We Love You So – Where The Wild Things Are – Spike Jonze

Becky Stark– the divine dame behind Lavender Diamond– is writing, directing and starring in a new series for Aaron Rose’s online entertainment portal WKE. Aesthetically parallel to the world of Stark’s L.A. Ladies Choir, or at least awash in the same rose-scented perfume, Califunya is described as:

a new “peace comedy” variety show from WKE parodying a high school play that is parodying a kids’ show from the ’60s as performed by grown-ups — with all the expected exclamation points muted!

Sign me up! The all too brief first episode, which is sponsored by roses (because “they’re so beautiful”), gets into some deep ontological musings on the nature of time and space in the span of one minute and thirty-seven seconds. It also features the talents of Mia Doi Todd and Ariana Delawari, with musical accompaniment by Decemberist Colin Meloy. Stay tuned for an upcoming guest appearance by Miranda July!

Becky Stark’s delicate voice makes this warmhearted serenade the most tender adaptation of “Like a Prayer” known to man. Genius illustrator (and Lavender Diamond drummer) Ron Rege teamed up with Paper Rad’s Jacob Ciocci and animator Tom McConnell to lend the song some visual flair– namely space rainbows and mystical portals– in this brand new video, directed by Peter Glantz. Glantz and his production company, Imaginary Company are also the wizards who brought Kevin Hooyman’s work to life in a rad music video for The USA Is A Monster, earlier this year.

Aska Matsumiya of The Sads and Moonrats + David Scott Stone = AsDSSka (much like celebreviations “TomKat” or “Brangelina,” but with a deluge of unyielding consonants blocking futile attempts at pronunciation). Quoth the AsDSSka MySpace: “Matsumiya is a classical trained pianist and the single, ‘25′, features a slow debussy-like piano refrain accompanied by her delicate voice and Stone’s ethereal modular synthesizer drones.” Delicate and ethereal is right– other acceptable descriptors would include “otheworldly” and “exquisite.” The gorgeous video for “25,” seen above, was directed by Spike and fellow VBS.tv contributor Crystal Moselle.

If you’re in the Los Angeles area, come check out AsDSSka at Family Bookstore on May 24th, backed by Becky Stark’s 14-dame strong ensemble, The Ladies Choir. Here’s a clip of The Ladies Choir covering Yoko Ono’s “Sisters O Sisters”: