07/ PROCRASTINATION INSPIRATION

It's pretty funny to think that the last real post I wrote was entitled 'Back to... Life?'... because that's kind of what happened and the explanation for why there has been a lack of blog posts lately - Life happened.

I've had a busy couple of weeks which have made me see a lot in a different light. It's kind of crazy how experiencing new things, meeting and speaking to people from outside your usual circle of friends, can tell you so much about yourself and the world.

So, while I haven't been keeping up fully with my blog posts on here, I've definitely been inspired and therefore have a lot to write about. (Probably even more when I finish browsing through London, Milan and Paris fashion week photos.)

As I finish up posts, I'll be listening to this amazing mixtape that I've been binging on for a while now. The title 'Music to... Procrastinate to' is pretty ironic... because the mixtape is so inspiring, it makes me want to get things done.

Clearly, inspiration comes in so many ways, shapes and forms - often when you least expect it.

MIXTAPE/ SUMMERBLND 2014

Well, it's been a long August of ups and downs and perhaps this mixtape shows just that. 

I must admit it's quite more difficult than I first thought to choose (and post) a song every day for a month. If you were following along on tumblr, you'd have seen that I kind of slacked off - mostly because I'm a binge listen kinda girl - as in, when I find something I like, I listen over and over until I can't any more (this happened with Bondax and Paolo Nutini, cough).

But well, I made it! So without further adieu... 

POLY-COTTONBLND's summerBLND 2014 - a mix of everything I've been listening to for the past month - some old songs, some new songs, but all good songs!

1. / ode to the summer by syd arthur
2. / kathleen by catfish and the bottlemen
3. / don't get me wrong by rolls bayce
4. / plagiarist by jinga safari
5. / sea salt by sun culture
6. / so now what by the shins
7. / gold by bondax (snakehips bootleg)
8. / baby i got that by bondax
9. / stranger by chris malinchak ft. mikky ekko (full crate x mar remix)
10. / take shelter by years and year
11. / glow long by max frost
12. / can't get enough by yeah boy (sam padrul remix)
13. / money rain down by big black delta
14. / let me down easy by paolo nutini
15. / glass by young & sick
16. / little grace by hippo campus
17. / coming of age by foster the people
18. / any better by bel heir
19. / envy by bel heir
20. / rude by magic!
21. / tell her by rizzle kicks
22. / so good at being in trouble by unknown mortal orchestra
23. / you're the one that i want by lo-fang
24. / i can't pretend by the drums
25. / brain by banks
26. / pools by glass animals
27. / hunger of the pine by alt-j
28. / jealou$y by the neighbourhood ft. casey veggies & 100s
29. / double bubble trouble by m.i.a.
30. / drowning by banks (dave glass animals remix)
31. / spotlight by leagues 

You can listen to all the songs over on the poly-cottonblnd tumblr for now, until I figure out a good place to make a playlist/mixtape online. Any suggestions would be appreciated! :)

Hope you enjoy it, and let me know what your summer jams for 2014 were in the comments below (or #summerBLND on tumblr)!

LISTEN/ BEL HEIR

Any better,
We couldn’t get any better
-Bel Heir

It's not often while that you find a new band in which you love all their music ever made, especially when all their music is free to download.

A few months ago I was perusing my emails from noisetrade.com, and after way too many emails to count, I stumbled across Bel Heir.

Bel Heir is that rare gem of a band I was talking about.

From the first listen of ‘Envy’, I was hooked and immediately downloaded everything that was available and continued to listen on repeat for weeks. When I reached that point after listening where I needed to know more, I found their Tumblr, and just when I thought I couldn’t love them any more I read about their year long journey.

Bel Heir released one single and accompanying B-side each month, for a year – two songs a month, twenty four songs over the course of a year. It was what I could only imagine to be a heavy feat... which was brilliantly accomplished; resulting in dreamy, intoxicating music for everyone to enjoy. Smooth vocals, intriguing beats and not to mention aesthetically pleasing artwork, Bel Heir is one of my favourite new bands of the year.

When the beginning of this month rolled around, I excitedly awaited the new music to listen to. Unfortunately I missed the small detail of the date of original Tumblr post (which was July 2013). But being the amazing, generous band they are, Bel Heir released all twenty fours songs in one magical album '12 // 24' (with an A and B side, naturally) for download free on their official website.

The album is still available to download, and if I were you, I wouldn’t miss out on the opportunity. Check out some of my favourite songs listed in the photo above, and listen to the song that got me hooked below.

All photos via Bel Heir

MIXTAPE/ SUMMER JAMS

Ode to the summer

This feeling 

Be sure to remember me 

- Syd Arthur

Each and every summer, there are always songs that you hear so often that they become your official summer jams. Summer Jams... you know, the songs you hear a snippet of anywhere after August and you're immediately flooded with sentimental memories and good times from that past summer vacation to reminisce upon.

Well that is, unless you're like me and have a horrible memory. 

But, I've decided to be proactive this year and make a playlist as I hear it. So, every day throughout the month of August, I'll choose a song that I'm digging that day - one that has some effect on me, my life and what's happening or just because it has that 'summer vibe' to it - and add it to a playlist. Whatever the feeling, I can guarantee that there will be a song for it and by the end of the month we'll have a snazzy summer 2014 mixtape full of jams for everyone to listen to... It's a win-win situation really.

Follow along with my daily song posts on tumblr, tag your own jams with #summerBLND and stay tuned for the ultimate ode to the summer - the SUMMERBLND mixtape at the beginning of September!

3 TUNES/ WEST COAST

Whether you're a west coast kid, or not, there's a song for you these days.
Songs about the West Coast keep popping up everywhere I turn. The Neighbourhood, Lana Del Rey and Bel Heir all have amazing songs about said topic. Surprisingly though, all songs project some sort of black and white imagery - in my head at least. Quite a different take on the traditional 'Cali vibe', which may be due to the aesthetics and/or music videos of the musicians. Either way, this is the kind of west coast vibe I can dig.

3 TUNES/ LA LA LA

After a month or so of non-stop World Cup watching, certain things have become routine to me. The time matches are on, the names of players from each team, the anxiety I endure when full time is nearing and my team of choice is yet to score .. and Shakira's World Cup song La La La (Brazil 2014) playing before, after and in-between every single match.

The number of times I've heard that song could have pushed me to two extremes - extreme hatred or extreme love - after hearing it way too many times to count in one month. Oddly, I am leaning towards the more positive extreme. Maybe because Shakira's song is the lesser of evils which I've had to endure - the actual official World Cup song and the irritating voices of local commentators being said evils.

Any way I rationalise the thought, the fact is those three little words.. (err, sounds?) are constantly stuck in my head.

"La la la", so simple, so easily recognisable, so addictive. It made me think of other "la la la" songs.

Probably the last known popular hit would be that of Naughty Boy featuring Sam Smith, also called La La La. Unlike Shakira's catchy use of "la la la", the lyrics of Naughty Boy's song use the childish mentality "la la la I can't hear you" to tell a story. Likewise, the same childlike presence occurs in the much more recent Playground by British electronic musician, Lxury. Much like it's name, Playground offers that feeling of being back in primary school with children running around, but in a new exciting way; conjuring similar feelings as that of Naughty Boy's, without the lyrics.

Different feelings, different sounds but that same simple "la la la" that everyone can relate to. There's clearly an addictive quality that reels everyone in to sing along, and if you don't agree la la laaaa. 

ps. There are 4 different versions of Sharkira's La La La, just sayin'.

01/ FIRST TIME CALLER

As White Lies sing -

"She said I was a first time caller

But a long time listener

I've been waiting a while to talk to you"

Well... Darling, we're starting.

I've wanted to start a blog (officially) for the longest time now. Not to say that I didn't have other blogs in the past.. I did, many of which have now dwindled away. But, I mean, who hasn't? I did grow up with the internet after all. As a teenager, online journals, websites and HTML were kind of a big deal for my friends and I (aka the cool kids - we were way ahead of our time, I'd say). I remember being fascinated, spending hours fiddling around trying to make things look right, the young perfectionist I was.

Years later, not much has changed. Well, I'm older and I've graduated from University. But, I'm still here fiddling around with a computer most of the day, spending my time browsing the internet - discovering what I love, the latest in fashion and music through other blogs and websites. Lately though, I've realised I have a lot to say about the things I see and hear... and frankly, there's only so much my sister will listen to.

So, I've made the revelation - later than sooner - that I should put words into actions and actually start a blog.
And like that Poly-CottonBLND is born - just a blend of all the things I love - inspiration, illustration, music, design and of course, fashion!