Seasonal affective disorder shit

Off to the southern latitudes tomorrow! Was hoping for some spring, sunshine, warmth - anything to pull me away from the winter blues - but the backstabbing weather reporter keeps talking about snow and degrees below zero. Anyways, it will be an intense week and I´ll be loving every second of it. 

Translation: Ska till sydligare breddgrader imorgon! Trodde jag skulle mötas av vår, blommor, sol, värme, långa timmar på uteserveringar - men verkligheten bankade på dörren - vart än jag åker, följer snö och minusgrader med. Det kommer i alla fall bli en underbar och galet intensiv resa, och jag kommer älska varje sekund. 

Batman at his best

At times they call me batman...

- Who's this?

- Batman.

- Who?

- Bat (!!)... Man!

Let me add a little pepper to the mixture

wednesday equals music

This is the second offering from the L.A. musician Banks. Heard her voice for the first time a couple of days ago - been loving it all the way since. Her debut "Before I Met You" haven't been running on my playlist - been to occupied putting "Fall Over" on repeat - so I do not know that much about her and her music - but will dig into that asap, 'cause this, this I like. 

Translation: Fick denna ljuva stämma presenterad för mig för några dagar sedan. Gillar hennes "Fall Over" starkt. Kanske tröttnar jag snart på denna enorma sångförmåga som vävts samman med de elektroniska elementen, men just nu - just nu tycker jag att slutresultatet är himmelskt. Lyssna på Banks. 

So it is Amsterdam

Spent a weekend in Amsterdam last summer. Could spend a weekend there anytime! I find myself thinking about the canals often these days, as spring is approaching. And the strolls we made and the buildings we saw and bicycles we heard. 

We were walking down a tiny backstreet one afternoon and passed a hotel where two blokes were packing up, getting ready to leave. We got eye contact with one of them. A pair of timid, light brown eyes, peaked out from under a hat and caught my attention. Our gaze met, and as it did my friend grabbed hold of my arm - squeezing tighter, and tighter, and tighter. As we got to the end of the street, turning around the corner, ending up inside our destination - the second hand shop Episode - my friend got up close to me. Face to face, staring intensely into my eyes, with a smile on her face she said - that was Jack White! - and started to dance around the shop. 

Zlatan was with us, and so were the flamingos. 

Architecture I dream about, a stork flown through the window and a visit at the van Gogh museum. 

Was very pleased with myself when we finally found and got to the Housing Silo (Silodam) done by MVRDV. 

Fell in love with some flowers at the Albert Cuypmarkt, which is said to be Amsterdam's largest and busiest market. 

 Translation: Reste till Amsterdam över Midsommar förra året. Nu, när våren alltmer gör sig påmind, drömmer jag om kanalerna och promenaderna och byggnaderna och cyklarna i staden. 

I be on the hotline like err'day, Makin' sure the DJ know what I want him to play

Rhye – Open    

Ryan Hemsworth's remix on Open

Ta-ku – Higher, but a remix by Flume

Sohn – Bloodflows

Cass McCombs – If you loved me before

Kurt Vile – Wakin on a pretty day

Breakbot feat. Irfane – One Out of Two - mostly because of the video

Devendra Banharts's new album Mala

Nicolas Jaar

Rockie Fresh's new mixtape Electric Highway, especially The Lights [Prod. By Lifted]

Chester Watson

Joey bada$$ – Unorthodox

Day Savage – When it Rains f/ Aloe Blacc

These tunes have been walking with me during the last couple of days and will continue to surround me through out the week to come.  

Translation: Detta är den låtlista som kommer spelas i min närvaro den kommande veckan. 

Let me add a little colour to the picture

Had a night out last night. Some big event to attend. Despite harsh wind, cold fingers and frozen smiles, never ending queues, a dead phone and only-cash payment - my little gang and I finally found ourselves turning to the music on the floor. As we flaunted and got our dance on, this neat beat grabbed our attention. The atmosphere exploded. We turned around and there was a rapper on stage busting her rhymes - Amplify Dot from the UK. What an energy, what a wordsmith! 

Not long after Ms Rapper left us - straight back in the hands of Mr DJ - the music went silent, giving room for Samba Furia. A drum band that filled the place up with heavy, intense, fierce beat á la the Rio Carnival. The roof lifted and everyone tried their best to move somewhat like brazilian samba dancers - can´t say anyone succeeded, but A for effort (well, B-). 

Anyways, after that we kept moving until late. 

Translation: Hamnade på dansgolvet igår kväll. Var inte beredda på det men fann oss skaka kroppen till härliga samba rytmer och gunga tungt till Amplify Dots texter och takter innan vi fortsatte natten med den planerade dansen till herr DJs låtlistor. 

Disrespect us no they won´t

posted during a grand week in april 2012 on TFH.

Alright, I know she ain´t Madam Secretary no more, but she still rocks it. Here´s a shout out to Ms Hillary and all my other peeps, ladies and magnificent creatures.  

  Cher Horowitz in Clueless - loosely based on the novel Emma by, the always incredible and my all-time favorite, Jane Austen. 

Translation: Okej, jag vet att hon inte är utrikesminister längre, men Hillary Clinton är fortfarande bad-ass. En dag som denna bör hon lyftas fram, tillsammans med dessa oförglömliga, hysteriskt roliga och smarta posts som cirkulerade på Tumblr, Twitter och Facebook förra året. Givetvis är hon bara en i mängden av alla andra hjältinnor, damer och fantastiska varelser som vandrar på denna planet. 

Chloë I like

I like Chloë Sevigny's style and I like Chloë Sevigny's clothes and have been liking it for years now. I like the way she talks and the stories she´s got to tell. She´s interesting, completely gorgeous - with an amazing fashion sense. On top of the style ladder for ages. A true source of inspiration! 

Translation: Kvinnan har stil och kan mode - Chloë Sevigny! 

23 hours in Prague

after four vodka sodas I realized, I had something to say

These are the shows that will have my attention throughout 2013. 

- Homeland (Showtime)

- True Blood (HBO)

- Suits (USA Network)

- Girls (HBO)
- The Mindy Project (Fox)

I've been watching The Mindy Project for a couple of days straight now - it´s the perfect show to kick-back and relax to. Have had some pretty insane laugh attacks whilst watching Mindy and the others do their thing - already picked up some memorable quotes that will stay with me during this spring. Hilarious. 

- Cougar Town (TBS)
- Happy Endings (ABC)
- Veep (HBO)
- 24 Hours in A&E (BBC)
- The Big C (Showtime)
- Luck (HBO)
- Community (NBC)

Translation: Kommer att följa dessa karaktärer på TV nu i vår, sommar, höst och vinter. Slår ett slag för komediserien The Mindy Project - roligt, roligt, roligt! 

who is Chester Watson?

Listened to Jenny Seth's podcast yesterday. Lisa Millberg, singer of The Concretes, was there as a guest, feeding us with some new great music. She brought mr. Watson to my attention - a fifteen year-old rapper/producer from Missouri (now living in Florida). Fifteen! Apparently there's a fab mix tape done by him that I need to get my hands on - I´m on it. 

Fifteen! 

Translation: I premiären av Jenny Seths podcast "Jenny & Vänner" var Lisa Millberg "vännen". Hon spelade Chester Watsons "Phantom" - Lyssna! Han är bara 15 år gammal. 

take the sleep from under our california eyes sitting by the oceanside

Took this picture two days after the old year had gone out the window. Since then I haven't seen the sun. Until today. It´s back - and all is good, once again. 

Translation: Solen värmer återigen. Livet är bra. 

Oscar Night and I´ve fallen in love

                                                       Sandé at the BRITs three days ago

For months now I´ve been craving for some new melodies and rhymes to fill my day-to-day existence with - I´ve found them and fallen in love. Emeli Sandé's album is exactly what I needed. No wonder it won the British Album of the Year Award! 

And as the Oscars are approaching (tonight's the big night) I´ve been indulging myself in watching movies - trying to catch up with the world of motion pictures. Thought that Bradley Cooper was absolutely brilliant in Silver Linings Playbook. And Argo - well, that story just blew my mind away, can´t believe those events actually took place. 

     Silver Linings Playbook

     Argo

Translation: Lyssnar just nu på Emeli Sandés album - magiskt! Inte undra på att det vann Årets Album i Storbritannien. Har även laddat upp inför Oscarsgalan i natt. Bradley Cooper gör en lysande prestation i The Silver Linings Playbook. 

well now don't you tell me to smile, you stick around I'll make it worth your while

it´s called the trust fall

My sister says this is a scene from her life with me. Epic fail on our communication skills!

Translation: Detta påminner min syster om hennes och min dagliga kommunikation med varandra. 

Friday forevermore

reminiscing the last days of last summer

Last summer I paid a visit to Wanås and its sculpture park containing 50 permanent art works, as well as an art gallery and medieval castle. It was one of those last summer days were you can smell the rain coming, the coldness taking over - yet the sun is giving us all that it has got left keeping us warm and happy - a perfect day for a walk in the nature surrounded by beautiful installations. Filled my camera with a bunch of pretty pictures. Every year world-renowned artists are invited to produce art at Wanås and I am really excited about going back this spring, getting a boost of inspiration. The new exhibition has its opening on the 15th of May. 

Translation: Längtar efter att återigen irra runt bland konsten och installationerna i Wanås skulpturpark. Så härligt. Så bra. Sådan inspirationskälla!

yellow sunday

Fabulous yellow dresses from Elie Saab, Vera Wang, Lanvin and Yves Saint Laurent...

I´m on the hunt for a yellow dress. I love yellow dresses. I want to have a yellow dress. So I drew a yellow dress...

...merged into one lovely - fitting all of my needs. 

Translation: Är på jakt efter en gul klänning. Älskar gula klänningar. Vill ha en gul klänning. Ritade en gul klänning. Ska sy upp en gul klänning? 

la piel que habito

I need to get my body back in shape, start doing some yoga again. This absolutely gorgeous movie (disturbing story though) by Almodóvar made me reminisce about good old times, times when my body could do and move in a way I now can only dream of. I got blown away by how beautiful the body can actually be, like a work of art - powerful, handsome, strong. Ah, the body is a masterpiece. 

Translation: Såg Pedro Almodóvars film La piel que habito igår vilket fick mig att tråna efter en stark och smidig kropp - jag måste ta upp yogan igen. Blir helt tagen av hur vacker kroppen kan vara, likt ett konstverk - mäktigt, ståtligt, starkt. För övrigt är filmen i sig otroligt vacker med helt fantastiska bilder, dock är det en sjuk story - som oftast med Almodóvars filmer. 

longing for an escape to the sun

I will not press charges...

Ever since my sister discovered the Los Angeles radio station KDAY, we have been avid listeners. Great, classic rap and hip hop is now blasting through our speakers every day and a couple of gems have even made it to various playlists that I use on the run. 

Anyways, some weeks ago we were sitting in the kitchen with KDAY on, when a voice went on air talking about what Los Angeles Lakers and "that idiot hm hm" Chris Brown have in common... both are losers! "Lakers - 'cause they had a four-game losing streak, Chris - well, 'cause he's just a loser!" I was baffled and I was amazed. And finally it just cracked me up - did he really say that on the radio? Not long after that, the story of the fight between Chris and Frank Ocean was brought to light. Apparently Chris picked a fight with Frank because of a parking lot - Franks parking lot. He picked a fight. Over a parking lot. While he is on probation for another assault. Why is this guy still around?

    Chris Brown and Rihanna at the Grammys. 

Translation: Lyssnar på en radiokanal från South Los Angeles där programledaren lugnt en dag proklamerade att Chris är en jubelidiot - jag satte kaffet i halsen (han sa det väldigt fyndigt). Snopen och perplex tänkte jag: än finns det hopp i USA trots allt. I alla fall är hip hop världen (eller Kalifornien) med på noterna. Men ändå, fortfarande, efter händelsen med Rihanna, och Frank Ocean, och icke fullbordade samhällstjänster, varför är han fortfarande här? 

                                         Rappin 4 Tay - Players Club is playing on KDAY

next to me, ooooh next to me, ooooh

Tell me doctor, is this flu serious?

Last Sunday there were grand plans of watching the entire Super Bowl, from beginning to end, for the first time ever. With all sorts of crazy snacks and beverages by my side I would enjoy this final battle between the two teams that had made it all the way through, playing a game that I've just recently come to care for and that has, with a growing fascination, caught my interest. These plans ended though with me not being able to keep my eyes open – an hour before kick-off! – I had caught the flu and was off to bed. 

The following day I did a don't-tell-me-the-result-cause-I'm-watching-the-rerun-later... it all went well until I quickly opened my web browser and remembered that my front page is an online newspaper - I remembered it because there was a huge picture posted of the winner. Epic fail. Anyways, saw the rerun – great game!

Saw a fantastic play a couple of days ago written by the ever amazing Jonas Hassen Khemiri - author of three novels and six plays. (In 2011 his Invasion! premiered in New York and Khemiri was awarded a Village Voice Obie Award for playwriting.) I Call My Brothers is his latest work and definitely worth seeing, although I would say unnecessary sentimental at times. Great play, amazing actors, great scenography – I was in awe of the lighting! - all in all a fabulous evening that ended with a glas of red wine, and the most superb olives, at a bar with my beautiful sisters. 

Translation: I julklapp fick jag efterlängtade biljetter till Jonas Hassen Khemiris pjäs Jag ringer mina bröder. För några kvällar sen var det dags att gå och se den med mina vackra systrar. Väldigt sevärd pjäs - välskrivet, välregisserat, grymt skådespeleri och fantastisk ljussättning - bitvis lite för sentimental för min smak, men riktigt bra story. 

There is no off position on the genius switch

come closer, baby, if you like what you hear

Met up with Miguel last night, we sang Adorn together - well, accompanied by the rest of the audience, but still... Man, that boy can sing, and the way he moves actually makes my heart stop for a while - until the beat grabs hold of it again and shakes it back to the rhythm. Good stuff! 

As we were soul clapping, finger snapping, waving our hands in the air - feeling it - Miguel, joined by his two musician pals, started to do a, well rehearsed, dance number and the roof lifted! Brilliant! To the beat of a bad ass hip hop sound these LA-boys really showed us how it is done! In the midst of it all I found myself standing beside the southafrican rapper Spoek Mathambo and the fierce swedish musician Gnučči, thinking to myself what a night, what a night! 

Translation: Var på Babel igår för att få höra Miguels (US) ljuva sångröst fylla stället - han lyckades. Han lyckades även vinna mitt hjärta genom de sköna dansmoves han visade upp för oss.

rockin' my stunna shades and turnin' up my radio

cause that happens to be the day that I was born