Despite their pop-jazz roots, Elana Stone maintains that she and her musical cronies still “rock the gigs pretty hard”. And how.
Elana and Co. have just released Your Anniversary, an eleven-track pastiche of pop, rock and jazz/lounge. Elana tells us about the process…
“Long!” the lady exclaims. “It was a three-year process; it was not planned that way, it just turned out that we had to decide to go to Europe and tour in 2006 rather than record, which was the right decision at the time. At the end of all that, a couple of members actually got married, I ended up briefly moving to Melbourne, I actually thought the band wouldn’t continue…there was some inter-band conflict, I was in Melbourne for eight months, I moved back up and finished the album. We started and everyone was keen, I was happy. It was fun”
“We’re academically trained musos; a couple of us are dropouts [laughs]” Elana explains, on the origians of her musical companions, “but we all went to music school; we’re all big jazz heads but grunge and rock and pop get a look in as well. We’re all really into music; we end up with a mixed pot of music, which is hard sometimes, because we’re impossible to market to people. We straddle a couple of different universes”
So how did the songwriting of Your Anniversary come to be, in all its loveliness?
“Generally, I’m not a consistent songwriter; I find it have to get to a point where I feel pressure. I have something happen or I’m just in a gray mood and wanna write and feel musical, or I have some musical idea I wanna put words to, it comes from an idea where writing is a cathartic outlet, when I don’t have anything to write out, when I’m happy or well-adjusted, it can be a lot harder”
“I’ve written a song on this album which is more about my sister than me and her experience with her partner, and there’s another song I’ve written from another singer- songwriter’s perspective…you just have to pick an idea that’s strong and make it fit with the idea of the music; sometimes it can come from nothing, sometimes it can come from the bottom of your heart. It is an important skill to hone. I don’t think of myself of lyricist, I just do it but I do really enjoy it”
Though there are no shows at the minute (which, being the festive season, is understandable), Elana promises a real rip-snorter when the gigs come around.
“It’s a pretty involved kind of show; our shows are basically centred around ourselves as people; a showcase of all the shit we love to do; rock, jazz, I do a bit of Janis shriek stuff, some croony Joni stuff, it’s a varying show. It can be an emotional rollercoaster ride, but we also we like to dress up and have fun.”
Nestled next to the Hudson River in Westchester County, just north of Yonkers and a bit south of the Tappan Zee Bridge, lies Dobbs Ferry. It’s a picturesque river town, with cute restaurants, some great schools, and a budding population of musicians. My friend and collaborator Marlon “Moshe” Sobol has lived there for a few years now with his wife and two daughters, and works nearby in White Plains teaching music therapy as a music therapist at the Schnurmacher Center nursing home. I’ve sat in on his music therapy sessions before with the elderly, and they are loads of fun and very inspiring too. He’s doing amazing things over there. Recently he was recognized in the Journal News for his innovative music therapy work. Check the link to the article below…
Journal News Lifestyles Section: The Power of Music
I paid Moshe a visit last week to get a behind the scenes look at how he runs his sessions. We could not film the residents, so Moshe gave us a simulated session of sorts, pulling out a ton of instruments, and showing us first hand his music therapy style. Here’s the two part video. Enjoy…
Thanks so much Moshe and keep up the good work!!!!!
JSWISS is another one of my dudes out of Dobbs Ferry. I first met JSWISS when he performed at River Ciphers this past summer, an event Moshe and I co-hosted in Dobbs Ferry at The Rec Room (a local clothing store shout out to Bahr). JSWISS came through and ripped a really nice old school type song called “Mammoth” over a slow drum beat that Moshe hooked up for him, and it was kinda ill. Turns out the two knew each other from playing one on one at the park one day, and I guess the story goes that Moshe got schooled. Ha! Check out the performance…
I.M.R.O.B.O.T. is the first mixtape from JSWISS (see cover above), and it features original production as well as him rapping over a bunch of different old school and new era beats. It’s a cool mixtape. Here’s an interview I did with him last week. Give it a read to find out more about him and his music…
IP: For those who don’t know you, where in Westchester did you grow up? And you’re a freshman in college now right?
JS: I grew up in the tiny village of Dobbs Ferry. I lived there from age 5 up until now after I moved from Yonkers. And yeah right now I’m at THE UNC-Chapel Hill, home of the national champs in basketball and I found pretty much every other sport too. I’m definitely hyped that I’ve been able to find lots of ill MCs and producers here, which is what got me motivated to do the tape.
IP: I heard you’re nice at ball. Moshe said you schooled him in one on one.
JS: Haha yeah I can’t deny it. It’s funny cuz I knew I recognized him at the River Ciphers! But yeah, basketball was my first love before music and still is. It’s been something that’s given me my highest highs and also my lowest lows, but that’s what happens with something you love that much. Right now I’m playing club basketball at UNC and I’m trying to move up and by the time my four years is up you’ll see me with the Carolina blue on TV!
IP: Nice. So the mixtape is definitely dope. I see you made some of the beats on there yourself. What type of equipment/programs do you use to produce?
JS: I used the fruity loops demo. Meaning I gotta download it again everytime I wanna make a new beat! Actually I gotta step back and say that “Mindframe” was the first beat I made when I got to college, and I did that on my suitemates Garageband before I looked into downloading fruity loops. So, I produced four songs on the mixtape, one was produced by Jae Monee, and the rest were from songs already out there. And I do have to give a shoutout to the four track tape recorder and 15+ year old drum machine and keyboard I used to use back home!
IP: You’ve got some skillful rhymes. The one where you go through the entire alphabet bar by bar is particularly impressive. Where do you write most of your stuff? Or do you even write rhymes? People seem to be typing verses now more than ever, not that there’s anything wrong with that.
JS: I used to write only in notebooks but now that I’ve had my new iPhone for about 6 months, I mix it up and write on that sometimes if I’m out and something hits me or I’m in the studio with with no pen and book. The “Alphabet Aerobics” one was written over a year ago so that was handwritten, and believe it or not that super long final track was too even though I had the iPhone at my disposal. I know people have made fun of Drake for his incident, me included, but that’s because it was
hyped up as a freestyle so…
IP: Tell me about that last track. It’s over sixteen minutes long, with you flowing over a bunch of classic beats.
JS: Yeaaa. When I rap I always try and be creative. So on “18 Years of Greatness” I decided to rhyme straight through a beat from every year of my life, 1991-2009, with no chorus. And yea it wound up being over 16 minutes and 350 bars, and it was the most fufilling and frustrating thing I’ve done musically. I first had to download each instrumental and piece them together cohesively before I even started writing, and that took forever. The frustration of never seeming to finish writing it didn’t take away from the quality though cuz I won’t allow that, but just as the lines were coming I could tell the song was gonna be so nice, but I just had to wait and wait until I finished the whole thing. But it came out just how I wanted, it’s one of my favorites, and now I can bang out a 16 like it’s nothin!
IP: Just from listening to your mixtape, I can tell that you are a student of hip hop. I mean, not many dudes your age know about Camp Lo and stuff like that. I grew up in that early 90’s era, but I know what it’s like to dig back in time looking for music. Do you spend a lot of your time doing that? What are you listening to right now?
JS: Man I pride myself on knowing my hip hop history, that’s another reason why the “18 Years of Greatness” track fit me. I’ll go back to the ’80s with you and I know some stuff from before that too! I’d have to say that before the past year, when I’ve been hipped on some of the blogs where you can discover lesser known artists out now, I rarely listened to stuff out currently. I stayed alive having A Tribe, and The Roots and some of them Big Daddy Kane songs to listen to on the computer or iPod. Now though, I like Lupe, Blu and Pac Div and U-N-I on the west coast and some others, Nas still rapping. But believe that I got a huge old school rap playlist that never ceases to satisfy.
IP: Okay, top five albums of all time. Go.
JS: Hip Hop? In no particular order: Illmatic (Nas), Midnight Marauders (ATCQ), Do You Want More?!!!?! (The Roots), People Instinctive Travels…(ATCQ), Desire (Pharoahe Monch). Overall? No order: Illmatic, Midnight Marauders, Action Figure Party
(Action Figure Party), Emergency on Planet Earth (Jamiroquai), The Brand New Heavies (The Brand New Heavies).
IP: Okay! Got some classics in there. What’s your goal with this mixtape? Do you have one?
JS: I don’t have a clear goal. It’s free, so I’m not trying to make money. I see a lot rappers get recognized when I know I bring more to the table as an MC, so I’d like to get noticed as someone who’s really doing real hip hop, and if I do get well-known off it, take the other MCs I’ve been working with and that have supported me with me. But honestly I probably would have made this tape if only me and my parents listened to it.
IP: What’s next for JSWISS? Will we see you at the next River Ciphers? We’re hoping to have one at the start of the new year.
JS: What’s next for JSWISS has already begun, and that’s just continuing to make music, and getting better at it. I’ve already started planning out new stuff from myself and working with other MCs who you will hear about. And I’ve been asking about the River Ciphers to make sure that it goes down when I’m home from NC! When I first did it I really had no quality songs, just a lot of separate verses, but I’ve got work to share now so let’s do it!
IP: Where can we find out more about you online? Let the people know son!
JS: Ah I get to plug myself haha. I have a facebook fan page for “JSWISS” which I love to get fans on who aren’t already my facebook friends. I also have a myspace page, the url is myspace.com/jswissmammoth, and my
youtube acount is youtube.com/mammoth365. Love to get those views and feedback. And check out Stan Ipcus’ “Young Professional”, and support that Westcheddar hip hop! Peace.
Bye, Bye, Charles Gibson, oh, bye, bye and again, bye,bye.
From Newsbusters;
In his swan song interview with President Barack Obama, which consumed more than ten minutes of World News, ABC’s Charles Gibson couldn’t have provided a friendlier or more empathetic platform to Obama on the “weight” of sending troops to war and how “devilishly difficult” it’s become to pass health care plan because of a few rogue Senators. Gibson, set to retire Friday, teased his last Wednesday newscast:
The Uncooperative Radio Show Host and I call these people “Morons” all the time on our Radio Show, we call these morons; the “Lame Stream Media”, but now I think, that, that is too nice a term for this verman.
Technorati Tags: ABC news, Charles Gibson, White House, President Obama, main stream media, politics, news
The Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) is an international Christian denomination that reaches out to the LGBT community. There are MCC churches around the world, including four churches in the Philippines. Rev. Ceejay Agbayani is a clergy member of the MCC church in Quezon City, and led this year’s candle light vigil at the 2009 Manila Pride March.
Rev. Ceejay was kind enough to answer some questions concerning MCC and the recent pride parade.
Rev. Ceejay at Manila Pride March, 2009
1. Can you tell us about the history of the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) in the Philippines. What do you believe makes the ministry different from others?
The history of MCC in the Philippines is a painstaking effort by the leaders and organizers. We started from scratch, we organized, and we shared our own talents and treasures to make the Church alive and moving. There have been both ups and downs in the history of MCC Philippines during the 18 years since its establishment.
MCC or Metropolitan Community Church was brought to the Philippines by Fr. Richard Mickley in 1991. With the help of a closeted Filipino Methodist clergy, he was able to establish the MCC by his own, making his “place’” as the “church home” for MCC.
In 1994, MCC Manila and Pro Gay Philippines started the 1st Philippine Pride March in Quezon City. The first Pride March also in Asia.
In 1996, the first Filipino clergy was ordained, making Rev.Edgar Mendoza as the first “indegenous” clergy of MCC in the Philippines. Fr. Richard retired from MCC and established the Order of St.Aeldred in Quezon City.
In September 13, 2006, I and my partner Marlon organized the first Bible Study in Quezon City.
The uniqueness of MCC is the fusion on everything, like Spirituality and Sexuality. We firmly believe, based on the Bible, that homosexuality is not a sin, nor it is a sickness. We have a systematic study and theology on this matter. We argue and corrected the six anti-gay verses and presented the pro-gay verses in the Bible. We also believe in the liberating theology of inclusion and of love.
One characteristic of MCC is that we do not argue on the Table of the Lord. We have the dynamic fusion of the worship tradition according to culture by incorporating Praise and Worship and highly liturgical form of worship.
Once you come to visit our Sunday Worship Services, you will feel that God really is within us. We can not express the feelings. We can also share our experiences.
2. How many pride parades have you participated in? And, what was your role in this year’s parade?
Since 1994 MCC has always participated in the annual Pride Marches in the Philippines.
This year, I was appointed to be the Parade Manager with the assistance of the whole TFP Execom Members. I am in charge of the parade route, marshal and security and the candle lightning ceremony after the parade and before the program. This was also the first time that the parade has had a candle lightning ceremony.
Candle Light Ceremony at Manila Pride March, 2009
3. What were your thoughts on this year’s Manila Pride Parade? How did it compare to past marches?
The theme WE DARE WE CARE encompasses all issues of the LGBT, from discrimination, homophobia and stereotyping. We Dare to different because We Care for the future of the LGBT.
I can not compare this year’s Pride march to other Pride Marches because it has a distinct uniqueness and experiences every year.
But what I am proud of this year is that, we can unite the LGBT in prayer.
4. As an ordained reverend, what were your feelings at seeing protesters using religion to put down the marchers?
This was not a surprise for me, this year. Last year was the first time the parade had protesters. I was shocked and angry last year. I even shouted at them “Would Jesus Discriminate?!!”
But this year, I am more diplomatic and relaxed. I even talked to them and requested that they not shout at us. But, they still did.
I am no longer surprised with them because the Southern Baptist declared war on homosexuality a few years ago. They did that during the Consecration of Bishop Gene Robinson. They did that during the funeral of Matthew Shepard.
Protesters at Dec. 5, 2009, Manila Pride March
Actually, I pity them. They promote hate rather than love. Jesus Christ loved the oppressed, marginalized and the outcasts. These protesters are driven by their churches to hate homosexuals at all cost, rather than focusing on love and acceptance. These people use their time and effort to hate us.
Christianity is about love not hate. Christianity is about blessings not sin. Homosexuals are children of God. Homosexuality is a gift from God. God will not make things that will insult Him/Her. Homosexuals are blessings. We are not a curse. We are God’s love.
5. Do you think in the future mainstream churches will become more inclusive towards the gay community?
I hope and pray that eventually the mainstream churches will become inclusive, accepting and affirming, rather than therapeutic and converting.
Actually, there are good men and women in the mainstream churches who are sympathetic and supportive to the lgbt community. I know a lot of them in the seminary.
I dream someday that all LGBT member of the society will go out every Sunday and go to churches without fear of his or her sexual orientation and gender identity, and freely worship God in Spirit and in Truth.
This will take some time – but I know it will happen!
Rev. Ceejay and Rev. Fr. Richard at MCCQC, Dec. 6 2009
Davincivirus's Food Review Blog - http://bit.ly/DavinciFood
Hey Guys =),
It’s me, Cody Strawn, back a little bit early to post an interview I had with a inspiring food enthusiast about a week ago. His name is David Roshinski also known as @Davincivirus on Twitter. Roshinski reviews food products that he buys at local stores around his community and judges them on a “?/10″ scale. For example, he recently has reviewed “Classico Mushroom Alfredo” and scored it the following way:
Taste – 3.5/10
The flavor did taste like mushroom but after that white colored sauce that had almost no flavor and had a chalky aftertaste. I am still going to brave through the pasta to not waste it, but man if I wanted to eat a piece of chalk I would of bought the candied one from the candy store and saved myself the anguish.
Package – 5.5/10
The packaging looks great a pitcher of milk, Parmesan cheese, sliced and whole mushrooms. The Colors are rustic and remind me of a color palette that I could see in Italy.
Price – $2.49
Purchased at Hannafords in Dover, NH
FINAL SCORE – 4.5/10
[Excerpt from the Davincivirus Food Review Blog]
Now that you know a little bit about David’s blog and how it works I am proud to present the interview I had with him December 15th, 2009.
1.) First of all, if you don’t mind me asking, what is your real name? And why did you pick a nickname like Davincivirus?
My name is David Roshinski. The nickname Davincivirus comes from my tech side of me, my favorite movie is Hackers and in Hackers there is a program virus called Davincivirus and I just liked the name.
2.) I know that we have met (in the interwebs) on a website named IWearYourShirt.com, how did you find that website?
Shortly after I signed up for twitter I added Ustream because that?s someone I was interested in beforehand, than when Jason did the laptop giveaway before one of my classes Ustream posted an advertisement for his show on twitter and it peaked my interest. As they say the rest is History.
3.) Why, in your blog, is your focus on reviewing food? Do you like experiencing new flavors through out the food industry or what?
I like food; I have been a foodie ever since I grew up with Yen Can Cook and than the food network. Eventually I went to the University of New Hampshire and studied Hospitality Management. My interests in food, hotels, and tourism led me to watch food network, travel channel, and certain web series on twitter that were food review blogs I found of interest. My inspiration came from The Impulsive Buy, FreezerBurns, Everyview, grubgrade, weratestuff, foodirl and Soda Giant. So that?s how I decided to start my own as a building block to bigger and better things.
4.) Will you ever consider about making a financial income by reviewing food?
I think free product is as far as I could get. I think when money comes into a review it may skew the actually scoring of the product and if you don?t like something it may be hard to not make potential sponsors mad.
5.) How well known do you want this blog to get? Or do you want to keep it near a personal low?
I am really just gonna see where it leads me.
6.) Are you going to review food around the United States or just in one particular region?
Depends, if its just me buying the product regional but if people send me product I will be glad to give a honest review.
7.) What is your favorite type of food?
I love Asian food, thai food especially. In Bridgewater, MA there is a restaurant called Chatta Box where I frequent and get Drunken Noodles and Chicken Coconut Soup. Delicious.
8.) Will you be having give away prizes eventually later when you have more viewers?
We’ll have to see. If I get additional product to give away from people than of course I will pass it on to loyal readers. Who knows I may do smaller giveaways depending on my cash flows.
9.) If so what type of prizes?
Food Product, Gift Certs, and Cooking related items.
10.) Do you like StrawnEditing.com?
Yes I do, the pictures I gave to StrawnEditing.com had a very fast turn around and came out great.
I recommend you guys to check out David Roshinski’s blog at: http://bit.ly/DavinciFood
And Davinci I am rating your blog a 9/10 buddy! Keep doing what your doing! =).
The past year has undoubtedly brought many changes and challenges to both employers and employees. Layoffs, pay cuts and furloughs have been widespread, thus contributing to a job market saturated with qualified candidates competing for fewer jobs. Despite this steep competition among candidates, employers struggle to find professionals with in-demand skill sets.
Along with these continued battles, employers face a new challenge: ensuring their companies are prepared when the economy does make an inevitable turnaround, which will give them a competitive advantage.
A new survey, the 2009 EDGE Report from Robert Half International and CareerBuilder, provides answers to many of the lingering questions surrounding today’s economy and job market: Where will jobs be added first in the recovery? What challenges will employers face in recruitment? How will compensation be impacted? And how will employers retain the talent they’ve preserved during this difficult time?
To take advantage of an improving economy, employers that cut staffing levels extensively are taking a close look at the core skills needed in new hires in order to rebuild their rosters once the economic recovery takes hold.
Fifty-three percent of employers said they plan to hire full-time employees in the next 12 months, while 39 percent will add part-time employees, according to a new survey. Forty percent will hire contract, temporary or project professionals.
Here are several key other findings from the report:
Where jobs will be added first Hiring managers currently consider customer service as the most critical to the company’s success, followed by sales, marketing/creative and technology. Public relations/communication, business development and accounting/finance round out the list.
When the economy does start to rebound, respondents said technology, customer service and sales departments will add positions first, followed by marketing/creative, business development, human resources and accounting/finance.
In the meantime, hiring managers continue to appreciate employees who can perform multiple functions. Employers cited multitasking, initiative and creative problem-solving as the most valuable characteristics in ideal new hires.
Retaining talent Although many business leaders have plans to add new employees to their organizations in the coming months, they also have to consider how their decisions during the financial crisis have impacted job satisfaction and loyalty of their current staff.
Fifty-five percent of workers polled have plans to change careers, find a new employer or go back to school once the economy recovers. Forty-nine percent said that the most effective way to keep them on board will be with pay increases; in fact, 28 percent plan to ask for a raise.
Employers are aware that competitive pay and benefits will play a critical role in retaining talent. Forty percent of employers said that they plan to increase pay when the economy improves and 20 percent said they hope for better benefits and perks.
Continued challenges in recruitment Although there is a greater pool of available talent among job seekers, employers are still having trouble finding qualified professionals for open positions: 47 percent of employers cited under-qualified applicants as their most common hiring challenge. Employers said that, on average, 44 percent of the résumés they receive are from unqualified candidates.
As a result, employers are open to paying for great talent; 61 percent said their companies are willing to negotiate a higher salary for qualified candidates.
A common complaint from job seekers is the amount of time the hiring process takes; however, this is one area where employers won’t budge. The average time it takes to recruit a new full-time hire is 4.5 to 14.4 weeks. Employers say that in order to avoid costly hiring mistakes, it’s necessary to take their time reviewing and screening a high volume of résumés, and also to carefully evaluate those invited for interviews
The impact of former Mayor Willie Brown can be seen on virtually every corner of this great city. Following the 2008 publication of his memoirs, Basic Brown: My Life and Our Times, brown reflects on what it is that makes San Francisco haute.
From the very beginning, Willie Lewis Brown Jr. was destined to make a difference.
He came to San Francisco in 1951 in order to make a difference in his own life, and he succeeded beyond anyone’s expectations. From the moment he stepped off the train from rural Texas, he began a rise to power that blended panache, raw talent, and boundless ambition. No politician dominated California longer or more completely than Willie. No politician was more flamboyant. And if you measure a man by the enormity of his progressive impact on the world, former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown is undoubtedly one of the most extraordinary men in the City by the Bay.
Yet as he moved through life, and through the glitzy restaurants and grandiose chambers where he held court, Brown’s origins were never far from his thoughts. He hailed from the humblest of beginnings: Mineola, Texas, a segregated small town full of people with segregated small town views. Willie Brown was too big for such a place. His escape route brought him west to the coast of northern California, a place where his race wasn’t the overriding factor, even back in the middle of the 20th century. “This city so welcomed me and made me feel comfortable and made me forget the color of my skin.”
Video: PBS
He says this from the lobby bar of the St. Regis San Francisco, his personal stomping ground, thanks to his residence upstairs. During the course of our conversations, men stop by to clap him on the back while thanking him for his hard work and impact; women demurely offer their hands while simultaneously offering praise. People are captivated by the man who is the father of modern San Francisco, the man who is so firmly rooted in the city he says he does not like to take vacations. His career path reflects his affinity. Rather than following the typical route of corporate lawyer-turned-politician-turned mayor-turned-senator or -governor, Brown’s steadfast love for the city of San Francisco, which developed seemingly seconds after stepping off that train, spawned a path that kept Brown in the city, making moves to help her prosper. It’s no wonder San Franciscans return the love.
For the past two years Brown has called the St. Regis home, and his choice to rest his head at night in the five-star condo-hotel is indicative of something much greater than his taste in real estate. The beacon of luxurious hospitality is located South of Market, a district that Brown is personally responsible for revitalizing. When Brown began his quest, he had a vision for San Francisco, the city of his affection, and he refused to rest until that image was brought to fruition. And then he put his money where his mouth was, choosing to live-work-and-play in the neighborhood he helped create. His residence in the St. Regis is evidence enough that the shoe-shiner from small town Texas not only made it, he made it big.
It was a long climb to the top, but the eloquent man’s strong mastery of style, both in spoken prose and classic gentlemen’s fashions, made that climb unforgettable not only to San Franciscans but to the entire nation. His celebrity extends well beyond the city, and he carefully cultivated his public image over the course of his decades-long political career. He is affably known as Da Mayor, as a man of the people, by the people, and for the people. He is also known for getting results, a trend that started when he first arrived in the city to begin his undergraduate studies.
