:::watch:::short film by kahlil joseph:::

as promised, here is part 2 of the seu jorge trilogy. it is called "the model". gorgeous. enjoy.

the model

:::my latest artsy:::scarf necklace

this is my latest artsy fartsy project. i made a necklace scarf out of yarn, and i love it. when i was a little girl, my grandma used to crochet all of the time. then, last week, out of the blue i decided to buy some yarn and a hook. i wasn't even sure that i would remember how to do it, but i guess it is like riding a bike. :) more creations to come.

:::listen:::Amel Larrieux

i love amel for being vocally fearless. she is substantial and seems to have a simple elegance. when i first heard and saw "get up" i wanted to be that kind of artist. her first solo album, infinite possibilities is one of my all-time favorite albums! i have followed her every since. so this morning, my anthem is "get up". i hope you all enjoy! :)

oh, i also added her sweet misery video because it was a gorgeous song and video as well!

:::listen:::Ira Glass

it is no secret that i love npr and "this american life" host, ira glass. i find him to be incredibly witty and wise. the quote below, i found to be most inspirational as i work through my second studio album. writing and composing can take everything out of you because you want everything to be perfect. i like that ira says this is normal and to just work through it, because in the end it will be worth it. says ira:

"Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through."

- ira glass

:::watch::: short films by nzingha stewart

nzingha stewart is one of the most talented film makers that i know. most people are more familiar with her music video work (see, "the light" with badu and common and bilal's "soul sista"), but less familiar with her film work. this short film, entitled "Thursday. South Central" is skillfully shot. her attention to small details is masterful and it is beautiful to see the world through her gaze. we need to be able to see more black female directors to have an opportunity to shine. that said, i have no doubt that whatever nzingha has up her sleeves will be well worth the wait when its time comes. i for one will be waiting with baited breath. you can keep up with her on her blog. enjoy.

:::watch::: short films by khalil joseph

yesterday i saw that the good folks at frolab were showing the first of three short films by khalil joseph surrounding the singer seu jorge. in this segment, entitled "the model", we seem to walk with seu through his day which includes rehearsing, chilling with friends/family and thinking about a love interest (introduced in the final seconds of the film). this pieces is incredibly well shot, which is what is to be expected of khalil joseph's work. you may be familiar with his work from the sabazz palaces "belhaven meridian" video based on the films of charles burnett. what khalil does with black and white is magical. the moments feel so warm that you actually believe that they are saturated with color. and let's not even talk about how beautiful seu jorge's voice is. bonkers! i look forward to seeing and hearing more from the both of them as well as the subsequent installments of this series. enjoy this video and some other works by khalil joseph.

"the model"

"cheeba"

Cheeba feat. Bilal from Plug Research on Vimeo.

"belhaven meridian"

Shabazz Palaces - Belhaven Meridian from Sub Pop Records on Vimeo.

:::ICON:::ALICE COLTRANE

as i begin working on my next project, i often reflect on the work of artists i admire. one such artist is ALICE COLTRANE. in my opinion, alice had a quiet power that made her an undeniable force in the jazz realm. she was not only john's wife, but a visionary in her own right.

i am also inspired by the creative partnership that she had with her husband. when you listen to the music that they created together it sounds like the perfect meshing of souls. such synchonization of passion and purpose is rare and most beautiful.

of all of alice's album, i must say that my favorites are "a monastic trio" and "journey in satchidananda" are classics in my book.

if you are not hip to the work of alice coltrane, please take a moment and familiarize yourself. enjoy.

:::INFLUENCERS::: be one!

in a world of followers...be an influencer

INFLUENCERS FULL VERSION from R+I creative on Vimeo.

:::grey gardens fashion:::

i love all things grey gardens, not just because i am fascinated with the human psyche, but also because lil and big edie were amazing human beings. if you have seen the movie (which i highly suggest) you will appreciate the following fashion looks i just saw on designlovefest! the photos were taken by mark seliger for vogue spain!