Sutan Amrull – better known as Raja – is a make-up artist, a touring queen and the Season 3 winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race. He’s also an amazing illustrator whose work we have the pleasure of witnessing in realtime via the new World of Wonder YouTube series Raja Drawja.

The latest installment features the multi-talented Raja creating the likeness of fellow aesthetic master, Mathu Andersen. In the video, which can be viewed below. The two friends engage in casual convo while Raja sketches, shades and colors what appears to be Mathu in the above look.

In the convo we learn Mathu once had the privelege of performing 5am blowouts on the infamous Anna Wintour bob. According to the story, he lost the gig after over-sleeping due to some late-night draganigans. The blip didn’t appears to derail his career. Perhaps it even did it some good, as he’s now in quite a more interesting space. Peep Mathu’s best-known muse in the gram below.

A photo posted by Mathu Andersen (@mathu7) on May 5, 2014 at 9:20pm PDT

Andersen recently hosted a gallery showing of self portraits is Los Angeles. An even for which it appears the artist chose the relative comfort of modern male dress. i.e. the “freedom of an unfettered waist.” Freedom, indeed.

Don’t be mad……but I don’t think I am go to to a drag look for tonight. I think I want the freedom of an… http://t.co/4kl27sDCuk

— Mathu Andersen (@Mathuism) November 13, 2014

More Mathu:
Follow Craig Kretschmer’s board Mathu Anderson on Pinterest.

NEW YORK, Tuesday, November 11, 2014 – In collaboration with global superstar and seven-time Grammy® award-winner, Taylor Swift, American Express unveiled the American Express Unstaged Taylor Swift Blank Space Experience App giving fans everywhere a never-before-seen, 360⁰ immersive music video experience for her new single, “Blank Space,” from her critically-acclaimed album, 1989. The app premiered on ABC’s Good Morning America this morning and the video premiered yesterday across the online, TV and mobile apps of Vevo, the world’s leading all-premium music video and entertainment platform with over seven billion monthly views globally.

“With American Express, we have been able to create something that no one has been able to give to fans before…a 360-degree, interactive experience where everyone can explore the storyland of the “Blank Space” video,” said Swift. “This video experience is really fun because we have hidden items in the rooms for fans to find, look at and test their ability to find other items. Joining up with America Express to bring this experience as a gift to the fans has been so amazing. This is all for them, and I hope that the they will have a lot of fun with it.” Click here to download the app.

Swift has shaped up to me among the most savvy artists in the business. Her recent move to yank her catalogue from Spotify has kept her, and her new album 1989, at top of mind for fans as well as people that barely realize she’s not no longer just some country music ingenue.

“Because darling, I’m a nightmare dressed as a daydream”

The “Shake it Off” singer’s partnership with American Express is an astute business move as well as a nod to her appreciation for technology, which some have questioned with her statement that Spotify is “a grand experiment.” Perhaps even more important (to us) the new video is an opportunity for the star to show off her model portions in expensive clothes, and with grand decor and a smoldering co-star as accessories.

Screencaps via youtube.com/user/TaylorSwiftVEVO

Daria Werbowy morphs from skater to rocker, businessman to dancer as she shape-shifts through an array of different characters in this stop-motion animation by photographer Cass Bird. The pair were inspired by a series of black-and-white cut-out collages made in the early 70s by Cindy Sherman, an artist famed for her fascination with identity and gender.

Cass Bird x Daria Werbowy on Nowness.com.

If you weren’t a fan (or at least an appreciator), you’ve GOT to be now. Jennifer Hudson, rose to an incredible challenge during her performance of “I Will Always Love You” at the 54th Grammy Awards last evening. To sing such a huge song at such a raw moment must have been nerve wracking and emotional. She pulled it off beautifully in a lovely black mermaid dress. In fact, black dresses were the highlight of Grammys fashion 2012.

Watch Jennifer’s stellar performance below:

On the eve of the 54th annual Grammy Awards. The world bid adieu to one of the greatest voices to ever grace the earth: Whitney Houston. The superstar singer was found dead in a hotel room and early reports speculate that she drowned in the tub after taking a lethal mixture of Xanax and alcohol. Another life is claimed by legal drugs.

Like Amy Winehouse, who died at 27, and even Michael Jackson, who made it to 58, Whitney was a shooting star whose light shone so bright that she didn’t need to stay long. This must be an unbearably painful time for her family and loved ones, but as a fan of the artist I can only say thank you Whitney for giving us the enormous gift of your music. Enjoy the respite from the hectic world!

Watch Whitney Houston let that amazing voice fly in some of her greatest live performances in the playlist below.

photos: olli87.tumblr.com, whitneyhouston.com, whitney-houston-fans.blogspot.com
illustration: Joe Osei Bonsu

Beyonce plays the role of Lady in Red, complete with Sphinx at her side in her new video “Run the World (Girls)” – a single from her fourth solo album. As is often the case, E.J. finds the must to be a bit of a yawner, but my interest was piqued, at least, by the glimpse of McQueen shown early in the video.

The red and gold ensemble is from the epic final collection of the late Alexander McQueen (Fall/Winter 2010), who has capture the imaginations of fashion followers around the globe. Video stylists didn’t even bother to vary the footwear in the look, which seems to indicate either homage to the late designer (whose suicide has been grotesquely glamourized) or perhaps a bend toward some unspoken protocol.

At any rate, the video shines most for it’s dance. Beyonce dazzles, as usual, keeping up with sneakered men in heels and full pop star garb. There’s an apocolyptic tone to the video too, which is perhaps appropriate to the theme: the notion of girls running the world is, for sure, revolutionary. It’s one that would require the collapse of the current patriarch.

And about that sphinx lion…

I also find the YouTube comments on the video to be nearly as entertaining as the video. And I didn’t even have to dig.

yoo the ONLY reason i watchh this is for the dudes dancin in the beginning…. on point maan
– theoneandonly778

You can not compare to she with other artist, much less with Lady Gaga. She loves to mix music and she is seeking to vary their style and there is nothing better on a artist. There is a difference between artists who make hits and the artists who make classics. Bey is a legend, sixteen Grammys, only that. Guess who is back… the Queen, Beyoncé.

Con 16 Grammys no hay dudas <3 - hypnotickaa ILLUMINATI CUNT! - ElSanti0

There’s been murmurs that Katy Perry’s new video for her song “E.T.” is a Lady Gaga knockoff. I think it’s just evidence of where are culture is going & how we’re all so interested in space and extraterrestrial possibilities. Plus, Katy’s video is so much more relevant to her song & it’s not like she just recorded it after she saw Gaga’s “Born This Way” video.

I’m not in love with the song, but it’s decent & it does a good job to highlight Katy Perry’s voice, which I think is really great (wish she’d do some rock!). The visuals in the video are really amazing and, of course, my fashion goggles immediately spotted the show-closing bride gown from Viktor & Rolf spring 2011. Love it!

Once again, Lady Gaga delivers (literally) riveting visuals with her “Born This Way” music video. The story concept is also intriguing and adds to my belief that this chick has some really interesting things to say about life and the way we all live it. HOWEVER, I’ve yet to be riveting, intrigued, or interested in her music. It’s not bad music, mind you, and I think Lady Gaga is a talented singer. I’ve just never felt motivated to purchase her music or even seek it out on YouTube. I’m starting to think of her more as a performance artist than a musician. That’s not such a bad thing, really. It just isn’t what get’s this beat stylist excited.

The Marc Jacobs show left me awestruck today. I’ve been feeling a bit jaded about taking in fashion from my computer screen, but MJ breath new life into this fashion lover! The Fall-Winter 2011-2012 collection was incredible from start to finish. Suffused with polka dots, but tempered with strict, ’40s-inspired tailoring. There were the expected maroons and shin-length skirts but Jacobs has a way of taking a predictable trend and making it look absolutely fresh. And then there was the music… swoon. Couldn’t have picked a better choice: Marilyn Manson’s “Beautiful People” was and awesome, kick-ass, mesmerizing foil to the ultra femininity of the collection. Per.fec.tion.

Collage made from photos via style.com

It’s spring! And like Bambi, and all other creatures living with their hearts wipe open, I am utterly twitterpated. My new love: The Temper Trap. They are a rock band, but like all of my favorite bands, I’m reluctant to slide them into a simple genre. The BBC called them “Sun-bleached surf-pop from down under” – which I think is wayyy off. Their MySpace page slots them in A’cappella / Other / Melodramatic Popular Song categories – which maybe doesn’t hit the mark either, but better describes the inability to pin these guys down (or else just the band’s sense of humor).

It was a fantastic show at The Loft – well attended, but not stampede stuffed. I, of course, was up near the front of the stage amongst some really young (it seemed) fans and having a blast. The moment was made all the better by the fact that leader singer Dougy Mandagi has great style (on this night, anyhow). Unfortunately, my super-amateur photography skills were not enough to adequately capture the look very well on camera. The missing details: rolled short sleeve (very 50s), a feather print shirt with chest exposed (very 70s), a small gold crucifix pendant, a braided leather belt. The exposed chest, BTW was very appropriate to Dougy’s vocal style, which reminds me of that Bee Gees falsetto that so characterized the disco era.

Inspired Style: Dougy of TheTemper Trap – LIVE in Atlanta by eighty jane featuring Low Luv by Erin Wasson necklaces

Apparently the Melbourne band was introduced to the States by way of a movie called “500 Days of Summer.” I’ve never seen it, and have barely even heard of it (proud Hollywood hater, here). The break out song was “Sweet Disposition” – played unplugged and mellow in the video below.

It’s a nice song, but not nearly as amazing as some of the other songs on their debut album Conditions. One of my favorites is “Science of Fear.”