Izzo in Rio

MWAH X

2007-06-23T05:42:00.000-07:00

2007-06-23T04:59:00.000-07:00

Well that's it I'm back in the UK...
You can carry on following the journey though at www.afroreggaedigital.com - there'll be new shows added all the time to the Introductory Programme currently broadcasting on the stream... There's also loads on the website - sets from the Favela Feva parties, picture galleries and pages from the students... Please log on now to www.afroreggaedigital.com - we want you to listen, and we want to know what you think so please email any comments to izzy@afroreggaedigital.com...
I tell you what it's been a blast, and continues to be... In many ways this doesn't feel like the end of a journey but the beginning of one... The radio station is up and running - we're recording shows with the AfroReggae family as well as guest artists and DJs; the first group of 24 students are about to embark on their formal 6 mth Radio Production & Web-based Media course, learning a range of skills from journalism to production to photography and DJing; the fundraising events continue with another Favela Feva party at Guanabara in September and BrazilianBeatz in Bristol on Nov 1st...
There's a lot to do, so it's time for me to go... I'm about to get on with writing another of the workshops (still a few left to start..!)
I want to send much love and respect out to everyone I met and spent time with in Brazil...
At the moment I am mostly feeling the word: Suadade
I miss you... but distance can't get in the way of love
Thank you also to everyone who supported from the UK - you have all made this possible not just for me but also the station, the students... who knows how far it can go..? AfroReggaeDigital is testimony to what can be done when we pool our efforts and work together for the common good... so thank you to everyone - in Brazil, the UK, all around the world, let's keep AfroReggaeDigital alive, on air and listen! New audio & visual content on the website all the time, hold tight for the live show coming soon too!
Kay I need to jump off of here... they tell me it's all about facebook now (4 months away and it's true - so many things stay the same, so many things change...) So I've got a page (look for Izzy Fairbairn) and there's an AfroReggaeDigital network going on too - www.facebook.com
So if I haven't seen you already I hope to hear from you soon...
Tchau (for now...) & Big Love, Izzy (not) in Rio (anymore) Xxx

2007-06-07T17:36:00.000-07:00

2007-06-07T17:32:00.000-07:00

HAPPY 14th BIRTHDAY to AFROREGGAE

2007-06-07T17:25:00.000-07:00

2007-06-07T16:43:00.000-07:00

Well I know I've been very bad staying away for so long... It hasn't meant there's been nothing to talk about though... The big news is is that THE STATION IS ON AIR... We had a big strategy meeting (gosh) a few weeks ago now, and kind of a second smaller one today where we've decided the immediate objectives for the station. There's been a show on loop up since Monday 4th June. This will be added to with various bits of audio - shows and inserts - from the AfroReggae family, students, guest artists and friends of the station, until September when we launch the schedule with a daily live show and regular shows online from the students. School term, so to speak, starts officially on July 9th and until then there'll be regular workshops creating content for the online stream and site. So please keep checking www.afroreggaedigital.com for some wicked beats and interesting (guaranteed to be..) radio from now.
In between the meetings I've been pre- and post-producing the show... got the red eye computer editing look totally down and had to play a lot of musical computers. I'm sad to say my laptop is not happy - she's got no space left in her at all and half her monitor is cracked so i'm currently writing this on a third of a normal screen size...... which means i'm gonna try and keep this short (oh dear she just went dark then not a good sign - i'd better be quick...) So bleary eyed in the middle of the edit I went on an amazing holiday with the fam... We went to the 2 sides of Iguacu (Wow - the power of the water, the rainbows, the serenity, the intensity) and staying in a lodge on the Amazon River... Chilled out with the monkeys and watched the sun rise/set to the sound of the jungle... Incredible - big up, thanks and love to the beautiful family.. Was a great week... XxX

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.

2007-05-14T12:41:00.000-07:00

Taking some time off (Gasp)

2007-05-14T12:37:00.000-07:00

2007-05-14T12:21:00.000-07:00

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!!)

DJ Andy - hands in the air..

2007-05-09T09:14:00.000-07:00

Crazy Scratching

2007-05-09T09:13:00.000-07:00

SP & The Drum n Bass tent

2007-05-09T09:10:00.000-07:00

2007-05-09T08:44:00.000-07:00

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...

2007-05-09T08:42:00.000-07:00

Buildings and cars...

2007-05-09T08:41:00.000-07:00

SP was all buildings and cars

2007-05-09T08:39:00.000-07:00

2007-05-09T08:31:00.000-07:00

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...

2007-05-09T07:58:00.000-07:00

2007-05-09T07:57:00.000-07:00

2007-05-09T07:48:00.000-07:00

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.

We did also work at Marcelinho's house honest

2007-05-02T17:35:00.000-07:00

2007-05-02T17:34:00.000-07:00

Saturday workshop

2007-05-02T17:32:00.000-07:00

2007-05-02T17:03:00.000-07:00

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.

2007-05-02T13:53:00.000-07:00

By the way, Sergio is that guy in the white shirt with a big grin third from left below the main picture...

I was sitting right behind Sergio three rows back (we were early - 10 mins)

2007-04-27T19:42:00.000-07:00

2007-04-27T19:03:00.000-07:00

Also went up to Catagalo - the favela in between Copacabana and Ipanema beaches this week to discuss designs for girls AfroReggaeDigital T-shirts. There's a team of lovely ladies, seamstresses making beautiful clothes, in the As Criancas Esperanca building at the top of the favela. The building itself is amazing, real 50s concrete architecture, and houses various activities - basketball, football, circus, boxing, computers, radio, even a swimming pool. Looking over the pool is the most incredible view of Rio I've seen so far - beats even Corcovado or Sugar Loaf I reckon - with its steep mountainous backdrop, the lagoa on one side, Ipanema town and beach on the other. The sound of the kids having fun, splashin around in the bright blue pool, just added to the sense of beauty... will have to take a picture next time, unfortunately my camera had run out of battery - boo. Had a great lunch of chicken, rice and beans cooked from fresh and then caught the lift down to the streets of Rio (in record time). There is still the basic structure of a 5 star hotel, complete with lift, which got abondoned during building as the favela started to grow around it. The residents now use the lift, with permission, for (roughly) hourly intervals at morning, noon and evening to travel up and down from the favela. Handy when you've been doing the shopping.
The morning before Catagalo I went to the inauguration of the new Funarte president, where Gilberto Gill was also speaking. We were invited on the premise of an introduction to speak to O Signor Gill about AfroReggaeDigital although he was mobbed after the ceremony and we decided to leave it until another time - he is a great friend of AfroReggae so we hope to make him aware of the project at least.
Today I have been on the computer all day, with a break to sort out my visa. Have just done the latest report for 5Live - listen back for the next 7 days - it's the Up All Night programme, and am just about ready for bed before a day of workshops at Lucas tomorrow. Although DJ Premier and The Racionais at Circo Voador is tempting...

Ariane at the desk

2007-04-27T19:00:00.000-07:00

2007-04-27T18:44:00.000-07:00

Had another great week of workshops - it's so nice to see new kids at the lessons everyday. Our latest recruit, Pedro came in to take a look round on Wednesday and then stayed and learnt how to speak into the mic and edit his own jingles. He arrived shy and left smiling, which is what it's all about. Ariane is emerging as a real star and has nearly finished planning her first live show which airs next week.
In fact we're all gearing up for the first live shows on April 30th when the station soft launches. You'll be able to listen to the progress of shows on the website - expect broadcast to be shaky at first but by the time we go to press and hard launch on June 4th, to co-incide with the party on the 6th, we're hoping to have ironed out any creases. Check out the new website online at www.afroreggaedigital.com. Marky boy has done an amazing job putting it together - we've had to eliminate the flash element of the site because the connection is just not good enough here in Brazil to support it. We hope you like the new version too.

2007-04-24T16:11:00.000-07:00

2007-04-24T15:41:00.000-07:00

So the other big things that happened last week revolved around meetings... On Wednesday I met with Marcos at Canecão. Canecão is an old skool venue in Rio, been going for something like 50 years I believe, and puts all the biggest selling Brazilian acts on stage. It's opening a new club, around 300 capacity, on May 3rd right next door to its original venue. They'd just installed the light system when i went round, the sound was on its way. It looked like a swish warehouse, painted white with a bar area at one end and a small stage at the other as well as a chill out "room" just outside - perfect for an AfroReggaeDigital launch party! Yep it's happening - June 6th - to coincide with AfroReggae's birthday party the same evening (which stops at 10.30 when ours begins) - a party in Rio to inaugurate the station! We're hoping it's gonna be at Canecao - still awaiting another meeting to settle details but the initial meet was positive. Details to follow.
There will also be parties in Parada de Lucas, the UK (braps to Kase) and the US (braps too to Shobhan & Smash). Thanks also go out to Approach who are now handling our press here in Brazil and the team at Funarte who gave us loads of great leads after a really enjoyable meeting.
After all that rushing around I was glad for another bank holiday weekend this weekend. This time the Brazilians have been celebrating St Georges Day (hey is this fair?!) and I got a day off on Saturday chilling round Julianna's flat with some wonderful people and an incredible view of the Red Bull race...

Going out to the 1Xtra crew... just one of the many pieces of wicked graf out here

2007-04-24T15:39:00.000-07:00

2007-04-24T15:03:00.000-07:00

Last week we were also teaching daily workshops, which felt even more real now we've got a room of our own to teach them in, which comes complete with computers Dr Mark has waved his magic wand over - they're now fitted with extra RAM, sound cards and have all the software we need to broadcast and teach. We're establishing who the most passionate students are as well as welcoming new faces. The numbers started low per class at the beginning of the week - 2 or 3 - but climbed to around 6 by the end (6-9 per 2 hour class is our ideal). We'd never know which students were turning up for which class so had to freestyle a lot of the lessons, deciding what to do at the start of class as well as having to teach 2 or 3 different levels at the same time. During one lesson, Ariane started using her links and jingles in BPM and Junior got to grips BPM itself whilst Douglas and Fraser recorded and edited their first jingles. Couldn't have done it without the help of Helen Clegg - all round bad girl and ex-1Xtra Producer - who did a wicked job teaching the kids and who we're hoping will become a regular on the Parada de Lucas scene.

2007-04-24T08:39:00.000-07:00

It's a family affair... one of the many curved bits

2007-04-24T08:30:00.000-07:00

2007-04-24T08:20:00.000-07:00

Horay! We now have a fully operating studio complete with hand crafted studio desk... Big big thanks to Wagnon and his son who spent time and attention on the desk. Not only does the desk look amazing it was also great to get it made locally, putting the money some of you guys helped to raise positively and directly into the favela.

Amanda getting stuck in with the material for the studio ceiling

2007-04-19T07:39:00.000-07:00

Sending out love to you all... xx

2007-04-19T07:33:00.000-07:00

The Boy!

2007-04-19T07:30:00.001-07:00

The view from Sugar Loaf

2007-04-19T07:30:00.000-07:00

2007-04-18T18:24:00.000-07:00

Ok so I did write this yesterday but i'm hoping you'll lough me that...

So it’s been a while since I’ve written and apologies for that but yeah, you’ve guessed it, I’ve been run off my feet… Every time I see a clear space for updating my blog, writing you chatty emails or hell, just sunbathing for 5 minutes something comes up and I’m back at the hard graft. But now I’ve already done a days (and nights) work and I’m settling down with a good bottle of red (thanks Amanda!) to chat about the last couple of weeks. It could take a while so if you’ve got a sofa and a bottle-opener to hand, sit back, relax and uncork (not that I’m advocating drinking of course, oh no not me…)

I’m afraid I can’t even check to see what I last wrote because the server is down here in Rio, which happens a lot unfortunately. I am slightly concerned about the effect that will have on the radio station, but our meeting with Terra – an internet service provider in Brazil – should rectify that. We will be going to Sao Paulo to discuss options sometime in May. I’m also hoping to go to Sao Paulo for Skol Beats, an annual electronic festival which just happens to fall on the weekend of my birthday this year (May 6th just in case you forgot, the address of where I’m staying - Rua Joaquim Murtinho 587, Santa Teresa, 20241-320, Rio de Janeiro, RJ just in case you want to send any presents!). For those of you who know me you’ll know I dread my birthday (all that attention, all that pressure!) so I’m hoping a set from Fabio, Grooverider, Friction and D-Bridge will avert that dread. In true workaholic mode I might even try to get a show from them for AfroReggaeDigital. Come on Fabs you said you would!

So anyway with an absence of a start point I’m going to back track and start at the end – today. First off I’ve got to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRO who I’m sure is currently out somewhere enjoying himself – I love you homie – couldn’t have chosen a better brother. In true Sam style, you’ll get your present sometime when I’m back (ok call it Christmas for arguments sake – cool?! Mmwah!)

I woke early this morning, around 8.30 (for Brazilians working in media that’s early trust) and got straight onto the computer. It was great to get a chance to sit and type uninterruptedly for a couple of hours and do, oh the little things like write an email to the British Council, compile a worksheet on ‘Preparing Your Show’, synopsise the project for the Brazilian press etc that I just hadn’t had the time to do up until now. I took a break around 1pm to walk into Lapa (just down the hill) to buy credit for my phone, get some money out and do some food shopping. OK so this might seem sad, but the supermarket was the highlight of my day today. Primarily because it was the first time in ages that I’d had to myself but also because I revelled in the Brazilian imperfection of things. There are no shiny surfaces in supermarkets here, the trolleys don’t work and the apples are bruised but that’s real life and that’s how I like it! There’s something quite spiritual in choosing your apple from a heap of dodgy ones and not just picking up a cling-filmed pack of four from the shelf.

After Zen-ing it out for half an hour or so I chained myself back to the computer until 5pm when I had a 2 hour Portuguese lesson, and this is when I got depressed (yes I’m a third of the way through the bottle of wine now). I have to admit it’s the only thing not going quite as smoothly as I’d hoped – the Portuguese, which is why I’m taking lessons. It’s a difficult language, everyone says so, but my main problem is that I’m not speaking enough – why not I hear you cry, you’re in Brazil for Christo’s sake. Well I’m constantly working, need to communicate effectively with the (all English) team out here and when we have high profile meetings (with AfroReggae, press agencies, funding bodies etc) the Brazilians either speak English or we have an interpreter – unfortunately it’s more important that the correct message gets across than I practice my Portuguese. I was hoping to be able to conduct workshops solo by this stage but that’s just not the case. Again, it’s more important for the sake of the favela kids that we get someone fluent in Portuguese to help with the lessons – at the end of the day the success of their programmes and AfroReggeDigital as a result – depends on their understanding and grasp of radio. Do not fear though, I have another month to get it right… eu espero, voce espera, nos esperamos, voces esperam… and I’ve already got my Muito Bom down to perfection.

Talking of workshops, we have started giving two a day Monday-Thursday since yesterday. I am now going to Parada de Lucas every Monday and Wednesday whilst Max takes the Tuesday and Thursday groups and we both do Saturdays. We’re currently teaching the students about links (the talking in between music) and BPM studio (the software we’re using to broadcast the station) as well as preparing them for their first live shows from April 30th (Oh my god is it really that close?!?!). There’s a lot to do but I have every confidence in the kids (prove me right guys prove me right please!).

Max & I have also been interviewing this week for volunteer positions at the station. We aim to implement a structured volunteer programme to teach workshops after we leave. We are also advertising, locally as well as internationally, for a ‘Chief of Parties’ (I know what a great job title!) position to run the station full time from June – this position will include giving workshops as well as liaising with ourselves and AfroReggae, managing the team, sourcing new business and securing funding – if you know anyone who’d be interested please get in touch. The successful applicant must have a working knowledge of radio and be fluent in Portuguese. Management, teaching and IT-based skills are also preferred.

I can’t believe I’ve written so much and only talked about the half of what’s happened in the last two days. Suffice to say I’ll save time, ears, fingers and heads by synopsising the rest – mostly with pretty pictures. Just at the right time, the press has come back into play. Last week I managed to meet the deadline for an article for Jungle Drums – a wicked Brazilian magazine based in London. Publishing side by side in Portuguese and English it focuses primarily on music, explores Brazilian culture and touches upon social issues. Check it out at www.jungledrums.com. The article on AfroReggaeDigital goes out in the May issue – I’ll let you know an exact date when I do. Been too busy writing the piece, sourcing pictures and the rest I’d forgotten about that till now… Thanks – JD Release date – add to tingz…

Last week we also had the pleasure of Ali Wade’s company. Ali co-runs a non-profitmaking website covering music/film/art/leftfield culture at www.spannered.org. He came to Parada de Lucas with us, researching an article about AfroReggeaDigital. He’s also a Bristol boy living in Sao Paulo and randomly, knows Max, Mark and Ritchie from back in the day. That’s the thing about this place, and this trip, which keeps cropping up - there are random connections everywhere. Who’d have thought MC Gringo, who’d emailed me at 1Xtra after L Double broadcast backstage from Favela Feva, would be being interviewed when we first met in Rio and went to Rochina and Favelinha, by Natalie - an Austrian radio Presenter/Producer taking 3 months out of her job to study and report on Baile Funk, who would later fix us up with where we’re living now and was being visited by, Ariane, whom Uche from 1Xtra had sent an ‘SOS’ message to myself and Helen Clegg about for when she got to Rio. Who’d have known that Gringo would have played football with Carlbucci, the longest serving DnB DJ in Rio, who is the boyfriend of a friend of Bel’s, The lady who does the music programming for Guanabara, where the first Favela Feva was held. And how come Carlbucci’s MC is Mario Z whose studio you see was Maira’s plan B for a meeting with me after her initial plea, of getting involved in the project. And how come the same Mario Z a shit-hot MC who’s just happened to be getting closer to me without charging a fee or taking the p, is moving from item to object. So some of you have been asking and I might as well tell you now yeah I’ve got a boyfriend… and yeah you said it would happen and it did… He’s the sweetest most lovely boy I ever did meet and he’s already taken me to his beach house down the coast and taken us on a guided tour when Amanda and Mark first got here…sigh… so switch, Amanda came just in time for the Easter holidays and it was so great to see her (in fact I must thank her again for the state I’m in now) we chilled, chatted, ate chocolate and climbed Sugar Loaf. Mark – the superstar online magician technician, out here for a month for AfroReggaeDigital – had just arrived and for a day or two it almost felt like kids on tour, not quite sure if we had the backpacks on or not. We were all high though from a meeting we had a couple of days before with Jose Junior and the core AfroReggae team at their HQ. They are as excited by this project as we are, which was great to see… Long Live ARD!
(Now I must go to bed)

The AfroReggae Digital Studio!!!

2007-03-30T18:06:00.000-07:00

2007-03-30T17:43:00.000-07:00

Since Tuesday I've been preparing the Radio Links workshop for next week, taking Portuguese classes (yes I'm needing a crash course to help it click) and working on the website upgrade with the Dychpher team in London (braps to Dave, Muce & Marc - mwah)... The acoustic materials are now (very nearly) up in the studio - we've got foam, carpet and AfroReggae colours on the walls - the only thing remaining to do now is to get the desk made and the equipment in - it's all very exciting. Max & I have been working hard on the final design of the studio and we're now at a piont where we're both happy - have a look at the diagrams above of the studio set up - sexy eh!!
I've also made it onto Brazilian TV apparently..! The State Governors visit attracted widespread press attention and the footage shown on O Globo TV included a shot of me I'm told - I bet I looked sweaty (it was really hot in there)... I'm also doing my third interview on 5Live tonight and am sat ready at my computer with the skype headset waiting for the call... oooo here we go... tchau!

This week I've mostly learnt the words:
Amizade - Friendship
Suadade - A feeling of missing someone
Esmero - Meticulousness
Geringonca - Contraption
Anjo - Angel
Desajeitado - Clumsy
Frequencia - Frequency
Morder - To Bite (Just because they're some of my favourite words I've learnt in class)

2007-03-27T17:26:00.000-07:00

Recently I have mostly learnt the words:
Borboleta - Buttefly (like I put round the pool)
O Churrasco - BBQ (as in what we had)
Aparelho - Equipment (as in what we're sorting for the studio)
Carpete - Carpet (as in what we're laying in the studio)
Aula - Lesson (as in what I'm giving a lot of at the moment)
Cama - Bed (as in what I need to be in more)

That's me behind the Gov and Jose Jnr - head of AfroReggae - on the mic.

2007-03-27T13:01:00.000-07:00

Awwwww

2007-03-27T12:59:00.000-07:00

2007-03-27T12:55:00.000-07:00

Well today I've just got back from Lucas where the Governor of Rio State - Sergio Cabral - was inaugurating our centre. The kids put on a great show for him - drumming, violin playing, Capoeira and singing - it was quite a special affair. It was also a good chance for us to raise awareness about AfroReggae Digital and we're hoping to meet with the Governor, as well as a heap of journalists, in due course.
The sun is still shining here, and I'm sat inside on my computer - wouldn't change it for the world though...

View of the DJ booth from the "chill out room"

2007-03-27T12:51:00.000-07:00

The music at the party was sweet!

2007-03-27T12:49:00.000-07:00

2007-03-27T12:33:00.000-07:00

As well as conducting workshops, compiling more workshops and loading equipment into the studio, we threw a BBQ on Sunday for all our Rio friends. We invited the AfroReggae crew and all the people we've met so far on our travels - mostly a mix of artists, musicians, promoters and people working in the music industry here. We sorted a sound system, threw a hell of a lot of meat on the barbie and I added the girlie touch with rose petals and sparkles on the floor, floating candles in the pool and paper butterflies all around the place. The party went off! This amazing DJ from Chile spun beats for hours, the DnB crew represented, then the legendary DJ Sany finished off with some Baile Funk - nice. Everyone had a great time and as well as being a lot of fun, it was a very successful public relations exercise. In true promoter style I was running about all day and got my first bit of sausage and a beer at the restaurant myself, Max, the DnB crew and the Baile crew went to late at night after the party. It was all worth it though! Braps to all the people with Monday morning injuries (feet / head / arms etc) after the buckets of Cachaca that were drowned!!

Editing Jingles

2007-03-27T12:32:00.000-07:00

Recording Jingles

2007-03-27T12:31:00.000-07:00

2007-03-27T12:22:00.000-07:00

Honestly where does the time go??
The workshops are going really really well - it's such a joy to work with these kids and I'm so impressed by how quickly they're picking up the basics of radio... never before have I worked with a group who instantly understand and can navigate around the editing software, it's simply inspiring. Our core team is emerging already and I'm feeling really confident about their skill set - I'm positive that leaving AfroReggae Digital in their hands will ensure its success.

Jammin in the evening

2007-03-21T13:24:00.000-07:00

2007-03-21T13:04:00.000-07:00

Since the weekend I've been to Parada de Lucas a few times... I had a meeting with the staff about the workshop plan, which begins for real next Saturday. The idea is to run the Introductory workshop for the next few weeks in order to establish a core group of 10 passionate and committed kids to train to run the station whilst also enthusing as many faveladors as possible to get involved. There'll be a 4 hour workshop every Saturday and 2 hour workshops on Monday-Thursday, with one group coming Mon & Wed, the other group Tues & Thurs. The groups rotate each week. I've also been there lugging equipment and getting foam up on the walls!
This week I've also been in the studio with the DnB crew. Met this lovely lovely couple - Shobhan and Smash - from San Fran who are staying in our house in Santa Teresa. Shobhan sings AMAZINGLY and Smash is pretty darn good on vocals and guitar too... We got chatting and arranged for her to lay down some vocals and get a DnB remix (she's an old skool DnB head - started the scene in San Fran) from the boys here. So we trudged off to studio for a session and the legendary DJ Fabio Machado is currently remixing it. Watch this space for the next LK!!!! (Yeah and I want my cut guys!). After the studio sess we had a BBQ at our place and it got musically messy! Shobhan & Smash on the guitar, Mario Z on the DnB freestyle tip and some of the other residents playing Samba - mostly improv, all live, all mind blowing! Sweet.

One of the pictures I included on the workshop handouts

2007-03-21T13:02:00.000-07:00

2007-03-21T12:37:00.000-07:00

WE'VE DONE THE FIRST RADIO WORKSHOP FOR THE KIDS!!!

Last weekend we did the first radio workshop for the children (and some of the staff) at Parada de Lucas, which went really really well. Everyone seemed to love it, which was fantastic and it definately served its purpose of inspiring the local community about AfroReggae Digital. I was especially pleased as I had constructed the whole workshop plan (sacrificing the Brazilian sunshine for 4 consecutive days) and this workshop is now established as our Introduction to Radio workshop. I also conducted the workshop in Portuguese!
After brief introductions and a round table discussions on radio and music, I introduced the basics of recording and editing through the concept of Jingles. We got the kids to think of their own DJ names, show names and jingle for their show. I then explained how to record (connecting the equipment, holding the mic, levels etc) and off they went recording their own jingles. We listened to the jingles then loaded them into Cool Edit (editing software), added a few sound effects and hey presto! The kids had made their first radio piece, and hadn't got bored once! In fact, that was the main difference I noticed in teaching the kids here compared to in England. They were so similar in many ways - appearance, likes, dislikes etc but their attitude was very different. The kids i met on Saturday anyway were very motivated. When they introduced themselves, nearly all mentioned how they wanted to do radio as a way of advancing their skill set and increasing their opportunities. For 15/16 year old boys I was impressed by their level of maturity and understanding. They are especially anxious at the moment, for reasons I cannot discuss here, but they still threw themselves into the exercises and I'm hoping I will be seeing them all again at AfroReggae Digital.

Went to Nativa with Natalie (Austrian radio presenter) & Gringo... Nat did an interview with Marcson whilst Gringo checked out the favela behind

2007-03-21T12:35:00.000-07:00

Me at Radio Nativa

2007-03-21T12:33:00.000-07:00

2007-03-21T12:18:00.000-07:00

So I know it's been a hot minute since I wrote last but boy have I been busy...
Had a meeting with DJ/TV&Radio personality, Marcson Muller, last week at Radio Nativa, which was both inspiring and intersting. I wanted to find out a bit more how radio works here in Rio and source some contacts for equipment - especially radio desks, CDJs and MD recorders.

I'm also hoping to get him involved further in the project as he's doing something similar in another favela - it's not a radio station, but he is trying to elevate the status of the faveladors. His aim is to teach the Baile Funk MCs about the music industry - how to make money from it, how to distribute tunes, how to market themselves etc. He is so passionate about it I was in awe. He was saying that each favela has its own separate culture & identity and that, although a lot of imformation gets out about the favela, it is more often than not wrong. For 100,000 people living in the favela no more than 20 are really bad - selling drugs, killing etc. Most, like the rest of us, just want a good life and to do better. Unfortunately only the footballers make it out, and although the musicians and dancers have incredible talent they are presently unable to make a living from their skills.

Marcson also took me to a wicked party in the evening - braps to the local samba!!

P.s Lough the Red Eye!

2007-03-15T11:28:00.000-07:00

2007-03-15T11:16:00.000-07:00

I have mostly been staying in the last few days researching and writing radio workshops for the kids. There's a lot to do but i'm really enjoying getting stuck in. It's different compiling workshops for the kids here compared to my students in London - not only am I aware that the language (and all its nuances) is different, I also have to bear in mind that some of the children I'll be teaching don't even have basic literacy skills. I am therefore including lots of pictures and practical exercises!
I'm also putting together the Passion & Schowi show for broadcast - tidying up levels and adding idents... started teaching myself Audacity but have moved back to Audition because it's so much better for editing. It does feel wierd spending 10 hours a day inside on the computer with the sun shining outside but I'm not complaining!
Popped out one evening to join a jam - dancing / breaking / circus performing - in a wicked old warehouse building in Lapa - check the picture above with the crew - everyone there was incredibly talented - in more ways than one... yum.

2007-03-12T18:59:00.000-07:00

2007-03-12T18:42:00.000-07:00

Well life moves pretty quickly in Rio when it wants to... The drug lord who arrived at the party in Rochina the other Sunday is now being hunted by the police - apparently he is responsible for the murder of one favela woman and the dismemberment of another... nice... it seems no matter what kind of show the drug gangs put on, it will never hide the fact that their members are essentially cold-blooded killers.

On a more positive note, i've now moved house and am living in this amazing place in Santa Teresa - the hippy bohemian part of Rio (suits me down to the ground)... We're set up with a little office and can take a dip in the pool on our lunch break... I am having to watch out for a few creepy crawlies though - check the picture above - it's a massive caterpillar, which in fact is not a caterpillar but more of a dayglow pain machine - step on one and you'll get a horrible burn, if that is, the fever doesn't get you first...

Today i've mostly learnt the words:
Minhocas - Worms (like how the caterpillars wiggle)
Mulher - Woman (coz it was international womans day last Thursday and all of Rio's women were carrying red roses)
Violao - Guitar (because someone we lives with plays it amazingly)

Schowi & Passion

2007-03-08T14:48:00.000-08:00

look i did some work too - directing Gringo with his links

2007-03-08T14:44:00.000-08:00

the boys hard at work, from l-r DnB MC Mario Z, MC Gringo, Max, Ritchie, Passion & Showi

2007-03-08T14:43:00.000-08:00

2007-03-08T14:35:00.001-08:00

WE'VE DONE THE FIRST RADIO SHOW FOR AFROREGGAE DIGITAL!!!!

I thought it was important to start bagging guest DJ shows for the station so spoke to Passion & Showi on Sunday about doing a 2 hour mix show... hooked up the studio of our new found friends - the Rio DnB crew - and hey presto, we have a show! I really enjoyed producing radio after a few week hiatus and it felt great to know we already have content for the station - watch out for the show, video footage, pictures and tracklistings from Passion & Showi coming soon!

Other than that have been having lots of meetings with AfroReggae, finalising work shop content and looking for somewhere to live - we have to be out of the apartment by the weekend...

Tonight though - it's all about the DnB again baby!!!

2007-03-08T14:18:00.000-08:00

Went to the most amazing party on Sunday night - it was the first rave in the favela...
Rochina cast out the Baile Funk for one night and made way for Passion & Schowi - 2 superstar DJs from Germany - to hit the favela with some house, old skool and baltimore bass and boy was it good... I had a great little bop but it was observing the scene that was incredible... the club in Rochina was a three storey open air venue with a swimming pool on the roof - it had the most breathtaking views of the favela under the night sky... Then around 2am the peace was shattered as a black mercedes pulled up outside and the drug lord - at 29 (old in this game) currently the most wanted man in Rio - stepped out flanked by 4 boys with silver plated AKs... as soon as they walked into the club, fireworks went off overhead and the MC announced their presence - it was shocking to witness the extent of influence these people have in the favela.

Check the old AfroReggae center in the background

2007-03-05T11:00:00.000-08:00

Rehearsals

2007-03-05T10:57:00.000-08:00

Posing next to some graf in the favela

2007-03-05T10:54:00.000-08:00

2007-03-05T10:34:00.000-08:00

So Letitia has now gone and I'm missing my Dandy heaps... We had a great few last days though - we hooked up with my journo friend who is resident at the best Drum n Bass night in town and got down to some wicked DnB on Thursday... met the DnB crew here in Rio and trust me the DJs & MCs are on point... Max & Ritchie arrived on Friday and on Saturday we all went to Vigario Geral - the favela where AfroReggae was born. Had a great day checking in on 3 ofAfroReggae's band rehersals (there is the main band - AfroReggae and many sub groups), eating lunch, touring AfroReggae's new culutral centre and generally meeting the faveladors, who were all really really lovely, the kids especially... Perceptions have to change about the favela - ok as we were walking around there was a constant pop pop of AK47 fire but you know what they had a video shop.

A Rio sunset (shot through LSDs sunglasses!)

2007-03-02T19:02:00.000-08:00

2007-03-02T18:54:00.000-08:00

So in true Brazilian style I’ve been a bit slack writing my blog recently. It’s not because I haven’t been busy trust, it’s more that I’ve been getting into this Carioca vibe of everything taking time to do. When you’re abroad you realise just how much you take for granted in the UK. I’ve been trying to sort out internet access in my apartment for nearly 3 weeks now but because of Carnival everything shuts down, for weeks… By the time they did get round to it (yesterday) I’d decided it wasn’t worth blowing our limited budget on internet access and I’ve resigned myself to carrying my laptop down to the computer room at least twice a day – good for the old biceps I say!

Sorting out a mobile phone isn’t as easy as you’d think either. It’s not a case of buying a R$20 sim card and putting it in your phone, oh no – you need a code to unbar it, which of course the phone companies can’t help you with out here. What I’d hoped would be a simple job turned into a whole afternoons work. I went from Claro, to Oi, to a little phone shop in Copacabana. When my limited Portuguese wasn’t getting the message across about the problems I was having, the local prostitute, with some understanding of English from her time in Amsterdam, was roped into the discussion. She ended up taking me on a guided tour of the phone shops (local characters and hotels where she entertains) in the area. Suffice to say I’m still using my UK number and the apartment number.

It’s also not easy to find the simplest of things here. Now if you wanted fifty different varieties of shampoo or conditioner, one of the many many pharmacies can help you out. Buying shower gel and face wash is a bit harder. And then there’s the glue. I searched high and low for a bit of Pritt Stick (I need it for my journal ok). When I did find some in a tiny shop on the backstreets I was so happy. You should’ve seen my face though when I went to use it and it was all dried up – I think my bottom lip actually curled over.

On a more positive tip, I do now have an electricity regulator (which you really need out here to save all your batteries as the electricity supply fluctuates constantly) and have done a load of research on equipment prices. Printers and CDRs are about the same price as at home. CDJs are massively more expensive, so if anybody’s got any sitting around not being used, or knows anyone who’d like to donate please do get in touch ;) Letitia and I had a great time walking the rustic streets of Rio for equipment, stopping off for a tasty & cheap lunch with the locals and stumbling across the clothes shops - little summer dresses with wedge heels is my latest new look.

So I’ve obviously been doing a bit of partying as well, checking out the local music scene. I must start with a word of warning, and one that I think is most important and can’t actually believe no-one’s mentioned to me before - they do things a bit differently here in Rio when it comes to clubbing. OK so it might be me being a bit of a dunce / arrogant industry wanka* (*delete as appropriate) but I feel it my duty to report. First let me set the scene. I’ve just stepped off the plane and am a Gringo in a Carioca world. My first night out I’m on the guest list, my second night out I blag VIP entry on the door. My third night out I try the VIP line again; it’s not running this time so Tom & I start to queue. A few minutes later, we’re pulled out of the queue, escorted in through a side door and given a card (a bit like a credit card). We go up to the bar, no-one wants our money and instead all drinks go on the card. A bit of a dance and a few Caipirinhas later Tom & I are having a great time. Around 3am I decide it’s time to call it a night and go home. Thinking we’re all sorted, Tom & I walk out. We’re quickly re-directed by a burly security guard into the kitchen and are joined by four more security. They spend the next 15 minutes talking irately and rifling through Tom’s pockets. I do my best in my broken Portuguese (and a bit of sign language) to calm them down. After a few scary moments thinking “what the hell are we going to do?” I seem to be getting through and they eventually let us leave, having cleared out all the money we had (which incidentally was slightly less than the bill). Please be warned – when you go to a club in Rio, even in a posh area like Leblon, expect to be given a card and expect to pay the amount on the card at the end of the night. Being alone with five security in a kitchen in the middle of the night is not a good look.

(Un)surprisingly, somewhere I felt less threatened was at a Baile Funk party in the favela. Letitia, Tom & I were picked up by MC Gringo, his wife and two DJs from Germany touring South America – Passion & Schowi. After a spot of dinner we headed to Cantalago; a favela sitting between Copacabana & Ipanema. We grabbed a quick beer at a Samba club in the favela and when I say club what I really mean is about 20 people dancing, 10 sitting on plastic chairs, a singer, a drummer, a CD player and 8 speakers stacked on top of each other, all outside in the open night sky. We then hiked the steep climb up into the favela and after about 10 minutes I started to feel the bass hit my stomach.
We turned the corner and there were around 100 faveladors hanging around on the street outside this old warehouse type building. We moved through the crowd and sat on a wall for a few minutes to chill. I was the last person to take a seat and was about to ask this guy next to me, no more than 18 years old, to move along when I checked his AKA47 and a belt of grenades. Ohhkay. I looked around and picked out around 10 young boys all carrying guns of some sort. Although they were prominent and I was wary, I didn’t once feel like something awful was about to happen. The boys – all members of a gang – were there more to police the event than cause trouble and in fact, if you think about it it makes sense. It’s not like you can hire a security firm to work at these favela events and you certainly can’t rely on the police. The gangs don’t want any trouble at events they help to promote, especially if a few foreigners and Rio residents turn up.
Having said that, we moved into the party quite quickly which did feel safer than outside. Inside looked pretty much like any underground UK club – the decks were on a raised platform on one side, there was the usual VIP crew (including us) bubbling behind the decks, the bar was to the left of the decks (where the kiosk where you buy your tickets to buy the drinks also was!), a wall of speakers lay opposite the decks, to the right of them were steps upstairs to a small balcony area (it looked a little bit like Neighbourhood for those who know) and all around people were talking, dancing and getting down. If I’m honest I did feel a bit prang about stepping on someones foot and quickly stopped the brap brap hands in the air dance moves but it didn’t take long for me to really enjoy it. The music was baaaad! The DJ set warmed up the MC nicely, the dance floor was rammed and the vibe was electric. I saw some crazy dance moves, especially from the kids that looked no more than 12 years old and met some really cool people – also bumped into Helen C ex-1Xtra which was random but so good to see her. We bopped, stayed sober and went to bed happy around 5am – it was a great night.

Other than that, Letitia has been poked in her bikini by a Chinese man with a bike in the hotel lift and has been cooking some amazing omelettes. Tom has now gone which means the apartment is tidy, the light stays off in the bathroom (I do have electricity bills you know) and I no longer have hair straighteners to borrow. I’ve also been watching the local news and am no longer walking under buildings because all the awnings in Rio are falling down. We are mostly singing the classic Jungle track “It’s a Warning, warning, warning, warning….”

The last few days I have mostly learnt the words:

Cola – Glue (like what I wanted to buy for my diary)
Arma – Gun (like what I keep seeing everywhere)
Bofetada – Slap (like what Letitia and Tom keep doing to my bum)
Barato – Cheap (as in what I wish the CDJs were)

2007-02-23T06:04:00.000-08:00

2007-02-23T06:03:00.000-08:00

...and swimming under waterfalls in the mountains

2007-02-23T06:02:00.000-08:00

2007-02-23T05:59:00.001-08:00

...Climbing up mountains...

Yes I did this...

2007-02-23T05:58:00.000-08:00

2007-02-23T05:53:00.000-08:00

I have Letitia & Tom with me now so have been doing some of the touristy things whilst I can... mostly been jumping off mountains...

Tom likes the view

2007-02-19T14:53:00.000-08:00

The sun setting on Ipanema beach

2007-02-19T14:52:00.000-08:00

The AfroReggae Bloco

2007-02-19T14:50:00.000-08:00

2007-02-19T14:48:00.000-08:00

Tell you what you’ve got to love Carnival..! Tom & I went to the AfroReggae bloco on Sunday –they’re the guys I’m setting up the radio station for. Their bloco was bigger than yesterdays and ran along Ipanema beach. They played some wicked beats – samba, hip hop & dub and we partied all afternoon and into the night. We walked from Ipanema back home – it took about 3 hours through all the people, stopping off for Tequila and Caipirinha along the way, and the sites and smells of that journey were amazing! Cooking corn on the cob, beef, chicken; street vendors selling all kinds of things – food, drink, art, jewellery; car sound systems pumping out baile funk… Hey these guys will make a system out of anything, even an ice cream cart or a bin, yes a bin!! People were dancing in the street, chilling on the beach and eating in the restaurants. I even saw a girl walking through the crowd, getting a look from a hot guy, stopping for a snog and then walking on – like I say you gotta love Carnival!!

2007-02-19T14:39:00.000-08:00

2007-02-19T14:38:00.000-08:00

2007-02-19T14:37:00.000-08:00

2007-02-19T14:28:00.000-08:00

2007-02-19T14:21:00.001-08:00

So on Saturday I went to my first bloco - bloco's are basically street parties... they are incredibly organised though and the performers practice for months before Carnival. I was lucky enough to hook up with Joanna, Bel's sister, who plays the drums for Bateria; one of the groups holding a bloco. We met up in Botafogo, the area around which the bloco parades, around 2pm for Choppe (the draught beer here) and some of the best BBQ'd meat i've ever tasted (again)... (maybe it tasted even sweeter this time because it was all free!)... Hanging around backstage at the bloco, there were only 20 people or so. Within a few hours though there were thousands and thousands! Loads of people in fancy dress, bright colours abounded, confetti & streamers were being thrown in the air and everyone was getting into the party spirit. We followed the van and the troupe of drummers around the street and the sounds were just amazing. Bateria played a mixture of traditional samba music and electro beats and it was just incredible to be a part of it. I felt really safe throughout, didn’t see any trouble and made some great friends (for the day – Brazilian style!)… We left around 8pm and it was still going on! After a quick change at the apartment we opted for a lovely fish supper with some Columbians we met waiting for a table, and Deep Dish at the Jockey Club with some 3-4000 people. I used the old Izzy blagging magic to get Tom & I in for free – you’ve gotta love the BBC Id sometimes!

2007-02-17T06:58:00.000-08:00

Had my first experience of Carnival last night and boy was it good... Headed up to Santa Teresa, a very bouji district of Rio - all the artists live there, it's very bohemian and beautiful being at the top of a hill with lovely gated houses and cobbled streets. We started with an informal street party playing Baile Funk - think DJ & speakers by the side of the road, lots of crazy dancing, drink stalls, bbq'd meat and whistles. Stopped off for a really tasty dinner at a relatively upmarket and atmospheric restaurant on the edge of the hill - we ate steak overlooking the backgardens of some of the houses on the hill to a chorus of dog barks! Then we walked down to Lapa and just turned the corner into a massive bloco - loads and loads of people, drumming, dancing, drinking, vibing... after a Caipirinha we moved into the central square of Lapa and took an hour or so out sitting on the grass and talking to some beautiful Favela girls - real ghetto but real lovely - I ended up giving one of them my lip gloss and she was so so happy! Walked through the crowd and stumbled across an amazing drummer with full set. Finished the night at Circo Voador where Gringo had sorted out guest list (so glad otherwise we would have paid $R140 each!) and boogied to a bit of Baile Funk and Drum n Bass - loving the MCing in Portuguese by the way.

The last few days I have mostly learnt the words:
Pipa - Kite (number one national sport of the favelas, loads of different coloured kites constantly circle the favela which looks beautiful)
Espelho - Mirror (what the lovely Favela girl wanted to see her lip gloss)
Fiesta - Party (as in Carnival!)

The new AfroReggae Digital studio room

2007-02-16T14:33:00.000-08:00

2007-02-16T14:20:00.000-08:00

Had a great morning today visiting the centre where AfroReggae Digital will live... it's at the edge of Parada de Lucas favela - a favela to the north of Rio... it's a very different favela to Rochina and Favelinha... the Favelas in Rio get so much negative press and are always lumped together but each has it's own character and flavour - if Rochina is the LA of the Favelas, then Parada de Lucas is the Amsterdam! Right next to the centre is a long river running between the houses with bridges all along, Ok it smells a bit bad but it's incredibly atmospheric all the same.

This afternoon I met up with Tom who's over for 10 days or so... we had a great lunch - red snapper and chilli and then walked along the beach (for hours). Stopped off for a green cocoanut and a Caipirinha... Tom dipped his hair in the sea - I laughed - most people dip their toes, Tom dips his hair, although it is all the rage at Toni & Guy apparently...

Carnival starts today! Olay!
XX

Even I was interviewed!

2007-02-15T19:11:00.000-08:00

Alex & MC Gringo at Radio Gavea

2007-02-15T19:10:00.000-08:00

Rochina at night

2007-02-15T19:09:00.000-08:00

View from the roof at Radio Favelinha

2007-02-15T19:07:00.000-08:00

Me & Crew @ Radio Favelinha

2007-02-15T19:06:00.000-08:00

MC Dollares/ MC Galo/ MC Som

2007-02-15T19:05:00.000-08:00

DJ Gordura / Radio Favelinha studio

2007-02-15T19:03:00.000-08:00