July Book 1 (Adventures of Huckleberry Finn)

I don't know why The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was so difficult to get into. Perhaps I needed to get used to a story without good ol' Tom Sawyer (who does make an appearance later in the book). I did say that The Adventures of Tom Sawyer does have a lot of the n-word floating around. Well... This book does it even more. The story is about Tom helping a runaway slave Jim. He doesn't call Jim anything but the n-word (so disturbing).

 Huck's father has heard of his son's good fortune. So he forcibly takes his son and locks him in a cabin. I'm not certain if Huck's Pap is a drunk, psychotic or both. Whichever one of them it is, he becomes violent and Huck starts to fear for his life. He fakes his own death, escapes and meets up with runaway slave Jim. Jim is trying to make his way to a free state where he will buy back his families freedom. That's when the adventure really begins.

Like I said before, it was difficult to get into. But once I got into, I really enjoyed it. Give it a try, let me know what you think :)

Source

I Did It Myself (Video)

I guess I've been a D.I.Y artists for a long time. Instead of looking at it as a bad thing, I decided to just run with it. You saw the 'trailer' that I put up, now here's the music video.

I shot it on a Saturday afternoon a few months ago. There was drama (boo hoo). Now here it is. I really do like what Das Kapital did with this remix. And I'm proud of Ms Marcee for shooting this on a BlackaBerry (9900). Sometimes when you don't have a million Rand you have to improvise.



Enjoy!

D.I.Y Porcelain

Do. It. Yourself

I've been quiet for a while because I've been writing (songs), reading this month's books (3 of them) and living. I've also been trying to figure out how to make this album release as painless as possible. 3 months ago I shot a music video for the Das Kapital remix of 'Today is the Day'. I kept making promises to upload it but... Nothing happened. Well here is a video explaining my woes.




What's the point of doing this is if I can't have fun? I honestly got so caught up in what wasn't being done, that I forgot that I can ALWAYS DO something about my situation.

June Book (Shirley, Goodness and Mercy)

This month's book was fun. Chris van Wyk is a brilliant and honest writer. He tells the story of his life; growing up in Riverlea during apartheid. There is so much history in this book and I am thankful for people like Chris van Wyk who share it. There are honestly so many awesome and tragic stories that are still untold in South Africa. I don't wanna give too much away. Just prepare yourself for laughs, even in tragic situations. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I hope you do too. He also includes some of his poetry in the book, which is a bonus.

Music video tings 2

 Last weekend we shot the second and last part of the music video by the eager students :)

We shot it at the African Music Store on Long Street and it was all fun and games. I don't mind getting dressed up and pretending for a day. There is so much amazing music available at that store. It is a pity that the store was closed, so I couldn't buy anything. But I'm definitely going back to pick up a few Stimela albums and definitely some Femi as well.

I will post the music video as soon as the young minds are done with it... Which should be pretty soon. Yay!!

Music Video Tings

Yes. I used the word 'tings' in the post title. Moving right along.

Last weekend I shot the first part of the music video for a song I released almost a year ago (Butterflies DJ Zinhle remix). A friends little sister is a film school student in 3rd year and she approached me to shoot a music video. Marcee and I are already clear about what music videos we are shooting next, concepts, dates etc. So we thought it would be cool to give them Butterflies (DJ Zinhle remix) to work with. It was the first one of my songs to be playlisted A LOT overseas. It was only 8 countries, but the reception was very good.

Last Saturday was the 'green screen' shoot. I had never done a green screen shoot, so it was very interesting. I had to do a lot of pretending. The idea is that there are butterflies all around me and I'm interacting with them. It made me feel like I always do; crazy. So I suppose it was no different to every day of my life.

The dress is by Lazuli. We spent all morning trying things on and just before we left I tried this one on and Marcee and Bukiwe (stylist) both agreed that it was the ONE. This weekend we shoot the rest of the music video.




I performed Butterflies on Expresso in Feb of this year. Its a very naked, stripped down version of the song.

May Boook 3 (Dance With a Poor Man's Daughter)

I realise that I said I wouldn't be reading another book this month because I had quite a bit of writing and album stuff to take care of. So I'm gonna sort of hang my head in shame for a few seconds. *pause*

The third book for this month is by Pamela Jooste (Dance With a Poor Man;s Daughter). This was another one of those books that my friend Amanda was kind enough to lend me. The book is set in Cape Town during the beginning of coloured people's forced removals (from 'The Valley' to the Cape Flats). It is told told from the perspective of eleven year old Lilly who lives with her grandmother and aunt Stella. The story itself is one that I enjoyed a lot, but there was something about the book that felt a little 'superficial'. I guess not every author is a Toni Morrison or a Zakes Mda and I certainly cannot hold that against Pamela Jooste. There was a moment when I did entertain that the book could feel a little 'superficial' because it is written by a white woman from the perspective of a young coloured girl. I wont spoil the book for you because those are all my own things.

I really did enjoy the story even if I did find it a little 'holey' sometimes. Like I always say; read the book and it might be something you enjoy.

Something New (Table Thirteen)

This is not REALLLY something new, but I hadn't been to Table Thirteen since last year and they made some changes... So... Yeah something new. The genius behind Table Thirteen (in Green Point) is Lara O'Sullivan. Lara Truly is a genius because not only is the food AMAZING but the decor is also incredible. You can tell that a ;lot of though and love went into the place.

Marcee and I had to handle some car business on Saturday morning. We had to be there obnoxiously early. So after the car business was handled we made our way to Table Thirteen for breakfast.

tea for me

cap for Marcee

This is what Marcee had; poached eggs with some yummy stuff

I need something like this for my dinner parties

I LOVE taking pics of Marcee

Saturday breakfast at TableThirteen could become a regular thing. I didn't take any pics of the place because it was kinda full and I didn't want the other people there to feel uncomfortable.

Via food 24 but this pic doesn't do the place justice and this was before 'the change'

Its about time

via The Classy Issue

May Book 2 (A Brother's Journey)

The plan was to finish off the latest draft of my manuscript... But you don't need me to tell you how tempting everything becomes when there is writing to be done. Today was one of those days where I literally had to sit around waiting for people to do things. So I took a book with me. I had started 'sort of' reading it yesterday; the intention was not to get into it.

The book is by Richard B. Pelzer and it is a story about his childhood and how he survived an abusive mother. When I read this book I had no idea that he had a brother who had also written a book about their abusive life (David, who is known as IT in the book). It is a true story and one that left me feeling so sad. I was saddened because Richard seems to think that everyone around them (family, neighbours and teachers) knew what their mother was doing but nobody did anything.

Richard is one of 5 boys who lived with an alcoholic and obviously mentally ill mother. At first her abuse and hate is directed at David, known as IT, but when the authorities take David away she picks Richard as his 'replacement'. I couldn't put the book down because I was hoping that someone would come and save him.

I now want to read his brother's book: A Boy Called It. No more books this month. I NEED to finish the latest draft.

Say it aint so

I am a CSI and Criminal Intent lover. I especially have a soft spot for CSI Miami. Don't get me wrong; CSI (Las Vegas) will always be THE ONE, but I really enjoy David Caruso's one liners on CSI Miami. I just found out (via Hurricane Vanessa) that CSI Miami has been cancelled. *falls to knees and sobs*

Whhhyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy?!

Below areDavid Caruso's finest moments on screen. It is not an episode until he has given a one liner and put his glasses back on. R.I.P CSI Miami

Album Update

• I think I'm comfortable with releasing the album after Winter. There is still so much to do in terms of promo, so I'm giving myself the next 3 months to sort that and the track listing in order
• I am currently working on 2 music videos (dont have enough time to explain, but I will in the next few days)
• I STILL have a music video that is being played on TV and if you haven't see it, check it out here:

And the Das Kapital remix is below:

May Book (Gem Squash Tokoloshe)

It took me forever to finish the March book, but it feels like I flew through this months book (Gem Squash Tokoloshe). I had never heard of the author or the book, as mentioned before. Half of the book is set in the 80s (South Africa) and it is told by a seven year old girl named Faith. She lives on a farm with her parents and is oblivious to how big or bad the world. All she knows is her family, their community and the 'fairies' that her mother often tells her about.

Faith's world falls starts unraveling when her parents separate and it seems nothing goes right from that point on. I don't want to ruin the book for you, so I can't go into too much detail. The second part of the book is from the perspective of Faith in her 20s. Again I can't say much but you begin to see the impact that the events of her childhood have had on her.

I love the story because of how it was stuck between the 'real' world and a 'mystical' one. I enjoy those kind of things, which is why Beloved is one of my favourite books. Be warned you will come across the k-word a few times. If that doesn't put you off, keep reading.

Expansion

Via Poor Artists


I've been working on my album for about 2 and a half years. Not every day or every week, but on and off. I have also been writing (fiction) and that has been something calming and therapeutic for me. Whilst it has been therapeutic for the past few years I have started feeling a little stuck. Stuck and broken. I came across this image on Poor Artist and it spoke to me.

The sculpture (entitled Expansion) is the work of artist Paige Bradley “From the moment we are born, the world tends to have a container already built for us to fit inside: a social security number, a gender, a race, a profession,” says Bradley. “I ponder if we are more defined by the container we are in than what we are inside. Would we recognize ourselves if we could expand beyond our bodies?” (via Poor Artists)

Like the woman in the sculpture I am trying to find inner peace when I feel so broken. The past few years have been about my creativity that I may very well have forgotten about ll my other needs. I want to travel, I want to COMPLETE my album and books, I want something different. I need a change so badly. I also need peace. There has been waaaay too much 'fighting and struggling' in my life lately.

Marcee turns 30 in September and we have agreed to embark on 'make small changes' journey. Small changes will hopefully lead to big changes. Wish me luck and strength.

Porcelain. Out!

Holiday Needed

I have never been on holiday in my life. I don't mean it in the 'Beyonce takes a year off from her busy schedule' sense. I mean I have never packed my bags and gone somewhere to enjoy the sites etc. Visiting my parents and family in Soweto doesn't count ha haha.

I NEED to GO on HOLIDAY. You hear me universe and Grand Organised Design? I NEED to GO on HOLIDAY!

Via theclassyissue

I thank you.

Coming Soon

February Book 1 (Memoirs of an Outsider)

Zakes Mda is one of my favourite authors, so much so that this month I am reading two of his books. I was reading Cion when I bought Sometimes there is a Void (Memoirs of an Outsider). I stopped reading Cion, not because it was boring but because my curiosity got the better of me. I wanted to know where my favourite authors was from, where his love for writing came from, what his childhood was like etc.

I was unable to put this book down. It made me realise just how little I knew about the history of Lesotho and the 'arts scene' in South Africa. It almost felt like I had gone to visit him in his home and every day was spent just listening to him talk. I am not disappointed that I bought the book. His honesty made me appreciate him even more.

source

I will be reading Cion for the rest of the month. 2 book in February? I'm impressed with myself *wink*

January Book (A Mercy)

I've decided that I'm going to try and read at least 1 book a month in 2012. In January I sat down with a book that I had bought and then proceeded to run from: A Mercy by Toni Morrison. I ran from the book for almost a year. I just didn't feel ready to read it. The 'right time' finally arrived and boy am I glad that it did. Anybody who knows me will tell you that I am a Toni STAN. I love her work and cannot be reasoned with when it comes to it.

 

Via SFGate

I don't believe in reviewing music or books, something about it feels unclean to me. I will tell you how this gorgeous book made me feel though: I was wrapped up in Toni's words and never wanted to leave the world they created around me.

I tried to read it slowly, but my hunger and curiosity got the better of me. The January book was AMAZING!!