'Albion Voice' is the album I've been working on this year, to be released on May 25th. The title track, also the lead single, due for release on April 23rd 2012.
In the year London has the Olympics & Diamond Jubilee, graced on it's uncompromising streets, I wanted to make a record that questioned the search for a multi-cultural identity in England today.
This song was originally written on a ukulele in Buenos Aires, having been inspired by reading a Michael Bracewell book called, 'England is Mine.' It's been performed in the Brighton Pavilion with legendary folk musician, Martin Carthy, who is famed for having inspired, Simon & Garfunkel's 'Scarborough Fair.'
I was also honoured to have John William's string section, play Neil Kaczor's incredible string arrangements. {That's right - John Williams of 'Star Wars' & 'ET' fame!}
I've been buy filming the video in Chichester in one of those freak weeks where England has been blessed with the most glorious weather.
It's been some months since I last wrote way back in 2011.
So far in 2012, I released the 'Dia Ti Maria,' single, launched a NEW single called 'Albion Voice,' {more about that later} AND I'm finishing a new album of the same 'Albion Voice,' out in May 2012.
Look out for more Bishi action over the summer...It's going to be a good one.
The 'Dia Ti Maria,' project has been one of those experiences where I've been able to explore my love of audio/visual performance. It's where my love of the work Bruce Nauman, Laurie Anderson & Meredith Monk have come into full orbit.
Directed by my creative partner, Matthew Hardern, here is a performance video shot in the Zero 1 Gallery in Soho, London:
Last week we were honored to perform 'Dia Ti Maria,' for International Women's Day 2012, by The Birds Eye View Film Festival at the BFI Southbank. Special Thanks to Rachel Millward & all the gang at the Birds Eye View Film Festival and to Mike Massaro for these stunning live pictures.
I was very proud of my oldest friend, Patrick Wolf headlining the Roundhouse, last friday. If The Roundhouse was an oyster then Patrick was it's glittering pearl - quite literally in his sequin top!
My favourite moment was when his father, Derek, donning a black trilby, joined him onstage for the encore. He gave it loads of welly on the saxophone, while Patrick jumped up & down hyper-actively.
Patrick then informed the audience that Saxophone was a punk instrument is the 30s {quite right.} He got the loudest cheer as he ranted about 'C*nts like Duran Duran,' who made the Sax cheesy in the 80s. Atta Boy!
I had the honour of supporting Baby Dee at Cafe Oto , on Saturday. We met after her show for Frieze Projects 2010. Dee had a feeling we would work again soon & there we were. Dee's new album, 'Regifted Light,' was produced by Andrew WK, whose sofa I was sleeping on over the summer, courtesy of his wife Cherie Lily. Hey folk -It's a small world!
Originally a church organist, Dee told me about developing an act, within a month of learning the harp, dressed in a bear costume. The Harp was also played on a high unicycle, where she would apply her make up with magic marker pen prior to each performance. It's astonishing to think that Dee only started writing songs 12 years ago, as they breath of such a timeless magnificence.
Dee was also joined onstage by Marc Almond & David Tibet of Current 93, a personal hero of mine! Here's a version of Dee's, 'Idumea,' from the Current 93 album, 'Black Ships Eat The Sky.'
The premiere of 'The British Guide to Showing Off,' by Jes Benstock, was a documentary charting the history of Andrew Logan's Alternative Miss World. The film starred an all star cast which included Brian Eno, Grayson Perry, Divine, Leigh Bowery, Matthew Glamorre, Zandra Rhodes, Molly Parkin & Andrew himself!
A pissed up crowd of dress ups, freaks & show offs congregated at The Prince Charles Cinema, whooping & cheering manically throughout the film. There was even a section of me singing, my song 'Indian Skin,' at the 2009 Alternative Miss World. I was so thrilled to be included in the film & relieved that I didn't want to vomit at the sight of myself on the big sceen. Yay!
I felt the most important thing about, 'The British Guide to Showing Off,' is its standing as a historical document, shoulder to shoulder with the likes 'The Cockettes' & 'Paris is Burning,' documentaries. It will educate & inspire generations to come. Bravo to all involved.
Photo by Honey Manko.
The revellers then continued onto our party, Kashpoint, which we brought back for it's 9th Birthday. It was so good, I have spent two days recovering in bed from a weekend of very special Ladies… Thanks to all who came out in support.
Until next time….xxx
The unveiling of the Tacita Dean's new work for the Tate Modern felt more like a psychedelic love in rather than a conventional Art Opening. It certainly was an iconic piece of work.
It's a vertical film collage of simulating abstract images. The film is driven by mutating images that invoke feelings in flight rather than a conventional narrative.
It coincides a campaign by Dean to recognise & save Analogue Film. Screw the guy on the BBC news who said there was no difference between analogue & digital. He clearly needs his eyes checked out!
I loved the work both as a piece of art & a fellow analogue enthusiast. Off course there IS a massive difference between Analogue & Digital. Analogue gives you an entire spectrum of emotions that Digital is not capable of & this was so evident in Dean's inspiring piece of work.
The Opening of the Frieze Art Fair is one hot ticket & coincides with a brilliantly curated programme of events, by Sarah McCrory of Frieze Projects.
This year Frieze Projects has invited Lucky PDF to run a TV channel, especially for Frieze. The public are invited to engage with the channel at the fair or to watch remotely via the internet.
I was lucky enough to catch their 1st performance of the fair. Love the references to Tony Wilson's, 'So it Goes.'
I then swanned off to Lancaster House on my 1st outing as An Official Ambassador for 'The Diana Award.' The event was so inspiring. It was wonderful to meet many amazing young award holders & hear their tales of courage & bravery.
I was also over the moon that my shoulder piece by Ada Zanditon fit in so well with the Lancaster House furnishings. Yay! Check out me & Fashion legend, Zandra Rhodes.
Please go to www.diana-award.org.uk for more info about the charity & all their wonderful work. I look forward to working closely with The Diana Award to spread their message.
And finally Here is Pierre Huyghe's remake of Brancusi's 'Sleeping Muse.'
in the secret back room at The Frieze Art Fair. I loved the crab hiding inside the Brancusi head.I think it was my favourite piece of the entire fair.
'Postmodernism' at the V&A is a design based retrospective from the 70s-90s charting what the V&A claim to be 'the most controversial movement in art & design history,' as the era 'defies definition.'
Since most of my friends & contemporaries have been born within these decades, the postmodern aesthetic has been the only state we've ever lived in & don't know any better. {Hooray!}
From Postmodernism's Italian roots, to design Collective 'Memphis,' Ridley Scott's 'Blade Runner & the art of Jenny Holzer - 'Postmodernism' is a feast for all the senses.
The Room that resonated with me the deepest contained Music, projections, artefacts & costumes, from the likes of Grace Jones, Klaus Nomi, Leigh Bowery, Talking Heads & Devo.
There was even an entire enclave dedicated to Laurie Anderson's, 'Oh Superman.'
This room had almost church like connotations for me & came as a relief to see these performers represented in a gallery context- at last.
For years I've struggled in board room meetings & interviews in the music industry & press media to try & communicate the sort of musician/performer I've been influenced by & have always aspired to be. And here they all were.
I just want to say that real music fans {That's all of you - off course!} have always understood the true postmodern performer.
It's where art, design, theatre & technology orbit around Music & where the Music serves as the most important nucleus of any piece of work.
Fellow Friend, Collaborator, Friend & Blogger, Fred Butler said, of the exhibition, 'It's like our brains crammed into a museum.' Right she was.
Get thee to the temple!
Miri It Is by Bishi_World
Welcome to 'Miri It Is,' The B Side to the forthcoming 'Dia Ti Maria' choral epic by, me, Bishi.
'Miri It Is,' can almost be considered a 'Medieval Standard.'
Sung in Middle English, the song represents the last of Summer's Merriment before a mournful & harsh winter.
Rather fitting, seeing as we in London have just experienced a freak heat wave in early October!
I'm almost tempted to say this was my attempt at sounding ' Medieval Witchouse!' In any case I hope you enjoy!
Happy Durga Puja to all! It comes but once a year for those of us Hindus who don't necessarily celebrate Diwali & what a grand affair it is.
To celebrate this year, my own dear mother, Susmita Bhattacharya sang a programme of songs by Rabindranath Tagore at The Harrow Arts Centre. These songs called, 'Rabindra Sangeet,' is the music my mother is an expert in. {BTW It's Tagore 150th birth centenary dontcha know!}
This is the music I grew up with - Needless to say it had a MASSIVE effect on me.
I was then treated to a Dance Piece, also by Tagore
Now to clear up matters this dance form is NOT 'B' for Bollywood.' Curiously all Indian Culture gets slapped with this unfortunate & generic label!
This dance form is none other than Bharata Natyam - My favourite Classical Dance form in all of India. And, moreover something that has influenced Bollywood.
