“Make History, Not Hype”: How The Converse Weapon Is Having A Resurgence
Interview and Photos by Jordan Edwards
Last month, Allie X performed a secret show to celebrate her new album Girl With No Face. The Canadian singer-songwriter performed tracks like "Black Eye" and "Off With Her Tits" at 1720 Warehouse in Downtown Los Angeles. The industrial setting matched the dark synth pop of her set.
Since her debut EP in 2015, she's continuously evolved musically and aesthetically. Her latest recalls the sleek early '80s sound of acts like Eurythmics, Gary Numan, and The Human League.
We caught up with Allie X to talk about the new album and creating her striking visuals.
Congrats on the new album! How did making this compare with previous projects?
Much more insane process. And probably more fulfilling.
Where did the concept of Girl With No Face come from?
Well it’s the name of one of the songs. Then I decided it sounded right for the album name. I think of the Girl With No Face as the entity that was in the room with me. Something I conjured up in the isolation of the experience.
Which track from the album was the most fun to make?
Maybe "Galina." That one came together the fastest. Or "Hardware/Software." Those were probably the only two that weren’t torturous to complete.
A lot of recent pop has leaned on the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. Lately, your music has more of an early ‘80s synth-pop influence. What draws you towards that era?
The experimentalism. The attitude. The sonics. The limitations. It’s my fave.
Visuals are a big part of your work. How do you collaborate with designers, stylists, videographers, etc. to bring your ideas to life?
I am good at curating and making mood boards. Selecting the right people and instructing them is what I do. Then their talent shines through. It’s about having a vision and taste.
One thing that’s remained consistent with your music is really cool synth sounds. Do you have a favorite synthesizer?
Umm of the ones I’ve used, maybe a Jupiter? Or a Prophet. But there are so many divine ones I haven’t used. Or so many complicated ones I don’t have enough knowledge to get a sound out of.
How much of a perfectionist are you in the studio? The production and mixing on this album is really great.
Wellll I actually think perfection in music is boring. But I need it to be right. And trying to get this album to sound right was incredibly hard. But I kept going and going till it clicked in my head.
You grew up in Ontario. Who’s your favorite Canadian artist?
Hmm, Neil Young is pretty cool.
Now that the album is out, what’s next?
Just announced a tour. Putting that together will be my focus.
First Look: Is “The Idea of You” Based on Harry Styles? Actually, Yes.
Watch the trailer of Nicholas Galitzine and Anne Hathaway in this Harry Styles Inspired Romance
Run, don’t walk, to watch The Idea of You trailer, which gives us our first look at the steamy romance based on none other than Harry Styles. Starring Anne Hathaway (The Devil Wears Prada, Eileen, The Princess Diaries) and Nicholas Galitzine (Red, White & Royal Blue, Bottoms, Mary and George).
This film is like if your mom stole your Wattpad moment. The Idea of You follows Solène (Anne Hathaway), a 40-year-old single mom who begins an unexpected romance with her daughter’s favorite pop star. She goes from begrudgingly chaperoning her daughter to Coachella to meeting, to falling for, 24-year-old Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine), the lead singer of a band, August Moon, based on One Direction.
That’s just where the story begins. The film takes us through their whirlwind romance as Solène wrestles with her unexpected passion for a man almost half her age and the media attention that comes with him. Oh the things we do for boys who play guitar.
I’m expecting something that feels like a mix of After (the original Harry Styles-inspired story), A Star is Born, Fifty Shades of Grey, and How Stella Got Her Groove Back. It’s also been compared to Daisy Jones & The Six (by us … we compared it to that). The trailer just dropped and it teases a film that will no doubt be a thrilling ride.
The Idea of You trailer is out now. Watch it here:
The Idea of You - Official Trailer | Prime Videowww.youtube.com
What is The Idea of You based on?
There are many reasons this film has been generating buzz ever since the project was announced. The craziest reason is also the most compelling: it’s kind of about Harry Styles — with a little inspo taken from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, too. Sounds absolutely bonkers? It is. But it’s more than just fan service — this film promises to stand on its own.
The Idea of You is based on a bestselling novel by Robinne Lee. Before her turn as a bestselling novelist, Robinne Lee was an actress. You might recognize her for her roles Hitch, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed. So no surprises that she ended up writing this steamy novel.
Though it was released in 2017, the book became a hit during the pandemic — famous for its surprising and emotionally tumultuous ending. Of course, the source material also got readers hooked. Lee has confirmed in interviews that she was inspired to write the book after stumbling across a One Direction video. Many fan fiction writers have been there, too.
But unlike teens on Wattpad or AO3, Lee’s book is about more than just lust — though there is a lot of that, too. The book is about a woman in her 40s rediscovering her sexuality and feeling desirable. Sure, the story might have gotten its roots when Lee realized that Styles has dated his fair share of older women (and this was before the messiness of the Don’t Worry Darling press tour that deserves its own movie), but it’s really a dramatic tale about how women get overlooked as they age. One that says hey, you’re still just one Coachella ticket away from the hottest relationship of your life — no matter your age.
While the adaptation reimagines the characters and tells the story in the spirit of the novel — so don’t expect a line by line reenactment — fans are hoping the book’s spirit and wrenching ending is realized fully in the new film.
The Idea of You Cast
Alongside Nicholas Galitzine and Anne Hathaway (who is also a producer on the film with Gabrielle Union), The Idea of You stars Ella Rubin, Annie Mumolo, Reid Scott, Perry Mattfeld, Jordan Aaron Hall, Mathilda Gianopoulos, Raymond Cham Jr., Jaiden Anthony, Viktor White, and Dakota Adan.
The Idea of You Soundtrack
While it’s definitely not a musical, this film is based on a boyband and one of the most famous musicians in the world. To give fans the full experience, Nicholas Galitzine gets to show off his singing in the film’s full Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, which will be available in tandem with the film’s release.
Nicholas Galitzine is no stranger to singing on camera. His first major roles in Handsome Devil and The Beat BeneathMy Feet saw him clutching a guitar. He also played the Prince in Amazon’s jukebox musical adaptation of Cinderella alongside Camilla Cabello. Most notably, fans know him for his TikTok covers and guitar playing, making him perfect for this Harry Styles-esque character. Wherever they’re making these charming, singing Brits — take me there.
The film follows the couple through the superstar’s tour with his boyband, August Moon, so of course there’s lots and lots of original music. The first song, "Dance Before We Walk", was featured in the trailer. Just like Daisy Jones & The Sixand A Star Is Born, this is sure to be a soundtrack to remember. The band has also just activated an Instagram account (and it already has over 5k followers), so you can follow along on Instagram.
Listen to "Dance Before We Walk" on streaming platforms now — and read our review of the new track here.
Where can I watch The Idea of You?
The Idea of You is set to have its World Premiere at SXSW Festival on March 16th as the Closing Night Film. After premiering in Austin, you can stream The Idea of You on Prime Video on May 2nd. Calendar: marked.
Meet The World's Hottest Boyband: August Moon
If I Had A Nickel For Every Harry Styles FanFic Turned Into A Movie...
Growing up a One Direction fan, I am brimming with unnecessary knowledge of four British (and one Irish) men. I have continued to follow Harry Styles throughout his illustrious solo career, and I still watch their This Is Us documentary once a year. And in the world of boybands and sick obsession comes fan fiction.
Yes, I'm no stranger to the classic fanfic lore: your mother sold you to One Direction because she couldn't pay her bills, or Harry is the emotionally unavailable soccer star at your school and you, dear Y/N, are the nerd assigned to tutor him. And some fanfics were so addictive that they were turned into films -- see: the After series by Anna Todd.
But now, we've been introduced to a new band in a new film that totally doesn't ring any familiar bells: August Moon.
Who Is August Moon?
August Moon is the fictional band in the new Amazon Prime movie, The Idea Of You, directed by Michael Showalter and starring Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine. Based on the novel by Robinne Lee, "The Idea Of You" was fashioned after Harry Styles and his rumored love for older women. The internet has already been abuzz comparing Galitzine's Hayes Campbell to Styles- the patchwork tattoos, the One Direction-inspired photoshoots and mannerisms, and of course the British accent.
24-year-old lead singer Hayes meets 40-year-old Solene (Hathaway) at Coachella (where else?) and sparks fly. If you want to read more about what happens in the trailer, check out our recap here!
Just like Daisy Jones & The Six,August Moon will be releasing their music on streaming platforms across the world. Their first song, "Dance Before We Walk", was featured in the trailer today.
The song itself isn't as bad as I anticipated, it's reminiscent of British synth indie pop made popular by bands like The 1975. Singing alongside
Galitzine, there's Jaiden Anthony, Raymond Cham, Vik White, and Dakota Andan. And it looks like that won't be the last of August Moon!
The band has also just activated an Instagram account (and it already has over 5k followers), so it truly looks like they're taking the Daisy Jones approach. The hype surrounding any band mirroring One Direction is huge, and it only amplifies when the lead singer is played by a current Hollywood heartthrob who's seemingly in everything.
You can listen to "Dance Before We Walk" here:
MORE ABOUT THE IDEA OF YOU
Directed by Michael Showalter
Screenplay by Michael Showalter and Jennifer Westfeldt, Based Upon the Book by Robinne Lee
Produced by Cathy Schulman p.g.a., Gabrielle Union p.g.a., Anne Hathaway p.g.a., Robinne Lee, Eric Hayes, Michael Showalter, Jordana Mollick
Executive Produced by Douglas S. Jones, Jason Babiszewski, Jennifer Westfeldt, Kian Gass
Starring Anne Hathaway, Nicholas Galitzine, Ella Rubin, Annie Mumolo, Reid Scott, Perry Mattfeld, Jordan Aaron Hall, Mathilda Gianopoulos, Raymond Cham Jr., Jaiden Anthony, Viktor White, Dakota Adan
Genre Romantic Drama
Based on the acclaimed, contemporary love story of the same name, The Idea of You centers on Solène (Anne Hathaway), a 40-year-old single mom who begins an unexpected romance with 24-year-old Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine), the lead singer of August Moon, the hottest boy band on the planet. When Solène must step in to chaperone her teenage daughter’s trip to the Coachella Music Festival after her ex bails at the last minute, she has a chance encounter with Hayes and there is an instant, undeniable spark. As they begin a whirlwind romance, it isn’t long before Hayes’ superstar status poses unavoidable challenges to their relationship, and Solène soon discovers that life in the glare of his spotlight might be more than she bargained for.
Runtime: 115 Minutes