Week, Liv Margre, has these qualities and a whole lot more. Margre is the founder and owner of her own brand of cosmetics, Margre Cosmetics.
Driven by the will to succeed, Margre has created her unique brand of women’s products because she feels, “every woman has a right to feel beautiful”. Margre, herself an up and coming IG model, lights up the camera.
If you’re not getting enough iron, a lot of bad things can happen.
Being iron deficient means that your body won’t produce enough hemoglobin, which is a protein in your red blood cells that carries oxygen. Without the proper amount of oxygen being transported, your tissues and muscles won’t work properly. This is called anemia.
Iron deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia and it has various symptoms, which is what we’re discussing today. In this post, we’re going to look at 6 warning signs of iron deficiency.
One of the biggest reasons for iron deficiency is diet-related, so if you experience these warning signs, you may need to make some changes. Keep reading to learn more.
1. Mysterious Fatigue
Fatigue is a tough thing to diagnose as a symptom of something like iron deficiency because it could be related to so many other things. If you’re iron deficient, you’ll probably have other symptoms along with extreme tiredness, which is the direct result of a lack of hemoglobin.
2. Shortness of Breath
When your hemoglobin levels are low, so are your oxygen levels, which makes breathing more difficult. If you’re experiencing shortness of breath during normal activities, like walking or going upstairs, it could be because of iron deficiency.
3. Fuzzy Headedness
Headaches and light-headedness are common with iron deficiency. Doctors aren’t positive why this is the case, but it likely has to do with a lack of oxygen going to the brain. Without enough oxygen, the blood vessels in the brain will start to swell and create a fuzzy feeling.
4. Heart Palpitations
There’s nothing more alarming than a bout of heart palpitations. It can feel like your heart is doing too much work, bordering on beating out of your chest. Accompanied by shortness of breath and headaches, it’s easy to think the worst.
Only in extreme cases will you find yourself in danger, but if it gets to palpitations, you need to see a doctor. Better to take iron tablets from Feroglobin than to experience heart failure.
5. Restless Leg Syndrome
Restless leg syndrome is when you have unexplained urges to move your legs when they’re at rest. It can be extremely unpleasant and take a toll on your sleep. The cause of RLS is still a bit of a mystery, but a quarter of all people with iron deficiency experience it.
6. Paleness
Pale skin can be a sign of iron deficiency. Hemoglobin is what gives blood its red color, so when you’ve got low hemoglobin levels, your blood is paler and thus, your skin is pale as well. The face, gums, inner lips, and eyelids are all places to check for paleness.
Beating Iron Deficiency Early
If you think you might have an iron deficiency, you should talk to your doctor. Once diagnosed, it’s easy to treat with a change in diet or supplements. Red meat, leafy greens, dried fruits, seeds, and nuts are all high in iron and vitamin C. These will help your body absorb the iron more effectively.
If you found this post helpful, come back again for more on health and fitness.
Written by Jonathan Lee, December 20, 2020, 12:00PM. Tweet to: @Writerscube
For a whole year, the world has been besieged by a pandemic that has killed far too many. But we humans are social creatures, and the desire to interact makes the whole ordeal all the harder. As such there’s been a huge uptick in interest in the tabletop RPG popularly known as Dungeons & Dragons. What’s more, there’s been a growing interest in playing it online so that one can be safe while having fun. Typically, people have played it in person. But with social distancing being a much-necessary method of minimizing infections, playing the game in person has become a risky prospect. That’s where the online platform of Roll20 comes in.
Roll20: Taking the TTRPG Online
After everything went into lockdown, my own Dungeons and Dragons campaign was interrupted and what should’ve been the start to a new epic homebrew campaign ended up being put on hiatus. That was when I stumbled upon Roll20 and discovered that playing D&D remotely was a thing. Even better, there were robust solutions to the whole playing remote solution.
Roll20 wasn’t just another communication platform like Discord. Roll20 provided me a virtual version of everything I needed to keep running my campaigns with all the visuals. Actually there were even a few things that I couldn’t do in person that the platform offered as well, like Dynamic Lighting for Pro Subscribers.
So with Pro Subscription in hand, I decided to go all in and pick up a few rulebooks and expansions and provide my players the best experience possible. Here’s what Roll20 has been offering to help keep those stay-at-home blues at bay…
Recreating the D&D Experience with Roll20: The Visuals
Easily my favorite feature: Creating maps with tokens and other visuals. While some Dungeon Masters prefer using the theater of the mind, my background as an educator made me lean heavily on the benefits of visual aids to guide my players. And I wanted to give my players everything. With Roll20, I realized I had something that I couldn’t as readily do during my in-person sessions. Instead of drawing with a dry-erase marker on a grid map, here on Roll20, I could place down full color maps and even create my own with adjustable map tiles that I could either purchase or put together on my own. As a Dungeon Master, it allowed me to visually realize the world I wanted my players to better see. Also, the Pro Subscription provides Dynamic Lighting, allowing my players to only see what their characters should be seeing. It creates for a more immersive experience!
Then there’s tokens for the players and all the monsters I could want. The rule books I had bought already provided me with a collection of nice tokens. But even better was how there were sites dedicated to making custom tokens. During my in-person sessions, I did use miniatures that I had even painted up (I have about an intermediate skill level when it comes to mini painting, thanks to my hobby in Warhammer 40,000). But Roll20 provides a way to get colorful characters and monsters out in quick time.
The Token, Map, and GM Layers at work.
As a Dungeon Master, I also greatly appreciated the multi-layer setup they have for Roll20. With your players only able to see the Map and Object layers (for the map and tokens, respectively), you as the Dungeon Master can use the GM layer to prepare and place whatever you don’t want your players to see until the moment’s right. Want to play a graphic for a Trap but don’t want your players to see it until they trip it on a certain flagstone tile? Use the GM layer!
The Handy Notebook: a Dungeon Master’s Friend
Any Dungeon Master quickly learns that your notebook will your best friend in keeping a game running smoothly. Most of the time, at least. Roll20 did not disappoint as I quickly discovered that you could create not just notes, but tiered sections to better organize everything! In minutes, I already had sections made out for my magical items, key NPCs, key Villains, and even key item collections for my players. Whatever you want your players to be able to see, you just change a setting. Whatever you wanted to have remain concealed, you could set that too!
The All Important Dice and Character Sheets
Dice-rolling in Roll20 has proven to be sufficient. From D4 to D100, it’s all contained in a convenient dice roller. But the real neat feature I discovered was that you could have Roll20 perform the dice rolls for you. Better yet, you can do it while looking through a character sheet or a monster stat block. Want to run a Charisma Saving Throw for a character? Just click on their Charisma in the Saving Throw box and watch Roll20 calculate it for you. Every part of the character sheet or stat block that was involved in some roll mechanic was rollable by Roll20’s click-to-roll function. It was more than convenient–it actually saved time for me and my players.
These have made combat and roleplay situations run a lot smoother than having my players manually calculate everything on their own. That in turn lets me and everyone else focus on the more fun parts of D&D: I get to focus more on rolling out monsters, my players get to focus more on slaying them.
The Compendium: All the Rules at Your Fingertips
So I’ve a good load of the D&D 5E books in hardcover, and don’t get me wrong, I love them. I love collecting hardcover books, period. But when you’re trying to be the DM, looking into stuff can cut into the 3-6 hours of a game session. Our mighty notebooks can’t keep track of all things that may surprise us. Sometimes players will deviate from your plans, or maybe you have to look up a roll table. At first, I didn’t think anything of it. I always thought it was just par for the course. But Roll20’s Compendium feature showed me there was a faster way to go about it.
With Roll20’s Compendium feature, you can legit look up any rule, monster, item, and more from the D&D books that you own through the Marketplace on Roll20. I went ahead and bought a number of my favorites just so I could have their information in a quick and easy-to-access format. Let me tell you–it really saves time.
What About Named Campaigns?
So to explore how well Roll20 prepares the named Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, I went ahead with Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus, since I had the hardcover and was quite familiar with the campaign already. I wanted to have a way to solidly compare the Roll20 experience of the campaign with the paper-and-pencil. This is all from the DM’s perspective, by the way.
Presentation and organization was top-notch with your monster tokens, magic items, Chapter notes all organized in order. Certain Gazette entries, background pages, and more provided you with hyperlinks within those Chapter notes. This allowed for quick access to relevant information, which I absolutely enjoyed.
What about maps, I hear you ask? Thankfully, they included all the maps from the hardcover. Roll20 has well-adapted these maps so that your tokens can move around them nicely within the grids.
Homebrewing new stuff into your campaigns works as easy as using the Dungeon Master’s Journal. You can also upload custom graphics and tokens. My favorite part is being able to add new encounters and flesh out parts of a campaign that you think need more. But this is mainly because I lean more towards creating my own original campaigns. Roll20 takes good care of the named campaigns. You could run them on their own in a reliable manner!
More Than Dungeons & Dragons
While I had first started using Roll20 because I wanted to play Dungeons & Dragons with my friends during a pandemic lockdown, I came to quickly discover that the platform was made for all sorts of TTRPGs like Call of Cthulhu, Roll20’s own exclusive Burn Bryte, and, much to my delight, even Warhammer Fantasy. Even without the initial motivation for getting into Roll20, there’s quite a few games that would’ve drawn me in.
Final Thoughts
The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly forced us to change a lot in the way that we live. It’s been great having the Video and Voice functions of Roll20 to allow us to see and hear each other. But Roll20 plays more than just a way to help connect TTRPG gamers during these hard times. With its solid design, I can see it fast becoming a way that future TTRPGs may be played. Dungeon Masters are always the vastly smaller portion of the TTRPG community. But this platform gives even people in remote communities a chance to find a game to hop into. Roll20 has actually been out for a while, but it has since exploded and likely won’t be stopping for breath anytime soon.
Platforms like Roll20 will open up the whole world for players and Dungeon Masters alike. Also, parties can be assembled faster and campaigns can get started sooner, which is a plus for everyone. Sure there’s Discord, but getting to have the visual elements like maps and tokens, and even a music player built into the Roll20 platform–it really helps bring out the fun that I’ve come to appreciate of Dungeons & Dragons. Give it a try, folks!
Pau Gómez is the Slickster Girl of the week. This native of Spain is tearing up the numbers with a rapidly growing following on Instagram.
It has long been known that Latinas are some of the most passionate and beautiful women on the Earth. What makes them that way could be be one of hardest questions to answer. What men do know, however, is that there is something special about Latin women. Could it be the fact that Latinas embrace all that is feminine and that in-turn inspires men to be masculine?
Pau loves being a sexy woman, posing and having fun for the camera. It doesn’t matter if there is anyone one watching or not – even when shopping for food – she loves to tease and laugh. If you haven’t already checked out her social pages, make sure you do, and if you like what you see here, be sure to check back for more of the hottest undiscovered women online.
Get more GREEN than the Grinch hugging a Christmas tree.
Christmas is coming at us like a speeding train with Casey Jones holding the conductor’s reigns. Grateful Dead fans will understand what that means!
If you’re one of the millions of people out there who are having trouble making your budget cover your holiday spending, there’s a silver lining to go alongside all of those silver bells. You can turn pocket change into Christmas cash with online gambling. So instead of tossing your coins into a bucket outside of the local supermarket, why not try to make your money work for you this Christmas.
Now is the perfect time to get in on the action.
If you haven’t already gotten into playing online slots to help kick some of your winter blues. Not only will the excitement of winning money from the comfort of your couch be a great boost but also, you’ll be putting some jingle in your pocket. In fact, if you think about it, you stand to gain more than you’ll ever lose. This is especially true if you play smart. Jingle all the way… to the bank!
Online Gaming the Smart Way
If you keep your wits about you, making with online gaming is easy as well as entertaining. Let’s look at some ways to do that.
Firstly, keep in mind that you can only lose what you bet. Set yourself a budget and stick to it. Know what you can stand to lose before you start playing. If somehow you don’t hit during your session, stop playing.
Next, you have to know when to quit. If you triple your money and feed it all back into the slot machines, you didn’t win. So, set yourself a limit. Go in with a goal. Set a number to cash out at. For instance, tell yourself, “When I hit 400, I’ll cash out.” Then stick to the plan. Once you cash out, you can look at your new budget and reset your goals. Just make sure you’re walking away before your hot streak ends.
Most importantly, find a good place to play. You can’t just go throwing your online gaming money at every site with slots and expect to come out on top. Look for good deals and high payouts. For instance, you can get 80 free spins from Jackpot City. That gives you a good start on putting some extra money in your pocket.
Maximize Good Times and Profit
If you’ve ever been to a casino with your friends, you know it can be so much more fun than going alone. The comradery that comes from winning money together is hard to beat. If you don’t want to get out in the cold to hit the casino with your pals, having a group online gaming session is the next best thing.
You could go about this two ways. On one hand, you get on your favorite voice chat program and all hit up the same virtual casino. On the other hand, you could get some friends together at your house and rake in the winnings together. You could even order food and booze from your favorite local spot to really make it a party.
Go Get Your Holiday Money
One thing is for sure. The holidays are easier with a little extra money in your pocket. Whether you’re trying to buy gifts for your extended family or trying to get that top-shelf liquor for your new year’s celebration, the opportunity is at your fingertips.
It doesn’t matter if you’re flying solo or getting the gang together, it is a great time to hit the virtual casino and fatten your wallet. If you follow the advice above you’re sure to have a great time doing it. Remember, the most important thing to do is to make a plan and stick to it.
So make a plan, get comfortable, and get out there and take some of that slot machine cash for yourself. If anyone is going to strike it rich from online gaming it might as well be you, right?
More sports related and sports wagering tutorials on Slickster Magazine
While the world around us has pretty much gone sideways in 2020, there are some things that will never change. For example, when you are trying to go out somewhere, your woman will always take FOREVER to get ready to go. Slickster Girl of the Week, Costi Perez, admits that she is the same way. It takes her way too much time for her to get ready to go, choose her outfit, and put on her make up.
Costi knows she’s worth the wait though. She really loves getting dressed up (or down for the beach), and enjoys feeling sexy and feminine. But the finished product takes a lot of hard work behind the scenes to get ready. Costi works out 4-5 times a week, maintains a healthy diet, and keeps her surrounded with good and loving people who support her goals. At the end of the day, she is ready to step out into the world with the confidence that radiates among all she meets.
POWERNERD, an electronic musician from Austria, will release his newest album of original synthwave music on December 18, 2020. Titled, “Destroy To Create”, it is comprised of seven polished electronic compositions.As the title implies, there is a dark, seductive, vibe to the music.
The notion of‘destroy to create’ is an interesting concept that has been pondered by mankind for eons.In essence, it suggests that if something new and (presumably) better is to take the place of something old (and toxic or broken), that the best way to achieve this is to demolish the established person, place or thing.Colloquially, “you have to break some eggs to make an omelet.”
Inherent in this quasi-anarchistic conviction, is that whatever is to replace the annihilated will be far superior in all ways to the vanquished.But where one cowboy may need to break an egg or two for a tasty breakfast, another will caution, “If it ain’t broke. Don’t fix it.”Which of these two credos (or mixture of them) an individual identifies with can drastically shape their own outlook on life, art, and relationships.
While no reflection on the actual music from the album, the concept of “Destroy to Create” seems appropriate for a year (2020) that has seen its fair share of trials.Yet, there is an understated sense that Powernerd leaves the listener short of the intrinsic promise of destruction followed by creation.Destroy to Create, while a notable entry into the synthwave family, is still firmly grounded in a style that could benefit from more deviations from the norm.Taking a few more musical risks and bending the listener’s ear slightly more would have elevated Destroy to Create to excellence above its peers.
If one would destroy, what would that exactly look like?
A romantic Hollywood interpretation of the Apocalypse?Five days without potable water, hot showers, and clean clothes may be acceptable when one is traveling by foot through rugged outdoor terrain.However, as the shelves cleared of consumer goods during the COVID-19 panic, we learned that reality is not as glamorous.
We caught up with Powernerd to drill much deeper into these subjects, pin point some specific tracks on his new album, and much more.
Powernerd Interview – 12/6/2020
Slickster – What does the phrase “destroy to create” mean to you?
Powernerd – Sometimes you have to destroy things to keep on going. Talking from a creative perspective: with Powernerd I felt kind of stuck after “Far from Human“. We were a full blown band with lots of stuff going on. Our focus was on playing live and delivering the best shows possible. We had a very good time and we met many dope people. but all the strings attached stressed me out more and more. I was responsible for the music, and also for all the technical aspects of the show, it was quite complex. This and the fact that we played the gigs in our costumes where you couldn’t breathe and see anything made playing live not enjoyable….
So, when Covid started I had time to rethink my values, and I decided to end the band and start fresh. That was the time I came up with the title as I also had the impression that I “destroyed“the band, to be able to “create“ new music. It was a tough decision, but it was totally worth it.
Slickster – I think that’s why so many people used to enjoy the Terminator film franchise; Because they could watch the world get destroyed, but eventually it was rebuilt in a better way. However, 2020 has shown us that the destruction of society may look more like people fist fighting for toilet paper, while the uber-wealthy get even richer.Does this hypothetical, very realistic, destruction scare you?
Powernerd – To be honest, secretly I wish that this whole fucking capitalist system would break apart and humanity could have a fresh start. It was such a beautiful thing to see a sky without planes and everything slowed down.
But the fact that the super rich, like Jeff Bezos (Amazon), took advantage of the crisis to even get richer makesme both angry and sad. I mean, what has to happen that we finally stop exploiting this planetand rethink our values? Right now we live in crazy times and I fear we have not reached its peak.
Powernerd celebrates in the studio the completion of an album.
Slickster – According to the First Law of Thermodynamics, energy can neither be created or destroyed. Does this contradict the “destroy to create” philosophy?
Powernerd – No, not at all….you can also understand it in a “LEGO“ way: As a child I loved playing with LEGOs.And one dope thing was that you could build two completely different things with one kit (Of course you can build way more than two things out of one kit, but on its instructions were always two things.) So, if you built one, you destroyed it and then built the other one. Destroy to Create hehe….
Destroying in fact just means to break something down and put it together new. No loss of energy here 🙂
Slickster – Your new album has seven tracks, including some collaborations with Dana Jean Phoenix and Baldocaster. Do you have a favorite track among the “magnificent seven”?
Powernerd –No, not really 🙂
VIENNA, AUSTRIA. Dana Jean Phoenix rocking the Keytar. 03.16.2018. PHOTO BY: PETER GORDEBEKE
Slickster – A triad in music is a cluster of three or more notes, commonly forming a chord. On your album you have a track titled, “Dark Triads”. Was this a play on words, or a musical joke in the title?
Powernerd – Thanks for the question!! Yeah, you can understand it as “dark chord“, but it also has a meaning. I will quote Wikipedia here: “In psychology the dark triad comprises the personality traits of narcissism, Macchiavellianism and psychopathy. They are called “dark“ because of their malevolent qualities.“
Slickster –Apeirophobia is the irrational fear of infinity or eternity. Why did you name track #4 on your album this? Are you afraid of eternity?
Powernerd – Yes! In fact, I have this fear since I am a child. I am not afraid of death, but of the eternity that waits behind it. I am pretty sure that there is nothing after death and my consciousness will be gone, but the fear keeps somehow present.
Slickster – Track #5, “Pushing Binaries”, seems to really stretch tonality to nearly the point of breaking. It is an excellent example of new-ish atonalism that is surfacing in modern electronic music. How did you conceive this track and ultimately compose it?
Powernerd – I tried to focus on one sound (the bassline) and resample and modulate it.So, instead of using more sounds, I manipulated the bass sound in many different ways!
Slickster – What direction do believe synthwave will be going in the next five years?
Powernerd – I guess it will split up in more and more subgenres. There will always be the classic synthwave/outrun stuff, but there is also cyberpunk, darksynth, the more midtempo stuff, shredwave, new wave-ish stuff….pop synthwave and many more styles.
Slickster – Which musicians are you currently listening to, and/or being inspired by?
Powernerd – I listen to a lot of electronic music, mainly heavy stuff. I really like the new Kloud album, F.o.o.l is dope, Power Glove are my heroes.
Slickster –Thanks for chatting with us about your new album, “Destroy to Create”.We wish you all the best of luck in your musical endeavors! Is there is anything else you would like to say or add to the interview that we didn’t mention or get to bring up?
Powernerd – Hey, thank you!! I really enjoyed the questions!
Dan Lipton is a DC native who honed his folk chops at the famous Gypsy Sally’s. The venue was known as a place where lovers of American roots music would congregate. It was known for focusing on bluegrass, Americana, and folk music primarily. The influence of the environment is clear in both “Mix Tapes” and “Water Rising”.
I’ve been listening to a lot of folk and bluegrass lately so, I was excited to check out this release. I liked “Mix Tapes” so much that I decided to give the album a spin. I’m going to tell you about both of them.
Dan Lipton Finds Gold in His Mix Tapes
As the story goes, Dan Lipton inherited a ’69 Baracuda from his grandfather. He filled it up and hit the open road. While cruising in an American class, he dug out his old mix tapes and turned the joyride into a trip down memory lane.
The track is almost a diary of that trip. Dan takes you on the cross-country journey with him. It’s a smooth ride.
This is kind of the poppier, cleaner kind of folk music. Lipton does it well. His vocals and acoustic guitar work harken back to something a little more country but the added accompaniment pulls the track in a poppier direction. It’s a really well-put-together song and the production on it is smooth as glass.
My only issue with this track is that it isn’t available on Spotify. The fact that this song isn’t on the album is a damned shame. I could say the same about another of his Soundcloud-exclusive tracks called “Television”. That one feels much more country and is probably my favorite Dan Lipton song. Give it a listen while you’re at it.
“Water Rising”
I liked those two tracks enough that I decided I had to see what Dan Lipton had to offer on the album. I was not disappointed. Something I learned pretty quickly about Lipton is that he knows how to balance his style. Some songs are more poppy while others let the country roots shine. Honestly, I like my folk music as close to outlaw country as it can get. Lipton gave me what I wanted and more.
The instrumentation and vocals are solid from front to back. Lipton switches vocal styles a little to fit the tune but he always sounds great. He has spent years honing his craft and it shows. It’s a damned good album.
Standout Tracks
This is one of those albums that you can put on and not have to skip songs. There’s enough variety to hold your interest but everything is solid. I did have some favorites on the album, though.
“Four to the Floor”
“Four to the Floor” is the most likely track to end up on one of my playlists. This song sounds damned near like honkytonk and I love it. The lyrics center on Lipton not being able to play rock and roll.
While it sounds like honky-tonk, Dan doesn’t put a fake twang in his voice. I am deeply appreciative of that. There’s plenty of twang in his guitar solos. That’s right where it needs to be.
For my ears, there are only two things that would make this track better. You could add a fiddle and steel guitar or take away everything but Lipton and his acoustic. As it stands, though, this is still my favorite track on the album.
“Shotgun Wedding”
All folk music has a little country and western in its soul. The question is, how many other influences are covering it up. It’s that looseness that makes it such an interesting and vast genre.
This track has its country roots fully on display. A little later in the track, the guitar flirts with a psychedelic rock solo before returning to the more rootsy sound of the rest of the track. This is great songwriting on display.
All in All…
All in all, would I recommend this album? Definitely. There’s a little something in it for everyone. Check out his Soundcloud while you’re at it. There’s some great stuff there as well.
The album “Water Rising” is available to stream on Spotify now.
Crystal Marie Escobedo is the featured model for September 6, 2020. This curvy latina is not only an up and coming Instagram model, she is also a licensed real estate agent. Taking her cues from the some of the best agents in the business, she always trying to close the deal and make sales. When she isn’t hustling to score new listings or finalizing contracts, Escobedo loves traveling. She visits Mexico and other warm weather destinations, and never turns down the opportunity to go to the beach. Suns out, buns out.
Crystal hopes that social media can be the conduit through which she connects and inspires others. She often posts inspirational quotes next to her sultry images.
“Life never fails to take me places I need to be, every ticking moment is filing my spirit,” Escobedo. “It’s not only being physically present but being emotionally conscious.”
Up an coming pop singer-songwriter, dancer, and all-around artist Blake Langdale released the video for his latest single “Streets” earlier this fall. This is the indie pop video that you didn’t know you needed to see this year. The fact that “Streets” isn’t at the top of several user’s YouTube recommendations is, frankly, a damned shame.
Blake Langdale: A Multifaceted Artist
Now, I’ll be upfront and admit that I’m not sure if the indie pop label I attached to “Streets” fits or not. Like I’ve said before, I may not be familiar with many modern genres and their offshoots but my ears know what they like. The track sounds poppy but there is a definite artsy avant garde element to it. The song and accompanying video are polished and absolutely ready for mass consumption. The difference is that nothing about the release feels cookie-cutter. Langdale’s work is obviously art made from the soul as opposed to being cooked up in a board room.
(Photo courtesy of Working Brilliantly)
Much of the same could be said about Langdale himself. He has the kind of polished good looks that you would expect to see on a billboard or the silver screen. Instead of just flexing his looks on the world, the man brings some serious talent to the masses. Not only does he play several instruments as well as sing he is also an accomplished dancer. The man has even developed electronic tap shoes. The guy is pretty much the definition of multifaceted.
“Streets”
The song itself is a dreamy and surreal pop banger. It goes from smooth to sexy and back again in just over three minutes. In the song, Langdale showcases his expert lyricism and composition as well as his vocal range. Langdale may not be sitting on top of the charts just yet but it’s not for lack of talent or passion.
The video for the track is even more interesting. It tells the story of a man who loses everything and then finds himself through community. The story is told through the lens of the current pandemic, protests, and the aftermath of riots.
Throughout the narrative, Langdale takes time to showcase his dance skills. This includes some solo dancing during the hook, some group choreography, and even a short dance battle.
The video deals with current events but the story it contains is timeless. An individual rising from defeat to triumph is one that will always be both relatable and inspirational.
In short, don’t sleep on Blake Langdale or “Streets”.
Holly Jo Anne White is the Slickster Magazine Girl of the Week. This go-getter takes the world head on and has a drive for success that out paces most young ladies. White was eager to share her outlook on life in a recent interview with Slickster Mag.
“This is your life and you only live once,” says White, referencing her daily mantra. White is a three time UCA All-Star cheerleader, a recognized brand ambassador, and was recently selected to pose for Playboy Magazine.
White continues, “sometimes opportunities only come around once, so set all fear aside and just start consistently making baby steps to reach your goals and always keep your best interests in mind.”
Holly describes herself in three words, “fierce, feminine, and fabulous.” Naturally, when a woman embraces these traits, it requires a man of excellence to win her hand. She elaborates on which qualities she finds attractive in a guy.
“What I find attractive in a man is how he treats me, what his values are, and his character and principles,” says White. “I care way more about who the person is than any physical trait. Obviously assuming I’m already attracted to the person of course.” Guys who are lazy or have negative attitudes is a no-go for Holly. Also, being abusive and name-calling total deal breaker.
Holly is an avid sports fan, which only makes sense. In many aspects, competitive sports is modern-day form of simulated combat. It takes a lot of intelligence, training & discipline, and what some coaches call “intestinal fortitude” to be victorious. That means athletes have to have the will to win, and organize their daily routine to condition their bodies to achieve beyond their physical limitations.
No wonder White enjoys watching football, cheerleading, going to baseball games and more. Nothing to slight the many talented and motivated female athletes, but there is something inherently masculine about sports stars. They evoke confidence, the warrior spirit, and the inner code of conduct which drives them to inspiring feats of achievement. While some women claim that these traits are not alluring to them, White embraces all that makes men… men.
“There is something refreshing about a man that is proud of and wants to take care of the woman in his life,” says White.
Holly Jo Anne White is published model in Playboy and knows just how hard it can be to survive in the modeling world. She offered some practical advice for other young ladies who may want to follow in her footsteps.
“For the young girls wanting to start modeling. It’s a cutthroat industry. The best advice I can give is stay true and authentic to you,” says White.
“Do not let people walk all over you because if given the chance, they will try to take advantage of you. Remember why you started and always remain humbled and grateful.”
Holly continues, “Do not burn bridges and relationships over petty issues. Do what makes you happy and forget what the negative people say. You’ll have critics no matter what you do, so don’t be afraid to be you and do what you feel is right for yourself.”
