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.

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.

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:

I Love...

Toni

Via MonaMade (Source)

Coming Soon

Music video coming soon. Saw a screen grab of what it looks like (its in post right now). I was so bloody excited. SO bloody excited. I will keep you posted ;)

Say whaaaat?

Back in studio

Yesterday was my first time back in studio since last year. There has been a lot of crazy shit happening in my life, so it was a welcome change.



Marcee working in studio :)



I have been recording in a cute studio in Fishoek, owned by a lovely man called Paris. Paris has recorded so many phenomenal artists in that studio: Freshlyground, Melanie Scholtz, LP Show, Bed on bricks and a bunch of other amazing people.



Paris' wall of fame



We were recording a trumpeter called Darren. Darren is just pure genius. Pure genius and he is a funny cutie pie. He was laying down 'tracks' for 2 songs: 'Today's the day' & 'Time for heartbreak'.

It was incredible gearing songs that Mark & I had worked on for so long finally coming together. I often say that music is my therapy. Other people go and see a psychologist/psychiatrist. I just write & everything is better.

Mark giving directions

I feel like all the crazy shit that has happened in the past 2 months has disappeared. One studio session and I feel lighter. WOZA ALBUM!!

Fulfilled Porcelain :)

TheInBetween

The manager lady convinced me to release an EP that I wasn't sure I wanted to release. Late last year I was in the Red Bull Studios (Cape Town) and I worked with the ever amazing Oltak.

This was a the time when the album was on 'pause' and I really wanted to get rid of some of my anxiety. I was feeling stuck and needed to do something new. I struck Gold because Oltak is a GENIUS. One of the songs on the EP is 'Butterflies' and it has been playlisted in 8 countries. BOOYAH!!

So here is 'TheInBetween'. Listen and share. Its free. It certainly freed me when I was feeling stuck, sick&tired and useless. Writing 'Clowns Joy' was like therapy for me.

TheInBetween by BlackPorcelain

It wont be long till the album is out. I promise.

SWSWSWSW

Today I'm having one of those days. We are waiting to hear from a label and I am a basket case. I have to keep reminding myself of something I read in a book by Jack Canfield: SWSWSWSW

Some Will
Some Wont
So What?
Someone's Waiting

So the answer from the label may very well be another NO. But I know someone is waiting to say YES.

Nervous Porcelain

The week that was

I have been a very quiet little Porcelain. My apologies. So here is a run down of the week that was.

1. I received THE most amazing news on Tuesday. 'Are  you listening' is now playlisted in Croatian and according to my wonderful manager lady she is working on more stations in Europe. Yay! Have a listen to the song (below). I cannot explain how great it is to have more people hear the music. I am so grateful.

Are you listening by BlackPorcelain


2. Working on the new single. Itis produced by Oltak (amazing human being) and we are working on getting a 'super official' DJ to do an official remix. Aaaaaah I cant wait to go back into studio and record.

3. Labels love me and others dont. I'm keeping things 100 on this blog. Manager lady and I are looking for labels to do M&D (manufacturing & distribution) for the album. So far we have had some say no and others say 'we will get back to you'. I'm not discouraged because regardless of what happens this album will be released early next year. God will take care of the rest.

4. I was featured on TimesLive. Great article: HERE. So far so good.

The week has been amazing and I am grateful to be alive and making my dreams come true.



Me on the cover of Your LMG (sep 2010) looking like Black Jesus

 Porcelain. Out.

Are you listening

In 2007 I decided that I wanted to write my own songs. I was 24 years of age, couldn't read or write music and had no clue where to start. A girl I studied with told me that her boyfriend had a band and could help me. I was keen so I met him and we clocked. I didn't know what my 'sound' was and he didn't either.

He was part of a rock band (LP Show) and I was raised on jazz, Funk and soul. He would often play me songs already composed or songs that him and his band had recorded and then ditched. He played me a very bare 'beat' and I knew I loved it. 'Are you litsneing' was born and I had found my voice.

Are you listening by BlackPorcelain

Are you listening by Black Porcelain

V1:
Why do we have to lie?
Why do we run and hide?
You know she saw us, there's no need to hide
She knows about us, there's no no need to cry
I saw this coming, there's no need to lie
I saw this coming, there's no need to lie
There's no need to lie

CHORUS
She won't hear it
You wont say it
I wont have it
Are you listening?
Are you listening?
I wont leave you
Its not over
I wont leave you

She wont hear it
You wont say it
I wont have it
Are you listening?
Are you listening?
Its not over
I wont leave you
Its not over

V2:
She's screaming, make her stop
I'm not leaving
Make her leave
I knew about her, I wont lie
You know you love me, don't you dare lie
she knows it's over, you don't need her
Show me you love me
Throw her out

CHORUS

© Black Porcelain

We recorded a demo and almost 2 years later I recorded it again for my album. It was to be the first single, but radio stations didn't like it. Youth stations said it was too old. AC stations said it was too young. Others said their listeners don't like rock etc etc.

Some radio stations picked it up, but it was never on high rotation. All that being said, I love this track. It will always feel like home to me. Its where I started and discovered myself.

P.S I did this with slip a few days ago. I think I might do this again.

B.P (Black Porcelain)