KT Tunstall on the Making of Her New Album, WAX

KT Tunstall on the Making of Her New Album, WAX

[Originally published in Performer magazine, December 2018]  “Long live vinyl!” KT Tunstall signed off on our interview, signaling her deep adoration for an age that came before her. The singer-songwriter is known for her 2004 album Eye to the Telescope, featuring singles like “Suddenly I See,” “Other Side of the World,” and the chart-topping folk-blues stomp … Continue reading

Building A Movement Against Donald Trump

Building A Movement Against Donald Trump

“Today, we face the rise of Donald Trump with frustration, fear, and anger. We understand the chilling uncertainty facing our already long-suffering brothers and sisters, immigrants, Muslims, people of color, queer and trans people, and women, as violent, right-wing bigots are actively targeting them. And together, we approach this new era diligent in our fight … Continue reading

Pandora: Drop those Right-Wing, Pro-Life Ads

Pandora: Drop those Right-Wing, Pro-Life Ads

TUNE IN: An alert was issued yesterday afternoon by growing women’s rights organization Ultra Violet that popular free streaming radio service Pandora is running political ads that prey on pregnant women. While the messages in question are documented as having been “on air” since May of this year, they’re just now getting the attention they deserve. “These deceptive … Continue reading

Jezebel to Gawker: “We Have a Rape Gif Problem”

Jezebel to Gawker: “We Have a Rape Gif Problem”

“… if another workplace was essentially requiring its female employees to manage a malevolent human pornbot, we’d report the hell out of it here and cite it as another example of employers failing to take the safety of its female employees seriously. But it’s happening to us.” — Jezebel Staff [Originally shared at LadyClever.com]  IN A … Continue reading

Curvy Girl Lingerie Welcomes Controversy

Curvy Girl Lingerie Welcomes Controversy

[Originally shared at LadyClever.com] It’s time to size-up  Silicon Valley in a whole new way. Though the region is renowned for game-changing developments like Google and Facebook, a female entrepreneur with a brick-and-mortar store on the scene in San Jose is hosting a tech revolution of her own, using the web to push open doors for … Continue reading

Comedian Sarah Silverman Says Goodbye to Her Best Friend

Comedian Sarah Silverman Says Goodbye to Her Best Friend

Always self-deprecating, sunny but acerbic comedian Sarah Silverman shrugged off her heartfelt goodbye to her pet simply an “obituary type thing” when she shared it on her blog.  But it was a befitting fond farewell that she bid to her best friend. Sarah’s nineteen year-old Chihuahua-Pug mix, whose given name is apparently Doug Silverman but went by the nickname “Duck,” … Continue reading

More Women Dying From Drug Overdose Than Car Accidents

More Women Dying From Drug Overdose Than Car Accidents

[LadyClever.com originally hosted this post.] Buckle up. The well-kept secret of dangerous drug abuse by American women has been exposed in a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Since 2007, more women have died each year from drug overdoses than from motor vehicle-related injuries, and deaths and hospital visits due to overdose continue to … Continue reading

Funny Business: The Fresh Feminism of “Inside Amy Schumer”

Funny Business: The Fresh Feminism of “Inside Amy Schumer”

[Originally hosted at LadyClever.com.] The potty-mouthed, pouty-lipped ladies cracking wry jokes about how lazy, smelly, gross, and generally sleazy they are, wore thin for me just a few disappointing episodes into “Two Broke Girls” and “Whitney”.  As such, I definitely did not expect to dig comedienne Amy Schumer’s new sketch-comedy show, “Inside Amy Schumer”, chalking it up as … Continue reading

Her-Story: Documenting Wonder Woman’s Legacy

Her-Story: Documenting Wonder Woman’s Legacy

[LadyClever.com orginally hosted this post.]  “Change their minds and change the world,” the old Wonder Woman theme song reminded little girls glued to the TV at home. Now, a team of filmmakers has harnessed that same spirit to showcase the story of the lasso-wielding lady and her impact on our culture, comic book and otherwise, with their documentary “Wonder Woman! … Continue reading

Gender Through Comics #SuperMOOC Art

Gender Through Comics #SuperMOOC Art

This spring, I had the distinct privilege of taking part in a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) promoted by the Generalissimo Stan Lee and led by esteemed Professor Christina Blanch via Ball State University, aptly dubbed the Super MOOC. Prof. Blanch is a doctoral candidate well-versed in women’s studies, who happens to also be a comic book … Continue reading

Designer Donte Livingston’s Successes and Strife in the Fashion Industry

Designer Donte Livingston’s Successes and Strife in the Fashion Industry

  [This interview initially appeared at LA Splash.com.] Incredible luck seems to have lead Donte “Luxe” Livingston down a successful path, but it’s his own inextinguishable innate talent that’s taken Donte from a fashion passionate Philadelphia boy to head designer at his own ready-to-wear costume line. His mother nurtured his early crush on clothes, and especially appreciated … Continue reading

Naked Ambition: Is Lena Dunham’s Nudity Liberating or Distracting?

Naked Ambition: Is Lena Dunham’s Nudity Liberating or Distracting?

[LadyClever.com originally hosted this blog.] I’ve been on board throughout Lena Dunham really sticking it to the man on her HBO show Girls this season; intentionally instigating the naysayers by flaunting her “famous” family, disregarding racial quotas, and bearing her breasts and belly shamelessly. [Season two spoiler alert, don’t read on if you’re not caught up to episode five of season two.] … Continue reading

The Federal Bar’s Premium Prixe Fixe Dinner

The Federal Bar’s Premium Prixe Fixe Dinner

[This review originally appeared at LASplash.com.] The extraordinary daily offerings at The Federal Bar are among the most choice California cuisine The NoHo Arts District has to offer. Mini-Stuffed Bleu Cheese Burgers top the appetizers as one of my go-to’s, especially since they’re available in both premium Angus beef and veggie varieties. The generous Greco Burger has none of the gamey aftertaste that … Continue reading

#sorryimnotsorry: No, I Don’t Own A Fixie

#sorryimnotsorry: No, I Don’t Own A Fixie

[This essay was originally hosted at LadyClever.com] Counterculture king Joseph Gordon-Levitt makes everything look cool. And in the 2012 film Premium Rush, JoGo plays a bike messenger in bustling Manhattan, named Wilee. Other riders have a laugh at his expense because he’s nerdily fascinated with what’s colloquially known as his “fixie”: a fixed-gear, steel-frame bicycle … Continue reading

Dan The Automator: Pillowfight & Other Projects

Dan The Automator: Pillowfight & Other Projects

[ReDigi’s blog originally hosted this music news feature.] If you loved the Lovage, baby, you’ll love Pillowfight. Serial collaborator and super producer Dan the Automator is poised to make an impact with indie ingenue Emily Wells, a sort of sultry torch singer and violinist with hip-hop sensibilities. Last year her debut album Mama was acclaimed by outlets like NPR and … Continue reading

Prince Teases New Album and Collaboration With Girl Group

Prince Teases New Album and Collaboration With Girl Group

[Originally posted at ReDigi‘s blog.] Though no formal album announcements have come from his camp, pop royalty Prince continues to tease loyal fans with new tracks and surprise performances. The latest, “Screwdriver,” debuted on his website via an eight-minute video that will set viewers back two bucks to watch. He previously released another sultry appetizer, “Breakfast Can Wait.” In addition … Continue reading

Fonda: Transatlantic Recording with a Vintage Touch

Fonda: Transatlantic Recording with a Vintage Touch

[Originally printed in Performer magazine’s February 2013 issue.] Though they shine behind the scenes in Hollywood, putting music to television and film, David Klotz and Emily Cook have been back in the studio with their L.A. indie rock outfit, Fonda, and they’re primed to take center stage again. The band’s fourth LP Sell Your Memories is hitting shelves via … Continue reading

Idiosyncratic It-Girl Zooey Deschanel Fiercely Defends Feminism

Idiosyncratic It-Girl Zooey Deschanel Fiercely Defends Feminism

LadyClever.com hosts the original posting of this article.] Hold on to your peculiar hats manic pixie dreamgirls! Idiosyncratic it-girl Zooey Deschanel rang in the new year by giving the ax to the ol’ ‘adorkable’ act, speaking out in the February issue of Glamour magazine regarding society’s narrow perception that a feminist can’t be, well, feminine. The often out-spoken doe-eyed darling … Continue reading

Throwback: Five John Lennon Milestones

Throwback: Five John Lennon Milestones

[“John Lennon” original oil painting by Leonid Afremov. Post initially hosted at ReDigi.] While early December honors John Lennon‘s life on the anniversary of his death (December 8) and his haunting sociopolitical commentary turned Christmas song  “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” floods the airwaves for the holidays, it’s actually the apt transitional season of fall that holds many milestones for … Continue reading

Gratitude Art

Gratitude Art

I really set out this month to do the whole “Thankful Thirty” prompt, writing on things I’m grateful for daily. But I’m just not accustomed to the intimate narrative style of sharing in blogging yet.  The years that I’ve been working online have been journalistically.  Ha, well–  that is,  at least focused on topics that weren’t … Continue reading

SNL’s Cheeky Spoof of Brad Pitt’s Chanel No. 5 Ad

SNL’s Cheeky Spoof of Brad Pitt’s Chanel No. 5 Ad

[Originally posted to Gather.com] This weekend, acerbic sketch-comedy show Saturday Night Live took a jab at legendary luxury brand Chanel No. 5’s misguided new ad campaign. The scent’s attempt at subtle sophistication kind of stunk, and the funny franchise got a whiff of a wonderful opportunity for parody. The original ad for the titillating fragrance is titled “There You Are.” Harkening classic … Continue reading

Throwback: Top Five David Fincher-Directed Music Videos

Throwback: Top Five David Fincher-Directed Music Videos

[My Throwback music columns are originally hosted on the ReDigi.com blog.] Auteur David Fincher, known for such dark and engrossing directorial endeavors like Fight Club, Se7en, and more recently The Social Network and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, got his start in the now nearly lost art of music videos.  From pillars of pop music like Paula Abdul, Michael Jackson, and Madonna, to … Continue reading

‘Secrets of a Gay Mormon Felon’ the Unexpected Play From Author Kimball Allen

‘Secrets of a Gay Mormon Felon’ the Unexpected Play From Author Kimball Allen

[Originally hosted at LA Splash.] Through his play Secrets of a Gay Mormon Felon, fascinating Seattle playwright Kimball Allen has found unexpected relief in reenacting painful moments from his life and sharing their impact with his audience. Raised a devout Mormon, at 13 years-old he was subjected to a traumatic event that shattered his young spirit. Kimball carried on dutifully … Continue reading

Measure for Measure at The Whitmore Theatre in NoHo

Measure for Measure at The Whitmore Theatre in NoHo

[Originally written for LA Splash.]  Hosting another bold production of the Bard, The Porters of Hellsgate Theatre Company is currently staging Shakespeare‘s problematic comedy, otherwise known as one of his ‘broken’ dramas, Measure for Measure. The literal cautionary tale begins with two young lovers prosecuted for their acts of love and resulting child out of wedlock, which presents itself … Continue reading