Singers, Songwriters & Musicians

I am surrounded by so many creative people and I love it when I get to share the same airspace with them.

I can tell from experience that Monday mornings is the probably the worst day for most of them simply because they probably spent the weekend gigging or working on a project in the studio somewhere so, Monday really feels like crap and most wish they could find a away to make their creative juices pay for their day to day living but the thought of pilling bills shoots the energy needed to tap away at those keyboards in an open plan office, up their veins.

Tap, tap, tap….. goes the keys.

Well, on Saturday the 17th of April, you get to spend some time with a lady who has worked hard at making sure those dreams become a reality for her.

Her name is Isa Agape and you can check out her resource page at www.letmusicplay.com

For £25.00 only you get to hear how she transitioned from being a broke artists to selling thousands of CDs at the Albany Theatre – Deptford. (See fler above for more info)

To book your tickets please call Ayo 07957466322 or Lanre 0787 6541948

I hope to see you there…

from Congo with love

Everyday living can make you forget how lucky you are to be able to do what you do and how blessed you are to have the freedom to choose where to work, live and even the freedom to choose whatever faith you practice.

Last night I went to the National Theatre at the Southbank to see the photography exhibition of Rankin. Far removed from his famous clients, (he’s worked with the likes of Kylie Minogue, Kate Moss and even the Queen of England) he paid a visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo with Oxfam, where he gave basic photography workshops to men and women who are victims of a war that started ten years ago! Displaced women, children and men were given the opportunity to tell their stories in their own words and pictures.

Their stories show love and solidarity in the midst of what has been described as the world’s deadliest conflict since World War Two. You probably won’t hear or see this on the front pages of your papers but thanks to Rankin and Oxfam I was able to read these stories and see these pictures myself.

You cannot help but be moved by Alfredo’s story, a forty year old man that conflict and war has taken everything away from, but his love for music. He has had to flee his village three times carrying his seventeen year old guitar with him everywhere he went; that’s how much he loves music.

Farbrize’s love for his wife of seven years is still as strong as when they first met in spite of the war and destruction they have had to endure.

And 78 year old chef Charles now lives in a camp with his six children far removed from the ‘important people’ he once cooked for.

There’s a thread that runs through all the stories I read, these are people who just want what’s best for their families and for themselves.

Their basic hierarchy of needs in no way different from you and I.


From Congo with love is at the National Theatre till the 11th of April 2010 you can also give towards the work that Oxfam is doing in DRC by visiting http://tinyurl.com/6q4kb8

Beautiful.

One day I looked in the mirror and asked myself;

“Who are you?”

And so began my journey of self discovery. I have always been in one choir or another and I have had the most amazing experience(s) of my life. Being a part of a large group of creative people teaches you a lot of things one of them being team work. You see people trying to sound a tad bit louder than the rest of the team; anything to be noticed and heard. You also learn to listen for the next person because the choir sounds best when they sing as one. In the choir I met some amazing individuals who we went on to be the collective known as GK REAL..

Whoa! That taught me something alright! YOU CAN DO ANYTHING WHEN YOU SET YOUR HEART TO IT! I remember our first official gig in Sheringham, I remember our first trip to the US. Oh we had a blast travelling, singing, recording our first album. Working with GK REAL, I re-discovered my love for writing. It has always been my first love but it went on the back burner when living life to pay bills took over. As amazing as the GK REAL experience is, I realised that there was something in me wanting to find expression, something more than organising the group’s dates, singing the harmonies and chasing churches for cheques. (unbelievable, but true! Lol!)

Early this year, it was decided that we take time out to concentrate on working on individual projects for a while and that took me back to the question I asked myself many months ago.

“Who are you?”

A little over twelve months ago I cut off my hair and decided to wear it all natural. What’s that got to do with who you are? I hear you ask. Well, the thing was I couldn’t remember what my natural tight African curls felt or looked like. I wore a perm from the first time my mum FINALLY allowed me to have one and as soon as I had a taste of that ‘crack’ there was no going back for me. I mean I could run my fingers through my hair! But believe it or not, the courage to cut it all off and start over again gave me the courage to learn to play the guitar; Crazy how everything is linked eh? Something happens when you let go and allow those curls grow I tell ya!

I am not your knock relaxers and straighteners, fist in the air Nubian queen, I am just excited about this journey and wanted to share because what I thought was my own story I find is connected to someone else’s story.

I have had a few guitar lessons and started writing songs again and my first song is called beautiful; a story of a little girl that’s always wanted to be like everyone else till she discovered who she was; BEAUTIFUL.

Last Saturday I plucked up the courage to play my song in front of a little crowd of people, strumming one string after another. That was fun, I tell ya! I think I will do this more often.

I am excited about this journey and I can’t wait to see what else I discover about ME.

SO, who are YOU? Beautiful.