Mather Louth (Radio Noir)
Radio Noir - The Swamp Jazz Sessions
August’s featured denizen of the Dark is none other than Mather Louth! She is the heart and soul of the LA-based band, Radio Noir, and represents Leo in its most regal, authentic and expressive form.
“Honestly, I can’t really recall the point of ‘discovery’, per se,” explains Mather regarding her entree into music. “From what my family has shared, I have always been singing, performing, and creating. It was simply a matter of picking up a guitar (backwards, in my case) and trying to coherently piece together notes that had been bouncing around in my head.”
“I understand the importance of needing to transcend life’s heaviness at times, and am happy when my music can help others escape, grieve, celebrate, sublimate…whatever their heart needs.”
When I asked Mather to describe the aesthetic of Radio Noir, she wove a scintillating image I found instantly captivating. “I oftentimes hear the Radio Noir sound within the photography of Brassai. There is something truly magical in how he was able to capture the cinematic underbelly of 1920s-1930s Parisian nightlife (which can be viewed in his beautiful compilation “Paris de nuit”). So many interesting stories exist within the subjects of Brassai’s photography. I enjoy trying on those different lives and making up other ones to see where it takes me musically- why stay within the confines of your own life? At its core, human experience is universal, no matter the storyteller.”
“To see where the evolution will take Radio Noir, keep an eye out on our Facebook page. In the meantime, you can always purchase The Swamp Jazz Sessions E.P. on iTunes and Amazon.”
Thanks and happy birthday to Mather Louth!
And now, your ‘Scopes.
Aries
A few mountains are just a bit harder for you to move during August 9th and 10th as your personal needs face off with your professional responsibilities. What?! Do I mean to imply you are not all-powerful? Why, yes. Yes, I do. In fact, if you engage in an honest and humble chat with a person who is in a position to help you meet those needs, you may find that it renders unexpectedly positive results around the 18th. In other news, be particularly careful about following rules and obeying the law on and around August 25th. It will be even more tempting than usual to break them and way too easy for you to get caught.
Taurus
It’s bound to be a fired-up, motivated and self-expressed kind of month for you as Venus, your ruling planet transits loud Leo along with the sun and Mercury. The only problem is, you are far more comfortable with taking it slow and easy than you are with roaring. Flex a few unfamiliar muscles and make the most of this unique energy spike. It wouldn’t kill you to actively and openly disagree with someone rather than performing your customary, silent digging-in-of-the-heels. All I am saying is give aggression (as opposed to passive aggression) a chance. After the 25th, all that friction will give way to vastly improved fortune.
Gemini
Patience is a virtue that doesn’t come easily to you but, it will be oh-so-necessary, this month. Avoid scheduling any really important meetings on or around August 8th as confusing Neptune will be toying with your perceptions in a rather psychedelic fashion. Aim for the 16th instead, when your ruling planet, Mercury will have a happy little threesome with Venus and the sun. While the Messenger God’s retrograde through Leo doesn’t hit you nearly as hard as it will some other signs, it still makes sense to back up all your files, get your oil changed and double check your spam filter.
Cancer
After last month’s harsh dose of reality, you’re probably ready for a nice, mellow August, right? Well, sorry. Mars enters your sign on the 3rd and will be his most cranky and irascible self straight through until mid September. The energy is like that of a bitter, resentful man in his mid thirties who can’t get laid and is living in his mom’s basement. Here’s the punch line: You’re his mom. Do what you can to manage the frustration and let it out in small doses. If too much pressure is allowed to build up, there is a good chance things will explode under the worst possible circumstances, like when there are cops around.
Leo
A problem that you faced in early April is back again to take another swing at your head. By now you are quite familiar with your opponent’s moves so, you are better equipped to dodge that right hook, this time. Use the ultra-benevolent energy of the triple conjunction in your sign on the 16th to turn a few lemons into lemonade and most importantly to soothe your frazzled nerves. Keep the collateral damage to a minimum by making sure your friends and loved ones aren’t caught in the crossfire. When Mercury goes direct in your sign on the 26th, you can look back and have a good laugh if anyone has hung around long enough to laugh with you.
Virgo
The first week of August teases you with the possibility that maybe, just maybe you might get some time to focus on our own life instead of constantly putting out everyone else’s fires. But, that dream comes to a screeching halt on August 8th when Mercury, your ruling planet slides backward into Leo. Adding to the frustration is Mars’ transit of constrictive Cancer, needling you to fix things that simply aren’t broken and it wouldn‘t be your problem if they were. The most wise action you can take, this month is non-action. Get your Zen on. The 16th offers a particularly ripe and juicy moment of epic relaxation. I suggest you take it, lest the rest of us incur your cranky wrath.
Libra
You are in a uniquely fortunate position to make the most of chaos, this month. Your friends, loved ones, colleagues and comrades are busy with their own crises and the resultant peace is most supportive of your individual productivity. Stay focused and fight the urge to meddle in their drama. From the 5th to the 7th, discipline and solitude should be your best friends. If you can stand to be alone long enough to gather some momentum, you’ll plow easily through massive piles of work in no time. The sun, Mercury and your ruling planet, Venus are planning a big ol’ party in Leo on the 16th and it’s positioned just right to inspire fun and creativity. Celebrate your accomplishments, even if it’s a party of one.
Scorpio
Friction abounds, this month and your ninja skills are put to the test as miscommunications and misplaced frustrations come flying at your head like so many shuriken. Stay diplomatic and listen carefully. When in doubt, duck and cover. After the 18th, things are looking up, as assistance is offered in the form of wisdom and resources. If Mr. Miyagi tells you to wax his classic car collection keep in mind that you are getting something valuable out of the deal, too. If you play nice and don’t go thermonuclear on anyone, rewards will abound after the 25th.
Sagittarius
You have an uncanny ability to end up in exactly the right place at the right time, this month. As you watch other people’s lives imploding all around you, it will feel like you are dodging bullets until you finally realize that you are not the intended target. Even Mercury’s retrograde through Leo seems to have hidden benefits for you while it wreaks havoc on others. Yes, I know all too well that it’s useless to tell a Sagittarian not to get cocky, but, let this be your warning. Even you have your weaknesses and when your ruling planet, Jupiter stations retrograde on the 30th, he brings with him a generous serving of crow with a side of humble pie.
Capricorn
Sometimes it’s really hard to be the only adult in the room. Someone is always trying to cast you as the bad cop while they get to play good cop. On the 9th and 10th of August, you find yourself in a potentially eruptive battle of wills, struggling against the urge to throw up your hands and say fuck it or continue to soldier on. Feelings square off with responsibilities and a pervasive sense of dissatisfaction compounds the issue. The end of the month holds the spoils of victory for those whose strength abides. Admit it, you do get kind of a kick out of those times when the going gets tough and you get to prove your mettle.
Aquarius
A window of opportunity opens from August 5th to the 7th during which everybody else’s suck becomes your good luck. Make something happen. Sure, maybe it’s opportunistic to cash in on the misfortune of others but, really, what’s the point in letting a great thing slip through your fingers? Besides, with the sun, Venus and a retrograde Mercury all stacked up in opposition to you, the moments of win will be few and far between throughout the month. Neptune backs up into your sign on the 4th and stays there until February of 2012. This will either facilitate deep, spiritual contemplation or the tendency to get really drunk. I leave that choice to you.
Pisces
Neptune, your ruling planet, moves back into Aquarius on the 4th, recalling your attention to the hard lessons of early April 2011. With Mercury’s retrograde in direct opposition, this is kind of like final exam time: what have you learned? How can you navigate the issue more skillfully, this time? Or are you just going to step on the same damn landmines you unwittingly detonated, back then? It’s not about winning any popularity contests, this month. Your best bet is to do an honest gut check, re-evaluate your individual priorities and make clear, decisive choices in the face of public disapproval. If you do what is right instead of what’s easy by the 29th, your integrity will be rewarded.
About Forest
Forest is available by appointment for personal astrology and tarot readings by calling or visiting her at The Psychic Eye Bookstore, 818-906-8263. Or visit her website: NuiCobalt.com