Hi there guys.

The below is copied direct from my own and SPHERE's own official Myspace - hence the Myspace links when you click, all safe!!
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We have a bunch of new stuff up on the site as of today. You can check out our interview with Ronan from VNV Nation, our thoughts on Michael Jackson's passing and Aesthetic Perfection's UK diary from the 'Demons On Tour' dates in the UK.

We hope you enjoy the new stuff. We have a bunch of cool things coming our way in the next week on SPHERE.

In other news, I have a review in Rock Sound issue 124 of the Acey Slade gig at Satan's Hollow. It's only small but I thought it was worth mentioning. Also, Hull Daily Mail recently alerted me to the fact that I had something published in there on my Birthday which was around a month ago on May 23.

Incase anyone is interested, the article is below, and it's an article about a book by Hull-based author Haris-Livas Dawes.
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-- blurb....

Former Mail columnist Dr Haris Livas-Dawes has published a book about 10 Greek islands. She spent 35 years living in the country before moving to Hull.....

-- body..

Dominic Smith ....

A CITY author has written a book about 10 small islands in Greece in the hope of inspiring people’s sense of adventure.....

Dr Haris Livas-Dawes, who lived in the country for 35 years before moving to Hull, wants her work to show people there is more to the holiday destination than sun, sea and sand.....

The former Mail columnist and her friend, Rhea Sampson, an illustrator, travelled to the islands to research the book, titled Adventures On Small Islands: A Fresh Look At Greece.....

Dr Livas-Dawes, of Westbourne Avenue, west Hull, said: "I am concerned by the amount of British people who set foot in the bigger places like Athens and Crete, because they will never discover the real Greece.....

"It’s so different now. You get on a plane with fellow Brits and you travel around with them, there’s no real sense of excitement because it is all planned for you."....

When choosing the 10 locations featured in the book, Dr Livas-Dawes picked places that were new to both her and her friend.....

She said: "We hitch-hiked with rucksacks and travelled with the friends we made on each island.....

"We would spend months on each of these islands, getting to know people and getting their thoughts on the place.....

"We would always make friends so my companion would do sketches of these people and our surroundings and I would collect our thoughts in a diary which then went toward creating the book.....

"We wanted to keep a low-style of tourism. We made sure we didn’t spend much money and we moved around like the locals.....

"It was a lot of fun."....

Dr Livas-Dawes has worked for about 30 different international publications, including The International Herald Tribune, The Ecologist and Advertising Age.....

The aim of her latest work is to give readers a "fresh" perspective on the country she loves. She said: "I would hope people still have their sense of adventure.....

"Around here many seem a little stuck in their old ways. I think they should aspire towards adventure."....

The book is available from Browns Books, in George Street, city centre.....

Links....

Browns Books....

@www.brownsbooks.co.uk....

Visit Greece....

@www.visitgreece.gr....

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Thanks for reading all! I also posted an update on the KhaoZ Media blog. So for any York-based people looking to get into volunteering, check that out.

Speak soon.

All the love in the world.

Currently listening:
Earth Song
By Michael Jackson
Release date: 2006-06-06

Following Michael Jackson's shocking death yesterday, SPHERE offer our deepest sympathies to the artist's family and friends.

Paramedics were called to the singer's Beverly Hills home at about midday on Thursday after he stopped breathing.

He was pronounced dead two hours later at the UCLA medical centre. Jermaine Jackson, said he was believed to have suffered a cardiac arrest.

Jackson, who had a history of health problems, had been due to stage a series of comeback concerts in the UK, beginning on 13 July.

For more information visit the artist's website.

As the Editor of SPHERE Magazine, I am proud to say that the first music tape I was ever given was a copy of 'Dangerous'. As a child I was a massive fan of the artist and he gave me a huge amount of inspiration and drive to overcome various obstacles in my early life. He lived an Alternative lifestyle that has come into question many a time over the last few years, but musically he has influenced many great Alt-artists and performers. I am deeply saddened and I certainly speak for all of the SPHERE team when I say that.

Once more to the family of Michael, and to his three young children, we offer our sympathies and hope for the best.

All the love in the world,

Dom Smith and SPHERE Magazine.

Here is our favourite video by the artist. Thank you Michael.

Now then all,

I hope this finds you wonderfully well. I have been updating the site today and we have some cool new reviews. On SPHERE you need to check out Pink Punk and our review here. It's also worth checking out our review of glam-popster Pop Levi and his new single - Lovely stuff.

We also attended the Farmyard Party and posted a review here - for fans of bikes - fast ones.

Coming up tomorrow I will post our review of Mis-Fest 2009. It's all rather Goth...oooh.

In other news, I have had some of my recent reviews posted on Click Music. Check out my reviews for Enter Shikari's new album, Future Of The Left and The Big Pink. There's a definite pink theme with this blog, yes?

We were recently mentioned in our friend's blog @ Mike Cooper Creative - very worth your time if you are the artistic type and especially if you are looking to set up your own website.

Check those out, and please do keep in touch.

As always, all the love in the world...

Dom Smith

Keeping checking out SPHERE for all the best dark culture news, reviews and interviews.

X

Hi there all,

I hope all is good with you. We have had a hectic week compiling reviews and interviews.

First, we have finished our Download Festival coverage and you can read that if you so wish, below:

DAY ONE
DAY TWO
DAY THREE

You can also check out a very cool interview we did with JP from Rabbit Junk, and some reviews of Combichrist, 19ninetynine and Keller Kinder.

Click here for more.

Thanks for checking this stuff out.

Speak soon.

All the love in the world.

Dom SPHERE.

So, that was fun!

There's a new interview with Manchester-based glam-rock act Dear Superstar @ SPHERE now. Check that out here. More stuff out soon from the weekend with Therapy? and of course, our special review which should be up by the weekend.

Keep checking back for more information and updates. 

I don't apologise for the fact that I have regressed to being 16 again. I am on a huge nu-metal kick right now. It's all about Cold, Limp Bizkit and Korn. Anyway, here is the group I interviewed above with their latest track 'Brothers In Blood'...

Hi guys,

I am heading off to Download at Donnington (flooded campsite...apparently) tomorrow so just a quick update..

For fans of the beautiful Brody Dalle, I just got the chance to check out her new album as Spinnerette. It's a pretty cool amalgamation of styles that I think some of you will really enjoy. That's here.

Also, I saw a band called Viva Machine a few years back in York supporting my friends Kill Hannah and Shiny Toy Guns. Their CD landed in my mailbox and upon first listen, it's pretty impressive. It's like Biffy gone electro. Check that out here.

As always, thanks for reading and I'll see some of you in the mud.

Dom. X

Currently listening:
Rabbit Junk
By Rabbit Junk
Release date: 2008-01-01

This first blog is copied directly from Dom's Myspace..
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Thanks for checking out this new site. New updates will be made soon. For now though... Hi everyone! An update - SPHERE and Dom @ Download plus some wicked new reviews and interviews!

Current mood:  fun

Category: Music

So yes, I am headed to Download Festival. I have been working on SPHERE and I have had a couple of articles published in the Hull Daily Mail in May. It's been a little stressful and I have gotten older, but it's the same for everyone! It's all very good fun anyway..right?

I hope everyone is well?

To work...

I have done some cool reviews recently of the new Enter Shikari single 'Juggernauts' (which actually features Mike Skinner of The Streets) and also Placebo's 'Battle For The Sun' album - it's awesome! I was also pleasantly surprised by Gallows' 'Grey Britain' - very nice work from the outspoken hardcore-punk band there. My weirdest assignment of the last few months has been a spotlight feature for the US Industrial music website ReGen on classical/electro/grindcore artist Himiko. This girl is nuts....seriously, but check it out here.

Also, along with Dan Buckley from York metallers  [Digi]Core I am working on a charity remix concept where we get to work with new and established artists on the Industrial / Alternative scene. It's called INDUSTRIAL ACTION. Find out more here.

I've got some cool stuff coming up in the next few weeks so wish me luck! All the best and love xxx

Fingers crossed... =)

See some of you in the next few days...

Dom

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An update from SPHERE.....SPHERE Magazine hits Download 2009 plus MASSIVE new reviews and interviews!Hi there guys.We love this.We are doing well, and we have not fallen from off the edge of the world. In fact we are more than fine.SPHERE will journey to Download Festival this week to review the darkest bands on the bill...there's still a few more days if you want to tell us about band's you think we need to check out?? Let us know right here in a message or a comment.We also have a number of wicked reviews and interviews up with the likes of Psyclon Nine, Hollowboy, The Defiled, Julien-K and sevendaysofnight. You can also see our live reviews of Grooving In Green and Aiden alongside our take on the new VNV Nation and Marilyn Manson albums. Recently, we also took a trip to Hull to check out their first tattoo convention - view that here.

I hope you enjoy reading.

Currently listening:
Common Dreads
By Enter Shikari