2B - Thursday, April 10, 2014 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Detroit composer talks beginnings About that Kimye Vogue cover 'U' alum Alton James founded JIV Media By JACKSON HOWARD Daily Music Editor It's no secret that Detroit gets a bad rap, and it's probably one of the last places you'd expect any musician to set up shop. But for University alum Alton James, Detroit is not only his hometown, but also the place that he hopes to contribute most to. "All these Michigan companies are going to New York and Los Angeles and outsourcing their work to other locations," said James, a composer and sound designer. "But it's like, you've got this group, this really, really diverse group around Metro Detroit that can provide all types of music because youhave all types of cultures around here." This was James's thinking when he founded JIV Media, a Detroit-based company providing music for advertising, television and film. James believes that Detroit has as much artistic potential as any other major city and is just as focused on working with Michigan filmmakers, musicians and artists as he is with productions in Hollywood. Though he's found his calling in composing, his musical path has been far from straight. His parents were both singers in choirs, and at age 12, James started playing organ in churches across Detroit. But it was the experience working with choirsthat really made James realize his love for composing. "(Workingwithchoirs), Igotmy first taste of writing and hearing what I wrote performed back was really profound for me as a composer," James said. Like most kids growing up, James watched plenty of blockbuster movies and discovered John Williams and James Horner, two of the foremost composers in filmtoday. Betweenhisexperience in church and the influence of composers like Williams and Horner, James's passion for composingwas firmly planted. While at the University, James minored in music, with a major in English and another minor in African-American Studies. Still, he says, music is a language itself; his English education gave him insight in working with scripts and writers and also influenced the way he composes music. Clearly, however, music was his main priority. Having saved all of his music requirements for senior year, he was able to dedicate his total attention to it for two full semesters. Music students can probably relate to many of James's memories of hiding in the music school past the midnight closing time until the early hours of the morning, or playingvarious shows on campus for student groups and Greek life events. Launching JIV Media and jump into composing after graduation wasn't the immediate plan, though. After leaving the UniversityJamesmet anexecutive from Noble Music, a company focused on providing music for advertisements that counts Coca- Cola, Gatorade, HBO and Verizon among clients. The executive liked his work and asked if James would compose for ads, to which James replied with a quick, "sure, I put musictoeverything."Thoughhehad never composed for advertisements before, the opportunity gave James his first commercial work, and he hasn'tlookedbacksince. It's the combination of all these experiences - writing ad jingles, sleeping in music school practice rooms, composing for feature films, playing organ in Detroit churches - that really gives James his true identity as an innovative, curious and ever-growing artist. More than anything, as James continues to grow, Detroit will grow with him, a testament to his admirable decisiontobuck the trend and stick by the wounded city that raised him, working from the ground up to remind the countrythat Detroit is still humming, grooving and open for business. remember exactly where I was. Laying on the olive (puke?) green love seat in my living room with my legs propped up and over the armrest. My laptop was in its usual spot on my stomach as my head stiffly and blankly stared at ERIKA the screen. HARWOOD I scrolled aimlessly, probably doing the classic log-out-of-Facebook-just-to- log-back-in move on repeat. I bounced from tab to tab until finally a tweet - saying something along the lines of "Kim Kardashian's Vogue cover is here!" - caught my eye. Pardon me for forgetting the exact verbiage, but I was losing my goddamn mind. I'mnot onetobe shy aboutmy fervent fascination/obsession/ love for the Kardashians. I once wrote over 700 words on it and probably could have kept on going, which is essentially what I'm about to do here. Due to both my keeping up with the Kardashians as well as fashion industry happenings (as much as one can do from Ann Arbor), I'd been keenly aware of the whispers and speculations over Kim Kardashian's unfavorable relationship with Vogue. The rumors were all over the place, saying Kanye West begged Anna Wintour to put Kim on the cover or that Anna only allowed Kim to attend the Met Gala gown ( florall In likely would form t the co But Her na in her debun Kim, her gr has cr in th spotlip to do t Wh have 1 do not issuef over know: the ct a gor gown. The Ar car thems page rangin ("Ther that c her," if she could chose the looks like the the first moves (a polarizing, head-to-toe toward the conception of South Riccardo Tisci gown). West). short: it seemed more Sometimes, the couple that Bruce Jenner's face seems, well, removed from revert back to human reality, but I still find it hard han for Kim to ever grace judge when Kim's everyday life ver of Vogue. consists of 30+ people following alas, there is a God and her ever move. I guess there are me is AnnaWintour, who some things that only she and I editor's letter seemed to can truly understand. k any distaste toward Despite the lavishness, saying that "through supposed drama and confusing 'ace of character, (Kim) bits - such as "Kanye later eated a place for herself cast Kim as a scantily clad e glare of the world's Princess Leia in the pilot for ght, and it takes real guts 'Alligator Boots,' a raunchy hat." hip-hop 'Muppets Show' " ether those sentiments - that raise more questions been Anna's all along, I than provide answers, the pop care, because the Kimye culture prowess of Kimye is ucking delivered. I'll gloss officially undeniable. (Real the details we already talk though, if someone has Kim and Kanye are on more information on "Alligator over, with Kim donning Boots," shoot me an e-mail.) geous Lanvin wedding With Anna Wintour's official OK, moving on. stamp of approval by way of article and photos hiding what is bound to be the most popular magazine cover of the year, Kimye - as a unit - have mna W intour now breached the concrete walls of the fashion world, i basically do making their presence nothing short of ubiquitous. any If anyone were to propel Kanye West and Kim Kardashian further into their cultural domination, it would be Anna Wintour. And for elves within the 286- those who roll their eyes at the issue are worth noting, thought of a reality show star tg from heartwarming and her rapper fiance on the re was no girl in the world cover, keep in mind who gave ould pull me away from the green light. As always, what Kanye said - I want to Anna says goes. _ VISIT WWW.MICHIGANDAILY.COM/ARTS/THE+FILTER believe!) to insanely over-the- top (see: glossy photo of Kanye leaning against Kim on a matte black Lamborghini in what Harwood is stalking pugs, if you want to join, e-mail erikacat@umich.edu. ABC Security clearance. Dissecting the sartorial choices in ABC's sensational 'Scandal' By CHLOE GILKE wears Daily Arts Writer a quee B613 r Spoiler Alert: This article con- tains a major spoiler from the cur- rentseason of"Scandal." I came forthe love story, Istayed for the trench coats. ABC's "Scandal" has defied rat- ings gravity and climbed to the top of the pop culture ladder, hook- ing viewers with the prospect of a soap-opera-style torrid love affair between the President of the Unit- ed States and the White House's resident fixer. But despite the ups and downs of political conspiracy, election rigging and the occasional licking to intimidate someone, the real draw of "Scandal" is its flaw- less eye for fashion. Olivia Pope, played by the gor- geous and talented Kerry Wash- ington, somehow manages to hold her own in the beautiful array of elegant designer outfits she parades around the White House. Her classic style is anything but simple - her tops are structured and feature unique draping and interesting shapes to offset the understated whites and greys of her wardrobe. And though KW is pregnant, Olivia is still rocking those emblematic white trench coats and heels (shot only fromthe neck up, of course). Even more minor characters have their characteristic style. Abby Whelan is edgy but stream- lined - and the blacks and char- coals of her wardrobe compliment her stunning red hair. Mellie Grant has fa now ta childr faces,c and ca -A The dresse trated back o regal s (RIP) plaids Cyrus' And d rison,N color smile a Eve dal" b verge dare Mellie looks Hospit anoth; ture r eyes f since this e to ke cringe find m pearls and jewel tones fit for of "Scandal" more often than I'd n (or a First Lady). And poor like to admit, probably due in part ecruit Quinn Perkins, who to the painstaking perfection of lien off the deep end and the costuming. If the outfits are kes to kidnapping innocent this flawless, then everything en and licking her rivals' else has to catch up eventually can still rock a smoky eye (unfortunately not true for "Gos- rgo jackets. sip Girl"). The sheer visuals of the fashion on this show are so well put together that I even translate PopeCoats this to hope for the plotlines to wrap up as nicely as Abby's wrap analyzed. dresses. .Their emotional and profes- sional lives may be in turmoil, but Olivia Pope and Associates men are also flawlessly and their colleagues at the White d. Even as I grow more frus- House really know how to put an with Fitz Grant, he wins me outfit together. Besides just being ver with those classic and eye candy, this actually says quite uits. Press Secretary James a bitabout their characters. Olivia had a quirky checks and & Co. must put on a brave face and style to offset his husband "handle" everything with a smile s rather boring wardrobe. on their faces and a Prada bag in on't get me started on Har- tow. They can't afford not to look their best. It's their to highlight his gorgeous job to dress upa scandal and hide and steal every scene. the darkness beneath a layer of n as the plotlines of "Scan- crepe peplum and hounds-tooth. ecome more tangled and Every episode of "Scandal" is a on ridiculous, I wouldn't reliable tour through the best of stop watching. Even as the runway. Prada, Armani, Alex- slaps Fitz in a move that ander McQueen, Gucci - Olivia straight out of "General spares no expense to have the tal" or I have to sit through most enviable closet in D.C. Even er icky Huck/Quinn tor- while this season has teetered omance scene, I keep my dangerously close to completely ixed to the screen. Not going off the rails, the wardrobe "Gossip Girl" have I been continues to stun. (White) Hat's nthralled with an outfit Off to costume designer Lyn ep me watching through Paolo for her consistently fabu- -worthy story arcs. And I lous work being the real fixer of iyself defending the merits "Scandal."