Be-banged and bewildered

Dorky confession ahead. A few weeks ago, I found out pretty last-minute that She & Him were playing a gig in Boston. So after work I hopped on the T and raced to queue in a pretty long line. Guys and gals alike were emerging, tickets in hand, so I just hope-hope-hoped there'd be one left for me. But alas, when I reached the "finish line," if you will, the SOLD OUT sign had just gone up.

Uh-huh, mmm-hmm, Gonna get along without you now...

Turns out, missing a cool-girl indie band is a great excuse to go wandering about the Back Bay, window shopping and snapping photos. And also ogling some pretty spectacular looks on the street... 99% of the girls queueing up to see Zooey D. and co. were sporting her identical "indie ingenue" bangs.

I, too, once possessed a dark shock of hair topped with straight-across bangs. And I loved it. The only reason I went back to my natural hair color and texture is because it's, well, easier. Less maintenance. I hated watching my blonde roots seep back in and ruin my dark, shiny tresses; made me look like Rogue in X-Men. Anyway, I digress.

This month I came across a great feature in Elle about possessing "rock and roll bangs." It's true, there's something both tough and alluring about sporting full-on fringe. And when many of us take to the scissors, we're taking a page from one of our favorite singers. My bangs were inspired both by Zooey and Marit Larsen; Larsen claims hers were inspired by Feist. And every gal sporting boho-chic fringe is heavily indebted to the one, the only Jane Birkin. Just what is it with songstresses and bangs?

Marit Larsen, singer/songwriter. Doesn't she look so cool and seventies?

Jane Birkin's too-cool-for-school daughter, the lovely Charlotte Gainsbourg.

After major contemplation, I don't think there's any one real answer. Bangs are just cool. Plain and simple. And I miss mine!

Hmm... should I pick up the scissors once again? D'ya think bangs go well with blonde?

And what about you? Was your hairstyle ever inspired by a singer/actress/other cool chick?

Chasing Marit

I have to take a moment to gush about my favorite singer/songwriter. This is long overdue, as I've been a fan for the past few years and have passed her music around to my friends-- most people stateside have never heard of her. Marit Larsen is a hidden treasure, and once you hear her, you're sure to fall under her spell!

Marit is an award-winning Norwegian artist who's enjoyed plenty of success on European pop charts, though the "pop" designation is hardly worthy of her gorgeous, folksy melodies with lush, sweeping arrangements. Her music is bright, spritely and highly original. I'm hardpressed to find an American comparison, though Jenny Lewis, with her pop-rock-indie-folk-bluegrass hybrid sound, comes awfully close. Marit's voice is reminiscent of Bjork, Regina Spektor, Martha Wainwright, or Sixpence None the Richer's Leigh Nash-- but her gentle, unrefined soprano is even more lilting, and sparkling, and altogether better. Don't believe me? You simply must hear her for yourself. Her first album, Under the Surface, is a glittering marvel of a debut. The Chase dropped last month, and it may be even better. As she promises in "If a Song Could Get Me You," her music just might "change your life forever, too."

The only catch? Marit is big in her native Norway, much of Europe and Asia, but her music is not available in the U.S. (though you can purchase Under the Surface on Amazon.com as an import, which is what I had to do). But I'm hoping that little blogs like mine will help spike a Marit fever over here, increasing the demand for her music to finally reach our shores. Dontcha' think our radios, CD and MP3 players are seriously derpived?

I'm inspired not only by Marit's music, but her cool, Euro-girl vintage-inspired style. And she's not afraid to have fun with impromptu unplugged performances. With her stardom Marit could command huge crowds, but she prefers to pop up in unexpected places! You gotta love a girl that always keeps you guessing!