Friday, November 30, 2012

I have lost my gloves.

I think that it's important to try and see how you look to other people.

It feels like seeing something from someone else's point of view shouldn't be as hard as it is.It's very hard to be empathetic, although it's easy to be kind.

But it's hard to tell people that they are kind, but not every empathetic.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

I AM GUNDAM.



Streets

It's interesting that the buildings and streets and general look of a town aren't really different from town to town.

Yes, the specifics are all different, but apartments looks like apartments, suburbs look like suburbs, and downtown areas look like downtown areas.

I think that today I'll explore some of Asakusa, which is older Tokyo area. I'm excited to see how things look, but I'm most excited about going to the Kaminarimon~

And I think there's Akibahara adventure times later today? ლ(́◉◞౪◟◉‵ლ)

More adventures to come!

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Mos Burger

One of the first meals we had in Ikebukuro. ヽ(´ー`)┌

Because Merch Girl Jazmin wanted Mos Burger.
It was surprisingly not heavy though! Probably because I got a simple one, compared to Jazmins, who got a crazy looking one \(・`(ェ)・)/

Today is Odaiba day! (*´艸`*)

Meido!

I went to my first maid cafe today! ☆*:.。. o(≧▽≦)o .。.:*☆

I went to Wonder Parlor which has a cast of more traditional maids, and they were all so lovely~  “ヽ(´▽`)ノ”

It was a really lovely place, the interiour was super nice and relaxing, the maids were all so lovely, and the tea was amazing! I can't wait to go back! (ღ˘⌣˘ღ) ♫・*:.。. .。.:*・

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

And it's coffee flavored too.

THE MOST STYLISH CARAMEL CORN.

A lot of the conbini have One Piece or JoJo's related things right now   *(*´∀`*)☆

It was so cold yesterday! I hope today is warmer (´;д;`) 

But oden and nikuman and karage-kun are more delicious when it's cold.....

Monday, November 26, 2012

Coffee Machine 1

The vending machine outside our hotel knows that we need all of these coffee options!

One of the amazing things about japan is how there's a beverage vending machine pretty much on every block. =w=~

This one has a bunch of the Georgia coffees~ My favorite is the Boss coffee line though!

Horoyoi

My second day in Tokyo.

It has been a long series of ups and downs.

We tried getting in to the TWEWY concert last night and failed.

But tomorrow is another day, and we'll see what comes of it.

Fleeting thoughts on a moonlit night


Don't you see the sky seen from a hill
Your fleeting thoughts on a moonlit night
Our heartwounds balance on a heavenly thread
Don't let the flowers of jealousy tear us apart

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Love is Over

I think I'm a very unfaithful Otaku.

I tend to leap around fandoms/games/music so much, it's lucky if I like the same subjects with the same intensity from month to month.

I find that sometimes though, things that you love never go as far away as you think.
And you might think that you're over something until it catches you off guard and sweep you off your feet to tell you it's missed you and it's got a new shiny update for you to enjoy.

And some times you get news that something you were crazy about a long long time ago is done and over with, unlikely to ever get any new chapters or updates or a fifth season.

And there's not a lot of words to describe that feeling.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Twister

This time, in English =w=~

I love Subways

I am in California.

I took a flight, then got on the BART and Caltrain, only slightly inaccurately to get there.

I will take these small victories.


Tuesday, November 20, 2012

The World Won't End With Me.

Hey guys.
So I failed to make it past the second round of the TWEWY auditions. I guess I'm just not what they're looking for!

Instead, have one of my first round audition track, Twister~!

Thanks for everyone who supported me.
I just don't know what to do with myself.


Monday, November 19, 2012

Notebooks

Ha ha, I might have a bit of a problem.

Although I do most of my productive writing on my laptop, I like to have a notebook on hand for when I have an idea but my laptop is far off.

I have a weakness for cute notebooks though, so I've collected a few over the last two years =w=;;;

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Moving on

Q. Have you ever considered working with anyone other than Ultraklyston? 

A. Actually, it's funny that I'm being asked that, since Cor Leonis might be the last album that I work with Karl on for quite some time.

Between Nurse Hella's album, my album, school work, and personal obligations, it's taken over a year to get some of the wheels rolling on his side for Cor Leonis, and our schedules seem to be matching up less and less.

I think our only immediate plans are to finish up Cor Leonis, finish up all our Kickstarter obligations, and re-tune Electric Sheep for a re-release. And then we'll be done for a while, as we both have a lot of real world things to take care of. Not to mention that we both need a break for a while after our hard work!

I'll probably be looking at doing some projects and shopping around for other bands/beatmasters/producers to work with in the next year. It'll be weird to not be working with Karl on any specific thing anymore, after 6+ years, but I think that we're both in different places right now, with different priorities on music and life. We might get back together after things have settled down, but we can't promise a 3rd album any time soon.

It's interesting to think of what other genres to expand in to, I'd be excited about doing rock or electropop or other things I've never even thought about.

Whatever happens, I'm sure I'll always be connected to music.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

This is a can of coffee

I post pictures because pictures are usually more exciting to look at that just wordy posts.
Sometimes pictures give new context to words, and might give a funny context to otherwise dry comments.

And sometimes I just want to show you something cool, because I can't imagine your life without being enriched by something amazing.

This is Sanada Yukimura and he is a can of coffee.


The Key to the Velvet Room

Q. What are some of your favorite games?

A. You all have heard about how much I love Subarashiki Kono Sekai / The World Ends With You, so let's talk about another series of games I love!

My second favorite series of games is the Shin Megami Tensei, Idolm@ster, and the Pop'n Music series =w=~
I also like Rockman 2, Ib, Sengoku Basara, Dynasty and Samurai Warriors, Disgaea, Katamari Damarcy, and Pokemon.

Today we'll talk about Megaten Games.
My favorites are the Devil Summoner 3, 4, Devil Survivor 1, 2, Persona 3, 4, Arena, and of course, Shin Megami Tensei.

I love it when games have super cool soundtracks; I guess that's easy to see from the kind of games that I like.
I really appreciate when game makers put that extra effort sparkle in to make a game more memorable. Or when a game really sells you their world view by having their characters with cool headphone actually use them to listen to some super chill beats.

One of my nerdy little dreams is doing the vocals for one of the Persona or Devil Survivor Games.

Hey Shoji Meguro, you looking for anyone for Persona 5?

Unrelated Cephelopods

I'll be answering questions over the next week or so, but feel free to continue to send in questions~

Q. Do you ever sleep? 

A. Uh, sometimes?

I have a very odd sleep schedule right now, so you'll find me up and awake at curious times. =w=~

Friday, November 16, 2012

TWEY Support

Haven't heard from the Twewy Auditions yet.
I'm kinda on pins and needles with the wait.

But even more, I'm filled with appreciation for those supporting me throughout this audition.
Those of you that know me well know how much this means to me.
And even if you don't know me well, I hope you know how dear this to me.

I am filled with hope for the future.

Days of Revolution

We got a lot of questions through posts and messages, so I'll be answering them over the course of a few days~

Q. What is your favorite song that you've sung? Why?

A. My favorite original song is probably Kakumei no Hibi. It's just a high energy song filled with references to things that I like, and lyrics remind me to keep fighting the good fight. :>
I think you can tell from the lyrics of the chorus?

日常的な鍔迫り合い         Everyday I deal with this tsuba-zeriai
不安でしょうがないアタシの未来              My future is just filled with all these worries
少女マンガなんて読んでる暇ナイ             I don't have time to be reading shojo manga!
今日こそ革命の日々                               Today is the Day of Revolution

I hope you see how this puts me in the mood to get back in to the ring whenever I feel low on hp.

My favorite song that I've covered is probably Minmi's Shiki no Uta remix cover we did for Z over at Hipster Please.
I've always loved Samurai Champloo, and the music for the entire series. Our version is pretty different from the original, but I'm still pretty happy with how it turned out. If you haven't heard it before, you should definitely give it a listen!

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Ask me things!

So we've got a very empty Q & A section.

I've gotten a few common questions here and there, but I'm sure you're all filled with the innate urge to ask me all sorts of ridiculous questions.

Well here's your chance! I can only, however, promise most secrets of the universe.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Shapes and Spaces

I try to fill my with room with things that I like.
It sounds pretty simple, but I find that when I'm low on mp, it helps to look around at the small shape in the world I've made.

Sometimes it's hard to remind myself that everything I do isn't in vain. But being in the space that's unquestionably mine, it's a symbol for me that for what space I couldn't find in the world I've carved for myself.

Putting it down in words makes it sound kinda fancy, but it all comes down to the fact that I'm a grown ass woman with an orange room and plush animals and nerdy games.

And my room is awesome.

Disco☆Alpaca

Sometimes, it takes a lot of hard work and late nights working and re-working a song to make something out of it.

Sometimes the late nights amount to nothing but feeling like you're playing with smoke, trying to funnel it in to something with shape, convinced that the the gas you're playing with will somehow become liquid gold if you just apply enough pressure.

And then some things are simply sublime.

http://soundcloud.com/rai-kamishiro/disco-alpaca-sample

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

I like frivolous things.

Some times the balance between liking the odd things you like, and worrying about what people will think of you is difficult.

When you do music as a girl, one of the first backhanded compliments you will get is that you get attention because of how you look, not because of your talent.

It's like the world can't handle the thought that someone with talent isn't serious business all the time. Or that if girls with musical pursuits like frivolous things, they obviously got to where they did by looking like a girl and making the world aware of it.

Yes, some girls get mostly naked to show off their new jewelry or tattoos or socks.
But it's hard to tell people you're not one of those girls without feeling like you're participating in slut shaming.
I'm always torn between defending people's rights to get mostly naked on the internet, and not wanting my talent to be judged on the same grade as my physical appearance.

There are times when people will be cruel to you because you are pretty, because you're not pretty enough, because you aren't playing within the bounds of not getting more attention than them, because you have something special within you that you want to make shine brighter than the sun.

It takes time to learn that these people are cruel to you because they are looking for things that prove to them that you aren't any better than they are.
That they feel so mediocre that they need to feel like they're better than you, that they're better than your talent, and that you're nothing special.
And sometimes it just comes down to the argument that you aren't special because you like frills, you like sparkly things, and you like adorable things. Because your closet is filled with trendy clothes and things that make you happy, they seize on this as a reason to discount whatever talents you may have.

Well, I write vapid pop music, and I like ridiculous and frivolous things, and I refuse to feel bad about buying a spiked bracelet with sparkly fake jewels embedded in it.

I mean, have you seen my new bracelet? Shit looks badass.

Tarts and Thoughts


  Some days are kinda terrible. And some days involve tarts.

I made some final plans to go to Japan today. I'll be going to Tokyo, a city I've never been to.
I know lots of people think of me as this super metropolitan Japanese girl, but not a lot of people know that I come from this little country town in Japan. I'm excited about going to the big city!

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Where the magic happens.


So this is typically what my desk looks like during work hours!

I have my rough recording mic on the left to do rough passes and when I'm generally just making noise to see how it sounds. On the right is my good takes mic for the vocals that go on albums!

My desk is a little cluttered right now, so I kinda need to clear it out =w=;;;;;



Thursday, November 8, 2012

Whelp!

Just got done with the majority of tweaks and such, I think I'm happy with the way it looks?
People should tell me whether it's too bright or anything =w=;;;

The album's getting super close to done. It's mostly up to Karl at this point, which is both worrisome and nice, as it's a load off my shoulders, but it also means I only have a month or so to obsessively listen to the new album and decide if anything needs to be redone.

I'm honestly considering pulling one of the songs on the list and replacing it with  something else, but we'll see.
It's just taken this album so long to get out, that I want to be sure that I'm 100% pleased with the results.

This week has passed by quickly, with lots of real world things reminding me of how hard it is to be a starving artist.

I'm happy though, that at the end of the day, I can fall in to my bed knowing that that half finished song and a pot of coffee will be waiting for me when I wake up.

Well.....

Daily herps and derps it is then.