Seeking something to satisfy my constant craving for new sounds, I came across the gorgeous AlunaGeorge, a honey-scented musical shower of refreshment for the ears. AlunaGeorge's sweet-as-candy voice juxtaposed with strong bass, set on a backdrop of delicate beats and chilled-yet-funky rhythms is just delicious. Check this one out:
Gahhh!!! So beautiful. It
really does make my ears tingle. It gets under my skin. See... I love coming across new artists. I could search for hours before I find something truly yummy. The
discovery of AlunaGeorge just reinforces the fact that, other than oxygen,
food, water and sleep, I actually couldn't live without music.
I'm practically high on music right now. So thank you, AlunaGeorge.
And please, when you get big, don't start releasing generic crap. Mwah <3
I was born, naturally, with a love of lipstick - but ombre lips, well, I never thought of this one!
I'm in love! In case you were wondering, 'ombre' is a french term for a transition from light to dark. Check it out:
Well well well...
I'm the kind of girl who likes a lipstick which stands out, lifts the face and makes it go POP! The ombre lip, however, is a whole new statement-lip opportunity! Oh, all the endless possibilities!
You should definitely check this out. Beautiful song. Nice chilled dancy vibe. Awesome video. Pretty cool, creative and different. Me likey. That is all.
Following my blog on Singaporeand its lack of
creativity and unconventionality, today I came across something which could
only be found in a vibrant city like London... A city on the other end of the spectrum from Singapore.
See, this is why I cherish my home town. The very sight of something so random plonked on some land surrounded by Bermondsey estates makes my eyes smile. Installed in 1995, you will find this Soviet T-34 tank at the corner of Mandela Way and Pages Walk - just minutes from where I once called home in Bermondsey, SE1. Cool, right? But guess what? It has a history with a message behind it.
The fascinating - what would now seem to be a landmark - was installed by a landowner who is said to have failed to get planning permission on the site. What makes it even more exciting is the gun's direction, facing towards the local council offices. Give it a few days, weeks, or years and here you have it. A piece of art.
Graffiti, rust - you name it. The tank is truly reflective of London's artistic flair and personality. And that, my friends, is one of the things that makes London rock my socks off.
God help Singaporeans if they ever found the Soviet T-34 tank in their city, however. The culprit would most likely be tortured, before being given the death sentence.
Are you a fashion and creativity lover who has yet to discover LOOKBOOK.nu? I suggest you check it out! The site is bursting with inspirational looks; from the classically beautiful, to ensembles you would never have thought would work.
Here's a few of my favourite looks to whet your appetite... Bon appetite!
Mirella Szymoniak brings us bling-tastic ghetto-chic! Brap, darling!
Adam G uses all of our favourite autumnal colours in one look - nicely done!
Quite the contrary: Who knew you could dress in the same colour head to toe and still look this gorgeous? Natalie Liao clearly did, through the use of a variety of textures...
Tamara Gonzalez Perea teams shocking pink and electric blue accents with stripy monochrome trousers in this daring look.
Tricia keeps things clean-cut and sophisticated with monochrome. Who needs contacts when you can look this chic in glasses?
If so, turn to Lauryn Hill. She is an absolutely inspiration
to me. Not just because I love her music. Hear me out…
I may not believe in God in the same way as she does. I don’t
aspire to be just like her. But I agree with the vast majority of her very
considered and well thought-out ranting that features in her MTV Unplugged No.2
album of 1992.
Anyone that has spent 24 hours with me will have been
subjected to at least a song or two of Lauryn’s. She keeps me sane. I find her
meaningful lyrics and chatter so refreshing, instead of the usual “you sexy, I
sexy, let’s do it” malarkey.
She constantly talks of “reality” and life lessons that
she’s learnt… Whilst she still takes to the stage, she has now ‘retired’
from being a performer.
One of her most inspiration songs is ‘I Get Out’ which is about
her no longer compromising and repressing her true inner self for other people:
‘I get out’ is directed towards the record company Lauryn
was under. How it was in their best interests for her not to be herself. To
sell records. To go far.
I think we can apply Lauryn’s lyrics to all situations.
But is that really how you should be living your life? One
big game, parade, facade of false perfection?
Instead of trying to be something you’re not to
feel accepted, why not just be yourself? You will still be liked! Stop trying so hard
to be what you think people want you to be.
I think everyone’s guilty of this in some place or other. Even
in the simplest instances… Refusing to leave the house without makeup, for
example.
Face it. No one looks their best without a lashing of
mascara. That is reality.
In the words of Ms Hill: “Fantasy is what people want when
reality is what people need.”
First
timer’s to Singapore be warned: The first culture-shock that’ll smack
you in the face is the immediate and distinct LACK of graffiti, tramps
and chewing gum.
Lets not forget that the distance between
your feet and a pavement-dwelling cigarette butt will span far over a
metre. In fact, make that 1000 metres, a million metres, however many
metres you bloody want. You won’t find one.
And no. It isn’t
because Singaporean’s are genetically predisposed to be clean freaks.
Obviously there’s got to be some laws laid down to create a place which
probably squeaks if you rub it with your finger.
You might have
heard Singapore being described as ‘a fine city‘, but never quite
figured out exactly what’s what. To start, here’s a few things to avoid:
SMOKING IN PUBLIC PLACES: $500 fine - stick to designated smoking areas and bins LITTERING: $1000 fine and litter picking duty JAYWALKING, SPITTING, FAILURE TO FLUSH A TOILET: Sizeable fines VANDALISM:
Fines up to $2000, a prison sentence of up to 3 years and between 3 and
8 strokes of the cane. If you fancy yourself the next Banksy, Singapore
isn’t a place you want to hit up DRUGS: Lengthy prison sentence/ death penalty.
Harsh? It’s arguable.
Anyhow, the list goes on… It truly does. Did anyone mention even a sip of water on the tube will cost you $500?
But
the result of all these rules is that Singapore, quite frankly, is
pristine. It really is an achievement that they’ve managed to create
such a rule following society.
Since I got there it was
noted that I tend to walk with my handbag swung round the front of me,
clutched close into my chest like a newborn baby. Then there’s how anal I
am about hiding my pin when I withdraw money at a cash point. I won’t
even leave my bag lying next to me when sat at a table outdoors. To me,
every child without an adult is a pickpocket.
Apparently all that jazz is simply not necessary there.
Everywhere is safe. Everything is so clean. Hypochondriacs, get your butts over there, the place is heaven.
How they managed to keep it that way is beyond us all. It’s fantastic. Grand. Amazing!
Take
London; there are fines for littering. However, even taking one step
out of your front door will show that clearly the rule isn’t enforced
enough - if at all.
Yet Singapore is perfect. Or is it?
Well, no. I’m afraid not.
Sure, it’s got its plus sides. The city is beautiful. It’s kind of nice that everything’s so god damn perfect.
If
you happen to find yourself in the area, get a cable car ride round to
Sentosa at night. The panoramic views over the city are stunning.
Sentosa on the other hand… not so much.
Either way, the novelty of a “perfect” city soon wears off.
You
get bombarded with disappointment when you’ve spent your time searching
for something a little quirky and it’s just not there. Say you fancy a
dance, the authorities have even set up a designated ‘partying area’.
Draw your own conclusions.
The place is so ‘staged’. People say there’s no such thing as perfect. Well, they are right…
To
live there would be like becoming a kid whose parents keep them in a
cocoon, hidden from the harsh realities of life. Or in this case, the
dirty habits of back home.
The place has no soul. It drones through life.
You
never thought you’d miss the singing tramps stumbling through the roads
late at night. Or avoiding gangs of kids outside fast food shops on
your way home, for fear of being stabbed. But these are things that come
from a place where rules are not so strict.
In Singapore, the most out-of-the-ordinary thing I’ve seen is a man with bright red hair. Fascinating, or just plain dull?
On
the other hand I do love the place. It’s fantastic. It could be seen as the
ideal city. But only if all you want to do is eat, work and sleep.
I’m
no extremist. I don’t jump off the world’s tallest buildings for thrills. But it really is the sense of 'unusual' - subculture, rebellion,
danger, that a new piece of graffiti will turn up - which make life
interesting.
