Thomas Carmichael (Capitol) REDO
Sept 15, 2012 11:42:45 GMT -5
Post by heartwood on Sept 15, 2012 11:42:45 GMT -5
2577 + 79 + 542
“Hello great citizens of Panem, good morning and thanks for tuning in. I’m Chester Greenway and today we have a special treat for you. Today’s DJ has become very popular in recent weeks.
Some call him the next Mozart, some call him a pioneer; one thing is for certain, Thomas Carmichael is in a class of his own. Born in the slums of our very own Capitol, Carmichael – better known by his stage name Twitchcity – has taken the underground rave scene by storm. Twitchcity has headed the ‘LOWSI’ movement sweeping across the Capitol, a movement inspired by teenage independence and rebellion. But it’s not the rebellion you might think of. We have guests of all sorts for you today, so stay tuned for our next installment of ‘Behind the Soundboard with Chester Greenway’.”
He put down his microphone during the commercial break. Standing just about six feet tall and weighing at about two hundred pounds; Chester Greenway was your typical television show host. He sported the finest and most luxurious suit you could find; it was a bright blue with a pink tie, and had sapphire studded cufflinks that shined in the light. The producer gave him the nod, and he realigned his collar, stood up straight, brought the microphone to his mouth and gave the cameras a dazzling smile.
“To my left is the one and only MixMaster James; a spin doctor who has had nothing but success in the very market that DJ Twitchcity has broken into. Finding a more qualified expert on the art of underground rave music is nearly impossible. Good morning MixMaster, how are you doing today?”
A man with long, black hair and thin crooked eyes smiled, looking over to Chester Greenway with a slanted grin. His hair was somewhat unique. Half of his head was shaved, the other had hair going down all the way to his knees. He flipped his hair from one side of his head to the other, the result being the most comical comb-over anyone had ever seen. Chester Greenway even had to stifle a laugh; as stylish as the common Capitolite was, this was too much, even for a man who had nearly seen it all.
He was dressed from head to toe in snakeskin leather, but what really caught Chester’s eye was the coloring. His body suit was divided into seven descending layers, each layer a different color; the seven colors of the rainbow. His lens less glasses were lined with rhinestones, and his facial hair had streaks of white going from left to right. His black skin was dotted with yellow markings, and his contacts were colorless. MixMaster James was truly a one of a kind individual, or atleast he looked like one.
“Cha’mahn. I be doin’ great mahn. How be you Chestah?” his accent was forged, but he did a good job hiding it. Everyone loves a DJ with an accent.
Chester Greenway moved the microphone between them skillfully, he had held this job for the last twenty years; in his eyes, and there was no better reporter than him. Maybe it was the truth, but still, he was nothing but a tool for the Capitol./
“I’m doing great MixMaster. So tell us, what do you think of this new up and comer? Do you agree with the message that LOWSI is trying to spread throughout the nation?” Chester handed the microphone over to James swiftly.
“Cheah bruddah. Dis music be bumpin’, naa’m sane?” MixMaster turned his rhinestone-framed crooked eyes to the camera and gave the audience a dazzling multicolored smile.
“Dis boi be groovin’ Chestah, he be meshin all types of dee music in ways you ain’t neva seen before bruddah. He be usin’ da rap and da rock, da house and dee trance, the beats be wild, the words be beautiful mahn. I neva seen a ting like it. Dat boi got quite dee wardrobe too mahn. Not too flashy, like me bruddah. Not too boring like dee singers in the South Capitol mahn. Balance is dat bois specialty, dat be why he have so many fans so fast. Whatchu like Chestah? I bet you he got dat. You wan’t classical? He be playin’ da piano on some of dem songs. It’s brillian Chestah, I tell you. Brilliant wit a capital B” MixMaster James handed the microphone back over to Chester.
“So, by blending in different genres, he manages to attract all different types of youthful music aficionados. His talents extend beyond the soundboard; his ear is one of a kind, some may even call him a musical prodigy. But music is just one thing that makes DJ Twitchcity so special. With Twitchcity comes a movement; an artistic revolution that doesn’t take base in change; but in enjoying the moment. What are your ideas on this movement?” Chester handed the microphone back to James as the cameras rotated their way onto his face, getting another close up of his grotesquely painted face.
“Mahn, dis movement be one of a kind. I don’t know what to say about it mahn. Dee kids I know like dee violence and dee action dat you be seeing in da Hungah Games, but no, dey don’t want to see people struggle in da districts, ja know mahn? People be people, and sometimes mahn, people wanna help da people in need. But only so much money can go ‘round, ja know. LOWSI, o’, Let our world save eetself bruddah is a selfish movement, but eet be an attractive wan.”
“What’s so attractive about LOWSI, Mixmaster?” prodded Chester Greenway with a follow up.
“Eet really be tuggin’ at da heartstrings of da boys and girls in da Capitol. President Snow encourages dee arts mahn, he be wanting the citizens to express demselves as long as it doesn’t cause chaos and riots. Dat’s all he ask mahn. Twitchcity recognized that, and thought that some wan need to appreciate it, ya heard? Da youth need to appreciate it, na meen, nam sane? Da youth don’t like dee change man, eets scary and eets unnecessary. Da kids like dee art, dey like dee music, dey like dee lives they be havin’, dey don’t want to give it up for da people dey don’t even know. Why you gon’ do that?”
“You know, some say being charitable is the best feeling one can have. Helping others can help make you a better person. Is that how you see it?”
“How I see it don’t mattah man, eets how dee keeds see it. Da kids want to be dem selves man. There be little love in dis world man, we gotta save it for ourselves. Let da damn world save itself, live in dee moment, enjoy your days, because life ees dee most precious ding you can have. MixMaster out mahn.”
“Well thank you MixMaster, your insight was most helpful. Next up, we have Jennifer DeLuxe; one of the most reknowned fashionista in underground rave circles. She’s going to talk about Twitch’s look, and how it inspires others to join the LOWSI movement. Stay tuned, and we’ll be back after this commercial break.”
Chester shook MixMaster’s hand and thanked him for coming out on the show. Even though his false accent was a bit difficult to understand; the message that came across was clear. Anybody who’s anybody would try to be apart of the movement; they would support President Snow’s actions to a fault, and most of all, they’d do it by their own free will. Surely this segment would gain Chester not only fame, but also some time with the President. Chester wanted recognition so bad; he was so close he could taste it. He readied himself again, straightened his back, and smiled at the camera. The producer gave him the nod and they were rolling.
“Welcome back glorious citizens of Panem. Here on ‘Behind the Soundboard with Chester Greenway’, we had international legend MixMaster James here to talk about the rise of Thomas Carmichael, the DJ more commonly known as Twitchcity. We had great insight into his music and the LOWSI movement, and here to talk about the look of Twitchcity is fashionista Jennifer DeLuxe. Hello Jennifer, and good morning to you.”
Jennifer DeLuxe could be no older than twenty years old. Her skin was smooth and fair. It was completely blemish free; it was almost as she had gone untouched her entire life, but nothing could be farther from the truth. Like MixMaster, she had lensless glasses, only these were much larger and nearly covered half her face; and they were entirely absent of rhinestone or design of any kind. She wore several necklaces made out of different material; gold, silver, and black pearls.
Her eyelashes were sculpted, angled out from the corner of her eyes. Her lipstick was a hot pink, a perfect blend of natural and unnatural. Her diamond-shaped gold earrings dangled from her head like deadweight, and her black hair was cut short. It had streaks of pink and green to match her wild-looking shirt, and her white plants were flared at the bottom. Her blue heels made her atleast three inches taller; all in all, Jenny DeLuxe had a way of making unattractive things look attractive. And that’s why Twitchcity had recruited her into his group.
“Good morning, Chester, how are you man?” she spoke with a masculine twang; a swag that only she could exude so successfully. She pulled a candy bar out of her pocket, and munched along as she waited for Chester to ask her some questions.
“So, Jenny, may I call you Jennifer?” DeLuxe nodded in response. “I hear you’ve just been recruited into the LOWSI movement, that must be all sorts of exciting.”
“It’s been rad man, totally rad. The people are all mad chill, the clubs are bumpin; couldn’t have asked for more ya know. I love to be stylin’ and my crew takes all my suggestions. It’s why we’re so popular, ya know?”
Chester smiled. He couldn’t help but find this young, peppy woman so extraordinarily attractive. But he was a professional, he had a goal, and he was going to get to it. “So, Twitchcity is obviously the figurehead of your movement; but some say you’re the mastermind behind his charisma and his wardrobe, what percent of that do you think is true?”
“Oh, 100% chief. I dress that boy like I’m his momma, ya know? Shoes, socks, shades, bling, fitteds, snap-backs, pants…even his boxers. I style him up real good, then he goes out and does his thang, ya know?”
The screen splits the interview in two, a picture of Carmichael stands side by side with Jenny DeLuxe, talking about the influences on her fashion. Carmichael is a tall kid. His skin is dark, not as dark as Mix-masters, but a light mocha color that contrasts well with many different wardrobe colors. His look is pretty simple, unlike Jenny’s herself. He is rarely seen without a hat or some sort of jewelry. His watches are obscenely large. His sneakers always match the rest of his clothing, and his jeans are crisp and unstained; unless that’s the look Jenny goes for.
His body is skinny, but it’s hard to see under the baggy layers of clothing. His face is somewhat attractive; but in the strobing lights and the flashing darkness of the underground clubs he performs at; it’s hard to notice too much detail in his face.
Behind his shades, what the viewers don't see is that he is missing an eye. Carmichael fell into the wrong circles in his early childhood, in large part due to his mother's drug addiction. Carmichael always wears an eyepatch or his shades to cover it up; but it’s hard to escape the memory. His mom had owed a rather vicious drug dealer some many, and when she couldn’t pay up, he paid with his eye. Talk about good parenting.
Jenny DeLuxe continues to ramble on about her influences before she talks about how she was recruited into the movement; just the spot that Chester Greenway was looking for.
“So, you were recently recruited? It’s not something you started with Twitchcity?” DeLuxe nodded her head.
“Anyone can join the movement. It’s a good cause; it’s not our fault things ended up the way they did. Why should we give up what we have? It just wouldn’t be fair.” She said, her normally cheery expression fading for just a moment.
“So it’s about resources?” Chester prodded.
“No, it’s about art. It’s about knowing yourself and those around you. Bettering who you are not only as a person, but also as an artist. And anyone can be an artist, but only the best can hang with us. My art is fashion and design; I’m one of the best there is, and there’s no one you can bring to me that’s better at what I do than me. That’s how Twitch feels about his mixing, that’s how we all feel about how we do.”
“Truly inspiring words, Jenny, truly inspiring…hold on, I’m getting a message from our producer…it seems as though Twitchcity is calling from home, and would like to get on the show.” Chester Greenway touched his earpiece, and looked to his producer, who began a countdown from ten with his fingers. Jenny looked to the camera and waved, “Hi Twitchipoo!” before being thanked by Chester and sent of on her merry little way.
“’Sup Chester,” the words came from a speaker linked to his Thomas Carmichael’s homephone. He had been watching; excited to see what people had to say about his music. He was humbled by a legend such as MixMaster James; but the LOWSI movement had not gotten the proper press it deserved. His goal was to make sure it did; little did he know, Greenway had the same goal.
“Good to have to Twitch, now we’re running short on time, so I’m just going to ask you one question and one question only.” Said Chester, getting the nod from his producer. “What is the LOWSI movement, and how did it start?”
Thomas cleared his throat, and spoke with the smooth voice that so many people heard; only this time there was no ear deafening music to scream over. “LOWSI stands for Let Our World Save Itself, and while it seems harsh and selfish it really isn’t.”
He paused for dramtic effect.
“The movement doesn’t fight change, it embraces it. But not just any kind of change; we completely embrace evolution. For the human race to evolve, we need to weed out the weak. It’s survival of the fittest. It’s not our fault the districts revolted against the Capitol; the youth cannot be blamed for the actions of our predecessors. We just have to take what we have and build on it. With the evolution of human kind comes the evolution of something more important: art. Without art, there is no individuality; there is nothing to separate me from you, or us from them. Art is important, but it can only be developed through resources. We have those resources, dividing them will only limit what we can do.”
“One last question. How do you feel about the way President Snow is running this country,” Chester had hoped this question would grant access to the answer he had been looking for.
“Like I said, LOWSI is more about self-expression and evolution than about politics, but President Snow has given us every advantage, ever tool we need to develop our artistic abilities. Any President like that is perfectly okay in my book.”
But to Twitch, the LOWSI movement wasn’t about recognition, it was about achievement.
After losing his eye to organized crime, Carmichael found himself falling into a steep depression. His friends had all been in better situations than he was; he was alone in a dark world filled with pretty colors. Eventually, the government had gotten wind of Carmichaels current situation and he was taken away by social services from his drug abusing mother, who to this day had still not quit her addictions. Carmichael spent all of his time at the orphanage drawing and sketching; and while he was no child prodigy, he took great joy in creating art.
Soon, sketching became painting, and painting became writing. Writing became songwriting, and songwriting eventually became music making. When he was introduced to his first soundboard, he began mixing music from genre’s that were said not to go together. His untrained ear began to train itself through practice and process of elimination. He was first recognized when he threw a party for the orphans; among his compatriots the more-than-stunning Jenny DeLuxe had picked up on his talent the quickest. She urged him to publicize himself more, and that’s what he did. The rest was history.
He rose up the ranks quickly. His first underground rave was a smashing success; to him, having the best music was not enough. He hired the best young effects experts he could find, he assembled artists who wanted to design the club decorations and he hired Jenny as his personal stylists. The money began to flow in, but Carmichael didn’t forget where he came from. He donated money to the orphanage; publically thanking President Snow from taking him from his mother, because if he hadn’t, Twitch might in fact have ended up dead.
The LOWSI movement became Twitch’s vessel; his personality seeped through each and every aspect. Those who loved art and music as much as he did joined him in celebrating the Capitol for allowing such things to bloom; Twitch truly did love the Capitol, and he showed it even in his music. Lyrics blended in to support Snow and his endeavors, art and politics became one; but only one side was being heard, his side. He began to pull kids from the streets, giving them jobs on stage or on sets for corporate sponsors. Twitch had always been a giving person; fame and fortune was not going to change that.
But Twitch had always regretting leaving his mom to die. Sure, she wasn’t a good parent or even a good person; but she gave him life. He didn’t know if she was actually dead, but it was hard to see her in any other way. Twitch didn’t want to find out, she didn’t deserve to break his heart anymore.
Carmichael’s fierce dependence on art had drawn others like Jenny DeLuxe to his inner circle. Amongst friends, they were all equals; even if technically they worked for him, they were all a strong individual part of the movement. If they were dedicated to LOWSI, Twitch was dedicated to them. They worked like a well-oiled hipster machine, everything happened in perfect unison. But as tight-knit as they were; other people always had plans to use the LOWSI movement. As long as they didn’t mess anything up, Twitch was alright with that too.
Chester smiled. Surely good publicity for the President would mean something good for him in the future.
“Thank you Twitch, that’s all the time we have for now; tune in tomorrow to see the band “No Mucus for Lucas” appear live on the show. On behalf of the ‘Behind the Soundboard’ crew, I’m Chester Greenway, and have a good day.”
“Hello great citizens of Panem, good morning and thanks for tuning in. I’m Chester Greenway and today we have a special treat for you. Today’s DJ has become very popular in recent weeks.
Some call him the next Mozart, some call him a pioneer; one thing is for certain, Thomas Carmichael is in a class of his own. Born in the slums of our very own Capitol, Carmichael – better known by his stage name Twitchcity – has taken the underground rave scene by storm. Twitchcity has headed the ‘LOWSI’ movement sweeping across the Capitol, a movement inspired by teenage independence and rebellion. But it’s not the rebellion you might think of. We have guests of all sorts for you today, so stay tuned for our next installment of ‘Behind the Soundboard with Chester Greenway’.”
He put down his microphone during the commercial break. Standing just about six feet tall and weighing at about two hundred pounds; Chester Greenway was your typical television show host. He sported the finest and most luxurious suit you could find; it was a bright blue with a pink tie, and had sapphire studded cufflinks that shined in the light. The producer gave him the nod, and he realigned his collar, stood up straight, brought the microphone to his mouth and gave the cameras a dazzling smile.
“To my left is the one and only MixMaster James; a spin doctor who has had nothing but success in the very market that DJ Twitchcity has broken into. Finding a more qualified expert on the art of underground rave music is nearly impossible. Good morning MixMaster, how are you doing today?”
A man with long, black hair and thin crooked eyes smiled, looking over to Chester Greenway with a slanted grin. His hair was somewhat unique. Half of his head was shaved, the other had hair going down all the way to his knees. He flipped his hair from one side of his head to the other, the result being the most comical comb-over anyone had ever seen. Chester Greenway even had to stifle a laugh; as stylish as the common Capitolite was, this was too much, even for a man who had nearly seen it all.
He was dressed from head to toe in snakeskin leather, but what really caught Chester’s eye was the coloring. His body suit was divided into seven descending layers, each layer a different color; the seven colors of the rainbow. His lens less glasses were lined with rhinestones, and his facial hair had streaks of white going from left to right. His black skin was dotted with yellow markings, and his contacts were colorless. MixMaster James was truly a one of a kind individual, or atleast he looked like one.
“Cha’mahn. I be doin’ great mahn. How be you Chestah?” his accent was forged, but he did a good job hiding it. Everyone loves a DJ with an accent.
Chester Greenway moved the microphone between them skillfully, he had held this job for the last twenty years; in his eyes, and there was no better reporter than him. Maybe it was the truth, but still, he was nothing but a tool for the Capitol./
“I’m doing great MixMaster. So tell us, what do you think of this new up and comer? Do you agree with the message that LOWSI is trying to spread throughout the nation?” Chester handed the microphone over to James swiftly.
“Cheah bruddah. Dis music be bumpin’, naa’m sane?” MixMaster turned his rhinestone-framed crooked eyes to the camera and gave the audience a dazzling multicolored smile.
“Dis boi be groovin’ Chestah, he be meshin all types of dee music in ways you ain’t neva seen before bruddah. He be usin’ da rap and da rock, da house and dee trance, the beats be wild, the words be beautiful mahn. I neva seen a ting like it. Dat boi got quite dee wardrobe too mahn. Not too flashy, like me bruddah. Not too boring like dee singers in the South Capitol mahn. Balance is dat bois specialty, dat be why he have so many fans so fast. Whatchu like Chestah? I bet you he got dat. You wan’t classical? He be playin’ da piano on some of dem songs. It’s brillian Chestah, I tell you. Brilliant wit a capital B” MixMaster James handed the microphone back over to Chester.
“So, by blending in different genres, he manages to attract all different types of youthful music aficionados. His talents extend beyond the soundboard; his ear is one of a kind, some may even call him a musical prodigy. But music is just one thing that makes DJ Twitchcity so special. With Twitchcity comes a movement; an artistic revolution that doesn’t take base in change; but in enjoying the moment. What are your ideas on this movement?” Chester handed the microphone back to James as the cameras rotated their way onto his face, getting another close up of his grotesquely painted face.
“Mahn, dis movement be one of a kind. I don’t know what to say about it mahn. Dee kids I know like dee violence and dee action dat you be seeing in da Hungah Games, but no, dey don’t want to see people struggle in da districts, ja know mahn? People be people, and sometimes mahn, people wanna help da people in need. But only so much money can go ‘round, ja know. LOWSI, o’, Let our world save eetself bruddah is a selfish movement, but eet be an attractive wan.”
“What’s so attractive about LOWSI, Mixmaster?” prodded Chester Greenway with a follow up.
“Eet really be tuggin’ at da heartstrings of da boys and girls in da Capitol. President Snow encourages dee arts mahn, he be wanting the citizens to express demselves as long as it doesn’t cause chaos and riots. Dat’s all he ask mahn. Twitchcity recognized that, and thought that some wan need to appreciate it, ya heard? Da youth need to appreciate it, na meen, nam sane? Da youth don’t like dee change man, eets scary and eets unnecessary. Da kids like dee art, dey like dee music, dey like dee lives they be havin’, dey don’t want to give it up for da people dey don’t even know. Why you gon’ do that?”
“You know, some say being charitable is the best feeling one can have. Helping others can help make you a better person. Is that how you see it?”
“How I see it don’t mattah man, eets how dee keeds see it. Da kids want to be dem selves man. There be little love in dis world man, we gotta save it for ourselves. Let da damn world save itself, live in dee moment, enjoy your days, because life ees dee most precious ding you can have. MixMaster out mahn.”
“Well thank you MixMaster, your insight was most helpful. Next up, we have Jennifer DeLuxe; one of the most reknowned fashionista in underground rave circles. She’s going to talk about Twitch’s look, and how it inspires others to join the LOWSI movement. Stay tuned, and we’ll be back after this commercial break.”
Chester shook MixMaster’s hand and thanked him for coming out on the show. Even though his false accent was a bit difficult to understand; the message that came across was clear. Anybody who’s anybody would try to be apart of the movement; they would support President Snow’s actions to a fault, and most of all, they’d do it by their own free will. Surely this segment would gain Chester not only fame, but also some time with the President. Chester wanted recognition so bad; he was so close he could taste it. He readied himself again, straightened his back, and smiled at the camera. The producer gave him the nod and they were rolling.
“Welcome back glorious citizens of Panem. Here on ‘Behind the Soundboard with Chester Greenway’, we had international legend MixMaster James here to talk about the rise of Thomas Carmichael, the DJ more commonly known as Twitchcity. We had great insight into his music and the LOWSI movement, and here to talk about the look of Twitchcity is fashionista Jennifer DeLuxe. Hello Jennifer, and good morning to you.”
Jennifer DeLuxe could be no older than twenty years old. Her skin was smooth and fair. It was completely blemish free; it was almost as she had gone untouched her entire life, but nothing could be farther from the truth. Like MixMaster, she had lensless glasses, only these were much larger and nearly covered half her face; and they were entirely absent of rhinestone or design of any kind. She wore several necklaces made out of different material; gold, silver, and black pearls.
Her eyelashes were sculpted, angled out from the corner of her eyes. Her lipstick was a hot pink, a perfect blend of natural and unnatural. Her diamond-shaped gold earrings dangled from her head like deadweight, and her black hair was cut short. It had streaks of pink and green to match her wild-looking shirt, and her white plants were flared at the bottom. Her blue heels made her atleast three inches taller; all in all, Jenny DeLuxe had a way of making unattractive things look attractive. And that’s why Twitchcity had recruited her into his group.
“Good morning, Chester, how are you man?” she spoke with a masculine twang; a swag that only she could exude so successfully. She pulled a candy bar out of her pocket, and munched along as she waited for Chester to ask her some questions.
“So, Jenny, may I call you Jennifer?” DeLuxe nodded in response. “I hear you’ve just been recruited into the LOWSI movement, that must be all sorts of exciting.”
“It’s been rad man, totally rad. The people are all mad chill, the clubs are bumpin; couldn’t have asked for more ya know. I love to be stylin’ and my crew takes all my suggestions. It’s why we’re so popular, ya know?”
Chester smiled. He couldn’t help but find this young, peppy woman so extraordinarily attractive. But he was a professional, he had a goal, and he was going to get to it. “So, Twitchcity is obviously the figurehead of your movement; but some say you’re the mastermind behind his charisma and his wardrobe, what percent of that do you think is true?”
“Oh, 100% chief. I dress that boy like I’m his momma, ya know? Shoes, socks, shades, bling, fitteds, snap-backs, pants…even his boxers. I style him up real good, then he goes out and does his thang, ya know?”
The screen splits the interview in two, a picture of Carmichael stands side by side with Jenny DeLuxe, talking about the influences on her fashion. Carmichael is a tall kid. His skin is dark, not as dark as Mix-masters, but a light mocha color that contrasts well with many different wardrobe colors. His look is pretty simple, unlike Jenny’s herself. He is rarely seen without a hat or some sort of jewelry. His watches are obscenely large. His sneakers always match the rest of his clothing, and his jeans are crisp and unstained; unless that’s the look Jenny goes for.
His body is skinny, but it’s hard to see under the baggy layers of clothing. His face is somewhat attractive; but in the strobing lights and the flashing darkness of the underground clubs he performs at; it’s hard to notice too much detail in his face.
Behind his shades, what the viewers don't see is that he is missing an eye. Carmichael fell into the wrong circles in his early childhood, in large part due to his mother's drug addiction. Carmichael always wears an eyepatch or his shades to cover it up; but it’s hard to escape the memory. His mom had owed a rather vicious drug dealer some many, and when she couldn’t pay up, he paid with his eye. Talk about good parenting.
Jenny DeLuxe continues to ramble on about her influences before she talks about how she was recruited into the movement; just the spot that Chester Greenway was looking for.
“So, you were recently recruited? It’s not something you started with Twitchcity?” DeLuxe nodded her head.
“Anyone can join the movement. It’s a good cause; it’s not our fault things ended up the way they did. Why should we give up what we have? It just wouldn’t be fair.” She said, her normally cheery expression fading for just a moment.
“So it’s about resources?” Chester prodded.
“No, it’s about art. It’s about knowing yourself and those around you. Bettering who you are not only as a person, but also as an artist. And anyone can be an artist, but only the best can hang with us. My art is fashion and design; I’m one of the best there is, and there’s no one you can bring to me that’s better at what I do than me. That’s how Twitch feels about his mixing, that’s how we all feel about how we do.”
“Truly inspiring words, Jenny, truly inspiring…hold on, I’m getting a message from our producer…it seems as though Twitchcity is calling from home, and would like to get on the show.” Chester Greenway touched his earpiece, and looked to his producer, who began a countdown from ten with his fingers. Jenny looked to the camera and waved, “Hi Twitchipoo!” before being thanked by Chester and sent of on her merry little way.
“’Sup Chester,” the words came from a speaker linked to his Thomas Carmichael’s homephone. He had been watching; excited to see what people had to say about his music. He was humbled by a legend such as MixMaster James; but the LOWSI movement had not gotten the proper press it deserved. His goal was to make sure it did; little did he know, Greenway had the same goal.
“Good to have to Twitch, now we’re running short on time, so I’m just going to ask you one question and one question only.” Said Chester, getting the nod from his producer. “What is the LOWSI movement, and how did it start?”
Thomas cleared his throat, and spoke with the smooth voice that so many people heard; only this time there was no ear deafening music to scream over. “LOWSI stands for Let Our World Save Itself, and while it seems harsh and selfish it really isn’t.”
He paused for dramtic effect.
“The movement doesn’t fight change, it embraces it. But not just any kind of change; we completely embrace evolution. For the human race to evolve, we need to weed out the weak. It’s survival of the fittest. It’s not our fault the districts revolted against the Capitol; the youth cannot be blamed for the actions of our predecessors. We just have to take what we have and build on it. With the evolution of human kind comes the evolution of something more important: art. Without art, there is no individuality; there is nothing to separate me from you, or us from them. Art is important, but it can only be developed through resources. We have those resources, dividing them will only limit what we can do.”
“One last question. How do you feel about the way President Snow is running this country,” Chester had hoped this question would grant access to the answer he had been looking for.
“Like I said, LOWSI is more about self-expression and evolution than about politics, but President Snow has given us every advantage, ever tool we need to develop our artistic abilities. Any President like that is perfectly okay in my book.”
But to Twitch, the LOWSI movement wasn’t about recognition, it was about achievement.
After losing his eye to organized crime, Carmichael found himself falling into a steep depression. His friends had all been in better situations than he was; he was alone in a dark world filled with pretty colors. Eventually, the government had gotten wind of Carmichaels current situation and he was taken away by social services from his drug abusing mother, who to this day had still not quit her addictions. Carmichael spent all of his time at the orphanage drawing and sketching; and while he was no child prodigy, he took great joy in creating art.
Soon, sketching became painting, and painting became writing. Writing became songwriting, and songwriting eventually became music making. When he was introduced to his first soundboard, he began mixing music from genre’s that were said not to go together. His untrained ear began to train itself through practice and process of elimination. He was first recognized when he threw a party for the orphans; among his compatriots the more-than-stunning Jenny DeLuxe had picked up on his talent the quickest. She urged him to publicize himself more, and that’s what he did. The rest was history.
He rose up the ranks quickly. His first underground rave was a smashing success; to him, having the best music was not enough. He hired the best young effects experts he could find, he assembled artists who wanted to design the club decorations and he hired Jenny as his personal stylists. The money began to flow in, but Carmichael didn’t forget where he came from. He donated money to the orphanage; publically thanking President Snow from taking him from his mother, because if he hadn’t, Twitch might in fact have ended up dead.
The LOWSI movement became Twitch’s vessel; his personality seeped through each and every aspect. Those who loved art and music as much as he did joined him in celebrating the Capitol for allowing such things to bloom; Twitch truly did love the Capitol, and he showed it even in his music. Lyrics blended in to support Snow and his endeavors, art and politics became one; but only one side was being heard, his side. He began to pull kids from the streets, giving them jobs on stage or on sets for corporate sponsors. Twitch had always been a giving person; fame and fortune was not going to change that.
But Twitch had always regretting leaving his mom to die. Sure, she wasn’t a good parent or even a good person; but she gave him life. He didn’t know if she was actually dead, but it was hard to see her in any other way. Twitch didn’t want to find out, she didn’t deserve to break his heart anymore.
Carmichael’s fierce dependence on art had drawn others like Jenny DeLuxe to his inner circle. Amongst friends, they were all equals; even if technically they worked for him, they were all a strong individual part of the movement. If they were dedicated to LOWSI, Twitch was dedicated to them. They worked like a well-oiled hipster machine, everything happened in perfect unison. But as tight-knit as they were; other people always had plans to use the LOWSI movement. As long as they didn’t mess anything up, Twitch was alright with that too.
Chester smiled. Surely good publicity for the President would mean something good for him in the future.
“Thank you Twitch, that’s all the time we have for now; tune in tomorrow to see the band “No Mucus for Lucas” appear live on the show. On behalf of the ‘Behind the Soundboard’ crew, I’m Chester Greenway, and have a good day.”
