BLCKSMTH first talked to Michelle Lesniak last year for our Princess Mononoke-themed photo shoot. To say she’s a force to be reckoned with is an understatement. This talented Portland-based fashion designer makes bold choices, has clear vision, and is humble about her successes. 2014 looks to be a banner year for her, with her recent engagement and her studio/retail space opening up in SE Portland this month, with a trunk show June 13th and 14th from 2 to 9 both days.

Michelle’s song contributions this month were dark and moody, and inspired me to make similar choices for my picks. We went up to the Pittock Mansion for a Gothic-inspired photo shoot from the masterful Chase Person, with makeup by Jill Greenseth. Michelle is modeling looks from her own current collection. This month’s soundtrack knows what scares you:

Michelle’s Pick: Radiohead, Climbing up the Walls  Dark. Hidden. A song of terror and the creepy-things under the stairs. I listen to this song and think of boarded up houses and stained wallpaper. It brings me to one of my favorite short stories “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, a tale of a woman trapped behind vintage, torn wallpaper…or is she?

 

Mike’s Pick: RY X, Berlin It’s sweet and sad, and Ry Cuming’s voice soars and dips while exploring longing and loss. I swear I’ve seen this guy on Scruff (I have not). Listen to this to summon ghosts of lovers:

 

Michelle’s Pick: The Civil Wars, The Violet Hour  Haunting. Romantic. Melancholy. This song drifts me onto a merry-go-round of dried flowers, mementos of past loves, broken heart-strings and mis-used moments. A dark undertone of lost, wondering performers comes to mind, a circus without a ringmaster:

 

Mike’s Pick: Vincent McMorrow, Higher Love  Okay, I get it. “Mike, how can a cover of a bouncy Steve Winwood song ever be dark?” Well, listen up. James Vincent McMorrow’s take turns the joyful anthem of 1986 into a plaintive, desperate plea that’s slightly disturbing:

 

Michelle’s Pick: Gene Vincent, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo  A song written for the musical Lili, Gene Vincent’s version is a heartbreaking tale told through the vocals of a troubled artist. Lost and lonely, “Hi-Lili-Hi-Lo” is my go-to when craving a whiskey and a good cry:

Mike’s Pick: Something, Bipolar  Ugh, so good. Los Angeles-based Something is a trio of talented folks who need to be known a lot more than they currently are. Sparse, raw production and haunting, soulful vocals from Michal Kilpatrick make great bones for the song. But then add subtle voices in the background and you have a genuinely thrilling listen:

 

Michelle’s Pick: The Beatles, Good Night  In the right context this song creeps me out, in a good way. I can imagine slow poison. I can see the image of a horror movie where Fred Astaire is dancing while poison is being dispersed amongst the guests at the haunted supper-club:

 

Mike’s Pick: Wailin’ Jennys, Storm Comin’  Full of foreboding and moodiness. This song is the amber air before a tornado, the silence before the words that change everything are spoken, the feeling of weightlessness before the drop:

 

Michelle’s Pick: Antlers, Zelda  Time to wake up… or not. Floating in the space between awake and sleep, trapped in limbo. A watery, dark dip into a pool of sleep:

 

Mike’s Pick: Tori Amos, Blood Roses If this isn’t the creepiest damn song ever, I really don’t know what is. And oh man, “I shaved every place where you been, boy”. Yes, and yes:

As always, you can find this playlist on Spotify, too. Check out the previous photo shoots/soundtracks featuring Summer Olsson, Wayne Bund, Nick Mattos, and Logan Lynn.