Today’s playlist comes from someone we know very well, because she lives down the hall from Lee. Welcome Rachel!

As a single lady, society has told me I should be a bitter hag on V-Day. Those of you who were lucky enough to have received personally autographed VHS tapes of “Buns of Steel” plastered with my lipsticked kisses and sprayed with glitter in years past know that in reality I have nothing against this made-up holiday. While I may be drinking $3 Trader Joe’s wine straight from the bottle this Saturday night, by Sunday I will be stuffing my face with discount Sweetheart candy. So until then here are a few of my favorite “love songs.” I thought of going for disgustingly sappy and emotional in order to overcompensate for my single status or even disgruntled hate-sex songs. What came out though was a mixture of love ‘em and leave ‘em coupled with inflate ‘em and keep ‘em masterpieces. So today, let’s pay homage to Aristophanes and others with my V-Day play list.

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John Mason is a friend of Cut & Sewn. And a very fashionable guy. Those two things combined to provide a dynamite t-shirt.

His explanation for the below shirt.

I rarely try to explain my own absurdity. If it doesn’t make sense to you why the hell do you think it would make sense to me. It just seemed like the only number that I’d deem appropriate if I could choose. Not to mention its a number I would prank call often.

John Steele manages the blog for Solar States, a solar energy company dedicated to creating a solar industry, from the classroom to the rooftop. He has provided our playlist for the week with a great story below. Check our their blog and site.

When I saw that picture, a few things popped into my mind. First, awesome! I already have a TV, a radio, a dvd player, an omelet station, a blender and an XBOX in my bathroom. But with all available outlets filled and all circuitry going toward my entertoilet (entertainment toilet), how is a man supposed to charge his ipod while riding the porcelain bus?

But secondly, and equally as important, are there enough appropriate songs to celebrate such a monumental invention as the toilet-paper-holder-ipod-dock? There are plenty of songs about getting dumped, but what about taking one? So I set out on a quest to find the perfect playlist for this ipod. Get ready to go on a journey, from the bathroom line with N.E.R.D. to the final push with Salt ‘N Peppa and finally to lighting a courtesy match with Mirah. Once you are done listening to this as nature intended, I think you will agree that the only thing in your bathroom that doesn’t stink is the music.

Thanks to John for this playlist. Do you want a chance to make a playlist for us? Email lee@cutandsewn.com and you could be here very soon.

Kosha Dillz is embarking on a journey, he will perform 40 shows in the next few months. Judaism influencing his rhymes along with the world around him, he stopped in to talk to Cut & Sewn.

How and when did you rapping?
I must’ve began in 1999 at Braggin’ Rites NYC at Nuyorican Poets cafe.

How’d you know rap was right for you?
I really didn’t know that ’till recently. I knew I was able to hustle and like it and love it and I can of have a lost love for hustling anything. Music and me, its all great, when I started developing my artist identity, it becomes easier to know that its right for me. I just love hearing myself complete songs that move me and other people.

Who are your influences?
Pop culture. Food. Surroundings. Scenery. Current news. Spirituality. Israel. It can range from a number of things.

Tell me about your writing process.
It usually begins with an urge to write, sort of like caffeine withdrawal but with a pen. I just finished my LP Beverly Dillz in LA with Belief, a lot was done in socks on a couch. Just enjoying to force the creativity which i think it a great skill every artist must acquire. With another producer, someone forces you to write to beats you might not do so by yourself, in the end that can create a great song you might not have ever explored.

Keep reading for more questions and information on upcoming Kosha gigs. (more…)

Melinda Ortner started music from her father’s footsteps, now she’s recording her first full length album, making music videos and being shopped around for a record deal. After comparisons to Fiona Apple, Muse and Alicia Keys, she’s more than on her way. Lee had a chance to talk to her the other day.

C&S: So the first question has to be, how did you get started in music?
Melinda Ortner: Well, my dad was a music teacher and forced me, I was reluctant to play piano. I didn’t want to, but then I did. He made me practice. I couldn’t play with my friends until I practiced, which I’m very grateful for now. And then, I kinda dropped it. I wanted to do acting when I saw the movie My Girl. That was the moment, ‘I want to be an actress.’ Then I got recruited for the choir, because they needed girls. They didn’t know I could sing, I didn’t know I could sing either. So I said ok. And when I tried I and I thought, I’m not bad. And I went from there.

Which do you like more: singing or piano?
I like singing more, but I like doing both at the same time. That’s when I get  to my zone. But I also play a little guitar and I do play the flute. That was my first instrument.

Are you gonna bring any flute into your songs?
Honestly, I don’t think so, but after hearing things by Vampire Weekend, I could bring a whole world of sound to my music. Never know.

What music influences you?
I would say, Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington are the two singers that I wanted to sound like. From there, of course, Fiona Apple and Muse were like the obsessions I had in the last two years, where all I listened to was that. I would say I’m really really inspired by classical music and I try to incorporate it into my songs. Aside from that, Radiohead, and other bands that add regular piano stuff with electronica sounds.

Keep reading for more great questions and 2 awesome mp3s. (more…)

Eliot Murray, a good friend of the company, is our first guest DJ. He is an aspiring screenwriter and shade-tree musician living in Los Angeles. He writes,

So, given the recent re-embrace of unity among the leaders of the world via our nuevo presidente, I decided to wrangle some sweet “International-themed” music together. Some are local, some are foreign, but all dig into the cross-pollination of cultures to produce sweet results. Tchuss!

Can you imagine the day when you can read a newspaper on the internet? That’s ridiculous. Also, how will your monitor not get messy from all the ink?

Chad Hugo of the Neptunes drops some ‘Roc Boys’

Your grandfather had the pocket-watch (Don’t Call it a Comeback nominee) and grandfather clocks (obviously). Your mom had Swiss-Army watches and the metal-banded, beginner-bling Rolex. Your annoying sister had the Casio calculator watch. You, what do you have? They say size matters, and in some cases, smaller is better. This is one of those cases. You, lucky you, have the ring watch.
Fashion is always calling for accessories like purses, necklaces, and shoes, but who wants to wear a silly key on a chain or Kanye’s new hideous Louis Vuitton shoe? These ring watches are rings and on top of that, they’re watches. That’s two birds, one ring. It’s the most practical thing you can put on your finger, outside of maybe a bottle opener ring, but that won’t tell you what time happy hour even starts.

Major thanks to Julia Davis for this illustration

Scenario: You’re in Hong Kong. You want to call your boy, Vladimir Putin in Moscow, right now, to tell him about a secret Matt Miller concert that may not have happened yet in New York. Your grandpa Morty, mom Carol, and sister Gertrude didn’t have the technology to answer that, but you do. Just throw on your rings and you’re more than set.
This is why I submit the ring watch as the first entrant to “Don’t Call it a Comeback,” our returning to the spotlight trend tracker.

Do you have something you want to say? Something to promote? Something to demote?

Here’s our idea: Write a guestpost right here on Loose Lips, the loveliest new blog on the internet, brought to you by Cut & Sewn. Or another wonderful idea just came to us. You know how much you love our Friday playlists, but sometimes are thinking about a song that you wanted to hear. Make your own playlist and be our guest DJ! Contact lee@cutandsewn.com for more details. We look forward to hearing your voice!

That picture comes from this manual we’ve uncovered to hack construction signs. We’re not suggesting you do this, very illegal, but if you do, please send in your photos. (VIA geekologie).

Over at Flavorwire, I found a list of words that should be stricken from the English language. Have some to add?

Intrigued by Circuit City’s Liquidation Sale? Don’t be, it sucks.

With Cheney whimpering.

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