Memories...(Gèlè Song)

Who will remember for me

All of my life’s journey

When you look at me, do you see

Life’s not what it used to be

Ewo gèlè orí mi 
yaya yaya
Ewo gèlè orí mi 
yaya yaya

You will remember for me

Beautiful memories

Keep them close to your heart

Stories my mind won’t hold

Ewo gèlè orí mi 
yaya yaya
Ewo gèlè orí mi 
yaya yaya

Let our stories be told through the painter’s brush

Canvas holds on to memories, long after we’re gone

Ewo gèlè orí mi 
yaya yaya
Ewo gèlè orí mi 
yaya yaya

© written by Lánre 2013 

I Remember...

The venue was Spice Of Life in Soho..

I had my strapless pink guitar on my back and joined the queue was already spilling into the street.

At some point I thought to myself, “There is no way I’d be able to play here tonight”

When I got to the front of the queue, I gave my name and guy said..

“You are number 22 on the list, we might not get to you before the open mic closes but do wait around just in case someone cancels.”

I had no clue what I was doing but I just wanted to put myself out there. I started taking guitar lessons six months prior and barely knew about three chords but it was all I needed to play the required two songs.

I sat down, looked around and felt so out of place.The thought of leaving did cross my mind a few times, but I stayed.

When my name was finally called (pronounced LANRA), I walked to the stage, sat on the stool and started to strum away. I don’t think I remember much of what happened afterwards. I do remember though that halfway in through my second song, my legs began to shake, my guitar was slowly sliding down my thighs and of course my fingers started to sweat. 

I stopped a few times to apologize (nerves i guess) to the silent crowd and continued till I finished my songs.

I thanked the audience for listening and left the stage.

If it was possible for the ground to open up and swallow me, I would have asked for it to do so. I felt so embarrassed BUT yet free.

I sent a text message to my hubby..

 “I've done it!!”

“Done what?” he text-ed back.

You see, I didn't tell a soul where I was going, or what I was doing. I think if I knew people were coming to see me I would have cancelled my slot.

I have since then played so many gigs that I've lost count. Not all perfect gigs by any chance but nothing close to my first experience of playing in front of a live audience.

My dad is an expert at marking anniversaries of every event… he was constantly taking stock, remembering and giving thanks. I think I've inherited that from him. Brings a smile to my face when I remember how he used to say things like..

“This time last week you were registering for your exams” or

“This time last month you took your driving test” or

“This time last year you were in the hospital”

So I imagine today he would have said something like…

“This time three years ago, you were preparing for your first open mic”

Paying Attention

I was listening to Brene Brown the other day and she mentioned that a quote from Theodore Roosevelt's speech is the inspiration behind her new book Daring Greatly.

A few days later, I was watching an episode of Blue Bloods and the same quote came up... so I paid attention.

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, 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; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, 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 he fails while daring greatly. 

So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."

Theodore Roosevelt

Read that over and over again, let it resonate with you as you go about your day.

New London Artist - Muswell Hill Flyer (Feb 2013)

Lánre presents... LIVING ROOM SESSIONS tour

Happy New Year!! It's 14 days into the new year but I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and that you had fun celebrating the beginning of 2013.

I am excited about the next twelve months and one of the things I am excited about is MY FIRST ?Living Room Sessions? Tour from February the 8th to April the 13th

For those unfamiliar with the concept, imagine a mini concert in your front room with your friends and family? YEP!


YOU invite your friends and family (willing and listening audience from about 10 people upwards) and I will bring my guitar and another singer and songwriter along. You get to ask questions between songs we get to talk about the idea(s) behind each song. I will introduce you to the music I like and you will introduce your friends to my music? exciting, right?!


SO this is what you need to do, if you are interested in me playing in your front room please email me LANRE@LANREWORLD.COM

I will let you know what dates are available and what dates best suits you from February the 8th to April the 13th (we can arrange another date outside these dates if none of the dates suite you)

The show can be advertised beyond your immediate friends and family, but I PROMISE I'll never give out your address to anyone or put it on the internet, and will allow you to vet anyone else who wants to come along. I can't wait your lovely faces and meet your friends somewhere along the way.

I wrote a new song (STONE COLLECTOR) a few months ago and would like to share it with you (see below) 

Thank you do much for your support in 2012 - I wouldn't have been able to do half the things I've done without you!

Bucket Loads of love,

Lánre
http://www.lanreworld.com

Music... the language of friendship

Music is the language of friendship

Last month I had the opportunity to play in Paris.

When I go out to play I sometimes have my friend Richard Burrell play the second guitar. but for the most part, I am a solo performer....My guitar and I 

One of the challenges i find with playing on my own is that I sometimes feel uncomfortable (or maybe it’s just nerves) playing with other musicians especially if I've NEVER played with them or heard any of their work.

It was suggested that I play with four Paris based musicians on the last day of the tour.  My initial reaction was of course erm… nope.

I finally said yes when I was told that the bass player had been rehearsing the songs for a few days and the flute player asked for a set list to start her own rehearsals.

I figured that the least I could do when musicians had gone the extra mile to listen to my music and book a rehearsal space was to give it a listen and perhaps add another dimension to my experience in Paris.

Rehearsals was set at Sybil’s (the flute player’s) flat.

A few weeks before the tour, I was asked to write a song for an event GELE TEA a couture fashion event that helps raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease. I wrote and performed the song “MEMORIES” at the event and have since played the song at gigs. 

The song apart from it being about the obvious subject matter of memory loss, for me, it also is a song about trust and friendship.

Rehearsals felt like I was playing with long lost friends. It felt VERY familiar.

Shafik (the drummer with the warmest smile) did put a wider smile on my face on the train home when he said 

                  “I don’t speak English but I speak music”

Enjoy the video of us rehearsing “MEMORIES” below 

SHAFIK PERCUZONG - Percussion 

SYBILLA BARTHES - Flute

NATHALIE DURAND - Bass 

Lánre - Live In Paris (Part Deux)

This time last month, I was preparing to play my final show, of a 6 date tour in Paris 

I met up with three amazing musicians I had never met before, they reminded me of why I do what I do.... I will tell you more about that in a different blog.

For now here is a short video of some of what happened behind the scenes; 

From pretending to play a piano to free styling with the lovely Doréa in the hope of getting people to come out to the final gig. 

Every artist needs a Doréa.... (will tell you about her some other time ;) )



ENJOY x

MÁ GBÀGBÉ

Má Gbàgbé

VIDEO DIRECTED BY Olan Collardy

SONG PRODUCED BY Goz-I-am