Music to travel by. (Music III)

Leaving a few energy-cracking deadlines behind me, I'm writing a blog post again.

One of those deadlines was for a magazine. The magazine had to be about something or for someone, for which there wasn't a magazine on the market yet. I chose to make a magazine for people who are scared to travel, but do dream about doing it. I wanted to share experiences in this magazine, through illustrations and text. To make it complete, I added my 'ultimate travel playlist' (of that very moment. You know me, with my obsessions). Making this playlist reminded me of this place, and how 90% of my blog basically is me getting excited over music, so I had to share. I'm only going to put some highlights in this blogposts, though, since it would turn out way too long. The playlist itself ended up being 9 hours long. Happy traveling!

Suck it and See - Arctic Monkeys (Album)
This is where the whole idea of making a playlist started. For me, this is the ultimate travel album, it has all I need. Whenever I hear it, I get in travel mood and whenever I'm traveling and I hear it, it's just perfect. Ask me for one perfect recommendation? I would give you this.

Born to Die - Lana Del Rey (Album)
I love this album. I already did for quite a while, but I slightly forgot about it and I hadn't listened to it for so long, until I was looking for music for this playlist. It made me realize how amazing it is and how fantastic it would be whilst traveling. Silently enjoy, scream your lungs out; all you need, given to you by Lana Del Rey. (I really, really discovered National Anthem this week. What a song.)

Alone - Selah Sue (Song)
That voice, that beat, that song. It's just so dance-able and happy and would make every day better.

Runaway - Kanye West (Song)
I have been quite obsessed with this lately, but let's be honest here, this is amazing if you were to be traveling whilst listening to this. It has such a great vibe. Couldn't miss it.

Human - The Killers (Song)
Just put it on and sing. Sing really, really loudly. Let it all out.

Submarine - Alex Turner (Album)
If you, after this singing, need a moment to calm down, there is Submarine. Perfectly mellow and beautiful, to softly sing along to and to slowly fall in love with life.

After putting together this playlist and printing my magazine, you can imagine me hitting myself for the music I've forgotten. So much forgotten music. It's too much.

Have a nice life,
Xoxo
Winnie.

The full playlist on Spotify:
Reist. (Reist is the name of my magazine)

Distracted. (A look back)

I want to go to paris, I want to take the posters off off that one wall and re-paint it, I want to swim, I want to walk around in cute dresses, I want to photograph, I want to see Muse live, I want to go to a museum, I want to lay on the floor and listen to music, I want to nothing, I want to walk through London, I want to be at Plymouth university, I want to live on my own, I want to cook and eat good food, I want to dress up and wear heals, I want to eat out, I want an effortless, epic friendship, I want love, I want to read Submarine, I want to blog, I want to hand-make something beautiful, I want to not have a deadline, I want to have a free weekend, I want to be talented, I want new make-up, I want to watch Dan Howell.

Yes. It's one of those days. I want everything but this right now. Concentrating is a problem. 

(03-02-15) 

This is a post I wrote at the beginning of februari, which I just found again. Thought it's interesting, so posting it after all. This was near the end of internship and I was feeling very unsure about everything. At the moment I've kind of found my place again, but I can still really relate to all the things I was craving then. Fun to look back on that time like this, even more since internship has been in my head a lot these past few weeks. I tend to really miss being there every now and again.

Have a nice life,
Xoxo
Winnie.

Image thinkers.

I am an image thinker.

Something I found out today. Something that's going to make the start of our new project at school a bit harder then I'd like it to be.

Image thinkers don't get to the solution the logical way, by walking over the path via the steps you are taught to take. Image thinkers see the solution to a problem, and start working form there. They see the end product, after that they see how they'll be able to get there. (of course, after this, it goes way deeper, but to give you an idea of what I'm talking about here)

But that's not a bad thing, is it? I hear you thinking. No, it isn't. It's just another way of seeing the world and working with the problems you are given.
But for the project I have to make now, I've come across the fact that sometimes, it can be a problem. Sometimes, you have to walk the path you are taught to take. Sometimes you have to go past all those steps to do it 'right'. When thinking of a concept, for example.

For this project, I have to come up with an idea for a magazine with a theme or a target group for which/whom there is no magazine, yet. I have to be able to explain everything behind my idea. Why I chose the target group, why I chose the theme, what I want to tell the audience, what I want to achieve by making this magazine. All very nice, but not as easy as it may sound.

Because I found out I first think of what I want my magazine to look like. From that I start thinking how I could get to this point, what theme would fit this idea. I have been told by my teacher today, that this is not the way to go.

I had a part of my concept going strong, but there were a few gaps I couldn't seem to fill. So she told me to start from the beginning again. Start answering questions, so the idea will stand tall. But at the question of what I want to tell people, what I want to bring into the universe, I blank out. When I try to think of something, every single time, I end up with an idea of what the magazine could look like and try and fill it up from there.

Not sure how to get out of that, to be honest with you. What I can tell you is that it is quite annoying. I just want to have an idea and get started and make something already. Hopefully I will get some closure this week. Not sure how long I can keep this vicious circle going.

Any image thinkers out there who overcame this problem? If so, please share, I need it.

Have a nice life,
Xoxo
Winnie.

Music. II

Oh well hello there!
It has been a while (again, oops) and what better to come back with then with a Musical post?

Because there is some music I want to talk about. (All the links to the songs I mention will be at the bottom of the post.)

NEW MUSE! omg. I'll get to that later.

First:

As I told you in my last post, I went to London in February (and omg, was James McAvoy amazing in The Ruling Class. Dear god. Nothing but love.) During this trip I really, really got into Arctic Monkeys album Suck it and See. I listened to it on the bus taking us from the airport to the city that is London and I realized how amazing it is. Such a great album to have in your ears when approaching your favorite city in the world. My biggest discovery off off this album is Black Treacle. What a song, what a song.

Then there is Kanye West. Ooooh, Kanye West. What a month it has been for him. First, I discovered Nick Jonas' version of Only One (true love, just listen), which made me listen to the original again. I quite like it, let's be honest here. Listened to it a lot, switching from Nick to Kanye. Then All Day came out (And yes, what a performance at the Brit Awards). Ooooh dear do I love that one. Amazing. Has had quite a few listenes. Wow, Kanye, give me a full album already, thank you very much.
A bit longer ago I discovered My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and I haven't really stopped that obsession. What an album, that is. Glorious.

Next to that, I finally Shazammed a song used in a Macklemore and Ryan Lewis Fall Tour episode (EP.05) and I am so happy I did. It's TV on the Radio's Staring at the Sun. This song just makes every moment so, so happy and good. It really inspires me to vlog my time at Pinkpop and vacation with friends and edit it together with this song underneath it. So great. I also found Youth Lagoon's 17 this way (EP.03). Another great, great song to put underneath an edit to add instant emotion.

And, last but not least, Muse. MUSE.
Muse released the first song from their new upcoming album Drones yesterday: Psycho. It's so great. All I could think, all the way through, was How amazing would this be, played live. So much energy, so much guitar, so much love. I feel like it isn't amazingly different and new for Muse, it kind of reminded me of some other Muse songs, that I can't completely place just yet but I don't care one bit. It's the first song they bring out. Who know's what else is yet to come? And even if it isn't completely different and changing, I would still love it, because it will probably still be amazing. So excited for the album to come out. And maybe, even more, so excited to finally see Muse live this year at Pinkpop Festival.

And that's it, really. That's what I've been excessively listening to in the last while. Scroll down to find links to all the songs named above on Spotify.

Have a nice life,
Xoxo
Winnie.

Suck it and See 
Black Treacle
Only One
Only One (Nick Jonas version) ~Soundcloud~
All Day
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy 
MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS-2013 FALL TOUR DOCU SERIES-EP.05
MACKLOMORE & RYAN LEWIS-2013 FALL TOUR DOCU SERIES-EP.03
Staring at the Sun
17
Psycho ~YouTube~

Different.

Well then. Back at school. The first week has gone by. It's so weird.

First off, I'll tell you about how internship ended. It ended really nicely. On Thursday I treated everyone on cake and it was very appreciated. I got so many nice comments from various people around the store and I had a really, really good day.
On Friday, it was my last day and it was such a weird day. I didn't only had to finish up all the things I could, and clean up my station of everything me, but I also had to say goodbye to everyone and that scared me. Don't know why. But it was so nice. I had a present for my supervisor and the guy I worked with all these 5 months. They were very surprised I did, I don't know why. But after I gave them their present, it was their turn to surprise me. They had presents for me as well. Did not expect that in the slightest. So sweet. It made me feel so appreciated. Then I had to say goodbye to everyone and walk out of the building for the last time, being an intern. It felt really weird never walking in there the same way again. It felt so normal now.

The weekend after this was pretty stressful. I had to print and bind my pieces on the internship. I happily printed my internship report (which already didn't go as smoothly as I wanted it to) and bound it together, ready to move on to my portfolio, when everything went wrong. Pictures came out weird, it didn't look as professional as I was used to and to finish everything off, when I finally found the way to print it right, the new pack of paper I opened had a damp patch in it. Through the whole pack there was this waved up patch on the paper, making it unusable for this cause. I had to order new paper. But it was Sunday and everything had to be handed in on Monday. Everything sucked. Why didn't we just have a place nearby where I could just get the paper. Where did the damp patch come from anyway? The only solution was to order the paper and email my teacher with an explanation of the situation and the question if I could possibly hand it in later that week without it hitting my grade. Luckily he was really understanding and it was time for me to just wait 'till the paper came in.
Of course this didn't happen until Wednesday (usually it comes in the day after you order it, but even Tuesday something went wrong with delivery. Literally everything went wrong with this project.). Wednesday after school was all about printing, binding, visiting my internship company to give them a copy of my report and sign some last forms, and after that some more printing and binding. Luckily I got it all done and I could finally breathe. I could finally enjoy the free time I had after school.

Because I have free time again, now. Days 'till 3, not 6. Good life. Of course there is homework to be made, but it's so much more chilled out and I do have so much more free time. The assignments we got at school make everything even better. I really feel like I can work with them and make something great. This excites me.

Now we have a week off, though. Finally, some rest. No. Not really. First there is working 3 days in a row and then there is 4 days at London. London is my favourite place to be, though, so I am really looking forward to that. Then, on Saturday, it's my birthday and on Sunday there is working again. A pretty stuffed week, but a pretty nice and exciting week as well. On Wednesday we're going to see The Ruling Class with James McAvoy. Oooooh yes.

I'm going to leave it there. Long post. A lot to talk about. But now you're filled in again and I can just excite you with the exciting things to come, which will probably (hopefully) be talked about on here. In the meantime, keep an eye on my Instagram to see what I'm up to.

Have a nice life,
Xoxo
Winnie.

Goodbyes.

Let's be honest. I love it here. I'm sad to leave. The only thing I'm happy about is getting my free time back and being able to fully focus myself on a creative project. But if I could stay here, without working 3 jobs, I would. I really would. There are so many things here I like and that make me happy. To not have this anymore after having it for 5 month will be weird.

I will miss the walking everyday to and from internship. The ponies I walk past everyday (Dan, Ryan, Watson, Phil, Alex, Ben & George) (Yes, I gave them names). The little conversations about the weather or the coffee cookies with Patrick. The nice people walking around here. Feeling like I'm doing a good thing, like I'm really helping out, feeling appreciated by the people around me.
This just has been so good. And to have my very last week next week is odd. Then I will say goodbye and that will probably be it. This isn't really a place I come very often. I only see the outside from the backseat of the car every now and again. This will have a whole other meaning, now. And I love it.

I can't imagine what my last day will be like. What my goodbye will be like. I don't know if I can properly say goodbye to my supervisor. The thought of goodbye is just so weird. To give back a little I will treat everyone with cake (or pie, or tart, not sure. Vlaai, in dutch). I'm also giving my supervisor and the guy I've worked with all these 5 months some tea, because I'm the tea drinker around here and I want to give them something to remember me by (a little more special, different teas) and some chocolate, because why not. That's all I can do, I guess.

Excited to go back to school, but feeling weird about leaving here. Let's see how this ending goes.

Have a nice life,
Xoxo
Winnie.

Music.

I missed the birthday. The birthday of my Last.fm. It happened last wednesday and, of course I forgot to take some snaps from that beautiful page of mine to memorize where I was at this time in music. But this doesn't mean I don't want to talk about music. My favorite music. Yes, here we go.

First of, right now, I'm just going to be straight forward and come clean with this. The -musical- love of the moment is Kanye West. And in particular My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. I'm not sure if I've mentioned the time I was obsessed with Yeezus on here, before, but now it's this album's turn. I'm thanking NME magazine for this.

I bought that baby when in London at the beginning of the year. It had the 50 best albums of the century so far in it, with Arctic Monkey's A.M. on top. Nr. 2 was My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. If they have such good musical taste to put A.M. on top of this list, so it should be a good idea to give it another try. Plus Dan mentioned loving it a few times before. Another good reason to try it again.

And what an amazing idea it was. Kanye West was amazing. I love his music. From his last two albums, at least. God, those are good. 

So My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy has been greatly adored the past month. Aside from Power, which I have loved for a while now, I have discovered Lost in This World. Just give it a listen. 

Apart from that, Arctic Monkeys are creeping around the corner again. Falling back in love with them.

Also, I saw Submarine yesterday. The film Alex Turner made the soundtrack for. Great one. Want to read the book. And watch it again. And listen to the soundrack on repeat again. 

Soooooooo. Not a bad month, I would say. At least for me it wasn't. I highly enjoyed it. My ears liked it a lot. 

As for what I've listened to the past year, I'm afraid you'll have to snoop back on last year's blogposts, on a search for musical ramblings. Enjoy.

Have a nice life,

Xoxo

Winnie.