On February 11th, Converse will be opening its first store on the West Coast, located on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. Converse Customization will be the headliner of the new store, a creative hot spot where consumers can make their own footwear, apparel, and accessories in any and every way they see fit. The Santa Monica store will also feature the largest collection of Converse footwear and apparel anywhere in the world.
To celebrate our grand opening in Los Angeles, we rounded up a few of our favorite local friends, took their pictures and connected them by their Converse. So if you’re in Santa Monica, head over to the Third Street Promenade and see who’s posted up outside the store.
Join us on February 18th for the Grand Opening party at the Converse store from 1PM -4PM. Find your place in the Converse connectivity chain, a live music performance, and shop the massive collection of Converse footwear, apparel, and accessories.
Our first flagship store on the West Coast will take the retail experience to a whole new level, making it not only interactive but truly one-of-a-kind. Using iPad technology and over 150 customization graphics including collaborations with local artists and designs that reference the Santa Monica community, consumers will have the ability to make their own Converse footwear, apparel, and accessories. From there, they will be able to add grommets, patches and lettering, swap out drawstrings, and modify to express their personal style. They can also work with the Customization Maestros to perfect their designs.
Track Of The Week:
Watch rapper Cezir get settle into the Converse Rubber Tracks Studio to record the single “Long Time Coming.”
Oh, Hello:
D.C.-born rapper Cezir opens up about his past and how the opportunity to record at Converse Rubber Tracks is helping him grow as an artist.
Converse and Filter have teamed up to bring you Hometown L.A., a series of videos shot throughout Los Angeles that capture some of L.A’s best bands playing in a variety of locations. Shot in black and white, the video’s focus on unique and beautiful locations throughout LA – and the bands that bring them to life. Look out for more videos in the Hometown L.A. series throughout 2012. This time, we catch up with FIDLAR in their awesome studio in Highland Park, performing “No Ass”.
“F it dog, life’s a risk”. That is the best and literal way to describe FIDLAR. Based in Los Angeles, band mates Brandon, Zac and brothers Max and Elvis are all about doing what they want (and what they love). “We were homeless for a month when we were trying to find a space we could use to record,” says Brandon. Their practice/recording space was pretty empty their first year due to lack of funds, but it gave them the freedom to make as much noise and throw as many parties as possible so they could play in front of people. “Only recently we’ve been getting shows at venues, but when we started (and we still do it), we played a lot of house shows until the cops showed up.”
Regardless of cops breaking up their shows, they still love their home. “I love how big it is; it’s huge!” says Zac, “[Elvis and Max] lives in West L.A. and it’s a different L.A. It’s big and small in sections, like Highland Park is its own little section.” Hopefully with all the different neighborhoods, the band can finally play a house show in its entirety. “Hopefully we’ll have better luck next week… follow us online to get the location!” And if all else fails, they can go get some grub, “Tacos, dude. Tacos!”
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I wrote a bunch of advice for young writers last week, and I thought I was done being insufferably preachy and schoolmarmish. But I kept thinking about all the stuff I had left off the list for brevity’s sake, all the pet peeves that continued to peeve me, and I my inbox continued to fill up with pitches from aspiring writers linking to their sub-literate blogs. Apparently, one post telling people how to write wasn’t enough to suddenly turn the world into a bunch of hard-edged, precise prosesmiths with copies of “The Elements of Style” tucked in their breast pockets. So here’s some additional advice. Hopefully, this will do the trick.
1. Know What You Write
I never liked that old chestnut about “Writing what you know.” If you are just starting out in the world of reading, writing, and learning about the world, chances are you don’t know much, and writing only what you know limits you to writing about things like high school, riding the bus, and failing at sports (those are three things knew something about early on, anyway). The way to solve this problem is to learn stuff, which shouldn’t be that hard—you like to read, right? Read a lot, and read about a lot of different topics. Stalk church and library book sales, used bookstores, search your parents’ bookshelves. Get out of your comfort zone and read history books about things you’ve never heard of. Spend some time wandering through Wikipedia entries. Read a book until you’re bored with it and then cast it aside (you don’t need to finish books, especially not nonfiction ones). Read books if they have weird covers or titles. Above all, please—read books not assigned to you by teachers or other adults. Learning stuff this way not only makes you a more interesting person to talk to, it makes you a more interesting writer to read. (The two things are rather closely related.)
2. Be a Critic
The last bit of advice I have is probably the most important, and it should be pretty self-evident, but it’s helpful to be reminded of every now and again: When you’re reading, ask yourself questions. Do you think this piece of prose is good? Bad? Does it inspire feeling, thought? Then go deeper: How is it good or bad? What do you like or dislike about it? Is there a pleasing repetition of words, or is the repetition annoying; are the verbs driving the sentences; do the sentences vary their rhythms and lengths? Taking apart the writing of others can be a useful way to start thinking about writing in a technical, exacting way; noticing annoying tics and habits in others will help you identify your own bad habits. The problem with this, I realize, that it is not a very fun thing to do. If you prefer to just sit down and write, to vomit your thoughts out onto paper without lifting the pencil up, if you think of your work as a precious poetic art that will wither up if you try to analyze it—I’ve run into more than one young writer who thinks this way—you won’t care much for the suggestion that you should pay attention to mundane things like the length of sentences or varying your verbs. But writing isn’t pure abstract inspiration; it’s a skill, like swinging a golf club, and like any skill you get better by practicing at it and breaking it down into its component parts. It’s not fun—at least not in the same way that just sitting down and scrawling your freeform thoughts out in your journal is fun—but at least there’s the off chance that if you take your writing, and the practice of writing, seriously, other people will take you seriously too.
Looking for some duds to go with your new Chucks, Jack Purcell’s, or to pair with your new Converse hoodie or tee?? Here are some tips on how to round out your outfit from some pros.
If you’re reading this, you probably aren’t rich. If you are rich… Good for you, I guess? Go buy yourself something nice! For the rest of us, it’s sort of a struggle to be able to buy clothes at all, let alone clothes that make us look good. And how are you supposed to become rich without looking good?
Fortunately, if you don’t mind a little dust and a lot of hard work, you can get a whole new look on the cheap by shopping at thrift stores. From 50′s vintage dresses to new-with-tags designer jeans, second-hand shops like Savers, Salvation Army, Goodwill, and AMVETS are often hiding some great clothes in the aisles of mom jeans and stacks of t-shirts given away during corporate retreats.
First, make sure you give the stores a call before you head over to find out the best way to stretch your dollar: many places will give a discount to students on certain days or offer a discount when you donate an unwanted item. Bring your friends and plan at least an hour to spend digging through the ugly Christmas sweaters and #1 GRANDPA t-shirts to find the hidden treasures. Don’t be afraid to try on anything and everything you think you might like; a skirt that looks only okay on the hanger might look great on you. Once you find something you like, think about how that new piece will work with your existing wardrobe. Even if something’s dirt cheap, it’s not worth it if you’ll never get a chance to wear it. Keep an eye out in thrift stores for hand-made vintage pieces that are one-of-a-kind; they often go for a song but are better made than most of the fast fashion being produced today.
Stores that operate on a trade system—bring them your old clothes and leave with some new duds—tend to be a little pricier than a regular thrift shop, but they usually offer a more curated, high-end selection. If you can find a good tailor in your neighborhood, you can open up a world of possibilities when thrift shopping. Simple changes like taking up a hem are around $10, so if those $7 jeans are a little too long, you can still snap them up and have them shortened.
Clothing swap parties are another great option if you’re shopping on a budget. Tell your friends to pack a bag filled with clothes that don’t fit anymore or that they’re just plain sick of, spread all the clothes out on your couch, have a fashion show, and send everyone home with some totally free, new-to-them pieces. You never know what unworn treasures could be hiding in your friend’s closet—maybe they can find a happy home in yours.
If you’ve absolutely got to buy something new, try online shopping first—you can almost always find a discount by searching the company’s name. Never buy anything online without one! If you can’t find a coupon code that works, chances are that if you call or email the company and ask if a discount is available they’ll happily offer one up. The next step is to call your local brick-and-mortar store and make sure your dream shoes or skirt aren’t cheaper in-store. You might also be able to get around shipping costs by having it shipped to the store instead of your home. When it comes to shopping on a budget, a little time spent can end up saving you some big bucks.
Check out graffiti artist EWOK as he works on the front of the Converse Rubber Tracks. Learn about his creative process and experience him painting at the Brooklyn studio.
Hedgehog is a three-piece Chinese rock band from the Beijing indie scene. Formed in 2005, the group is know for their signature sound that verges on the fringe of pop, punk and rock, with a tinge of harmonic nostalgia contrasted with energetic noise rock. The mainstay members of the group are drummer and vocalist Atom (阿童木) and guitarist and vocalist ZO (子健), along with bassist He Yifan who joined the band in 2010. The band has 4 albums under their belt, all written and recorded in China, and toured recently toured the USA.
Track of the Week:
Hedgehog hits the studio to record their track “Dear Boy, I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend.”
A unique multi-episode series in which viewers will see into the life of a touring band on their way to Converse Rubber Tracks. The series will feature a tour of each band’s hometown and the different experiences they encounter on the road to the studio – from living in a van on the road to the shows they perform en route to Brooklyn, NY. The Rubber Meets the Road series kicks off with Chicago based experimental rock band YAWN.
Rubber Meets the Road: Part 2
The second installment of the short-film series “Rubber Meets the Road” shows Chicago-based band Yawn on their journey to the Converse Rubber Tracks Studio, making stops along the way to play a show in Pittsburgh, indulge in motel breakfasts and play mini-golf. Between go-karting and dealing with a broken down van, the band opens up and discusses their well-established dynamic and previous experiences of recording in a studio.
Rubber Meets the Road: Part 1
Check out Chicago-based band YAWN in Part One of our new Rubber Meets the Road series, as they prepare for their adventure from the Midwest to Brooklyn to record at Converse Rubber Tracks Studio. “Knowing that there are going to be cameras in our face the whole time is kinda nerve-wracking,” said multi-instrumentalist Adam.
Watch as the guys perform at their jam-packed album release show, load up their stuff and wave goodbye to their moms in the first episode of this three part series.
Stay tuned for Part 2 and Part 3 of their journey coming soon…
Converse Rubber Tracks engineer Alex McKenzie leads a tutorial on how to use a mid-side drum mic set-up for a bombastic sound, with awesome instructional animation from designer Matt Watkins. Wondering how musicians create that huge orchestral sound? Watch to find out.
El Kamino began his painting career as a graffiti artist in the early nineties. Throughout the years he developed a signature style of painting that has become easily recognizable. Constantly travelling the country to work with other like minded wall artists, he has taken part in countless small town gallery shows. Living and working in places such as Richmond, Kansas City, Nashville and Birmingham; his work reflects a strong sense of patriotism and an admiration of everyday American life. An avid fisherman and outdoorsman, his paintings combine imagery from the rivers and railroad tracks he frequents with the flea market americana of his southern roots.
Where are you from?
I’m originally from Virginia, but I’ve been living and working on the road for the last ten years.
How long have you been doing this?
I started painting graffiti in the early nineties, and that slowly evolved into an interest in fine art and mural painting. I went to school for painting, but dropped out after a couple of years. College definitely opened my eyes to the world of fine art, but it paled in comparison to the paintings I was seeing under bridges and on freight trains. I realized I was learning more by just getting out there and doing what felt natural.
When did you first discover your interest in the arts?
I grew up in the 80’s, and skateboarding was the key to the city. Thrasher gave me a steady diet of art and music that was completely absent from my suburban wasteland. It was like a lifeline to some skate punk mother ship, giving us rug rats something to look forward to as we grew up.
Travelling, what are some of your favorite spots?
I’ve lived in some random ass small towns over the years, and did as much exploring as possible in the surrounding areas. It’s all about discovering what a town has to offer, and learning what you can from that way of life. For a long time I would simply paint a wall with my name, and try to let the town know that I had been there. Now, my goal is to paint an image that is for the people of that particular town or area, trying to incorporate icons that they can relate to. When I’m long gone, that mural is still gonna be there with them, in their back yard. I feel it’s important to create something that they can understand and enjoy. In the big cities, folks are used to seeing huge murals and fine art every where they turn. But when you bring it to places like Schuylkill County, Pa or Ketona, Alabama; locals get way more interested in it, wanting to know what it’s all about.
The Brooklyn scene, what’s it like with the music, art, etc?
Brooklyn is a trip. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the amount of talent you come across. Most folks have come here to make the most out of their particular skill. So the majority of people you meet tend to be really good at what they do. Some of the best art and music in the country is being seen and played in alleyways and hole in the wall venues in Brooklyn…..And the international art presence is strong. So many skilled European painters come to Brooklyn to paint a few murals and then bounce. There’s no denying just how much of a mecca NYC really is.
Why that wall location, what is the fun stuff around that area?
This wall is located on one of the most well travelled strips in Brooklyn. An amazing cross section of culture walks on this block every day. Artists, musicians, models ; rich and poor, tourists and locals. It’s a unique slice of life. Murals are all over the neighborhood, tons of coffee shops, restaurants and bars. Walk a few minutes in one direction and you’re in the middle of McCarren Park, walk the other way, and you’re on the East River looking at the Manhattan skyline.
How many hours a day do you spend working on your art?
When I’m working on a big mural, it’s an all consuming process. Out the door at the crack of dawn, working until the sun goes down, and then back to the shop to mix colors and prepare for the next day. The irony is that once a job is finished, I jump right into my gallery work, which tends to be just as demanding. When I’m not painting, I’m painting.
Who inspires you, and how do you keep yourself motivated?
The world is filled with worthy painters, most of whom take their trade very seriously. On a daily basis, I find myself being blown away by the work of an artist who I have never heard of before. So I try to make the most of my opportunities, and constantly push myself to improve.
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This wall is located in the heart of Williamsburg, a Brooklyn neighborhood that has become synonymous with New York culture. Artists, musicians and creative minds of all sorts have made this area a great place to both work and have fun. Teaming with coffee shops, restaurants, clubs and bars; it attracts all walks of life to its charming blocks. Sitting on the bank of the East river, it is lined with beautiful views of the Manhattan skyline, and is also home to our own Converse Rubber Tracks.
