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Post by friopi on May 11, 2015 20:10:25 GMT
I don't have time to write a whole lot more but would like to drop this link to an earlier interview with QT that seems to have been overlooked by a lot of people (I'm assuming so, anyway, since I'm like a QT superfan and I never saw it until a couple days ago.) thump.vice.com/en_us/article/touching-the-waters-with-qtAlso, QT's Instagram is like, a pretty big part of QT. The song can stand by itself musically but if you're going to talk about QT as an artist/concept, the Instagram is mandatory viewing/reading IMO. The whole marketing/capitalist thing is what almost all journalists have focused on, but I see QT as being at least as much about identity, especially playing with the distinction between "natural" and synthetic bodies and identities. Admittedly my reading is at least somewhat informed by having looked into Hayden Dunham's past works, some of which dealt with similar themes.
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h8ers
May 11, 2015 23:01:42 GMT
via mobile
Post by nicogrund on May 11, 2015 23:01:42 GMT
I don't have time to write a whole lot more but would like to drop this link to an earlier interview with QT that seems to have been overlooked by a lot of people (I'm assuming so, anyway, since I'm like a QT superfan and I never saw it until a couple days ago.) thump.vice.com/en_us/article/touching-the-waters-with-qtAlso, QT's Instagram is like, a pretty big part of QT. The song can stand by itself musically but if you're going to talk about QT as an artist/concept, the Instagram is mandatory viewing/reading IMO. The whole marketing/capitalist thing is what almost all journalists have focused on, but I see QT as being at least as much about identity, especially playing with the distinction between "natural" and synthetic bodies and identities. Admittedly my reading is at least somewhat informed by having looked into Hayden Dunham's past works, some of which dealt with similar themes. Friopi, do you think that given QT's strong conceptual nature and relatively large social media presence for a PCM member, there's a slight irony that she's only released one track in the past year, which, by itself, doesn't really touch on identity, natural vs synthetic or corporate marketing? Like do you think that incongruity is an intentional part of the QT image? I'm interested to know what you think!
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Post by friopi on May 12, 2015 19:41:10 GMT
Friopi, do you think that given QT's strong conceptual nature and relatively large social media presence for a PCM member, there's a slight irony that she's only released one track in the past year, which, by itself, doesn't really touch on identity, natural vs synthetic or corporate marketing? Like do you think that incongruity is an intentional part of the QT image? I'm interested to know what you think! Hm, never really thought about it that way... for me it seems like any disconnect between the musical and conceptual parts of the project comes primarily from the nature of the collaboration. I could be wrong, but it seems to me like AG and SOPHIE handle the musical part while Hayden does all or most of the rest, with other collaborators contributing here and there. I don't see the song as being completely unrelated to the conceptual themes, though. I think it's just talking about a different part of the project's overall message or thesis. There's a quote from SOPHIE that has stuck with me ever since I read it, "The music or image—the same applies to both—should be built outwardly from conceptual core to aesthetic appearance in order for the conceptual roots to be present and visible in the final product." I feel like this "concept-out" approach is definitely apparent if you follow QT. I can't really explain this without talking about my own experience...as the project unfolded, again and again I felt that the Instagram captions were dropping little hints in the form of subtle puns or double meanings that later were explored in more depth or more explicitly. When I saw QT's performance at the SXSW showcase, it felt kind of like putting together a puzzle... as if I was finally seeing a complete picture of something I'd only been given brief glimpses of up until that point. I think this kind of effect speaks to a solid conceptual core being present in the artists' minds from the beginning. The "testimonials" played during the PopCube performance gave me that feeling once again & made me feel like I understand this project better. All the testimonials are Hayden's friends talking about how DrinkQT helped them feel connected in one way or another. Obviously "connection" is important to QT considering how much that word gets used in describing the project in promotional material and interviews, but usually there's no explanation of what that means. The videos seemed to be positioning DrinkQT as a product that will help you feel connected to others symbolically and emotionally. Like, obviously drinking QT isn't going to fix your WiFi connection or make you instantly get along better with your parents. But looking at and talking about the can together might help you get along. Or you might hear the song playing at a party where you don't know anyone and you instantly feel less alone. Or maybe you like it all so much that you go on a forum to talk about it and make a bunch of new friends The song's lyrics tie into that theme directly. "Even though you're so far away, I feel your hands on my body every time you think of me" is about the feeling of being connected to someone who's not physically present. Have you ever been going about your day when you see something that reminds you of a loved one, or experienced a strange coincidence where you meet someone who's a friend of a friend? Or maybe sometimes you have imaginary conversations with a dead loved one, and even though they are not physically present, your thoughts about them can have a very real effect on your life? Or maybe a song comes on the radio that reminds you of some fond memory, and you text your friends to say "Remember our cruise to Mexico" or something like that? I think that's the kind of feeling the song is talking about, admittedly in an oblique way. In a way, that experience IS the product QT is selling, or trying to, if you look at the testimonials. As for how this theme fits into the other themes I was talking about, I'm still thinking on that, lol. I could write a lot more...often I don't fully understand my own thoughts until I put them in writing...but unfortunately I have to study for an exam now.
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h8ers
May 13, 2015 3:44:13 GMT
Post by newmember on May 13, 2015 3:44:13 GMT
jesus you guys are overthinking it along with most journalists. i LOVE qt as a song, but the instagram, subliminal thoughts, secret messages or whatever is still the silliest thing ive ever seen its so hard to even follow this. It's not a secret message about secretive themes or whatever & you dont need to look at her instagram to love the song. its a really fun, danceable, bright song and its 4 minutes long!
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h8ers
May 13, 2015 5:59:28 GMT
via mobile
Post by friopi on May 13, 2015 5:59:28 GMT
The song can easily stand on its own, but there's no denying it's also a conceptual art project. You don't have to analyze all this stuff to enjoy the song, but personally I enjoy thinking about these things, it's fun.
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