I am currently interning for the company Urban Vintage. Just from being in the vicinity of Ferris I think I am more aware of what to wear, and the fashion world in general. I like the fact that Urban vintage is based on the idea that dressing fabulous can be affordable and because its vintage it reused and therefore Green.
In the world of fashion there are few people that truly use there inner voice to create pieces and looks that are both outside the box and stylish, Ferris Mason seems to do with every styleling mission flawlessly and effortlessly. Before connecting with her when we were both vending at the New Parish for an event called Collab, I had seen her work everywhere from Music Videos, to local recognition around the Bay Area. Each project she works on she continues to push the envelope and have people thinking what they thought couldn't look fly does. You can check her blog which she updates regularly, and followe her on Twitter as well as facebook, which is well worth it because she gives daily fashion tips that I, along with many, find very helpful.
from me in the words of Miss Ferris herself:
URBAN VINTAGE IS A WARDROBE STYLING COMPANY WITH ROOTS IN THE BAY AREA, HAILING FROM OAKLAND, CA. URBAN VINTAGE IS HERE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH ALL YOUR STYLING NEEDS. WHETHER YOU ARE A MODEL, ENTERTAINER SOMEWHERE INBETWEEN OR JUST FEEL ITS TIME FOR THAT INNER FASHION MAVEN TO STEP OUT AND SHINE , URBAN VINTAGE CAN ASSIST YOU.
May 1st (this Saturday) is an event bridging Urban Vintage and local boutique: Green. (on Santa Clara by the Lake) Is kicking of the this mixer - first of many -Fashion Sale - Check the Flyer below, and the amazingly talented Siaira Shawn with live Piano. Hope to see you all there with all the things packed into the place on saturday you would be a little crazy not to atleast stop by.
Shouts to Siaira Shawn for showing this to me on her blog, and for vocally painting our ears with her harmonies for this film. I really believe art is love, or rather that love is an art. Either way I love the title and from the teaser I can tell I will love the film. Just from the under two minute preview I can see that its not limited its exploreing many elements of love, from the sexyness, to the heart break, to the anger, to the excitement, to the fear, to the laughter.
The casts looks phenomenal from poet and all around fly sis Tiara Phalon to Jazz Monique Husdon and many other, Props to whoever chose Siaira as a music contributer to the soundtrack-with lyrics like: "His prose permeate my slumbler -he's got my number-the call always goes through...ITS WRITTEN ALL OVER THE PLACE - YOU SEE IT ALL OVER OUR FACE - I WISH YOU COULD GET A TASTE OF THIS SWEET -
SWEET LOVE"
THE ART OF LOVE!
(check back for details and a full post when i see the film)
(soon there will be some WRENAGADE illustrations to go along with this amazing body of work created by Siaira Shawn)
For now:
On behalf of R&B singer, Siaira Shawn, we would like to invite you to listen to and download her new EP, "The In Between" for free!
About "The In Between EP"
The In Between EP is a prelude to Siaira Shawn's debut album, "The Outsider Inside." This five song EP with bonus acapella showcases the wide vocal range and talents of one of the Bay Area's budding R&B stars. The "Intro" and "Outro" narrates what would usually be complex subject matter for the typical R&B album. Shawn's songwriting depicts the battles we endure searching for love as well as the trials we face defining ourselves in a world bent on conformity. Musically speaking, the up-tempo tracks such as "Seat Filler" produced by Mr. Know-It-All to the sonically progressive ballad, "Where You Are," tightropes the energy and imagination of a Janelle Monae with the soul and depth of Donny Hathaway. The In Between infuses futuristic soundscapes with the maturity and vulnerability contemporary R&B audiences have been yearning for.
Visit Bandcamp to Stream or Download
Production Credits
Nick James, George Hearst, T.K. Top Kat, Mr. Know-It-All & Will Bracy
All songs written by Siaira Harris | Mixed by George Hearst at Gehea Music Studios | Art Design by Nick James
SIAIRA SHAWN:
Siaira Shawn is a singer, songwriter, performer, & youth worker born and raised in San Francisco, California. She started singing at the ripe old age of three. She attended San Francisco School of the Arts with a concentration in theatre. She has performed and continues to perform all around the Bay Area. She has shared stages with performers such as Goapele, Bilal, Kindred, Dwele, Ise Lyfe, Zion I, The Attik, and Jennifer Johns. She works with artists/producers League 510, producers Will Bracy, Nick James, rap artist DoDat, rapper Five-Eighty, keyboardist/composer Maya Kronfeld, producer/musician George Hearst, and one of the most sought after rhythm sections in the west, The Park.
She has many influences from soul legends like Donny Hathaway to revolutionary thinkers such as Audre Lorde. Siaira Shawn wants to bring a much needed light to the up and coming talent in the Bay Area and bring a level of artistry, creativity, and purpose to music that she believes the people deserve.
This wall was my first time painting with COMMUNITY REJUVENTAION PROJECT. I had a blast! We worked hard and came together with all different skills sets to make something really beautiful.
Siaira Shawn is one of the best music artists in the Bay Area. She has been on the scene performing at venues like the New Parish, Somar and lots more. She has now given us this beautiful work of art and I plan on making some illustrations to try and capture some visuals for the songs. Please Listen to the lyrics the notes, the emotion- it is unmatched to anyhting in the industry right now.
WHERE ARE YOU
OVER THE NEXT MONTH I WILL POST A SONG WITH MY ART OF THIS SONG BIRD CHECK BACK...
If you dont know, LOS RAKAS is one of my favorite groups bringing a plethora of sounds and lyrics to keep my heart beating to their musica. THE GROUP is composed of DUN DUN (RAKA DUN) aka PANAMA and RICO aka FILTHY RICH (RAKA RICH). With origins from Panama and Africa their sound is World Music, Hip Hop and everything in between. They rep hard for their homeland and the BAY AREA, and it is an honor to know them and I hope work with them soon on many levels. CHECK THEM OUT on MTV2, Youtube and anyother music source. They are on the Up! and yet still so active in the community.
MEChxA de UCB invites our student of color community at Cal to be part of the bridge between the hood and the university with a lunchtime program featuring art by and for Bay Area young people demanding HUMAN RIGHTS for our people
there next event:
LUNCHTIME @ LOWER SPROUL
UC BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA
delicious plates of Xicana cuisine!
LOS RAKAS LIVE ON STAGE
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS RAPSTARZ
++ surprise acts TBA this week!
REVOLUTIONARY TRIVIA FOR PRIZES BY XOCHITLCEIVE: FLOWER OF SELF DETERMINATION
MEET AND GREET WITH THE ARTISTS, AUTOGRAPHS, MERCHANDISE AND POSTER SALE feauturing XOCHITLCEIVE (xochitlceive.com) and DIGNIDAD REBELDE (dignidadrebelde.com) FOLLOWING THE PERFORMANCE
Come thru to enjoy the show, meet + support local artists, share a plate with us, and build relationships with representatives from orgs connected to Cal putting work in the community at the grassroots level.
SPREAD THE WORD AND BRING OUT YOUR FOLKS. This will be an opportunity to kick it and get to know each other as we move towards May 1st, 2010, when we come together demanding migrant rights, workers rights, student rights, human rights to LAND AND LIFE.
To get on the speaking program or request a table for your org, email MEChxAdeUCB@gmail.com
and to prove that he has what it takes to take over, look at him doing his thing on stage, you hear how people swoon, im impressed with all that funky energy imerging from him as he sits with his hands on the keys...
incase you need more evidence he is a force:
"True musicians are a dying breed. Corporate radio stations and record labels continue to brainwash us with simple club diddies, synthesized music, and purchased air time. But now, we the people have a CHOICE. With classic rhymes, undeniably well crafted music, and an extravagant live show, KEV CHOICE has exploded onto the Bay Area music scene and is set to make an even bigger mark on the world. Hailing from Oakland, California, KEV CHOICE is a lyricist, pianist, composer, and band director with a scholarly classical and jazz background. He has studied piano for over 15 years, earning a Bachelor's Degree in Music (emphasis piano performance) from Xavier University of Louisiana as well as a Master's Degree from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. KEV CHOICE began his career as a keyboardist supporting performers such as Michael Franti and Spearhead, Goapele, LyricsBorn, Too Short, Martin Luther, Jennifer Johns, and more recently DJ Quik. In 2006 and 2007, KEV elevated his status by becoming the musical tour director for the ingenious Ms. Lauryn Hill. After years of supporting other artists on tours across the globe, KEV CHOICE finally succumbed to the true calling of his heart: Hip Hop and decided to take his solo rap career seriously.KEV CHOICE the M.C. has become the main attraction. Backed by a 9-piece ensemble, KEV CHOICE has been performing hits from his highly anticipated album "The Broken Mold" and upcoming mixtape "The Emergence". KEV CHOICE describes his live show as " a collection of original material, blenede with classic and obscure music influential in my life, blended into one continuous movement. On the net, you can find countless quotes from journalists and fans alike praising KEV's live show and his blend of hip hop energy & uplifting lyrics, classical musicianship, jazz improvisation, as well as the passionate feelings expressed in soul music. His buzz is so high that he was recently nominated for a coveted SF Weekly Music Award in the Soul/R&B/Funk category amongst acts he previously and even currently supports. He was also recently named "Most Multi-Talented Musician" by the EastBay Express. With this much solo success in such a short amount of time, one doesn't have to wonder what the future holds for KEV CHOICE. We the people know that his music will continue to "break the mold" and live on as a testament of true musicianship."
Let me start by saying I have immense dissapointment for men in general who need to MAN UP! and in addition to all that means, it also means to TREAT WOMEN RIGHT. MAN UP CAMPAIGN is one that Siaira Shawn and Melina Jones have spoke on a lot. We all have different views of exactly what that term means to us but it same thang different words, we wanna see dudes being the genius, protector warriors they were born to be, and not fall into these messed up traps end up causing pain or turning there cheek to injustice.
Now, with that said a man like anybody is a human. And is subjected to a lot standards as the oppressor of woman since birth. Even if a dude had the goal twenty four seven of protecting women just by being a man he would end up triggering a womans oppression. So lets make space for the idea that a man can grow. That a woman hater: pimp player and all around douche can change into someone worth a woman's time and act in respectful sensible ways. Not saying every pimp deserves a chance (not at all) but if a man shows he's made changes to be a better person give him that, no?
TUPAC was a man that was very controversial at a young age he spoke about being a man means respecting a woman but he like many dropped the ball and acted in ways different from this. He died to young, by now if he was still living i imagine he would have been very evolved making all sorts of peaceful uplifting music to teach these young men correctly.
Lets honor and make space for the men out there who do man up, and ask the ones that are still falling under disrespectful ness player habit norms TO MAN THE F UP and be the warriors that they are.
At the end of the day, everybody needs love and people are able to change with it, cause what would you not do for LOVE
