New Years resolutions

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:

1. 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*
2. 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
3. Before I do the above I would like to get a band of very diverse musicians that I ‘click’ with, the search starts soon.
4. Do a couple of gigs with Tidal Waves, Jacsharp, HHP & 7th Son.
5. 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:

1. Self publish my book before Feb 2009.
2. Sign a deal with an independent distributor.
3. 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).
4. 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.
5. 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:

1. Increase listenership on my ‘graveyard’ show
2. 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.
3. 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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Have a black upright piano in my place; the place is not big enough for a baby grand (PLUS I CANNOT AFFORD ONE!!!!!)

Body

1. 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.
2. I am going to loose about 5 kg’s and buy me a sexy bikini… Not sure if I ill post pictures.
3. 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).
4. 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:

1. 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.
2. Save at least 10% of my income every month.
3. 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.
4. 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

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

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

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

1. 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!
2. 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 :)
3. 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!
4. 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.
5. 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!

Another day another photo shoot

Okay, so the other day I said that I was at a photo shoot. Well it was purely for work purposes LOL! I had to look decent for the day job, apparently people actually want to know what the person behind the mic looks like.


So we all ACTUALLY had to shower and look decent. I wanted to share one or two of the shots from the shoot, so you can see how decent I look at least twice a year LOL!


Yes, I'm a photographers worst nightmare. I pull funny faces all the time... I'm so goofy LOL!




And apparently my pretty dress makes my tiny booty look NON EXISTENT!! Dammit! LOL!

The week that was

So what happened last week?

1. Started getting rid of the ‘clutter’ in my small apartment

2. Watched Death Proof on Friday evening and I think Stuntman Mike is HILARIOUS. The movie was kind of pointless, but it was just long enough to keep me watching. Said like a true Tarantino fan.



3. Also watched ‘Michael Clayton’, it was a little dry but I enjoyed it. I then discovered that George Clooney may very well be what Bruce Willis is to Marcee the pervert: an older man who I might consider giving up the joys of being with a young man for. Although there are some hot young men that might beat ol’ George to a lifetime of bliss with me.


4. Went out on Saturday night, saw a great band (see previous post) and got home at 4am. I think Mike from YourLMG might be a bad influence on me… Keeping me out so late LOL!

5. Took my little brother to his house on Sunday evening in the worst fog I had ever driven in. I was so scared I wanted to pull over to the side of the road and cry before I could proceed again. But my inner gangster told me to just keep going slowly and everything would be fine. Thanks inner-G!
6. Fell in love with Lil Wayne’s ‘Mr Carter’… It took me completely by surprise.

7. Marcee and I gave away 3 black bags of clothes to a shelter and some magazines that helped us through the hard times (financially, spiritually and fashion-wise)

8. I learnt that you cannot always please everyone. When we were dropping off the clothes at the shelter there was a homeless woman sitting outside yelling at me. She was of the opinion that she deserved the clothes more than the people at the shelter. Giving to those who needed those clothes more than us made me feel good none the less.

9. We watched Kung Fu Panda (AGAIN) and we agree that Grand Master Oogway is the ultimate MASTER! He might even be wiser than Master Yoda LOL!!!!


Favourite line from Kung Fu Panda:
“There is no charge for awesomeness or attractiveness”... THAT IS HAWT!!!

Long silence

I have been quiet for a while: day job stuff, moving house, another photo shoot (becoming a regular superstar), meetings, starting up my label (more on that later) etc etc. I really have so many things to share, but I'm SOOO hung over. I haven't been out drinking in FOREVER. Being this hing over and tired makes me feel like an old fart... I probably look and smell like one right now LOL!! I'm in bed eating Pro Vita's with Melrose cheese and drinking LOTS of water. I probably could do worse for myself :)

I went out to see a super cool band called 7th son last night at a place in Camps Bay (Dizzy's). I was expecting good music, but they really surprised me with GREAT music. Their guitarist is super talented- I was impressed.

Pics via 7th son website

I was out with Mike and Kate from YourLMG, Marcee and little bro: lots of fun was had by all. After Dizzy's went to a place called DecoDANCE and they were having an 'Angels & Demons' party. I'm so OVER dress up parties, I just don't get it!

Got home after 4am and now my body hates me.

PS- Going to see C.B (the producer) later and hear how the tracks for Green (the EP) are sounding. Yay!!

An S on my chest 4 sho!

I got Alicia's album As I Am as soon as it came out because she is MY GIRL!!! And there is that bisexual polygamist thing as well... LOL! The very first track that I loved was 'Superwoman' and now that it has a video I love it even more. And I'm also happy to see that Jada is in the video as well.




Loving it!!!! What do you think?

Absolut Genius

I saw this over at Kanye's blog. I was a little confused at first, then I started smiling and then I actually LAUGHED OUT LOUD at how cute and completely 'ludicrous' the whole concept is. I like it :) I guess if we could bottle the 'cool' or have a 'cool' capsule it would be a complete hit.




I like it a lot!

Notoriously HAPPY!!

I'm having such a good day and I'm in such a good space. I'm having a bit of a Biggie day.

Hypnotize


One more chance (THIS WAS MY JAM!!!)


Sky is the limit


It's a good Monday for me. How 'bout you?

EP Diary - Final stages

Tomorrow I put down vocals on the final track and then C.B masters the stuff and adds a few finishing touches. I am very excited to put the last track to bed. Green the EP will be done and printed by the end of the month.

I never thought it would take so long to finish a 5 track EP, but there has been that little day-job-problem and a few other interruptions. I've already started working on new song for a full length album, I can't help myself. This EP was just an opportunity for me to see 'what I can do'. Now that I know, I'm ready to do more. The efficient manager and I are working on a plan to turn THIS girl into a BUSINESS... Watch this space!

GREEN by BLACK PORCELAIN coming soon...

Afro Samurai

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm always the last to get introduced to the 'cool'. Sometimes I will ask my mom if she knows about something 'cool' and SHE will know. I don't know where I am when all the 'cool' kids are discovering all the COOLNESS.

Anyway my little brother left some of his DVD's here and Marcee and I discovered AFRO SAMURAI!! It's awesome but I could have done with less blood and sex. Which is weird because I'm a HUGE Tarantino fan, but it just doesn't seem right when it's animated. So far we've watched 4 episodes and so far so good. Anime meets Hip Hop pleases me. I enjoy this more than Claymore (even though I didn't really watch it).

Very rare Chameleon

I did a whole bunch of interviews this morning (before I had to rush to piano lessons) and I only got to bed just a little before 4am- I feel like a Rock star today :)


One of the people I interviewed was musician Chris Chameleon and it was a great interview indeed. He was so easy to talk to and there was nothing pretentious or overly 'grand' about the way he conducted himself. But he is the exact opposite as a performer, he completely LETS GO and performs from the CORE of who he is. He is so into what he does that there is no room for judgement at all. Watching people who remain true to their passion like that is something completely spiritual for me.

And his management team is also UBER efficient and on point... VERY IMPRESSIVE!







On his MySpace page please listen to a song called 'Days like this' formerly known as Boo!ble (when he was with Boo!). That is MY SONG!!!

Chris Chameleon- OoAa






The interview will be on my show (Midnight Xpress) on Radio 2000 from Monday - Friday at 01:40 if you wanna listen :) (shameless advertising)

Pics via Chris' website

Very unCommon

As a fan of Common's Electric Circus album, I happen to understand that there is more to Common than those silky smooth cuts that he has become well known for. There is more to everyone of us than what people perceive us to be. in fact I'm almost certain that Mr 'Spread the light' has moments where he wants to get DOWN & DIRTY (take it anyway you want) LOL!!


So when I heard his new joints I wasn't too perturbed or annoyed that he had taken what some seem to think is a different route. I actually thought 'okay, so he needed a creative outlet for different kinds of emotions... I can dig that."


Check out the two new joints (Universal Mind Control & Announcement) on his imeem page.


Don't get me wrong. I am not saying these are my favourite songs, but what I am saying is nothing about that music is un-COMMON for me. It's the same talented guy on a different beat, expressing a different side of himself. I'm gonna get the whole album when it (eventually) comes out and I'm sure I'll have some tracks that speak to and other that don't speak my preferred 'music language'.


Two sides to Com? LOL!!!

Pic via Complex




Let me know what you think of the new tracks :)

Ever-Green

Last month I played a song off Al Green's new album 'Lay it down' and I was besotted. Nobody was more excited than me to find out that Al Green had worked with the amazing John Legend (Stay with me is my song of the month). We've playlisted more of his songs on the system and you KNOW that I am excited!!

So I decided to do a search and The Rev has a My Space page LOL!!! Go Rev!! The Reverend Al Green is back dear hearts!!!






I'm getting a copy of Lay it Down this weekend. DONE!

EP Diary - Coming together nicely

Everything is coming together very nicely. I met with Tatum the amazing designer who is doing my sleeve and I almost cried when I saw her mock ups. She is FANTASTIC, I want to work with her FOREVER LOL!

We aren't using a lot of the pics because the sleeve has taken on a slightly different direction, so I thought I might as well put up some more for you to see, shout of to my girl Renee for the amazing photos.

I'm looking at my eyebrows & I just had to laugh because I had them waxed the day before the shoot and it was a VERY INTERESTING experience.

GREEN (the EP) by Black Porcelain (that's me) coming at the end of the month :)

Confession time...

I have become a Judge Hatchett fan! I don't know how it happened! Because of the hours that I work and the nature of my job, I work from home A LOT! And sometimes when I'm having a late lunch I switch the TV on and Judge Hatchett is on.

I think she is really funny in a mom kind of way. My mother is really funny, I guess that's why I enjoy Judge Hatchett so much. And some of the people 'in court' are HILARIOUS. some guy will come in demanding his ex to pay him money she owes him and the first things he will say is 'well ya ahna she is a straight up liar AND she's a ho!' Then the Judge will get mad 'now you hold on. WAIT JUST ONE MINUTE! We don't use that language in here. You hear me?" And it goes on and on.

I have decided to unplug my TV during the day because I get too caught up in the drama and then I'm too exhausted to work afterwards LOL!!

P.S Judge Hatchett's name is Glenda! I thought her first name was Judge LOL!!!! She's hardcore too, I like that :)

I can be a super hero too

Marcee and I went to go and watch a movie last Friday (yes, I said Friday). After 'The Happening' I was a little hesitant to get excited, even if one of my favourite people was in it.

Well you'll be happy to know that I was not disappointed at all. The twist didn't bother me as much as it seemed to bother other people. I wont say what the twist is because I hate it when people blab about a movie I haven't watched yet. I'll be honest Iron man set the bar and it would be unfair to compare the two. Hancock was fun to watch, just a lot of fun.

Besides the fun though, something else really hit me. WARNING: SENTIMENTAL MOMENT COMING UP (there will be feelings mentioned in the next few lines). Ever since I was little I wanted to be a super hero, in fact yesterday I said I wanted to be James Bond as well (why is HE the only one who gets cool gadgets- I can do without the compulsory promiscuity though). When you are young you take your cue from the world around you and there was nothing around me that said I could be a super hero, although I did suspect I was adopted like Clark Kent (which turned out to be false they ARE my real parents). All the female super heroes were... BORING!! While I was watching Hancock I saw a little bit of myself in him.

Now I know you're probably thinking that I must have real penis envy, but I DON'T! What I'm saying is on Friday I realised that being a super hero was not reserved for young white men (Peter, Clark etc) and white women with pathetic outfits (Wonder Woman- props to her for being the first female member of the Justice League). I have always felt empowered as a person, but now there is one more thing I think I can do: be a super hero!!!

Big Willy is back!

P.S I won't be tring to fly off the top of buildings just yet LOL!

Looking for a new apartment

Is one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.

1. Everything is overpriced in my area, but I wont move because I like it here.


2. I REFUSE to live in a building filled with old women and cats. I have nothing against both, but I just don't want to live in a building that is as old as Jan CVan Riebeck: Where he sat having tea with his wife looking down at the natives saying 'darling the natives soon will be upon us, we have to devise some kind of plan to keep them down.' Uhm.... No!


3. Having a decent bathroom and kitchen are my prerequisites. I don't know why I'm so fussy about those 2.


4. I NEED to be in a safe block. I leave home before 11pm and return AFTER 3am for my show, so I need to know that I am SECURE.


5. I have worked very hard the past 2 years and I deserve an upgrade of living conditions.


6. I want to throw dinner parties and not be embarrassed that my guest can see my messy room. I NEED SPACE!!!

All that being said we have found THE PERFECT place, withing our price range and we are happy to say that by this time next month, we will be in a spacious, secure place with a LOVELY kitchen and bathroom. YESSIR!!!

This is how we feel (like we should be out drinking Jack n Lime celebrating and listening to a great band):

Easy on the eyes

After Pharrell's stint on this blog as 'Mr easy on the yes' as per my girls request. I thought I would feature someone for the gents. She sings about American boys, but I'm sure she appeals to boys (and mens) all over the world.

It's my girl Estelle:

Although I am a little biased when it comes to Stelly, I do really think she is pretty HAWT and it doesn't hurt that she is so talented too.

SHINE ON SHINE ON sister girl!!!

The SA music business

This week on 5 in 1 I'm playing snippets of an interview I did with Jonathan Shaw: he wrote a book on the SA Music Business. The book itself is very interesting and so is Jonathan, he just knows SOOOO much. I played the first snippet yesterday and the response was great.

It is so difficult to get information on the SA Music industry, so I'm glad that he wrote this book, which Marcee and I are reading (at the same time).

5 in 1 starts at 01:40 on Midnight Xpress ONLY on Radio 2000 97.2 - 100 FM Nationwide!!!