Same Teens Guest Blog: Britney, cool again? XOX goes POP

Jade from our friends of Same Teens Manchester about their ace fanzine XOX and her new discovered love for Pop.

By Jade from Same Teens

Hey everyone! You’ve already been introduced to us and heard all the gigs coming up (it’s looking pretty packed isn’t it?) and so I thought I’d use my blog bit to tell you about the lovely XOX generally and some of the music that we’ve been listening too recently.

Same Teens started when our fake ID’s kept being rejected and tottering about on high heels was becoming more of a health hazard than an aid to aging us two years BUT we’ve all finally crossed that age threshold and made it too the big 1-8. So, what do we do now? Well- hand back those fake ID’s and dig out our own (mine sporting a faaaaabulous middle parting and fleece look from when I was thirteen), dust down the DJ decks and crack on with making XOX a world-dominating online magazine!

Credit crunch snapping at your heels? Well, it doesn’t cost anything to read our mag (unlike NME et al) and we pack as much in as we can every month!

We manage to bag the best interviews too with We Are Scientists, Noah and the Whale, Foals and Los Campesinos! all sitting down to chat with us (yes, you may have to check back issues)! The design of XOX is really unique and as well as the music, interviews and other cool stuff we have the fashion side of thangs too. Namely: A La Manchester. Even though I’m usually on the DJ and writing side of things I always end up the mini-pit pony on shoots, carrying dresses and hats askew in my arms- but this isn’t a bad thing, far from it, because I get to watch the maestro’s at work! We’ve had some really amazing shoots including one with Ben Esser. We’ve also got super cool Sky Ferreira doing a column from LA; Japan’s Twee Grrrls scribbling down some stuff and Australia are taking care of XOZ for us- FAB! But you know what? We want even more contributions from around the world so get in touch ASAP if you can write, draw, paint, sing or read!

I’m also really excited to DJ for the hotter than hot bad Le Corps Mince De Françoise who are three super-cute girls making electronic music sounding rather like Le Tigre and Peaches. They’ve also got the Bowie-esque fondness for face make-up which I love (but could never, ever get away with- boo!). We’re also Djing for Frankmusik but I’m a bit intimidated by him; his cheekbones look really sharp! It’s good to be back Djing this year though- even if our mixing skillz won’t be making Erol Alkan quake in his boots just yet.

I’m getting a bit worried though- I used to be able to DJ the best new sounds unimpeded but lately I’ve been getting bitten by the Pop. Since when was Britney cool again? And Girls Aloud? And my newest love- Lady Gaga. I’ve not yet fallen over to the clutches of the Pussycat Dolls and I’m putting it down to Pop’s new love of Electro- Lady Gaga has the Uffie vibe going on with the feisty, air punching and cooler-than-thou attitude and Brit has embraced fully the electro mantra of repetition in “Womanizer” so it’s all okay. Other than that I defend this point by noting The Teenagers have remixed Britney, Kylie has had the CSS and Twelve’s treatment and hell, Duran Duran have been remixed by Erol Alkan. All is well in the world? Or am I clutching at straws? Shhh… either way I reckon the next endeavour for Same Teens to embark on is remixes!!!

I’m also loving Little Joy at the moment who’ve brought back The Strokes but on a smaller, more chilled out scale (and I’m sure the Strokes influence has everything to do with the fact Fab Moretti is one of the masterminds behind the band) but this isn’t a bad thing. Without Binki Shapiro and Rodrigo Amarante the band would have a completely different scope. Their music is so laid back it’s almost horizontal and this means it’s undemanding of its listeners. Allowing the sunshine pop of yesteryear to transport you to a happier, sunnier place than England in January I think they’re terrific! There’s also We Have Band who are worth checking out who are The Rapture of the new generation; as filthy as The Faint with a pinch of futuristic-pop to match the heavy laying of programming and drums.

What else have we been listening too? On the flip side of the sunny electro egg is the darker than dark, gothic inspired musique.. Bands like KASMs, Televised Crimewave and Ipso Facto (not to mention Hatcham Social, An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump and S.C.U.M) have all stepped forward and taken up the Siouxsie via Ian Curtis via Sonic Youth mantle and are making the best macabre music. We’ve also (getting back on an XOX track) got some great Singles Clubs for you in the form of Dutch Uncles and Lord Auch so keep your eyes peeled!