Page 25 - Black Velvet Issue 96

BV96 pg22,23,24,25 AWK_BV96 pg25 13/03/2018 11:34 Page 4

BlackVelvetMagazine.Com - 25
bouts of negativity. His positive thinking, speak- avoid being over the top with your word choices carefree, because it’s total freedom from every-
ing and lyrics are for his own peace of mind – to when you’re trying to explain a feeling that is thing, even from having to care about anything
silence the voices of doubt inside that he can’t over the top, a feeling that is really immense. at all, but it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. It’s a
turn off. Every now and then I do feel like there is some- dangerous thing to fantasize about.”
‘You’re Not Alone’ sees him encouraging one else out there that has been looking for this
himself as well as fans. ‘Make your dreams your exact feeling. His whole life might be based ith the album opening with ‘The Power
destiny, and do what must be done.’ Andrew has around the search for these feelings. If I can WOf Partying’, an introduction that re-
definitely made his own dreams his destiny, partner up with that person and even search for peats ‘Party, party, party…’ Andrew says he
playing packed out shows and festivals, speak- this feeling and make this feeling together, it’s feels the most powerful when he is motivating
ing in front of hundreds of people, and even about as good as life can get. It justifies all the others. “When I lose myself in what I consider to
hosting Cartoon Network’s ‘Destroy Build De- effort and, also, alleviates or sublimates the be a higher cause, really just trying to spread
stroy’ live action reality series between 2009 and pain, cause it gives it a purpose. It wasn’t all that energizing, joyful power, that feeling, that
2011. Not many of us can say we’ve hosted a meaningless. It’s a strange thing to feel like your pure light feeling, that’s when I feel the most
TV show, especially one that had over 2 million own life can feel meaningless and hopeless and powerful.”
viewers per episode. purposeless and then to have all of that allevi- Yet when you see Andrew up on stage,
In ‘Ever Again’, another song on the new ated by the idea of your purpose being someone speaking or singing powerfully, you would not re-
album, Andrew sings ‘I’ll admit there were times else’s life.” alize that inside he has doubts and confusion.
I was terrified, I honestly thought I wouldn’t sur- What Andrew really wants people to get That he’s not quite as strong on the inside as he
vive’. Well, Andrew’s not managed to destroy from his new album is “a wave of raw energizing looks on the outside.
himself yet! He is still alive and is still building power that is connected to what we would call “Strangely, that’s when I feel the most dis-
himself and his dreams. Andrew tells Black Vel- the emotional state and is not defined or limited tant from myself, at least the everyday version
vet that he was terrified when “succumbing to by emotions in terms of happy or sad or good or of myself that is flawed and distracted with non-
my inner instinct that tells me that life is bad.” bad. But, raw emotional feeling that is ultimately sense and weakness and riddled with doubt. To
Yet, despite unwanted negativity, he is also fo- a life force kind of obstinence, a positivity that’s be able to turn over all those feelings to a more
cused and committed and manages to prove so transcendent that it goes beyond our ability noble and gleaming sense of clarity is when I
himself wrong, especially with this album re- or even our need to see things as good or bad, feel the best. And it’s strange because it’s not
lease. “I proved myself wrong. I proved my low- where we just get, for even a brief moment, necessarily power, it’s an inverted type of power.
est instinct wrong. I proved the parts of me that beautifully bewildered by the grandeur and It’s not so much what I’m pushing out, it’s more
were still cynical and doubtful and skeptical of spectacular power of the thing called being alive, what I’m accepting in.”
my own capability of rising above my lowest im- and accept that grandeur as something inher- In ‘Confusion And Clarity’, Andrew speaks,
pulses,” he says. ently good.” ‘In the midst of all the doubt, all the uncertainty,
There is definitely an energizing power than all the frustration, all the confusion, we must
he album has impressed music fans and comes through in the music, the lyrics and mo- never lose sight of the parts of life that we’re ab-
TAndrew W.K. diehards worldwide. Com- tivational speeches too. You will feel the power solutely clear about. The parts of life that bring
ments on his ‘Music Is Worth Living For’ video of being alive ignited by such songs as ‘Party us undeniable and reliable joy. These are sa-
included ‘Andrew W.K. is a national treasure’ Mindset’, ‘Ever Again’ and ‘Total Freedom’. The cred.’
and ‘We’ve never needed you more, Andrew. latter, Andrew says, is another tale of two con- With ‘You’re Not Alone’ being by far Andrew
Thank you!!’ While he appreciates the com- trasting and opposing concepts. “The one polar- W.K.’s best and most inspiring work to date, we
ments, he doesn’t let comments like these go to ity is that freedom is a fantastic thing that we’re hope that YOU will accept Andrew in. You are
his head. “I think that there’s a tradition that’s striving for and often don’t realize and believe invited to the party.
been established at this point of rather hyper- that we have, and the other side is to say that
bolic statements on the computer in both what freedom is horrifying and unmanageable; total ‘You’re Not Alone’ is out now on Sony Music.
would be considered positive tones and also freedom, and that we need cares, basically; Visit www.andrewwk.com for more info.
negative tones, but that’s ok, that’s part of the things to care about, pressures and responsibil-
playful nature of the graduation. But sometimes ities that create a pattern and framework of ex-
I do feel like people are trying to express a level istence to manoeuvre with them. And we often Words By Shari Black Velvet
of excitement, much like I am right now. It’s dif- say, including myself, that not caring is this great
Photos By Ashley Eberbach
ficult to find the words sometimes, it’s difficult to achievement, that some day we’ll be totally

Eatin’ Ain’t Cheatin’

LAS VEGAS

VEGENATION
&

SIMPLY PURE

When we were in Las Vegas we ventured down to the Fremont Street district to visit a couple of vegan cafes which are within walking
distance. If you’re ever in Vegas we highly recommend visiting both VegeNation and Simply Pure. VegeNation is a community-based restaurant
at 616 E. Carson Ave. They have a large community table as well as smaller tables for couples and small groups. When we went, it was packed
- it no doubt has a great reputation. The menu featured all sorts of comfort and street food. We picked the Ciao Margarita Pizza - an amazing
vegan cheese & tomato pizza, along with an orange burst smoothie (featuring orange, carrot, ginger, turmeric and pineapple). We had space
for a dessert so chose the blueberry cheesecake. Everything was delicious and we wish we’d have had time to go back again. A couple of days
later we visited Simply Pure to check that cafe out. It is smaller than VegeNation and found in Downtown Container Park. Continuing our ‘we
must have cheesy things’ theme, this time we opted for the Vegan Lasagna. This seems to be a firm favourite with the people in line before me
ordering it, and lots of photos of it on Instagram. Our non-vegan friend ordered the Green Chili Enchiladas. Simply Pure is run by Chef Stacey
Dougan and its exact location is 707 Fremont St. We loved visiting these two vegan diners and next time we’re in Las Vegas, we’ll be back to
both for more food for sure. If you’re ever in Las Vegas for a concert or on holiday, seek them both out.

ANDREW W.K.