Tagged with " Mister Lies"
Visualized: Brad Rohloff
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We’ve been long time admirers of the artwork of Brad Rohloff (Brohloff for short) and the way that he manages to fuse the cartoonish with the macabre, creating his own distinct style. Brad has some close ties with us here at PORTALS so we figured it was high time we highlight the exciting stuff that this guy has been up to. We got Brad to spare some time for a short interview before he left the country for Italy, so read on to see what he had to say:
Brad, can you sorta introduce yourself and tell us a little about yourself as an artist?
Hey! I am Brad Rohloff. I am a printmaker and animator born and raised midwest and currently living and studying in Chicago. I was mostly interested in just animation up until a few years ago, when I really started to get into printmaking and just recently making comics as well! I like working with my hands, whether it be screenprinting something or doing some hand-drawn animation. I also have an unhealthy obsession with ghosts, and I really love to pet dogs.
It’s pretty obvious that you have a distinct style (at least when it comes to your drawings). How did you get into art and then develop that interest into the Brohloff style?
Thank you! I started drawing in middle school and high school mostly to deal with extreme boredom, and to occupy my time in a way I found much more interesting. I find when you doodle there is a lot less pressure to make something good or interesting, so I had plenty of time to work out a lot of different ideas and really nail down an approach to rendering that was unique and interesting to me. If you make something fun for yourself, your work becomes much freer and you allow yourself to approach things in a much less structured way. Since then I’ve been slowly accumulating my own weird visual language based off of other artists I like and some perspectives of my own (What’s that quote? Bad artists copy, great artists steal?). I mentioned earlier an obsession with ghosts, and I make no apologies for how that reflects in my work. I’m pretty sure I wear my influences on my sleeve. I like a lot of ethereal, goopy, dark, creepy, weird occult-ish shit. At the same time though it’s not explicitly sinister, you know? I like to treat these really intense or extraordinary elements with a calm, slow understanding, and I guess that shows in how meticulous a lot of my drawings can look or feel.
I’ve also noticed that you like photographing dead things, weird things, smoke, water, etc. What interests you about that kind of stuff?
I think my photography practice is to me much more about collecting imagery from which to draw from, be it in my print practice or in drawing. As such, I see the same interests appearing there as well. I like to take things from my life, or imagery that I encounter often, and share it with people who may not get a chance to see that sort of thing often. I’m from Northern Wisconsin, and I go home as often as I can, especially in the Winter and Summer. My family hunts, and we live on acreage that’s been in my family for 4-5 generations. We process our own deer, and I find myself encountering wildlife in a way that a lot of people probably don’t. I love it up there, and I find nothing more inspiring than being up there in the middle of the forest. It’s nothing but respect from me, and although some of my photography won’t suggest it, I work really hard to preserve our land. It’s always really jarring to come from there back to such a busy place like Chicago. Wisconsin is my home and my escape. I think I’m getting off track here. I like to take pictures of things I find interesting, and work with imagery that I think is to my printmaking practice too. A make all of my image prints from photographs I’ve taken while being up north. It’s hard to explain how some other interests come about. My room at my last apartment had everything leak. I swear to god, if I left something in one place for too long it got wet. My window leaked, the central air unit through the wall leaked into my room, there was a leak down one of the walls once. I guess that shows up in my work too. Everything will eventually get wet, become damp, decay in some way. It just became the way I expected things to be for a while. And smoke is mysterious to me, smoke is dangerous. There’s something about all of it that really interests me. I like to see how it translates in my print practice as well.
As much as we love the visual arts, PORTALS is primarily a music website. Visualized is our attempt at highlighting the intersections between those two worlds. Now you’ve done artwork for numerous artists (Galapagos, Dreampeter, Mister Lies), how do those collaborations come about?
Of course! I love PORTALS and I love the music that comes out of this kind of community. Before I came to where I am now I didn’t much find artists like this. Then I met Anthony Engelhardt (Ra Cailum) and we became really good friends. From him I was introduced to a much wider group of artists that I really enjoyed. the accessibility of the community is really great, it felt like everybody knew everybody else, and everyone was excited about what everyone was doing. It just seemed like a really nice and supportive community. Around this time I also met Tyler Andere, who runs Flashlight Tag and of course writes for PORTALS too. Being involved with these people made it easy to find people who I was interested in and were interested in my work. Jacob McNaughton (Galapagos) wanted me to do work for him and I was really excited! I made an album cover for him and a sticker design, and from there it kept building and building. I’ve done a lot of sticker work for different artists and labels, and now whenever someone approaches me about doing work for them I try my best to help them out. I’m quite a bit busier than I was then, but I’m always totally open and willing to talk and discuss with the artists about what kind of work they like and if I can help. It goes back to what got me into the community, the accessibility and the openness with each other. It’s something that’s really inspiring to me. People like Nick Zanca (Mister Lies) who approach me to do work are incredible haha, I’m so glad to be working with them. Here’s someone I had been psyched on for a while and was really interested in, so when he asked me I was totally down. It’s working really well. I think collaborations that come out of a mutual respect of each other’s craft are the most rewarding, by far.
So what kind of stuff can we expect from you in the future? Anything cool you’re working on now?
Of course! A lot more comics based work I think. I’m very excited with that, but it’s so time consuming. What isn’t though? I feel like I’m always so busy. I’m constantly working on new print work too. I’ve got Mister Lies‘ album cover almost finished up and we’re both seriously excited about it. I’m contributing to a few different clothing lines (I can’t say who yet, but they are both really dope) for tees and hats, plus my own line of shirts once I can get good wholesale shirts (I have t shirt press just sitting in my kitchen hahaha). I’m working on a big comic about a war between bats and ghosts that I’m really excited about. That idea sounds kind of dumb but it’ll be more than just that, I promise. I’ve always got something coming down the line. Been sticking much more to personal projects or projects I get paid for, though hahahaahah. I’m always working on somethin’, though : )
(curated by Cactus-Mouth)
Mister Lies — ‘Dionysian’ 7″
The third installation of Lefse Records‘ six part 7″ series is out today. Chicago producer Mister Lies continues to impress us with these two new tracks. The drifting soulfulness of “Dionysian” lifts you high, both consciously and spiritually. Where the driving rhythm of “Waveny” brings you back down gently, planting your feet softly back on the ground.
Listen to both sides of the Dionysian 7″ below, and order the physical at Lefse. Among other contributors to the 7″ series are Psychic Twin, Field Mouse, and Sun Glitters, just to name a few. Order the whole series here.
Photo Journal: PORTALS Traveling Showcase - Chicago, IL 7.11.12
On July 11th the PORTALS Traveling Show landed in Chicago for some mid-week shenanigans at the Empty Bottle. The showcase featured the Whispers In The Dark record-release party for Supreme Cuts, hometown debuts from Mister Lies (Brooklyn Vegan live video here), Different Sleep, and Soleman, and lastly a sex rhythm and blues DJ set from The-Drum. Here are some pics from what was yet another zenned out night via a PORTALS Traveling Showcase.
All photos by Ryan Pjesky of PORTALS.
Fresh Cut: SVENGALI Label - SVENGALI VOL. 2
The PORTALS family is beyond stoked give you a fresh cut of the highly anticipated, SVENGALI Vol. 2, which stands as the second official compilation to drop from the rising collective of young producers. The compilation features a wide variety of Chicago-influenced footwork, ambient gospel, and futuristic trap beats from some of our absolute favorites: Mister Lies, Different Sleep, Soleman, and Svengali himself (aka Peter Luber, the collectives founder).
They also ring in a brand new member named Maurice. So please join us in welcoming him with open arms…
Stream SVENGALI Vol. 2 and read a few personal words from each of the artists below:
Svenagli: We put out our first offering five months ago; what you hear now is a continuation of that. I’m not the most articulate person, so I hope the music speaks for itself in a very honest way. I don’t want to namedrop or leave anyone out, but I’ve had nearly overwhelming support from my friends this year, new and old - so THANK YOU! This is all a dream but it’s so real 2 me.
Soleman: These tracks are a continuation of beats that are aimed to stand alone as instrumentals. “She A Bussa” is also the first footwork track I’ve released. More should soon be on the way.
Maurice: This is the first anyone has heard from me officially so I’d like to share a few thoughts. Looking back on the early concepts Peter and I threw around about starting an art and music collective, it seems surreal now to see the amount of progress everyone working with Svengali Label has made… The people we have met… I can’t even begin to explain how awesome and inspiring it is to be working collaboratively with such great up and coming talent. After Volume 1 (I worked on TACT and Guiro with the crew but was still producing under “Svengali” along with Peter) our first release, Volume 2 seems like a major step in the right direction, continuing to evolve and push our sound forward.
Different Sleep: SVG Volume 2 is something everyone in the Svengali Label Collective has put unmeasurable amounts of time and effort into over the past few months. Unlike our last release (Svengali Volume 1), every song on this tape is a never before heard, exclusive track. We’re also proud to announce the public debut of an unknown yet long time Svengali member, Maurice, who is featured on multiple tracks throughout the tape. Get to know him. As a collective slowly developing into a label, we give this tape to you to showcase the Svengali sound.
Mister Lies: Over the past six months I’ve heard several people in the industry – musician, producer and blogger alike – tell me that 2012 is the year of the collective. I’ve heard others say that the internet has brought the state of listening or producing music to an all-time high. In a sense I’d have to agree with both – we’re entering a new era where people have a lot more determination to collaborate, not letting the boundaries of space and time interfere with our commitment to creating. If anything this comp that the guys and I have put together epitomizes those circumstances. So much of the art of creating a compilation depends upon finding a glue – the amalgam of different artists and sounds might be a little daunting to call “cohesive”. You won’t find that probably with the Svengali crew… interestingly enough it was only really after you heard the tracks from start to finish that you realize that the glue was there the whole time and whatever powers that be were waiting for us to get together over time and make something this exciting happen. I’m hella proud of the entire fam and my only hope is that you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed detailing these beats for you.
You can also stream SVENGALI Vol. 2 @ the official Svengali Bandcamp.
Different Sleep - “Be My Center”
Chicago artist Rafa Alvarez records emotive electronic music as Different Sleep. We at PORTALS, have been a big fan of his deep swelling and inescapably beautiful sounds ever since the first time we heard “Drive Me Crazy“. And it seems we are not alone. Yesterday, Rafa released this brand new gem to celebrate 1,000 SoundCloud followers!
“Be My Center” is a gorgeous track with mesmerizing vocal samples that are at once eerie and comforting. The emotional landscape he creates with those unassuming subs, dancing drums, and encompassing synths makes for sounds you see your life flash before your eyes to. And that’s always been one of the many talents of Different Sleep, is his ability to not just make something that sounds good, or get’s your head bobbin’, but sounds that makes you feel something.
Stream and download “Be My Center”:
Originally from San Diego, Rafa now resides, and goes to school in Chicago. Which is a damn good thing, because if you haven’t heard yet, PORTALS is headed to Chi-town this summer! And our man Different Sleep, along with other great artists like Supreme Cuts, Mister Lies, The-Drum, and Soleman are all getting together to play their music for you. Check out the full deets and buy your tickets here.
