An Interview with Deadbeat Beat by Molly Alexander

Detroit band, Deadbeat Beat, fuse their past musical experiences with robust lyrics of introspection, creating a sound that defies labels. In preparation for their sophomore album, How Far, I spoke with guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Alex Glendening and drummer/vocalist Maria Nuccilli. We discussed their early days with Tacocat, the queer themes of their album, and drawing inspiration from the freaks and weirdos.

(Photo taken by Lauren Montgomery)

MOLLY ALEXANDER: Deadbeat Beat has a long-rooted history, with music spanning from the early adolescence of your high school years all the way to modern-day adulthood. You’ve worked in various other bands along the way such as alt-punk group Tyvek and psychedelic pop band Outrageous Cherry. How have these previous experiences influenced your current sound and values?

ALEX: Tyvek and Outrageous Cherry have been two of my favorite contemporary groups out of Detroit since right around when I started attending shows in Detroit in the early 2000s. Both bands deserve far more attention and praise than they get. Though sonically they exist in different sections of the record shop, both bands consist of members who will get animated if you bring up the Spike Drivers. I am very grateful to play in Tyvek. Tyvek is a band that was (and still is) super influential and adored by people my age. I feel like sometimes when I come to town long term fans feel one way or the other about this random guy who looks like them being in the band.

MARIA: I am very grateful to have played with Outrageous Cherry! Alex and I, as he said, we're big fans of both Tyvek and Outrageous Cherry when we were in high school. We met Matthew from Outrageous Cherry when he worked at our favorite record store in town, Car City. We used to come in and bug him and he would actually take us seriously and vibe with us about records. Definitely one of the first musicians I respected that we ended up feeling respected by, especially as kids. A few years later he produced our first record, When I Talk To You. We recorded it with an eight-track at his house. My drums were in the kitchen and guitar amps were in the living room. We did vocals by the front door. Matthew’s style of recording and producing emphasizes the capturing of live energy of the band, whether or not the instrumentation is technically perfect, and if you spend obsessive time on anything it should be getting the vocals perfect ala Beach Boys. We learned from him that the best take of a song is often the first one and if you can’t get it in three you should move on. This is an approach that has stuck with us. It’s how we did How Far - pretty much everything on there is the first or second take.

Your upcoming album combines your familiar pop melodies with emotionally charged lyrics. How did you unify each other's personal stories and emotions into the narrative of the final album?

A: Every time I write a song it's different than the time before. I like to think that I continue to get better at writing them as time goes on, or at least I continue to approach the writing in different ways. Also, songwriting is kind of a fluid experience. I'll sit with chord changes and riffs for years and years before they find the right mood. There are so many riffs that I play to myself constantly that I am very annoyed by. I'm annoyed that they haven't found their song yet, and that they're stuck just with me for the time being. What is similar about both of those records is that I was involved in a love-based identity crisis when I wrote them.  AKA I was hung up on some dude.

Your music explores what it means to be queer amongst a predominantly heterosexual crowd. What message do you hope to share with the LGBTQ+ community?

A: I like to write pop songs because they can reach people on a weird base emotional frequency. You don't have to completely vibe with what actually happened to the singer to relate to the song. I like the idea of my songs reaching lots of different people for lots of different reasons. I remember in high school hearing about the Magnetic Fields’s 69 Love Songs all being written by a guy who was obsessed with his boyfriend, and I thought that was just the greatest. I like the idea of someone hearing about how my songs are written by some gay guy trying to sort out their love life and identity and liking that.
Honestly, I’m interested in sharing my experience openly with allies and non-allies alike. Everyone needs to hear as much about the lives of queer people, even if it’s just that they went to CVS or whatever. It’s about recognizing that queer people are right next to you always and deserve space in real-time, not just in June when corporations don a rainbow trying to sell us sneakers and insurance. There’s room for us at every show for every genre of music, there’s room for us in public bathrooms, and there’s room for us to talk about our experience not just when it’s our turn.
When I was younger at a show or playing a show or at the record shop there was always some dude gatekeeping, saying things like “do you even know who Mark E. Smith is” or something. Now that it’s 2019 and it’s chic that I’m gay at the punk gig or whatever that doesn’t happen as often, but just because you’re not actively antagonizing queer people at the show doesn’t make you an ally. All you’re doing is not being terrible.

While you borrow sounds from the music of your youth and even earlier 1960s pop, your sound takes on a life of its own and redefines traditional genres. How would you describe your current sound to new listeners?

A: Since we draw from a lot of different influences, it's nice when people react to our music and tell us what it reminds them of. I write songs like a pastiche, taking small experiences and influences and tucking them into corners of the songs.

Who are your biggest musical influences and what inspires your band outside of the music world?

A: Here is a list of bands we love: Sparks, Fleetwood Mac, Neil Young, Buzzcocks, Parliament, the Clean, La Düsseldorf, the Byrds, Wire, Roxy Music, Look Blue Go Purple. This is not exhaustive.

M: Outside the music world, we were discussing this as a band and Alex shouted “Everything! The freaks and weirdos!” Which is basically it. Which is not to say we don’t actively enjoy stuff from mainstream culture, because we all sure do.

Your music videos open the viewer up to a side of yourselves that is both cinematic and sentimental. Watching “You Lift Me Up” for the first time felt like discovering a Wes Anderson B-Roll, it has this contagious warmth and colorful candidness. Where do you draw inspiration for your videos?

A: I would say that if anything I was inspired to film in front of a wind turbine because of a cool shot in Pedro Almodovar's Volver. Also just generally any time I've driven by wind turbines I've just obsessively stared at them as long as I could. Also, I often think about the title of the song "The Windmills of Your Mind". I like older movies because I like seeing how innovative they were with shots through the limitations of their equipment. I also love drone shots. Any time I have an idea for a shot it's usually something that requires a crane, and a drone is like a new, creepier type of crane. Drones make so many shots that were impossible possible now. And, also, I am very terrified of drones. I also love closed-circuit camera feeds.

You have played with the likes of Tacocat, Guided by Voices, and even Anna Burch. Looking back, do you have a favorite moment or memory that stands out? And how have these experiences influenced your current sound and performance presence?

A: My favorite moments are the time I threw a house show for Tacocat in 2011 which was the only time I ever got a keg for any reason, and the time Robert Pollard poked his head out of the stage curtain to watch the band better, then after the set he sang the hook to one of my songs at me.

Lastly, what's next for Deadbeat Beat?

A: We're going to tour, and then hopefully people like it and then we'll tour even more. Having toured internationally with other bands has made me really want to do it with this band. It's on the list. We've already started writing more material, and I would like to try and get some of it recorded before the end of the year. I know those songs are going to sound a little different than what I've done before because that is just what happens.

You can catch Deadbeat Beat on their U.S tour this summer:

8/01/19   Alphaville - Brooklyn NY                      8/02/19 Marx Cafe - Washington DC

8/03/19   Happy Dog - Cleveland OH                  8/23/19 SUCK IT @ UFO Factory - Detroit MI

8/24/19   Bric-a-Brac - Chicago IL                       8/25/19 Rozz-Tox - Rock Island IL

8/29/19   Blockhouse Bar - Bloomington IN      8/30/19 Mickey's Tavern - Madison WI

8/31/19   Cactus Club - Milwaukee WI               9/01/19 State Street Pub - Indianapolis IN

"Side Effects May Include" by Claire Donohue

! My name is Claire Donohue (she/her) and I'm a Northern California based filmmaker, visual artist, and student. With this short film piece, "Side Effects May Include," I wanted to highlight and intertwine a number of voices sharing intimate experiences with side effects of hormonal birth control. The six minute piece is shot on super 8 film and manually manipulated (with paint, etching, and bleach). It aims to spark a larger conversation about what I think is a generally overlooked part of our reproductive rights / general healthcare system. When I began talking about the project a few months ago I was overwhelmed with the number of immediate responses I got from my community - I hope to continue growing the library of voices and eventually expand the project into a larger archive or website.

 

Follow Claire on Instagram and check out her website and Vimeo to see more of her work.

An interview with California Alt-Grunge Band Dem Bones (questions and visuals by Molly Alexander)

I spoke with Gavin Valladares, the drummer of Dem Bones, about the group’s creative influences, redefining their band identity and curating a one of a kind concert experience.

MOLLY ALEXANDER: You mentioned that 3 of the 4 members of Dem Bones used to be in the band Running On Empty. How has this previous experience influenced your current sound and values?

GAVIN: Our previous experience influenced our new sound and values because we love energy. Our energy is infectious and translates through our crowds at shows. We enjoy playing more upbeat type songs, and there's a few songs that we very quickly learned will always be a great song to cover such as “Bulls On Parade.”

Your music is reminiscent of both 90s grunge and early punk. Who are your biggest musical influences and what inspires your band outside of the music world?

Biggest Influences: Rage Against the Machine, Soundgarden, RHCP, Smashing Pumpkins, and Foo Fighters. 

Our influences outside of the music world tend to be artists. For Gavin, he loves artists like Basquiat and Chihuly. 

Live performances are a big part of your band identity. What is your favorite song to perform and what is something you'd like your fans to take away from your shows?

Our favorite song to perform might have to be “Bulls On Parade” and we want all fans to take away a sense of family and a fun night every time they come to a show. 

(photos from @cristinacasa)

How has your view of music and performance presence shifted since your first concert?

After our first concerts, we were all suddenly aware that there was so much more than just recording and releasing a song. For some bands, the live element is the most important part.

Any crazy performance stories?

At our last show, we had a huge showing specifically for our set and were playing under a little terrace. I'm not sure what song it happened during but a huge mosh pit erupted and there were other people hanging from the terrace while we played. That was crazy. 

What makes up a typical songwriting session? What comes first, the lyrics or the core instrumentals?

Usually one of us will develop a song on our own and bring it to practice, then each person adds their little nuances and the song slowly but surely takes shape.

Lyrically, what themes and thoughts are you typically drawn to?

Lyrically, we like to examine the thoughts inside of all minds and why people think certain things. Other than that, we write about past or current personal experiences. 

Online music streaming sites are highly saturated with an abundance of musicians trying to make their break. How have you distinguished you band apart from other DIY Alt grunge groups?

 We have a passion and energy that combines itself with all of our friends coming to shows to create an awesome environment. Our shows have a super friendly environment where everyone is friends until they're in the pit.

What do u see for the future of DIY music? How can bands thrive in an increasingly produced industry?

DIY bands have to stick together and support one another. That's why we make it such a specific part of our goal to build a community around music. A community is the band, the fans, and anyone who wants to be involved in one big music family. 

What's next for Dem Bones? Any upcoming shows or music fans can look out for?

We are playing a big art collective/swap meet type event on July 12 and playing a festival on July 19. We are looking to release a single soon and then a full length album!

Follow @dembonesband to stay up to date with future shows and song releases.

"Bleach" Video Premiere (+ Tour Announcement!) from The Aquadolls

If you’re in desperate need of some new bangers, look no further. Comprised of lead singer Melissa, Jackie on the drums, Kate on guitar, and Keilah on keyboard and bass, The Aquadolls are a California-based, self-proclaimed psychedelic surf-punk girl band whose music is fitting for every occasion. Right now, they’re releasing their new music video for the song "Bleach," which can guarantee some headbanging and even a guest appearance by Coldhart!

"Bleach" is completely propelled by angst. It’s the ninth track on their 2018 album The Dream and the Deception and Melissa describes it as “the turning point in the album where it shifts into the deception segment, where love is lost and the first reaction to this loss is anger. This song represents the pains of heartbreak, when all you wanna do is hurt back the person who hurt you worse.” You can feel this intensely through the steady but forceful drum beats and the unequivocally raw vocals. Not to mention the fun, vengeful lyrics. Melissa continues by saying “The chain in the music video, also pictured on the album cover, represents how I was bound by someone holding my true self back, and now that I am free from them, take the chains and tangle them up in the mess they started, forcing them to suffer a little bit of the pain I felt. Now while I would not recommend anyone chain their ex’s to a chair and pour bleach on them, this is a dramatization of a dream I once had on getting my revenge. Once again, do not try this at home!!! Only in your head. Maybe.”

As for the experience behind making the video, it sounds like a truly amazing time. Jackie said she loved sitting as their fans skated around the band in Little Tokyo. I was ecstatic to hear that during The Aquadolls’ live soundchecks, Jackie likes to yell her favourite line from "Bleach": “with a blow torch instead!” into the microphone repeatedly. Kate enjoyed holding some pretty symbolic candles during the shoot - they drip red, as though bleeding, “representing the bloody mess a heartbreak can leave you in” she says. Keilah was admittedly freezing in her crop top, but served some serious looks throughout. This was a monumental experience for the band as this was the first music video they all shot together.

But wait! There’s more! The band will be embarking on their Cali Aquababe tour, playing Warped Tour at Mountain View, as well as headlining in Sacramento, Fresno, and their first show in Bakersfield. Those of you fortunate enough to live in the area, go go go! They’ll be playing some classics, songs from their latest album, a new song or two, and a couple covers.

Jul 18 - Temblor - Bakersfield, CA
Jul 20 - Vans Warped Tour - Mountain View, CA
Jul 21 - Goldfield Trading Post - Sacramento, CA
Jul 22 - Strummer's - Fresno, CA
Jul 28 - Belly Up Tavern - Solanda Beach, CA (21+)

Tickets just went on sale yesterday morning at the-aquadolls.com/tour!

Words by Saffron Maeve + Visuals by Molly Alexander


We are thrilled and honored to be able to share with you a brand new music video for the Aquadolls' track "Bleach," shot + edited by dashymedia. Watch the video below and then keep scrolling to read an exclusive interview with The Aquadolls by Molly Alexander!



DISSOLVING FILM: Who or What inspired the visuals in your latest music video for "Bleach"? (any films, artists, things outside the music world, etc.)

JACKIE PROCTOR (Drums): I feel like it’s inspired by fucked up boys taking advantage of relationships and girls being like hell no bye bitch!

MELISSA BROOKS (Vocals and guitar): I was really inspired by red and black for this song and feel those colors represent the bloody nightmare heartbreak can be. As far as visual inspiration goes, I really love the scene in Texas Chainsaw Massacre where the main girl Sally is tied to a chair and how every one was taunting her, and I wanted to reverse the roles and situation in the video. Instead of chainsaws, pour bleach on your ex??? Also, I would never condone anyone to do such a thing, but this was definitely inspired by horror movies and how bad I wanted to get even with people of my past relationships.

What is your favorite song to perform and what would you like fans to take away from your shows?

KATE ROSE (Guitar): My favorite song to play is “Runaway” because it totally opens up the pit. It’s super punk rock and changes the mood from our other love songs. I hope our fans take away that
1. Girls can do anything
2. Our show is a safe space for everyone
3. We love you!!

JACKIE: My favorite song to perform live is “sick sad motherfuck” because it’s fast aggressive and gets out my emotions without me ever having to say them in words.

KEILAH NINA (Keyboard and Bass): I would say my favorite song to play live would be “Runaway”! It’s one of the first songs I got to learn on bass other than “Wander.” I really really love how it sounds all together and how the bass really made the song sound super full! It’s a real crowd pleaser and gets people head banging. I also really like playing the new song live! We don’t really have a name for it yet and haven’t played it at too many shows BUT it’s so so fun and raw. I’m so certain it’s going to turn into a crowd pleaser once we record, release, and start playing it live more!! <3

MELISSA: I love playing “Runaway (The Jam)” live! I love when the bass and guitars harmonize in the second breakdown, and then I get to put my guitar down and get everyone to clap and party with us!! It always gets the pit going. I also love singing “communicationissexy/idkhow2communicate” with the band because everyone sings together and Jackie made up some lines in between lyrics that aren’t on the recording. It’s fun to jam new ideas and try things differently live!! We also make the chorus heavier on “communication” and it’s always so surreal to see people singing along with us in the audience! The OG songs always get down live as well, like “Wander” and “Our Love Will Always Remain.” We’re going to throw in some older songs on this tour too, so I’m super excited to see how show goers react! Never be afraid to be a bad bitch and be unapologetically YOU. Much love and can’t wait to see you on tour!!

Interview by Molly Alexander

"You Just Know When The Time Is Right" : An Interview with Karen Davis

In our interview with 20 year old artist Karen Davis, we discuss the beginnings of her journey with photography as well as how her creative process has grown and evolved. The interview is accompanied by a number of Karen's photos, taken mostly on 35mm film, and a few of her poems. Her very ethereal and femme photos are simply breathtaking, and we hope you will take a few minutes out of your day to check them out and to read on below for a closer look into her work.

To see more of Karen’s work, follow her on Instagram.

DISSOLVING FILM: When did you pick up your first camera? Did you always know you wanted to be a photographer?

KAREN DAVIS: I would say, I have always taken film photos since I was a young child. But the first time I actually planned and did a photo shoot I immediately fell in love with photography and each detail that goes into taking photos. But I was 5 or 6! I also got very inspired by this short film called "Blow Up My Town."

What or who do you find yourself drawing inspiration from? Has this changed as you have evolved as a person + artist/writer?

I draw most of my inspo from movies definitely! Stanley Kubrick, Alfred Hitchcock, so many directors inspire me. And art wise Gillian Wearing, Nan Goldin, Martin Parr, and so many more inspire my work.

Your work has a very ethereal, intimate quality to it. How do you decide to document these moments?

Most of the time I will get inspired and just do a shoot, most of the time my shots are planned but I have a lot of personal photographs from special moments in my life that I admire just as much as my planned photos, you just know when the time is right!

What do you think your favorite photo you have ever taken is?

I have this photograph, it's for my book, it's my friend Lucy and she is posing with a horse and I think it is probably one of the most unique and beautiful photographs I have ever captured.

Could you tell us more about the photos you submitted?

Each photo I have submitted, even if it was a part of the same shoot, I feel tells its own story to the person who is looking.

I try not to describe too much detail until someone speaks about it.

Can you elaborate on what goes through your mind when trying to write poetry? How do you choose what photo(s) to pair with the certain poem?

Usually, like other writers, I get very inspired when I am going through a lot. Usually I find old family photos with my poetry cause I think it gives it something to look deeper into and what each poem will mean to someone else.

When I read others' poetry I like to imagine how I would feel or how this person would feel or be like so that's why I pair photographs with my poetry.

Interview by Zoë Bridgwater and Zoey Martinez

An Exclusive Look Into the Making of "Toujours" Magazine with Elena Majecki

Elena Majecki is a photographer based in Brussels and we have always loved the work she has shared with us. Her most recent project, a zine named Toujours, focuses on the relationship between a band and their fans. The first time we collaborated with Elena we conducted an interview, and since it was so successful we figured that would be the best way for our followers (YOU!) to learn more about her and her zine.

We hope you enjoy!

If you would like to buy a copy of Toujours, there are still a few copies available on their Big Cartel.

DISSOLVING FILM: First, we want to say thank you so much for agreeing to an interview, this is an amazing opportunity! In order for our followers to know a bit more about you, would you mind telling us a little bit about yourself? What are you passionate about?

ELENA MAJECKI: Hello! I’m Elena, a 20 year old photographer! I’m passionate about music and photography and I’m trying to make it work together as much as I can!

We’ve done an interview with you before, could you give a short recap of what your first submission was?

Last year my big project was to document a feminist underground movement in Brussels called Laisse Les Filles Tranquilles. A series of photos from our rides across the city resulted in this collab and it was shared on Dissolving Film!

When you reached out to us you mentioned a zine you released, Toujours. What is this magazine all about?

Toujours magazine started with an idea in the mind of two friends, and grew into a 68 pages long magazine with 100+ photographs about the relationship between a band and their fans.

Despite not being musicians ourselves, it was so easy for us to realize how deeply music affected us. Our relationship with bands evolved along our own personal growth. With that in mind, and inspired by the strong connection we witnessed at every live show we went to, we decided to turn this into a project of our own.

Toujours is the story of everyone who was ever a fan. It's the story of Columbine, but it's also the story of any band. It's a reminder of those days when we were young and dedicated and so passionate about the bands who shaped us today.

This project isn't just a solo project. It's a collective work. We reached out to fans who were going to the same shows. We reached out to a brilliant young illustrator, Eléa. She not only is a fan of the band, but she had already worked with them before by drawing their album’s tracklist in the most beautiful way possible.

Do you have a particular favorite band? If so, what is it about them that makes them your favorite?

Yes actually, my favourite band is Hinds! They are a Spanish rock band and they are sooo good. I wouldn’t know what exactly makes them my favourite band because there are so many things, from their songs to how good they are live to how good people they are outside of the band. I think that being a fan of a band is being touched by their music in a certain and single way that you kinda end up being crazy about them. There will be a point where all you will want to do is listen to their song that you love SO MUCH and nothing else will matter.

Was there a specific moment or event that sparked the creation of Toujours? If so, could you elaborate on it?

I think when Eléa, a young illustrator fan of the band as well, sent us the illustrations she made specially for the project it took a whole new turn. I mean we were already two on this project, but it was me and my best friend (who is also a photographer) but bringing someone new into this project took it really to a new level.

What led you to the decision of making Toujours a collective rather than a solo project?

I think that when it comes to art (and even in our everyday lives), working with other people, as a duo or a group is a strength. We went through so much during the making of the zine that without each other we would have given up and regretted it after. Our different life experiences and skills brings a new and fresh look on the project you’re working on in the best way possible.

Similarly, what made you decide to print your magazine rather than keep it online?

Well first of all, we have always admired photographers like CJ Harvey who do print zines more or less every time they go on tour with bands. But also, the fact that we shoot film gives us a different perspective on photography and prints. We are really attached to prints and we wanted people to actually hold the magazine in their hands, to then store it in their library or just keep it on their bedside table.

Who would you say Toujours was created for (aka who is your target demographic)?

Toujours is for anyone who has ever been a fan, who queued hours before a gig, counted down the days before an album, anyone who has had a band shape their life in any kind of way will see their reflection in the pages of Toujours. Toujours is for us, Toujours is for everyone else.

Is Toujours magazine a one-time issue or are you planning on coming out with additional volumes?

The future in pretty uncertain - the idea has never been to create a proper "toujours vol2" however the band liked the idea and kinda wanted to make a new one, so we’ll see!

Interview by Zoey Martinez

I THINK WE SHOULD BE FRIENDS : "Nostalgias Shared Across the World"

Meet Yulin.

Yulin is a spirited, sweet and loving soul who colours the world using her vivid imagination in the form of paint. Through the one and a half(-ish!) years that we’ve had countless conversations into the night, it feels like I’ve known Yulin for a lifetime.

Despite our very different timezones and busy schedules as young students in the big world, Yulin and I have always been able to make time for one another in situations when we needed each other most or when we just wanted to fool around with one another. Exchanging hilarious memes (that most of the time we made ourselves) and gifting art to one another, we both got to become close to one another so easily, like milk mixed with honey.

Judging by how we interact with one another and how I talk about Yulin to my friends back home in Australia, most people would think that we know each other in real life. But in actuality, we met through Instagram!

At first, we just followed each other but our path to acquaintanceship took a turn when I changed my profile picture to a certain member of group that we both happened to absolutely love. Through crying over songs and awaiting eagerly for our favourite group’s next music video or album drop, it was then that our friendship blossomed into a sisterhood.

This band that I believe truly strengthened our bond as sisters is known as BAP - a Korean boy group that performs a diverse range of songs that cover political and social issues, mental health issues and most importantly love for the world, art and their fans. 

In this interview, Yulin and I reminisce over our memories that we’ve made together in this friendship and how BAP changed our lives forever.

——

• How did we discover that we both loved BAP?

“I had to be reminded of this since it felt like we’ve been friends for YEARS majorly because of B.A.P, haha! But yes, you had a B.A.P profile picture on instagram and, yes, of course I freaked and yelled at you immediately inquiring about it. 

I was SO excited because you were the first person that had the same level of love I had for the lovely boys. I thank the gods you had that profile picture. That was the start of a roller coaster ride!” 

• How would you feel if we could experience a BAP concert together -- and what would we do there? (Fan meet and greets, what countries we'd go around afterwards etc.)

"OH MY GOSH, that would be a dream come true, seriously! Not only would I get to meet you (FINALLY, you live so far, literally on the other side of the world) we would also be meeting the source of major happiness AND inspiration of our lives? Uhhh sign me up. 

We actually already had a few conversations about this, of course, and every time I think about it I get super excited. Imagine how intense we’d be dancing, yelling, crying, everything! It would be THE experience. 

It would be amazing if I could witness you go through a fan meet/hi-touch. I wonder how calm you could be in front of our faves… hehe. I know I’m not. I WOULD NEED YOUR SUPPORT. 

Honestly, I would love so much to go around wherever the concert was playing together. Wouldn’t it be so fun? We could explore small alleyways, cute little shops, have a nice cup of hot chocolate, experience local food… to be honest, I personally prefer low-key travel plans but if you ever want to do anything more ambitious like traveling to another country altogether I’d totally be down!” 

• How do you think bonding through BAP impacted our relationship?

“Oh, it definitely made our bond 200% times stronger! When I’m talking to you, I’m always happy and laughing because we would send each other meme-y screenshots or HD photos of the members. We really built a strong collection of these screenshots between us, huh? How wonderful. Sharing is caring. 

B.A.P was the major starting point to our friendship, and I am so thankful for them, because I got to know you further after that point. I got to know the wonderful, caring, inspiring, talented Sophie!”

• From your memory, what is the funniest thing we did as a result of our major fan-girling over BAP?

“HONESTLY I found it so funny when you commented on every single B.A.P post I posted, I felt like someone was always there to voice out my thoughts, except 10x funnier. You’re a comedian. Do you remember that one time we left so many comments under one post because we accidentally made each other think of all these scenarios from the photo we were so attacked by at the time? We basically wrote a fan fiction between us in the comments…. good times." 

• What do you think our song would be from BAP's entire discography?

“Ooh this is a good question… I’m thinking, definitely something bright and fun, since you always make me feel warm from your sunny presence! Something we could jam to with our whole bodies. That’s My Jam, Feel So Good? But you also inspire me constantly… hmm, Honeymoon it is. I just feel like THIS is the song of motivation and hope. It made me recognize them even more as the role models that they are, as are you. 

You are so always strong and inspiring to me. Also that line, ‘PAINT THE WORLD’ makes me think of us working hard on our paintings, our creative passions. Let’s keep working hard and paint the world together!” 

• What is something you're most grateful for that BAP has given to us as friends?

“Since we met as online friends, the existence of B.A.P really accelerated our friendship from day 1. Having the same (fiery!) passion for the same music/group of people might not sound like much, but when you come together and express that, something magical happens! 

It just feels so amazing to have someone else appreciate their talent with me because they DEFINITELY need to be appreciated. They’ve given us laughs, tears, BIG smiles, and most importantly our friendship. I am so grateful for B.A.P for many things, and our friendship is definitely up there. So, thank you B.A.P and thank YOU Sophie for existing.”

——

Doing this interview with one of the most vibrant souls on earth definitely brought a whole lot of tears to my eyes…but most importantly it gave me the biggest smile in the world. 

A lot of people seem to think that friendships are built through physical memories made with one another. 

That they’re tangible. 

But I think that me and Yulin’s friendship is proof that you don’t need to physically see or feel someone to love them - if you can feel a connection through any means, such as the powerful universal language known as music, then you’ll find a friendship that will last forever.

To BAP, although many of your songs and your journey as artists have come as gifts to me, the greatest gift you have given me is Yulin. Without you, I would never have met such an amazing human being and I am truly blessed to have met her.

And too my dearest Yulin, thank you. You have given me nothing but love and laughter. With You always and forever! I look forward to the many years our friendship has to offer. God bless!

"Laisse Les Filles Tranquilles" : An Interview with Elena Majecki

My name is Elena Majecki, I'm a 20 year old Brussels based photographer currently working on a series called Laisse Les Filles Tranquilles (Leave Girls Alone in English). In this series, I follow an underground and anonymous feminist group in Brussels with the same name - Laisse Les Filles Tranquilles. Their goal is to fight the patriarchy and to own the streets again, therefore they are tagging and printing the message -Laisse Les Filles Tranquilles- and its derivative -Laisse Les Gays Tranquilles (leave gays alone)- etc. I documented this movement for their past two rides across Brussels and the photos below are the result.

DISSOLVING FILM: Can you tell Dissolving Film readers about the project you did with Laisse Les Filles Tranquilles?

ELENA: During two nights this summer I documented a feminist movement ‘Laisse Les Filles Tranquilles’ (Leave Girls alone in English). The aim of this group is to fight the patriarchy and to own the streets again. Therefore they are tagging and printing the message -Laisse Les Filles Tranquilles- and its derivative -Laisse Les Gays Tranquilles (leave gays alone)- etc.

What is the story of the origination of Laisse Les Filles Tranquilles?

Laisse Les Filles Tranquilles is originally 3 girls from Brussels who were sick of being harassed at parties, in the streets, and not feeling safe in many public places simply because they were women. So they decided, anonymously, to tag and put prints all over Brussels with their catchy message ‘Laisse Les Filles Tranquilles’.

How did you find out about the underground group, Laisse Les Filles Tranquilles?

Last year we were all living in the same neighbourhood, in the center of Brussels were they started. Therefore for a few months everywhere I’d go on a daily basis I would see their message. One day I woke up and in front of my school there were 30 prints saying LAISSE LES FILLES TRANQUILLES. Or when I would go to the closest ATM to my flat and I would find a sticker on the machine saying ‘laisse les filles tranquilles’. I became obsessed with them and the only thing I could think about was contacting them and documenting them. I found their Instagram page a few weeks after that and sent them a message. And here we are now.

How long did it take you to document the two rides across Brussels?

They do all their actions at night to stay anonymous and not have troubles with the authorities, so I followed them around during two long nights across Brussels.

What is the aim of the work that Laisse Les Filles Tranquilles does?

I want to show people how underground and feminist movements work. In Brussels we saw for the past few years many underground movements growing so I want people to see how they do it. Also the fact that this movement is related to feminism motivates me to show a different part of the movement. To feel safe we have to take the streets during the day but also at night when you don’t see it.

What do you want viewers of your work to take away from the project?

With this photo project I want people to see how hard we’re fighting. I want people to feel safer when watching those pictures. And I want people to join us to help us take the streets.

Is there a message you want to tell to the people who are seeing the work around the city, or to anyone else who feels that they are unsafe in their city?

Do not hesitate to share the tags and prints on social medias and to keep fighting. The movement Laisse Les Filles Tranquilles are sending stickers to whomever wants to to spread the word around. If it helps you, start your own movement too!

Interview by Thea Neufeldt Armstrong (@theamariena)