Natasha Scharf's Blog, page 2
June 16, 2016
Review: Manic Panic Ltd Edition Nail Polish!
Anyone who knows me, knows that I adore the cosmetics brand Manic Panic. I first discovered them in the mid-90s, after a recommendation from an American friend and fell in love with their amazing colours and animal-friendly philosophy. Twenty-plus years later, I still swear by their make-up, hair dyes and accessories!
Recently, Manic Panic have expanded their range to include pastel hair colours, new lipsticks and 20 brand new limited edition nail polishes, or Claw Colors as they call them. I...
June 7, 2016
Metal Hammer Online: Tarja Turunen’s Guide To Life
As Nightwish’s first female vocalist, Tarja Turunen set the bar high for those who followed. After her very public dismissal in 2005, she launched a successful solo career and has never looked back – the singer has even been presented with her very own emoji by The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs! She’s now about to release not one but two new studio albums – a ‘prequel’ called The Br...
May 22, 2016
Metal Hammer Online: Why is goth still popular?
Goth has been around for four decades and the gothic aesthetic, for even longer. To coincide with World Goth Day (May 22), Natasha Scharf ponders why goth is still so popular.
Read the full article on Metal Hammer’s website.
Metal Hammer Online: 10 ways to get your goth on for World Goth Day
It’s time to ‘get your goth on’ for World Goth Day! Now in its sixth year, the annual celebration of all things goth takes place on May 22 and goths around the world are ready for the occasion. Here are 10 ways you can pledge your allegiance to the dark side!
Read the full list on the Metal Hammer website!
April 26, 2016
Metal Hammer: 7 movies that have inspired The 69 Eyes
The 69 Eyes are known as the Helsinki Vampires and the artwork for their new album, Universal Monsters, was inspired by a wax museum of movie monsters in Texas. Surely they must be horror movie aficionados, right?
“I’ve used images from horror and vampire movies as lyrical inspiration for the last few decades,” says frontman Jyrki 69, “but using non-horror movies as inspiration allows me to go much deeper.”
Admittedly the Finns’ be...
April 6, 2016
Prog: Russian duo iamthemorning on the beauty of melancholy
Russian duo iamthemorning are back with a new concept album, the brooding, dark and delicate Lighthouse. Singer Marjana Semkina tells Prog about poetry and suicide spots, beauty and melancholy.
Words: Natasha Scharf
It was on a mild November evening last year that something quite magical occurred in London.
The audience at the Islington Academy fell silent as they watched an enigmatic duo, accompanied by two chamber musicians, perform a spellbinding set of delicate, progressive songs. Their...
March 22, 2016
Auxiliary Magazine: M’era Luna Festival review
The Winter 2015 Issue of Auxiliary Magazine is out now, including my write-up of last summer’s M’era Luna Festival! Visit the website for more details of how to order your copy of the magazine.
March 21, 2016
Kate’s Clothing: 10 Dark Films Inspired By Our Favourite Gothic Accessories
Guest blogger Natasha Scharf picks out 10 movies for alternative Easter viewing. And each one has been inspired by accessories from Kate’s Clothing!
Read more on the official blog!
January 29, 2016
Prog Magazine: Antimatter
The band Antimatter that began as a creative form of therapy for co-founder Mick Moss has grown into one of prog’s best-kept secrets.
Mick Moss can honestly say that music has saved his life. “The whole reason I started Antimatter was for therapy, and that’s what it still is,” he reveals. “I’ve also had a lot of messages from people who say, ‘No shit, man. This is my lifeyou’re singing about.’”
When Prog links up with Moss, Antimatter are part-way through a European tour and the frontman i...
Prog Magazine: Fields of The Nephilim
They’ve been branded gothic rock and even spaghetti metal, but we have to ask: How prog were Fi elds Of The Nephilim?
Nurtured on a diet of film soundtracks, psychedelia and Pink Floyd, these gothic cowboys emerged from the post-punk scene with one thing on their mind: to experiment.
Gothic rock and prog might not seem to have much in common, but dig deeper and there are similarities. For starters, they both refuse to stick to standard song structures, often have a penchant for evocative at...
