why remixes rule (sometimes)

Remixes can be rough, generic and downright awful;  they can either completely fuck up your favourite song, or make you see it from an entirely different dynamic. Granted, the tumblr-esque images that form the still videos of thousands of youtube remixes do put me off, and often for good purpose (many of them just sound totally unoriginal). There are however, some gems hidden in the sea of grey, and I have picked out my top three (in no particular order).

1. HONEY // SWIM DEEP (OCEAAN REMIX)

Oceaan has the beautiful touch of a stoned angel - he adds a dreamy, light twist to what was a tacky (but loveable) boy band pop song. The remix resonates with oozing, enhanced vocals and reverb, with minimalistic hair-swishing beats laid underneath. Perfect for lazing languidly on your bed after a hard day at school.

2. OBLIVION // GRIMES (RYAN HEMSWORTH REMIX)

Another genius track - Hemsworth manages to weave in a rap song, ticking electronic drums, and crazy synths to grimes' haunting single in under four minutes twenty seconds.

3. HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN // DIIV (MOONS 美愛 REMIX)

I have saved the best till last. Despite sounding nothing at all like the original Diiv song and the fact I have no idea what the bits in Japanese mean, I think that this is probably one of my favourite remixes that I've ever found. It has elements of both the Ryan Hemsworth and Cceaan remixes, but combines them with a song completely unlike the other two. The result? A strange, whiney oriental sounding mess. And I mean that in the best way possible. Promise.

-written by avalon x x

Pussy Power

Avril Lavinge (as I remember her)

Ok so I have recently rekindled my love of terrible noughties and nineties girl pop - and we're talking Avril Lavigne and Taylor Swift. I am totally aware that none of these lovely ladies write their own music and are basically purely performers, but that doesn't mean I can't (if not slightly ironically), enjoy their music. I've recently realised that many of the bands and musicians I listen to regularly are male (like Peace, David Bowie, Tame Impala and The Smiths) and even though there are some killer girl bassists (Kim Gordon and Kim Deal amongst them) and singers (Haim, Ellie from Wolf Alice), there is a severe deficiency of badass girl pop in my musical diet.

Part of this love for Avril Lavigne is nostalgic - she was my first music obsession. At age eight, I'd sit in my room with her album 'Let Go' on repeat, and her songs soundtracked many sleepovers and family holidays. With her fingerless gloves, neon hair and skater boyfriends, she was literally my idol. I wanted to be her. My friends and I made dance routines to her songs and I even learnt one of them in Japanese. In retrospect it was embarrassing but sweet, a tween obsession.

However, I'm not totally lacking in girlzzz. Grimes is, basically, an electro-pop fairy. She is almost a mature version of Avril Lavigne, but instead of some old man writing her songs for her, she does literally everything herself. From the album artwork to the studio production, to co-producing and directing (whilst starring in) the music videos, she is just an all-round wonder woman.

- written by avalon x