A picture to get your attention!!

I joined in on my first ever recorded interview with the Team Unit Crew Podcast!

Interview highlights include: Inspirations for Sister Claire! Uses for Claire’s Panties! Potty-mouthed language!  Yamino sings NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP!  Discussion about the Sister Claire Theme Song being published on Rockband Network!  And Yamino’s thoughts on mudkips, Asian food, and other things you never really cared to know!

Until they become an official podcast on iTunes, they are posting their podcasts on Youtube. Due to the 10 minute limit on videos, the interview had to be split into 10 parts:
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGE127eUAUI
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lCApTJ88ow
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPU00p7gqRg
Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KXK_Iz49zs
Part 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHUJmnhwldU
Part 6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXTfBWSol4Y
Part 7: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMnz2rHO2uk
Part 8: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5Cv4uNWwZg
Part 9: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcAlXXs_EKQ
Part 10: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GwEKVyyWQE

I disappear after the end of part 7, because I had to go eat dinner, and it was getting very late in Belgium time. XD  Hopefully, I’ll have some more interviews in the future, this was a lot of fun!

In related news, if you listen in, you’ll also hear from the band Bluefusion/Freen in Green, which I’ll be singing with soon! So, look forward to some original songs being posted here in the future.  I AM OFFICIALLY A FREENER WEENER.  (I’m not sure what that means, really, but I’m sure I’ll figure this out along the way.)  Here are some samples of their work so far:

http://freeningreen.bandcamp.com

Looking forward to it! 8D

Ever since I got enlisted by Freen in Green, I’ve been trying to practice my singing and get my voice back into shape. I found a way to filter my voice to do a T-Pain effect. Naturally, I had to test it on some real T-Pain material:

Also, a “song” I made up off the top of my head. I JUST WANTED TO TEST THE EFFECT but when I showed it to my friend she demanded that I let her use this as a ringtone (?!?!!?) so I figured if masses of people are going to hear it, I might as well post it. IT IS SO STUPID but it was fun to make up a song on the spot. XDD

Freen in Green Concepts by ~Yamino on deviantART

You’ll recognize "Smoker" as the character in my icon, as well as a sketch I posted earlier. Those of you who follow my blog know that I like to sing! Those of you who REALLY pay attention also know that I joined a band, Freen in Green!

We decided that rather that just be ourselves, we want to go the Gorillaz route and do an animated/comic band! Smoker is the vocalist, (I’ll be providing her vocals), Aptiva is the guitarist, Adam is the bassist, Trekker Mint is the drummer, and Mystery is the occasional keyboardist.

They characters all have really ridiculous detailed backstories (except for Mystery, nobody knows who the hell she is or even if she has a real name.)

Find out more here:
http://freeningreen.wordpress.com/

Just as suddenly as it came, all my bad juju seems to be disappearing in one day. In the last few hours, I got a phone call that my computer had been totally fixed! New board, new battery, it’s practically fresh from the factory all over again. I fully expect it to sparkly gaily during our happy reunion tomorrow morning.

This means NEW SISTER CLAIRE PAGE COMING AT YOU TOMORROW! Because it was practically done when the computer crashed, it won’t take me long to finish it.

And best of all, I HAVE A PLACE TO STAY IN ANGOULEME! I send out emails to pretty much every host offering a room in their house in Angouleme, and she was one of the first to reply. She sounds like a great person! She even offered to pick me up at the train station, and she’s already hosting two other comic artists visiting for the same con, so it should be awesome. =)

Last but not least, my band is gearing up to enter a contest for an upcoming videogame, and not to toot our own horn, but I’m pretty sure we’re going to blast the competition out of the water with our submission. We’re going way overboard with all the work we’re putting into it, so I’m pretty sure we have a good chance of landing a feature in the game. FOR FREEN!

EDIT: OOH! ALSO! If you want a chance to win a FREE GABRIELLE SHIRT, you should totally enter the contest in the DA group GirlsExclusive! Click the link to learn more!

It’s a great time to get a shirt, because *I* just ordered a blue one for myself, and I have to say, I like it even better than the black. (It’s closer to my original vision, too!)

Also, here are some pictures of the sample books I got printed for the editors in Angouleme! Notice the big “PREVIEW VERSION” stickers. XD  These books are in black and white, and only contain the pages that are up on the site so far.  They’re just prototypes to show what the final book will look like.  The back also contains never before seen concept art, including some for unannounced characters appearing way off in the future.  These will be included in the first OFFICIAL print of the book as well! =)

FiG Album Cover concept by ~Yamino on deviantART
Finished picture coming soon-ish!

I sketched this up for Trav’s birthday, which is today, the 23rd of January! He’s the guitarist and real leader of the band. His character is Aptiva, the dude with the mexican wrestling mask and the cape. XD

I (and Smoker!) are just figureheads, really. The token girl/s, if you will. If it wasn’t for Trav, I wouldn’t even be in the band! Why don’t you pop by and say HAPPY BERFDAY? ;D

Smoker’s wearing a different outfit than the last several times I drew her. This one is very Lady Gaga-inspired. (I adore Gaga, if you haven’t guessed! <3)

For more info Freen in Green and music samples/character profiles, check out our blog! http://freeningreen.wordpress.com/

Freen in Green Album by ~Yamino on deviantART

This is the finished version of this sketch. There are still some issues to work out with some of the other character’s colors… so the palette may be changed a bit next time you see it.

Smoker: About time Yamino made a full color pic of the band! Now y’all have reference for your fanart. Get to it. ;D (And make me look hot!)

In case you’ve been wondering what I’ve been up to lately, and why I’ve been so quiet…it’s because I’ve been working hardcore with my band to get our cover/music video done in time for the Sega Allstars Racing contest! Starring Smoker (Yamino… aka ME!) the vocalist, Aptiva (Trav) the guitarist, Mint (Trekker) the drummer, and Adam as…. Adam.  Mysteri is our keyboardist (also played by Trav, and not appearing in this video).  The cover photo also has guest stars Bentley Jones (original writer of “So Much More…”) and Sonic! I trust you know him already. XD

I think it came out pretty good, considering I don’t really know ANYTHING about movie editing and we all had crappy webcams to work with. The song is what we spent the most time on, honestly. XD If you like it, you might also be interested in checking out our blog: http://freeningreen.wordpress.com/

We LOOOOOVE comments. XD