Amy, Amy, Amy...

Mingling on a boat in the Adriatic Sea during Soundwave festival, the four fatal words every fan had been dreading came as the sun went down over Croatia; “Amy Winehouse is dead”.

No-where felt the heartbreak and utter loss more vividly than here at HOJ HQ: from her jazzy/hip hop fusion tones (that came with a first album that is up there with the greatest) the rockabilly/yardie style that put 2 fingers up to the trends of the time; to the cab driving, mayfair puffing, foul mouth husk that spoke with utter frankness and an effortlessly raw talent- that was at times distressing to watch yet could mesmerize and spine-tingle an entire nation.

On 23^rd July it will be two years since the ‘Back to Black’ singer perished alone in her Camden house and in celebration of her life that was; her brother Alex has co-curated an intimate exhibition at the Jewish Museum in North London (Amy Winehouse: A Family Portrait) to give further insight into the unique yet lost soul.

Amy’s style was one like no other- all beehive, eyeliner, tats, tits and ballet pumps- her strong aesthetic presence has been emulated by the masses (from Camden-ites to Jean Paul Gaultier). Yet for the summer months, it was all about the tropical print that she adorned on body con dresses and 50’s style tied shirts- from festival tottering on stage like a baby bird to picking up numerous awards and making cups of tea for the awaiting paparazzi outside her manor at 5am- the bright, Hawaiian print was there, trying to keep up along the way. She even incorporated the paradise hues into her S/S 11 Fred Perry collaboration with sleeveless shirts and cropped cherry cardies.

Now you are able to get your inner Amy vibing with a selection of fruity shirts from HOJ that have recently dropped.  Worn in or out, rolled up or down, with denim or clashed with checks- it’s time to embrace the Amy we love.

Now pass the Caribbean twist... 

Jean Paul Gaultier Vs Amy Winehouse

This morning my heart skipped a little when I saw the pictures of Jean Paul Gaultier's S/S '12 Couture show. The whole collection a dedication and a celebratory send-off to the late, great songstress. Polka dots, corseted waists and skin tight pencil skirts, it made me wonder why I ever put my beehive to rest and why I ever swapped my liquid liner for a soft kohl.

I still can't listen to her voice without getting a lump in my throat. So inspite of all the beautiful couture and the whole show being such a fabulous dedication, it was still overwhelmingly sad to hear the backing singers serenade the models with Back to Black and watch the encore being played out to Rebab. I was half expecting her to jump out from behind the curtain. 

Watch the show here.

Me and Mr Jones

The most beautiful hook recorded.

"I never wanted you to be my man, I just need your company..."

Amy Winehouse & Nas - Like Smoke

Obviously theres lots of hype surrounding the Lioness LP. I'm just not sure how I feel about it. Of course I can't wait to hear it and I already know it will be beautiful. I'm just not sure how I feel about posthumous albums in general, we all remember what happened after 2-Pac died - 7 (or maybe 8..?) posthumous studio albums later... I can't say I'm a massive 2-Pac fan but can imagine that 7 albums later, the record company could have perhaps been accused of scraping the barrel, just a little..? Correct me if i'm wrong, they might have been the best 7 albums he ever recorded (so to speak), but the issue for me doesnt lie in the content itself, more so in the knowing absence of spirit.  Hoping that won't be the case with Amy, that 'Lioness' will be the one and the only. She was meticulous and would have probably vetoed most of the material that has been used, a second would almost certainly be a desecration to her memory and how she liked to work. 

Heres to the first and the last. RIP.

We miss her.