It's Saturday and it's been drizzling rain all morning, so I thought this would be the perfect time to write an update and try to get in the habit of writing a bit more. I wanted to give an update on SLM 2020 and maybe talk about some things that have been brought to my attention. Before I go into anything I just want to state these are just my opinions and thoughts, everyone is entitled to their own but these are mine.

So far the line-up for SLM 2020 is Ana Curra (Spain), She Past Away (Turkey) I hope they bring some imam bayildi for me and The Vanishing (SF). More announcements are coming soon. Robert Sullen organizes this event yearly. He works really hard on this event, he almost never does benefit shows to help pay for cost that this event incurs. He works for this event, meaning all the money that goes into it come from his own wallet. I am really sick of people trying to tear him down and talk bad about him on the internet. It's really sickening to me when I think about it. First, many of the people that have complaints about the fest or Robert straddle the idea that he takes money from this event to line his wallet. Like he's making big bucks and is pocketing the door money instead of paying these sucky bands gas money. Let's be clear with the term I use sucky, because I'm not gonna allow someone to get all twisted, if you play this event and just want to get him to pay you money for your travel expenses out of his pocket, then yes you are sucky! I don't know what is going on anymore in the DIY community, and how all of a sudden bands that are DIY get off relying on door money and go on the internet and blast someone for not getting enough or what they wanted. As a band I think you should be self reliant, you should have merch and if your merch sales don't add up to much of anything then that means no one was there to see you anyway, you were NOT the draw. Even big mainstream bands rely on merch sales not the door money from the venue.. this is just a fact. If you want to play SLM then you should write him and ask or if he asks you if you would like to play and you can't afford to, then just don't play. We are all adults and I just don't know how some bands that want $100 for 5 members which comes out to $20 each is like a big deal to you financially (see I can do math just like Andrew Yang). For Robert it is because you are talking if every band wants even a $100 that adds up to thousands. With headliners he has always had contracts or tried his best to give what he can even after he has paid their flights.. but I'm just sorry this is a small scene and for these fringe bands to expect $$$ and then just go around talking smack is just lame.

Secondly, I don't get what the end game is for these people that are constantly talking bad about SLM, what do you want for him to just not do it? Make him go away? To not have a dark music fest in Texas? I mean, what's the end goal? If you have such a problem with him and the fest, then don't book the same bands at your fest and have it the weekend after his, don't try to pick up his crumbs and book the bands and then talk trash about SLM. Can you just be cool? This is Texas not California. Do your own thing, but don't pretend like you want to work collectively then go around being a gossip.

Lastly, I really think there is room for everyone in this small scene. I understand it's hard for people to travel, gas prices are rising and my Tesla only gets about 250 miles on a full charge so I can't make a low cost drive from California to Texas. So you do your thing and Texas will do their own. Texas is a fun time, and I really look forward seeing all my friends again. http://www.sanlamuertefest.com/slm

https://youtu.be/EZaPKn-FeGg

Suzi of Masquerade (Finland) has a new project with her partner. Wild Roses of Winter are a darkwave band but it's just misses, I'm really not sure what they are going for. It reminds me of Catholic Highschool, I swear in 1989 I would have been all about listening to something like this, it sounds like music I used to sing while looking in the mirror while getting dressed. However, this song never got off the ground in my opinion, some of the vocals toward the end remind me a bit of Gitane without the soul.

Believe it or not we still have some Masquerade LP's left, you can buy on the bigcartel or check depop (gothmommy) I was really surprised this record and band were not received well in our area (Southern California) They played a show in OC and seriously I think like 5 people showed up and then they played a Los Angeles show and maybe 25 people came.

https://youtu.be/03rKnMJX3AY

In 2019 I spent a lot of time on the row machine at the gym, and listened to countless hours of Choir Boy. My gym overlooks the Back Bay in Newport Beach, it's a slice of heaven. I listened to Choir Boy on repeat while daydreaming, it was magical. Well Choir Boy released a single just a few days ago and it is magic. It's a bundle of girly escape, his voice is just something special it's a mix between kermit the frog and opera. This is how my brain works, also the single is titled complainer and that's how I feel sometimes, gotta get that pma and remember life is short.

https://youtu.be/CSOpPJGAzqc

Their 2nd album will be released in May 2020 on Dais records. I can't wait!!!

On to some local news ... we have a new goth / deathrock spot in OC.. The next Grave Beat will be on March 7th, in Orange. Resident DJ and overall extraordinaire Grimm Beatz is in charge of this event.

I planned on doing a fashion review in this post but sadly I've run out of time and will work on it and some updates and news tomorrow. I really hope that we can all lift each other up and be encouraging. I just think that we should all give one another some room to make mistakes and have good days and bad days and not judge harshly.

Keep Goth Cool, Trishka

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Greetings.  I wanted to continue our last post with news that Nikole from Annex has a new project titled Her Corrosion.  You will find a nice collection of interviews and news in the current dark arts scene.  Please go to Her Corrosion

Nikole worked very hard on the site and it's quite a task to compile and design a site like hers.  Also, if you would like to submit or contribute please contact Nikole at nikole.wave@gmail.com

Also, Annex released a new cover single on their bandcamp, The Cure's "One Hundred Years" you can listen, buy, or stream.  Annex are also working on their follow up LP to DESPUÉS DE VI LP, it will be released on Occult Whispers (Chicago).

Her Corrosion features a great interview with Cait Autonomy, a long time friend and contributor to Mass Media.  You'll find out all about her history and her current endeavors, which includes playing bass in Shadowhouse.  YAY!  Which we are finally happy to announce a limited repress of their debut LP "Hand in Hand" will be shipping in April.  You can pre-order HERE.

We are also running a spring set special for a limited time. 5 LP's for $40 The Ladies Spring set includes all female fronted / driven bands:

Masses "Moloch" LP // Annex "Despues de Vi" LP // Masquerade "Blood is the New Black" 12" // Totenwald "Wrong Place Wrong Time" 12" // Wives "Devoted to You" LP  we actually only have a few copies left of certain titles so it is limited.  We are making room for our 2017 releases so please support us!

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Altar De Fey are featured on the front of Bandcamp Daily along with a write up of the Echoes in the Corridor LP and a full interview by Andi Harriman.  Today we will have the Altar De Fey LP for sale at a reduced cost on both the site and bandcamp for $10.... so get it before they are gone!!! GO HERE: http://massmediarecords.bigcartel.com/product/altar-dey-fey-lp-pre-order

For Bandcamp Daily GO HERE   https://daily.bandcamp.com/2017/02/15/altar-de-fey-interview/

Also for those who are unfamiliar with Andi Harriman she did an excellent interview with Nikole from Annex / Her Corrosion that can be read here:

https://www.hercorrosion.com/andi-harriman/

Nikole did such an excellent job on this new endeavor interviewing a diverse group of women involved in post punk / dark arts music scene.  Have a look through the site as there will be new interviews and blog announcements added.  On a different note, I've been extremely sick again for multiple weeks now and finally seem to be getting better.. fingers crossed.  Today is also a super sad day for me as it is my late sisters birthday, she would have been 35.  I miss her so much, sometimes i think it's so ironic that I've always been so drawn to dark music and arts and that my life has had such tragedy and that's just too much darkness.  I know the light is out there and I get glimmers of hope and happiness of course, but still sometimes it's hard to enjoy the dark when it's all too real.  Anyways, I digress..   Happy darkest of days everyone!

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Hey everyone, We are back after our annual fall hiatus.  We will be moving away from facebook as it really does not serve us too well, with reach becoming less and less due to their every changing platform.  So please check back here often.  Anyway, enough of that boring nonsense, on to some news. Our good friend Rik that runs Nothing but a Nightmare (shop) will be taking over a lot of the label work for us.  He runs a small shop and label himself and also has made his space available for touring bands to play small intimate shows. Also our bigcartel shop will have some updates and new products, as some of you may know or not know we used to run a small shop in Costa Mesa/Santa Ana and we have tons of merch from our shop still that we are working on listing. (jewelry, zines, clothes, patches, pins, records)

As some of you may or may not know MOTH has officially split up.  We were so lucky enough to be able to see their only US show in Texas at SLM2016.  I must say that everything about that band is magical and beautiful, their music, the people, just everything.  We are so honored to have been able to release their music and in some small way be part of their magic. The members of MOTH are just so incredibly talented and really are very influential to us.  They released so many hits in my humble opinion, they were so driven and active in their process that just amazed me every time  they released something new.  The members of MOTH have gone on of course to continue in new bands and write new music so I expect more great things to come from all of them.

Also MOTH has a new and final new release out, it's a split with Kold Front (featuring members of Metro Cult) you can purchase it here http://elektriskeplader.com/shop/

We also have just a very few copies left of the MOTH / Prison split EP which is up in our webshop now.  Pressing was limited to 150 copies on colored vinyl with screen printed covers.  Available here : http://massmediarecords.bigcartel.com/product/moth-prison-split-ep

That concludes our update.  Big hugs and kisses to MOTH!  xoxo

 

 

 

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Masses from Melbourne, Australia have released their debut LP and are planning a North American tour in support of their release.  The LP is a cooperative release by both Mass Media Records and Lost in Fog Records in Australia.  Both labels are run by women which is a huge undertaking in and of itself.  Lost in Fog is ran by Tessa who also slays in Masses!  So like support us!

The album maintains the bands anxious goth post-punk style from earlier releases, this time utilizing more duel vocals from both guitarist James and synth player Nellie. MOLOCH explores both the driving anarcho sounds and politically motivated themes reminiscent of bands such as The Mob, whilst also delving into more emotive and dancey goth and post punk inspired tracks drawing from bands such as The Creatures and Lost Tribe.  In my opinion if those two bands got married and had a baby it would be Masses.  I'm a weirdo though, so you'll have to listen for yourself...

To purchase the LP go here: http://massmediarecords.bigcartel.com/product/masses-moloch-lp-pre-order

The LP is available to be purchased on it's own or as a set with a limited edition Masses enamel pin (limited quantities available).  Seriously I don't have many of these left.. I'll be posting Masses logo earrings soon as well!

To purchase the enamel pin go here: http://massmediarecords.bigcartel.com/product/masses-enamel-lapel-pin

Masses will embark on a North American tour in July 2016 and end at San La Muerte fest in San Antonio, Tx. (Only Texas date)

"Hidden" track of Moloch LP, see I told you... The Creatures meet Lost Tribe. xoxo

 

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