Thomas Bird has had an interest in clothes since he was about 14. After studying philosophy at York University he decided that he wanted to make clothes for a living. He taught himself how to design, cut patterns and sew on his mum’s sewing machine. Now Bird who has had his site up and running for over a year produces bespoke clothes made from suit fabrics and an array of linings. All of which you choose!
House of Billiam has had much press exposure and Panik got to him rather late in the day. It was worth posting though as House of Billiam seems to be going from strength to strength. He has dressed people from 16-60 and has a rather simple yet effective pricing system, depending on how bespoke you want the piece to be and how big your wallet is.
His work has been worn from BMX Flatland riders to being worn as on Skins (yes, the Channel 4 TV series) and a lot of people of note in between.
You can see more of House of Billiam’s work here and on Myspace
Panik loves… House of Billiam
Below are some examples of some of the items he has produced… Go to the site to see much much more!
Yes yes yes!!!! The time is now upon us. Finally, something a bit Diffrent. Diffrent is a new digital label from a bunch of guys who were disillusioned with where the drum and the bass was going. So like everyone who feels like that they decided to start their own label!
The sounds about this label are getting big, expect many good things from them. They are taking the DnB, Dubstep and Minimalist scene by the scruff of the neck and dealing with it. Diffrent hasn’t gone to press yet and Panik have been privelaged enough to get the exclusive heads up from insiders before the official launch of the label.
You’re not gonna hear any of the finished articles anywhere yet, BUT you can hear this Diffrent inspired podcast on Soundcloud under the title DJ Billion & MC Sense D&B Minimal Podcast Jan 29th
Have a listen and see what you think – Giraffe-Cast will be done this weekend, that’ll be online in the week, masters for 001 release are back – there is a scheduled release date which is yet to be finalised…
Panik loves David Rickard’s latest exhibition in London – Test Flights, where it appears that these massive balls of clay have been hoiked over and dropped from the roofs of the Economist Plaza towers. It seems that David had pre-made the sculptures during a residency at the European Ceramic Work Centre (ECWC), Amsterdam, there’s a video on YouTube! David has said that the idea of the sculpture is to show the differences in scale of the three towers in the Plaza, each ball was drop from the equivalent height of each of the towers (4, 8 and 16 storeys) and the resulting effect is what now sits in the square.
He said “After looking at materials I was surprised that clay, such a traditional material, did everything I needed it to, especially as I started by looking at thermoplastics. The constancy of gravity made me want to present and reveal it in simple way.”
The exhibition runs until the 12th of March – so get down and have a feel!
Panik has been a fan of David’s work for a long time – check out David’s varying and intriguing work here. Panik particularly likes his performance art piece Exhaust!
Images below, taken by David himself, show a 400KG clay ball being released and the sculptures in the Plaza.
Some of you may have seen Sebastian’s work on promo for Overthrill who we have featured on Panik several times. Sebastian is a versatile graphic designer working in fonts, typography and images. On his website he has loads of examples of his past work from logo work to sexy images for band artwork. He has a unique ‘electrographic’ style to his work which suits a lot of the projects he has found himself involved in. His blog – which is basically a cornucopia of images – is pretty intriguing too, as an insight into his influences and inspiration which seems to be a cocktail of 70s and 80s fashion, some iconic images, illustration, pop art and some pretty weird stuff too!
Below is Sebastian’s latest work for Overthrill’s upcoming EP
Friends of Panik Mike H and Mike P have got together more through indecision than collaboration to bring what sounds to be a great night of fun and frolics at the Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club.
Taking Mike H’s love of the 1984 Diamond Dogs album by David Bowie as their inspiration and Mike P’s love of ‘the dogs’ (races that is!), they have decided to incorporate the two – culminating in David Bowie at the Races.
With what promises to be night of good music, gambling, CHEAP booze, dressing up like Bowie or a race punter and much hi-jinx! Including:
David Bowie Cabaret
**The Man Who Sold the World (to pay off his Ladbrokes Account)**
**An unlicensed Deutschmark bookmaker**
**The Midnight Diamond Dogs Sweepstakes**
**Prizes!!**
**TOP DJ’s PLAYING**
Bowie, Rock N Roll, disco classics, Northern Soul, a bit of what you fancy, MODERN.
Plus all the usual Working Men’s Club dancey fun.
It kicks off at 8pm on Saturday the 30th of January.
Dres code: Get on your platforms, lycra and face paint or don a flat cap, sheepskin and a dog on a leash – why not combine the two?!
For such inspired frivolities there has to be a cover charge which will go to CHARITY, £5 on the door (if you are on the guest list), else £7 / £8; all money to go to a good cause (Mike H’s election campaign/Haiti DEC appeal/Labour Friends of Iraq).
Panik gives this a massive 8/10 and we ain’t even been yet!!
For all you people of eclectic tastes there’s a treat for you. A tour de force of young upcoming British talent cris-crossing genres and styles, hopefully making for a beautiful amalgamation of diverse sounds. Named BACK OFF at Proud, Camden on the 6th of Jan (tix £5). Panik is looking forward to this one!
The night includes live music from AKAYZIA, a band with urban folk stylings, well worth a look. Other acts confirmed include Depot, who describe themselves as “Depot sound like a mix of classic 2 tone British ska with modern indie twinges”. Others include the interesting Rotten Hill Gang, who have been seen performing at Notting Hill Carnival with the legendary Mick Jones. (By the way we know you see a nipple from the audience at around 27secs before you all write in!)
The night will also feature live hip hop from Lewis Parker, a very diverse individual indeed. Critically acclaimed and incredibly talented as a performer and a producer with several singles EPs and albums to his name. And a live set from NA and Haka young upcoming UK hip hop artists.
All to be rounded off by DJ sets from Harry Love, Eniz and Benson aka b- killah cash slim. Quote from the promoters (Polarize and Orion Treize) “DJs will be mixing into the night to bring guests a musical experience displaying the best from every genre (no dowy ones included).” Flyer down low guys and girls…. Panik will be there! x
This promises to be a fun-filled night from the Northern Heights Skiffle Squad featuring the Walbourne Brothers of the Pretenders, The Pogues, St. Etienne, Pernice Brothers (the list goes on…) fame.
This FREE Christmas Party looks like one for those who want to carry on going after the last weekend before Christmas. For the fans of dirty blues and low down sounds, it’s gonna be skiffletastic!
‘An evening of guitars, washboards, alcohol and possibly a song about trains.
Cheap as Credit Crunch Chips Xmas party. With the vision of throwing parties where music and art is the heart and all the people that come along, the soul, Deep Down have crafted another line up that follows their motto of Eclectic, Energetic and Eccentric in amazing spaces for a lesser price. Being held at the former Eurythmic’s warehouse hangout, the interior will be decked out by a selection of artists who have been given the theme – DEEP DOWN…IN SANTA’S GROTTO.
The line up features some of the most forward thinking electronic DJs around and the highlight for us is DEBOA who will be throwing down his unique, eclectic and rhythmic sound heavily influenced by Afro, Latin and the bass driven music he grew up with.
ZONGAMIN will be unleashing his first ever warehouse set, and the sound of House and Bass is represented by DUB KULT. Other DJs on the night include Hands on Music’s Afro inspired DJ duo MAN VS WIFE, with an appearance from Saine of Urban Nerds
The cold winds from Northern Europe are beginning to invade our bones over here in Laandan town. So we were happy to find ourselves in possesion of DJ Arbiter’s exclusive Panik Winter Mixtape from the electro hot bed of Iowa! OH MY GOSH!! Be ready to be moved by some dirty electro-fidget-remix-re edit-reworked sounds to get you bogle’n’skankin’ into Christmas and well into the New Year.
Turn it on, turn it up and turn me loose!
Big tings ya na
We stuck it on Mixcloud cos they pay royalties folks!
Big thanks to DJ Arbiter for doing this mix for us!
Panik is proud to bring to you, The Promised Land, in a contrast to the Enchanted Sea mixtape last month. This is guaranteed to get you down and dirty. After having played a truly wonderful gig at North London’s only Jook Joint, it only seemed apt that Carwyn put up a mixtape of classic jukebox tracks.
Starting with one of Panik’s favourite low-down Cajun tracks, The Promised Land by Johnnie Allan, mixed in with over an hour of healthy portions of Rhythm & Blues, Swamp Sounds, New Orleans, Gospel, Old Funk - the list goes on. Colorama Sounds not only carefully crafts a mammoth mixtape from extensive original records (hear the crackle!) but they also give you a history behind the tracks and artists. So Panik says ‘Go learn!’
Click below to prepare your ears and dancing shoes to get down!
