the Spotlight: Female Fronted Bands (FFB)

HELLO FRIENDS!!!! (wow, this is SO violent, I am so sorry, just a little bit enthousiast I think... Or I drank way too much soda...)

Anyways, I am here to do this little series, that I decided to give the title: 'the Spotlight'. It is where I'll take the chance to talk about an artist, album, tour, person, movie, book, etc. that in my opinion deserves a spotlight. I really wanted to kick-off with a very special one, and no better way to start with this one!

I hope you'll enjoy all of these series as much as I love to write them! Let's do this:

I decided to start off with talking about Female Fronted Bands (or FFB as I'll refer to) because they are so important to me. Bands are huge these days, but 9/10 of the bands you'll hear about won't have a woman in them. It is quite upsetting as it honestly is my dream to become a lead-singer in a band and representation is so important. There are huge female bands out there like Paramore and Evanescence, but I also want to focus on bands that are a little harder to find (as Paramore and Evanescence get played on the radio). As I don't listen to Evanescence (sorry!) I'll focus on 4 FFB that I do listen to: Paramore, PVRIS, Tonight Alive and We Are The In Crowd.

Paramore

Paramore is a band from Franklin, Tennessee. The band was formed in 2004. They are probably the most famous with hits like "Misery Business", "Decode", "The Only Exception", "Still Into You" and the Grammy-winning "Ain't It Fun".

Their front singer is the beautiful Hayley Williams (who has a golden voice, let's be honest). She always wanted to be in band and she was offered a record deal when she was only 14 (!!!!). She refused because she would get in the pop industry and she didn't want that.

Paramore is the biggest FFB on the planet and Hayley always makes sure that Paramore gets seen as a band, not as Hayley Williams and others. She is totally kicking it as a band and they are HUGE. I hope that one day I'll be standing in her shoes (kind of, like she is smaller and probably has smaller feet, but I wasn't talking about real shoes. This was an unnecessary comment. Please, read on).

Paramore is a strong band, about to keep growing and growing... Some of the places that I'd love to play one day (that they've played!):

*Madison Square Garden
*Hollywood Bowl
*Reading Festival
*Rock Am Ring

Hayley Williams shows to me that if you have a message, a voice, and a dream you can be in band and you can make it. 

Tonight Alive

Tonight Alive is a band from Sydney, Australia. The band was formed in 2008. They are doing a great progress in the rock industry. Their last album The Other Side was amazing and they have been supporting All Time Low on their latest tour.They have also played several festivals and done several tours. Their most popular song is "Lonely Girl" which I absolutely love. 

The lead-singer is Jenna McDougall and to be compeltely honest with you guys... I don't know much about her. I do know that she is a very strong and beautiful person. She totally kicks it when she's on stage. She has an amazing voice (I'd so sell my soul to have a voice like hers) and if I were you I'd keep an eye on her and Tonight Alive because these will be even bigger than they already are!

Jenna McDougall has taught me that if I want something I should fight for it no matter what and that I have a voice worthy to share with the world.

We Are The In Crowd

We Are The In Crowd is a band from Poughkeepsie (this is a real thing omg), New York. The band was formed in 2009. They are honestly amazing. Their most famous track is "The Best Thing (That Never Happened)" and their latest single "Manners" is pretty fucking good. I know them from "Grenade" (a Bruno mars cover that is so worthy listening). They have a collaboration with Alex Gaskarth (lead-singer of All Time Low) on one of their singles (they actually did a remake of it just to feature his voice) and that song is called "Kiss Me Again".

Their lead-singer is Tay Jardine and she is amazing. I totally love her because she is so cute yet so punk. She has a beautiful voice and she knows how to treat a crowd (and her clothing is always on point, just like her hair)

Tay Jardine taught me that my differences are useful and that I should work really hard on what I really want.

PVRIS

PVRIS (pronounced "Paris") is a band from Lowell, Massachusetts. The band was formed in 2012. I only discovered them recently and they are amazing! They are still small but man, they'll get their big break... They have a unique sound that is really attractive. They have only one EP out called "White Noise", with "St. Patrick" and "My House" being the most famous songs of the record. Recently, they released a new video for "White Noise". 

The lead-singer is Lynn Gunn. She is still very young (21) and she has a soft voice BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN SHE CAN SOUND LIKE A BADASS WOMAN YOU DON'T WANT TO FUCK WITH. I would love to see her evolve on stage but she already kicks it! (PS: I love her hair)

Lynn Gunn has taught me that hard work takes its time to pay off and that being weird is a cool thing.

So that was it! Those where the 4 bands that deserved a spotlight! I hope you'll check them out and I can't wait to see them grow! All by all these women show to me that girls can also rock. Representation by this women means the world to me and I take a lot from my inspiration from them. One day I hope that I'll be on one of these lists as well.

Lots of love,

Xo

#ChooseBeautiful

Hello friends,
as soon as I saw this video I just knew I had to write about it. This video is made by Dove, which is spending so much time and effort to make women feel beautiful (and I absolutely love that!). As I am someone who has struggled a lot with self-image (and sometimes still does) it is important to share this message with the world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DdM-4siaQw 

So this is the video I'm talking about. The concept seems easy: you have two entrances, each with a different name. You go through the door that you define yourself with and that's all. But it is heart-breaking to see this. Just imagine how much worse everything would've been if the 'Average' door said 'Ugly'. Can you just imagine how many people would go through that door? This is not okay. I want to speak up for those who don't feel beautiful.

Source

 Beautiful is a feeling to me, it's all in the mind. If you keep telling your mind that you're average, then you will keep believing that, which is not the truth. It is hard to erase such a thought, but it is worth it. Tell yourself every single day that you are beautiful and say 3 things you like about yourself. It doesn't matter if it's something on the inside or outside. Focus on them for a while. Smile in front of the mirror. Sometimes I still look at myself as a person with an ugly smile, but I want people to know that I'm not sad anymore. I am not sad anymore. I am happy to be alive and that is so important. Be happy that you are alive. 

Source

People tend to romanticize insecurity: that is so wrong. Trust me, the most beautiful thing is to love yourself and be confident about who you are. Confidence is the sexiest thing in the world. Society will also associate "ugly" with fat. Stop there. Fat people exist, some people happen to be fat and some people happen to be skinny. But fat can be beautiful, I mean, just because society tries to fool you in thinking that only skinny people are beautiful, doesn't mean that that's true. Anyone, from skinny to fat, can feel ugly. Don't base it on someone's weight. Skinny people don't want to hear that they're "not that skinny" and fat people don't want to hear that they're "not that fat". No. Tell them how pretty they look. Tell them how much you like their personality. Tell them how you love that new dress that they bought. Praise the things that they are in control of.

Source

I used to struggle a lot with my weight and looking back it is weird to even think about it. I used to hate myself because I was fat. I never was fat. I still am not and who knows if I ever will be. Sure, I am not skinny, but just because I'm not skinny should mean that I am fat? No. I choose not to define myself with that. Not because I assume it as a bad thing, just simply because I am not fat. It is the same as I would define myself as a dark-toned person. I am not dark-toned, but I am not snow-white, so why would I identify myself with it?

Source

To get back to the subject: every woman should feel beautiful no matter what. It is so wrong that people have such a hard time appreciating themselves. I remember once in class, our teachers asked us to write down 3 things that we liked about ourselves and 3 things we didn't like about ourselves. I think that I almost cried because I was so proud of myself that I had a hard time finding 3 things that I didn't like about myself. It just means the world to me that I am feeling happy with who I am right now.

Long story short: you, reading this, are beautiful, whether you figured that out yourself yet or not.

Much love 
Xo

My Playlist: February

Welcome, welcome!
Today I am going to talk about music. I am so passionate about music: it basically is my life. I promise you, I love nothing more than music. I listen to it all the time and I enjoy every single second of it. I hope to do something with music later in life, but let's focus on this post right now! I've been thinking about posting a little playlist with my favorite songs of that month. There are a few songs this month which I fell in love with so I am so excited to share them with you! Here are my most played songs of February:

1. Lovesick Fool - The Cab

This was one of those songs that I'd always skip, but then I listened to it and I fell in love.
I love the piano on this song and the lyrics are beyond amazing.

2. More To Me - Milestones

Milestones was one of those bands that out of nowhere messaged me to promote their music.

I gave it a shot and when I first heard this song, I didn't like it. But now I love it.

The lyrics are so relatable to me and I don't know how I lived without it.

3. Room To Breathe - You Me At Six

I thought that this song was kind of alright and I had listened to it a few times. But now 

I feel the lyrics more than ever so I'll listen to it as loud as I can.

4. Hero - Family of the Year

I heard this song a few times on the radio and I always thought that it was such a lovely song, so I was really happy to hear it in Boyhood! I absolutely loved that movie and this song keeps me reminding of it.

5. The Sharpest Lives - My Chemical Romance

I don't even know where this one came from, but again it was one of those songs I'd always skip. I listened to it once and I fell in love with it, I remember listening to it all week. This song is gold.

6. Immortals - Fall Out Boy

So this is the second song that Fall Out Boy released of their latest album and I completely loved it. I was also extremely happy to hear it in Big Hero 6 (kind of the reason why I watched the movie). This song shoiuld be known by everyone.

7. World Of Chances - Demi Lovato

This was once again one of those songs that I always used to skip (I should stop skipping songs) and when I heard it, I was crying because that is how badly it hit me. I love this song so much. You really should give it a listen.

8. Nobody Puts Baby In A Corner - Fall Out Boy

So the boys announced a concert in my country and I'm going so I went on a spree to celebrate that and I fell in love all over again and this song is life. Yeah.

9. Irresistible - Fall Out Boy

I always loved the song but the music video is 100% better. This song is so catchy, you'll love it. I love it. *shouts it from the rooftops*

10. Flares - The Script

Hey, it is one of those songs that made me cry this month! WOOOHOOO!! 

But seriously, give their entire new album (No Sound Without Silence) a listen because I want to marry it. Flares is my favorite by far though.

11. House Of Wolves - My Chemical Romance

I started listening and crying  to My Chemical Romance again and this is such a nice song because it reminds me of my friend. She has like this game on the PS3 and we always play it when I'm at her place and this is one of the songs that is on the game's soundtrack so we'll be playing and it will come on and I always smile so big. Memories...

12. The Kids From Yesterday - My Chemical Romance

Did I tell you by that one time I started listening to My Chemical Romance again?

WE ARE THE KIDS FROM YESTERDAY...

13. S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W - My Chemical Romance

Guess what? I cried. A lot. 

14. Temporary Bliss - The Cab

This song is pure gold in my opinion. I just love how it starts and how smoothly it goes into something else. The lyrics are beautiful and I am in love. If my favorite person was a song then this is the one it'd be.

15. I'm a Wonder - The Cab (feat. Patrick Stump)

This was (once again) one of those songs that I always skipped. STOP DOING THAT, YOU IDIOT!

This song is amazing and the fact that Patrick Stump sings on it makes me wonder why you haven't listened to it yet.

16. Novocaine - Fall Out Boy

Fall Out Boy their new album is life, but this song is everything. Out of all their amazing songs this one is by far my favorite one. Fight me, because I am ready as fuck.

17. Twin Skeletons (Hotel in NYC) - Fall Out Boy

I couldn't get over the lyrics on this song and I even thought of an entire music video for this one. Call me Fall Out Boy, this is going to break YouTube.

18. Man On a Wire - The Script

LISTEN TO IT. GO LISTEN TO IT. You're welcome.

19. Nothing Left - Milestones

I fell in love with it from the moment I first heard it. These guys have their first EP coming out in April and I am really excited!

20. I Want You To Know - Zedd (feat. Selena Gomez)

So, you might feel as this song doesn't belong in this list, but I do love Selena Gomez' work and so I've been following it for some years now. Zedd is honestly my favorite DJ and this song is gold, though I didn't like it when I first heard it. Just listen to it later if you don't dig it and then just form your opinion.

I hope you enjoyed to read about these songs (and to listen to them) as much as I did! Music is amazing and eternal. I hope you're having a good day! And is there a song you really love at the moment? Make sure to tell me :)

Much love,

Xo

How Do I Prepare Myself For A Concert?

Hello everyone, today we are going to talk about one of my favorite topics: concerts! Maybe you have already been to one, maybe you have one in the near-future or maybe you are waiting for your favorite artist to stop by!

We all know what they are, but do we all know how to prepare for them? Yes, I think. (what??? Plot twist???) BUT I always love to read how other people do it! I think all tips are great and a concert always stays something unique, so to be well prepared is a must! I, myself, have already been to 4 concerts. I think you learn a lot about going to concerts and I've already made many mistakes during concerts (which I could have avoided) so I decided to share some of my tips:

{NOTE: I am also going to give advice if you want to go as a VIP, which I have never done myself but I plan on doing. I am going to put those in cursive}

Buy tickets:

It might sound logical, but this just needs to happen! Without tickets, you are not going. First of all you need to know what kind of tickets that you want: do you want a GA ticket and stand in the pit? Do you want seats? (if available. Make sure to check!) How much money do I want to spend on tickets? How many people do I take with me or am I going alone? Do I want to go VIP? These are very important questions, and you better know the answer to all of them before they go on sale!

Now I do not want to ruin all the fun: but tickets cost money. You will need money. Maybe you will even have to save money. Keep in mind that you do not only need money for tickets but also for transport, to use the bathroom at the venue, food & drinks at the venue (because you cannot take your own! They check that) and maybe even merchandise.

If you want a meet & greet then you should look up what packages that they offer and how expensive they are. Make sure to look if they include a concert ticket or not! Do know that prices can (and mostly do) depend on which country the artist comes to. E.g. Packages are more expensive in Russia than in the Ukraine. This is very logical because of how "rich" a country is. It is completely fair and should be respected. If you want to start saving without even the slightest hint that your artist is coming; try to figure out how much it was last time. Chances are big that it'll be the same price or maybe a little bit more expensive. Make sure that you really want this and that you will not regret spending such a huge amount of money on an artist that is not worth it. Look up stories from people that already met them and they can tell you if it is worth it or not! 

Packages of Thirty Seconds To Mars in the Ukraine
(THIS IS NOT THE SAME FOR EACH ARTIST AND EACH COUNTRY)
These are very clear and great examples.

 HINT: Keep an eye out on giveaways by magazines and radio-stations for tickets.

Make sure that if they do a quiz that you have enough knowledge on the artist. You 

also might have to explain why you want tickets: make sure you can do that.

Also make sure that you know their biggest hits. Sometimes they might ask you about those.

Look for info:

Where is the concert? How long does it take you to get there? What transport will I use? When does it start and end? What songs will they play? Here is a site where you can find setlists for every artist, tour, country,etc. (NOTE: You can also go for the surprise effect by totally not knowing the setlist! That makes it so much fun! I sometimes forget the setlist in the moment as I am way too excited for the concert so yeah...) Keep an eye on social media: maybe some people from your country are doing a special project and it's nice to join those! If you want to, you can also talk to people who are going to the same concert! It's a great time to make friends! 

Shout-out to Germany: this is honestly level 100000000000000.

Plan your day:

My entire day will be dedicated to my concert. We all know that I (and maybe you too) will not have your chills that day so it makes things a lot easier if you plan out EVERY SINGLE THING. That is right. Just to make sure that you do not forget anything. Plan it all. When do you wake up? When do you shower? What and when do I eat? At what time do I leave the house? Did I pack everything? HINT: pack everything in a little bag the day before the concert to take with you to the concert. (I will post below what you should take with you.)  

Work for energy: 

NOTE: This is something that I do. If you do not want to, that is okay. You get a lot of energy during a concert: you will survive it.

At a concert you will have to jump, dance, wave, etc. This demands a lot of energy! I start to work out a lot before so I do not have sore muscles. I sometimes feel like to me it is just a "secret" motivation to work out. It just makes me want to be healthy so I can be the best version of myself. So if you are going to do this too, then I recommend to listen to the artist you are seeing!

Know all the RIGHT lyrics to every single song:

We all have sang the wrong lyrics to a song and when you are at a concert and screaming the lyrics things could get pretty awkward. I personally sing every single song of a concert and I make sure that people hear me. (Sorry again to my friends who went to the Fall Out Boy concert with me, I didn not know that I was screaming in your ears!) I will listen to the song while reading the lyrics once in a while and I just get so excited. You are going to hear that song live. THE EXCITEMENT!!! 

HINT: Look up the supporting act(s) and look at their most recent/ most popular songs. No better warm up than the supporting act! 

Preparation for the meet & greet:

Chances are huge that you will only have a few seconds to actually talk personally to the artist. Look up reviews of people who previously went to a meet & greet with your artist. Ask their entire story and you will see what the meet & greet will be like. Think about what you want to say/ask. You will only be able to say one thing: make it count. Also think about a pose for your meet & greet picture! Do not be ashamed to ask for a hug or a weird pose: the artist will love it! Make sure that you always ask for things like a hug: show some respect. Practice in front of a mirror or keep a paper with what you want to say in your pocket: you do not want to regret not saying anything. Make sure you respect the rules of the entire experience. Write a letter or make something for the artist! Every artist appreciates gifts. Don't give inappropriate gifts or letters: no one wants those, it doesn't show any respect and you migth aswell ruin it for everyone. (E.g. The frontman of 30 Seconds To Mars has once gotten an ear from a fan... (EW) Ever since fans are no longer allowed to personally give gifts/letters, but they have to through the concierge, who will check for inappropriate stuff.) 

FAQ about concerts:

What do I take with me to a concert?
I would suggest to take a bottle of deodorant with you (as you will sweat a lot and maybe you'll enjoy some deodorant after the concert), some money (to buy food, drinks, merch...), your cellphone and if you want to take some pictures or videos then I suggest a small camera. I, myself, put this in a little bag that I can keep my eyes on all the time. You can also put it in your pockets or something else that you feel safe with.

What do I wear?
COMFORT is all that you need at a concert. Leave the tight little black dress and fancy high heels at home. So one thing you should now: winter or summer, it will get hot with all those people sweating. Wear a few layers that are not too thick. I will almost always wear a top with a flannel shirt or a little pull. I will wear just a regular pants in winter and a short in summer. I ALWAYS wear sneakers to go to a concert: these are comfortable and you can jump around on them as much as you want. A lot of people will wonder: Can I wear a shirt of the artist that I'm seeing? FUCKING HELL YES. Now listen up: most people say 'no'. WHY? You have literally paid money to see the artist and they know that you love the artist and you PAID for that shirt or even MADE that shirt yourself and it is literally the best moment that you can wear it so WHY NOT? Wear that shirt proudly!

What do I eat or drink before/during a concert? 
I do not drink any alcoholic drinks or soft drinks on the day of a concert. Water will be the only thing I am getting (and I absolutely do not want you to feel limited to that). It is okay to drink alcoholic drinks or soft drinks on the day and even before/during the concert. Do not worry. I do not drink any of those because I once drank a soda before/during a concert and I felt sick afterwards because of all the jumping I did... Also, do not drink too much right before the concert! You do not want to go to the toilet during a concert. (which I have also done, but I was damn fast and did not miss a thing). For your food you are basically free, but eat something that is light. (that is what I recommend though).

How do I behave myself at a concert?
Rule #1: the crazier, the better! Artists LOVE it when there are energetic, crazy people in the crowd! Wave, jump, sing, dance... Have the night of a lifetime! This is your night that you've been looking forward to for AGES! (or at least it feels like it). Just do not be rude to other people and have respect for their presence. You can also paint something on your face (the artist's name/logo, just a simple line). This way you will stand out more and you have every reason to!

I hope that you liked to read this as much as I enjoyed writing it. I am really enthusiastic when it comes to concerts. 

Much love, 

Xo

COUNTER OF HOW MANY TIMES I TYPED "COCNERT" INSTEAD OF "CONCERT": 4
COUNTER OF HOW MANY TIMES THE WORD "CONCERT(S)' IS IN THIS POST: 31

My Hair-Care Routine

Hello,
so I warned you about all the random things I'd be posting and I felt inspired by my dearest friend Hanne (her blog) and by like the people from my class who can't stop touching my hair because it is so soft: I decided to show you how I take care of my hair! I never took it serious but ever since I dyed my hair ombré (which I wanted to show to you guys, but ever since I cut it, it needs to get done again so I'm waiting until I can make an appointment).

I have a very poor routine so don't get like all excited: I, for some reason, succeed at taking care of my hair as I didn't have to cut it for over a year (!!!) and it grew well. I am not sponsored or anything in case you were wondering, I'm just sharing what products that I love:

I wash my hair 3 up to 4 days in the week, leaving a day between each time. I use "Schwarzkopf GLISS hair repair with liquid keratin" which is honestly such a good shampoo. It is very oily, which is good because my hair was dry and your hair doesn't get greasy at all! THANK GOD. I also adore the smell of this so if you're looking for a new shampoo: check this one out.

Alright, this is HEAVEN in a bottle so you better pay attention. Now, I used to pull out half of my hair trying to brush it and I was so frustrated that at some point I walked into a store, grabbed a bottle of spray and went home to use it. NO MORE TANGLES. You just need to make sure that your hair is still wet and then just spray it around and it just feeds your hair so much and you have no more tangles!!! This saves so much time for me. After I did that I will dry my hair and that's it!

So once every 2 weeks I will put a mask on my hair and I do recommend it! It literally takes like 3-5 minutes and you just put it on wet hair and then you rinse your hair and you're done! Your hair smells amazing and will be super soft!

I hope you loved this post as much as I liked to write it. I'd like to take some time here at the bottom to tell you that there are a few blogpost waiting for you like:

- My Vocal Warm-up

- How Do I Prepare Myself For A Concert?

- The Beauty of Art

So stay tuned!

Much love,

Xo

EXCLAIMER: I OWN NONE OF THE PICTURES USED IN THIS POST.

How I Save The Planet

Hello all you beautiful people,

so this is a subject that I've always felt a desire for to talk about. Most people ignore it, while I think we should embrace our "mistakes" and should try to make up for it. (which isn't as it sounds) It is about the problems with or environnement. So as many people you could right now just close this and ignore it, but I don't want to feel guilty for things that will get worse, but if you want to then go ahead. This is a post for people that will wake up today and tell themselves: "This is the day I am prepared to change and to make a change." 

So okay, the moment you realize that there is a problem, you are already a HUGE step closer to fixing it. I'm proud of you, and you should be proud of yourself too. Go you! So how do we fix it? What's the fastest way to fix it? The fastest way to fix this problem is by patience and hard work. The only thing I can do now is give tips and things that I will do. I want to reminder everyone (including myself) that no matter how little it is or how stupid it sounds, the change is worth it.

I'm not just going to give tips that I want to do or do myself, I will give tips that go beyond that, but I'll color those I myself am a part of and just remember that I want to do all those at some point in my life.

(NOTE: Being a 15 years old who lives with careless parents makes things more difficult, it's not that I don't want to, it's that I can't)

Tips:

• Recycle! This is probably the easiest one on the list! Use things that you were going to throw away, be creative and give it a nice look. Look up some life-hacks and you'll find something! You just have to look for it. Give it to someone who can use it. Just don't throw it away. If you have to then go to a special place were they take care of it and make sure it will be recycled. Recycling is so so so important.

• Take a shower rather than a bath! You save so much (at least if you just take a 5 minute shower) Ladies, it is actually possible. If you wash your body or you hair, don't let the water just run, turn off the tap. Also, don't use the hottest water, I know cold showers are a no-go, but that doesn't mean you have to go for the hottest water. Turn down the heat each time a little bit less, so the transition is easier.

• This goes aswell for the washbasin. Turn off the tap if you're brushing your teeth! Or if you wash your face or whatever. Also tend to use cold water: this is something I'm starting with today!

• Take your own bag to the supermarket! Those plastic bags are only a pain in the ass for the Earth! And we all have our bag full of bags. So better use those!

• Close the screensaver or don't let anything pass by as stand-by! This is extremely energy-consuming and that's the last we can use!

• Use recycled paper and always use both sides of the paper! This is so important because the paper industry is the third largest polluant WORLDWIDE. This is such a small change for you, but the biggest change for the planet!

• Eat less meat! Meat industry might be the biggest bitch when it comes to global warming! Or even better: go through life as a vegetarian! And the best you could do is go vegan. These go from very small to huge changes, I know, but later in my life I will become a vegan! (I will also make a blogpost about vegan/vegetarian and such) 

• Turn the ligths off when you leave the room. My brother refuses to do this and it drives me crazy! Such a small step and it makes once again a huge change! 

• Pull out the charger when you don't need it! Please do this! I'm begging you.

I hope these were helpful and always feel free to comment more! Thank you for spending time reading this and I hope you will actually do some of these. Save our planet!

Much love,

Xo