Sister Act: Interview with Dog Party

Posted by: Sienna Orlando

January
9
2012

Gwendolyn and Lucy Giles are a musical force to be reckoned with, as the Sacramento-based garage band Dog Party. These teenage sisters will surprise you with their raw talent, sweet looks and spicy fervor for hard-rockin' music with songs like P.A.R.T.Y. and the amazing Andy Wu. After being handed a copy of their newest album, P.A.R.T.Y., I was able to catch up with the sisters for an interview.

So, I think you are the youngest artists I have interviewed. How old are you currently?

Gwendolyn: 15
Lucy: 13

How did you get started in music?
We've always had music in our lives, and once we started playing instruments, a family friend, Zach Goodin (who was in an LA based band Bargin Music and now runs Half of Nothing Records) , had us play together instead of in our respective rooms.

Tell us about your first live show.
Our first live show was in June '08 at the Fire Escape, and we opened for Agent Orange. We played a three song set with one encore. It was crazy and our first experience with moshing.

How many shows do you think you've played?
Over the last 4 years, we've played a little over 200 shows.

What about balancing music with school and your social lives. What is an average week like for you?
Gwendolyn: My average week day is school, track/cross-country practice, homework, dinner, homework, sleep, and repeat. My weekends in the winter are up in Tahoe because Lucy and I ski race for Squaw Valley. Any other weekend, we are playing shows.

Lucy: During the week I go to school, take pictures, draw, do homework, and play music. On Tuesdays I go to drum lessons, and on weekends I either ski or play shows.

So Gwendolyn plays guitar, Lucy plays drums and you both sing. Do you have any other instruments in your lives?
Gwendolyn: On both of our records, I play the bass tracks, and for one of Dog Party's earliest songs, I played keyboard.

Lucy: For acoustic shows, I play the guitar and sometimes Gwennie and I swap instruments in electric sets.

I hear a lot of early 90's Grunge/Garage Band in your music, but you two probably weren't even born yet. Do you think that the 90's have influenced your music?
We listen to a lot of different music old and new, but when it comes to song writing, we don't try to make it have a certain sound. We just play and make it happen.

Who are your biggest musical influences overall?
Gwendolyn: I like Green Day, Kepi Ghoulie, Agent Ribbons, and Cage the Elephant.

Lucy: RAMONES!!!!!!! Meg White, The Groovie Ghoulies and their female drummers- Scampi and Wendy.

Do you have other hobbies besides music?
Both: Sports are a big thing for us.

Gwendolyn: I like to make videos and take/edit photos. I also like fashion!

Lucy: I paint, draw, and make stencils a lot. I also like to take pictures and eat Mexican food.

(photo courtesy of localindiemusic)

Are there any current fashion trends that you’re into? We want to hear about your personal styles.

Gwendolyn: I've had a LOT of different looks for shows. Right now I am rolling a vintage look with my combat boots and an assortment of dresses.

Lucy: I'm in a Ramones phase at the moment so I wear a lot of black, stripes, studded belts, and leather jackets/jean vests.

What would you like to be doing in five years?
Gwendolyn: Rockin' and a rollin'! I'm still going to college in a couple of years, but music will always play a huge roll in my life.

Lucy: Playing music.

Any words of wisdom for young aspiring musicians?
Gwendolyn: Don't try to sound like another band. Just play and let the music find you :)

Lucy: You can't just sit in your room with your headphones on and play to yourself. Go out, start a band, and do something or else nothing is going to ever happen.

Listen to my personal favorite from the album, Andy Wu and check out Dog Party's Facebook or tumblr to find out about the new album and upcoming shows!

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LuLu*s Featured Fan: Miraya!

Posted by: LuLu*s !

May
2
2011

We absolutely love our Facebook and Twitter fans! Each one of you is important to us and we enjoy chatting on Facebook or tweeting with all of you. So, we wanted to feature some of our lovely fans and get to know them a bit better. If you'd like to be a featured fan, just get on our "radar" by being active on our blog and Twitter or Facebook page. The more you interact/post/tweet/comment, the more likely you could be a LuLu*s Featured Fan!

Some of you still have the last snow flurries lingering before the weather turns to warmer days. Today, we are featuring the cutest snow bunny, Miraya! We have some pics of her in a LuLu*s dress and and interview. She is a Facebook fan who is an active participant in all the fun on our page.

Where are you from?

I currently live in Michigan but I'm originally from sunny Florida.

How did you hear about Lulus.com?

I actually stumbled upon Lulu's.com when I was surfing the web. I immediately fell in love with the clothes and ran to Facebook to Like the page.

What are your favorite activities?

Favorite activities? Yikes! That's a tough question to ask. Let's see, I love art, music and fashion. My main passion is art, especially digital art and traditional art --some of my art can be seen on my personal site at www.firedust.net. My second love is creating jewelry and sewing costumes for the Renaissance Festival. In fact, with a lot of encouragement from friends I have recently taken on the venture of selling some of my pieces online and will hopefully be opening an online store this coming month which is both exciting and daunting! I enjoy metal working and have recently worked with glass fusing. In short, I love trying new things and learning new things. Yeah, I guess you can say my list is pretty broad and endless so I'll zip this up by saying I also enjoy gaming online and reading comic books. I suppose at the end of the day I'm a self professed Geek! However being a Geek does NOT mean you sacrifice being fashionable -- the trick is to always make Geek look chic.

What does your closet look like?

Ahh, my closet. I am one of those lucky girls with a walk in closet. My closet is color coordinated by seasons and lengths. I basically have rows of shirts, blouses, skirts, pants, dresses and each section has to be color coordinated into a rainbow. My shoes are all tidy in plastic boxes for easy access and my belts are hung neatly on hooks. I have a vintage jewelry box my mother gave me as a child where I store my endless array of goodies. I also have some vintage boxes I use to store scarves and gloves and the such for winter. In the corner I have a tall stack of hat boxes where I keep all my fun hats for the spring and summer! I'm very fortunate to have the space and I love it because it defines my style and what I'm about. I'm an artist and I love clothes and I'm able to combine both passions in one lovely place.

What would you want to see more of in our blog?

I think you guys are doing a fine job thus far. Your articles are engaging, your staff is full of fantastic talent and your store is amazing. If I had to pick something though I guess I would suggest more tips --maybe make up tips!? I love make up and tips on application or the latest color trends seem to have some real potential.

What are your favorite Lulu*s products?

Oh Gosh, well first off let me say I LOVE the Look Books! Those are a great source of inspiration! As far as a favorite product goes - I can't pick just one! I love the shoes and the clothes and the accessories - I love some of the vintage stuff you guys have! SO CUTE! <3.

What would you like to see more of on Lulus.com?

I think I'd like to see a bit more of Career wear. Why should our fashion sense suffer at the office, right? :)

What is the most inspiring quote or motto you've heard?

My favorite quote is "Little minds are subdued by misfortune, but great minds rise above them" - by author Washington Irvin. I think everyone has potential, given the chance. One thing I've learned in life is that, yes -- life is a challenge but as long as we give it OUR best and as long as we do everything we can to never give up, everything else will fall into place.

We enjoyed our interview with Miraya! We can't wait to see YOU as our next featured fan! So, be sure to say hello to us on Facebook and Twitter.

LuLu*s Featured Fan: Cassie!

Posted by: LuLu*s !

March
2
2011

We absolutely love our Facebook and Twitter fans! Each one of you is important to us and we enjoy chatting on Facebook or tweeting with all of you. So, we wanted to feature some of our lovely fans and get to know them a bit better. If you'd like to be a featured fan, just get on our "radar" by being active on our blog and Twitter or Facebook page. The more you interact/post/tweet/comment, the more likely you could be a LuLu*s Featured Fan!

Today, we are featuring an interview and photos of Cassie in some LuLu*s dresses! She is a Facebook fan who enters our contests and chats with us about the latest blog posts.

Where are you from?

I'm from a small town in Georgia called Ellijay. I currently live in Tampa, Florida.

How did you hear about Lulus.com?

I stumbled on Lulu's about four years ago. I can't remember how I found it, but I've placed around seventy orders since then! I really love to shop, but don't always enjoy shopping at a mall. I like having the freedom to shop in my pajamas.

What are your favorite activities?

I love to travel. I enjoy seeing other cultures and learning what I can from them. My husband and I are backpacking across Peru this summer. We are also saving for a trip next year to Thailand. I love the water. On most weekends, you can find me at the beach or by my pool. In the past year, I married my best friend. I enjoy every minute I spend with him. We recently bought our first home and I'm having fun decorating. I'm also a big foodie. I love trying new foods. I like to paint; I find it very therapeutic. I have several of these pictures hanging in my home. Reading a good book is also a favorite activity mine. Reality TV is a guilty pleasure of mine. Like most girls, I also love to shop, get sun, and spend time with friends and family.

What does your closet look like?

I'm pretty proud of my closet. I lucked out and got one that runs the entire length of my bedroom and has a ceiling fan. I need every square inch of it. I had to eventually move my husband's things into the guest bedroom closet. Some girls love shoes and some love purses. My favorite part of my wardrobe are my dresses. I have around 200. I almost look at them like art pieces. Yes, I know it's a bit excessive but as Carrie Bradshaw says, "I like my money right where I can see it...hanging in my closet."

What would you want to see more of in our blog?

On Lulu's blog, I would like to see more tips and tricks about makeup. I can put an outfit together, but I'm clueless in the makeup department. I usually have the same routine and I want to learn how to mix it up.

What are your favorite Lulu*s products?

Like I mentioned before, dresses are my thing. I also love the shoes, especially the flats and wedges. I'm a little clumsy so I try to avoid anything too tall.

What would you like to see more of on Lulus.com?

I love all of the products that Lulu's offers. The prices are unbelievably affordable. I would like to see a review section. I have bought several things that I love so much, and I want to tell other girls, "You definitely have to get this!"

What is the most inspiring quote or motto you've heard?

I like this quote by Lance Armstrong. "Time is limited, so I better wake up every morning fresh and know that I have just one chance to live this particular day right, and to string my days together into a life of action, and purpose."

We enjoyed our interview with Cassie! We can't wait to see YOU as our next featured fan! So, be sure to say hello to us on Facebook and Twitter.

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Meet Vintage Model Diana D!

Posted by: LuLu*s !

May
20
2010

If you haven't checked out our vintage section lately, you really should take a look! We had a recent photo shoot in L.A., and model Diana D was happy to dish about modeling, fun and life in L.A. She is even one of the Paul Mitchell faces, check her out!

1. At what age did you start modeling?

I was discovered by a scout at 13. They expected I'd grow incredibly tall. They were mistaken; just 5'4" (tear).

2. Tell us a little about your modeling career path?

Modeling granted me pardon for absences from school. Often caught a flight to Los Angeles (from my hometown, Las Vegas) the evening prior to a booking. A few of my first gigs included Stila, Nylon (their first year in print) and this British line called Sugar. For Sugar, we drove to a fruit stand within few miles of Joshua Tree, CA. We had an old classic mustang convertible. Inspiration for the shoot was a vintage road trip. I was sitting pretty in the driver's seat with these massive retro sunglasses on. Just 14. No drivers permit. Surreal.

3. How is life in LA as a model?

Got the bones to make a move to LA at 19. Pursuing the dream. Still going. Modeling gigs are always lovely. The exposure to creative folk and artists alike makes modeling seem more like being an essential element to the making of a group art project.

4. What is the best part of being a model?

The Perks -- The ability to manipulate your own schedule, make it to all your castings, feed yourself, meet a friend for coffee, take a trip. Work comes in clusters. Sometimes it's wildly hectic and other times, quite lackadaisical. There's always time to take a pause and read Albert Camus beneath a tree or runaway for a weekend music festival. You just never really know when or with much advance. A model must be spontaneous.

5. How did you become one of the Paul Mitchell Faces?

The Paul Mitchell gig came about through a series of unpaid creative projects I decided to model for. The hair stylist for one of these shoots happened to be an assistant to Lucie Doughty, Editorial Director for Paul Mitchell. Lucie saw the finished photo series, and set up a test shoot with me immediately. A few months later, I found myself sitting at PM headquarters for a casting. Sitting in a room with 20 Amazonian goddess types, I had to wonder, whether I had any chance of getting this gig at all. Within 20 minutes of my departure, I received a call from Lucie herself; I had booked Paul Mitchell, (cartwheels and screams!)

6. What are some of your daily activities?

Daily activities include french pressing my coffee, checking favorite music & style blogs, pen to paper, bicycle riding, treasure hunting, chasing raccoons, taking photographs, conversations with friends & attempting false grand self confidence at castings.

7. What do you do for fun in LA?

LA fun includes farmer's markets, weeknights at the Hollywood Cemetery, the Wiltern theatre, thrifting, taco truckin', chasing carnivals, record collecting, double features at the Beverly Cinema, fellow mouseketeering, group sing songs, Dodger games, LOVE & summer BBQ's.

8. As a model do you have a lot of free time or are you pretty busy?

Currently, I have nothing but free time. Someone book me on a gig quick!!