Bishi & The Dark Magic of Angela Carter

Photo By Julian Foxton

2012 is the 20 year death anniversary of Angela Carter, one of the late 20th Century's most influential & ground breaking writers.

A few years back, I had the joy of being one of the judges for The PRS Foundation's 'New Music Award,' where I met fellow judge & outstanding pianist Joanna MacGregor.
 

We really hit it off . So much so, that she invited me to be a part of a very special performance to close The Bath Festival 2012 entitled, 'The Dark Magic of Angela Carter.'

 MacGregor was commissioned by The Angela Carter Estate, to set to music, some unpublished poems , that I had the honour of singing as a world premiere. This very prestigious evening, also featured readings by, one of Carter's close friends, Marina Warner & actress, Harriet Walter.

The presentation was loosely based on Carter's musical selection from Desert Island Discs. We were joined by Kiku Day on Shakuhachi, Genevieve Wilkins on Percussion & Martynas Levickis on Accordion, in an evening of music & spoken word. 

 Photo By Julian Foxton

I can say hand on my heart that being involved with this show has been one of the most exceptional I've ever experienced. You couldn't hear a pin drop in the room.

Meeting Marina Warner has been particularly inspiring, having been a fan of her writing for so long. After the performance, she recounted how establishment figures, such as Salman Rushdie, revered Angela Carter's work & recognised her magnitude as a writer. I was totally blown away.

I've also been enjoying Susannah Clapp's book - 'A postcard from Angela Carter,' whom I also had the pleasure of meeting. Do buy it if you are a fan - it's a heart warming read.

I hear there are plans to bring the show to London - I really hope that this can happen!

Many Thanks to Julian Foxton Photography, The Bath Festival & Claudine Spiteri at  Livestock Productions.

http://livestockproductions.co.uk/

xxx

Bishi & The Diamond Jubilee

Love or Hate The Monarchy, there's no denying they know how to put on a good show & create the most jaw dropping spectacle. Whether it's weddings, flotilla's or post pop concert fireworks, no one tops The House of Windsor. Personally, I am interested in The Royal Family as a controversial institution that continue to divide the people in their opinions.

I was amazed how  the feeling was on the streets of London was wonderfully mellow with empty champagne bottles lining up The Embankment instead of the traditional pools litter & vomit. 

Anyway….

The New Line of Bishi Ltd edition Prints & Ceramics are on display as part of a groups show called, 'Souvneir.'

Curated by Josh Knowles, The Pump House Gallery in Battersea, is hosting a month long exhibition of Royal Memorabilia provided by the public. 'Souvenir,' is an on going project by Knowles about popular culture, mass production & souvenirs.
http://pumphousegallery.org.uk/exhibitions/souvenir
Here are some photos about the exhibition:

In the spirit of Queens & regality I just have to add how INCREDIBLE I thought Grace Jones, Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones & McCartney were at The Diamond Jubilee Concert. It was the legends who were showing up the kids this week. And what a joy it was.

AMEN!

DJ Fun at SOS

Last week I had the pleasure of DJ-ing at Jim Warboy's spectacular den of debauchery SOS. It's been a while, since I've DJ'ed to a load of freaks & queers - I had simply forgotten how much fun it was. What added to the pleasure was the amount of people I haven't seen properly from my days co-founding Kashpoint; Viktor, Petter Wallenberg, Piers Atkinson, Niyi.

I had a ball vogue-ing with Jamie Bull who runs the ingenious tumblr http://4fucksakebabes.tumblr.com/

I'm not that nostalgic, but it was nice to be united with my nightclub brothers & sisters, once again. I was dancing on tables & falling over after too much vodka. Two of my favourite past times. Oh and coming out of a club when the sun is rising.

Andre J - What's in Your Bag?

I can only describe encountering Andre J, for the 1st time, as like coming across a unicorn in a dark storm. I was totally transfixed by Andre's presence, as she/he glided into a nocturnal soho fashion soiree. When I went over to introduce myself, she/he was SO adorable, I was relieved. Sometimes these things do not always go hand in hand.

Andre J is a genderless super heroic fashion/ nightclub legend hailing from New Jersey, who was famously broke down the barriers of  gender when Carine Roitfeld  put her/him on the front cover of Vogue Paris.

Andre then exploded onto The London Scene, being well known for hosting Jim Warboy's legendary nightclub, Caligula - I'm sure many a London freak harbours fond memories of being wasted in the Victorian Bathouse near Liverpool St.

Warboy even created an infectious club hit 'I am' which has since gone on to be a viral smash.

From her/his Facebook updates, I see Andre is also an empowerment coach to young girls in The Lower East Side. I like to describe her/him as a harmonious blend of James Baldwin, Maya Angelou, George Clinton & Willie Ninja - That's a lot of DNA honey.

I am lucky enough to have become close with Andre. She/He was a real support & source of strength to me when I was in the states last year. And we partied GOOD.
{I LOVE YOU HUNTY.}

Now Andre is back with her/his own TV show, 'What's in your bag,' where regular New Yorkers are stopped in the streets to have their bags given a good seeing to. And to wax lyrical, street style with Andre.

It's awesome & wonderful to see the way people react to Andre. She/He radiates such love, that her positivity breeds back warmth & joy in all the people she/he meets. It's almost Buddhist.

Now all I got to ask is, when are you back in London GIRL? We miss you!

Fore more episodes: http://www.whatsinyourbag.tv/

Andre J: http://www.andrejworldwide.com/html/index.html

The Almighty Missy Elliott

Before MIA, before Minaj -hell, even before Rhianna & Gaga there was Missy Elliott.

Missy Elliott; a 360 degree Artist - Rapper, Musician, Producer, Performer & All round Force of Nature who, together with best friend Timbaland pioneered a futuristic of sound-scape of beeps, bleeps & raw attitude.

This was a pair who clearly loved music. You can hear echo's of musique concrete, electronica, industrial noise & Afro Beat, pepper their sound. Arguably, they were the first duo to start experimenting with Arabic & Indian music in the Hip Hop genre.

Now, you can read Missy's rags to riches tale all on Wikipedia. The impact, she had on my life as an artist & a woman of colour acting against traditional expectation is what makes me most passionate.

Missy's sexually fluid lyrics were both assertive, yet playful & sensual. Whether she was cussing, 'One Minute Men,' needing to shave her 'cha cha,' or using an elephant's noise to describe a man's 'package', this brand of Ghetto Burlesque was both irreverent & smoking hot.

The songs were full of references to experiences with both men & women without the forced bubblegum commercial bisexualism of pop tarts like Katy Perry. She was not playing up to men's fantasies but asserting her own experiences with wit & flair.

Her videos, in particular the early work with Film maker Hype Williams, were visionary. Williams' transformed Missy into a Science Fiction Super Hero. In contrast to other MTV females, rather than being embarrassed by her size, Williams blew this up & framed it centre stage.

In an era of global body dysmorphia & Size 0, Missy took a totally unapologetic attitude to her size.

Now, I like all the modern day rap girls. But there was something so uncompromisingly empowering about Missy.

She never comes across as someone trying too hard. Her output seems less concerned with trying to shock, seduce & get people 'talking.' {Or in this era 'tweeting.'} A woman NOT acting like a stripper, which seems to be the primary concern of most women in entertainment, is SO refreshing.

I read that Missy' health wasn't doing so good, allegedly down to Graves Disease. But, according to Wikipedia, in recent times she seems to be back producing & touring. She has even appeared in the new J. Cole song, 'Nobody's Perfect.' Wherever you are Missy - you changed my life & I love you so much for it.

Lucian Freud at The National Portrait Gallery

I have always felt a very special connection to The art of Lucian Freud. I discovered it by accident on the same holiday, as an 11 yr old, as I sat reading the Biography of Leigh Bowery.

It was the 1st time I'd really learnt about most things - Cottaging, Night Clubs, Michael Clarke, Performance Art, Taboo, Minty & Smashing. Little did I know I was about to embark on my own artistic journey with some of Bowery's greatest collaborators; Matthew Glamorre, Richard Torry & Les Child.

I've been lucky, living in London to have witnessed quite a few presentations of Lucian Freud's work. However, this recent retrospective at The National Portrait Gallery contains some rare & late works by Freud.

It also contains two incredible rooms; 1 dedicated to Performance Artist, Leigh Bowery & the other to his nightclub cohort Sue Tilley.

The gargantuan paintings of Leigh Bowery are a reminder of his omnipotent presence & influence on Art Culture. The size of the paintings also serve as a powerful reminder that these were life changing events for both painter & sitter.

'He was still in a sense performing because of his physical awareness which was extraordinary.'

Freud commented on Bowery's 'remarkable intelligence,' while Bowery returned the compliment by describing his sittings being, 'like receiving a university education.'

The room curated with the 'Big Sue,' series aka Sue Tilley was a chance to realise Freud's occupation with Human Flesh in all it's glory. I wasn't thinking about the infamous prices one received at auction but how the mass of flesh looked almost like abstract sculpture.

New Video 'Albion Voice.'

Welcome to the premiere of the video to My New Single, 'Albion Voice,' Hope you all enjoy it. Lots of Love, Bishi xxx

Director: Matthew Hardern
This is the lead track from the album of the same name -
Limited free download available from May 28th for the Queens Jubilee !!!
www.bishi.co.uk

Recorded over 2 years in London, LA and Buenos Aires this song features, (film composer) John Williams' string players! It is about the search for identity in a multicultural world.

Bishi's new album Albion Voice explores themes of Britain ancient and modern, the rich tapestry of East London's folklore, social politics and cultural mix providing a vivid backdrop to the writing.