L I G H T N I N G F/W 15

AMAZING review of upcoming Lightning F/W 15 up on Tiny Mix Tapes.  Read the Full Article & Check out Music Streams HERE.  So proud of our whole team!!

There is a growing body of creative channels in America, relief for the young people frustrated by the country’s lack of sexual inertia and impulsive “rock & roll” spirit (not to mention nostalgia for a time when creating music that sounds like a Coke ad wasn’t subversive or even ad-worthy — it just sucked). Lightning Records is one such outlet, a “modern multi-media channel” — a tape label, print magazine, apparel company, “adventurous” event planner, and counterculture journal of bold photography and narrative journalism — launched in 2012 by Seth Olinsky (Akron/Family, Cy Dune) and his group of cool friends who surf and bike and do other rad shit.

TMT has the pleasure of helping Lightning announce its F/W 15 releases, a set of five tapes + print magazine that continues its 20 Artist Series, where the channel asks musical peers to contribute work from a “unique side project or edge creative statement.” This season puts an emphasis on noisy folk songwriters from ‘murica, and the forgotten dynamism of an imperfect guitar. All the artists in this batch are known for their strong creative impulses, certified in Rock & Roll CPR. There’s nihilistic, crusty jams from Pontiak and Algae & Tentacles, pariah-dog porch music from Chris Forsyth and Sam Amidon, and bitter, sugary punk from American Culture, who are either lazy suburban stoners or a Silicon Valley startup. 

The business of curating an aesthetic is a fickle one — today’s discerning listener has a better bullshit detector than Chris Hansen, but Lightning’s collaborators are veterans to raucous, experimental rock, and they know their audience well. They sell a $1000 surfboard alongside a custom (black) fuzz pedal. They’ve even started a mixtape pen-pal project! And if the good vibrations weren’t enough to make your denims warm and wet, this season’s magazine has interviews with Southern Lord Sir Richard Bishop alongside ultra marathoner Dominic Grossman. There are so many folks in on this that I wish they were my friends. I’m reevaluating my entire young adulthood. It’s electrifying stuff. THERE, I said it.

Rockers and Shapeshifters.

Repping the new PDX tomboy brand Wildfang - the rockers and shapeshifters liberating menswear for women... They also have some rad interviews over on their blog, with other fellow musicians and DJ's.  Check them out.

Feature in BEST Magazine SS/15

Super stoked to have a writing regarding my upcoming record in the stunning adventurous, rock n roll New York art Magazine BEST put together by the amazing Alison Matheny and Lela Maloney.  #keepitbest #StayBest  Get Yours HERE.

Iluminated Passage

I have a light sculpture up in Joshua Tree as part of the Joshua Tree Arts Festival  this weekend curated by Boxo Projects and Metacurator.  I am installing lights into a granite boulder field that people can hike/climb through.  The sculpture will reveal itself, as the sun sets.  Come check it out!!!! At Boxo Projects at 9pm. 

New Work Featured in Australian Surf / Art Book

Photo: Sam Brumby

I have my stone sculptures featured in Paper Sea Quarterly #9.  I also spend some time talking making artwork out in the Mojave.  Order over at Paper Sea Australia.

Fundraiser for Palm Springs Art Museum's Artist Council

Honored to be participating in a fundraiser of Palm Springs Art Museum's Artists Council. The images shown are created by celebrities as well as artists around the world on 5 x 7 canvases and signed on the back. The canvases are sold anonymously in an annual event at the Riviera Palm Springs Hotel.  For more information:   Fine Art America.

LA MOTO 4 Article and Party over at MoCA LA

So Stoked to announce LA MOTO 4 launch event at the MoCA store in Los Angeles.   I have a new backcountry sculpture / vintage enduro journey in there.  April 12th at the Geffen Contemporary.  The Event is being hosted by La Motocyclette and East Side Moto Babes.  

REPPING BOOKER NYC

Couldn't be more stoked to announce that I am working with BOOKER this month to create awareness of their new line. The company is founded by an amazing NYC female motorcyclist named Jameelah based on bringing together style and function. Moto Babes go get one of their amazing jackets and ride safe. Also it's the weekend, so get out there and #shred!!! Follow @bookernyc for updates, releases and giveaways!!!!! #bookernyc #booker

Domaine Home names Ali among 30 Emerging Artists You Need to Know

Thanks Domaine Home for including me!!!! You can preview and purchase works for the Unicef Next Gen Art Party. Also including works from Alex Israel, James Franco, and Alexandra Grant!!!! Thanks to Chelsea Neman from Tappan Collective for curating.

Limited Edition Print of 20 Available

A few times a year Double Dutch Press invites an artist to make a limited edition print. I just launched a new work with them!! So stoked on Katherine Mcguire's impeccable printing talents. Available for purchase on their site. Go get one!!!!!

Artwork to Support Unicef

I have a new work over at the Next Gen Art Party.  Special thanks to Chelsea Neman of Tappan Collective and Gabé of Unicef Next Gen.  Join us on Saturday, February 28 at 800 MAIN, Venice, CA and support Unicef's Tap Project.

 http://unicefusa.org/artparty

MIXING at Figure 8 Studio NY

We've been having an amazing mixing session over at Figure 8 in New York with the genius engineer Phil Weinrobe.  I can't wait to share these final mixes with you.  Special thanks to Neve, UA, Empirical labs.  

Pray for Rain

Installed Pray for Rain in the beautiful Sonoran desert, you must walk there by foot. The mahogany and glass pools glow in the moonlight and the water blows in the wind. The opening ceremony and party  – equal parts drumming ceremony, reflective moon pools, clay sculpting, hand drilled torches and joyous celebration.

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The ceremonial aspect of the work began at dusk with drummers hidden throughout the desert. The opening drummer and I called back and forth and as one of the children in the audience noted ‘The mountain talked back’. The echo was at least a whole second delay – and great participation of the landscape. When recording with drum group AFI in Cape Coast, Ghana in 2009, Kweku and I talked about how their elders used drums to communicate distances. Inspired by this ancient communication – I was excited to compose this drum performance for drummers scattered throughout the desert.  Musician Seth Olinsky co-composed and lead the drumming.  The night definitely aroused the senses, evoked an earthy celebration and left everyone with an imaginative story to walk away with.

Poet Dot Devota and resident artist and musician Jeremy Thompson concluded the ceremony with me by scooping water via earthen and brass bowls and pouring onto the desert’s well known Creosote plant – so all audience members could be ignighted with the familiar Sonoran fragrance of the rain.

Soho House Tappan Collective Art Show

So excited to be included in the amazing Chelsea Neman curatorial over at the Soho House with other Tappan Collective artists.   It will be up for a month - go check it out!!

Art Show Joshua Tree Art Gallery

Cover Feature La Motocyclette

So stoked to be the cover feature for the new La Motocyclette!!! Check out photos and a writing form my latest installation work, Under the Same Sun.  Also amazing work by Monica Semergiu, Christina Rinaldi, Ashleigh Ide Yve Assad, Lanakila Macnaughton and Babes Ride Out.  From the amazing Editor and Designer Lynda Lucas.  Available at LACMA and MOCA Los Angeles.

Interview La Mignonette

I wrote and recorded a record out of my studio there, which is being released in a couple months on Lightning Records. It is called Legends of These Lands Left to Live. It is a wildly different statement -­‐ emotional and well, musical. For me, it is much more direct and provocative. I am excited to release it. I believe, in that statement, you’ll find the more feminine and raw energy you are asking about in your question....

Read more at  La Mignonette.

New Mojave Studio

New adobe studio in the Mojave Desert.  Will be working on a new record over the summer and some new studio works.

New Work Tappan Collective

Freeriders Flag Casa Shelter Half in Venice

 

Totem to those individuals who exemplify what Hunter S. Thompson was talking about when he spoke of ‘Mould Breaking Heroes; Living proof that the tyranny of the rat race is not yet final‘ . Inspired in part by an ex-San Francisco surfer who paddled around Kauai on a 9.0 surfboard, sleeps in a beach cave, and fishes his own food – and other like surfers and vanguards out there surfing/living for the love of life and true hedonic spirit.

It is completely my intention to directly participate in this philosophy, intently promote a freerider culture and illuminate that which already celebrates life beyond boundaries and to forge new experiences with that which does and does not yet exist.

Limited Edition of 5.

Made by Ali Beletic || Sun Era Studio

Available at Shelter Half.