Shop Online and Support Local Artist

I know everyone is itching to get out of the house but, for the time being, a little retail therapy might help. Right now you can shop on-line and support local artists while giving back and helping them stay afloat during these difficult times. Plus, a discount is always an added benefit.


KBD is doing their part to give back. For every order placed by May 1st you’ll receive a 25% discount and 25% of all sales will go to Feeding America. Be sure to use code: FEEDINGAMERICA at checkout.

Weekend Picks

Head on down to Fullerton Art Walk tonight and stop by Unity Salon to check out the work of the talented artist Annie Wood.

Get a head start on your holiday shopping this weekend at the Manhattan Beach Hometown Fair. Be sure to stop by space #134 and and pick up some incredibly cool stuff from KBD. designed by the lovely kaRIN. Be sure to mention this post to get $5 off your $30 purchase. Click here for more info.

KBD Studio At Burbank Art Festival

KBD Studio is kicking off the Festival Season this weekend at the Burbank Art Festival.  The festive event will showcase a variety of art including painting, photography, woodwork, sculpting, jewelry, ceramics, street painting and more. You can catch KBD at Space 68. Mention this post and receive $5 off any KBD purchase over $20. Admission is free, so stop by 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Click here for more info. Happy Shopping– NIN

Collide – Color of Nothing

I’ve always admired the esteemed and unclassifiable outlet that is Collide, and I can honestly say Color of Nothing is by far their best release to date. Rooted in dark wave, electronic at its core, Collide’s overall sound is distinct and uniquely its own.

Made possible by Pledge Music, Color of Nothing is the dynamic duo’s sixth release and they created something that is musically profound. Hypnotic, atmospheric, and majestically epic each song is a piece of the greater whole, building on what has come previously to create a seamless aesthetic movement. Intricate and full of many layers, the album seduced me before the end of the second track and my attention was immediately drawn into its contemplative and passionate world, which is lavishly illustrated by Statik’s amazing mixing and sound design and kaRIN’s spell binding ethereal vocals.

Alter Spring Sale

The lovely and talented kaRIN is celebrating the launch of her newest designs from ALTER with a Spring sale. Shop now and receive 33% off your order with offer code SPRING until April 15th. You can also get free shipping on all domestic orders when you enter FREE SHIP at checkout. Happy Shopping! - NIN

Collide’s 30% Off Sale

Whether you’re fan of their music or you love kaRIN’s uber cool accessories you’ll be happy to hear that Collide is celebrating the holidays with a 30% off sale on everything in their store until December 12^th. Enter promo code “ANTLERS” at checkout for your discount. – NIN

30% Off At Alter

No need to wait until Black Friday to score a great deal at Alter. KaRIN is helping you get a jump start on your holiday shopping with 30% off her fabulous line of handmade leather goods and accessories until November 30th. Just enter coupon code “Thanks” at checkout and be sure to pick out something nice for yourself as well. – NIN

KBD Studio/ALTER At Village Venture Arts Faire

This Saturday Oct 24th, KBD Studio/Alter will be at the Village Venture Arts Faire located on the beautiful tree-lined streets of Claremont Village.  Celebrating its 34th year, the Village Venture Arts Faire is the largest Arts and Crafts Festival in the Inland Valley. Admission is free and the day begins with children dressed in Halloween costumes for a parade in the streets beginning at 9:30a.m. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 205 Yale Ave. Claremont, CA.  You can find KBD Studio/ALTER at space #385. Click here for more details and to find out about the free parking shuttles that run all day. – NIN

KBD Studio/ALTER At Fiesta Hermosa

KBD Studio/ALTER will be at Fiesta Hermosa this weekend. Touted as the largest arts and crafts fair in Southern California, Fiesta Hermosa features over 300 artists, crafters, music, food, a beer and wine garden, in addition to rides, activities, and a petting zoo for the kids. The Fiesta will take place in Hermosa Beach on September 5^th, 6^th, and 7^th (10 a.m. – 6 p.m.) You can find KBD/ALTER at space #519. Be sure to mention this post to receive $5 of any purchase over $30. Click here for more info on Fiesta Hermosa and be sure to follow ALTER on Facebook.    – NIN

Make A Statement With Blossoms Flower Earrings

I was so excited when my pair of Blossoms Flower Earrings arrived in the mail. Created by kaRIN for her Saints and Sinners/Alter collection, these unique statement pieces will undoubtedly get tons of attention and are great conversation starters. 

Blossoms: Incredibly Fun Earrings

kaRIN, designer for KBD Studio/Alter and vocalist for Collide, has unveiled her latest creation – Blossoms Flower Earrings. These adorable earrings are light, easy to wear, and will get tons of attention!

Each set ships in a special gift box, with the words "Imagination/Inspiration" on a small piece of paper inside each earring, along with a little succulent plant (Dragon's Blood Sedum Spurium). They are great for every day wear, parties, or any special occasion, and you can refill them with any small plant or flower. Blossoms are available in either pierced or clip on and can be purchased as a pair or a single earring. Enjoy! – NIN 

Alter – Handmade With Art And Soul

When she’s not creating music with her partner Statik for their band Collide, the lovely and talented kaRIN designs jewelry, t-shirts, and handmade leather accessories that are edgy, hip, and oh so chic.

I’ve been a long-time fan and supporter of Karin’s artistic work in both music and fashion, so I was excited when I heard she launched a retail site where people worldwide can purchase her exquisitely designed products.   

Collide – Bent And Broken

(NoisePlus Music)

The internet has made it easier for musicians to release their own music. Big labels aren’t a necessity. All you really need is a passion for your craft and support from your fans. Collide is fortunate enough to have both. The LA-based musical team of Statik and kaRIN have put out their own albums for years; however, this time they did something different. They launched a kickstarter campaign in order to raise funds for their latest release Bent and Broken and their fans generously gave their support.

KING Boutique 1 yr Anniversary Party

On Saturday August 25^th KING Boutique celebrated its 1^st year of business on Melrose. The lovely and talented Terri King celebrated by hosting a festive bash for her loyal customers and close friends. Guests were treated to cocktails courtesy of Becherovka, hors d’oeuvres, and 50% off any item in the store. Of course there were killer tunes and a few lucky attendees won one of Terri’s custom pieces.

King Boutique – Grand Opening Party

I’ve been a long time fan of Terri King’s creations. In fact, I’m not the only one. Her list of celebrity clientele is extensive and her creations have appeared on numerous covers of Rolling Stone Magazine. Terri also specializes in creating custom clothing for film, television, and museums. She also designs bridal gowns (she made mine and I received many compliments since it was anything but traditional) and couture corsetry (Terri was the costume designer for the Bravo Reality T.V. series Forty Deuce).

Collide – Counting To Zero

(Noise Plus)   Go - Get This Now!

One thing I can honestly say about Collide is that they never disappoint. They consistently put out great albums, and that is no easy feat. The duo has been self producing/releasing infectious recordings for the past 15 years and Counting ToZero is no exception. kaRIN and Statik take pride in their craft and they’ll spend three years, if necessary, before releasing something they are proud of, which is why they are so respected in the industry and have gained attention in the film, T.V. and gamming communities. Further proof you don’t need a big label just a loyal fan base and a repertoire of good music. In fact, the band’s fans pitched in to help make this record happen and each and everyone were thanked in the album’s credits.

KBD Festival Event

One of our favorite designers, KBD, will be at the Fiesta Hermosa Arts and Crafts Fair this weekend. Touted as the largest arts and crafts fair in Southern California, Fiesta Hermosa features 270 vendors, live music, and a charity beer and wine garden. KBD will be located at Space #517 (Main Boulevard, North of Pier Ave). Be sure to stop by and show kaRIN and her girls some love.
Fiesta Hermosa!
Pier Ave
Hermosa Beach CA
10am - 6pm Sat, Sun, Mon
Admission is free. For more info visit:www.fiestahermosa.com/about.html
For more on KBD visit: http://www.kbd-karinbydesign.com/

CD Reviews: Collide - These Eyes Before

 Collide - These Eyes Before (NoisePlus) Go: Get This Now

It takes a lot of guts to release an album's worth of covers, but when a band is as talented as Collide it's a gamble that pays off.  These Eyes Before presents old classics re-done with Collide flair.  What makes this disc so great is its overall cohesiveness.  Instead of sounding like a bunch of covers thrown together Collide managed to create a mood and a flow that ties these tunes together in such a way that it sounds like a collective whole.The record is further proof that as a unit there are no limitations to Collide's musical expressions.  kaRIN’s vocal interpretations breathes new life into each phrase, and Statik's technical wizardry creates the tapestry that weaves these songs together.  Whether you’re a fan of the originals or a fan of the band's electro-alt-darkwave sound you'll be pleased with what this album has to offer.  Collide's These Eyes Before is proof that you don't need millions of dollars to produce a high quality record.

NIN

An Interview with Collide

Bite Me! has been longtime fans/supporters of Collide. The diverse forward thinking electronic unit—comprised of Static & kaRIN— have been creating music together for 17 years and are gearing up for the release of These Eyes Before on their Noiseplus label. However, there is more to this creative unit than meets the eye. When not working on their own music, Static lends his engineering, programming, and remixing skills to other artists (you’ll be impressed with the number of credits under his belt) and kaRIN is busy crafting new creations for her Saints & Sinners/KBD line. She makes everything from shirts (for men & women) to jewelry to belts to leather cuffs to purses to her own signature scents. To be honest, I’m amazed and grateful they had time to do this interview.