Chilled 2014 Playlist

I discovered the joy of youtube playlists this year so I thought Id share the one I probably nurture the most.

Tracklisting

1.

Dennis Coffey feat. Mayer Hawthorne – All Your Goodies Are Gone (Shigeto Remix)

2.

Gladys Knight – Grapevine (Mr. Carmack Remix)

3.

Ashtraynutz – City Life (Moods Remix)

4.

Aaliyah – One In A Million (Urban Noize Remix)

5.

The Notorious B.I.G. – One More Chance (Woody Remix) feat. Carlitta Durand

6.

Destiny’s Child – Cater 2 U (Carling Ruse vs. Ruddyp Remix)

7.

Justin Timberlake – My Love (Bear//Face Remix)

8.

Consequence – G.O.O.D. Music (feat. Common & Talib Kweli)

9.

OMN – Tonight

10.

Chris Malinchak – So Into You

11.

Mattison – Predictions (StewRat Bootleg)

12.

Lindsay Lowend and Jonah Baseball – Should Be

13.

Sade – Cherish the Day (Tuned to A-432 hz Universal Resonant Frequency)

14.

Miguel – Sure Thing (Wiskim Remix)

15. n/a

16.

Rihanna – Stay (Marius Hörsturz Edit)

17

Hiatus Kaiyote – Nakamarra ft. Q-Tip

18.

The xx – Reconsider (Jamie xx Remix)

19.

Oscar Isaac – Fare thee well Orignal soundtrack (Inside Llewyn Davis)

20.

Da-P x Tigerblood – Rock U (SevnthWonder Edit)

21.

Sam Smith – Stay With Me

22.

Charles Bradley – Why Is It So Hard (Live on KEXP)

23.

Janelle Monae – Primetime ft. Miguel (Chloe Martini Remix)

24.

Naughty Boy – La La La (Jarreau Vandal Remix) [Free Download]

25.

Chance The Rapper – Wonderful Everyday: Arthur ft. The Social Experiment

26.

Don’t Wait (Remix) – Mapei, Chance The Rapper & The Social Experiment

27.

Cory Henry Plays Gnarles Barkley’s “Crazy” feat. Chantae Cann

28

James Vincent McMorrow – Glacier (Atu Remix)

29.

Raury – Cigarette Song (Snakehips Remix)

30.

Nipsey Hussle – Creep

31.

D’Angelo – Untitled (How Does It Feel)

32.

Aretha Franklin – Tiny Sparrow (LIVE!)

33.

The Two Become One (For Paula)

34.

Soul Square – Trippin’ (feat. Blezz)

35.

Soul Square – Love break (ft. Fazz)

36.

Epidemic “Poisonous Love” (Produced By Esco)

37.

Love Juju #1

38.

Q-Tip – You

❤ xxxxxx

6am JetLag life, lessons learnt + little random verse that fell

Long time no speak!

Being extremely wrapped up in NYC Life, I completely disregarded poor little sunsetsoulsister. My musical alter came along (Alexandra Blue) and stole all my attention away!

Although this means that no writing has been done in the blog sense, I have been writing lyrics and poetry… so all was not lost.

This stay in NY was extremely different from the first time around. Less focus was on fun and playtime ( in the standard sense of drinking and partying)  and most of my time was spent in my room writing lyrics and melodies ( my new kind of playtime 😀 ) or on the subway to jam nights, writing sessions or singing lessons. Harlem was where you could find me most of the time!

I got to play a few shows both supporting established acts as a Background artist and I performed a track I wrote with Namaste Humble at a random gig. What encouraged the most growth was vibin on stage at random jams and seeing what my improvisation chops were saying!

If any singers or musicians are reading this with an idea of going to NY to pursue music the best bit of advice I could give you as someone who is just finding their way is – Do not be afraid of Craigslist and Jam nights! Speak to everyone and be as open as possible. Also, know your limits and skill level. I went in thinking I was going to be miles behind everyone (I was behind most, obv, but not ALL) but because NY is so big and there are so many ‘scenes’ there is no need to be intimidated. There is always going to be someone behind you in their journey, and help them along just as you would appreciate a peer further on their path giving you a little nod in the right direction.

I did manage to get a couple of trips upstate in (hello winetasting!) , and of course went to some blinding gigs (Derrick Hodge and The Weeknd and loads of local bands) but my highlights have to be attending jam nights like The Lesson @ Arlene’s Grocery and Village Undergrounds jam/open mic on a monday. These are places that really are about nurturing and experimenting with your gift in a safe and fun community. Other nights I really wanted to get to but didn’t manage were Tuesday nights @ Zinc and Wednesdays @ Williamsburg music centre. Hear nothing but great things about these 2 nights.

Halloween I semi experienced, (went out the night before, had my own crazy vibes that ended on a very hungover Halloween official day), I stayed on the couch with my housemate. We talked about life and watched Les Mis haha. The night following Halloween was Subway Management’s Mansion party so I, of course, turnt that place up until the Jello shots turned me down. I dressed as a Peace Warrior, basically I utilised the most prominent part of my wardrobe, camo print and face paint.

I got to take part in Thanksgiving (which was amazing, and FULL OF FOOD). Previously to that it dawned on me that Firework night in the UK may be my favourite non holiday. I really missed it this year, and was very disappointed there were no fireworks at the supposed British bonfire night celebrations!

in summary. NYC Part 2 was a great success!

Hometown Glory

Checkin in with my hometown talent!

Today I signed into my facebook page and was greeted by incredibly talented people.

The first is a guy I have known for a fair few years now from around Brighton. We share musical inclinations and I can always rely on him to book the best performers in my hometown of Brighton,UK.

He also runs an extremely successful hip-hop, funk and beats night (mid-week sensation!) called Donuts, I have written about it previously and never stop gushing about it. In a City like Brighton where Hip Hop is so revered and respected it was about time a night that honoured the work of Dilla and his influences took it’s rightful place under the station.

But I am writing about him here to share his own beats and creations!

https://soundcloud.com/stampthewax/sets/premiere-loom-brazilian-beats-ep

The beats he makes are interesting and funky as hell. Check it fools!

——–

Next up is a lovely lady whom I have only met a handful of times but we bonded pretty quickly over singing technique nerdiness and landlord beef!

https://www.facebook.com/notes/sigrid-jakobsen/western-fear/10152756060069042

This is one of her poems. It moved me instantly and even writing about it now I have chills. Never has there been a more important or influential time to use the arts and expression to try and make some waves in our scary and dangerous world.

And finally!

This is a gorgeously filmed video of The Charleston dancers of Brighton.

You guys did a great job in showing such a beautiful city filled with beautiful people full of love.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqaJcW7Redo

Song of the Day! – Chris Brown + Kendrick – Autumn Leaves

http://2dopeboyz.com/2014/09/10/chris-brown-autumn-leaves-kendrick-lamar/

Yes, despite my feelings towards this supposed reformed character, I love this song. Mostly because of Kendrick who kills it on his verse….obv.

This does not mean I am excited for his new album drop, rather intrigued at who is going to pop up on the album.

I STILL don’t get why it is ok for him to be in my face all the time.

‘These Hoes aint Loyal’ is hardly a mark of redemption…

All this being said, I still must have played this track 100 times since discovering it 48hours ago.

Song of the day!

 

I am obsessed with this remix of the beautiful Miguel song. I can listen to this on loop for hours…

What do you think of this remix? Am I obsessed for the sake of being obsessed, OR isit, in fact, a banger?

#25happyhealthydaysinNYC – Days 17-24 PT.1

Final days and words for my NYC Spring Visit!

This week was mental.

Everyone knew I was leaving NY so we took ample opportunity to do as much as possible. This included Burlesque at Macao – I didn’t win musical chairs this time, but came second! This time was so funny because the guy I was up against was super into ‘letting me win’ until he was super into winning himself! Males just can’t help their competitive natures sometimes, but that was AOK because I still got a free drink anyways from my favourite bartender in China Town! 😀

We continued our mini traditions by attending Karaoke at Branded Saloon the following evening. It was rather a last minute decision as we were all pretty hangin from the night before at Burlesque, but we still gave a bloody good craic and, of course, The Spice Girls got queued up and everything after that was good times!

I tried Brisket for the first time too, and have to say I am not a massive fan of heavy meat so such a rich serving of it was a bit too much for me. Another first out of the way though, so good job, Branded!

Then came my day at Coney Island. This included stellar company, really great food, and a major fulfillment with being back by the sea. Being from Brighton, a traditional English seaside town, I realized how much I took having fresh air and open space for granted whilst living in Brooklyn. My skin has noticed the difference since being back in Brighton, gone are the random breakouts and patchy skin and back is the lovely sea air glow 😀

For my final Thursday in the states, it wouldn’t have been right if it weren’t ridiculously rushed and busy! Thursdays always seemed to be the day when I would be late for everything and rushing around like a blue arse fly, as my dad would say.

I had my final singing lesson with the ridiculously talented Angel Lea, and also my final Jazz class with the New York Jazz academy. Both of these lessons were incredibly insightful, and allowed me to leave NY with a refreshed sense of drive and determination. The first of the 2 lessons very much reminded me that you can never stop improving the foundations of singing, and the latter gave me a shock to the system in the form of theory based singing. It has been a while since I have worked out chord types, and clapped out rhythms. Back to the Music Theory drawing board for Alex then!

To relieve the stress of the day, the only thing to do was… have a party! So that evening was full of music, beer pong, dancing and madness the only way 74 Cornelia knows how! Another member of the crew was going back to Spain so this was his night. Bushwick really does know how to throw it down and shake it out!

In Part 2 of my last week I will be talking about the music video filming, getting my nose pierced, and my farewell weekend/dinner madness!

#25HappyHealthyDaysinNYC – Day 5 – D’Angelo!!!!

From the outset of this day there was a weird energy around, from the intense humidity to my tentative anticipation for the days main event – ‘A conversation with D’Angelo’.

I started the day how I always do with Oil Pulling using coconut oil, a fantastic habit I have picked up from my Ayurvedic Yoga Detox. Another part of the daily practice I have kept up is the daily kidney cleanser, and I am sure that these are the reasons why my skin is super soft and blemish free. Before I started this mini routine the NYC air was tarnishing my fresh sea breezed face that rarely got a spot or inflammation.

Next was the Gym, nothing major to report there except general nice interactions with people and Boy meets world on the TVs, along with Ridiculousness. I rarely watch TV over here; so catching random shows like this make cardio that little bit more bearable for sure.

So I planned to leave myself enough time to eat before the main event. LOL to me planning, how foolish can one be! Not only did I forget that I needed to print my ticket out. Then after being a bit of a pain to the guys in the office downstairs and husslin them for their printer, I get all the way to Broadway Junction and realize that I left my ticket on my bed. Fabulous. That’s food out the window pre D for me. After rushing back to the mansion and grabbing my ticket, much to everyone’s confusion as to why I was back so soon, back on my way I go.

I arrive at Brooklyn museum and am floored by the monumentalness ( I know mum, it’s not a word.)  Of the building in front of me. I never would have expected in Brooklyn there to be so many beautiful buildings, let alone to house the most exciting event of my life!!

Luckily I made it to the museum bang on when doors opened so I decided to do my usual thing and get lost for a little while pre D. I was hungry and knew I would be sitting for a while so managed to find a cute little shop that sold relatively healthy stuff. Woo!

I won’t go into the D’angelo sitch here, I am going to have to write my own run-down of this event as it was really one of the best evenings of my existence. But what I will finish up with is a brief summary of my adventure in Prospect Heights.Prospect Heights is very nice, very green, very suburban – a world away from Bushwick, especially the part in which I reside. Lovely restaurants, organic shops, healthy takeouts and trees EVERYWHERE! Franklin Av looks to be a bit of a hotspot, and sure enough bars to keep the local residents drinking for a while without repetition. This part of Brooklyn reminded me a little of a grown up Williamsburg, for the older hipster haha.

I managed to finally decide on food, and went with Black Bean soup, watermelon juice and a quinoa blueberry bar from Lincoln Station right near the Franklin Av subway. I originally wanted something different so was a little disappointed with the idea of soup, but it was exactly what I needed! Wasn’t too heavy and tasted great. The quinoa bar especially was bangin! I also managed to wangle some sushi off my housemate when I got home – BONUS!

Thanks for reading, and be sure to let me know if anyone has any recommendations of anything I can get up to in my last 3 weeks over here!

Peace x

#25HappyHealthyDaysinNYC

Day 1

So this is my new idea for a series of blog posts to document my last 25 days in the states for a while!

I named it HappyHealthy to incorporate mental health as well as physical health.

As someone who struggles with depression and being out here I have had no choice but to put myself under the microscope a bit. Being by myself has been an excellent opportunity to learn about me and has enabled me to look out for trigger points or patterns that send me down into a few days (used to be weeks would go by under the black cloud, with a few days of ‘up’ peppered in) under the black cloud.

Instead of it just being ‘Healthy’ which implies physical health and can lead to the start of obsessive unhealthy cycles for me, I decided to make the most of my time left here in the happiest way I see fit.

Song of the Day – Fallout Boy

It had to be done!  Fallout Boy – Sugar We’re Going Down

A bit out of my normal genre of preference but hearing it the other night really took me back to teenage mode! Used to love jumping around with my little bro to this in my dad’s living room.

Sunset Soul Sister Song of the Summer!

Yep I know its not even June yet, but I think I have found my anthem for the summer!

Foreign Exchange is a recent discovery for me, I love their variation of styles and the album that this track is from is very new wave neo soul sounding. Right up my alley!

This song is great because even house heads can get down with it, as well as garage and hiphop heads.