NOIR ARTIST: I suppose it's safe to say that all artists have a particular vision that is infused into their art. How would you characterize your creative works?

CHARLYNE YI: Ha, I'm not exactly sure how I'm supposed to answer this question. Often, I don't really understand the question. I guess my creative works are just things that I find enjoyable to me. Whether I want to just play music without any jest. Or if I want to bore and make people annoyed with my SNL audition on youtube. I'm not sure how to characterize my work. But I guess I only do things for myself really. Hoping that perhaps someone else might be entertained as well by the very thing I made.

NOIR ARTIST: I just want to say that I really enjoy your youtube videos.

CHARLYNE YI: Thank you.

NOIR ARTIST: How would you describe the creative purpose your videos play?

CHARLYNE YI: My youtube videos are pretty sloppily put together. I suppose I use this just to vent what's on my mind at the moment. Like when it's too late at night to perform, or if the idea could only be conveyed through the medium of a video, instead of a live performance. I don't know....

NOIR ARTIST: What sort of dream projects would you be interested in participating in?

CHARLYNE YI: I suppose just anything that is fun and I have creative control over. I think I may explore music more. I often drift from one project whether it be writing, painting, performing, shooting guns, making comic books, etc.

NOIR ARTIST: Have you had any chances to take your performance onto the road?

CHARLYNE YI: I made a part documentary film recently and got to do a Nashville open mic where I did some songs. But I'm hoping to go on tour this year.

NOIR ARTIST: Last question, what currently do you find exciting in the world of entertainment?

CHARLYNE YI: Vaudville.

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NOIR ARTIST // In your opinion how will the Presidency of Barack Obama change hip-hop culture?

J.LEE / AUDIODOSE: The style of hip hop that is mainstream now is soon going to fade out, leaving room for music that's currently underground to take over. The Obama presidency will certainly have an impact on this, as well as the entire collective consciousness of society, creating a massive culture shift. I believe a more positive shift in governmental power as a result of Obama being president will leave less room for anger and dissent in song writing, thus making more room for pure artistic expression and greater diversity, and will help bring hip hop back to its roots.

TAJAI: I don't believe that it will affect Hip Hop at all. I just hope that we as African Americans return to our former state of taking pride in all that we do, realizing that we represent our community at large, (not just ourselves), and strive for the greatness that is within us.





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NOIR ARTIST // What is the greatest concern facing society today?

 BRAD LISTI: Which society? Where? Generally, I think the greatest concern for humanity probably involves a necessary evolution of consciousness. And this has likely always been the case, but it feels particularly urgent right now because of the stakes involved---ecologically, militarily, and so on. Human survival would appear to be at stake, and there are no guarantees that we as a species are going to make it. It's up to us. And I think it comes down to realizing things like: We are not our minds. And: We live in a state of interconnectedness with all phenomena. A lot of human existence---mine included---is conducted in a sort of sleepwalk. Time to wake up---or else.


BUSHMAMA: Our undying need to consume more shit. If we could live with some gagetry, some gamage and some shoppage we'd be better off. We need to be worried if we're gonna have enough clean air,water and food.



COUGH ZINE: This economy is shit. People are losing their jobs, their homes, families have to split up. I have hope for Obama, I know he can help us.




HAKANAI: Inequality and the suffering that it creates. I don't understand why some people in positions of power think they are better than others and entitled to better lives. It seems psychopathic. Apparently, psychopaths make up 1 per cent of the population and since they have a grandiose sense of self-worth, it is difficult to convince them otherwise. So if the people responsible for inequality are not concerned. Is there any hope for us, Noir Artist?


JEFF STANLEY: Misinformation - The way in which information is controlled and processed in our society by the media (mostly today television and the internet) is frightening. The individual has to discover what is truth through their own exploration of several sources and even through their own experience. More people should try to experience something they haven't.


KINO: Today or five thousand years ago.. amnesiac ignorance is the greatest problem... for any society in the world, being assimilated into the backwash of the most greedy and equally shallow conventions of their times in life, squeezed between economy, warfare, exploitation, malaise... the story of the people enslaved to ideals fit for a pet.


SHOTGUN SEAMSTRESS: Social & economic inequality. The lack of spirituality, belief in magic, and faith that there is more to life than meets the eye.









NOIR ARTIST // Do you see yourself making any significant lifestyle changes due to the current world economic downturn?

 SHOTGUN SEAMSTRESS: Nope. I don't spend a lot of money and I have a pretty simple lifestyle. Right now, I'm at my parents' house saving money before I move again, so I'm safe. Also, I am a substitute teacher and a babysitter. Kids will always need to learn and parents will always need childcare, no matter what the economy's doing.

BUSHMAMA: Yes, I'm growing my own produce...yeah urban farming. I can't just have one hustle to make ends meet. I have to have 20 of them some which include catering, babysitting, driver, personal assistant, hair dresser, spiritual consultant and artist when I get a chance.

BRAD LISTI: I'm a writer. My entire professional life has been spent in an economic downturn. I must say, I'm probably better prepared than most to deal with this fiscal malaise. It feels normal to me. Par for the course.

COUGH ZINE: I've been shopping at Goodwill a lot! Ha. I'm also working two jobs 6-7 days a week just to get by.

HAKANAI:I was poor before it happened, so counting my pennies or cents (for you) is usual behavior for me. Of course I’m not poor compared to people in developing countries living on one dollar a day, or compared to the homeless people in many developed countries. I just don't have any spare cash. It is a little difficult to be thrifty in Japan because there don’t seem to be any charity shops like there are in the UK. There are a few second-hand clothing shops and occasional flea markets, but these tend to sell items at vintage/antique prices.

JEFF STANLEY: I'm already a poor graduate student living in Austin, TX, trying to live modestly. Maybe I'll try to live more modestly. I try to make walking and public transportation my main forms of getting around. But overall, my budgeting of equipment is probably the only thing that will suffer. I always find a means to make what I want to make though.

KINO: Another great concept: stylising a life or living? What is the cost of your week? I live in New York where the living dead roll in style as empty nutshells. Well, the real people survive without any concessions. Hardship is a companion. I am enjoying seeing one toothed billion dollar industries lose their mouth to feed themselves.

NOIR ARTIST // What are some helpful coping strategies that can be used by those facing economic hardships?

 SHOTGUN SEAMSTRESS: I can't really say because I'm not facing economic hardship right now. I don't know how it must feel for someone with a family to lose their job and worry that they might not be able to feed their kids or keep a roof over their heads. Personally, even though I don't have a lot of money, I just try to keep it simple. I go to the library a lot and I use my girlfriend's netflix account and password so I can watch movies for free. When I go to the club, I go with a $3 bottle of wine in my tote bag. I barely ever eat out, and my mom's been braiding my hair for me so that I don't have to pay someone else to do it.

JEFF STANLEY: Eating healthy is actually cheaper. Being self sufficient. I'm starting to feel like we should all take survival courses to be completely self sufficient, the less technology you rely on the less money involved.

HAKANAI: Cycle or walk rather than using public transport or a car (if possible). Don’t waste food. Put on another layer of clothing instead of the heating. Mend things instead of buying new ones. Sell the things you don’t need. Talk to others in the same situation, set up groups, share your problems and resources.

BRAD LISTI: Lots and lots of sedatives, and lots and lots of nudity.

BUSHMAMA: Smoke pot, drink red wine, dance, laugh and make love.

KINO: Come off it.

NOIR ARTIST // I really believe that great artists have the power to bring about massive changes within a society. Can you name a contemporary musician that you feel is creating excellent music?

 BRAD LISTI: There are tons of them, but I'm not sure they can bring about massive changes in a society on their own. I see their effect as being smaller---but in many ways no less important.

COUGH ZINE: Jamie Stewart.

HAKANAI: Max Richter. There are many more I could choose, but today I’ll choose him. His music is soothing, thought provoking, serene and beautiful. I share your hope about great artists. I feel if something can touch people on this level, then they may become better people, realise what's important, step back from themselves a little.

SHOTGUN SEAMSTRESS: Brontez Purnell of the Younger Lovers is creating excellent music right now. He brings old-style r&b and pop punk together in a way that only he could pull off. He's Black, he's super gay, and he plays every instrument on his record. He's a force to be reckoned with.

JEFF STANLEY: I haven't been keeping up with music much, but Saul Williams is really fascinating. He understands the importance of change in our society and has an amazing way of expressing himself on several levels. There are several visual artists I know of that I consider important to the types of change you maybe referring. Jenny Holzer is the one I can name off the top of my head.

BUSHMAMA: Unfortunately no. the world is being brainwashed by Little Wayne.

KINO: The change you are envisioning is not going to come from music or arts, I am afraid. It’s wonderful that the world has more people creating music than let’s say making handbags, but I do not have a listening ear. On the other hand, I still cherish anyone who uses their voice to say something evocative of the undeniable human fragility. I have an extremely finite tolerance for photographs without humans in them, same thing that goes to music.

NOIR ARTIST // What are some of the ways that you express yourself artistically?

KINO: To renounce arts and idolatry. I am a poet of sound & image. I write in sounds, images and words; everything I write about stems from the perspective and concern of a poet, a poet who bears the brunt of the whole world.

BUSHMAMA: Draw, Paint, Collage, and Body Adornments.

JEFF STANLEY: I work mainly in video, drawing, and painting. I consider myself involved in the act of creating and try to express things that reflect on human existence, spirituality, and physicality. I also write about my subjects to realize and articulate my ideas.

BRAD LISTI: I write fiction. I have a novel out called 'Attention. Deficit. Disorder.' It's in paperback now, published by Simon & Schuster. And I'm currently at work on the next one. And I keep a weird daily posting over at www. bradlisti. com. And I founded an online literary publication called www. thenervousbreakdown. com, which features the work of acclaimed writers from around the world.

COUGH ZINE: I'm always sketching and drawing. I have a bag full of 20 different kinds of micron pens that I carry around with me all the time. I also recently started a blog where I take a picture everyday. I'm trying this photojournalism thing.

HAKANAI: Writing fiction.

SHOTGUN SEAMSTRESS: I play music, I make zines, I try to have good fashion even though I don't have that many clothes, and I talk a lot.