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.

The Joshua Lightshow...Freak Out

The Joshua Lightshow, inaugurated  by Joshua White, invented the oil based Lightshow as we know it. White describes it as, 'a visual experience that the audience could enjoy while listening to the music of the time.' That era being in the 60s.

All the effects were built from scratch & performed live in real time.
Here is an infamous film, recorded on 35mm film, 'Liquid Loops.'

 The Joshua Lightshow famously performed with The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, The Silver Apples and  Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention.
They even created happenings with Yayoi Kusama & were a guest feature in the infamous party scene in, 'Midnight Cowboy.'

White laid the JLS to rest in the 70s, but revived it as White discovered a group of younger artists, which include Seth Kirby & Ana Matronic of the Scissor Sisters, who loved the analogue equipment that created these shows. These days they their work combinse modern technology & they perform internationally in Galleries, Museums & prestigious venues, such as The Welcome Collection in London & The Planetarium in NYC.

For me the Joshua Lightshow are the godfathers of a type of visual music spectacle that has  influenced my own work.

I even collaborated with the Bardo Lightshow for my webcast, 'The Power of Projection,' I premiered on Nick Knight's Showstudio.
Here's a still by Matt Chaney

                                                                       Freak Out!

Did Someone Mention Tea Sets?

Hello Bishi World,

Just to let you know the new single, 'Albion Voice,' is out NOW on itunes:

                       http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/albion-voice-single/id510824887

                  Over in Bishi Towers, we are busy developing a merchandising range of plates, mugs, designer tees & prints for the Album Release.

 

The inspiration had mainly been based in classic commemorative plates, but harnessing the punk energy of Jamie Reid's artwork with The Sex Pistols & Gilbert & George's 'Jack Freak,' range.

In fact, Louise Gray has just written a piece about the new record drawing comparisons between myself & The Sex Pistols in the New Internationalist Magazine May 2012 Issue:

Read more on her blog:

                                            

http://louisegray.net/2012/04/23/putting-the-black-in-the-union-jack

New Track: St George & The Dragon

LISTEN HERE:
St George & The Dragon

Click this link to download your free MP3 of the song:
http://is.gd/Lh7Az3

This song tells the legend of Dragon Hill, a small knoll beneath White Horse Down in Uffington, Wiltshire. It is told that King George slay'd the beast upon the hill and there he is buried to this day. The great white figure (horse or dragon) was scribed in the chalk downs to mark forever place where the dragon lies. And so, say many, lies England.

To 'turn again' in English folk lore, is to waken the ground beneath your feet thus binding your wish with the turning of the day/ earth. It is said that when the Dragon stirs again the people of England will return to peace and prosperity, so turn again on Dragon Hill, beneath the hill at Uffington and awake the dragon within.

Happy St Georges Day !!!!