My boy Oveous Maximus just dropped his latest offering ‘Future Intentions‘ as a freebie mixtape. Click on the image to download a copy of some serious electro funk. The album features collaborations with Chachi, Quetzal Guerrero and Marshall Jones amongst many others. It’s a highly adventurous set given he’s definitely pushing the envelope here. Enjoy!
Young Malawian pioneer, William Kamkwamba, overcomes insurmountable odds to defy convention and build a windmill capable of generating enough power to light up four bulbs and two radios in his little home. Read all about it in his forthcoming book to be released in September ‘09. Available for pre-order from Amazon.
The maveric intergalactic musician Sun-Ra never ceased to intrigue me. There’s a great exhibition of some of his previously unseen paintings, drawings, manuscripts and emphemera, showing at the Chicago Institute of Contemporary Art through August 2nd.
This exhibition examines how Ra and his dynamic, continually-evolving ensemble, the Philadelphia-based Arkestra, crafted both their otherworldly image and fiercely independent approach to self-production. Don’t miss this.
I came upon this in yesterday’s edition of the New York Times. It’s interesting to see how these dire economic times are affecting us artist’s. Interestingly enough, it appears to be business as usual for the majority of us given we have far too often had to live on meagre/modest means whilst having to stay afloat, remain relevant and yet continue to make bold artistic statements.
A few of the lucky ones amongst us have caught a break here and there and lived off of our art. I, for the most part believe great works of art have come out of our most trying moments as human beings. I can’t wait to see, hear, feel what the effects of this global economic downturn would have on the creative minds amongst us all. Come rain or shine, I’ll continue to wail, rejoice and moan the blues as I feel and hear it within.
I stumbled upon this recently and though to share with all. A rather harrowing tale and insight into the world of child soliders who were abducted and used as pawns for war and terror. The world needs to know more about the atrocities that were inflicted and are probably still being carried out in various parts of the globe particularly in Africa. Kindly do all you can to enlighten your colleagues globally.
A short preview of the recent Africa Rising event I was privileged to have taken part in. Hosted by DJ/impresario Jeremiah Kpoh, the event featured yours truly together with Rich Medina & upcoming designer David Timehin. Enjoy
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The folks at Soulife blogzine recently conducted a thorough interview with me.
I was also asked to name my top 5 songs of all time. This was easy enough. In no particular order;
Fela Kuti – Coffin For Head of State
Miles Davis – In A Silent Way
Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On
Al Green – So Tired of Being Alone
John Coltrane – Acknowledgment
Enjoy!
Artist: SIJI
Title: YEARNING FOR HOME (VIDEO)
Label: IVY Records
Director: Siji
Cinematographer: Scott Beardslee
Film Editor: Julie Carr-Lawal
A close friend of mine whom upon listening to my new album, showered me with compliments and then jokingly commented that it appeared as though I’d just built the Empire State building, but had yet to install an elevator in it.
When probed further he stated that in this advanced age of digital technology, when I had overcome great odds to complete such a body of work, it was indeed a crime that I had yet to shoot a music video to accompany one of the songs.
I saw sense with his reasoning and hustled to put together what would finally become my debut video for the song, “Yearning For Home”. I was able to cajole a handful of my trusted associates and kinsmen to submit to the rigors of a day’s filming in Brooklyn, NY. This being my directorial debut, having to concentrate on the task at hand proved somewhat trying, given a room full of Nigerians was bound to generate a substantial amount of excitement and chaos in equal measure. Suffice to say, we all had a blast and the results were stunning.
The concept of the video was to shed light on my constant longing for my ancestral homeland Nigeria where I grew up. It was thus crucial for me to convey the sense of nostalgia we immigrants come to feel when far away from that which we affectionately call “Home”. For even though we have come to make our new homes away from home, there forever remains a deep sense of longing for that which we left behind.
In doing so I chose to depict a number of scenes drawn from my own experiences, which shed light on a few of the things I come across or do which remind me of my homeland. This song is dedicated to the many displaced around the world who by choice or circumstance find themselves without a place of sanctuary, comfort or rest and now yearn for a place to call ‘HOME’.
Your comments and reviews on the video would be most welcome and if you dig what you see/hear, kindly purchase it, share it, blog it, dedicate it, talk about it, make love to it, swear by it, cherish it………… with all your friends and associates globally.
‘Siji
Click below to view on;
“Yearning For Home”, is taken from my new album “ADESIJI” available now on Itunes and all other digital platforms.
For further information kindly visit sijimusic.com
Taking a behind the scenes look at the making of my debut music video for the song “Yearning For Home. (Click on image above)
The video was shot on location in NYC on the spectacular Red One digital camera in 4K, by cinematographer, Scott Beardslee and directed by yours truly. The finished video would be premiering on my website and a number of cable networks in the coming weeks.
