My sister Caz asked me to help her with her journalism project which is about Tesco being evil to Streatham’s local facilities. There was a protest and she wanted big sisters to support her whilst she interviewed local mps and Streatham’s residents.

So I cycled from Hackney to Streatham Common and it was loads of fun, central London is lush early morning at the weekend; quiet streets, inspiring architecture, not too many white vans and blind spots making me philosophical about how short my life might be…

Come home time, I discovered I had a puncture and my pump was not doing it any good. At 6pm I had half an hour to sort the issue, or face public transport – eurgh!

To the rescue came Maurice Burton owner of De Ver Cycles. based in Streatham a 5 min cycle ride from my lil sisters’ yard.

I had such a lovely time there, serendipitously meeting a black british cycle champion winding down with a can of red stripe, telling me his cycle stories; how his dad wouldn’t buy him a bike when he was 12, yet when he finally got on, two years later was winning accolades left right and centre. All this info was imparted in a humble, warm manner, we even chatted about my Japan travels.

Maurice’s shop was like being in a sweet shop, trust me, the cycles in the store were lush (but whoay the price tag for some beauties was scary), I couldn’t help but buy some new tyres for lil ‘Light Sabre’ – built for me by Spinwell’s Blacksmile, Maurice was very complimentary over the handiwork and I recorded a personalised message; a cycle love moment.

A nice day, just gotta cycle back in the cold now! My new wheels glide over London’s pot holed infested streets though!

Maurice’s Accolades:

I sampled youtube, it’s a great way for me to feed my obsession with learning how to groom my natural tresses. Some of the ladies, in their discourse on beauty, had beautiful ways of saying words, interesting intonation, so I chopped up their phrases and used them on my beat/sketch. It’s meant to sound quite sparse, abstract…
I was playing with a glockenspiel during a school break when working at an academy in Brixton, I vowed to use it in my next composition. Lots of mixing to do still, the beat needs more work too!

Let me know what you think.

How To: Nintendo Wiimote with Ableton Live from Sean Wells on Vimeo.

“robotcowboy is a musical project which conducts sonic experiments using custom computer hardware and software. These devices are then field tested for extended space ranger use.”

The Body, The Circuit, The Computer and The Voice: robot cowboy from STEIM Amsterdam on Vimeo.

5 Years of Age, Oozing musicality

I wish I had reigns to control the speedy departure of months, how is it the second week already? Back in Londonshire and it’s time to get back ‘on it’ in terms of musical projects, exciting community music projects and capoeira training.

I’ve been in talks with DJing partner in crime Sister 45 and there shall be a return of mama feel good! We have both missed promoting/DJing on a regular basis and after a much needed break we are ready to start some interesting afrocentric nights. The nights won’t be regular, but one off fun tings, so watch this space or this space.

Also more composing/dance/film projects in the pipe line which is really exciting, won’t say nuttin till they are up and running, hope I haven’t jinxed them already.

Moving to London has been good fun, I like the sense of adventure and push it really gives you. When it stops being fun I shall leave.

Highlights were composing for a chamber orchestra, directing a practitioner ensemble for Banded About (loads of esteemed classical/jazz musicians who were really complimentary), already blagging gigs in London, playing in various ensembles and leaving dodgy ones – (I experienced some interesting interactions with weird/egotistical musos, suppose us note bashers are all a lil strange), and developing my skills as a community musician.

Aims for this year are to be self-discplined and to drink more water. What are yours?

Props to Tone for the heads up!

Going against the wishes of hairdressers and ex-boyfriends I had all my permed hair cut off. I think it was a grade/no. 2. Whilst living in Japan I was initially quite lazy with my hair, opting to have the tiny weeny afro. Like this:

I then grew it out and rocked an afro puff, my Japanese students were very complimentary.

For many years I thought having flowing, long hair was the most desirable and attractive thing! What a fool, I am madly in love with my natural coily, nappy, picky, hair, it’s mine, unaltered.
I have come across some lovely websites that have assisted and encouraged me on my hair journey, it’s important cos you can often get natural hair haters in the UK; especially from my own community. Here are some of my fave natural black hair and beauty sites:

• Black Girl with Long Hair
• Curly Nikki
• Afrobella

I encourage any black woman who is interested in wearing her hair natural to do so! It’s all about nappy love!!