The Younger Brothers, The Trailer

In the Spring, I blogged the upcoming Angie Lemar theatre adaptation, the Younger Brothers.(seet here!)
The cast have been hard at work and now have produced the trailer for the new series.
The Younger Brothers is an adaptation of the successful play written by Angie Lemar. Since it's days of being a radio drama, it has gone on to be the fastest selling show at the Hackney Empire within a 10 year stretch.

This adaptation starts Aaron Fontaine, Elysha Mylton and Travis Jay - Take a likkul look!

Debbie Aramide

--BEGINS---

Introducing Debbie Aramide: A fresh faced singer/songwriter from North London, determined to make her stamp in the UK’s music scene.

From the age of six she has been crafting her talent, attending theatre school, trained by Tameka Epsom and has become a regular performer at Somerset House, now as 22 year old law graduate, she has performed at LoveBox Festival, opening for artists such as US chart sensation Aloe Blacc and Dionne Bromfield for over 3000 people.

Running From Fear (Live) by Debbie Aramide

“Trying to balance being a law student and a performer is very difficult, if I’m not in the exam room, I’m in the studio. My passion is always knocking on the door, I’m writing constantly, singing along the road, whenever it comes to me, it comes.”

As a critically acclaimed upcoming artist after the recognition of her self-produced mixtape Breaking Point (2009), Debbie is now preparing to promote her new EP, The Tide. Being influenced by Toni Braxton, Beyonce and Coldplay, Debbie describes her sound as being indie meets soul.

“This EP definitely shows my growth, not just as a person, but as an artist. My first self produced song had more of a pop, soulful house beat; the material on The Tide is an influx of new energy, that’s elements of a soulful/indie vibe. There’s more thought into the lyrics now, a definitely more mature sound from my previous work.”

The Tide is available in Autumn 2011.

--END--

For more information
Reverb nation http://www.reverbnation.com/debbiearamide
Twitter www.twitter.com/DebbieAramide
Facebook www.facebook.com/DebbieAramide
YouTube www.youtube.com/DebbieAramideTV
SoundCloud http://soundcloud.com/debbie-aramide
MySpace www.myspace.com/deboraharamide

[Note to editors: Debbie Aramide is available for performances and interviews. Contact msdebbiearamide@googlemail.com]

Ola Delights (All of the Lights)

“I don’t care if you’re offended, you’ll still find it funny!"

Various jobs allow me to make great friendships with a lot of talented people.
One being Ola the Comedian, that I first met at the Choice FM Comedy Club who ended up following me home, or because, as he says, he also lives in the same area... *side eye. Coincidently, four years later, I’m able to walk around the corner and say hi, congratulate him on becoming a fiancé and intrude on his wedding ideas! So to me, he’s just Ola, I don’t know Ola the Comedian to well, so I just had to ask...


What makes you Ola the Comedian and not just a comedian?

Good question, wow! I’m just me. I don’t wanna be ill conceived, you know me! But I’ve learnt that you have to be yourself! You could try to be someone else, but you’re always gonna be beaten doing that. No one can be you, but you!
You have to make your material stand out. Some people may think my material may come across smarter than other comedians that they’ve seen, but it depends on the individual; it depends how lively you wanna be, how controversial that you want to be, the key is finding your own unique setting.

So when did you find your own setting and thought, ‘I can do this, not as a hobby, but as a living?’
I had been doing stand up comedy for about a year; at that point, everything was going wrong for me. I failed a year at LSE, I didn’t get any of the internships that I applied for, I tried to get into investment banking and all I got from the employers is that I didn’t give them the impression that it was the field I had passion for. And they were right. What I wanted to do, is the thing I’m doing now. The final push the thought was on my 21^st birthday when I had a show, and thought, this is just a small element of what I want to do. 

 So now you’re a signed, agent- represented comedian, what’s the difference?

You can’t get gassed up on being signed, but it’s great being managed by a company established in the comedy scene that sees your talent and has as much passion as you do, and also, they’re much the wiser – they have the knowledge from working with various, and bigger clients to get me in regular, nationwide sets, whereas in stand-up comedy, you’re doing the same stages for a long time catering to the same people.

So now you’re aspiring to be more mainstream, how would you say it’s different, with regards to the way they receive your material?
Mainstream crowds are more open, they don’t like the same topics being joked about, they want to hear something different – they seem to know more about comedy. It seems that they are more about the content of comedy whether it be politics or current affairs , rather than how loud you can make the crowd roar.

The content of your comedy is acclaimed to be quite controversial, has it ever been more of an issue than what how you first thought it would be?
Not really, I always have an idea about a crowd to try and figure out how the audience may react to certain things. As a stand-up you read the crowd. But I still say it, knowing that this could be the joke that potentially ends the show for me, or the joke that looses them! I do it with the thought that they’re not going to like it or someone will be offended, so if they love it, it’s even better. So now, I don’t care, and I’ve found that when you don’t care, they find it even funnier!

Go on...

I did my joke on my views of homosexuality, based on my Christian beliefs. As it was a joke, there was some ‘funny’ in there, but kit was way too much hassle for what it was worth, because it wasn’t productive, but it was a hot topic issue, not to be taken lightly because it’s easy to be labelled as a homophobic, and that’s nothing I care to associate myself with.

When you writing, do you isolate yourself, or let it come naturally?
Normally it’s natural, but there have been a few instances of a stroke of genius when I have sat and put my head down. They may be two different points from two different days, but I can build on the potential from that.I may find something hilarious, whereas someone else thinks otherwise; it’s all about perspective and potential. Like when I saw a dude on the tube with a pint glass, which may be normal to some, but in my head I’m thinking ‘it’s 7.30pm, how much of an alcoholic are you to have your own glass on your way out?’, and I ran on that.



So you have an agent, do shows nationwide and abroad, have a DVD, what’s next?
More shows across Europe and establish myself as a headliner, rather than an opening act and maybe do more TV, more sketch writing, perhaps some comedy writing.

More TV...?
 I did the FHM talent competition on ITV4 ‘Search for a stand up hero, in which I came third and also on Kojo’s Comedy Fun House on MTV Base, and also The Jason Lewis Experience.
I haven’t done any formalised writing but have written with Jason Lewis, which is more of me giving ideas. I met him while working together in retail and learnt that we both had a passion for comedy and therefore was able to bounce ideas and views off each other – it was a meeting of the minds and he asked me to jump on board.

Any one else you’d like to work with? Top two?
Dave Chapelle and Steven Colberg

Favourite film?
Coming to America, without a doubt.  The comedy element is great, it’s timeless, and it’s a film that shows Africa in a good light. Eddie Murphy is my favourite actor. And Soul Gro its self is iconic! You know it! Everyone’s sung the song!
But why Coming to America?
Are you genuinely questioning my love for Coming to America? From the first scene where he’s in the bathroom, getting cleaned?? That right there is iconic! SEXUAL CHOCOLATE!
So if you had a once in a lifetime chance of remaking, or even changing the film in the slightest, what would you change?
Ah man.... I couldn’t! It’s art! I wouldn’t touch it! It would be almost disrespectful – it’s timeless!

Big Chill Festival 2011

Since its establishment in 1994 The Big Chill Festival has been home to multiple locations in the UK before being brought by heavyweights Festival Republic. Throughout its history, The Big Chill has showcased a variety of different music, up-tempo as well as ambient. Recently, live acts and DJs like Norman Jay, Mr Scruff and of late Calvin Harris are regular performers, and more dance music is heard, but the festival also provides a wide range of music from folk and jazz to dub step and jungle to cater to their own ever-growing diverse culture.

In saying this The Big Chill festival has really stepped their game with regards to the acts they have headlining their stage. In the last few years crow

ds from across England merged to see Lily Allen, Isaac Hayes, Aim, Basement Jaxx, Mr Hudson, Plan B, Tinie Tempah and Massive Attack.

This year The Big Chill Festival opens its gates to The Chemical Brothers, Kanye West, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Jessie J, Robert Plant, Crystal Fighters. Calvin Harris, Aloe Blacc, Janelle Monae, Chipmunk, Katy B & Example.

The camping experience was one in itself!

Travelling to Eastnor Castle in Hereforshire and pitching a tent for the first time without a hammer was definitely a skill I learnt (learnt that if you try to use a bottle, the bottle will burst)!

But we got the job done!

By ourselves might I add, there were so many people, tens of thousands of tents and caravans but nobody wanted to help us – imagine that!

BBC Radio 1 and XFM favourites Crystal Fighters performed tracks off their 2010 debut album Star Of Love for their biggest audience to date, and they were sensational live. Their use of txalaparta and the danbolin seemed to be a crowd pleaser with their fuse of electronic guitars.

Also on the main stage was Janelle Monae. Now to be honest, I’m not the biggest fan of hers at all, because to me, all I seem to hear is a lot of shouting, but her vocal control is very impressive with regards to her energy on stage. But yes, she was wearing the same (yes, it may be trademark, but it’s also tired) black and white ensemble with the same hair style and the same shoes as you’ve seen before, so if you’ve seen her once. Don’t do it again – just hit record.

She also done a Michael Jackson cover and did the moonwalk, but even after that, I can’t say she would make me go to YouTube and favourite any of her material.

Also on the Revellers stage was Katy B and Delvin. Devlin amazed the young crowd encouraging them to go “*$£”king mental!” and that they did as the young lyricist performed his bars on the mic while Katy B did a short set and blamed the production team and had little girls crying their eyes out. Wouldn’t you for £75 a ticket??

Now, I’m not going to bore you with all the infinite details about each and every act, because, well, who has time for all that?

But I will say, I used to be a big fan of Jessie J until her second single. Not that it was to be unexpected, but I can’t hear her raw talent in her music anymore. So in addition to that, she made me roll my eyes, when she was escorted to her big velvet chair on stage with a cast on her foot, which seems like it’s been broken forever. Somehow it felt like a big act and a cry for even more attention. That’s just me. Conversely, her vocals were very good, and unlike a lot of the other acts, she outsung her band, so you could close your eyes and just listen without rolling them.

Grammy Award-winning Kayne West, critically acclaimed as the most arrogant man in hip hop, with some other strong candidates was obviously not going to be on time, but that didn’t stop the herd of people bombarding me from my comfortable patch on the floor to being practically under the armpit of somebody that was obviously not utilising the hygiene facilities on the campsite.

Now, I’ve never been a fan of West, but damn, he was actually worth the wait even though we did boo him when he eventually arrived. For you ‘most important show of the summer’ you shouldn’t be an hour late; and I also have reason to believe he was high, read on....

Kayne West had an entourage 75 people, half of which must have been his troop of professional trained contemporary ballet dancers that were incredible from start to finish. I was told by fans that he puts on a good show, but his performance was almost theatrical and far from the dancing I was expecting from your run-of-the-mill rapper.

He started his performance on top of the sound stage on the middle of the park with Power which got the crowd out of control and made them forget he was late (as he said, ‘they say good things come to those who wait, so I’m at least gon’ be an hour late’). Reason being, as he blabbed on to explain, “He’s a perfectionist, just making sure he gives what the fans deserved”.

That he did, he put on a great show, until he started to talk...

... And BOY, can he talk! He literally whined on stage about how the media portrays him, how “I walk down the street, and people look at me like I'm a monster in some way ... like I'm Hitler or some &^%, how award shows be serving him bull (*&^$ as he explains he was conned into making an appearance at an MTV awards show and some babble about wanting to make the same changes to music as Michael Jordan did for sport and blahblahblah, almost begging to the audience in coherent sentences.

Amongst this pleas, he went on the totally rape the auto-tune, and croaked, all throughout Heartless. Which was actually entertaining, after this political broadcast from the man himself...

Aside from this, I have to raise my hands and say that he is a very creative artist and the energy was apparent through his catalogue of hits such as Flashing Lights, Love Lockdown, Through the Wire and Good Life.

However, I would have considered ending the show on Gold Digger or Stronger as these are West biggest UK hits to date. Instead, he just drugged the vibe by going into yet another heart wrenching anecdote about how his ex fiancé went to a party and met Amy Winehouse and playing Back to Black.

Finish.

*that is the end of the article; I thought it would be creative to use my artistic license and end the West Way.

The Thiller Continues!

SHE’S STILL GOT IT!

After 13 years, Miss Jackson made her way back to the UK for her Up Close and Personal Tour. The legendary pop singer gave a superb performance of a selection of her number one hits from her amazing back catalogue.

London's Royal Albert Hall became royal grounds as the Multi -platinum award winning superstar served up more than 22 of her global smashes. Male and female fans from all ages left every seat empty as they reminisced to her music on their feet.

She opened up with the 1986 classic Nasty in the tightest white blazer and matching trousers showcasing how incredible her dancing skills were and still are.

Even seven years after that wardrobe mishap, the 45-year-old, was still able to do those iconic dance moves with surprising vocal control.

I mean, it's no secret that she has not got the strongest voice, but a distinctive mezzo soprano was extremely well trained for this tour.

After dedicating the 'Nasty' video to her London fans, Janet stormed onto the stage and straight into a medley of songs from her breakthrough album 'Control'.

Coming to the end of the first half she presented a her show reel of acting appearances, those of which included Diff'rent Strokes, Poetic Justice (with yes, that monologue) and also her recent role in Why Did I Get Married.

Being an ex (and run-down) dancer, I could only envy the talent of what I can only describe as art in movement as I watched the enthusiasm and attention to detail from her team. I sat there in amazement wishing I never gave up, although knowing me; I tried to recreate the moves in my room #EPICFAIL

For that reason, my favourite performance was Rhythm Nation! She had changed into a simple black outfit and flat boots - now that was my cue to get out my seat, coz I knew she was about to throw down some serious dancemoves and her mother! She even took it one step further and blended it with Scream - Absolutely Epic!

Michael's voice echoed through each beat while the music video played on the screen. As you can see, Janet did the song justice as this performance was perhaps the most electrifying of the whole night.

Other favourites were, What's it Gonna Be, which unfortunately, had everyone thinking they were as good as Busta Rhymes, Anytime, Anyplace, and That's the Way Love Goes.

Without a doubt, Janet did the works, and handed it on a plate. Conversely, I was expecting more from the creatives of the show, there were no evevations from the ceilings, no flying above the crowd, not even a clear theme in sight... Just her number ones. I mean, it's Janet Jackson, was I asking for too much?!?

Nonetheless, I can't fault her, she is, in my eyes a legendary entertainer, it's not every day Janet Jackson comes to town!

Now, my views of Michael Jackson's passing may be... let's say unorthodox to say the least, but funnily enough, I could feel him there (... coincidence? I think not)

She dedicated her last performance of Together Again to her late big brother as the confetti fell and the nights came up. A nice sentimental touch, thankfully leaving out a cringe-worthy speech about "Blanket".

An 8/10 for Miss Jackson, yeah, I’m nasssstay!

Soul-D-Out UK

I had a fantastic surprise this weekend! I got treated to a wonderful West-Indian meal at Cottons Restaurant and Bar (Islington Branch). Very good value for money, seeing as I was pop-belly, full-of-meat- full afterwards, coz you know me, I need some something dead on my plate to make me feel like I've eaten, I mean, I'm not a rabbit! lol

Focus of this post: Soul-D-Out at Rhum Jun Bar, Angel.

Every second Saturday of the month Rhum bar presents this small bar with the welcoming sound of acoustic and original UK music. NO, not just "neo-soul"

The venue it's self is pleasant, but also selective in it's simplicity. The lighting was just enough to set the tone of the night, intimate table spaces and comfortable sofas. The bar is quite small, but Happy Hour always makes up for it!

The house bands at these events are always talented and makes you appreciate the creative process behind the piece and blahblahblah.. ANYWAY> The acts:-

Atlanta Smith

Hailing from Pecknarm and bringing a pleasant start to the evening. As harsh as it sounds, it was just that, I wouldn't go out and pay for background music. However she did have a song called Closer, which I can't find on YouTube, which had a Black Coffe- soulful-house sound to it. Certified fan, of that track.

Talking of fans, the room seemed to become increasingly excited about Ayisha Renne. Now, aside from her undeniable upkeep and shoicidal footwear, this girl had a voice. I know I say this too often, but her voice had a very earth-toned depth to it, which was highlighted in her cover of Cam'ron song, Daydreamin'. She's been about for a hot minute now, bringing and leaving with a lot of the crowd, more fool them coz they missed, who I believe was the highlight of all acts. No! Not Lifford that sung Please Dont Turn Me On with Artful Dodger.

No. no *wags finger*

IN'SGHT

The duo graduates from the BRIT school gave the vocal performance of the night - HANDS DOWN.

Their harmonies created timeless and emotive melodies that the Blind Recognition house band was able to accentuate with ease. Performing original material, their combination of R&B, soul,

acoustic and commercial pop.They also covered Adele's Someone Like You and gave it a soulful and harmonic sound. These guys harmonies give me goosebumps.

They're no BoyzIIMen or N Sync, but this is the best harmonies i've heard as far as duos go.

But don't take my word for it, see for yourself....

So, I'm gonna check out their mixtape on this site

And a give you a cover, coz i'm nice like that ;)
(But the kitchen... Don't blame me!)

Dwele @ Jazz Cafe 11/4/2011

As you know, I can't stay in my house every week! I need to find places to go! So after numerous BBM broadcast messages, I found myself at the last night of Dwele's European Tour! Yay me!

To be honest, i'm not a Dwele enthusiast, as I think all of his ishk sounds very similar and almost monotonous, but he did rock the crowd!

I didn't arrive early enough to catch the opening act, because, well... I couldn't be bothered! I got there just in time to catch the Grammy nominated star hit the stage... in the same outfit he wore the show promotion material! Haha!

I don't think he cared though, as he strutted through the crowd and onto the stage to Kayne West's Power.
After his second entrance, as he was not impressed with his first reception, he made sure that he conversed with the crowd, asked them their name, serenaded a lil'!

Admittedly, as good as he was, I was disappointed that he didn't perform Travellin' Girl or Weekend Love, because, to me, they were turning points in his career. Nonetheless, I was enthused by the energy that he and his band acquired throughout the show. His key player has to be the most eccentric, dread wearing and excitable keyboard player I have ever experienced in my 5 years of music journalism! I am so sure than if that keyboard was not attached to the stand, he would have been doing backflips and playing upside down. I'm sure I got a whiff of dread in my eye, and I was by the back, no need for HD!

He rocked the mic with favourites, I Think I Love You, Cheating and Find a Way. But also reminded us of what brought us to the venue in the first place. Namely in the acoustic arrangements in my personal favourite Open Your Eyes (original by Bobby Cadwell, and also used for the hook in Common's The Light), and his tributes to Frankie Beverly and the late Nate Dogg.

He also performed tracks from his current album W.ANTS. W.ORLD. W.OMEN (W.W.W). Namely his album consisting of his alter ego his world documenting and his love for Women, because we can't forget that "baby making, bubble bath and audio hallmark card type of music."

Now, you know me - I can't not get my piece in! In closing the show, he swooned through the audience, serenading the ladies. Naturally, he came in my path, and I managed to give Dwele a little dance while he performed What's Not To Love.

It wasn't as bad as the Chris Brown Fiasco in 2008, but let's not go there!