Kaya fan meeting in Helsinki

Last week Kaya came for a fan meet-up here in Helsinki. It was part of his private travelling, so it didn't include a concert or anything, but I feel very special for being able to experience such a thing!

Kaya was wearing a lovely Baby, the Stars Shine Bright's blue dress and a matching ribbon. He was so cute, energetic and kept smiling. I felt to positive!

The event started with question & answer. I got to be the one to ask the first question! I was so nervous. First I thanked him for coming to Finland in extremely voice-shaking-Japanese, in witch he answered cutely "Kiitos". I had to ask the question in English though, my Japanese language skills are way too poor for anything complicated yet.

I asked Kaya about how his dresses get designed and made and how much he himself has to do with the designing progress. He told us that he creates the main idea and theme for the dress, as each song has a specific theme of it's own. All in all it seems to be quite a long progress to create a whole look, but it really pays off!

Finnish fans were quite eager of asking questions, there were always several fans waiting for their turn. Kaya flirted with the audience, gave very long and thoughtful answer for each question and also asked questions from us, like when Aysha asked that with which artists/bands Kaya would like to work with, Kaya wanted to know if we had any wishes. We told him that we want to see him with D and Mana!

Kaya himself told us that he has plans with Selia, SiSeN, Hizaki and Hora!

After the Q&A Kaya signed autographs. I took my Chocolat photo with me to get it signed, because Chocolat is one of my dearest songs from Kaya.

I bought two photosets and QUEEN album. It has Awilda, Ophelia, Rose Kingdom and Transmigration, so I'm quite happy.

Salome photoset

Schwarz Stein photoset

QUEEN album and Kaya's autograph

Naturally the event was also a wonderful excuse to get all dressed up, so here's the outfit of the day:

Headdress, blouse, shoes: Moi-même-Moitié
Skirt, bustle: hand-made

corset from Morticia

jeweler: Alchemy Gothic and random

Pictures by Inka

I had a massive hair-failure, my curling iron broke when I had curled about half of my hair... It was quite catastrophic, so I apologize if it looks messy. This is why wigs are so handy and I should never try to do anything with my real hair.  xD

All in all, it was such a lovely event. Thank you so much, Kaya.

About music and inspiration

I really have the feeling that the main things my blog focuses on is music -related, like going on concerts and stuff, and, uh, to celebrate this fangirling I wanted to make a post that summons all my thoughts of my favourite music genres, inspirations and idols together! I hope you have the energy to read it all...

So the other day I was listening to some bands I haven't really been following for few years and started to feel quite nostalgic. Those bands have so much to do with what I am today, what I think is beautiful and how I love to dress.

I decided that it's time to introduce some songs, artists and bands that have impressed me the most and that have inspired me so much. It's thanks to them that I have found so many great people, styles, hobbies, got so many fantastic experiences... I hope that some of the not-so-known bands I listen to could become more known and even more people could hear their music and see the amazing styles that they have!

Let's start with GPKISM. GPKISM is not active at the moment, but both of the members still make music (I wonder if I should call Ryonai a member..?), Kiwamu in BLOOD and GPK does remixes/covers and is part of Flood of Rain. The first time I found out about GPKISM was in Gothic & Lolita Bible. I saw this amazing picture of GPK and I was so stunned. I listened to Synthesis and I found it very beautiful... Their music really is stunning. It makes you want to drown into it and just feel it around you. I also love the lyrics... They can be so sad and longing or passionate and fierce. And when such lyrics are combined with GPK's voice, it's just something divine. As I said, I first took notice of GPKISM when I interested of the picture I saw in G&LB. I simply am crazy about decadentic, elegant gothic style (propably Malice Mizer to blame? XD). This kind of style is the only one I really want to try and even copy. When I wear, for example, sweet lolita, I have no idol whom I'm taking inspiration from, it's just clothes that I like. But when I wear gothic clothes I almost always am thinking of some kind of source. It's a great compliment to say "Oh you really give out Kaya-like feeling" or "Wow your make-up is so much like Mana's".

From GPKISM I recommend you to listen to Ultimatus and Iudicium.

As I said, the lyrics are so lovely, see Ultimatus:

The memory of time now fading slowly

I pray each day that you would set me free

The never ending dream that you share with me

Together we shal live our fantasy

How can I leave here without you

You know that I will be here holding you

When angel whispers around you

You know that I am still here watching you

Also Iudicium:

Embrace the pain which you have suffered

I'll be there to see you fall

Enjoy the pleasure you have longed for

Won't you ask for more.

Through my everlasting slumber

I could hear your dying call

You seek the chance for your salvation

But you'll find nothing at all.

I could feel those blood rain falls down on me

Invite me into your own destiny

With me, your senses faded away from you

I see the endless dying dream, shattered

More great songs from GPKISM: Illuminatum, Angelus, Sublimis, and Barathrum.

If interested of GPK's work, see Ken's facebook and be sure to listen to these.

Flood of Rain is also something definitely worth listening to, hear Submission. It's so beautiful it almost makes me cry.

For VELVET EDEN fans, see GPK's remixes Witch on flames and BlackButterfly.

I really love to go to concerts. I love the feeling and the energy one can find from there. GOTHIKA is one band that has made an impression to me with their live performances. Few years ago, when they visited Finland, I was really hyper about them. I mean I still love GOTHIKA's music, but they should be more active! Hopefully I get to see them again some day. Also, I have to admit that I have a huge crush on Andro.

Beyond God and Evil is one of my favourite songs of all time. The death-vocaly like singing is to my like. I love GOTHIKA's genre, it's so gothic, mysterious but not too heavy. The members are so... hot. That's all there is to say. XD

Please also try Angel's Trumpet, Gusano and Elflock.

Other great live performer is of course D. Oh the energy! That band is pro. Theis style is also very unique, I can't seriously think of any other D-like band? Their themes are love, they go from ancient Japan to vampire romance. Ouka saki ni some ni keri, Yami no kuni no Alice, Follow and Yami yori kurai doukoku no a cappella to bara yori akaijounetsu no aria (for the love of all good and evil, what is wrong with that name) are just amazing songs. Please see the videos of Ouka saki ni some ni keri and Yami yori kurai blah blah blah! I love how Asagi has such a mysterious and cool look in them... Also, especially in Ouka saki ni some ni keri's look, Tsunehito is so cute!!

You know those songs that you simply have to return to, no matter how many years you have been listening to them? To start with, Schwarz Stein does this to me! do I even have to mention, New Vogue Children and Queen of Decadence?

I'm a big fan of Kaya's, even if I first was a bit shocked of some of his solo work -like Chocolate or Epicurean- because I really was used to hear Kaya's darker voice in Schwarz Stein. But eventually I fell in love with those cute and girly songs. I even made a goddamn cosplay of Chocolate. XD But to stay in gothic line, Ophelia, Rose Kingdom, Madame Rosa, Awilda! Listen to them!!

New single Vampire Requiem:

Ophelia has the most beautiful lyrics:

At night's end

The silence rolls in like the waves

And lends itself to loneliness

Memories of a night gone by

I feel I'll go mad from your scent

That lingers on the chilled sheets

You, who are too far away

Your beautiful smile

Will tear me apart

Stop laughing; My field of vision blurs

In the glistening surface of the waters

I slowly lose sight of everything

Ophelia gently sinks

To the depths of a sorrowful dream

Drowning in her overflowing tears

It's fine if it's a dream

It's fine if it's a lie

Just stay here by my side

(Now I have to ask, why is my blog so pink but my taste of music like this? XD)

So, next to the greatest, most ultimatic inspiration!! Yes, it's Malice Mizer. I seriously would pay anything to be able to go back in time and see a Merveilles -timed concert. It's just something so epic. I guess I don't really have to start introducing of what is the most amazing part of MM (Mana!) or who is the idol I'm going ridicilously fangirlish about (Mana!!) or whose style of clothes have made me a lolita (...you got the idea).

Thank you so much, Mana. I adore you.

My favourite songs from MM might be from Bara no Seidou... Kyomu nonakade no Yuugi, Shiroi, Saikai no Chi to Bara and Mayonaka nikawashita yakusoku. Now I feel like watching Bara no Konrei.

I love this live clip from Bara no Seidou so much:

From Gackt-era, Gekka no Yasokyoku, Illuminati... Well, let's say anything rom Merveilles -album. Oh and Regret!

Klaha-era, it's of course Beast of Blood and Gardenia.

Moi dix Mois is a whole new story. To be honest it's more like religion to me than a band I listen to. It's Mana's solo so the feeling and atmosphere MdM creates is very dear to me. Dialogue Symphonie was the first song I heard from them, and mind you I was kind of young back then and has only been listening to Malice Mizer's popish songs, I found it rather scary. Then I heard Night Breed... And suddenly I had bought Nocturnal Opera's limited edition CD and fallen for good. Nocturnal Romance and Monophobia woke a whole different feeling in my taste of music. I didn't even know of such music! And the pictures the CD had in it... Magnificent.

I prefer Seth as a singer of MdM and I love the current style they have, but Juka and the old-fashioned gothic elegance they had back then is very close to that style of clothes, genre of music and ideology I feel attached to.

But still, Lamentful Miss, Angelica, Dead Scape! Ooooh that is music for you.

I have to mention Art Cube here, if you like Seths vocals. Your here... and Suna to Hana are very beautiful songs.

So as I have now returned to some of the oldest j-bands I have been listening to, I will have to admit that... I... loved Dir en Grey. I found out about them when Withering to Death had just been out. The Final and Kodou are the songs that made me one of those j-rock-idiots. I preferred Dir en Grey's visual kei era, so I didn't really keep following them when they went more... You know. XD

It might be that if I found Dir en Grey today I would actually prefer their newer songs. I have to admit, that band is genious.

Then, D'espairsRay! I loved all the PVC. Thank you for turing me into PVC fanatic, music video of Garnet. Especially Karyu's look in it. It was the time I learned how beautiful more masculine, or should I say bad-ass gothic style, dark kei can be. Then I'm afraid Hizumi's voice couldn't keep up the death vocals and they went a little too pop. The music was still great, but it didn't touch me personally so much anymore.

Whoaaaah, so far so many bands! There is still one I would like to say a bit more than just few words, after that I'll just mention some songs I love.

So the last great inspiration would be no other than Versailles! I saw The Revenant Choir teaser right when it came out, so I'm proud to say that I have been their fan since the beginning! Though I found out about the member's previous work (Kamijo in Lareine and Hizaki's Grace Project) after becoming interested of Versailles... Once again I found a band because I loved the way they looked, way to go me.

What can I say about Versailles? Absolutely elegant, graceful, romantical, all the vampire themes... They are a dream. I also did some Jasmine You cosplay. Oh and Kamijo is a synonyme for Elegance.

My favourites are The Red Carpet Day, The love from a dead Orchestra, God Palace, Zombie... Oh the list could go on and on. Sadly I haven't been following them as actively these days, but still I would say that Versailles is one of my favourite bands.

I still feel like saying someting of SEILEEN, VELVET EDEN, Kanon Wakeshima, SaTaN, Exist Trace and GOLDEN BOMBER (yes, I listen to them)... But I wonder if anyone would bother to read my fangirling any further. XD

So to keep it simple, here's some songs I can't stop listening to.

Kanon Wakeshima - Lolitawork Libretto (I used this as a lolita fashion show opening song.)

VELVET EDEN - Street of Alice (The Russian version is my ring tone!)

SEILEEN - Requiem D-moll (Selia's vocals is too much for normal people to understand... He has to be some kind of mythical creature for sure.)

Exist Trace - Judea (Jyou is soooo cooool.)

BUCK-TICK - ROMANCE (Atsushi comes and steals your soul...)

BLAMHONEY - Artificial Angel (This is addicting, I tell you, ADDICTING!)

After all this babble of Japanese bands I just have to mention KARMIA and Jenlayn! They are Finnish visual styled bands. KARMIA is more wild, darker and heavier. Ecstacy Road is a manificent song from them! I've seen them perform live three times for now, and I definitely want to see more. Jenlayn is maybe more stylish, very cool and impressive. I can't stop listening to Alice and I also hope that they'd release more songs!

By the way, I love Alice's lyrics:

A bird with broken wings

My world's collapsing

I've lost my voice to sing

Future full of nothing

I don't know what to do

Or how to make it through

When all I feel is blue

I need nothing but you

Be my bijou

I feel like Alice

As I'm lost in a dream

A dream with no ending

Darkness and malice

Fade away as you scream

Piercing my imagination

These "fresh" bands really are something I like to listen to when I don't feel like listening my epic favourites. They are a nice change and they give lots of positive energy! Also PLUNKLOCK! Breakout is playing in my head very often...

I feel very fangirlish for feeling so strongly of music and artists. They just give me so much more than just something to fangirl about, they are part of street-style, break from everyday life and an experience of it's own. I admit that sometimes I feel that I'm growing too old to dress like my idol or listen to some gothic music that's enough to make me cry, but for now, I have decided to ignore it. After all, the perception of growing up is comparative!

A cute picture of Ken to end this post:

Thank you for reading!!

Stardust

Helsinki Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma held a masquerade. The event was called "Tähtisumua" / "Stardust", a music-themed evening connecting to a current "Thank you for the Music" -exhibition. 


One was supposed to dress like one's idol. I couldn't decide who I admire most, so my dress was the combination of the musical genres and styles that I adore.

So my inspiration was Velvet Eden's Dada, GPKISM's Gothique Prince Ken, Kaya and Mana!

Mostly hand-made and Moi-même-Moitié

We also attended to "Tattoo Dictionary". You could get a "tattoo" made in your fist saying something striking. After some thinking I thought that Velvet Eden is a lovely name and it suits well with my dress!

See more here.

There was so much to see that I think it's better if I just show you some pictures Inka took!

Katja Tukiainen

Katja Tukiainen

Super hypnotic installation. in a small, dark room.. It was spinning.

Sorry for the derpy face but I was so proud of my make-up and this seems to be the only picture I have that shows my face this well... XD

Also, take a look at Inka's tattoo! I find it so cool. XD

Visual kei Pineapple!

Interview with a lolita part 1

"Röyhelön vangit" olisi varmasti osuva käännös otsikolle.

Ystäväni päätti haastatella muutamaa tuntemaansa lolitaa blogiaan varten. Päätin kysymykset nähtyäni, että haluaisin myös postata haastattelun tänne omaan blogiini. Haastattelu koostuu kolmesta osasta, julkaisen nyt ensimmäisen. Valitettavasti teksti on englanniksi enkä viitsisi alkaa kääntämään sitä... Jos jokin kohta kuitenkin tuntuu epäselvältä/en osaa ilmaista itseäni riittävän hyvin englanniksi, vastaan tietenkin mahdollisiin kysymyksiin suomeksi. :)

So my friend decided to interview some of her lolita friends for her blog, and after seeing the questions I decided to also post the interview here in my blog! :) The interview will be posted in three parts, here is the number one. I deeply apologize for any spelling/grammar mistakes I may have made.

Käykää myös katsomassa ystäväni blogi Tabula rasa cum frame ja livejournal

Please also check my friend's blog Tabula rasa cum frame and livejournal

The interview with a lolita

- What kind of style do you wear and how long have you dressed that way?

I am a lolita. My favourite lolita style is gothic, but I also enjoy wearing sweet, classic and many others. I have been wearing lolita for about five years now.

- How did you find out Japanese street fashion and Lolita-style? Why did you decide to try it?

I found out about japanese street fashions through music. I first got interested of some j-bands like Dir en grey, D'espairsRay and Malice Mizer. Thanks to MM I found Mana, and I could say that it's all thanks to him that I started to adore lolita fashion, especially gothic lolita. Later I found out that there were also other lolita styles, and mostly thanks to Finnish lolita forum Enfant Terrible my knowledge became deeper.
The reason why I wanted to wear it... Well, do I really need a reason for dollying myself up?

 - What did you parents and your friends say/think, when you started dressing this style? What are their reactions now?

As I was in the delicate age of 14 I was searching myself like any other did. I had some friends that were into gothic or punkish styles who supported my choice of style but naturally I also had some "normal" friends. They just thought my style as some gothic style and didn't really care about it.
I was dressing more or less gothic even before I was aware of lolita, so my parents were fine with the gothic style as long as it didn't get too over the top (like with make-up and such) but when I became interested of sweet lolita my father really didn't approve it, saying it was way too childish and that it didn't suit me at all. But still, they never told me that I shouldn't wear the clothes of my choice and I also guess that my mother was happy that I started to wear something other than black...

Nowadays, my friends are mostly representin the same styles that I love. I get compliments from tham, and it makes me very happy. My parents still find sweet lolita unsuitable, I am about to turn 20 after all, but they wouldn't dare to tell me to dress differently as I have made it very clear that I don't want to hear their opinions about my frilliest dresses.

- What do you think is the best thing about Lolita?

Propably the elegance of it... I love it how the dresses are so old-fashioned and luxorious. It makes me very happy when I wear something that makes me feel like I come from a different era. Also, I love the aesthetic senses that lolita brings within! Like how enjoyable a moment of drinking tea with friends in a coffeehouse might be.

 - Which genres of Lolita do you like/dress the most? Why them? Why not the others?

Gothic is my all-time-favourite. I love Moi-même-Moitié, it's simple yet luxorious beauty. Gothic style makes me feel pretty and elegant in a way no other clothes could ever make.
I also love sweet lolita, even if I don't always think that it suits me very well. Baby, the Stars Shine Bright is one of my favourite brands, especially when one can find classical elements from Baby's dresses. Also, with Baby there is this whole new and interesting world, such as Novala Takemoto's novel Kamikaze Girls. It may sound like a cliché for a lolita to say this, but Momoko and her way of seeing the world is very dear to me.

- What was your first outfit? (any photos?)

Hm... The dress that I once though was lolita would be lolita no longer in my eyes. Actually, there are several options. See for yourselves! Anyway, it was supposed to be gothic.

The very first actual lolita dress that I would even today wear was Anna House's JSK.

- How do you think your dressing way has shaped? (maybe some photos for you now)

Well naturally I was not immediately a good lolita or even recognizable lolita... I sometimes still think that I'm not good enough. Ah, this kind of question is indeed difficult to explain with words so it's chronological picturetime!

I tried to pick a picture from every season of every year I have been wearing lolita... Sorry for the ultimate picture spam.

- Can you name some brands or (role) models you like and why?

I guess I have already named quite a few, but let's name more!

The lolita brands that I also like are such as Innocent World, Victorian Maiden and Angelic Pretty. I love it how IW combines sweet and classic lolita. IW is the perfect example of what I try to obtain when I do sweet that is not Baby. However I love AP, but I wouldn't wear the most over the top styles. They wouldn't suit me. VM is amazingly beautiful and I adore lolitas who dress into it, but for some reason I myself don't. Wonder why?

The lolita idols... Well, more likely inspirations! To name few, I would have to say Kaya! I like his looks, style and I definitely love the Baby's dress he wore in Ophelia. Kaya's affection makes me feel good in more colourful and sweet styled clothes even though I love his gothic look.

Other inspiration would be GPK even if he is not a lolita or even anywhere near. The aesthetics he represents really have impressed me.

 I have to admit that I have copied his style and hair outside lolita... Eh, even in lolita! Or should I say I have taken inspiration from him.

 Thank you very much for reading the first part of the post. Hopefully I didn't bore anyone... Don't worry, the other parts will not be so long and I won't spam you with so many pictures anymore! XD