In 2007, singer Shannon Funchess and synth-player Bruno Coviello formed Light Asylum, an aggressive dark wave project that mixes its pop-wise futuristic neons with gothic pure blacks. After last year's taut In Tension EP, the pair have returned with a self-titled full-length release, inspired by "the political climate of today, and the relative closeness of the apocalypse," Funchess explains.
Back in New York, Funchess and Coviello are fresh off a quick jaunt through Europe, road-testing some of their new material. "The kids in London were really wild, and the kids in Paris were really fun and really energetic as well. And the kids in Berlin -- it feels like a baby Brooklyn -- it's really comfortable there," Funchess says.
But comfort seems relative when talking about Light Asylum's music. Dystopian and intense, a good deal of the debut's inspiration came from sci-fi film soundtracks, with an emphasis on directors and musicians that were early champions of spooked-out synths. "Like John Carpenter," Funchess mentions. "And Wendy Carlos," adds Coviello. "She did the soundtrack for A Clockwork Orange."
Funchess' religious upbringing also played a part in the record's genesis. "I was raised in a Southern Baptist church until I was about 13. And I rebelled, as teenagers do, and left that whole scene. But it's still imprinted there. Lyrically, the record was a way of working out the contradictions and the dogma related to my upbringing. It kind of permeates my creative expression."
Tracks like "Pope Will Roll" seem self-explanatory, but true to their shadowy aesthetic, it's never quite clear as to exactly what machine the pair is raging against. "Well, I guess the machine," Funchess says, with a little levity in her voice. "But now that we're on a label and stuff, it's kind of like working on the inside."
★ Light Asylum is out now on Mexican Summer. ★
Back in New York, Funchess and Coviello are fresh off a quick jaunt through Europe, road-testing some of their new material. "The kids in London were really wild, and the kids in Paris were really fun and really energetic as well. And the kids in Berlin -- it feels like a baby Brooklyn -- it's really comfortable there," Funchess says.
But comfort seems relative when talking about Light Asylum's music. Dystopian and intense, a good deal of the debut's inspiration came from sci-fi film soundtracks, with an emphasis on directors and musicians that were early champions of spooked-out synths. "Like John Carpenter," Funchess mentions. "And Wendy Carlos," adds Coviello. "She did the soundtrack for A Clockwork Orange."
Funchess' religious upbringing also played a part in the record's genesis. "I was raised in a Southern Baptist church until I was about 13. And I rebelled, as teenagers do, and left that whole scene. But it's still imprinted there. Lyrically, the record was a way of working out the contradictions and the dogma related to my upbringing. It kind of permeates my creative expression."
Tracks like "Pope Will Roll" seem self-explanatory, but true to their shadowy aesthetic, it's never quite clear as to exactly what machine the pair is raging against. "Well, I guess the machine," Funchess says, with a little levity in her voice. "But now that we're on a label and stuff, it's kind of like working on the inside."
★ Light Asylum is out now on Mexican Summer. ★
1. Check out these surreal paintings by German artist Gesine Marwedel using human bodies as a canvas. [via 
3. Scarlett Johansson received a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. [via 
4. On a day like today, we could really go for this "Fuck the Rain" umbrella. You can buy one 
5. Here's a new poster of Amanda Seyfried as porn star Linda Lovelace in the upcoming film, Lovelace. [via 
6. Famous movie characters depicted in Helvetica. [via 
8. If it weren't such a positive thing for cities, we'd say urban farming has jumped the shark: an urban farmer will be a contestant in this season's The Bachelorette. [via 
Genesis P-Orridge & Eric Heist, Untitled (from Candy Factory series), 2001, Courtesy of the artists and INVISIBLE-EXPORT.
Joe Maloney, Odell spring creek, Montana, 1996, Digital Inkjet print, Courtesy of the artist and INPUT Journal/ Vara Fine Arts.
Judith Eiser, Faye & Steve (3), 2007, Oil on canvas, Courtesy of the artist and INPUT Journal/ Vara Fine Arts.
Philip-Lorca diCorcia, A contact sheet from the Lucky 13 series, Courtesy the artist and David Zwirner, New York.
Ugo Rondinone, nude (xxxxxxxx), 2011, Wax and earth pigments, Courtesy Gladstone Gallery, New York and Brussels and INPUT Journal/ Vara Fine Arts.
1. Read this eloquent explanation of white, straight male privilege that compares it to playing an RPG game with the "lowest difficulty setting." [via 
2. A crocheted fish that can turn into sushi. Those crazy crochet-ers! What will they come up with next? [via 
3. The accompanying tweet, courtesy of 
4. America's Next Top Model update: Male model Rob Evans will join Tyra Banks and Kelly Cutrone as a judge while celebrity stylist Johnny Wujek will take over Jay Manuel's consulting role. [via 
5. For $620, this Bruce Lee dress could be yours. Yours! [via 
6. Mario Batali and his family spent a week living off a food stamp budget in protest of potential cuts by Congress to the program. That being said, he is a professional chef so even his rice and beans is probably amazing. [via Huffington Post]
The legendary Richard Prince presents 14 new paintings in the aptly titled exhibit, "14 Paintings," which opens tonight at 
Uh oh. Two of four favorite L.A.-based girl groups Best Coast (pictured above) and the Dum Dum Girls are BOTH playing tonight! This is like an indie-rock Sophie's Choice! [via 
Legendary comic artist and graphic novelist Art Spiegelman chats with W.J.T. Mitchell about "What the %$#! Happened to Comics" at the University of Chicago-sponsored conference, 
Jay-Z and Kanye West kick off their two-night run at The 02 tonight. See if you can spot a Kardashian in the crowd! [via 
The Fozzman Cometh. [Uncle Shappy's Chuckle Parlour via 
*Whoa! Joey Lawrence 
Bill Murray as a Russian general by artist Steve Payne. More portraits of Steve Jobs, Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman and other celebrities at 
Victoria Beckham is reportedly planning to open her first store, likely in London. [via 
Take a first look at Aerin Lauder's soon-to-be launched debut makeup line, Aerin. It should hit stores in August/September. [
Check out a Diana Ross-inspired boutique in Brooklyn. [via 
Metal fringe sandals by Azzaro. [via 
Check out these H&M posters in Germany, ingeniously tagged with Photoshop toolbars by a German street artist. [via 
Watch Coco Rocha teach you how to strike a pose in an informative video for Target Style's On the Dot. [via 
Prof. Peter Raacke smile plate, $31.57, available at 
California rug, $19, available at 
Ikea shelf, $49, available at 
Paint chip placemat, $18, available at 
I generally like designer Michael Angel, and Freida Pinto is a knockout, but there's something about the bunchy area over the hips that looks very lumpy. And not in a cute way. 
Eva Longoria is super-gorgeous and knows how to serve up red carpet glamour with a capital G. This Marchesa gown is gorgeous and the train is bananas. It must have been a bitch to get out of the taxi in that thing, though.
I do not get Jessica Chastain's looks, this one included. I would have never guessed that this dress is by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen and, personally, I can't really wrap my arms around a gown that shows top, side and bottom boobies.
Eva Herzigova in Dolce & Gabbana is what European glamour looks like. And how cute are the yelling photographers behind her? So La Dolce Vita! 
I don't really know why but there's something about Lana Del Rey in Alberta Ferretti that works for me. Why is she in black? Why is she at Cannes? Who knows, but I like it.
Fan Bingbing's look is cuckoo-bananas and I like that its design was 
Here's Fan Bingbing again. (She's the one who wore the cuckoo bananas vase number above, FYI.) This dress is more of a casual day look for Bingbing. It's a bit mother-of-the-bride, but I still think she looks great. 
There's something beachy about Virginie Ledoyen in Elie Saab which feels right for Cannes (like maybe she was laying out at the pool topless and then just threw this dress on for the red carpet). 
Berenice Bejo in Louis Vuitton feels weirdly too dressy for me. Really I think the problem is that I tried to watch The Artist on a plane and I could only get through 20 minutes of it. Berenice just didn't feel 1920s to me.
Hofit Golan is an Israeli socialite, which I love. Have you ever heard of her? I haven't. The dress isn't great, but who cares?
Tilda Swinton can do no wrong in my book and I worship a woman in a black-tie pants look. Miuccia Prada 
I'm just in love with Ewan McGregor no matter what he's wearing. In this case it's a shirt and tie by Marni. I do, however, wish the trousers were a tad snugger. Or off.
Marion Cottilard in Christian Dior Couture is serving up chic Velazquez-painting-vibes with her child in tow and the dramatic facial expressions going on in the background. 
Jane Fonda shows how sexy a covered-up look can be in this Stella 
Dolores Chaplin in Lanvin is super stunning and very fashion. Meanwhile can someone get me the phone number of her date? Yowza.
Is Alec Baldwin wearing Spanx or has he gotten into awesome shape all of sudden? He looks great.
I'm not sure who Chris Pine's Plus One is but I'm mildly obsessed. CPPO is gorgeous.
I'm generally vehemently opposed to ruching but I love it on a large-and-in-charge gal like Beth Ditto. Particularly when she's serving up a Marilyn Monroe homage.
I'm a little bit over Sacha Baron Cohen's hijinks but you must admit this is an eye-catching look.
I love Tim Roth with his daughter. She looks like she's really having fun and she's got some fun footwear.
This lady looks like 
I love a mish-mash of plaids and madras but I wish the colors of Bill Murray's patterns worked more harmoniously.
Jason Schwartzman is such a babe in Kenzo. I just wanna rub my face all over his stubble.
When Noah Bernamoff, 29, opened 
1. Our mind = exploding. Here's a pic of Donald Glover filming season two of Girls!! [via 
2. Finally! Mission Chinese Food is opening on the Lower East Side next Tuesday, y'all! (Read our interview with MCF's 
3. Conan O'Brien appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman for the first time in 13 years last night. Check out a clip 
5. 
6. Brush off your shelltoes: MCA Day is happening tomorrow. Head to Union Square at 11 a.m. to get in on the festivities. More details 
7. There is something amazing going on in the 
8. Behold: "The Facebook Staff Freaking Out" meme. [via 
2. Best English lessons flyer ever. [via 
3. NYC's Crif Dogs, Roberta's and Baohaus are setting up camp at Bonnaroo in a few weeks. [via 
4. Beyoncé will lend her voice to a forthcoming animated movie, Epic, alongside Aziz Ansari, Josh Hutcherson, Colin Farrell, Jason Sudeikis, Steven Tyler and Pitbull. The movie is being produced by the same people who made Ice Age and Rio. [via 
6. In anticipation of his forthcoming album, Positive Force, Delicate Steve has installed listening stations (kind of like 
New York
Pop darling Santigold plays up-beat tunes off her newly-released album Master of My Make-Believe at Club Nokia. [via 
Jenny Holzer (known for her famous "truisms") gets the survey treatment at Sprueth Magers Gallery, with a selection of spray paint canvases, paint canvases, granite benches, LED pieces and painted signs. [via 
Oh, hell yes. Alana "Honey Boo Boo Child" Thompson is getting her own spinoff show. Work it, smoochie! [
Here's Mitt Romney's portrait as governor of Massachusetts, in which Ann Romney 
A vintage barber shop poster from Guatemala. We'll take the Bostoniano. [
Whales playing soccer. Gahhh. [