The Dec/Jan 2010/2011 Issue saw the final installment of My Life as a Goth Girl, an article that has been in the magazine since the first issue two years ago. Mlaagg, by Vanity Kills, is the fictional stories and dramas of Kimmy, the subculture-elitist, fetish-fashionista, yet sweetly endearing queen of the goth scene that everyone loves to hate. In honor of its end we will be posting all the illustrations done for the reoccurring article over the years. Read the final chapter of Kimmy’s story in the December/January 2010/2011 Issue out now!
Android Lust is the singular vision of Bangladeshi born and New York City resident Shikhee, and draws elements from a variety of musical and artistic influences to create a sophisticated industrial rock sound. Experiencing mainstream success with international airplay of the video for “Stained” from 2003’s The Dividing and with the inclusion of “Hole Solution” from 2006’s Devour, Rise, and Take Flight on CBS’ NCIS soundtrack, Android Lust is back after a four year break. Stronger than ever, the new album The Human Animal sees Shikhee recording and writing for the first time with a full band, and together they kick off their US tour August 12th.
photographer : Ron Douglas
interview : Mike Kieffer and Jennifer Link
It’s been four years since your last studio album Devour, Rise, and Take Flight, why the long break?
Shikhee : I was really burnt out for a while. During the latter part of writing for Devour, I was having problems with my label and I was also juggling a day job and music. While mixing Devour it got particularly bad. I was coming home from my job around 9 or 10, and then mixing til 2 or 3, only to get back up and get to work at 9 again. This went on for a couple of months. I was barely sleeping and losing weight like mad. It was a very trying period and one that really tainted Android Lust for a while. It took until late 2007 to get back to writing. I never want to let it get that bad again.
Your new album, The Human Animal, has a more organic and complex feel than previous albums such as The Dividing which seemed more simple yet epic. What influenced the move in this direction?
S : I suppose playing with a full live band for a couple of years, and also going back to my rock n roll roots. I was also tired of working alone in the studio all the time. It wasn’t exciting anymore. I wasn’t going to grow as a writer if I kept doing what I already knew and was comfortable with. I was playing with these incredible musicians and I wanted to bring that in. So I started writing parts that I could never play, and also producing with an ear for sounds that was outside of what was familiar. Also, I tried to sonically bring my world in my music. Not just in themes and lyrics, but the sounds I hear everyday around the city. I got a portable recorder and just collected sounds, whatever appealed to me. A lot of that made it to the record as rhythmic or melodic elements.
In Swaim We Trust
The funniest man in online humor takes on a dangerous new mission for comedy and country.
photographer : Saryn Christina
interview : Adam Rosina
Mainstream comedy has fallen on hard times. More accurately, it’s circling the fucking drain. Seth Macfarlane’s become far too busy counting his money to realize the bubble’s nearly burst on how many cutaway jokes his audience will stomach before they tune out completely. South Park has become a little too sanctimonious and preachy. And last year’s runaway comedy hit, The Hangover, was an underwhelming snooze fest of a film, save Zach Galifianakis (and anyone familiar with Galifianakis’ stand-up can attest that his performance in said film isn’t up to snuff by comparison). So where’s a comedy connoisseur to turn?
Enter Michael Swaim. Rising quickly from writing for the UC San Diego comedy ‘zine MQ (along with future collaborator on nearly all of his projects, Abe Epperson) to internet stardom with sketch comedy group “Those Aren’t Muskets” and their breakout viral video, “Internet Party”, Swaim’s career began to gain momentum. Further exposure came through his work at Cracked.com, both as a columnist and as the star of web video series Cracked TV (later re-titled Does Not Compute). His next web series, Agents of Cracked, which saw him co-star with fellow Cracked contributor Dan O’Brien in a buddy cop-type scenario, was met with both critical praise and an award at the Second Annual Streamys (an awards ceremony held to honor achievements in internet video content). Now, with Does Not Compute and a new Cracked series After Hours in full swing, season two of Agents of Cracked, and a feature film in the pipeline, Michael Swaim seems poised to take his brand of vulgarity infused, nerd friendly comedy to the masses.
Howdy. Thanks for sitting down with Auxiliary. This is my first time doing an interview so promise you’ll be gentle and we’ll at least cuddle afterwards.
MS : This is like my third, so hopefully I’ll just trash you. I’ll nail you to the wall.
I’m going to go out on a limb and assume it. Got to admit I’m a huge fan. My friends and I have pretty much stopped talking in a conventional sense and are pretty much purely conversing in this Esperanto-like way that is purely composed of Agents of Cracked quotes.
MS : Nice.
So you can kind of see how much we like the shit around here.
MS : That’s excellent. Thank you, man. Because Esperanto is the world’s most efficient language so that means a lot to me.
If only people picked it up.
MS : I know. That was the only thing I gave a shit about in high school is I tried to learn Esperanto like a goober and was treated thusly.
featuring fashion by Skingraft, Audra Jean, Garbage Dress, Jeffrey Campbell, Irregular Choice, and more
photographer : Carbon Decay
fashion stylist and art director : Sally Reardon
makeup artist : Diana D’Angelo
hair stylist : Brian-David D’aigle
models : A.W. Hill and Dorothy Johanna
Andy Deane is perhaps best known for his founding role in the now internationally popular goth-rock hybridized alternative music act Bella Morte. Since touring multiple cities across both North America and Europe, and growing an ever diverse fanbase, Andy Deane has transcended his unique horror style of writing from the music world into that of published horror author. His late novel The Sticks has seen unprecedented success and with both a novella and upcoming sophomore novel release in the works Andy Deane’s authorial accomplishments continue to grow.
photographs and interview by Zach Rose
Charlottesville, Virginia is a city that seems to be teeming with creative artforward individuals such as yourself. Could you describe the impact of artistic culture on the city of Charlottesville? How has it affected you as an artist and writer?
Andy Deane : My family had the first big impact on me. Everyone on my Mom’s side is inclined toward music, so it was natural for me to start singing at a young age. Charlottesville embraced Bella Morte when we started playing shows in town. Our first gigs were in the basement of a Sushi restaurant called Tokyo Rose, and some of my best memories of the band still dwell in that tiny cellar of a club. We eventually started a weekly goth night there which attracted all walks of life. And that’s one of the best things about C’ville, the fact that different scenes support one another more so than in most other places we’ve toured. That openness is one reason that Bella Morte has incorporated so many different styles over the years.
Many long time fans of your band Bella Morte may not by now be aware of your work as a writer. What influences have led you to who you are as a writer today
AD : Odd as it may sound, movies are a bigger influence on how I write than fellow authors. I see the story I’m creating as scenes in a film as I’m writing. It keeps me from dwelling too much on insignificant details. Don’t get me wrong, I read all the time, and I’m sure you can see hints of Richard Matheson, Joe Lansdale, Clive Barker, Robert Howard, and a million others in my style, but I want my writing to be my own.
Hailing from the island of Puerto Rico, Nina Flowers (Jorge Flores) has been a figure of flamboyant female impersonation since the age of 19. To Nina Flowers, makeup creates a character with a unique and iconic persona. Nina Flowers is perhaps best known as the recent finalist on RuPaul’s show Drag Race. A DJ and musician, Nina Flowers’ individual interpretation of the art of drag has graced cities across North America, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.
photographer : Norman Dillon
makeup, hair, styling, and model : Nina Flowers
interview : Meagan Hendrickson
Nina’s face is fabulous! What makeup tips can we “drag” out of you?
NF : Have patience, and it’s all about the tools! Meaning the brushes LOCAS!
You really stand out from the crowd, being a heavily tattooed female impersonator, have you ever received any negative feedback about your tattoos?
NF : That was more in my early days as a drag queen and performer when I started with my first tattoo, since then, no complaints.
You were my personal favorite on Season 1 of Rupaul’s Drag Race! Can you share any personal highlights of being on the show?
NF : A highlight for me and one of my fondest memories is RuPaul’s acknowledgement of my contribution to the show and my art in drag.
featuring fashion by Steam Trunk, S&G, Dace, Astali, and more
photographer : Erica Eichelkraut
art director : Molly Hoeltke and Jennifer Link
fashion stylist : Molly Hoeltke
makeup artist : Jodie McGuire
hair stylist : Maria Taylor and Jeffrey Flynn
models : Guy William III, Caitlin Corcoran, and Jessamyn Rose
location : Becker Farms
The August/September issue is the eleventh issue of Auxiliary, a magazine dedicated to alternative fashion, music, and lifestyle. This issue is packed with interviews, including Android Lust, Nina Flowers of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Michael Swaim of Cracked.com, and Andy Deane of Bella Morte. The issue also contains a military inspired fashion editorial, a beauty editorial that will teach you to get smart, a style editorial guide to wearing harnesses, a mod inspired style feature, and editorials from two notable writers, Clint Catalyst and Grumpy Owl. It also features DJ picks from Volvox, a beauty feature on how to achieve the look of a 2026 starlet, and fashion by Steam Trunk, Cyberoptix TieLab, Dace, S&G, Skingraft, Fluevog, Audra Jean, Garbage Dress, EC Star, Steady, and much much more.
You can download it HERE for free. Print copies are available online HERE and in stores HERE. Enjoy!
