Heretic Hymns: Zomnombelleyst… Sleepwalking On Thin Ice
Shan Beaste’s recent transformation into the Scarlet Woman of Witch House is not enough to betray her rock and roll roots. Publicly known as Zombelle, her music and musical image are vested in the history of indie and avant garde sounds. An avid record collector and former rock stocker at Los Angeles’ Amoeba Records, Shan has both the knowledge and cred to cook it all up into powerful potion. When asked to do a cover for Heretic Hymns, she faltered a bit, and I understood completely As someone with a similar compulsion for art and music, I totally got the fact that it can be nearly impossible to narrow it down to that one influential song. Given time though, she nailed it by choosing Yoko Ono’s “Walking on Thin Ice.”
The great philosopher Homer Simpson said it best when he proclaimed “John Lennon? He ruined the Plastic Ono Band!” Sure the squares and str8s laughed at the seemingly ironic statement, but those in the know knew that he spoke the truth. From her involvement with Joseph Hanson and the Fluxus movement, to her performance art and all the way back to her importance as an art noise diva, Yoko has always eclipsed Lennon and the Beatles by virtue of her sheer dedication to experimentation. Throughout their marriage, Ono brought out the best in her husband; as his muse she took him to artistic realms that he might never have achieved without her. To some, she may continue to be the punch line of a silly joke, but by now most people are fully aware of the immense effect that this woman has had on art and culture.
Photo by Valerisings
As an artist, Zombelle recognizes Yoko Ono as the hero of all heroines. An independent thinker in a culture of female sidekicks with pretty faces. Yoko Ono never allowed herself to be Mrs. John Lennon, and that spirit of empowerment lives on in the work of Shan Beaste. Already a fixture in the tight knit scene of the new Dark Wave, this sonic siren is putting the finishing touches on her next album, which will be released on Black Bvs Records this year, along with az digital EP on Tundra Dubs. To add to that, she and her friends give new meaning to the concept of “Real LifeSecondLife” with their frequent virtual raves (including tonight’s 4/20 party); where clandestine otaku from around the globe gather to perform and enjoy live feeds and dj sets whilst trolling away their weekends with inside jokes and inane banter. Later this summer she plans on taking these cyber parties into the real world with the help of Robert Disaro, visual artist Pepper DreamTeamer (ScannerJammer), Teams, Jono MiLo (Worthless Waste, Daytime Television,) graphic artist NVR MND and a cast of fellow miscreants yet to be named.
Zombelle recorded this dragged out remix with a little help from fellow artist and friend Myrrh Ka Ba. For the video, it was decided to use images from Ono’s definitive “Cut Piece,” which dealt with the issue of feminine submissiveness. Although Ono was apparently helpless in her 1965 performance, as an artist she was completely in control of the space she created. Shan Beaste embodies this spirit today, a modern day Minerva.
There is a mother of the universe, and her name is Babalon.
- Nattymari
April 20th, 2011 at 6:52 pm
Congrats Shan. You Deserve it For All Your Hard Work And Effort.
April 20th, 2011 at 7:06 pm
wow that was horrible!
April 20th, 2011 at 7:08 pm
hahahahah WHAT?
April 20th, 2011 at 7:09 pm
If she were president she’d be Baberaham Lincoln. Love yew bb! Suicide Clique/Witch Made Klik
April 20th, 2011 at 7:10 pm
Radtastic write up Natty.
April 20th, 2011 at 7:26 pm
wow this blog used to rule
April 20th, 2011 at 7:26 pm
I love it when someone works hard and gets recognized. all hail. she deserves it.
April 20th, 2011 at 7:29 pm
WTF? Why is Shan dragging out all these trolls? Let a girl live.
April 20th, 2011 at 9:05 pm
zombelle’s music is total shit.
April 20th, 2011 at 9:10 pm
o hai h8rz !!
April 20th, 2011 at 10:31 pm
Yo dudes! I actually know who made all the comments and it was two people (WordPress logs your ip AS WELL AS your fake emails.) Both of you… this isn’t the forum for personal differences, but man up rather than troll an article. At least when Odd Future troll 2Dopeboyz they leave their real names.
I have actually not always had the greatest of working relationships with Shan as an artist. She knows this well… we’ve fought and said fuck you to each other a couple times. As a fellow artist and a journalist I can say that Shan is extremely talented… and I am glad to have her energy around. If you have personal things to work out email Shan, she’s easy to reach – she’s online 24 hours a day. If you have a legitimate opinion about her music that goes beyond “She Sucks” leave it here under your real name. This doesn’t have to be a love fest all the time, but leaving a three word dis under a three different fake names isn’t productive.
April 20th, 2011 at 11:17 pm
!!!
April 20th, 2011 at 11:28 pm
WinningSwagShan WMK!!!!!!!!
April 21st, 2011 at 2:06 am
h8rs gun h8. Zombelle’s music is great. My only problem with her is all of her merchandise is totally useless to me. h8 tapes, never wear t-shirts.
April 21st, 2011 at 11:44 am
niggas need to get off this bitches dick 4real, witch house is dead.
April 21st, 2011 at 5:09 pm
fuck you haters, wussy pieces of shit
Zombelle-s makes great music! nice write up missy xo
April 22nd, 2011 at 3:05 am
Zombelle kicks ass as a person AND an artist. stop being jealous cuz you don’t…
April 22nd, 2011 at 11:41 am
dont even knowledge the negatives, we know the trolls are fakes with no personal projects, no talent, hiding behind fake addresses and sure as shit dont have enough nut to say it to anyones face. Jealous little bitchez mean as much as a wart on a fat mans ass and we all know it.
April 22nd, 2011 at 3:14 pm
Zombelle’s music is great. I don’t know how Shan is personally. I’ve never met her but her interaction with me online was less than satisfactory and she actually tried to implement a hate campaign against me for no reason what so ever and slandered my name siting that because i had yet to put out a Witch House album i was a fraud and worse. Don’t have enough nut to say it to anyone’s face? I’m right here. Bring It.
To address the whole hiding behind fake names and addresses…THE WHOLE SCENE DOES IT and i have my own personal reasons for doing it. People who know me and are my friends know my name and what i look like. As it should be. Ever heard of Identity Theft? Anyway this is all pretty childish in my opinion and people should focus on people’s art and not their personalities to begin with. Though Shan and i have our differences i still wished her luck. If you look it is the first post on here.
My music will speak for itself. As should Shan’s.
April 22nd, 2011 at 6:17 pm
I dont believe that someone would leave a message on somebodies blog write up that says the music you make is dead and you are overrated because you suck and not have enough nut to use a real name because of identity theft, that just preposterous.
People do shit like that out of in security or they do it because they are deeply in adolescent love.
Sure people have identities that are not the christian name momma gave them, but if i have something to say, then Ceremonial Dagger said it.
There not a message that says Ceremonial Dagger says congrats and Gothic Pancake Lover says you suck, but really it is all me.
Catch the drift?
April 26th, 2011 at 2:10 pm
#WMK for life.