Yuki Yuki Yasumi (ユキユキ休み)

Zenkaikon 2011: A Very Late Blog

2011-04-13T14:31:00.003-04:00

Zenkaikon 2011 (Zenkaikon V), what is there to say? It was the first convention where the alcohol was gone by Friday afternoon. I stayed at the Raddison, where they insisted on giving me Decaf coffee packets everyday. It mixed well with the Tequila, but I never quite got my caffeine fix the entire weekend. For some odd reason I dyed my hair black/purple Thursday night and turned a bunch of the hotel towels pink. That was a lot of fun. I went to the King of Prussia mall with the intention of eating at 5 guys, but didn't make it past one of the Chinese food stands.

Noodles in Black bean sauce, traditionally eaten by single people on
April 14th, Black Day. I shared these with a friend the Thursday
before the convention. By the end of the convention,
I could not look at an instant noodle/ramen packet.

I don't quite remember what went on on Friday. Open karaoke didn't start until 8pm, so I wandered around, and helped my friends Joey Dangerous, and Ann Siri at their tables in the artist alley. I pretty much hung out at their table most of the convention talking to people passing by.

Loot from Friday: I bought a lot more stuff on Saturday
and Sunday. The big haul was that K-ON! bath towel!

The dealer's room was better than I expected. I did not expect to spend a lot of money, but this year's dealer's room/artist alley at Zenkaikon was on par with Otakon (just on a smaller scale). There was a little bit of everything, and I could have spend much more money than I did.

Friday night I hit up karaoke, which is run by the Anime Jam Session people, DJ. Ranma, and Kuro Usagi. They've been doing a good job of running the karaoke since I starting going to Zenkaikon. I ended up singing "All You Need is Love" from "Magic Night Rayearth." I found this cool You Tube Chanel, that has all the Saturday karaoke (Including me in the contest).

After karaoke, I got corralled into the 18+ line, and lead into a room with a Yuri panel. Honestly, I would have had more fan if it was a Yaoi panel (watching rabid fan girls gush over pretty boys making out with each other is much more entertaining to watch). Everyone basically talked about their favorite series that had Yuri overtones (but no actual Yuri). The panelist asked me for a series, I mentioned Kodomo no Jikan, and no one in the room knew what the hell I was talking about.

A Soul Eater cosplay group. Soul Eater and Pokemon were
among some of the most popular cosplays I saw.

On Saturday, I had a series of mishaps while making my way to the Anime Jam Session panel. I couldn't walk five feet without someone wanting a picture of me or running into someone who knew me from past Otakon conventions. I had to hit up a bathroom and didn't get to the panel until a half-hour later. Afterwards, I hit the dealer's room again, spent more money, and hung out with random people, including one of my classmates who was stalking various members of Rose Noire, who I missed out on even though they played two concerts.

After doing the karaoke contest, I tried to hunt down my friends to show off my shinny trophy, so I did a few victory laps, and ran into Joey and Ann. We went to gaming room, and played a table top game.

Schoolgirls vs. Predator: I bought this
raver wig on a whim; it is made out
Chinese finger traps. I couldn't stop playing
with it and getting my fingers stuck.

The table top gaming room was really cool. There were a lot of donated games laying out that anyone could try out. Joey and Ann wanted to try out Witch's Brew, since they were considering buying it but wanted to try it out first, so we took like an hour time out to play. If Joey didn't have to work his table, he probably would have spent most of his time playing Magic Cards.

Eventually, I made my was to the fan parodies. There was a new one this year, made by the "This is Otakudom and STEAM the Movie people," called Fanboy Soze vs. The Reanimators of the Otakulypse. It was a high-quality parody of Akira. I highly recomend it, and I assume it will be showing at other conventions.

Saturday night, I ended up at a Hentai panel and at a Go Nagai panel. I ended up leaving the Hentai panel to go to the Go Nagai panel, which only had my friend, one other woman, and myself in attendance.

Sunday: I spent more money. Bought a pink cosplay wig. From that point on, I had a bunch of people taping me on the back asking me if I was a girl. I guess I kind of "passed" from behind... LOL.

Sunday: I added a wig to my piece-meal
non-specific schoolgirl crossplay.
The Mokona bag/plushies make the
costume.

Overall, it was the most fun I've had at an anime convention, since the last one I attended (Otakon 2010).

December 2010 remix is up: Stop My Heart (chiptune mix)

2010-12-07T11:24:00.000-05:00

Click here to listen to the new mix.

In the meantime...

2010-12-06T20:53:00.000-05:00

The official YukiYasu website hasn't been worked on fixed yet, but for now I've pimped this blog out courtesy of a number of widgets. Notice to left, you will be able to find direction to out January 8th show at the Lighthouse Lounge in Phoenixville, PA. On the right there are now two music players. Many of the remixes from the tumblr site are now on the reverbnation site, and you can listen to clips of every song on Devoured By Japanese Schoolgirls on the other player.

I'm pretty excited about the Jan 8th show. We haven't played a show since July, so we've got some new surprises!

Every Tear That You Wipe Away (Live) (remix for November 2010)

2010-11-01T01:00:00.008-04:00

If you head over to my Tumblr blog right now, you'll be able to check out the latest Yuki Yuki Yasumi Remix:

Every Tear That You Wipe Away (Live) (remix for November 2010)

This "heavy remix" is unlike the softer album version:

Yuki Yuki Yasumi: Status Report 3rd quarter 2010

2010-10-28T20:45:00.001-04:00

Granted, this Blog exists for one purpose, for me, Yuki, to shove my brand down your throat, hoping that you might come out to one of my shows (none scheduled right now), buy one of my CDs, buy some digital downloads, or perhaps even just a REALLY BITCHING CLOCK.

However, did you know that I've got all kinds of FREE STUFF, free songs that I post up EVERY MONTH.

I've been posting a "remix" up every month of various songs off of my first album. I started this back in August and I'm not going to stop. Eventually, you will be able to download them all, but for now I ask that you head over to my other blog: http://yukiyukiyasumi.tumblr.com/ and check out all the stuff I've got there!

Here's a list of the remixes already posted:

August 2010: Stop My Heart (a chiptune style remix)
September 2010: Steampunk Loli (another chiptune/glitch remix)
October 2010: S.O.S. (夏休み) (A Live Remix)

What does November have in store? You can find out at 1am on November 1st... check back at this Blog or the tumblr Blog!

In the future, I've got more Live "metal remixes," A ton of soft acoustic remixes, and of course more fake chiptune/ video game inspired remixes.

There are also a number of videos on this site achieved, in the media section, check out the official Yuki Yuki Yasumi Youtube Chanel.

I'd also like to report that the second Yuki Yuki Yasumi Album: Tsundere is well under way, more information to come soon!

S.O.S. (夏休み) LIVE: The October Remix

2010-10-01T01:10:00.000-04:00

Head on over to this link to listen to my remix for the month of October: S.O.S. (夏休み) Live.

If you enjoy the remix check out these versions from the Devoured By Japanese Schoolgirls
album:

K-ON!

2010-09-23T22:17:00.001-04:00

I haven't been the productive musician I usually am, so I took some time off to catch up some anime, so I started watching K-ON!

I have to admit, I've always been a fan of music anime; back in the day I remember getting into Lucifer from the anime, Kaiken Phrase, and my band members in WBC and I would go on about how we thought we were like the characters in the band. I remember the episode where they played a concert during a typhoon, and how it inspired me to keep playing my music even though no one really gives a shit about it. I still think about that episode every time I play an outdoor show in bad weather.

Well here in 2010, after watching K-ON!, I'm beginning to feel that "Yuki" is more like K-ON! than Lucifer. First of all, we spend more time drinking tea than we do recording actual music. A typical Yuki practice usually involves Nate and I going into our "Chinatown Reserves" to pull out the rare and overpriced teas we pick up down the city.

Like Yui, my skills on one instrument seem to diminish if I end up practicing another instrument in favor of another, like when Yuki forgot how to play guitar when she learned algebra so she could stay eligible for the club. I just pulled out my viola and realized I'm pretty damn bad at playing it (I haven't touched it in months, I've been mostly playing bass lately). I'll start playing more viola now (there's a few tracks on my new album that could use some real strings), and I'll loose my "polish" on the other instruments I've been neglecting (there's quite a few).

Or like, when it gets cold in the practice room, we get lazy and huddle around the space heater (only this usually results in me burning myself like an idiot). And yeah, I know in K-ON! it's a Koatsu.... damn it...!!! I want my own Koatsu!!!!!

Or when our one guitarist, who isn't Nate, but whom I will not name, neglects to take care of his guitars and allows the strings to get all rusty (and then in turn gets rust all over the fast fret), sort of like when Azusa bitched at Yui for not taking care of her guitar.

And the Schoolgirl uniform? I've got that part taken care of.

I could think of more, but what can I say? I'd like to think of myself as the "Mio" of the group... but I'm really more a cross between Mio (her seriousness and nervousness) and Yui (her air-headedness, weirdness).

Oh well, can't wait till the next band practice (tea party).

Steampunk Loli Chiptune Mix (september 2010)

2010-09-11T08:40:00.000-04:00

Free Yuki remix!!! September 2010 features: "Steampunk Loli" chiptune mix.

You will eventually be able to download this song here on my site for free! But right now, go show my blog some love and listen to the upload there: CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE STEAMPUNK LOLI CHIPTUNE MIX!

Stop My Heart Special Mix (august 2010)

2010-09-04T03:23:00.000-04:00

First free Yuki remix!!! August 2010 features: "Stop My Heart" special mix.

You will eventually be able to download this song here on my site for free! But right now, go show my blog some love and listen to the upload there: CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO STOP MY HEART SPECIAL MIX.

Making Music: It's actually the easy part

2010-08-22T22:09:00.001-04:00

Making music is the easy part. Everything else is hard. Like this internet thing for instance.
Anyway:

Getting to know Allan from YYY: Random information:

* I am a big Philadelphia Eagles fan and I can get annoying during the fall if someone gets me talking about football.
* When I played football when I was younger I was either middle linebacker or nose tackle (positions I started in given years when I was a starter).
* I can't eat seafood, in particular, shellfish.
* I can eat seaweed.
* I need to wear the extra large nitrile gloves even though I don't think my hands are very big.
* The first instrument I learned to play was viola (3rd grade).
* I prefer taking baths over showers.
* I used to read Nietzsche and Schopenhauer for fun back when I was young.
* I took my first Japanese class after I graduated from college, for the 2nd time.
* I've been to a Japanese hot spring (onsen).
* I however, have yet to go to a Japanese bath house.
* I did not go to a karaoke bar in Japan, even though I've been in 4 Japanese language karaoke contests at anime conventions.
* I like Osaka more than Tokyo.
* I think I like New York more than Philly.
* I cheer for my hometown "Philly" sports teams.
* I lost 45 lbs. in the last 3 months.
* My favorite activities include taking long walks and drinking tea.
* I've worn a Japanese school girl uniform at an anime con.
* I enjoy single malt whiskey/scotch or cognac every now and then
* My favorite brand of shoes is New Balance.
* My zodiac sign is cancer, I was born in the year of the rooster.
* My favorite color in purple.
* My bedroom in sponge-painted purple.
* My artist, Joey, beat Contra on 3 lives.
* My favorite cheese is swiss, but Munster makes the best grilled cheese sandwich (farmer's cheese is really good as well).
* I'm currently trying to learn four languages at once.
* I love Role Playing Video games, but I haven't really played one in a long time (just don't have the time).
* I really like it when people draw my blood, and I always let the new students/trainees "practice" on me.
* I "irrigated" my own ear canals when I had a "blockage." I am very proud of this because I avoided having to go to the doctor's and pay a co-pay.
* My favorite season is autumn.
* I don't favor dogs over cats, I actually like them both the same.
* My favorite holiday in Halloween.
* I usually work the holidays at my day job.
* My favorite songs on the first Yuki album are "Help Myself" and "Stop My Heart," I also love "Pyon Pyon" even though Nate HATES it and refuses to ever play it live.
* My favorite instrument to play is bass guitar.
* The anime that got me into anime was Ranma 1/2.
* My favorite manga is Midori no Hibi.
* I wrote my first song on guitar when I was in 7th grade (it was pretty bad).
* I actually thought food/cost of living in Japan was "affordable"
* I love to fly in airplanes.
* I hate to drive anywhere.
* I love to ride on trains. Probably one of the many reasons I like Japan so much, and probably one the reasons I'll like Europe whenever I go there.
* I can eat with chopsticks.
* When I went to Japan, I knew a lot less Japanese than I know now, in fact, I learned Katakana on the plane ride over.
* Even though I love traveling to Japan, I wouldn't want to "work" there.
* The last beach I was on was in Shirahama, Japan, but I might go to the Jersey shore soon.
* If I could travel to any European country, I'd like to travel to Italy first.
* I like absinthe, and other bitter things.
* Someday, I'd like to tour Thailand.
* I'd like to meet a nice girl who will travel the world with me.
* I always like the tsundere girls in anime.
* I used to be really good at chess. I'm probably still pretty good.
* I like to catch crabs, but I won't eat them.
* The main online videos I follow are Angry Video Game Nerd and Zero Punctuation.
* The best concerts I ever attended were Savatage, Dir En Grey, and Mercyful Fate.
* I started writing music with "computers" in high school on a really old Tandy that my mom got for free.
* I got into using MIDI in large part due to my friend and bass player, Andy.
* I am afraid of scorpions. Well, maybe not that afraid.
* I ran track in high school (100/200 meters, 4x100 relay).
* I met Andy running track.
* I met Nate (Yuki guitarist) in Latin Class. The first thing of his I remember reading was a poem about a cat falling down the stairs.
* I dressed in drag and tried out for my high school talent show Junior year and did not get in.
* I dressed in green spandex and a Danzig shirt and tried out for my high school talent show my senior year and got in.
* I'm not as into metal as much as people think I am, but I still like it.
* I love Thai food.
* Every girl I've ever had a crush on has not liked me back; it sucks but it makes for good songwriting.
* I always bring my "baby blankets" to sleepovers.

Okay that's enough for now off the top of my head. I'll archive this to a bio section or something after a while.

$$$ Money Power Respect, y'all

2010-08-18T15:04:00.000-04:00

So I decided to monetize my blog (duh), as you can easily see. Oddly enough, one of the first adds I see crawl up onto my page is for Zenkaikon V, so I'm like whoa, Zenkaikon!! Bad ass!

I attended Zenkaikon at the Valley Forge Convention center in King of Prussia, PA the last two years (2008, 2009) and I had a blast! I probably had more fun at this con than I have at larger cons, and I'm not quite sure why. Maybe it's because the smaller con setting allows you to easily meet new people. Most memorably, I did two karaoke contests put on by DJ Ranma. He runs a podcast about anime and video games that is worth checking out. I also got to see some pretty cool bands, in particular Geist, whom I'd recommend to anyone who likes heavier metal music in the style of newer Dir En Grey.

This march, the con's apparently going to have 4x the space it had last year, which I hope will accommodate the attendance demand that keeps increasing each year. My friend, the artist for the first two YukiYasu albums, Joey Dangerous, is also going to have a table, so I'm pretty excited about that!

Basically, assuming something doesn't come up, I'm planning on attending Zenkaikon V in March! If you're going, hit me up. I'll probably be very hard to miss, if I'm cosplaying, which I likely will be.

2010-08-17T23:11:00.000-04:00

I've been busy in the studio lately. Here I sit, with my netbook, remixing Yuki songs which I will release for free to you my fans in the upcoming months. Right now I'm chilling to the first Psychotica album trying to update all my blogs and sites and get them all interconnected. Psychotica is one of the bands that Nate and I got into way back in high school and the music I make today would probably not be the way it is if I never knew about them. I was lucky enough to get to see them in New York after they just reunited back in October 2009. If you like industrial rock you should check them out!

So what have I been doing when I'm not making music? Watching anime of course. I recently picked up Magikano because it got re-released with a major price drop. It's your standard harem anime fanfare, but since it's only got 12 episodes it doesn't get boring. I'm only a few episodes into it but I'm already loving the Yuri character. She has a crush on the main character, but he doesn't know it. She reminds me of Ayase Takako from Midori Days (she's also a bossy Tsundere-type, my favorate kind of girl). She's the powerful class president girl, who bitches at everyone, but she can't express her true feelings. I'm cheering for her, even though I know she won't get her man :(