segunda-feira, 14 de maio de 2007

Mario & I went to see Brazilian Saxaphone star Leo Gandelman at the old Rival theatre after checking out art at the National Museum - very cultured.

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Taking some time off (Gasp)

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So since last week I've had a meeting about the long-term funding for the station and done two full days of workshops. I've been teaching the students about Vox Pops and introducing them to the concept of interviewing. We incorporated a visit by 19 Natura staff - a natural cosmetics company that sponsors AfroReggae - into Tuesday mornings' workshops and got the kids to teach the basics of jingles and on-air delivery in 15 minute sessions. I have bought more equipment for the studio including a big clock and clipboards. I have also (thank the lord) had the chance to catch up on old emails and things to do!
AfroReggae have advised us to slow down with the project in order to take stock of what we've achieved and allow AfroReggae, as an organisation, to catch up. Although there's still a great deal to do in terms of compiling workshops and updating the website I am trying to heed their advice! We have a big strategy meeting on Wednesday when we will, as a team, decide the future steps of AfroReggaeDigital... We have reached a real turning point with the project. Everything so far has gone incredibly well and everyone is very happy - we must now ensure things carry on as such (which never fear, I'm sure it will!!)

quarta-feira, 9 de maio de 2007

DJ Andy - hands in the air..

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Crazy Scratching

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SP & The Drum n Bass tent

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In between catching the sites of the city we raved at Skol Beats for my birthday. Had a wicked time and it was real nice to see some of the DnB boys. Caught joke, drinks and had a little dance with Fabs, Groove, Dynamite, D Bridge, Friction, SP & Calvin. Marky did some crazy scratching and DJ Andy - a Brazilian DnB DJ - played a stormer - a wicked old skool set. It wasn't the right atmos. to get audio for the station so I'll be sorting that out when I get to London. Thanks to Edo at Bulldozer for sorting out the AAAs anyways...

Buildings and Cars...

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Buildings and cars...

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SP was all buildings and cars

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Had a wicked time in Sao Paulo last weekend although I have to say I didn't much like the city... so much pollution, so many stressed out faces, so much concrete, so many buildings, so many cars...
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So last Thursdays workshop was great! In the morning Carlos, Valnei and Tatiana prepared a show on James Brown (it was the day of his birthday on Thursday May 3rd). They did some research, picked some tracks and wrote a script. The show was broadcast on Saturday - it should be going up online - watch this space. In the afternoon Paulo and Victor got to grips with the decks after recording vox pops around the centre and in the streets of the favela. They were asking people the question 'What do you think of AfroReggaeDigital?'. Braps to Mario and Fabio who did a wicked job helping us out with the workshops.

quarta-feira, 2 de maio de 2007

We did also work at Marcelinho's house honest

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Saturday workshop

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Ok so I ended up passing out and not making it to Premier even though i was down plus three on the guest list - gutted. But then I guess I needed the sleep. Woke up (relatively) fresh for Saturdays workshop which was great - the busiest it's been so far with a real energy in the studio. We got some of the students writing scripts for their first live shows - programming music, formulating links for example, and others recording or editing vinhetas. The four hour session ended up with them using the desk and practicing talking on air.
Managed to take Sunday off, bar a meeting, and wave goodbye to Marky boy who's now flown back to Bristol. Ritchie's also left to return to the beach life in Bahia. On Monday we quietly LAUNCHED THE STATION!!!!!! The day was spent in the studio with the students, preparing for their shows in the morning, and actually doing them in the afternoon. They will be available to listen to online shortly at www.afroreggaedigital.com. Also up there will be audio from the two Favela Feva events. In the evening I had a meeting at Marcelinho Da Lua's house about getting local artists involved in training the kids. You gotta check out this guy - a real talent http://www2.marcelinhodalua.net/. Unfortunately Marcelinho can't help with the party because there's not going to be one. We had a meeting with Damain from AfroReggae on Tuesday (another bank holiday - May Day this time as I guess everyone knows!) and they think it best we hold off on a big event until the station has had time to integrate fully into the AfroReggae family first, which is fair dues. To be honest, it certainly saves me the headstress of organising it and I can concentrate more on finishing the workshops, finalising the station schedule and most importantly working more closely with the kids.
Was up in Lucas today (Wednesday) although the workshops didn't go so smoothly as there was a power cut in the centre, a shame as we were due to do more live shows today. There's plenty more opportunity to do them though so all is not lost. I'm sure we'll be able to fit in a few tomorrow in between the workshops. We're just getting the kids used to being on air at this stage and there's no formal show structure in place yet. That's part of the next stage.
After a day of workshops tomorrow, I'm off to Sao Paulo (horay i'm so excited) straight from Fevre - Mario's drum n bass night. We're sleeping on the bus and then spending a few days in SP for Skol beats and my birthday. Will only be on my phone during that time, if i don't hear from you, see you on the other side... She's getting older.
By the way, Sergio is that guy in the white shirt with a big grin third from left below the main picture...