This definitely stands head and shoulders above 99% of the 'celeb' interviews I have done - most probably, for the somewhat bias reason that I respect K’NAAN the music, as well as K’NAAN the artist. The same cannot be said for some of the more ‘blah’ generic Q&A’s I have grinded through with self-loving, whatless stars... – call them entertaining, though hardly enlightening.
K’NAAN was not a disappointment. Blessed by the Bob Marley fam, haven risen from the Somali war (as a none the wiser teen), he now sings and talks with great passion, knowledge, tone of ‘peace be the journey’, set to rep the official South Africa FIFA World Cup 2010 with his show-me-your-lighters ‘Wavin Flag’ anthem – you need to look out for this boy (if only because his upcoming work with Nas and Damian Marley is going to be BIG!). Who is K’NAAN? Here’s my interview with the rapper for Ctrl.Alt.Shift:
Ctrl Meets K’NAAN
Walking into Islington’s Centrestage Studios with my tonsils aching and nose running from some nasty lingering flu (that just refused to die), I wasn’t too sure I was ready for this one...
Meeting someone as passionate and on point as Somali-Canadian rapper K’NAAN, I wanted to be on form – after all, I was about to go head to head with this world touring artist, set to release this summer’s official FIFA World Cup 2010 anthem (‘Wavin’ Flag’), set to launch his stunning album ‘Troubadour’ upon the UK, the I-do-not-take-no-bulls**t from the UN, blessed by the Bob Marley fam musician; all this from humble beginnings in Mogadishu, Somalia.
After a lengthy wait, Keinan Asbdi Warsame aka K’NAAN appeared from his dressing room to take a seat opposite my dictaphone. Blowing his own stuffy nose with a tissue, I found neutral ground, and the Q&A could begin… Here’s the rapper’s take on how he’s bringing his new sound to the world, the underlying truth behind Somali piracy, and how he plans on creating a whole new perspective for his people:
How you doing K’NAAN?
I’m good man, just a little tired, but I’m feeling great.
What you been up to this week?
Just doing some rehearsals, filming a new video, and I’ve been touring – from Italy, to Mexico, to the UK.
Fair to say you’re a bit jetlagged then…I think being jetlagged is my normal state now.
Tell me about your music? How would you describe your sound to those who might know nothing of K’NAAN?
Unique, a mixture of jazz and rap, with Somali influences – it’s just a different sound man.
Who are your musical influences?
Somali poets, Bob Dylan and Bob Marley.
I listen to your lyrics and follow your work. From spitting lines like “We fight their battles, then they deceive us, try to control us, they couldn't hold us, ‘cause we just move forward like Buffalo Soldiers…”, to the time you once criticised the UN for failed aid missions to Somalia, do you think it’s fair for observers to label you as a political and socially minded artist?
I actually don’t like labels. I write and say things that I think need to be said, and if others call it being ‘political’ and ‘socially minded’, so be it.
Do you think more artists should be using their positions to challenge the status quo of societies, battle corruption and better lives for their people?
I think artists should be honest… If the world is a perfect place and all they see is beauty, they should go ahead and just sing beautiful happy songs. I write about my experiences and what I see…
A lot of your songs have references to Somalia. I understand you and your mother fled from the country when you were just 14 because of the civil war… How much of that part of your life do you remember? Do you have any fond memories?
It was a hard time, for me and my family – and I still have a lot of relatives living there now. But I definitely have amazing memories, of Somalia always being a beautiful place with warm people, learning Somali spoken word poetry and being inspired by the story-telling.
You were born and bred in Somalia, and then spent much of the remainder of your life in Toronto, Canada. Do you consider yourself to be a music ambassador for Somalia, and even Canada?
I don’t ever ask or plan to be an ambassador, I guess those types of things just happen. But I’d say when I’m good, yeah I’m an ambassador of Somalia and Canada, whilst if I do something s**t, I’ll be an ambassador for myself (laughs).
I read somewhere you went back to Somalia last December… on your own! Were you not scared, especially being such a high profile Somali artist?I was scared, but it was something I felt I had to do – I haven’t been back since I was 14, and I needed to re-visit my roots. But all the people were so welcoming; yes I was recognised, and they treated like royalty, so it felt like I was under the protection of love. One thing I was gutted about was not being able to head into my birthplace Mogadishu, which is still trapped by the war, but I do plan on going back again in the future.
I spent five months living in Vancouver, and fell in love with the Canadian city… I’m planning to immigrate before I get too old. Where would you prefer to live, the UK, Canada, or Somalia?
My name in Somali means ‘traveller’ and that is what I am now. I enjoy moving around different places, and I think touring is what I’ll be doing for a while.
What are the biggest differences you see in the culture and way of life in Somalia and the Western world?
There are the obvious differences, but I think the two can learn a lot from each other. The West has learnt how to progress through materialism, whilst Somalis and others in Africa find strength through spiritualism… if we could find a balance, positive progress could happen across both worlds.
How do you feel Somali’s are viewed here? And how would you like to add or change to that perception?
I think there’s the view that we’re the neighbours that others don’t really understand yet; with the piracy issue on T.V. we can come across as quite ‘unreasonable’. From the way we dress to the way Somali’s sometimes like to keep to themselves, some host countries seem to think we don’t like to integrate into their culture. What I’d like to change about that is give people a water perspective on us, something more well-rounded; we have an intricate history and an even more complex recent history, and when people know about that, they’ll understand Somalis a lot more...
For the full Q&A, please click here
3/29/2010
3/15/2010
Writings On The Wall Southbank Event Video Footage!
Here's a short video that reviews the United Underground 2 pre-event at the Southbank Centre on February 20. Organising the 'Writings On The Wall' spoken word poetry, music, art and activism showcase for Ctrl.Alt.Shift, British Underground and Riz MC Ahmed was another grand challenging period of my career so far (especially being a rogue journalist used to chasing down reports and sitting behind my laptop). But judging by the response and results, including this great film that features the performances of Sonti Ramirez, poet James Massiah, the Rhymes Won't Wait Collective and showstopper Ed Sheeran, displays a job well done... and something I just might consider taking on in this summer for the United Underground 3!
Enjoy:
Enjoy:
3/06/2010
The Youth-Led Media Network Event @ BFI (March 16)
When I was a Pot Noodle-eating, Snake Bite-drinking, insomniac undergraduate at the Uni of Central Lancs, among the many many life lessons and melodramas rushing to my head each semester, was the everlasting journalism problem of where to gain my journo medals of experience... hard and harsh lessons they were (and still are).
I constantly aimed for the big names, the mainstream media - aim high was my motto. But two factors always played a tragic part of that equation; being a student made it less than easy to break into the established news rooms, and once there, I was hardly trusted and thus left to the medial tasks of coffee runs, transcipting, orange-peeling and (quite naughtily) checking emails and watching weird s**t on YouTube to kill the hours.
Fast forward a couple of years and I'm tip-toeing in and out of the mainstream waters, from The Guardian to the BBC. Hard work, persistency, grasping onto any slice of opportunity, and a severe cut down in online faffing about does pay off... but I do wish there was a more accessible route to those (at times) illusive portfolio pages.
And so, queue the Youth-Led Media Network - something I'm currently working on (alongside Global Ethics UK and a bunch of inspirational young individuals) that may just change the standard procedure for millions of hustling aspiring headline-makers in the UK. Imagine a national online directory with links to every single youth focusing media organisation (anything from Live magazine to Ctrl.Alt.Shift) offering channels to jobs, internships, training and mentoring. It may not be the mainstream, but it would mean guaranteed valuable and invaluable experience and stepping stones.
At the moment, the Network is just a glorious hypothetical, but following the mass interest at the Youth-Led Media Summit last December (2009), and our collective hunt and hopes for funding and endorsements (which we will pitch for at the Youth-Led Media Network event at the BFI on March 16), such an idea may just come to fruition... watch this space. Here's all the details regarding the March 16 event in my preview for Ctrl.Alt.Shift:
Youth-Led Media Network Event @ BFI
The time has come, spring is here, and we're set to put those wintery inspirational talks and thoughts into action...
If you have any interest, query or general wonderment about getting involved in the manic world of the media, then you didn't want to miss out on last December's Youth-Led Media Summit. All set up by The Institute for Global Ethics UK Trust and a team of media freelancers (with members from Youthcomm Radio, Catch 22 youth initiative, Ceasefire magazine, Headliners news agency, Visualisemedia.com, the Leap Anywhere project, Muslim Youth Helpline and Ctrl.Alt.Shift), the conference, consisting of talks, workshops and panel discussions, was a chance for young media enthusiasts - “the next media generation” as Dazed and Confused editor Rod Stanley called them - to come together to discuss how young people could play their part in the industry and engage with youth stereotypes in the media.
It was a hectic day of ifs, buts, whys, and how's. Natty provided some musical relief; to balance out the table-tennis paced debate that erupted from the main panel session - something I felt privileged to be asked to sit on and represent my peoples. I locked horns with the media's big players; including Rod Stanley, Sir Al Aynsley Green (Children's Commissioner for England, 11 Million), Matt Locke (Channel 4's Commissioning Editor for Education), Bob Satchwell (Society of Editors' Executive Director) and Rajini Vaidyanathan (BBC news reporter)...
Here's the full review of the summit.
Despite the fact we may have had conflicting opinions of how the future of youth-led media should work and what it would look like, there was one general consensus; the youth media are strong, and combined forces could lead to an endless realm of prospects, possibilities and opportunities. That was clearly evident from the summit, with the bustling audience consisting of over 150 representatives from various youth-led media organisations (with a combined readership of over two million).
And so came about the proposal and concept of the Youth-Led Media Network... 'What's that?' I hear you say.
Think of it as a grand directory for ALL youth-led media organisations, providing links to mentoring, internships, jobs, youth media news, and loads more. The summit was a chance to brainstorm the idea, gather support, interest, opinions etc. Three months later, and Global Ethics UK alongside the steering group for the Network, will be celebrating the outcomes of the winter summit, showcasing what the Network has the potential to be, discussing funding, and reviewing the next steps... hopefully with you on board! With hopes of becoming an independent youth-led social enterprise, endorsements, collaborations and funding funding funding will be key topics of discussion...
This event will take place on March 16 at Southbank Centre's BFI in London. Although it is by invitation only, all media enthusiasts are welcome. Just RSVP asap as spaces are limted - all details are here.
Ever found it hard, and de-motivating in the grinding quest to break into the media...? Come down and ensure that the power of the press lays in your hands.
For more information about the Network and the upcoming event, please visit www.youthledmedia.org.uk
Note: At the event, there will also be the first screening of the Youth-Led Media Summit 2009 film, created by Beacon School and Red bag Pictures.
I constantly aimed for the big names, the mainstream media - aim high was my motto. But two factors always played a tragic part of that equation; being a student made it less than easy to break into the established news rooms, and once there, I was hardly trusted and thus left to the medial tasks of coffee runs, transcipting, orange-peeling and (quite naughtily) checking emails and watching weird s**t on YouTube to kill the hours.
Fast forward a couple of years and I'm tip-toeing in and out of the mainstream waters, from The Guardian to the BBC. Hard work, persistency, grasping onto any slice of opportunity, and a severe cut down in online faffing about does pay off... but I do wish there was a more accessible route to those (at times) illusive portfolio pages.
And so, queue the Youth-Led Media Network - something I'm currently working on (alongside Global Ethics UK and a bunch of inspirational young individuals) that may just change the standard procedure for millions of hustling aspiring headline-makers in the UK. Imagine a national online directory with links to every single youth focusing media organisation (anything from Live magazine to Ctrl.Alt.Shift) offering channels to jobs, internships, training and mentoring. It may not be the mainstream, but it would mean guaranteed valuable and invaluable experience and stepping stones.
At the moment, the Network is just a glorious hypothetical, but following the mass interest at the Youth-Led Media Summit last December (2009), and our collective hunt and hopes for funding and endorsements (which we will pitch for at the Youth-Led Media Network event at the BFI on March 16), such an idea may just come to fruition... watch this space. Here's all the details regarding the March 16 event in my preview for Ctrl.Alt.Shift:
Youth-Led Media Network Event @ BFI
The time has come, spring is here, and we're set to put those wintery inspirational talks and thoughts into action...
If you have any interest, query or general wonderment about getting involved in the manic world of the media, then you didn't want to miss out on last December's Youth-Led Media Summit. All set up by The Institute for Global Ethics UK Trust and a team of media freelancers (with members from Youthcomm Radio, Catch 22 youth initiative, Ceasefire magazine, Headliners news agency, Visualisemedia.com, the Leap Anywhere project, Muslim Youth Helpline and Ctrl.Alt.Shift), the conference, consisting of talks, workshops and panel discussions, was a chance for young media enthusiasts - “the next media generation” as Dazed and Confused editor Rod Stanley called them - to come together to discuss how young people could play their part in the industry and engage with youth stereotypes in the media.
It was a hectic day of ifs, buts, whys, and how's. Natty provided some musical relief; to balance out the table-tennis paced debate that erupted from the main panel session - something I felt privileged to be asked to sit on and represent my peoples. I locked horns with the media's big players; including Rod Stanley, Sir Al Aynsley Green (Children's Commissioner for England, 11 Million), Matt Locke (Channel 4's Commissioning Editor for Education), Bob Satchwell (Society of Editors' Executive Director) and Rajini Vaidyanathan (BBC news reporter)...
Here's the full review of the summit.
Despite the fact we may have had conflicting opinions of how the future of youth-led media should work and what it would look like, there was one general consensus; the youth media are strong, and combined forces could lead to an endless realm of prospects, possibilities and opportunities. That was clearly evident from the summit, with the bustling audience consisting of over 150 representatives from various youth-led media organisations (with a combined readership of over two million).
And so came about the proposal and concept of the Youth-Led Media Network... 'What's that?' I hear you say.
Think of it as a grand directory for ALL youth-led media organisations, providing links to mentoring, internships, jobs, youth media news, and loads more. The summit was a chance to brainstorm the idea, gather support, interest, opinions etc. Three months later, and Global Ethics UK alongside the steering group for the Network, will be celebrating the outcomes of the winter summit, showcasing what the Network has the potential to be, discussing funding, and reviewing the next steps... hopefully with you on board! With hopes of becoming an independent youth-led social enterprise, endorsements, collaborations and funding funding funding will be key topics of discussion...
This event will take place on March 16 at Southbank Centre's BFI in London. Although it is by invitation only, all media enthusiasts are welcome. Just RSVP asap as spaces are limted - all details are here.
Ever found it hard, and de-motivating in the grinding quest to break into the media...? Come down and ensure that the power of the press lays in your hands.
For more information about the Network and the upcoming event, please visit www.youthledmedia.org.uk
Note: At the event, there will also be the first screening of the Youth-Led Media Summit 2009 film, created by Beacon School and Red bag Pictures.
2/19/2010
United Underground 2 Main Event! - Ctrl.Alt.Shift
This is going to be crazy! I've already blagged all about this in my last blog post, but just for good measure, here's all the details below in my Ctrl.Alt.Shift preview for the United Underground 2 evening festival. Based on last year's turnout, I can promise all (money-back guarantee) a night to remember.
Last year was hectic - this year will be even better (yes, I sounds like a cliche salesman, but it's called for... this time).
Leave the hangover procedure for tomorrow night. Come to party - leave the cleaning bill with Southbank:
United Underground 2!
After last summer's sell-out show, Riz MC Ahmed, British Underground and Ctrl.Alt.Shift host the second United Underground; a music, art and activism party across the foyers of Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall. Bringing together an explosive mix of cutting-edge sounds, street culture and film, the night (with a CONFLICT theme) will introduce exceptional new club and alternative artists and explore the potential of music as a catalyst for change.
Details for the United Underground evening showcase:
When: February 20
Time: 5pm - 11pm
Location: Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, SE1 8XX
Price: £6
Don't miss out on all this! -
Music in the Purcell Room:
Trembling Bells, Olivia Chaney, Laura Moody, Broadcast 2000, Twee As Fuck, The Bobby McGee's, The Half Sisters, Attaca Pesante + guests.
Music in the front room of the Queen Elizabeth Hall:
Wiley presents Eskimo Dance, JME, DJ Target, Speakers Corner, Marvell, P Money, Chock-A-Block feat. Nolay, Envy, FX + Spooky, Hit + Run, Nightslugs feat. Bok Bok + Manara, Urban Nerds fest. Illaman, Rattus Rattus + Klose One.
Film Room:
Feat. the five winning Ctrl.Alt.Shift short films.
Realtime activism:
Get a FREE poster from the Print Club London workshop, add your face to our digital projection, or get creating with the Craftivist Collective.
Talks:
Speakers will include former mayor of London Ken Livingston, Peter Tatchell, Ben White, Andrew Hogg, PEN, Traid and Guerilla Gardening.
It's a bargain bucket of entertainment for just £6!
Book tickets here and save some dosh.
Last year was hectic - this year will be even better (yes, I sounds like a cliche salesman, but it's called for... this time).
Leave the hangover procedure for tomorrow night. Come to party - leave the cleaning bill with Southbank:
United Underground 2!
After last summer's sell-out show, Riz MC Ahmed, British Underground and Ctrl.Alt.Shift host the second United Underground; a music, art and activism party across the foyers of Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall. Bringing together an explosive mix of cutting-edge sounds, street culture and film, the night (with a CONFLICT theme) will introduce exceptional new club and alternative artists and explore the potential of music as a catalyst for change.
Details for the United Underground evening showcase:
When: February 20
Time: 5pm - 11pm
Location: Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, SE1 8XX
Price: £6
Don't miss out on all this! -
Music in the Purcell Room:
Trembling Bells, Olivia Chaney, Laura Moody, Broadcast 2000, Twee As Fuck, The Bobby McGee's, The Half Sisters, Attaca Pesante + guests.
Music in the front room of the Queen Elizabeth Hall:
Wiley presents Eskimo Dance, JME, DJ Target, Speakers Corner, Marvell, P Money, Chock-A-Block feat. Nolay, Envy, FX + Spooky, Hit + Run, Nightslugs feat. Bok Bok + Manara, Urban Nerds fest. Illaman, Rattus Rattus + Klose One.
Film Room:
Feat. the five winning Ctrl.Alt.Shift short films.
Realtime activism:
Get a FREE poster from the Print Club London workshop, add your face to our digital projection, or get creating with the Craftivist Collective.
Talks:
Speakers will include former mayor of London Ken Livingston, Peter Tatchell, Ben White, Andrew Hogg, PEN, Traid and Guerilla Gardening.
It's a bargain bucket of entertainment for just £6!
Book tickets here and save some dosh.
2/17/2010
Writings On The Wall: United Underground 2 Pre-Event! - Ctrl.Alt.Shift
When the Southbank Centre reps knocked on Ctrl.Alt.Shift's door, asking me and my team for a second dose of art, music and activism (after the sell-out success of our United Underground showcase in July 2009) - two main feelings ran through my mind; initially 'Oh no... here we go again' swiftly followed by 'Bring it on!'.
To brief you in, United Underground last summer was a whole day, midday to midnight, of live DJ sets, bands, acoustic acts, art (graffiti and crafts), speaker Q&A sessions... and a lot more I can't quite remember right now - but all in all, a manic day capped off with a Thames-shaking rave. The venue: The Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, London. The organisers: Ctrl.Alt.Shift, British Underground and Riz MC Ahmed. The turnout: Over 700 jumping, partying hard heads. The aftermath: United Underground 2 please...
Like last time, I have been left with the honourable duty of setting up the pre-event (the FREE showcase from midday to 4pm, warming up the crowd for the United Underground 2 evening festival at 5pm).
A few minor changes to the pre-show this time - I've got partner in crime, colleague James Prosho covering my tracks (two heads better than one and all), it'll take place INSIDE the QEH as oppose to outside the front doors (I don't need to me crapping myself in fear and anticipation of the almost inevitable London piss-down rain), the graffiti has been substituted for a screen-printing workshop (with a guaranteed FREE poster from the Print Club London lads!), and, we've basically got loads more spoken word and acoustic acts on the bill - so queue the 10 minute MAX sets and 1 minute change-overs.
DON'T MISS OUT - BE THERE TOMORROW! (Saturday Feb 20). For the full line-up and details, check out my preview of the pre-show on the Ctrl.Alt.Shift website below:
Writings On The Wall: United Underground 2 Pre-Event!
Our United Underground Southbank showcase is back! Get ready for another day of art, music and activism; a stunning package brought to you by Ctrl.Alt.Shift, British Underground and Riz MC Ahmed - on February 20 at Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall...
As a warm up to the UU2 evening event (which will kick off at 5pm, featuring the likes of Trembling Bells, Speakers Corner, JME and many more), the QEH audience will be treated and welcomed to get their hands dirty with a live CONFLICT-themed screen printing workshop/showcase - lead by Print Club London (www.printclublondon.com).
Full details for the United Underground pre-event:
Date: 20 February
Time: midday - 3:30pm
Location: Queen Elizabeth Hall @ Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road London SE1 8XX
What: Ctrl.Alt.Shift, Riz MC and British Underground brings together the best of British spoken word and acoustic talent
Price: Free!
PCL, who have composed amazing prints for anyone from The Times newspaper to Dazed Digital, will be creating four large CONFLICT-themed posters throughout the day, whilst offering templates for the public to come down, create, and take away their own prints for FREE! If you're out and about on this Saturday, you can't miss out as Print Club promises "to revive screenprinting by providing a laid back yet productive affordable environment, enabling designers and illustrators to go from laptop to inky hands."
In addition, Ctrl.Alt.Shift will simultaneously be hosting a hectic showcase of unsigned music acts and spoken word poetry by some of the UK’s most exciting prospects. This FREE pre-event will include an array of talent from Indie artists Pete McAllen and The Samantha Durnan to Southbank spoken word favourites James Massiah and Inua Ellams.
Confirmed Acts:
The Samantha Durnan Band
www.myspace.com/samanthadurnanmusic
Ed Sheeran acoustic set
www.myspace.com/edsheeran
Sonti
Soul singer
www.myspace.com/sontisonti
Rhymes Won’t Wait Collective reps including:
Camila Fiori, Dean Atta, Sabrina Mahfouz, Chimene Suleyman, Rumi Begum, Catherine Brogan, Eka, Haseeb Malik, Deanna Roger, Karis Halsall
www.timewontwait.com
G.R.E.E.D.S
Spoken word artist
www.iamgreeds.com
Inua Ellams + Poejazzi
Spoken word artist
www.phaze05.com
www.myspace.com/poejazzi
Juliyaa
Acoustic with soul
www.myspace.co.uk/juliyaa
Lauren Hogg
Acoustic set
www.myspace.com/laurenhogg
James Massiah
Spoken word artist
www.jamesmassiah.com
Pete McAllen
Indie artist acoustic set
www.petemcallen.com
DJ Mikey Gill
www.myspace.com/mikefisher
AND! A live screen printing workshop/showcase lead by Print Club London
www.printclublondon.com
Come down, get your hands dirty, and groove to some live beats.
To brief you in, United Underground last summer was a whole day, midday to midnight, of live DJ sets, bands, acoustic acts, art (graffiti and crafts), speaker Q&A sessions... and a lot more I can't quite remember right now - but all in all, a manic day capped off with a Thames-shaking rave. The venue: The Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, London. The organisers: Ctrl.Alt.Shift, British Underground and Riz MC Ahmed. The turnout: Over 700 jumping, partying hard heads. The aftermath: United Underground 2 please...
Like last time, I have been left with the honourable duty of setting up the pre-event (the FREE showcase from midday to 4pm, warming up the crowd for the United Underground 2 evening festival at 5pm).
A few minor changes to the pre-show this time - I've got partner in crime, colleague James Prosho covering my tracks (two heads better than one and all), it'll take place INSIDE the QEH as oppose to outside the front doors (I don't need to me crapping myself in fear and anticipation of the almost inevitable London piss-down rain), the graffiti has been substituted for a screen-printing workshop (with a guaranteed FREE poster from the Print Club London lads!), and, we've basically got loads more spoken word and acoustic acts on the bill - so queue the 10 minute MAX sets and 1 minute change-overs.
DON'T MISS OUT - BE THERE TOMORROW! (Saturday Feb 20). For the full line-up and details, check out my preview of the pre-show on the Ctrl.Alt.Shift website below:
Writings On The Wall: United Underground 2 Pre-Event!
Our United Underground Southbank showcase is back! Get ready for another day of art, music and activism; a stunning package brought to you by Ctrl.Alt.Shift, British Underground and Riz MC Ahmed - on February 20 at Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall...
As a warm up to the UU2 evening event (which will kick off at 5pm, featuring the likes of Trembling Bells, Speakers Corner, JME and many more), the QEH audience will be treated and welcomed to get their hands dirty with a live CONFLICT-themed screen printing workshop/showcase - lead by Print Club London (www.printclublondon.com).
Full details for the United Underground pre-event:
Date: 20 February
Time: midday - 3:30pm
Location: Queen Elizabeth Hall @ Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road London SE1 8XX
What: Ctrl.Alt.Shift, Riz MC and British Underground brings together the best of British spoken word and acoustic talent
Price: Free!
PCL, who have composed amazing prints for anyone from The Times newspaper to Dazed Digital, will be creating four large CONFLICT-themed posters throughout the day, whilst offering templates for the public to come down, create, and take away their own prints for FREE! If you're out and about on this Saturday, you can't miss out as Print Club promises "to revive screenprinting by providing a laid back yet productive affordable environment, enabling designers and illustrators to go from laptop to inky hands."
In addition, Ctrl.Alt.Shift will simultaneously be hosting a hectic showcase of unsigned music acts and spoken word poetry by some of the UK’s most exciting prospects. This FREE pre-event will include an array of talent from Indie artists Pete McAllen and The Samantha Durnan to Southbank spoken word favourites James Massiah and Inua Ellams.
Confirmed Acts:
The Samantha Durnan Band
www.myspace.com/samanthadurnanmusic
Ed Sheeran acoustic set
www.myspace.com/edsheeran
Sonti
Soul singer
www.myspace.com/sontisonti
Rhymes Won’t Wait Collective reps including:
Camila Fiori, Dean Atta, Sabrina Mahfouz, Chimene Suleyman, Rumi Begum, Catherine Brogan, Eka, Haseeb Malik, Deanna Roger, Karis Halsall
www.timewontwait.com
G.R.E.E.D.S
Spoken word artist
www.iamgreeds.com
Inua Ellams + Poejazzi
Spoken word artist
www.phaze05.com
www.myspace.com/poejazzi
Juliyaa
Acoustic with soul
www.myspace.co.uk/juliyaa
Lauren Hogg
Acoustic set
www.myspace.com/laurenhogg
James Massiah
Spoken word artist
www.jamesmassiah.com
Pete McAllen
Indie artist acoustic set
www.petemcallen.com
DJ Mikey Gill
www.myspace.com/mikefisher
AND! A live screen printing workshop/showcase lead by Print Club London
www.printclublondon.com
Come down, get your hands dirty, and groove to some live beats.
2/10/2010
Ctrl.Alt.Shift Rave 4 Haiti! @ Pure Nightclub - High Wycombe
The ball needs to keep rolling when it comes to rehabilitating Haiti... The last Ctrl.Alt.Shift club night/Haiti fundraiser (at London's glorious Den Club) left me utterly shattered, too sober for my liking, with nothing but a salmon and cheese bagel to comfort my sorry state as I made my way home at 7am (after a 10-hour shift collecting petit change with my bucket). Heavy night will be the understatement for 2010...
Am I complaining? Not in the slightest. I helped the team to raise over £10,000 on that epic January 20 night, with thousands more rolling in via Ctrl.Alt.Shift's online charity auction (get your wallet out people for JLS memorabilia, and a Chanel bag to just die for!). Yet, I recognise these are all pieces of a f**ked up puzzle that will take more than a couple of loaded powers that be to repair. I will actually state, I don't know what the real Haiti earthquake aftermath statistics are, from death toll to damages - with so many numbers flying about, who knows what sensationalist media source to trust...? But it's obvious, like with Hurricane Katrina, like with the Tsunami of 2004 - the crushing impact of the Haiti quakes await no final chapter, no happy ending. Things will indeed never be the same for the nation, but have no doubt we can dictate how the rest of the story will pan out...
Queue the next Haiti rave/club night marathon in High Wycombe!
We're inviting one and all to a hectic rave for a necessary cause.
All details are above, and below in my preview for the Ctrl.Alt.Shift website:
Ctrl.Alt.Shift Rave 4 Haiti! @ Pure Nightclub - High Wycombe
The last one was so hectic, the cause is still as relevant and important as ever - so there really was only one option; do it again, party harder, and RAISE MORE MONEY!
At the start of 2010, Haiti was devastated by two crushing earthquakes; and the country is still struggling to find reformation beyond the rubble and mass graves. In response, Ctrl.Alt.Shift held a Haiti rave at the Den Club in London’s Holborn on January 20, featuring the likes of Tinie Tempah, Boy Better Know, The Thirst (and many MANY more), raising an astounding £10,000 + for from the night of mayhem for the good cause.
On the back of that, never one to stop the momentum - we’ve teamed up with Donaeo to put on yet another rave for Haiti, this Friday, February 12…
Location: Pure Nightclub, Octagon Parade, High Wycombe, HP11 2HU
Time: 10pm-3am
Price: £5 MINIMUM (don’t be stingy!) donation on the door
Line-up: Donaeo, Wiley, Bashy, Princess Nyah, Marvell, plus DJs Steve Sutherland, Target and Pioneer.
More info: 07825551913
High Wycombe will never be the same again.
Don’t miss out on the party, and play your part in the Haiti recovery.
Note: If you can’t make it down on Friday, it’s never too late to contribute, as Ctrl.Alt.Shift is still offering you a little (or big) something back for your wonderful generosity in our online auction! Click on the link, and bid away on anything from a Christian Dior bag to a life-size Kung Fu Panda model.
All proceeds goes to Haiti!
Am I complaining? Not in the slightest. I helped the team to raise over £10,000 on that epic January 20 night, with thousands more rolling in via Ctrl.Alt.Shift's online charity auction (get your wallet out people for JLS memorabilia, and a Chanel bag to just die for!). Yet, I recognise these are all pieces of a f**ked up puzzle that will take more than a couple of loaded powers that be to repair. I will actually state, I don't know what the real Haiti earthquake aftermath statistics are, from death toll to damages - with so many numbers flying about, who knows what sensationalist media source to trust...? But it's obvious, like with Hurricane Katrina, like with the Tsunami of 2004 - the crushing impact of the Haiti quakes await no final chapter, no happy ending. Things will indeed never be the same for the nation, but have no doubt we can dictate how the rest of the story will pan out...
Queue the next Haiti rave/club night marathon in High Wycombe!
We're inviting one and all to a hectic rave for a necessary cause.
All details are above, and below in my preview for the Ctrl.Alt.Shift website:
Ctrl.Alt.Shift Rave 4 Haiti! @ Pure Nightclub - High Wycombe
The last one was so hectic, the cause is still as relevant and important as ever - so there really was only one option; do it again, party harder, and RAISE MORE MONEY!
At the start of 2010, Haiti was devastated by two crushing earthquakes; and the country is still struggling to find reformation beyond the rubble and mass graves. In response, Ctrl.Alt.Shift held a Haiti rave at the Den Club in London’s Holborn on January 20, featuring the likes of Tinie Tempah, Boy Better Know, The Thirst (and many MANY more), raising an astounding £10,000 + for from the night of mayhem for the good cause.
On the back of that, never one to stop the momentum - we’ve teamed up with Donaeo to put on yet another rave for Haiti, this Friday, February 12…
Location: Pure Nightclub, Octagon Parade, High Wycombe, HP11 2HU
Time: 10pm-3am
Price: £5 MINIMUM (don’t be stingy!) donation on the door
Line-up: Donaeo, Wiley, Bashy, Princess Nyah, Marvell, plus DJs Steve Sutherland, Target and Pioneer.
More info: 07825551913
High Wycombe will never be the same again.
Don’t miss out on the party, and play your part in the Haiti recovery.
Note: If you can’t make it down on Friday, it’s never too late to contribute, as Ctrl.Alt.Shift is still offering you a little (or big) something back for your wonderful generosity in our online auction! Click on the link, and bid away on anything from a Christian Dior bag to a life-size Kung Fu Panda model.
All proceeds goes to Haiti!
2/04/2010
Ctrl.Alt.Shift Haiti Rave Footage!
Some mad coverage of Ctrl.Alt.Shift 's Haiti fundraiser/rave at The Den in Holborn, London. We raised over £10,000! on the night, a minimum figure, with an online auction still taking place - all proceeds going straight to the country recently devastated by crushing earthquakes.
A great night for a good cause - watch the footage, and you might catch me repping the red t-shirt and bopping through the dancefloor with my bucket!
Big up SBTV for this one!
A great night for a good cause - watch the footage, and you might catch me repping the red t-shirt and bopping through the dancefloor with my bucket!
Big up SBTV for this one!
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