DIARY: SUMMER HIATUS #TLEETOKYO

Wow, previous post was written on July 7. Since then I've turned 22, successfully graduated from university, embarked on an internship and travelled to Tokyo. Well, that last one is more recent, news just 10 hours young actually. So apparently I'm on a summer 'hiatus' from blogging, but I will resume in September once I'm rested, refreshed and back into a routine. It will do me well for both inspiration and motivation I'm sure. For the time being though, I thought I'd do my best to keep record of my visit to Tokyo. I'm here for just over two weeks, with various plans I'm already looking forward to, and with that I shall be rather active on Twitter and Instagram, both @tleeoriginal, using the hashtag #tleetokyo. Yes, I've started my own hashtag — fuck off and leave me alone, it works. And no, you are most certainly not obliged to follow. Enjoy the rest of your summer.

MAG: ALT-J NEW TRACK LEFT HAND FREE

We know the band are returning with a new record very soon and they've fuelled our excitement with this second new track, Left Hand Free. Reminiscent of 70s guitar rock, it's somewhat of a surprise number but then again we know and love their unafraid, dauntless confidence in experimental sounds and it works wonderfully. September 27 is that date of the album's release and I imagine there'll be a couple more surprises in the meantime.

MAG: XXYYXX NEW TRACK ZYGOTE

This is a gorgeous new one from XXYYXX. Apparently he's still only 18, and I thought he was young when he first broke onto the scene — feels like an age ago, he must have been a fetus then. Bloody talented fetus.

BLOG: LUMIX DMC-G6 PHOTOSET 06.14

Find @tleeoriginal on Instagram.

MAG: MØ THE GENESIS LIFE+TIMES

A short 'portrait' for Life+Times, this episode of "The Genesis" features MØ live at Glasslands in Brooklyn, New York. For me, it just shows an artist doing her own thing, enjoying every minute and expressing herself, for herself. And that's so cool.

MAG: THE WEEKND NEW SINGLE OFTEN

The Weeknd's just dropped this hot new track Often and it's a free download too, how kind.

MAG: FKA TWIGS TWO WEEKS OFFICIAL VIDEO

New one from FKA twigs, the first track to be revealed from the upcoming album "LP1", and it's gorgeous — probably my favourite to date. It's called Two Weeks and it was premiered by none other than Ellie Goulding who covered for Zane Lowe on his Radio 1 show last night. (What a wonderful two hours that was, by the way!) FKA twigs has been a smash since signing with Young Turks and her weird, experimental music has struck an amazing, unique balance between peaceful and eery that you can't help but be intrigued by. This new single does that superbly and it's just beautiful. The now notoriously fantastic visuals, this video directed by Nabil, are again on point, obviously, and its an imagery that's clearly deep in her identity or her purpose behind her sound. A true artist.

DIARY: JFC U8 TOURNAMENT SUCCESS

This was Sunday morning. We tend to enter summer tournaments each year and I took my U8s for our first outing on Sunday. While it may have been the first time this set of players have participated in competitive games, we've been training together as a group for a good year or so and it really shows in our tight-knit spirit and friendliness. So I was feeling really positive ahead of the tournament, that we've prepared so well recently.

For our age group, they ran groups of 5 teams without progression to any knockouts, so that's 4 games against 4 opponents. We lost the first one before winning the remaining 3 and I'm absolutely delighted, you have no idea. I was so happy for them and equally so happy personally. Like I said, my confidence going into it was good and that usually makes all the more anxious, fearful of the worst, but man did they play well. Not only did we get the results (we topped the group after beating the table leaders in our final game) but we did so with style and that's what I'm most proud of I suppose. That's what we'd been striving towards every week. At these events, you come up against a variety of teams but very few try to play good football. I know we turned some heads, our passing game was on point and our fight was relentless. So, so pleased. And we go again this weekend.

MAG: BALLET SCHOOL NEW SINGLE CHERISH

A brilliant trio based in Berlin, Ballet School have today unveiled a new track, Cherish, and details of their debut album "The Dew Lasts An Hour" to be released in September. "Big day. Four years of trying and working got us this far," so they've tweeted, and it's an exciting thing because their sound is exciting. Eclectic, 80s and dreamy, it's like the future of pop that has the production qualities of something older, led by the direct, piercing vocals of Rosie Blair. Nothing else I listen to sounds like they do and it's quite irresistible — a discotheque in space might sound this way. I saw them support MØ's headline gig at XOYO last year and they certainly made an impression that night. I'm excited to hear they've finally completed a full-length and I anticipate its release highly.

DIARY: COUNTRYSIDE WORLD CUP GETAWAY

Thursday evening, I went down to the countryside in Hurley with the JFC Coaches for some good food, relaxation and World Cup football. And aside for the latter, we had the perfect time — for me personally it felt like a well-deserved getaway to enjoy the sun, fresh air, good food, the sounds and smells of nature. It was lovely. The main attraction let us down of course, with both England and Japan totally disappointing. (I won't get into the details, I really can't be bothered.)

MAG: BROODS MOTHER & FATHER

This is good too. New one from New Zealanders, Broods, called Mother & Father. Nice, atmospheric modern pop and they seem to be going from strength to strength building on what's still one of my most played EPs this year. Their debut album is set to be released under Polydor later this year and it's definitely on my list of waiting.

MAG: ALT-J NEW SINGLE HUNGER OF THE PINE

Following the news of an upcoming second album from alt-J, we can hear the first glimpse of their new material as a three-piece band with Hunger Of The Pine unveiled today. It's one of the most exciting announcements of the year to hear of a follow-up the exceptionally good debut record "An Awesome Wave" — truly, truly awesome it was. And this fresh track is dope as fuck. Excuse my language, and perhaps for a lack of decent description, but it is a considered comment and one that I think is apt. So there. If you don't believe me, it only takes one listen to see what I mean. Apparently what drops about a minute and a half into the song is a Miley Cyrus sample and not many would get away with that for me, or many others I'm sure, but they absolutely kill it, right? On point. I don't know how they do it — I'd love to see their creative process because I'm 100% sure it's remarkable.

DIARY: CHELSEA AWAY KIT 2013/14 PURCHASE

Caught up in the football fever, I was browsing some kits online — as you do — and I've found myself purchasing Chelsea's away kit from last season, Frank Lampard's final season. It seemed most fitting to get his shirt in his honour and the away kit was at a decent sale price. I like the navy on white, I like the dual stripes across the front, I like the crew neck shape; it's a good item. And funnily it's my only Blues kit that I own (that fits, with my past strips only from childhood) so I feel sufficiently equipped now.

MAG: LANA DEL REY SHADES OF COOL OFFICIAL VIDEO