Don't be afraid...

When we all said goodbye to 2010, like everyone else I was excited, expectant...

Twelve new months seemed at the time, like a lifetime away but now that we're halfway through the fifth month (can you believe that?) I am asking 'where the heck is 2011 running to'

One of the things I was sure of was that I wanted to go out and gig a bit more, play my new songs and record an album; anything else, I wasn't sure about. I was however open to whatever God brought my way.

I promised myself to embrace change, appreciate the familiar and take moments everyday to be present and thankful.

So how's the plan coming along you ask? Nicely, I respond.

Last week, I started recording "PEN VOYAGE CHAPTER ONE; Singing For Change"



I haven't been in the studio since the last time with my contemporary UK Gospel collective 'GK REAL'... we're talking years here.

Not only that, where in the past all I had to worry about was come into the studio to record my assigned vocal part, with this project, I am involved from stage zero... It's new and challenging but also exciting. God had blessed me with people to help me bring this dream into reality.

And speaking of new experiences, a few weeks into the new year, I was given an opportunity to host a weekly Live Music event. My initial reaction was that of fear and then I thought...erm, 'why not?' I love live music in intimate rooms and space and Portobello Acoustic Sessions is just that.



Four months into this hosting gig, I have met some amazing musicians, it's crazy I tell ya, like good crazy!

I am sure the next seven months will be great, I know it will.

Here's my website if you'd like to come out to one of my gigs... be nice to see ya ;)
www.lanreworld.com

Time's ticking....

Get Caught Reading - Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult

I had never read anything written by Jodi Picoult until I picked up a copy of ‘Plain Truth’ from Sense charity shop round where I live.

‘Plain Truth’ is a story of eighteen year old Katie Fisher who gets pregnant out of wedlock. Nothing new there I hear you say.

Well, Katie Fisher isn’t your average eighteen year old girl, she is Amish and in the Amish community, pregnancy before marriage is not only fround upon, but you run the risk of being rejected from your community and that's why Katie told no one when she discovered she was pregnant.

Katie Fisher’s secret could obviously be kept for so long and when the baby finally arrived, Katie did what she knew to do, Pray. When she wakes up from exhaustion and the baby is gone, she thought her prayer was answered but when the body is found and she’s accused of murdering the baby, her faith in her community, faith and God is tested.

Ellie Hathaway, Philadelphia defence lawyer’s plan to hide away at Paradise Pennsylvania from her high pressured job took a dramatic turn when she was reluctantly agreed to take on Katie’s case.

Immersing herself in the Amish culture, Ellie was able to see the difference between her world and a world that lives by rules that are completely different from hers.

I read the four hundred and fifty one page novel gripped by Katie’s pain of loss, fear of rejection, her need to right the wrong she was convinced was her fault.

I will definitely be checking out more of Jodi’s books in the future, she is a solid storyteller.

Love Way or is it Love Lane...

One day a question popped up in my head...

If God lived in our world, what would his address be? After much thought I came to the conclusion that perhaps he'd live on Love Way or perhaps Love Lane



Well, a few weeks later, I wrote this song.

Now that we've found God (2x)
Keep Him within four Walls
Doors closed to those who need Him
Hearts closed to the pain of others
They look nothing like us
Send them off with a prayer
Waiting on heaven as she waits on us
And when Angels come knocking
We send them away singing

Please take me to love way
That's where I wanna be
Please take me to love way
That's where I wanna live

Now that we've found God (2x)
Meetings, show off our Sunday best
In our pockets, the obligatory tenth
Have a man tell us what's on His mind
Ignore the Spirit that's on our inside
Forget what's really important
Love, the one, the only commandment
And when angels come calling
We send them away singing

Please take me to love way
That's where I wanna be
Please take me to love way
That's where I wanna live

Bridge;
You must be more than
Praying before every meal
You must be more than
Meetings everyday of the week
You must be more than
Praying out loud with fancy words
You must be more than
Living by faith without works

Now that we've found God (4x)
What are we going to do with Him.

(c) Lánre Njoku 2010

On my way to a gig in Camden last night, a man came into my train carriage holding a cup, begging for spare change..

As he walked towards me, I caught myself holding my breath and like everyone else I turned and looked the other way as if if we don't look in his direction or if we simply ignored him, he will go away taking his stench with him.

Now, few minutes prior, I was humming the song 'Love Way' preparing for my gig

"And when angels come calling
We send them away singing....."

so you can imagine my irritation at this guy who has interrupted my flow (remember, I have to hold my breath)

As my train pulled into the next stop.. Yep! It was Angel Station The guy got off my carriage and stepped into the next.

I knew I could not let this guy go without giving him something... Anything. I ignored the usual "He might use the money for drugs and not food or lodging as he claimed"

As soon as the train pulled into the next station, Kings Cross, I got off and ran two carriages down, jumping in right before the doors closed shut and there was the guy. I dropped the money in his cup. He looked at me and said, "God bless you and thank you"

I smiled and continued humming away

"And when angels come calling
We send them away singing..."

Love Way (below)

DO what you love & do it often

Still on track

One of my new year resolutions (if you can call it that) was to find two live music venues in London every week to go to and to share my songs.

So far, so good.

Twice a week you will find me either running to catch the train or squeezed in like sardines with the rest of the London underground commuters with my guitar on my back and looking so serious (DARING ANYONE TO ASK ME TO MOVE MY BAG FROM THEIR FACES) my guitar has as much right as the next person stood next to me is what i say! LOL!

What amazes me is the amount of talent that is out there. I have come to the conclusion that if you're looking for good music, don't switch on the box, go out and find them. I have met solo artists and bands who are passionate about their art and most days I leave inspired.

Apart from going into the studio in April to record my first solo project, I am unsure where all of this new discovery will be taking me but I AM SO EXCITED... beyond words (seriously) I am looking forward to the months ahead and wondering what's in it for me.

I recorded a couple of my songs last night when I played at the Silver Bullet. The iPhone4 ain't that bad at all ;))

Enjoy and keep checking me out on www.lanreworld.com (I am always up to something)

Inspiration



Taste of Freedom

Drum Roll!!! and she shall be called...

Late last year when I went to my local guitar shop with the hope of buying an electro acoustic guitar to add to my Blue Vintage acoustic guitar, I was looking for something affordable that plays and sounds really well (I am still a guitar student; I picked up the instrument a year ago.)

The Shop assistant asked what I was looking as he took me round to showing me a selection of guitars within my price range. He took down a natural wood colour one and handed it to me to have a feel and play. As I started to strum & pluck, something caught my attention

The minute I laid my eyes on her, I had to have her.



I gave the guitar in my hands back to the shop assistant and walked straight to this lovely Pink Stagg electro acoustic guitar.... it was offered as a second hand sale and thankfully affordable.

I brought it home and my fiancé (now husband) said, what is this? (Still doesn't understand whyt I would go for pink! ;-o)

After a few rehearsals, I knew she had to be a girl (nothing to do with colour) for one, every gig I have taken her to, she gets all the attention and I get absolutely none. Which is good because then I am able to play with little or no pressure.

Yesterday, I decided to name her. After much thought I decided to follow the African community/family naming tradition by looking to the social network community of FACEBOOK and TWITTER. I declared my status a 'NAME MY PINK GUITAR DAY'

Over the Top (I know) but eh, why not ;)

At around 9PM I 'closed' the voting lines and started to count the entries; below are the submissions.

Barbie
Morenike
Jane
Pink Panther
Pink Lady
Pink drink
Raise your pinky
Lanre
Queen Nefertiti
Angel
Angeli
Twilight
Hot Stuff
Pucksy
Lady
Stella
Oluwatobiloba
Strings attached
Lassie
Jimi Hendrix
Fola
Jewel
Tiffany
Hephzibah
Pink strings
Pink Rock
Plonky
Plinky
Rudolph
Queen
L’Oreal

Thirty one in all!!! my guitar is definitely African, specifically Nigerian. HA! For those who don't know, it is not unusual for Nigerians to have several names. The other day a friend told me she had just been to a naming ceremony and the baby girl had 21 names (YEP! you heard that right 21!)

So, I went through the list above and got rid of names like; Pink strings, Strings attached, Pink Rock, Plonky, Hot stuff, Plinky, Lassie, Rudolph, Pucksy.. just because;
1) the last thing I want on my hands is a bullied guitar and
2) I wanted a name that means something; we are Africans you see and names has to have meanings)

I also got rid of names like L’Oreal, Pink Panther and Twilight because as far as I am concerned, they aren't original enough.

The next to go was Lanre and Jimi Hendrix just because;
1) this guitar already competes with me when it comes to attention so, it won't be taking my names (my middle name is Jimi) and
2) Being named after the Legendry Jimi Hendrix will be too much pressure for my lil' pink guitar to deal with.

After sifting through the lot, I was left with the following names;

Morenike
Queen Nefertiti
Stella
Angel
Fola
Jane
Oluwatobiloba (Tobi for short)

I had seven names to choose from and I just couldn't make up my mind or give a good reason why I would choose one above the other so I reckoned seven is a pretty good number; perfection, for those who are into numerology et al.

I think all seven names describe in one way or another what this pink guitar means to me (it really does) so this is what I'll do.. depending on how we feel on a particular day we may decide to go for all names or one.

SO tonight the 19th of January 2011, my guitar shall be called; Morenike, Fola, Oluwatobiloba, Angel, Stella, Jane, Queen Nefertiti by Stagg



Thanks to everyone who helped name her....

What's in a name you ask; another day, another blog I say!

and....Below is myself and Morenike in action (isn't she gorgeous?)

Why didn't I think of that?

I came across singer songwriter Regina Skeptor a few days ago. To say I am wowed by her body of work would be an understatement.

First song that caught my attention was 'Call' same song was featured in the movie - The Chronicles of Nania; Prince Caspian

I went straight on to itunes and bought her new album - Live in London (she recorded 23 of her songs at the Hammersmith Apollo Theatre) let's just say this album is all I have played for the past few days!

I kept going back to Track 16 'Laughing with' over and over again and each time i listened I come away thinking, why didn't I think of that?

Aren't the words below so true?


No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one's laughing at God when they're starving or freezing or so very poor

No one laughs at God when the doctor calls after some routine tests
No one's laughing at God when it's gotten real late and their kid's not back from that party yet

No one laughs at God when their airplane starts to uncontrollably shake
No one's laughing at God when they see the one they love hand in hand with someone else and they hope that they're mistaken
No one laughs at God when the cops knock on their door and they say, "We've got some bad new, sir"
No one's laughing at God when there's a famine, fire or flood

But God can be funny
At a cocktail party while listening to a good God-themed joke or
Or when the crazies say he hates us and they get so red in the head you think that they're about to choke

God can be funny
When told he'll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie
Who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus

God can be so hilarious
Ha ha
Ha ha

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one's laughing at God when they've lost all they got and they don't know what for

No one laughs at God on the day they realize that the last sight they'll ever see is a pair of hateful eyes
No one's laughing at God when they're saying their goodbyes

But God can be funny
At a cocktail party while listening to a good God-themed joke or
Or when the crazies say he hates us and they get so red in the head you think that they're about to choke

God can be funny
When told he'll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie
Who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus

God can be so hilarious

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war

No one's laughing at God in a hospital
No one's laughing at God in a war

No one's laughing at God when they're starving or freezing or so very poor

No one's laughing at God
No one's laughing at God
No one's laughing at God
We're all laughing with God

My thoughts?

Faith, Confusion, Doubt, Freedom, sincerity, ..... are some of the ingredients of a good song and when you hear it, you know it!