Jade in the Studio

Jade just made this tweet:

twitter.com/jadepuget

The new album just keeps getting closer and closer! Is there anything that you are hoping that this album has that you think there wasn't enough of on the last album?

Send Your Questions

AFI will be doing holding a signing at Zia Records in Tempe, AZ on January 29th. I would never miss out on such an opportunity, so I will be there (probably will also be like 2 hours early). Anyway, my point is I will most likely have the opportunity to ask Davey/Jade a question, and it will be about Blaqk Audio of course. I'm making this post because I want you guys to come up with what that question is for me. Nothing too long and complicated please, something short & sweet yet meaningful is best - my time is limited up there. So please leave your questions in the comments :) The most suggested one will be the winner.

Some Blaqk Audio Fun...

In my spare time, recently, I decided to come up with a word find filled with Blaqk Audio pertinent things. I, also, recently, happened upon a video of an interview of theirs that I hadn't seen.
I know that many of you who frequent the site want only NEW Blaqk Audio News...And, if that's the case, "nuts to you"...When I have some, I will share it...But, for the rest of you, who would rather have some Blaqk Audio fun to fill the time in between breaking stories...Enjoy!!! :-)

~*Kristin Star*

ADAM CARSON (backing vocals)
AFI
AGAIN, AGAIN AND AGAIN
AUDIO
AUGUST (month of album release)
BLAQK
BLAQK AUDIO
BRIGHT BLACK HEAVEN
BITTER
CEXCELLS
DAVEY
ELECTRIC
ELECTRONICA
EXCLUSIVES (Best Buy, Hot Topic, iTunes)
FEAR OF BEING FOUND
GIRLS AND BOYS
HAVOK
JADE PUGET
MUSIC
MUTE
NEW TALES TO TELL
ON A FRIDAY
SEMIOTIC LOVE
SIDE PROJECT
SILENCE
SNUFF ON DIGITAL
SWEET
SYNTHESIZERS AND SOFTWARE
TWO BOYS
VOID REMAINS
WHISPER FROM MILES AWAY

Discussion: What is CexCells about?

Davey has always hid stories, concepts, and layered messages through his lyrics; in both AFI and Blaqk Audio. The title of Blaqk Audio's first album, CexCells, confused a lot of people. Were they singing about sex? It can be read two different ways - "Sex Sells", and "Sex Cells". I, personally, have my own interpretation on the album. What do you think CexCells is about? Let us know in the comments.

I've come to the conclusion that Davey is singing about (brace yourself) gay sex. Look at the Stiff Kittens single cover, yes that is two girls. The character in the story basically is telling of how he/she is beginning to feel unattracted to the opposite sex, and longs for a gay partner (listen to "Again Again and Again" & "Where Would You Like Them Left?" and you'll get the picture). Depression comes in and the character jumps off of a building at the end (Snuff on Digital).
... That's my theory in a nutshell. Let's hear yours!

My Bright Black Heaven Artwork, Part 2

I have finished two more pieces of Bright Black Heaven inspired art, and am sharing it with you first!
To see my previous works, check out this post here.

First up: Some cover art I tried making. I honestly really didn't like how it turned out, but that's what just 30 minutes in Photoshop will get you :P. Look out for different cover art by me soon. Maybe a little too creepy than I hoped for?

This second one is my favorite art so far. It's a background, and it is very simple yet beautiful.

Enjoy :)

Introductions!

Hey guys!

It's Courtney, here, one of your new writers. I just thought I would introduce myself. I'm a photography major at Virginia Commonwealth University and I adore AFI and of course Blaqk Audio! To keep good conversation flowing, I was wondering how you all felt about Blaqk Audio's logo (seen in the image above). To be frank... I thought it was pretty ugly. After hearing the music, I disliked it more because I think it was a little incongruous with the sound of the album which was very sultry which is not something I envision with hard lines. Of course I don't know that I could do better, but still.

Gimme your two cents!

xoCourtney

New Poll: When will Bright Black Heaven be Released?

Now that Jade has confirmed the album's release for 2010, when exactly do you think it will be released? Vote now in the new poll to the left, and let us know what you think....

Blaqk Audio "Much Music" Interview from During Their "CexCells" Tour...

I found this Blaqk Audio interview (from during their CexCells tour), on the Happy Cow website.
I'd never seen it, before, nor had I heard about it...So, I'd say that it's probably, somewhat obscure. (However, I don't know how obscure it is for those in Canada [where I believe "Much Music" is out of])...It's a pretty lengthy interview with Davey, and Jade, where they discuss the album (CexCells, that is), among other things...And then, the host of the show was cooking with them. It's weird, but pretty funny...Especially, when both guys kind of jump backwards, thinking that they're going to get sprayed.
Check it out, if you'd like....And, when we have new interviews/news to post about, we will.

~*Kristin Star*

Hold Me Now

Edit: The clip had to be taken down due to complications. Sorry for the inconvenience. 

Trivia: Since everyone else is doin' it (Alex Trebek, AFI HQ, I <3 the 80's on VH1, you name it)

Hey guys, just figured I'd post a little BA trivia to keep everyone in the loop as well as bring you back to the good ol' days of Cexcells and early BA things. Enjoy!

On a side note, we appreciate all the post feedback thus far but please refrain from the negativity and the "lack of news" sidechats going on in the commentaries. When we get news, it will be put up. There may not be news for some time considering the Crash Love tour is going on til March. If you don't want to read non-news, then go eat some fruit snacks and watch X Files. There are far better non-productive things to do. srsly.

RANDOM TRIVIA COMIN ATCHA!!!

• Blaqk Audio was actually first mentioned to be a side project before Sing The Sorrow was even released. The group didn't release any material until about 5 years later. 

• An instrumental version of “The Love Letter” was shown in the theatrical trailer for “The Eye", which starred Jessica Alba.

• Blaqk Audio have done 3 cover songs so far; "Hold me Now" by the Thompson Twins, "Girls and Boys" by Blur, and "No New Tales to Tell" (their most recent cover) by Love and Rockets set to hit a tribute album in March.

• Decemberunderground, Jade Puget said in an interview conducted by Guitar World that "37mm" as well as "Love Like Winter" were originally meant for Cexcells due to their more obvious electronic sounds.

• Their second album is said to have taken a direction that's more "drum and bass heavy" according to Billboard Magazine.

• "Between Breaths" is in fact about Breathplay/AES. Choke on that, sex fiends. Also, don't try this at home kids. 

• Stiff Kittens music video hasn’t yet been released but it was shown on a drop screen during their debut tour behind Jade’s keyboard and synth set-up. Much of it featured night vision and Davey in tight enclosed tunnel-like spaces.

• So far, "Mute", "The Ligature" and "Blaqk Electric" haven't been performed live yet.

• Cexcells is meant to be both literal and figurative. It was released on August 11th world-wide and came out in states August 14th the via UMG, Interscope's parent label.

• With this being their sophomore-side-project release, and knowing that Puget's said that the band has written 70 songs aside from the planned 12 tracks for BBH, there's a possibility this could result in a shift of the concept of it (whether there may be one), and the milieu of B-side groupings this could result in could drastically differ.

Knowing that Jade and Davey boast favorite bands such as Assemblage 23, VNV Nation, Apoptygma Berzerk, Combichrist, Imperative Reaction, Covenant, Aphex Twin, Depeche Mode, Daft Punk, etc. Do you as fans feel that there's going to be a merging of Industrial and EBM moreso with the upcoming album? Considering that it's going to be heavier with drums and bass I feel like there are going to be more up-tempo'ed tracks. Then again, Jade also said there will be those Depeche Mode vibes sandwiched in between.

What are you as BA fans hoping for with sounds?

****Also, have any sweet JPGs of your Blaqk Audio tattoos? Send em to me and I'll showcase them in our blog in the upcoming weeks/months.

Email me @ laurelsalvo@hotmail.com with attachments.

scream through dreams that cut your voice,
~Laurel

Introductions indeed!

Following suit with Kristin ;)

So I'm Laurel, also 24, and from Pennsylvania. I'm a senior in college right now and for the past year I've been dividing my time interning half the week in NYC at Blackheart Records (Joan Jett's record label) and the other half living on campus doing random senior and academic things (more the former...)

I'm incredibly excited to be part of this blog for more reasons than one. I've been looking to expand and further my literary horizons with writing about anything music-related I can get my hands on, and since the debut of Cexcells I've been a fan of the beats. I adore EBM, Dance, Industrial, Dark Wave, and Synth more than other genres and my Ipod is ridiculously impregnated with all of them. As it should be :P

As far as my experiences goes, I've been interviewing bands on my own through managing my campus radio station and writing a music column for my school newspaper. So far quite a few have had the synth and electro sounds within their genre (VNV Nation, Imperative Reaction, and Uh Huh Her). Outside of that, I've done some phoners with a few groups on Joan's label; before and after interning for her, as well as others I've done in my own time through PR contacts I've befriended.

More than anything, I'm just a kid at heart that's passionate about music and who looks forward to a few hours of unfilled time with my head inside a good pair of BOSE headphones, getting the new month's AP in the mail and thumbing through the pages finding what's new and good, and the nerdy type of chick who breaks into dance moves to 80's music in her dorm room while no one's watching (thank god).

I'm looking forward to being a part of the Blaqk News team and helping scour the interwebs with rest of the lot and hopefully when the Crash Love tour comes to an end and the Bright Black Heaven one begins, I'll be able to sit down with the Electroheads* (good Combichrist song, check it out) and get the scoop on all things BA.

neon nights, electric lives,

~Laurel

Hello, Blaqk News!!!

Hello, Blaqk News Readers!!! And, Thank You for the warm words of welcome!!!

I am Kristin Star, one of the new writers for this site.
I am 24 years old, and from New Jersey. I am a drug-free Vegan, and I am a singer, and a writer. I am, also, interested in acting, and hope to work in the television field, in addition to music, and writing, someday.

I am thrilled to have the opportunity to write for this site, about Blaqk Audio!!! I have been a fan of Blaqk Audio, since before their album came out, and have been a fan of AFI, since I discovered them, in early 2007. I admire the guys (of both groups), as musicians, and as people...And rave about them quite frequently, to whoever will listen....And, now, I will get to do it, in an official capacity. :-)

I am looking forward to being on top of all of the latest Blaqk Audio news, whether by way of scouring the internet for information, or hopefully, even, getting it straight from the source, at some point!!! :-)

I hope that you will spread the word about this site, and help it to become the top place for people to come for Blaqk Audio related news, and information!!!

I, already, started doing a little bit of research, since being appointed, as a writer for this site, and have some fairly benign, but pertinent details to report....
The Blaqk Audio store seems to be closed/inaccessible (I think that they might be switching to a different merchant, like AFI, recently did)...However, if you were hoping to get, or buy something of a Blaqk Audio nature, for the Holidays, don't despair...There are some Blaqk Audio things, (including their music, as well as music that one, or both of the guys have collaborated with others on, and even a few t-shirts), available through Amazon, and some of their retailers.
I will continue to check to see if their store becomes available, again, but am not sure when that might happen, because, Blaqk Audio activity seems to be low, at the moment, while AFI is in the midst of their tour. But, when any of us has any new news, for you, about BA, we will be sure to tell you, right away!!!

Again, thanks for the nice welcome!!! I look forward to writing for this site...And, like most of you, eagerly await the release of Blaqk Audio's next album!!! :-)

~*Kristin Star*

Blaqk Audio's Remix of Assemblage 23's "Spark"

This remix is actually a month or so old, but it went largely unnoticed. Thanks to Sarah for pointing this out.

Blaqk Audio did a remix for Assemblage 23's song "Spark", which can be found on the EP the group put out. Click here to take you to the remix (opens in iTunes).

My "Bright Black Heaven" Artwork

Out of boredom, I whipped up these in Photoshop which represent my visual interpretation of the album title. The blog layout uses the theme, if you haven't noticed. All images were created by me, I do not own the original doctored photos. None of these pictures represent official artwork, they just show my own take on it.

Wallpaper

Artwork

(click images for full resolution)