Stone Collector

The only word I can use to describe the feeling you get when you have just written a song or a poem or a story is....LIGHT

and that's exactly how I feel right now. I just finished writing my first song in 2012.

"Stone collector" currently sounds dark, moody and beautiful.

x

A few of my favorite things...

These are a few of my favorite things...

I love to get lost in a good book. Great storytellers inspire me to write. A good book transports you to a whole new world. You find yourself visiting a country or a place that probably just exists in the writer's imagination and now yours.

I am currently reading The thing around your neck a collection of twelve short stories by Chimamanda Adichie



There's nothing like a good cup of tea, especially during the winter months. I am currently on my second cup today ;)



I love live music especially in intimate spaces. to me, it's similar to reading a good book with music playing in the background. I am currently listening to I often think of you by Jack Day



It is often said "we are all on a journey" which is true and I one day though to myself, why not be a colourful traveler while we are at it? I love to colourful accessories; whether it's in my hair or on my feet. Check out ajalá



Writing... songs or stories; I plan to do those at least everyday or every other day.

Reading and meditating on a verse or scripture from the bible; I plan to do that everyday or every other day.

what are the few of YOUR favorite things?

care to share?

Pen Voyage Liner Notes - Track 6

The best definition of forgiveness I heard last week is "to give up the hope that the past will be different.

I wrote "wishful thinking" as a poem a couple of years ago and put it up for friends to read. I was quite surprised by the response. Speaker and Youth advocate David McQueen, suggested that I write some music for it so I did, I also included it on my album Pen Voyage Chapter 1; Singing for Change

Everyone can answer yes to the question "any regrets?" at one point or the other in their lives. I think it is one of the things that highlights our humanity.

We make stupid decisions, we sometimes don't take advantage of opportunities presented to us when we should have, we have people in our lives we wish we had treated better and the list of regrets can go on and on. my question to you and myself would be....

what purpose is replaying the tape of "what could have been" serving in your life? if the purpose is not enhancing your life then you have to let it go and perhaps replace "I WISH" with "I WILL"



I used the song "wishful thinking" to try and deal with two issues decision making and relationships. I wrote the chorus in Yoruba (one of the 250 languages spoken in Nigeria, West Africa)

Mo wa n ke Abamo o means "Now, I'm crying regret" in Yoruba, ABAMO translates directly as "I should have known" or "If I had known"

Read the lyrics below;

You were gone most of the time
No one ever told me why
Moved from one home to the next
Always wishing for a stable nest
You did say you were sorry
It did little to change the story
I thought it was my fault
Now, I realise you were fighting your fears
I wish I gave us a chance
But, it’s too late for that
‘Cause now you’re really gone
To the land of no return

Mo wa n ke e abamo o

I was young and carefree
Enjoying all that life brought me
Caution went to the wind
As I, tasted the fruit forbidden
Faced with the reality of,
Another life’s responsibility
I chose the easy way
Burying my guilt away
Till I saw the love between
A mother and her child
I am left missing
The one I never had

Mo wa n ke e abamo o

Now I am sitting here
Wishing that you were here
I shed a tear
For what was never there



American author and poet Maya Angelou has a popular saying that I think is very freeing. "When you know better, you do better"


Pen Voyage Chapter 1; Singing for Change is out on iTunes, Amazon and other digital stores
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/pen-voyage-chapter-1-singing/id466810768

You can buy the physical CD here

Listen to tracks from the album here
Latest tracks by Lánre

Pen Voyage Liner Notes - Track 4

Good Monday to you and thanks for those who are still reading my blogs week in week out. THANK YOU.

The fourth song on my record Pen Voyage Chapter 1; Singing for Change is "INSPIRATION" this is one of my favourite song to sing and one of the ones I am proud I wrote. I know it's also a favourite for those who hear it.



A few weeks ago I was asked by a few people what the lyrics are so here is the link to it - http://lanrefajumo.blogspot.com/2011/08/lyrics-inspiration.html

I also wrote about the idea behind the song when I first put out the Radio Edit version in July. here is that blog http://lanrefajumo.blogspot.com/2011/07/new-song-inspiration.html

I looked up the definition of Inspiration in the American Heritage Dictionary of English Language;

- Divine guidance or influence exerted directly on the mind and soul of humankind.
- An agency, such as a person or work of art, that moves the intellect or emotions or prompts action or invention.
- Stimulation of the mind or emotions to a high level of feeling or activity.

I wrote this song about our relationship with that thing called "CREATIVITY" and "INSPIRATION" some times elusive and other times you can't seem to get enough of it. I wonder why that is. I wonder what is responsible for those times when it decides to pay you a visit and why it stays away sometimes. Does it really stay away at those times or is it just hiding from us?

I am not sure I found the answer after writing this song.

Maybe it's one of those things we will never know why.

Jill Dawson in her article in the Guardian "How to write fiction" she urges new writers to dive in as there is never a perfect time to write a novel.

I see myself first as a story teller whether I am trying to write a song or a prose I just want to tell a good and engaging story. I however tend to write only when I am inspired. ie. feel that throb or pull it's the only way I can describe the feeling of being inspired.

In the month of November however I have decided to challenge myself and take part in this year's NaNoWriMo. For those who don't know, November is the National Novel Writing Month.

Thousands of people all around the world will attempt to write a novel of 50,000 words from the 1st of November to the 30th of November. As expected some will be successful and some won't. I plan to succeed

I am so nervous as already dreading what I'll do if the words and ideas aren't forth coming. I am however excited to see what I would have come up with by the end of November (wish me luck)

I think one line from Jill Dawson's article made me decide to challenge myself to write.

Talking about excuses by new writers..

"Not beginning protects you from disappointment; no shame of reading what you have written and finding it rubbish. It also prevents you from an equally disturbing possibility; discovering that you can write.... success and failure can both be avoided."



SO I WILL WRITE.. whether inspiration decides to knock on my front door to pay me a visit or hides in my back garden. hehe

Pen Voyage Chapter 1; Singing for Change is out on iTunes, Amazon and other digital stores
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/pen-voyage-chapter-1-singing/id466810768

You can buy the physical CD here

Listen to tracks from the album here
Latest tracks by Lánre

Pen Voyage Liner Notes - Track 3

Isn't it amazing how fast the weekend goes?

As always it's Monday and it's all about music from Pen Voyage Chapter 1; Singing for Change. The third track on this record is Má Gbàgbé. I wrote the song in English and Yoruba; one of the (250) two hundred and fifty languages spoken in Nigeria, West Africa.

This song is what I call the traveler's song. I remember growing up hearing my grandfather always had this saying to everyone that's out going on a journey.

"Alo a da abo a sunwon, ma gbagbe omo eni ti on se o"

Loosely translated, it means "have a safe trip, but don't forget who you are"



Staying connected and true to who you are is huge when it comes to MOST African parents a large part of our upbringing is very community oriented and I still think that it's a great thing to have.

The picture I had in mind as I wrote this song was that of a young person leaving home for the first time. Memories of me leaving home (Nigeria) to return to England (my country of birth) came flooding back. I remember everyone prayed for me and of course my granddad ended his goodbyes with his usual advice "DON'T FORGET WHO YOU ARE"

I have been going out as a Solo artist for almost eighteen months and I think the challenge most people face is the pressure to ALWAYS have your music or art accepted. Sometimes we think we need to change to accommodate everyone else's expectation of us. I think that is the problem I have with music competitions like X Factor etc especially when the judges come back with comments like "You are a good singer BUT you are not what we are looking for in this competition"

That just sounds wrong to me because I think getting artists to meet your pre-conceived idea of what you deem acceptable is dangerous. While some may argue it shows the artists' versatility, I think most know that it's also because artists are marketed to fit a tried and tested formula and mold.... very little to do with creativity.

Staying authentic and true is a sell-able brand in my opinion. It may take longer than most but it endures.

I leave you with the Bridge of the song.
"Ajo ko le dun ko nile ma re le"
No matter how "Sweet" the journey (or the experience of the travel) is. You will one day head back "home" in other words...

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS



Pen Voyage Chapter 1; Singing for Change is out on iTunes, Amazon and other digital stores
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/pen-voyage-chapter-1-singing/id466810768

You can buy the physical CD here

Listen to tracks from the album here
Latest tracks by Lánre

Pen Voyage Liner Notes - Track 1

It's been a couple of days since the official release of my latest solo record, Pen Voyage Chapter 1; Singing for Change. On the night of the album release, I performed for the very first time with a live band and I have to say I won't be forgetting the experience for a while.

Yesterday I spoke to a lovely lady who came to the show and also bought my CD, It was interesting to hear how the songs and stories have touched her. What stood out for me from all that she said though was the fact that listening to the CD brought back memories of the back stories I shared at the show.

I see myself as a storyteller and music has become one of the mediums of storytelling for me. With that in mind, I try to tell a back story before I start to perform any song. Everyone has a story to tell.

I heard a musician explain the roles of artists this way....

If you imagine that we are all members of the same village and in that village there are healers, entertainers, teachers, storytellers.... everyone contributing his or her part to help build and develop that village.

I think I see my place in the "village" as a storyteller and I seek to inspire.

So for the next ten Mondays, I will be writing what I call Pen Voyage Liner Notes explaining the reason behind all the ten songs on the album - Pen Voyage Chapter 1; Singing for Change.

I hope these stories connect with people and that the songs come alive for that reason.



The first song on the record is Prayer (Oun gbogbo)

Prayer is huge part of my life and upbringing. I know there are different types and ways to pray. I however see prayer as an intimate conversation between me and God. I absolutely believe that praying requires us to be sincere and vulnerable and what I did was take a very popular song I heard my grandfather sing several times and make it mine

"Oun Gbogbo ti mo ni
Tire ni n se baba..."

"All i have (I am) is yours father"

I think it's a song that explains where my heart is. I wake up thinking how blessed I am to be able to do what I love. I decided to sing it in Yoruba (one of the 250 languages spoken in Nigeria, West Africa) in recognition of my grandfathers and my father. Three very strong men that I've been blessed to meet and proud to be a part of. I also think singing it in Yoruba helped to re-iterate the intimacy I think is a huge part of prayer.....

I imagine it's just myself and God at that moment in time and I have his audience and He has mine.... I think that's special!



Pen Voyage Chapter 1; Singing for Change is out on iTunes, Amazon and other digital stores
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/pen-voyage-chapter-1-singing/id466810768

You can buy the physical CD here

Listen to tracks from the album here
Latest tracks by Lánre

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.