Wednesday 12 August 2009

Mini update.

In between swallowing bug spray (Note to self: chasing a fly around the apartment spraying a can of ant & roach killer is not the best idea)....

I got to see Ghetto Songbird rock out:

The venue wasn't that great (I think I was inside a random room in somebody's house) but I've realised there's something about watching a black chick (yeah, I said it!) rock out:


She sounds a little like Skin from Skunk Anansie. She gave me her EP, which I will listen to at some point.

As well as working on my novel. I'm really focusing on my character development at the moment and sorting the majors from the minors. Sounds easy, but it's actually tough work...whose to say a minor won't actually turn out to be a major later on in my story? So many ideas and twists and turns for this novel. I know it will be finished, but there are some days when I feel I over think everything and nothing gets done/decided. Aiming to nip that in the bud! But I'm reading and learning so much - which is always good.

Went to Duafe hair salon - apparently it's Jill Scotts haunt when she's in town. Didn't see Jill and didn't take any photos (I was too busy getting a head massage and my natural tresses smothered in some mango smelling goodness!), but they have a gallery of magzine covers and features where they styled the hair. So I was in good hands!

Thought for the day:
+ =

Thursday 6 August 2009

Interviews: Kenny Lattimore & Deborah Cox

I had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing both Kenny Lattimore and Deborah Cox a couple of weeks ago.
For Kenny Lattimore's interview please click here:
(if you like what you read click the 'like' button at the end of the article)

For Deborah Cox's interview please click here
(if you like what you read click the 'like' button at the end of the article)

*For more of my journalism, click here

Wednesday 5 August 2009

Laura Izibor - Live!

Last night I went to World Cafe Live (a sort of up-market Jazz Cafe), to see Laura Izibor perform. I was fortunate to meet and interview her some time last year (I've got a small clip of her singing James Brown 'Sex Machine' acapella on my dictaphone lol), so it was really good to finally see her perform. She was due to be on stage at 8pm, I arrived at about 7:20 as I was meeting some people and having dinner at the venue. I tried gumbo for the first time, it was alright, nothing to write home about - but was told that I need to go to Louisiana for some real gumbo.

I'd heard a few tracks from Laura's album so knew that I was going to hear some really good music, but what was also great about the show was Laura herself. She was conversational, charming and funny. I've been in her presence before but only for an hour or so, I knew she was down-to-earth but seeing her on stage was great: the singing, the talking, the 'stutting her stuff'. She was so at ease with herself and genuinely loving what she does and appreciative of the people who love her music. So easy to forget she's only 21 years of age!

It's almost soul-cleansing to hear real music today. There is so much junk and mish-mosh about I cannot get away from it. If it's not on the radio, it's on the TV, if not there then somebody somewhere is blasting audio nonsense for my poor ears to hear. (All genres I like are affected, with the exceptions of reggae and soul...not too much there - but then you'd really have to be able to sing, no auto tune to cover you - literally!) And to hear good music, live - wow, there is no comparison!

I was planning to stay and get an autographed copy of her CD and a photograph, but the queue was ridiculous!

Anyway enough ramblings from me. I didn't get any really good shots as I was sitting in a decent spot for viewing purposes, but not really for a phone camera or a Casio that isn't really a professional pictures kinda camera!

So enjoy the videos instead (I managed to get a full performance of 'Mmmm' - which used to be my [only] favourite Laura Izibor song, but since this evening I have added to the list)



'What Would You Do'





*I'm not sure what this one is called, but enjoy anyway...




'Perfect World'

I had to split the Mmm peformance in two because of the size.



'Mmm Part One'





'Mmm Part Two'



She gave us a little treat by performing a bit of 'Real Love' by Mary J. I wish I had caught the change from Laura's song 'Shine' to 'Real Love' because it was brilliant, but so unexpected. So here's what I got before my memory card finished:




'Real Love'


Hope you enjoyed!