On: Self Care & Honing Your Craft

So the days are now at their shortest; nights at their longest. And I can definitely say I have gone in to full hibernation mode!

In all honesty, I have found the past couple of months quite challenging motivationally. All I’ve wanted to do is hibernate in my warm comfy clothes (who am I kidding… fester around in my PJs all day!!) nap and veg out! My partner has literally had to prize and hide the Nutella jar from me it’s gotten that bad! I’ve also been feeling a heightened sense of anxiety, driven by my slightly/very unhealthy obsession with checking the news every ruddy hour to see whether there have been any improvements in the global Pandemic (spoiler alert: there hasn’t!). Or whether there are any other crazy ongoings in the World (spoiler alert: there definitely are!). While there is genuine reason for a lot of us to be concerned about the state of global affairs right now, I realise deep down, my over-obsessing of the news is a sure fire procrastination method that I am the absolute Queen boss of! I have increasingly recognised this tendency over the years. Basically, when it gets dark, cold and gloomy outside, my creative spark also starts to dim and I retreat within myself and get all moany and layzaaay!

The good thing is however, now I have accumulated years’ worth of experience following this same pattern, I am increasingly able to recognise when I am slipping in to it, and therefore build techniques/muster all the remnant energy I have to get out of it. My solution to rejuvenating my creative mojo in darker times (both literally and figuratively) therefore, is by investing in my personal development and growth as a creator, other wise known as ‘whipping my own ass, putting down my phone, limiting my social media use and news reading, and shoving all that time in to learning new stuff and practicing my skills’.

So putting my solution to practice, I decided in mid-November to enrol on a writers course with Rewrite London (a brilliant organisation that offers creative writing courses for Women of Colour), which has been super motivating and inspiring. I always find that when I am signed up to something and have to commit to it and/or have external deadlines to meet, I instantly feel more energised and inclined to do it. Taking part in the course therefore, really helped me to find some oomph again creatively. Each week, Christina, our wonderful course leader, would assign us “free writes”, which really invigorated my writing. She also gave us a dreaded homework assignment to submit a longer piece of writing for review (eek), which again, although daunting at first, fuelled my creative fires; so much so, that since the course ended, I’ve continued writing the story I started with the hope of making it to something way more substantial (watch this space!).

Taking part in the course also oiled my poetic hand. Everyday since, I’ve found myself writing a series of short poems, which has as a result, inspired a brand new art series! In sum therefore, over the past two months I have definitely come to realise that learning, and our ability to learn, is truly a gift! So for anyone reading this, I recommend, if not urge, the next time you feel in a rut creatively or otherwise, to pick up a book, enrol on a short course, or learn something new via a few Ted talks or YouTube videos! You never know where those new nuggets of information can take you. Or what they can inspire! x

On: Honoring Black History & Culture

October can only mean one thing….Black History Month!

While I will try to refrain from going on a rant about why Black History shouldn’t be merely confined to one month every year, what I will say is the energy around BHM in 2020 feels more palpable than ever! With the surge of activity, protest, outcry, affirmative action and general momentum that has been building over the past 6 months around Black Lives Matter, it really feels like Black History Month has a renewed focus in UK, which is great to see! I just hope and pray that this momentum endures, and doesn’t dissipate as soon as this ‘issue’ stops being ‘on trend’ - SMH!

Keeping on the positive notes however, I have really been diving in to creating this month; in particular, working on a body of new artwork which speaks to Black Female empowerment. As Nina Simone so wisely stated, being an artist is all about ‘reflecting the times you are in’ - for me therefore, my artistry and more importantly my artistic purpose is to represent the subjects and the people, who are seldom seen or heard in the mainstream. And for me (and I am sure many others) that is Black Women. I will have more to share on the developing work in the next month or so (watch this space!).

I’ve also had a number of exciting opportunities this month to take part on other initiatives around BHM and speak about my own experiences as a Black British Woman and artist on the radio; taking part in two separate interviews with two wonderful radio hosts (ironically both of whom are called Rachel!) at Colourful Radio and BBC Coventry and Warwickshire. I had a blast talking to them about how my identity has informed my creativity, who my creative inspirations are (obvs Nina Simone and Maya Angelou had to be mentioned!) and what I want my creative legacy to be. Oh and my original song Eagle was also featured as part of the BBC’s Black History Show, which was SO cool!

In case you missed the shows, in answer to the latter question about legacy, for me, is all about continuing to create (until I am very old and physically incapable of doing so!) and through that creativity - whether that is through song, poetry, art, short stories, novels or spoken word - challenge the status quo and ignite and inspire positive change. I see it as my creative purpose to represent as authentically as I can, the stories, voices, and identities of those like myself, whose presence and contributions throughout our history have been so profound, and yet within the history books, omitted. It is time to rewrite those narratives and make them right. I see it as my job as an artist and creator to help correct those narratives and bring about representations much richer, truer and complete in their form.

Happy Black History Month everyone! x 

On: A Winning Month!

What an absolute whirlwind of a month it has been - I don’t even know where to start!! This year has definitely been a helter skelter of a ride, but despite the ongoing turbulence caused by the pandemic, I have to say creatively, I feel so energised at the moment. For starters, I am still riding the excitement of my video release last month (thank you to all of you who have supported and watched it so far - it really means a lot!), which has resulted in amazing reviews and also radio airplay on BBC Introducing (woo hoo!)! Not only that, but I was also selected as ARTIST OF THE MONTH by Dark Yellow Dot for my latest art series ‘Stand In Solidarity. Stand With Pride’. I’m literally buzzing!!!!

ANNNNND if that wan’t enough for me to explode with absolute joy, I also received the best news which was…..drum roll please…..The Star Boy only went and won the ‘Africa Rising Award’ at the Black Star International Film Festival!!

For those of you who may have not read my post from last October, The Star Boy is the most beautiful and inspirational short film directed by the uber talented, Amelie Exton, which follows the story of a Ghanaian boy called Holy and sheltered home, Holy’s Home for Children, set up to help him and other vulnerable children at risk of child exploitation and abuse. I was so honoured last year when Amelie approached me to feature my original song Eagle in the film’s soundtrack. Now, one year later, the incredible film has won an amazing award and not only that the film was screened at the Black Star International Film Festival just a week ago, and I also had the honour to perform (digitally due to the ongoing restrictions) on the night of the Ceremony, which was the most memorable experience!!! HUGE congratulations to Amelie and the team! It was a win that was very, very well deserved!

To find out more about Holy’s Home (which I encourage you to do), you can check out their website: https://holyshome.org/our-story. You can also watch the full set of my performance on my ‘video’ page now.

That’s a wrap folks! Until next time… x

On: Releasing the brand new music video for "Sunny Day"

Eeek! I have literally been itching for this release ever since I and the marvel that is Mr Boyan Rista (@thisisboyan on IG) filmed the video out in Miami earlier this year (pre-Lockdown of course!). Yes, you may recall me teasing this baby in my March post, but I can finally say out loud that my brand new music video for Sunny Day is FINALLY HERE! And I am so stoked that it is!

Sunny Day for me is literally a breath of fresh air! It is an uplifting Summer anthem, which exudes sunshine! Miami therefore, was of course the perfect destination to film the video. I won’t give too much away, as I urge you all to go watch it (pronto!), but we filmed this all in one HOT afternoon in a few different swanky Miami neighbourhoods (try and see if you can guess which ones!); with me using the backseat of our rental car (classy!) as my personal dressing room to transition between five different outfits. Yes, FIVE (step aside Bey-Bey, a new diva fashionista is in town!). The inspiration and references for the vid, which you’ll see, are a combination of Amy Winehouse’s ‘Tears Dry On Their Own’, Corrine Bailey Rae’s ‘Put Your Records On’ and basically every single 90s/early 00s R&B Queen, from Aaliyah, Destiny’s Child/Beyonce to Tatyana Ali! It was so much fun playing dress up - although maybe not as amusing for Boyan, who was practically forced to sprint backwards down the sidewalks while keeping the camera steady, in order to get the shots I wanted!

I am so unbelievably proud of what we have achieved in such a short time frame. From a more technical point of view, I also loved honing my editing and post-production skills too. It feels so empowering to not only compose, play, record and produce the song, but also storyboard, direct and edit the video too! A bit of Black Girl Magic, I’d say!

It’s available now to watch on YouTube now. G’wan, what are you waiting for?! x

On: A brand new art series, "BLACK X EMPOWERED: Stand In Solidarity. Stand With Pride."

After taking time to process all that has been happening of late (as I mentioned in last month’s post), I was compelled this month, after hearing of the latest news and protests rightfully commanding the taking down of Colonial/Slave linked statues in the UK, to consider what statues I would like to see as their replacements. For too long, Black history has been denied, suppressed and overlooked in the UK. At school, ‘Black History’ was briskly defined as being that of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade; even that was romantically glossed over in the textbooks, which simply illustrated black people shackled on ships, while omitting any real detail about the crimes, injustices and exploitative roles of Colonial powers and slave owners. While I remember it being in R.E. class that we learnt, again, very little about racism and the modern Black experience. Even when we did, it was portrayed in the context of the United States and the Civil Rights Movement of the 50s and 60s, while Black Britain was left untouched.

So recalling on the little institutional access I got to my own history growing up, and the ongoing lack of mainstream access, representation and acknowledgement Black people have today, my answer to the question of ‘what would I want to see instead?’, resulted in me creating a new body of artwork entitled ‘Stand With Solidarity. Stand With Pride’. These portraits showcase new statues that imbue empowerment; celebrating our contributions as Black people - past, present and future. They are affirmative, bold, powerful, inspiring and rousing. And hopefully one day, this imagery won’t just be a product of my own imagination, but in fact tangible real life statues that positively commemorate the Black experience in a way that the majority of statues in the Western world haven’t so far.

Until that day, to those who live the struggle and understand the struggle, this art series is for you. Stand With Solidarity. Stand With Pride.

ON: Creativity in turbulent times

What an unexpected and turbulent year it has been so far. From the global pandemic to the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and the many others whose lives have tragically been taken away due to ongoing systemic racism, abuses and inequality in the World, 2020 has turned in to a heartbreaking and unsettling one to say the least!

Creatively speaking, all the happenings, uncertainties and injustices of late, have left me in all honesty a bit creatively stifled. There have been many days where I’ve only had enough energy to cry and weep; where I could only lament and rant (mostly to my poor other half!), or simply do the basics of feeding, dressing, and going for my daily walk in nature’s peace. It has been a struggle to know what to say, to reassure myself, friends, family; and equally difficult to even attempt to translate all the deep pain, hurt, devastation and anger I’ve felt in to a poem, piece of art or a new song. So, over the past few months I have simply given myself the time and space to just observe and to feel, without adding any pressure to creatively express anything if it hasn’t arrived naturally. And that, I have realised is ok.

For any artists, writers, singers, creatives reading this, who like me, always feel they should be creating something, or translating all of their emotions and feelings in to art, it is absolutely ok not to. Sometimes a wound, feeling, experience, trauma is inarticulable, even in an expressive form like art, prose or music.

Over these past few months, I have realised that to be an artist and creative person, doesn’t mean I always need to be doing. To truly express creatively, I think this challenging period has taught me, that you also need to take the time to prioritise rest, to heal, to reflect and to process. It is so important to fully understand what you are feeling and why, before trying to interpret that in to something creatively meaningful. That’s how I see it anyway!

Sending positivity to anyone who needs it right now! Stay safe and stay well! x

On: The Launch of WE.R

So we have just gone in to a national/global Lockdown (still trying to get my head around the crazy turn of events right now!), which undoubtedly has left most if not all of us feeling rattled, shaken, anxious, uncertain…in a nutshell, quite frankly a bit sh*t. Really hoping that we see the other side of this pandemic very soon, and that as many of us as possible remain healthy, well and supported!

There’s a lot of things right now which seem to be out of our control, unanswerable, incomprehensible, and frightening. But one thing I know helps me through tough times is the support of loved ones, friends and peers, and feeling empowered by and part of a creative community. This is why me and two of my brilliant, inspirational creative friends, Debs (yes, @soundlikeberne Debs) and Steffy (@ssoul853 on IG) have just launched a brand new collective and platform WE.R, which we’ve set up to champion, empower, inspire and most fundamentally build a global community of creative women who can all support one another and have a safe space to share their creativity, their work and their unique stories.

More to come in the next few months, but in the meantime, check out our brand new IG page @werwomenempowered for more info.

Stay safe everyone! x

ON: Performing at the NME Awards & Filming in Cuba and Miami!

The year has only just begun and already it’s gotten off to a helluva start! And a positive one at that! After releasing my latest single, Restless City, last month, which I am SO proud of and SO elated by the reception so far, I decided I needed a well-earned trip to the sunnier climbs of Miami and Cuba. And what an amazing trip it was! BUT before I dish all on that, I just wanted to do a quick rewind to what happened a few week’s before I jetted off to Wynwood and Miami Beach, which was….drum roll please…….I only went and played at the NME Awards!!

Yes, you read right. I was offered a pre-show set, courtesy of music charity Nordoff Robins, who were this year’s partner to the Awards! After posing on the black carpet (obviously it had to be black, it’s the NME’s darling!), I was chuffed (albeit slightly freezing due to wearing a plunge-line halter neck jumpsuit in the height of frigging Winter!) to perform a raft of my originals (and a few cheeky covers) in the VIP entrance where all the mega stars were arriving (did I mention Tay-Tay was there?! Bit random, but yaaah!). It was such a memorable night, and of course I stayed to schmooze and watch the Awards afterwards!

Okay, now that I have mentioned my 5 minutes of NME fame (well, a 30 minute set worth to be exact!), let’s get back to the hot, sunny , vibrant, culturally and musically rich 4-week trip that was Miami & Cuba. As soon as I hit the tarmac at MIA, I dived straight in to the amazing arts and music scene; first heading to Snarky Puppy’s annual Ground Up Festival (deliriously jet-lagged I must add!), to watch them and a whole host of amazing musicians and artists play. If you’re ever in Miami in the month of Feb, its definitely a festival to check out - especially you readers who are musicians and are keen to network!

After literally spending a day in Miami (don’t worry I returned for a longer stint!), I jetted off on a 40 minute flight to Cuba - a country I’ve wanted to visit for EONS! And it didn’t disappoint. I spent close to 3 weeks living in La Habana Vieja, learning Spanish, Salsa and of course living and breathing the music, art and culture. Every morning, I would wake up to the sound of live music beaming through from the cobbled streets! It was incredible! And again for any music and art lovers who ever find themselves in Havana, you have, have, HAVE to check out Fabrica de Arte. It is AMAZING!! I say no more, but trust me you have to go!

In my final 10 days over the pond, I had to of course go back to Miami and check it out for proper! In fact not only did I get my tourist on (and my tan) and spend time at Miami Beach, Wynwood, Coral Gables and Coconut Grove (the list of places I went to is pretty exhaustive so I’ll ssshhh now), but I also coerced my partner in crime @thisisboyan, aka Boyan Rista, to help me film my next music video! More to come on that in subsequent posts, but let’s just say, the footage is looking HOT!!! Literally!

Pheeuff, I’ve almost worn myself out with that ramble! Lest the sunny, happy times and amazing experiences continue. I certainly am returning to the UK feeling way more energised and inspired, thats for sure! TTFN x

On: My new single 'Restless City'

A brand new year can only mean one thing…a brand new single (woot to the woot!). After what seems to have been a lifetime of beavering away behind the scenes, I am chuffed to say that my new single ‘Restless City’is finally out there in the public sphere - available to stream, listen and watch (yes, there is a brand spanking new video too!) on all known audio and video streaming platforms!

I know a lot of artists and musicians will say, without sounding too melodramatic here, that their work often comes from the deepest darkest depths of their soul and psyche, but really and truly ‘Restless City’ is definitely that song for me - well at the very least, a product of deep soul searching and reflection! The nuggets of the lyrics came during one of the (if not the) most darkest experiences of my life…holed up in a Ghanaian military safe house for my own protection after a volunteer trip gone wrong (probably weren’t expecting me to say that right?!). Perhaps a little too long winded (plus traumatic and insane) to go in to at length here, but, what I will say, is that my terrifying ordeal in Ghana, prompted me to think about the love/hate relationship I’ve had with London since arriving here 8 years ago, and how, in this perilous situation, I’d never yearned to return to a place so much in my life...my safe-haven. Evocative, intimate and raw, Restless City falls in a similar territory to Celeste's 'Strange' and Sampha's 'No One Knows Me Like The Piano' with its soothing pop-soul melody and relatable lyrics. Even though it was written about an experience that hopefully not many of you (if any) have endured, the broader theme of oscillating between feelings of connection and isolation in your hometown is something I imagine most people can identify with….

BUT before this becomes an essay, I just want to lastly mention how it really did take a village (if not a city ha!) for my song to be brought fully to life. I am so humbled and overwhelmed by the level of support, hours, dedication and investment that went in to this, especially from the incredibly talented Gianluca Pulvirenti (@halfgian) who produced the song, and my absolute rock and extraordinary human/cameraman/video producer and director/ballbuster, Boyan Rista (@thisisboyan) who worked around the clock (and in Boyan’s case cycled one-handedly while filming on a Santander bike around London in freezing Winter conditions), to make the most beautiful track and music video - both of which I am so incredibly proud of! A huge thanks also to the brilliant Cory Barrett (@wtc_cb) for the knock out branding, and to the amazing Lucia Godinez (@instalucyg), for the stunning photography and artwork.

Oh yes, the song is available right now. Check out the video on the website or HERE…your choice!