Thursday, May 21, 2009

playlists: by mchen {& a giveaway, too!}


i just love a great playlist. i think it stems back to those glorious mixed tapes days where i'd either make, sometimes receive and always always covet a fabulous collection of tunes by various great artists! for me, a personal playlist is a magical grouping of songs. *bliss!* ... so i've asked some wonderful artists if they'd make up a little playlist on a theme for this new rikrak studio series. i thought we might get a glimpse into what musically inspires these fabulous folks... i'm thrilled to present the first: playlists with mchen: songs to howl along to!


ever meet someone and feel instantly musically kindred!?
i'm fortunate to say that about mchen... she's golden! & i first came to know her thru her wonderful love & support of live music...

let's start with her delightful playlist (just click the titles to hear!):

dj: mchen of mchenwears
playlist: songs i love to belt out - loudly!

.............................

1. Light of the Moon by Joel Plaskett
2. Deep Red Bells by Neko Case
3. Rhythm & Blues Alibi by Gomez
4. Oh, Alberta by Elliott Brood
5. I Guess That's Why They Call it the Blues by Elton John (guilty pleasure)
6. Robots by Dan Mangan
7. See You on the Moon by Great Lake Swimmers
8. Winter by Tori Amos
9. One Two Three Four by Feist (also the Sesame Street version)
10. Black Boys on Mopeds by Sinead O'Connor
11. Shelter by Ray Lamontagne
12. Don't Be So Mean Jellybean by Justin Rutledge

..................................

"I'm a music-head. I love going to live shows, hearing new tunes, witty lyrics, and finding songs that I can relate to. My brain ties memories to music strongly; I often relate songs to specific moments in time or people. I often turn to music, whether I need a pick-me-up, a calm-me-down, a distraction, or good company.

While compiling this, I realized I like belting out slow tunes. It's these kinds of songs I play while doing illustrations: moving enough to keep the creative juices flowing but calm enough for me to keep the pen steady!
Maybe one day, I can give you my go-go-go silkscreening playlist :)
"


.............................

thanks so much, nicey!

i've gotta tell you.. Emily Chen of mchen is one fabulous soul! we started to get to *know* of one another thru twittering this year, and i soon came to adore her lovely blog. i noticed that her fabulous posts would often include a musician i myself adored, or one that she would introduce me to that i would shortly LOVE! isn't that a wonderful thing!

as the merriment of life would have, it was soon discovered that not only did we live in the same city, love lots of the same music, but that we lived... that's right, on the SAME street! we soon met for a delightful teaparty, and as the afternoon slipped by, i was smitten! what a genuine, real life sweetie mchen is! i've gotta say... she's really really wonderful.

i just adore her kind heart, fun personality & artistic brilliance! and super excitingly - she's just launched her newest line of handmade silkscreened shirts: the re{verb} line! so be sure to visit her wonderful shop and check them out for yourselves! and she now has adorable kids wear, too! woohoo! i've seen the shirts first hand and they're gorgeous!



...................

and... for even more fun...
AN MCHEN GIVEAWAY!!

emily has kindly offered to give
ONE lucky rikrak studio blog reader
their choice of ANY mchen tshirt in her shop! WOW! so fun!!!

..................
so here's how it works:

1. there will be 2 possible entries per person.
a) one entry: leave a comment in this post with a link to your favourite item from mchen's gorgeous shop. www.mchen.etsy.com

b) 2nd entry: leave a comment in this post with a song YOU'D have on your own playlist of songs to howl along to. what song do you love to belt out & sing?

2. please leave each entry as it's own individual comment.

3. i will draw one winner via random.org on tuesday may 26th @ 9pm EST.
please make sure i can contact you thru your comment post.

thanks so much! and happy singing-along-to!

{ps: i'll be drawing the winner of my OTHER giveaway tomorrow (friday) evening..
there's still time to enter that giveaway, too!}
Pin It

80 comments:

  1. love the color of this shirt, always have....

    http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17615800

    the one song that is must have for me? Wild Child-Iggy Pop

    ReplyDelete
  2. since i cant read....

    a seperate post for the song

    the one song that is must have for me? Wild Child-Iggy Pop

    ReplyDelete
  3. As for a tune I like to belt out. There are many but I am partial to The White Stripes - especially Blue Orchid. Love to sing loud and proud in the car! lol Especially when no one else is with me. teehee

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love the monkeys on the dress!!! I also really like the "See How They Run" t-shirt in green with the longer sleeves!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love all of Emily's work....
    I'd love to win!!!

    Please don't ask me to belt out a song or I'd scare you all away,but I'm very partial to tom cochrane...
    Adornyourself

    ReplyDelete
  6. I can't help but to sing at the top of my lungs to Lady Gaga's Just Dance!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Good morning rikrak!!
    Love this feature of the fabulous mchen, and her wonderful music loves!!
    I would love to hang out, go and see live music with her, and you too of course!

    I love this racerback tee in her shop.. "We all fall down..."
    http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16407478

    I too love music... have many many favourite tunes..
    I have been influenced by my kids and listen to a big variety of music, so with that..
    Blind Mary by Gnarls Barkley, has become a favourite for me to try in my own feeble way to belt out, love to sing along with it!
    It is always a treat to find new music!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Since I can't read either, I was just too excited by the music!


    Blind Mary by Gnarls Barkley, has become a favourite for me to try in my own feeble way to belt out, love to sing along with it!
    It is always a treat to find new music!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I ♥ M!
    My favourite is this one
    http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20519606
    I bought it for my son and it makes me smile everytime he wears it!

    ReplyDelete
  10. hmm songs I sing out loud..I am a terrible singer and don't often sing out loud but
    fancy pants by Ween is always fun to sing
    http://6.cn/watch/3376358.html

    ReplyDelete
  11. OH this is a great new series, RR!
    I love this shirt of hers: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16308801

    (RR knows how to contact me!:)

    ReplyDelete
  12. I lvoe to sing LOUDLY to
    Cecilia by Simon and Garfunkel!!!!

    Leslie T

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love m's new line...I especially like the re-cap with with the chickadee!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Aw, you make me blush, rr :) Thanks so much for this — you just made my week!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love the purple kids "we all fall down" shirt. I have seen her shop many times before!
    http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25292751

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love to belt out "Girls Just want to Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper!

    ReplyDelete
  17. I love mchen's etsy shop!

    This has always been my favorite tee:
    http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15998623

    ReplyDelete
  18. And as a song I belt out...well it varies but right now it is Shiny Happy People or Stand by REM.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Isn't she wonderful?!

    I'd love any of Emily's shirts.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Also, one song I love to howl...
    "Green Spandex" by Xavier Rudd... it reminds me of my mother, which is always a fond memory!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I like the One a penny, two a penny shirt. The reCAP shirt is pretty cute too, but I like the sleeves on the elephanty one better.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I hate to admit it, but secretly I love to sing along to Mariah Carey's song Cruise Control. I know it's wrong.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I'm not going to enter b/c I have access to M Chen wears already, but just wanted to say what a great idea it is to cross-promote other artists (esp. ones as cool as Em) on your site.
    My fave shirt is probably still We All Fall Down & my must-sing-along song has been Jenn Grant's Make It Home Tonight since I first heard it three years ago.
    http://radio3.cbc.ca/bands/Jenn-Grant/

    ReplyDelete
  24. I like Jiggety jig - squid on a light aqua shirred cap sleeve women's tee

    ReplyDelete
  25. Song for me: That Sunday That Summer - Nat King Cole

    ReplyDelete
  26. It's gotta be "see how they run!" http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16396530

    ReplyDelete
  27. ok may I say, this giveaway is awesome! here's my favorite, I know my boyfriend would love love it!!
    http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25349517
    fingers crossed:)

    ReplyDelete
  28. I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor is the must have song for me:)

    ReplyDelete
  29. I'd love to win the Jiggety jig - squid on a brown onesie for my son, it's too awesome...

    http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25291245

    ReplyDelete
  30. A classic for me is Biz Markie-Just A Friend....I can't control myself when it's play....just have to shout it out :)

    ReplyDelete
  31. Oh yeah. Love this sort of thing, k. First song that came to mind & it is a good one:

    Dirty Deeds - AC/DC

    Word.

    Ok, off to shop around cute TShirt land....

    ReplyDelete
  32. i like this shirt
    http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16465194

    throuthehaze at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  33. since ive been loving you by led zeppelin

    throuthehaze at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  34. Ok, yeah. I pretty much completely love this:

    http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19171835

    xo

    ReplyDelete
  35. I love the See how they run (the one on a grass-coloured 3/4 sleeve shirt) Neat store!

    ReplyDelete
  36. The one song I love to belt out is pretty old-school--"This Could be an Everlasting Love"

    ReplyDelete
  37. I love the new tees! I really love the re connect with the monkeys.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Strangely, the first song that comes to mind is Barry Manilow's CocaCabana. It isn't cool but I never could resist it.

    ReplyDelete
  39. I really like the five six pick up sticks tee here http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15710262

    ReplyDelete
  40. I have many songs that I will sing along with. Relax by Frankie Goes to Hollywood is the big one that springs to mind, though :)

    And lucky you to have met M!

    ReplyDelete
  41. Its all about the Barrel of Monkeys!!!
    http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25245879
    Can a shirt be more fun?

    ReplyDelete
  42. Recycle is an awesome tee! And it's on red, one of the colors that I do not really have in my closet. Awesome!
    http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25349517

    ReplyDelete
  43. Great shop to discover!! My favorite shirt is this one: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25245879 That remembered me few (lots) years ago :o)

    Thank you for this giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  44. I love to sing along to "Since U Been Gone" by Kelly Clarkson. Very fun to sing at the top of your lungs :)

    ReplyDelete
  45. I just got that google reader thing and saw that I owed my followed blogs 890 reads . . . but yours was the top and as I scrolled and scrolled I felt compelled to mention that I think your blog is adorable and that you have great taste. Keep it up, because I'm enjoying it!!

    ReplyDelete
  46. I like the idea that "we all fall down"... Great collection and great T-shirt, my favorite is:
    http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16407478

    ReplyDelete
  47. You know this great PBS ad using the song "With my own two hands" ?! I love it (Music Jack Johnson & Ben Harper).
    Thanks for your giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  48. closer to fine, i think it is - by the indigo girls

    ReplyDelete
  49. and i love yarrrrr the pirate!

    ReplyDelete
  50. I always love this for soooo long...

    http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25291245

    ReplyDelete
  51. Since I'm in love, I love to sing along to Jason Marz's Lucky right now :)

    ReplyDelete
  52. My favorite-
    http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16075633

    Unisex tee. brown. wonderful!

    ashley
    ashlomb at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  53. Song right now on playlist-
    Bitter Heart- Zee Avi

    Great song!
    ashley
    ashlomb at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  54. Emily is awesome!! My favourite tee from her shop is the audiotape shirt!! Also love the new RE series!

    ReplyDelete
  55. I love my all fall down green shirt from mchen, but i really like this recap one from her new line:

    http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25244724

    ReplyDelete
  56. I love singing loudly to many, many song... but one of my favourites is Tonight's the Night by Neil Young.

    ReplyDelete
  57. I love the jiggety jig squid sleeveless hoodie. I want it. I need it. I hope I win it. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15959661
    MChen has great stuff!

    ReplyDelete
  58. I have a hard time carrying a tune in a bucket but unfortunately for my family I still sing loudly while I'm driving. My favorite song to howl with is Love is a Battlefield...good ol' Pat Benatar!

    ReplyDelete
  59. Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffett!

    ReplyDelete
  60. alright, Ive gotta get in on this one! Yipea!
    Ok, first things first, my fave item from her shop is any of the we fall down shirts, but I think this color combo is calling me most right now:
    http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_6&listing_id=21847125&ga_search_query=we+fall+down&ga_search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_6233108
    thanks!
    nicole@lillyella

    ReplyDelete
  61. ok, songs to sing too - so many! But my all time fave - in the car, the shower, the studio, wherever - take on me by Ah Ha! :)
    always been my favorite.
    thanks for the great feature and giveaway ladies!
    nicole @ lillyella

    ReplyDelete
  62. Love her shop! :)
    Her shirts are awesome, but there is one in particular that I love!

    This one :)
    http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24191318

    michelemaule@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  63. All the king's horses and all the king's men - girl with afro on a raspberry cap sleeve raglan shirt is my FAVE! It has it all: afro: CHECK! pink: CHECK! Cute fit: CHECK!!

    Thanks for blogging about this artist and letting others know - sharing the ♥ is what makes the world go round!!

    ReplyDelete
  64. I belt out 'Flagpole Sitta' by Harvey Danger - I'm not sick but I'm not weeellllll! Never fails to get me out of my seat. No, like in work, EEK!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  65. See how they run in the cap sleeved raglan. I love it!



    rebekahjpool@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  66. And the song I belt out in the car is "I Love Myself Today" by Bif Naked. You HAVE to turn that song up when it comes on!

    ReplyDelete
  67. Mmm, I particularly like this shirt for the little peeps. and that little boy is a Q-tee!

    http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_2&listing_id=25292751

    jenny blattman (at) hotmail {dot} com

    ReplyDelete
  68. and i love, love, love to sing along to Willie Nelson's "You were always on my mind". Nearly brings me to tears everytime I hear it.

    I also sing along very loudly to G. Lightfoot's "if you could read my mind".

    ReplyDelete
  69. of all the designs i love the barrel of monkeys.
    http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25245879

    ReplyDelete
  70. this is my 2nd entry. Song from my playlist?? lots! But lately I've been belting out to Black Eyed Peas, Boom boom Pow!

    ReplyDelete
  71. My "belt-out" song is definitely Always by Bon Jovi =)

    ReplyDelete
  72. I love the jiggity jig shirt - there's just something about squids that make the world so great! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16465194

    ReplyDelete
  73. And as for one of my favorite tunes to jam along with in the car... (because there are many)... would currently be the Ting Tings "That's not my name".

    ReplyDelete
  74. I looove the colours on this tee! What a talented lady :)

    http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21847125

    ReplyDelete
  75. As for tunage...

    Season of the Shark by Yo La Tengo can always get me to sing along :)

    ReplyDelete
  76. i love little things! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20895641

    ReplyDelete
  77. Bill Withers Lovely Day. This song is one to put on ANY play list.

    ReplyDelete
  78. I am loving the monkeys dress tee and would love to own something from her shop!
    http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25245879

    Thanks!
    June from juneshin.etsy.com

    ReplyDelete
  79. thanks so much to all of the entries in the contest! i loved reading all of your *howl along-to* songs! love it! i'll announce the winner tomorrow! thanks!

    ReplyDelete

thanks so much for your comments, nicies!
it's a joy to read what everyone writes here.
thank you!