Featured Musician Interview: Urban Exploration

Lace9: Tell us about Urban Exploration?

Urban Exploration: We're are a group of electronic musicians, DJ’s, multi-media artists and performers from Leeds, that come together to create music, visual art, put on parties and showcase events and explore and experiment with technology. We combine modular synthesis, analogue hardware, field recordings and live performance to bring you original, off-kilter, improvised electronica that seamlessly evolves between ambient atmospheres and banging, dancefloor stompers!

Lace9: How long have you been in the music business?

Urban Exploration: It varies among us; 15 years approx.

Lace9: What Genre is your music?

Urban Exploration: Urbex / Electronica

Lace9: Describe your musical style and inspirations.

Urban Exploration: We have no one style and will try to maintain this for as long as we can. The live element of Urban Exploration focuses heavily on improvisation, so we never know exactly where the music will end up. Inspiration comes from the act of Urban Exploring (Urbexing) and the photography that follows suit, taking field recordings from various locations and many past musicians/bands who use hardware synths and sequencers. We bring together the analogue and digital worlds, with a plethora of equipment all synced up together and specifically constructed visuals to accompany the music.

Lace9: Have you released an album?

Urban Exploration: We are currently working on our debut release. Please add us on Facebook to keep up to date with details.

Lace9: Where can we get your music?

Urban Exploration: You can stream our tracks on Sound Cloud or Reverb Nation

Lace9: Do you have any upcoming gigs? If so, where?

Urban Exploration: We are currently looking for bookings. If you wish Urban Exploration to play at your event, please email us at Urban Exploration

This is a clip from the Bridgnorth Music & Arts Festival, where we curated a whole day and night of electronic music, September 2011:







Lace9: Which of your songs is your favorite?

Urban Exploration: We like different tracks for different reasons.

Zazzle Featured Artist Interview

This week we're interviewing Zazzle Artist Tina:


Lace9: Tell us about your Zazzle Store:


Tina: Collie Love is a store for anyone who likes Collies, kittens, puppies with a sense of humor, floral images, landscapes, and wildlife.

Lace9: How long have you been Zazzling?

Tina: 4 years


Lace9: What do you like most about Zazzle?

Tina: It's a great way to share the beauty of Nature around us. I think the site is very easy to use and I have fun designing products. I get excited when I realize others enjoy my photography as well. I love reading my email "your Zazzle Product(s) has been purchased." It's a good feeling.


Lace9: What medium (graphic design on computer/paint/pencil, etc...) do you work in?

Tina: Mostly photography.


Lace9: What genre does your work mostly fall into?

Tina: Nature, animals and wildlife.

Lace9: What artist or art are you inspired by?

Tina: I'm only an amateur Photographer.. But I love checking out what the greats are doing, like the Zazzle seller TomPurse.. and wishing I was that good. :-)


Lace9: Where do you get your ideas from?

Tina: I just watch what's going on in my back yard. I have noticed I see thing differently now than I used to. I definitely do not leave home without my camera. I may be inspired anywhere. The Beauty is all around us.


Lace9: Is there a product in your store that you liked so much you’ve bought it yourself?

Tina: Yep. I loved this shot.

Pansy and friends by minx267
See other Pansy Mousepads

Lace9: Do you have a favourite Zazzle store that’s not yours?

Tina: As I mentioned above... Tom Purse is a favorite of mine.. I could look at the world through his eyes all day. You can find him here: Northwest Scenescapes Photography


Lace9: Do you have your art on other sites?

Tina: I have a blog but I don't get many views so I tend not to keep it updated as I should. Amazing iPhone and iPad Cases

Enter for a Chance to Win a Sheet of Hand Drawn Stickers and other great prizes!

Bri over at Bri's Bargain Blog is holding a "25 Days of Christmas" giveaway contest. Hand Drawn has donated a sheet of Full Colour Claddagh stickers. They're the large, 3" ones, so the details of the design come through great!

There are also 29 other great prizes up for grabs, and entering couldn't be easier.
Here's the details on how...
Go to Bri's 25 Days of Christmas Giveaway

You'll find 29 one-time chances for entering, and they're super simple. Just like one of the Facebook pages of the sponsors, or follow them on Twitter. You can enter up to 29 times by completing one of the 29 different actions.

There are also three daily entry options that you can use every day. The more you enter, the more likely you are to win. There are 22 days left to enter.

Thanks to Bri for the opportunity to help sponsor this great contest. You can find her at Bri's Bargain Blog on Facebook as well.

Have a great holiday season and good luck with the giveaway!