Sunday Soul

You could never go wrong with great music. Music that just goes deep and cool and sounds terribly, terribly awesome. These songs will make you want to reach out at the top shelf and mix yourself a drink., yes, even when it's just a cold, cold glass of water. They're that good.

I highly recommend these songs. They suit lots of moods and still somehow play well into one playlist. It's Monday tomorrow, so better enjoy what you can and have. And maybe these songs get you by the work week too! Happy listening!

That brunette stunner, too beautiful. Plus the guys look all too well. And the song is amazing.
Nothing wrong here.

Nick Waterhouse is starting to shape up into one truly promising kid.
Can't wait to hear more from him. Gives you all that 50s-60s old school rock n' roll/R n' B vibe.

Miguel is pure talent. That's it. After I learned of him, there was no turning back.

Weekend Hits: Darker Now

Falling into the dark side...
Diego Fragoso for Slurp magazine @ models.com

Embrace the dark side...That's what I'll suggest to you right now. And no, we're not turning all evil and demonic here. It's just one of those phases you slip into when the things you've been liking fall under a certain mold or category and they all just work! For my Weekend Hits post I'm bringing together sight, sound and loads of sense on some things pretty sinister and while it's ironic, please enjoy!

>>> MIKKY EKKO's PULL ME DOWN

The video is like a spell, really. Keep watching.

My encounter with Mikky Ekko is thanks to Rihanna's new album, Unapologetic. Stay is my favorite track on her album and she sings it (pretty well) with Mikky Ekko. At first I thought it was Ryan Tedder, but then the song's credits obviously mentioned someone else. Then I went searching all over YouTube and landed possibly one of the coolest songs I've heard this month (definitely for the year too). Pull Me Down sounds like a long, night swim, the moon watching, stars hiding, and it's just you and this vast body of water. The video helps a lot with the song. The song itself is quite simple (he basically wants you to be his girl but sings it so damn good, you'd want to be a girl for him...) and it meets your expectations somehow, especially come chorus time, you'll find yourself smiling at how liquid and right it sounds. Mikky Ekko's songs all share that same, bittersweet quality about them, when you know love's not always loads of sparkles and sprinkles. He definitely puts you on that dark sink-and-swim feel you'll never want to rise from.

>>>> JERICH EUSEBIO DRAWS

Honoring & Overcoming by Jerich Eusebio
from his Facebook page

One of my best friends (since 5th grade) has been dabbling in the arts since I've known him: literature, theater, music, film, the fine arts, he's had some happy experience with. But as we've all grown old, it seems his forte lies heavily on the basic pen-and-paper, not as a writer yet, but as an illustrator. As a registered nurse, he's not 24-7 exposed to art and knowing him, he pretty much needs his dose of it at least once and a while. His solution? Draw with his trusty pens and pour it all out there. What he lacks in color, he makes up for in texture and detail, giving his images weight, depth and a sense that what he does, he wants to do well in his own terms. Honoring & Overcoming is my favorite. I'll have to talk to him first to know what it really means and who the image is, I'm thinking Jesus, but who knows...And what's most fascinating about his works, aside from his signature strokes and well-improved style, is his reference to so much of these dark elements and arts. The stories told behind the images, the references pulled out from the very best and cool of arts and fashion and literature and film, I mean, what he does has great potential. If only he had a space to share these images to others with...I'm quite lucky I have him on Facebook. So consider this, dear best friend, a baptism into the other side of the world. 

The Year in Covers (Book Edition)

Designed by Chip Kidd.
When I see it in my room, I just want to race through all the rest, cause I want this savored.
Thanks to my sister for this one.

Year's about to end and I am delighted to have shopped and have received multitudes of books for myself and for others as well for this year. Just like most of us confessed bookies, we don't really get to read all of them right after its purchase, but we do feel the comfort in knowing that they're just there, a world separate from our own within reach.

To start my string of year-enders (and God knows I am late for these ones), let's start off the end of 2011 with my year in covers. I bring you the books I've loved, learned a lot from all read, half-understood and will always treasure from this year. Enjoy.

The Heat List

David Foster Wallace & his late greatness @ GQ

Summer starts today, for me. Why? Wala lang. Grades are out (and final), and yes, I've done well. All of my hard work has finally paid off.
I'm waiting for my last one subject---that one subject I have been nervous about for probably a month now, and this is exactly how summer has felt for me for ages. 

A lazy, waiting that could stretch for forever. And while I'm (hopefully) finally done with school, I decided it's time for a summer lifestyle change. 

Here is a compilation of great things I've been interested in for a while. From David Foster Wallace's intriguing GQ story (not to mention his much-talked about novel The Pale King) to Laureen Uy's super style to our photoshoot, to Goodies magazine to Perry Como and more.

Let's quit the yapping and get it on with the Heat List.

WHO THE HELL IS DAVID FOSTER WALLACE?

David Foster Wallace's story on GQ is very interesting so far. For me, the great thing about it is how fellow writer and author of this article, John Jeremiah Sullivan writes about the controversial and contemporary literature icon. Read more about it and answer the question, why the hell should we care about David Foster Wallace, here. 

GOODIES COMING

THE EDGE column @ Goodies mag

When a certain Kelvin Zlochevsky e-mailed me sometime ago, I had no idea what Goodies Mag was. The invitation to become a columnist for the New York-based online magazine was more than humbling. One of my dreams has always been to write as a columnist for a newspaper. That was when the internet wasn't the internet. Goodies magazine, in a nutshell is a guy's magazine. From all those babes you'd want to be with to the music you ought to listen to to the latest eateries 'round the world and to more masculine concerns you should be concerned with, Goodies has got it figured well. Make sure you check out soon what I'm writing for Goodies. I've been thinking about Star Trek lately and its odd connection to Prada...Why? How? Well, better read it when it's done. 

THE DELHOMME TOUCH

Jean-Philippe Delhomme for Kitsune's Spring 2011 campaign @ HighSnobiety

A GQ reader would know JP Delhomme, for his languid, super chic and cool illustrations are regulars at the Style Guy section. This Spring 2011, Delhomme lends his awesome touch to Maison Kitsune's for handsome illustrations that tell a fantastic story. If only clothes really looked that cool, I'd spend a leg over them. Great work Delhomme...Now if only I could have these framed.

SUMMER DRESSING

My favorite summer lady look @ BreakMyStyle

Undeniably one of the most fashionable personalities I've seen, Laureen Uy shows ladies how a dressed-up summer looks like. She's always turned out, no doubts about that, but this super chic ensemble is my favorite. What I love about it is how it's all so summery, what with that almost sheer top lined with pink, buttoned-up to perfection and paired down with a beautifully-printed skirt. At first I thought it was a dress, but her credits prove that with the right pieces combined, you could create a look that's all your own. I'd be Tommy Ton to whoever could dress this elegantly. People just don't dress this clean and polished these days. We're too casual a generation, I'm guilty, and this is an example that dressing up sometimes does you great things. Follow Laureen's blog and keep track of her stylish adventures....

PERRY & PAUL

Papa Loves Mambo by Perry Como

Cool Hand Luke starring Paul Newman

Knowing this blog (and me), old school tribute and reference is a must! I'm giving my usuals the break (Dean, Clift, Brando, E & F Fitzgerald, Shearing, Holiday, etc.) for two P's: Perry Como and Paul Newman. Since I've been hooked on old school songs sometime now, I listen to my grandmother's station of choice after lunch...Dr. Love on Radio DZMM plays you all these old-timey tunes and when you're young, you'll think it's cheap, old, korny and what have you, but for those of us who have a classic bone, this is a pretty fun station to tune into. Perry Como is a playback king in Dr. Love's station and it doesn't hurt that he's pretty stylish and one of the great-looking men I've seen. 

Paul Newman is another stylish inspiration. After seeing Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with the late Elizabeth Taylor, I started to like Paul Newman a lot. He and McQueen, I believe are more of the same calibre, than the Holy Trinity. Anyway, Paul Newman is a stunner for sure stylewise and as an actor. I'm downloading more of his movies and I'm excited to watch them all.

SMILE FOR THE CAMERA

Hey doll. Jessica Stam and loads more of today's most beautiul people @ICanTeachYouHowToDoIt

Great-looking people, you could say, is my drug of choice. There is no other experience out there for me that could take you on a high than seeing and oggling at handsome ladies and beautiful men. I Can Teach You How To Do It by fellow Gerard, Gerard Estadella is an amazing blog (and why I found it just now, I have no idea). This is definitely one of the blogs I'll be frequenting this summer, just so I have inspiration when it comes to taking pictures and being taken. Just always remember to put your best face on and you'll surely get photos as great as Estadella's.

BACK TO SCHOOL

The most beautiful rucksack I've seen @ Selectism

The first ever rucksack I had was from my mom's, a black bag printed with Mickey Mouse's profile all over in different colors. Then I have my Forever 21 one which is really the biggest bag I have and I've used it way too often. This Bill Amberg Hunter Rucksack though is definitely an art. The delicious leather, the color, the tiny gold accents, not to mention the deep sea green inner lining of this bag that makes it extra charming for me, has got me begging for money in the streets. Maybe going back to school is a great idea, I mean, I could pursue my master's degree AND carry this around, now that's an amazing deal right there.


FALLING IN LOVE WITH SASHA 





I still can't believe she has kids and she's not in her teens. Sasha Pivovarova, otherwise known a just plain Sasha, is a mad presence on the runway. And by mad I mean that in the best, most casual way. Top model---and not just a title you throw around, Sasha's awfully beautiful here for Free People and she's looking radiant, young and oh so fragile, it kills me. I'm having this video on my iPod soon. And I can't hold myself from tearing up when she's doing that two-tooth model smile, it's beautiful.

I'll be coming up with more of these while summer's here. Enjoy you guys!

- Gerard