music, life and MUSIC

I'm an addict

2008-09-30T20:50:00.000+02:00

Had an OFFICIAL band practice today and it was amazing.

I do apologise for the lack of postage :) I have been VERY VERY VERY busy. All I have had time to do is update my status on Facebook, which takes less time than posting something.

I have also been a tired grumpy mess all week, but that changed after my practice. I felt like I had unloaded all that stuff that was getting me down. I truly am a music addict!

It made me think how pleasant the world would be if we could all release a little bit of tension in a creative way! I know some people think that they are not creative, but I believe we are all creative. There is a masterpiece in all of us!

I'm out!

You know what to do: go HERE, listen and add. I'm on Facebook (search for BLACK PORCELAIN) as well, so please feel free to join THERE as well.

SO MANY Teacups

2008-09-23T12:30:00.000+02:00

Okay I am truly celebrating every minor joy. Today I checked out THE SPACE and Teacup has been played over 103 times. So, thank you once again. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!

Right now I'm celebrating 100, next year a thousand and soon after a MILLION. Every step counts right?

Well, I guess you already know that I'm going to send you over there. Listen to the music and enjoy it!

PS I had my first band practise yesterday. But we didn't do any rehearsing. I had just met the guys and the bassist was unable to make it. So we sat down and chatted about what we all wanted out of this experience. SO FAR SO GOOD...

Thank you King!!

2008-09-23T12:10:00.000+02:00

I'm not sure if there is anything more left to say. Thank you! It's about time :)

Ne-Yo Ms Independent

Ne-Yo She got her own

PS I see you Estelle!!!

A hundred Johnnys

2008-09-20T12:30:00.002+02:00

Yep I said I would share the highs and the lows (no matter how tiny) when I first started this blog about my journey to being a full time (successful) muso. Well today another tiny high for me. A little while ago it was Nobody Knows, today it's my beloved Johnny.

Johnny has been played 100 times over at the space that is mine. YIPPPPPEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!It's the little joys that keep me going, because I know one day they will add up to the BIG ONE!

If you haven't heard the songs go HERE now and add to my joy. And if you have thank you for playing a part in this little joy :) The whole EP (GREEN) will be available for download as soon as I (as in mostly Marcee-the-Manager) can get through the paperwork and someone at Rhythm Records actually answers mail or the phone (AAAARRRGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!).

Some of my fave Johns:

The OG a.k.a Mr John

The guitar-Johnny

The Night-fever-John

The inspirational-John

The kick-ass-movie-making-John

"This is my song for Johnny, wont you play the keys. And if you here me Johnny, wont you join me please..."

Quality time

2008-09-18T22:40:00.000+02:00

I don't get to hang out with my friends a lot because most of them are in Jozi, but some of them are in Cape Town. Last week I visited my girl Zoe and when I looked back at the pictures I realised how much I love pulling funny faces when everyone else looks normal.

Zoe wearing my super styling sunnies :)

My girls

Trying my best not to act the fool

I can't help it...

Public PROPOSAL to Kanye

2008-09-16T22:03:00.001+02:00

Okay after hearing Kanye Wests new single Love Lockdown, I'm convinced he is worthy of a public proposal LMAO!! So... KANYE WILL YOU MARRY ME?

That might not work so I might have to post a picture like this first (ala where-are-you-Yeezy). Or maybe I have a better chance of being signed to G.O.O.D Music. I like the 'simplicity' of the track, but don't take my word for it go HERE and listen to it.

Granted, I've been down since The College Drop Out, so I am a great fan of his work. This one might not be for everyone. Just like I didn't quite 'get on' with Late Registration... Maybe I should revisit it.

EITHER WAY LOVE LOCKDOWN GETS ATHUMBS UP FROM ME!!! And I think I might not propose after all LOL!!!

This is THE SHIT!!!!

2008-09-16T12:12:00.000+02:00

SAMURAI CHAMPLOO

pic via anotheranime

Been watching it all week, trying not to get to the last episode... I have 3 to go. What am I gonna do when I have watched the last episode :)

I love everything about Samurai Champloo, I'm even tempted to say that I think Jin's manner is kind of sexy and that I can sort of relate to Mugen AND that Fuu is what I think my little sister would be like (if I had one). SIGH... I never thought I would get INTO Anime like I have with SC. It makes me want to learn Japanese!

*tearing up* I don't want it to end...

5 in 1 this week in Zulu ONLY

2008-09-14T15:44:00.000+02:00

This week on 5 in 1: Zulu Boy.

I heard about this guy a few years ago from someone from EMI who was telling me that Zulu Boy is the future. I took the comment and filed it somewhere in the archives of my mind. It was only a few months later that I actually HEARD him. I loved that he did not stick himself into any ones box, he created a whole entire space for his creativity.

His debut album Masihambisane was dope and he has a new one out 'Inqolobane'.

So if you wanna hear about the man behind the music, tune into the Midnight Xpress on Radio 2000 this week Mon- Fri midnight - 3am... Shameless advertising. You can catch us on streaming audio too. HOLLER!!!

Zulu Boy- Hail to the King

The interview didn't start so well though. There is nothing worse than calling the person you're supposed to be interviewing and hearing 'The subscriber you have called is not available. Please try again later." I wasn't gonna lose my coll though, so I called his label and they hooked me up. He had lost his phone. After that everything just flowed. Nice young man!

The only reason I get so worked up when an interviewee (is that even a word?) does not pick up their phone, is because I've had someone promise they would be available for a LIVE interview and then not pick up. This guy did it to me THREE times. I learned my lesson though! I think what made it worse was that he was a friend of mine (not anymore).

Silence

2008-09-12T11:59:00.001+02:00

I truly have nothing to say about the latest headlines... This is what some people had to say.

What can I say? All I can do now is sit back and watch this whole drama play itself out. I was talking to someone yesterday who said that 'other countries' might be the future for South Africans who can afford to leave. I'm so sad that this is what it has come to so soon.

I really have nothing to say... :(

Nobody knows

2008-09-11T22:46:00.000+02:00

So, I went over to my little MySpace page to see how things are going today. I was very happy to see that NOBODY KNOWS had been played 100 times. 100 may seem like a little to you, but when I finished that track only 4 people had heard it. So to think that it has been played 100 times made me feel like this...

LIKE A PARTY!!! May there one day be a million units (and more) sold LOL!!!

GREEN... I want to be ever GREEN, because being ripe means I'm rotting ;)

The above pic is for my darlingest manager who shares this minor joy with me. This is her favourite pic of the lot... MUCH LOVE TO YOU MANAGER GIRL!!!

Time flies

2008-09-10T22:00:00.001+02:00

Oh how time flies when there are deadlines to be met and gigs to be booked. So I'm just gonna give you the long and short of what I've been up to. I've been...

Admiring Crisvector's AMAZING stuff. My little brother & Marcee were hooked and so I decided to check it out... NICE!!! Below are some of my faves.

Ad Infinitum by `CrisVector on deviant ART

Queen Of Hearts by `CrisVector on deviant ART

Idiocity by `CrisVector on deviant ART

Madam Nature by `CrisVector on deviant ART

Images via crisvector.deviantart.com

Listened to Fat Freddys drop. Needless to say that was the work of my little brother as well. I would be so old and boring if it wasn't for him :) It's easy listening and it makes me think of sipping cocktails on a sunny Friday afternoon, just before we go party the night away. Aaah will Summer EVER get here?

Went on a team building get away for day job last weekend. That was fun! Magaliesberg was so nice and hot and then I got back to a wet and cold Cape Town SMH. I took my camera with me and took no pics- typical!

Marcee put together an amazing band and we found rehearsal space, now she is working on finding the perfect time for everyone to get together and rehearse as well as booking gigs.

Made my big brother listen to Tidal Waves latest album (Afrika), these guys are amazing. I saw them at Zula 2 weeks ago and they are also incredibly sweet, so I am a HUGE fan. I spoke to Jacob a.k.a Zakes after their performance and he was telling me how weird it is that when they perform overseas the people love them, but here in SA promoters hardly know who they are. Somethings got to change...

Image via their MySpace

I also did a little bit of soul searching.. And came to the following conclusion.

All great achievements require time.

Maya Angelou

If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.

Maya Angelou

Thank God for Maya Angelou!!!!

The weeks that WERE

2008-09-03T18:04:00.002+02:00

I have been out of action for a good reason: ILLNESS!! It seems I have not been able to avoid being sick. So I did one of the most difficult things I have ever done this year: RESTED!!! I had to not only rest my body, but my mind. There has been some really crazy stuff happening in my life.

But there were some really great things as well:

Went to Bridget's house warming

Bridget- not really keen on having her picture taken

Junior

Marcee

Then went to the 340ml album launch gig at The Assembly. Bought 2 copies of the CD (Sorry for the delay)... Junior LOVES it!!!

The next day I woke up with NO VOICE!!!

But my friend AK was in town, so I went and had a quick lunch with her and Marcee. I thought I would be out of action for a day. But then I REALLY GOT SICK. I missed three days of work, which is not great because I'm a freelancer.

To be continued...

REALLY??? REALLY???

2008-09-03T01:40:00.001+02:00

Okay, I have been hiding for a while… I have been ill and I’ve been working on a post about that, which will be posted soon (I promise). This post is about something that has me totally CONFUSED: I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Estelle’s album has been pulled off iTunes, in an attempt to get people to BUY physical copies of the album. WHAT?!

Yes…

I read this article & wanted couldn’t believe it. I know that there is no such thing as a bad experience, but I’m struggling to see how this situation will benefit anyone. I don’t even see the label winning in this case.

Maybe I’m too mad at this. So can you find the silver lining here?

She deserves to SHINE. DONE!

Manuscipt Hip Hop

2008-08-21T21:29:00.001+02:00

Now that the creative part of the EP (Green) is over...

There is a lot of admin to get through, so I'm letting my dear manager take care of that. I am now working on my manuscript again. I couldn't finish the EP and the first draft of the manuscript at the same time, so I took a break from writing.

Most of the time I write in silence, but once in a while I need music playing in the background while I write. So today I created a Manuscript Hip Hop playlist:

Lil Wayne - Mr Carter

Lil Wayne ft Robin Thicke - Tie my hands

Jay Z - Song cry (I LOOOOOOOOOVE THIS SONG)

Talib Kweli - In the mood

Talib Kweli - Oh my stars

Kanye West - Everything I am

Kanye West - I wonder

Common - Electric Wire Hustle Flower

Common - A film called pimp

Common - It's your world

Common - The Corner

Lupe Fiasco - Intruder Alert

Lupe Fiasco - Go baby

The Roots - You got me

Mos def - The Panties

Mos Def - Sex, love & money

Mos Def - Travelling man

Notorious B.I.G - Sky is the limit

I'm hard at work on the manuscript!!!! And loving it :)

I LOVE the olympics!!!

2008-08-18T22:30:00.000+02:00

And not for the reasons that you may think... Okay it's lovely to see people push themselves, represent their countries, win medals etc etc. I really do enjoy the games, I am also one of those people that gets teary eyed when people shed tears of joy. I love that stuff! I love supporting my country, even when we don't win.

But you know what I really enjoyed about this years Olympics???

Seeing this Roland Schoeman man swim. Like I said on my Facebook profile, I think he is wonderful (I might have used the word 'yummy') WITH or WITHOUT a medal.

I know, I know... I'm such a girl! Whatever!! I have a complete EP and I cannot release it before I get all the admin out of the way, so this is how I entertain myself: enjoying the less competitive side of the Olympics- great bodies!! I'm indulging my inner girly girl today LOL!!

PS- How is that Michael Phelps?? 8 Gold medals???? GTFOH!!! AMAZING!!!

Quiet Friday

2008-08-15T20:53:00.003+02:00

This is officially my first Friday night at the new crib. I'm lying on the gorgeous red sofa, with a glass of red wine (& a glass of water- on the floor). I'm listening to MY FAVOURITE station: Radio 2000- 8 TILL LATE with Nicole & Kamza.

I live quite close to the 'hot' night spots, so I can hear the loud music & the loud party people making their way to the hot spots. I love a good party just as much as the next person, but today I'm gonna chill.

Dark Knight

Watched Dark Knight a few days ago: WOW!!! Heath Ledger completed his life's work with this movie. Marcee said it was 'dark', but I didn't think so. It was so BEAUTIFUL to see someone totally embody a character the way Heath did! he made Jack Nicholson's Joker look like a monkey LOL!

My inner 'little boy' was thoroughly satisfied with this movie. he has gone into hiding until the urge for a good 'boy' movie arises again.

Green Light
Played John Legends 'Green Light' for the first time on Monday night on my show and I am going to go ahead and say that I think that it is SOOO hot that he plays around with the evil box called 'genre'. Yes John! Yes!!

Green
I have put 3 songs up on my myspace page, go listen RIGHT NOW! The 3 songs up are:

Johnny
Teacup
Nobody knows

The whole EP will be available for download by the end of the month :)

I have MY own personal SPACE now kids

2008-08-13T12:23:00.000+02:00

I officially have a MySpace page... I didn't do all the hard work myself. I'm a techno-phobe, we've had this discussion before. I'm over HERE so go check me out and then add me as a friend, if your on facebook then I'm over HERE (be sure to become a fan).

Have fun listening to the tracks & let me know what you think :)

That there is the rough CD cover. Designer lady (Tatum) is BRILLIANT!!! Will put up the complete cover as soon as I get it.

Peace offering

2008-08-13T12:01:00.002+02:00

Oh, I KNOW I'm terrible. I know, but I have been so busy dealing with family, friend and me stuff that I abandoned this poor blog. I'm back and as a peace offering, I offer you Mr West's CHAMPION (I exercise to this song- YES I DO!)

Kanye West "Champion Video" Official Directed by NEON from nabil elderkin on Vimeo.

Wise words

2008-08-05T01:48:00.002+02:00

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that frightens us. Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

- Nelson Mandela, inaugural address, written by Marianne Williamson

I cannot express how beautiful these words are... Beautiful and true!!

P.S I am still unpacking boxes at the new crib. I will post pics of the new pad once it look decent, right now it looks like a warehouse. Aaargh!!

GREEN (The EP) by Black Porcelain (me LOL!) coming sooon!!!

No alien abduction!!!

2008-08-04T02:04:00.000+02:00

No, I have not gone fishing. I have been moving from one cozy apartment that had all my stuff in it (and even smelled like me), to a bigger place that feels a little cold at the moment and all my stuff is in boxes and black plastic bags.

The new place is so weird, because there is some BRIGHT SPARK who has parked in my space (for the whole weekend) and my remote (to open the gate and boom) does not work properly. I have no TV, all new furniture (because my last place was fully furnished), no sofas (though), my fridge is only arriving tomorrow and I still need to get pots etc etc whine whine...

I'm a little sore, sad (because I miss my tiny little flat already), broke, tired and looking forward to another day of 'moving admin' bleh!!

EP Update:
I have seen the 'final' designs for the sleeve- I'm happy, can't wait to print those damn things. MY little brother will be working on the MySpace page next weekend- we were too busy moving this weekend. I don't know how we would have managed without him. What a great little brother!!!

GREEN by BLACK PORCELAIN coming soon...

New Years resolutions

2008-07-31T02:06:00.001+02:00

I have decided that I will not succumb to the madness of New Years resolutions come 1 January 2009. There are far too many people feeling stupidly hopeful just because it’s a new year and they all commit to things that they forget about before January is up.

So I have decided to do things my way. I have decided to work on ‘New years resolutions’ for August 2008 – December 2009. Yes I know that this is longer than 1 year, but this is how I’m doing things- MY WAY! So below are my New Years resolutions LOL!

Music:

Get airplay on at least 2 national radio stations, I don’t need them to playlist all 5 tracks, but wouldn’t that be lovely… *evil laugh*
Raise enough funds through gigs & downloads (hint to all the people that love and support me) of the EP, to record a high quality full length album
Before I do the above I would like to get a band of very diverse musicians that I ‘click’ with, the search starts soon.
Do a couple of gigs with Tidal Waves, Jacsharp, HHP & 7th Son.
Make the cover of YourLMG… Mike I know you reading this! Could we please make it in colour? LMAO!

GREEN (the EP) by BLACK PORCELAIN coming IN 2 WEEKS!!!

Writing:

Self publish my book before Feb 2009.
Sign a deal with an independent distributor.
Sell more that 5000 copies in SA (you may think that this is a low self esteem number… Don’t worry, so do I, but look at the next point).
Get an agent and sign a deal with a US publisher, so my book is sold in a totally different market… Aaah the ambition of young people, you gotta love it.
Start doing some freelance work for magazines locally. I miss writing and it's fun just to write an article as opposed to a whole book, sometimes.

Day Job:

Increase listenership on my ‘graveyard’ show
GET A PRODUCER… I really wanna do BIGGER things, but I simply can’t because I have my finger in 2 many pies ha ha ha ha.
Move to another time slot, because I won’t be able to do midnight – 3am for too long, as much as I love my new show.

Home:

We are moving into a new place and we won’t have TV for 2 months, because we are starting from scratch! Living in a new place has really spoilt us. So by December 2009, I want to have a TV and FULL furniture. So I feel at home in my little place.
HAVE A DINNER PARTY with all my peoples in Cape Town and have some of my Jozi people over… I promise I will ladies (and gents) please just be patient.
Have a black upright piano in my place; the place is not big enough for a baby grand (PLUS I CANNOT AFFORD ONE!!!!!)

Body

I have never owned a bikini and I have seen Serena Williams in a bikini and she looks amazing, so I’m inspired by a sister who is not bone thin.
I am going to loose about 5 kg’s and buy me a sexy bikini… Not sure if I ill post pictures.
A while ago I had an eyebrow wax (which I will never do again, threading is the way to go) so I think I will dare to have a bikini wax ONCE in my life. If the results are great , I might give up shaving FOREVER (most unlikely, because I HATE pain).
Have my beloved Green Drink (courtesy of Dr Oz) every morning… It’s actually not that bad, at least not the way that I make it.

Serena Williams REPRESENTING!!!

OTHER:

INCREASE MY INCOME! I’m not doing badly, but I read a quote that said "There is no point at which having arrived we can remain." By a some smart anonymous person.
Save at least 10% of my income every month.
I am a late bloomer when it comes to hip hop, so I missed some really great acts when they made their way to SA (many years ago). One of these acts was Talib Kweli. I sent him a message on MySpace BEGGING him to show SA some love. He then replied (not sure if it was him or his people, but I still appreciated it) ,speedily might I add, saying he had been here 3 times already. He even enquired WHERE I WAS when all this was happening LOL! So since I was a mere seedling, my mission is to get promoters to get TALIB, MOS, COMMON & THE ROOTS down here for all of us SA to enjoy (get your mind out of the gutter THIS INSTANT!). If they refuse, I might have to do it myself.
Make an effort to see at least 5 live performances a month, if Mike has it his way he might have us going out 3 times a week

I HAVE to get Talib to come back to SA, feel free to support me :)

Mike (from YourLMG), Marcia and I at DecoDANCE LOL!

Wise words

2008-07-30T02:34:00.001+02:00

I came across the quote below & wanted to share, it's a little long but it's a goodie :)

It is not the critic who counts, nor the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows great enthusiasms, great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.

- Theodore Roosevelt

EP diary - Mastering tracks

2008-07-29T01:07:00.001+02:00

Today I heard 4 out of 5 songs on the EP (almost finished), which were in the process of being mastered! I am very excited that they sound so amazing. They never would have sounded so great if I wasn’t working with the 2 people that I picked to work on this project with:
Marcee & C.B (producer kid).

It’s incredible to hear songs that started as a few notes on my crappy keyboard, which serves me very well LOL!! They are all grown up and ready to go out into the world. I’m afraid that there is nothing that I can do about how people perceive my first 5 babies, I can only be proud of them and stand by them, even the ones that the other kids make fun of because they don’t run as fast or look as ‘good’ as the other kids.

Just in case you are wondering about the child metaphor… No I’m not feeling broody, I was about 24 hours ago. But hearing my music made me want to be mother to my songs a little longer, before I go and mess up some innocent child’s life LOL!

I’m happy with what I heard and it should be ready for public consumption VERY VERY soon.

GREEN (the EP) by BLACK PORCELAIN coming soon darlings!

The week that was

2008-07-27T17:50:00.001+02:00

I have been very bad at this posting game, but please allow me to explain why:

1. The wife and I are moving out of our tiny flat and there is a LOT OF CRAP that we need to get rid of. It's funny how we hang on to meaningless shit to fill the spaces in our homes. I feel like a mini hoarder. We want our new home not to be filled with useless stuff.

2. I took my braids out... WHAT A JOB! It'll take me a while before I get braids again. My hair was all knotted and gross. LOL!

3. I CUT MY HAIR!!!! Oh my goodness, what an experience. Me cutting my hair is my moms WORST nightmare. She has this idea of me being a 'perfect girl': with long neat hair, great figure who stays home with her parents until she gets married LMAO. Sorry ma you GOT ME LOL!! I initially thought I would be sad but I actually feel good. I will post a pic of my new hair as soon as I can.

4. Watched Wanted last night... I know, I know it's late, but I don't get out much. It was cool, really cool. James McAvoy even managed to look hot a few times. It was another one of those movies that made my inner little boy smile broadly and say 'LET'S DO THAT AGAIN'!
I particularly enjoyed the end when 'Wesley' says "This is me taking back control of my life. What the fuck have you done lately?"

5. FINISHED all my work on GREEN (the EP) and I'm ready to write more stuff. I listened to it and it was pretty cool. I feel like I've grown musically already. I'm almost ready to release my 'warm up project'. GREEN by BLACK PORCELAIN COMING SOON!

6. I laughed hard at bad album covers over at ATCN. Below are just a few that had Marcee and I REALLY enjoyed!

They aren't bad, but they are pretty awkward!

See more here

Things NOT to do on radio

2008-07-23T01:17:00.000+02:00

Never give out your number on air: I’m so used to giving people my number. Both the studio number and my number start with 08… DAMMIT! I shouldn’t be surprised if people I don’t know start calling me LOL... Let me just say that I've already done this once already!
Don’t say ASS on air: I say words like ASS, FUCK, SHIT etc so much that it’s hard not to say them on air. Luckily I stopped before saying ASS on air and said ‘behind’. I need to take a serious look at my vocab and stop using those horrible EFFING words :)
Turn the mic on while you’re singing along with the song: I love singing along to the songs and sometimes I don’t stop singing when my finger hits the ‘ON’ button. Not everyone wants to hear me singing along to their favourite song… Out of tune NOGAL!
Comment on what you are watching on TV: Sometimes I have the TV on, just so I don’t feel like the only person awake after midnight, and sometimes I feel like letting people know how stupid some of the ‘pimping’ on Pimp my ride is. Or when the song I’m playing is on TV as well.
Don’t burp on air! Sometimes I’ll be drinking an energy drink and suddenly I NEED TO BURP. Nobody wants to hear you burp on air. Nasty! I haven’t done it yet, but I’m almost certain that it will happen soon. I’m always drinking energy drinks or eating in the studio (presenting makes me hungry).

You're never too old to learn or make a complete boob of yourself LOL!