![INTERVIEWS // Exclusive with FRACTURES]()
by Miné Salkin | Jan 19, 2014 | Featured, interviews, live action, news, song of the day, technology, television, Uncategorized
Mark Zito, better known as Fractures, is an up and coming electronic musician from Melbourne, Australia. He first grabbed my attention several months back after his single “Twisted” was featured by MrSuicideSheep, one of YouTube’s most subscribed to electronic music pages. The exposure did well for Fractures, who now has over a quarter of a million plays on Souncloud for this track alone. Now garnering the attention and approval of of heavy hitters like the Guardian and Gotye, Fractures is indeed on the brink of many great things, and is a sure artist to be watching for this year with the release of his upcoming EP.
Fractures as a sound is not the easiest thing to describe or explain; Zito’s multilayered approach to songwriting is smooth, relaxed yet melancholy, and always feels like it’s reaching for something the heart desires. With compelling lyrics that touch on the loneliness, unrequited love and other topics of the human condition, Fractures’ combination of electronic chillwave, dreamy pop vibes and lush warm vocals come together and create some of the most pleasing soundscapes I have heard of late.
Listen to this podcast of a phone conversation I had with Mark, discussing his new fandom, thoughts on new music, arrested development and favourite superpowers.
![INTERVIEWS // Exclusive with FRACTURES]()
by Miné Salkin | Sep 19, 2013 | interviews, live action, news, song of the day, technology, television, Uncategorized
I’m not quite sure where to begin when it comes to explaining my love for MrSuicideSheep, the ultimate tastemaker in EDM on YouTube, perhaps even the universe – though maybe that’s contested.
In any case, this song is truly incredible. Produced by a lone wolf in Melbourne, Mark Zito, aka FRACTURES, this man has so much potential, an old soul and a lush voice that lulls you into that warm safe place. MrSuicideSheep’s endorsement has done very well for Zito, giving him much deserved exposure for his track “Twisted.” With heartfelt lyrics and an amazing beat, the song is both depressing and uplifting, touching on the demon of loneliness that plagues each and every one of us from time to time. Amazing.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3EMzMQ1w58]
Here is another track just because he’s that good 🙂
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/106123888″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
by Miné Salkin | Nov 18, 2010 | interviews
FOR THE BLOCK MAGAZINE. CHECK OUT THE ORIGINAL STORY HERE
If I wasn’t getting called a faggot I honestly don’t think I’d be pushing the envelope far enough.
Acid washed denim. Rainbow coloured war paint. Anthematic new wave. These are the things that Special Affections are made of. Hailing from Oshawa, Ontario, John O’Regan has made a name for himself as the shimmering, gender-bending artist and epicentre of Diamond Rings. With a strong penchant for retro basketball attire and a love of David Bowie, Regan seamlessly weaves together all the best artifacts of the 1980s. Although he’s probably best known as the bespectacled guitarist in techno rock outfit The D’Ubervilles, Regan’s solo work shines as vividly as his bejwelled name implies. The 25-year-old gave us some time to talk about his debut, which was released October 26th.
You’ve been described before as a gender-bending glam rocker in the same style as David Bowie. How have you been received in the hipster-heavy music scene in Toronto?
I don’t really think about Toronto being a hipster hotbed as much as a great place where my friends and I live and work on our art and music. The whole concept of something being hipster is fraught with so many contradictions that I try to avoid thinking about it altogether. The ultimate in cool is being yourself and not giving a second thought to whether or not you’re going to end up as a “Do” or a “Don’t” in the Sunday style section. Toronto, of course, is one of my favourite places to be myself.
A lot of musicians who wield an original, unusual genre often get stereotyped. Have you had to break though any particular stereotypes, or felt misunderstood?
My entire life, really. I think everyone feels as though they can’t relate at some point in their lives, and expressing those feelings openly is what Diamond Rings is all about. I cut a fairly striking figure when I’m all dressed up so obviously I have to deal with homophobes and jerks all the time. That’s part of the process though, challenging others by first challenging myself. If I wasn’t getting called a faggot I honestly don’t think I’d be pushing the envelope far enough.
(more…)
by Miné Salkin | Jun 29, 2010 | news, technology
YouTube has developed and released a new video editor that allows users to easily cut and remix their videos in an easier, more steamlined way.
While it’s no Final Cut Pro, or even iMovie for that matter, the free video program is pretty sweet. You know that face that people give after their tutorial, when they’re turning their webcam off? That’s easily croppable with the scissor tool when a video clip is on the timeline. Not only that, but it offers up thousands of songs and audio from their AudioSwap library.
In my first short documentary, Remixing Culture, I took a quick look at the YouTube Mashup Helper that was developed in 2007. YouTube’s newest offering is way better. You can even make a mashup of all your previous videos as they show up under your files tab on the left screen.
Try it yourself! Be warned though: it’s very addictive.
by Miné Salkin | Mar 18, 2010 | television
This video is fantastic. We need more like it!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJsQcnB6GC0]
Here’s the original
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DyQmYH14Rs]
