Meet Ze Models
Our lovely models are all Cincinnati based musicians. Check out below to learn more about them and what inspires their music and personal style.
Andie Luman is a member of Crime of Passing and The Serfs. Born in Denver, Colorado, Andie moved with her family to Cincinnati at an early age. At age 20, she started playing music. Her partner, Dakota, started Crime of Passing as a solo project and Andie got recruited to play synths and sing. Now, she writes the lyrics for the band. “If I have an excess of something, I like to write about it. It gives me the chance to address things I haven’t had a platform to say and it’s a way to do it artfully,” Andie explained. When I asked what is a fashion necessity for her shows, Andie said, “latex gloves… they make me feel the most on.” Andie’s personal style is that of a gothic latex princess, you can check it out for yourself on instagram- @tenderfixation.
Andie’s favorite goth icon is Siouxsie Sioux. “She’s chic and goth with a fashion forward sense of style but also a super poised person.” Her favorite cemetery in Cincinnati is Spring Grove Cemetery (aren’t we lucky to have such a fabulous place in our city?!). Andie’s drink of choice is red wine and cherry coke and if you’re out and about on a random night, you might find her at Our Pub.
Be sure to check out her bands, they are both quite accomplished and doing great things for modern alternative new wave/goth music.
Ava Roberts is a member of Isabelle Helle and the Hell’s Bells and while not currently active bands, a member of Black Planet, Sour Ground and past member of Pearl de Vere (aka Breaking Glass). Ava is quite near and dear seeing as we’ve played in all of those bands together. She played violin in grade school and while her path in college led her to focus on art, she was surrounded by musicians. When she and boyfriend (now fiancé) Jerri Queen moved in together, she was inspired to pick up bass. She bought a Danelectro Hollowbody Longneck from an acquaintance on Facebook (although she never got to play this bass at any shows). Ava and I happened to be at a cookout together and I asked her about playing bass and if she would want to jam sometime…. And then Black Planet formed.
A fashion necessity for Ava to play a gig is her blue eyebrows (so much so that she got them tattooed on). Ava also recollects that when she started playing in bands she didn’t put much thought into what she wore because she thought that was punk but “punk is totally about fashion and accessories. Now, Ava’s look is much more curated for shows. Her favorite goth icon is Nina Hagen. She said, “her style of music is so on the extreme end of what could be considered punk music. A lot of punk musicians don’t count on their voices because it’s about yelling but [Nina] has so much tone control, it’s admirable.”
Ava is quite the artist, curator and art collector. Whenever she moves into a new place, the first thing she does is get the lighting to her liking. Then, she curates her space with knick knacks and shrines, “things that make me happy,” she says with a smile. Art is a huge part of settling in but she takes more time to get that placed.
When you’re out and about in Cincinnati, you will most likely see Ava at a show or gallery opening. She is such a supporter and lifeline of the scene and a vibrant welcoming lady.
Lauren Smith is a member of Phoul Phill andt Guill and Isabelle Helle and the Hell’s Bells. While only recently picking up electric guitar (which is wild since she is such a shredder) Lauren has been around music her whole life thanks to her father who encouraged the habit from a young age. She grew up in Southern California and recounts that they “had a baby grand in the dining room of [their] trailer home. At age 6 [and her father] showed [her] “Somewhere Out There” from the movie “Fievel Goes West”. After that, Lauren picked up the acoustic guitar.
Not unsurprising if you’ve met Lauren, David Bowie is her favorite goth icon. She loves that he is a “glamorous goth with a strange eye for fashion and make-up.” Lauren has quite the affinity for make-up as well but states that a fashion necessity for a show is the “layering of metals, jewels and shiny fabrics that provoke a sense of mystery and danger.” Paired with her hot pink Dean Playmate guitar, she always makes quite the statement at shows.
Lauren’s favorite bar in Cincinnati is the Chameleon because she loves the “purple pool table and pizza of the day combo.” And if you’re at a show, Lauren will be front and center rocking out to whoever is playing with the best energy of anyone in the music scene!