FOCUS Magazine is a photography magazine in Second life, a virtual reality platform. We feature creative, artistic photos taken in Second Life featuring such things as avatars and virtual landscapes. We also have a gallery in-world that features a new artist every month. We also have themed events and a lively group chat. Our 'focus" is creating friendships, and enjoying supporting each other's artistic pursuits in the virtual world.
Something I like to do, from time to time, is go to one of my favorite artist’s page on Flickr and look at the very 1st picture they posted. It’s fun to go through their photo-stream and see how far they’ve come. I’ve asked Lolita Paragorn to be our re-creation focus for this issue.
Kitten: Thank you, Lolita, for agreeing to this interview and project. I see your 1st pic on Flickr was posted in April 2012. Can you tell us a bit about it?
Lolita: With the new rules of Flickr, I deleted many pics, but I kept my old pics that are important to me. This pic in 2012, is a styling for my graduation from modeling school. I did this pic because it was important to post the look.
Kitten: Did you have any mentors? Or how did you teach yourself to take pics?
Lolita: No. All I do on SL I learned on my own, except modeling. For that, I can thank my friend Ondine. With photography, I learned slowly. I read books and watched YouTube. I have a few friends on SL and we share our knowledge.
Kitten: What inspires you to take photographs in SL?
Lolita: In SL, I’m a model on the runaway. When I started to learn modeling, it was necessary to do a blog to post all my stylings. Then some designer friends asked me to blog for them. It’s the beginning of my new goal on SL, my blog and my pics. But I think it’s the outfit that inspires me. Whatever the style, I try to find a good background and pose.
Kitten: What are some of your favorite windlights, photography tools in SL, and editing programs?
Lolita: I use GIMP to edit my pics, for that I bought a book and watched many videos on YouTube. I use the Firestorm windlights and I don’t modify my pics a lot. I focus on the color of the outfits, skin, or eyes.
Kitten: What advice would you give to other photographers?
Lolita: For newbies, I would advise them to start with a simple background. Practice using the camera and zoom. As for editing, it’s important to keep the textures and colors. So I would say try not to depend on a lot of editing outside SL.
It’s an absolute pleasure when I come across a gem in my wandering travels or suggested by anyone that knows how much I love getting lost in a place or time I’ve never seen. A reminder of what makes this world so very special. Giving access to culture, art, music, and many other things that we don’t always have the privilege to experience. So, when I see places like the breathtaking Basilique, I cannot help but want to support its owner Niccoli Sweetwater who is actively bringing another world to my fingertips.
The first thing I noticed was the grand church modeled after the San Pietro Martire which was built in 1348 in honor of St. John the Evangelist. A lovely place for an inworld wedding. Immaculately detailed all the way to down to the art on the chapel walls.
There is so much more to see and do like the Hot Springs where I see myself spending some time, a bathhouse for relaxing, and a cozy bar to enjoy with friends. Perfect for a quick getaway with hidden places for intimate play as well. I hope to see you there for a chat and glass of wine or a stroll through the art gallery. Salute!
NAP Club is a peaceful, tropical “place to snuggle or nap” according to owner Rogue DeLaRue. Maybe it is – sometimes. Other times it’s a fantastic live music venue like Monday, when – back to back – Loreen Aldrin and Wolfie Starfire appeared in front of a happy crowd. NAP Club deserves a lot of credit for bringing in top SL talents! Other upcoming live music include Agatha Knowles, Jesie Janick, and Zoree Jupiter. Busy place!
By the way, if you want to rent a sailboat or just lie in a hammock, you can do that too. When I dropped in a few days ago, Jim Croce’s “I Got A Name” was playing on the stream, so I laid down and looked up at the palm trees. Since I didn’t get bonked on the head by a single virtual coconut, I’ll probably be writing another review soon – after I get back from a month backpacking in Colorado. (My dang RL alt drags me everywhere with him!)
I have an interest for the fantastical, apocalyptic and the slightly macabre, so this month AZOURY fits right into this theme.
When you first land, facing you is a set of bento robotic legs and arms for female bodies that you will have to demo to believe. I have a set of each and, when I wear them, they are almost always a topic of conversation.
I quite enjoy what the creator has imagined for women’s feet. The different version of the ballet shoes are my favourites. There is also many types of masks, head and facial adornments which will be unique for your next cyborg party.
Keep an eye out for AZOURY at many of the shopping events in SL. Their products are always exceptional!
One thing that I have learned about people is that we’ve all been through some sort of trauma in our lives. And that trauma, no matter how big or small, has brought us to SL. The beauty of SL is that no one can see our scars unless we allow it. They see the avatar that we create to represent ourselves, and then, through conversations and interactions, they begin to see the inner workings of our minds. In SL, we have a chance to be the people we’ve always wanted to be. And that is a wonderful thing.
What I’ll never understand is why, with the freedom to be who we want to be, we allow our past trauma to define us in this beautiful virtual space that we create. So many times, we run into someone in world who is wholly defined by their past trauma. And it’s understandable, until they try to use their past trauma to justify bad behavior.
One’s past may have been traumatic and devastating. It may well have been emotionally crippling and caused irreversible psychological damage. But that time has passed. And while you may still be dealing with some of the residual effects of that trauma, you HAVE gotten through it.
I had a friend who had a terrible childhood. We initially bonded over the fact that our childhoods were so similar and we worked together to help each other heal. However, as I grew stronger and worked harder to leave the nightmare of my youth behind, my friend seemed to cling to it. Whenever we would meet, she’d rehash the same experiences. When I spoke of new hobbies and life adventures, she’d counter with “Did I ever tell you about the time when….” Cue the sad music, the waterworks, and the Kleenex. As much as I wanted to be a supportive friend, I could no longer endure living in her past. And as much as it pained me to cut ties with her, I felt like — for the sake of my own sanity— I had no choice. We still speak on occasion, but the bond that we used to share is no longer there. And I, at times, wonder if perhaps I let my friend down.
The answer is no, I did not.
If she is unable to function as an adult because she refuses to let go of what happened to her, why should that make me or anyone else feel bad? If she is using what happened as a reason to be an emotionally irresponsible asshole, then she deserves to be locked in the prison of loneliness and selfishness that she created.
There comes a point in time when we have to learn to forgive. First we forgive ourselves, and then we forgive those who hurt us. If we’ve caused the hurt, through reckless behavior based on a past trauma, then we need to be willing to learn from our mistakes so they aren’t repeated.
We are all expected to mature as we get older. Part of maturing is knowing when to hold on, and when to let go. The way I see it, when it comes to your life and your past, you can be a VICTIM or you can be a VOLUNTEER. (100L to the first person who can tell me what movie that’s from.)
I refuse to be a victim. Not to my past or to yours. And I further refuse to allow you to muddle my colorful present and bright shiny future with the emotional weight of the baggage that you refuse to let go of. Don’t be angry, just let it go. Crumple it up, throw it away, and then we’ll find out who you’re going to be. In both worlds.
Morgaine: Hi, Loreen! Thank you so much for talking to me on behalf of FOCUS Magazine. It is a pleasure to have the chance to chat with you and to get to know you! First, my icebreaker to warm us up: As soon as we finish this interview, if you were to find a lottery ticket that ended up winning you $10 million—what would you do?
Loreen: Oh my! I would go spend it on my recording project. If I had that money… OK, way less than $10 million, I would have my album done within two or three weeks. The rest I would probably spend on a modest apartment and on an “electric ride.” The rest would end up given to some charities.
Morgaine: Oh! Let’s cross our fingers! I want that album!
Loreen: I want it, too. So much. The way I am working on it, though, it will still take some time I’m afraid.
Morgaine: How did you first find out about Second Life?
Loreen: I think I saw a TV program about it back in 2008. That’s when I made my first avi. She is still around, but this one is my main one.
Morgaine: What are some other things you like to do in SL — besides blessing us with your voice?
Loreen: I love to be at home and also to go to other fellow musicians’ shows. It is also a lot of fun to take pictures and to build, though I am only starting with that. Of course, meeting new people from all around the world is a lot of fun.
Morgaine: You are a singer in SL. I’ve had the chance to watch more than one of your shows, and let me say that you are an awesome singer. How did you find out that you could perform in SL? And also, what are the steps for someone else wanting to do that, too?
Loreen: Oh, thank you. Well, it is impossible to perform in SL without some real-life gear like a decent microphone; an audio interface or a mixing console; and some software. Also, it all takes some time and patience to get things running and working. The routine a musician has to do before a show takes about 10 minutes. Plus, there is also some stuff to put on the virtual stage. It is sure worth it to have a look at it before every performance. It only seems to be complicated, though, and it’s not that much trouble once you got it all set up and working. To those who would like to start and who need some advice, feel free to look me up and ask your questions. I will gladly help you out in more detail.
Morgaine: What role do you think music takes in your life?
Loreen: Good question. It used to be my biggest passion, then I let it go for two and a half years. Now it is taking its position back. I love it. Always did. It is a lot of fun to perform on stage, both live in real life or virtually live here, in SL. I love to make people feel things through sound! It is a great thing to be able to do. By their reactions, I can tell that many people enjoy listening to what I do on stage.
Morgaine: What music style moves you the most?
Loreen: I don’t know. There is so much great music in the world that I don’t care about style. There’s stuff that’s well made and stuff made more for, you know, a quick buck? And then, there’s music that is done with a lot a lot of soul. I think you can tell the difference. Between that felt music and most of the commercial pieces, I mean.
Morgaine: How would you describe yourself in just one word?
Loreen: “Alien.”
Morgaine: Why “alien”?
Loreen: ‘Cuz I am an alien! In my childhood, I thought I was one – so now I think I always knew it.
Morgaine: What is your favorite place for dancing?
Loreen: Oh, my husband and I love to crash random places using mostly keywords to find them. We go dance at the New York Jazz Club Ballroom sometimes. And casual dancing is almost always random unless we’re out listening to some other musicians playing.
Morgaine: What do you think TSFTG adds to your SL?
Loreen: I am humble. I am pretty new to this group, and I’m mostly shy. But it’s fun to read the chat. I’ve met some very nice people from there too.
Morgaine: Do you have any way that we, your fans, can get to know where you are performing?
Loreen: Of course! My group is called Loreen Aldrin’s Ear Pleasures. Please feel free to join it. My subscribe-o will be working soon. That’s for sure. And also, there is a link to my calendar in my profile.
Morgaine: Do you have any social media we can use to contact you?
Thank you so much, Loreen, for this time with you. Thank you for taking a break from your busy schedule to talk to me and to give us the immense pleasure of finding out about you. And sharing this with our friends both through FOCUS Magazine and in Too Sexy for This Group.
Our dear friend and FOCUS editor, Susan Aloix, caught up with the vibrant live singer (and our new friend), Lisa Brune, after listening to a set of hers at Isle of Miracles.
Susan: I have a confession. I heard you sing 1.5 songs and my jaw dropped. I thought it must have been the radio. Your voice is amazing. How would you describe your music?
Lisa: I started singing in Second Life in 2011. I found myself spending hours listening to artists here. When I started, I mostly sang material that was within my comfort zone. I found that I didn’t like my voice, but I needed to sing!
Susan: I’m so glad you kept going.
Lisa: I love the shivers and vibes that you feel when you sing. It’s cathartic. It allows a place to release frustrations from my RL job as social worker. But it also gives life to one’s sweet feelings.
Susan: That’s hard to hear. I adore your voice.
Lisa: When I listen to others sing, I notice I’m not necessarily attracted to artists with performance skills — I find I hunger for the raw emotion in music. I’m clear about what I can do and what I can’t. But over time you start to challenge yourself and start to move out of the comfort zone.
Susan: When combining honesty with art, people are deeply touched.
Lisa: Singers can give something huge that’s not actually just about their skill. The fake filter comes off and you’re no longer pretending.
Susan: What was it like working with FunkyFreddy Republic?
Lisa: I had the opportunity to fly to the USA for a weekend of concerts with Voodoo Shilton, Max Kleene, TwinGhost, and Funkyfreddy Republic. It was awesome to play all together. Freddy and TwinGhost do music in RL and they try to live from it. SL music is unique as you are not forced to open up your real life. You can choose to only share your music. My adorable “lulus” (Lisa’s fans), they know bits of my RL. We talk and share personal stuff sometimes, but that isn’t what links us.
Susan: They have become part of why you do it.
Lisa: I became also dependent on them.
Susan: Yes, interdependent.
Lisa: I’m not attached anymore to “making a perfect performance” or to be technically perfect. I just feel a responsibility towards my “lulus,” and sometimes I say “I hope you are feeling well, and if not, let’s just feel good for an hour” and yes, I’m speaking to myself when I say that too.
Susan: Yes, they look after you, you look after them.
Lisa: It’s as though we create a cloud so we’re always “together” and we just make it comfortable to give and receive. It’s funny as their requests can change my frame of mind. Sometimes I’m thinking, “Grrr, I’m so angry I WILL SING ROCK” and they ask soft songs. So I say “OK let’s do soft songs then.” And I alternate a bit, but it forces me to calm my own pace. It’s awesome, as the rage I was feeling seeps into another kind of emotion doing a sweet song.The most beautiful thing to hear them say is not actually “I love your voice,” but “when we come, it makes us feel better.”
Avalon has become a staple at FOCUS events. If you don’t already know and love her, she’s the voice that sweetly asks you to remember to vote, or to visit the featured photographer’s exhibit in the gallery. She’s a dear friend and super DJ. And, here, we get to know her a little bit better!
Angela: As a DJ, you know what music you like. If you could have lunch with any musician from any era, who would it be?
Avalon: We may not agree on everything, but people can come together in our love of music. As it does for most people, music speaks to me and moves me. SL has given me an opportunity to enjoy and discover music. My first love is blues, but having to choose one artist to have lunch with seems impossible. So, music is about a party, and a party it shall be! I would bring together a GROOVE of musicians and throw a party, not a lunch! Wouldn’t it be amazing to have Mozart and Prince in the same room? Maybe even doing an impromptu jam session? Marilyn Manson said ““Music is the strongest form of magic.” The whole party would be MAGIC!
Angela: What do you enjoy being a DJ?
Avalon: The creativity of SL is key to why we all become so addicted! I have been a manager, hostess, owner, creator, decorator and a DJ. The ability to be creative is endless! In RL, I was a high school teacher and certainly spent many hours talking and sharing. Being a DJ in SL gives me the ability not only to share music, but to talk with people from all over the world and all walks of life. For me, the most significant aspect of being a DJ is the interaction with others. I love to get requests and dedications, and to share new music with others. I especially love being able to create a themed set for a party. DJing has been my favorite adventure in SL!
Angela: How did you learn about SL?
Avalon: I have asked so many people this question! I remember watching a C.S.I. episode in 2010. It was a re-run but it involved a murder in SL. The investigators created avatars and came in world to hunt down the murderer. I had never heard of virtual worlds before and it intrigued me, so I logged in. August 9, 2010 is my REZ day and I have been completely immersed ever since.
Angela: How did you first discover you had a talent for photography?
Avalon: I have always admired photographers in SL. I love to take pictures in RL and have several framed in my home. Taking pictures in SL is truly an art and has steep learning curve. I admire so many artists here and have only just begun my journey. I’m so grateful to those that share their secrets and ideas. The collective spirit of “I’m Too Sexy for this Group” has been refreshing. Often in SL, ventures are extremely competitive, so I appreciate the encouragement.
Angela: Do you have any favorite places to take pics or favorite windlights?
Avalon: The grid is your oyster! So many amazing places to explore,
“Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to Great Places! You’re off and away! You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.” ~ Dr. Seuss
I’ve been so blessed to have people send me places they found inspiring and I have been methodically trying to see them all. This world is exploding with potential! I love to try different windlights but need to keep better track of those I use the most. I wish there was a way to write on the back of the photo the settings I used!
Angela: What inspires you in SL?
Avalon: Other people inspire me! It’s the collective imaginations that catch my breath. A world where everything that exists is built by the users is amazing. What a delight to the senses, with never ending possibilities. So, creating is a great outlet for my imagination and it so relaxing. When I get into creating, I get lost in my imagination.
Angela: And lastly, how has TSFTG (Too Sexy for this Group) affected your SL?
Avalon: I was brought to the group through my good friend, Greg. I first met Angela and Patrick when they attended a disco party I was DJing, and they quickly invited me into their world. I have since then DJed several opening parties for their gallery and attended photography classes. I have also been blessed to meet so many others in the group and love the artistic sharing that happens every day. I am so excited to learn more and grow as a photographer.
Avalon DJ’s at most of FOCUS’ events, but you can also find her around the grid and, lately, at Big Daddy’s 80’s Club. Visit her at her SocialVR site.
