Barbados!

So I turn 21 this month and my mum turned the defining 50 the month before, so to celebrate such milestones in our lives we jet-setted off to the Caribbean and to the amazing island of Barbados.

Barbados is a small island, with its size able to fit into London! With that, we were able to take a tour of the whole island in a jeep safari, go underground in Harrisons' Cave and explore the variety of beaches the island has to offer with its white sand and beautifully blue waters.

We stayed in Bridgetown, a fairly quiet area with many tourists but also many locals which made us feel more at home. The people of the island are so warm and friendly and I certainly was sad to say goodbye to many of the bellboys and bar staff at our resort!

On our final day, we toured the factory of Mount Gay Rum and if you haven't tried their great array of rums, I definitely recommend. They go so well with coke and some ice or you're feeling hardcore, by it's own.

I certainly recommend anyone thinking of flying across the Atlantic to visit this beautiful place to go for it as it is a place that certainly leaves a stamp on you and makes you wish we had such lovely weather here in cold ol' England.

To more sun in 2017!

Life Update!

So I've finished my second year of university and now I'm currently interning at.. Warner Bros.! I documented earlier in my blog the times where juggling studying and interviewing in companies was a really testing time but it was certainly a fulfilling one and to be finally working when last year, I was planning this all is amazing.

I've seen and done some amazing things so far and it's crazy to think it's only been a few months. I can't explain and maybe only photos will do it justice so, enjoy!

Kendrick Lamar - 'untitled unmastered.'

Kendrick Lamar returns and surprises with an unexpected album of unreleased tracks in ‘untitled unmastered.’.

With ‘To Pimp A Butterfly’ setting the world alight, it seemed pretty hard for Lamar to top such a highly acclaimed album. For the eagled eyed, Kendrick’s been relaying the circuit of American chat shows, with performances named ‘untitled’. Fans rallied to receive a compilation of these tracks and thankfully, Lamar delivered. 

The opening of the album is gripping, with Lamars standard production and flow opening the album. Lamar's standout ability to shape and adapt his voice track by track is formidable, showing a range most of his competitors simply can’t match which he reaffirms, ‘I can put a rapper on life support/Guarantee that's something none of you want’. 

‘untitled 03 05.28.2013’ is a catchy, uplifting addition, whilst ‘untitled 06 06.30.2014’, featuring an appearance from Cee Lo Green, is definitely radio-worthy. ’untitled 7 2014 - 2016’ is a notable track, with production from Swiss Beatz & Alicia Key’s eight year old, Egypt. With the additions of in-studio conversations between Kendrick and the band working as little additions in later tracks, it really connects Lamar even more with the listener.

For fans of TPAB, this album works as a great refresher to remember the innovation and talent of such an artist. Lamar has nothing really to prove but ‘untitled unmastered.’ just works as a testament to why he is on the rise.

Nada Surf - 'You Know Who You Are'

Nada Surf are back and bigger with a new album, with deep emotion, stories to tell and glorious production with ‘You Know Who You Are’.

Imagine Tame Impala, R.E.M, Weezer and Kurt Cobain had a love child. The glorious carnation of such would result in the eighth studio-album release ‘You Know Who You Are’ by American indie rock band, Nada Surf.

The New York based band consist of lead singer and guitaristMatthew Caws alongside Ira Elliot, Daniel Lorca and the recent addition to the mix, Doug Gillard. With this being the first album with Gillard being a main band member, fans of Nada Surf are set to hear a fresh new sound.

The opening of the album erupts with strong, California dreamin’-esque vibes in ‘Cold To See Clear’, simmering with laid back vocals. Caws carries us through into a pensive journey with ‘Believe You’re Mine’ looking back on a lost love,‘One day, I'll love somebody else / One day, I'll take care of myself’. ’Friends Hospital’ swoons with its moody opening riffs, steady drum beat and the R.E.M-style laid back vocals of Caws almost sighing, ’So much better that we’re not together’.

The album takes a less laid back tone in the middle of the album and stands on more melancholy ground. ’New Bird’ acts like a mid-way rejuvenation in the middle of the album, with powerful guitars and unapologetic drums. This follows on into‘Out Of The Dark’ which works as an anthem to positivity of sorts. It chants the necessity of ‘Getting yourself around some other people’ and that ‘There’s a reason to get out of bed’. Caws appears to show a deeper insight into his mindset and allows the listener to see the interior designs of his thoughts. In‘Rushing’, Caws admits he can finally exhale, ‘I feel like I can breathe again’. It is lyrics like these which work. Like little gems of endearment.

The title track ‘You Know Who You Are’ is a fierce addition with a relentless drum beat from Elliot, carrying the song through whilst Caws coos over the production with conviction,’You gotta chase something /Look for it’. ‘Gold Sounds’proceeds with a cooled down tone from the vivacious mid section, with thoughts going back towards past love, ‘You’re always in my mind / Since before you were a child’. It provides another tender moment and allows the listener to look back at the tenacity of the beginning of the album.

However, the album ends on a triumphant note with ‘Victory’s Yours’ with the lyrics ‘The fighting is done / The battle is won / Now I’m gone’. It’s certainly a catchy track and gets feet tapping with the consistent beat and guitar progression. It’s a fitting track to end the album on as it works an end credit of sorts. Italso culminates the consistent and troubling path Caws takes us through the album and allows a healthy feeling of resolution.

Over the past 18 years of Nada Surf, themes of love, heartbreak and indecisiveness command and this is felt with each guitar riff and drum snare. ‘You Know Who You Are’ is no different. However, it goes through these emotions in a refreshing new way. It takes the listener through a journey. A journey through failed and lost relationships, self-worth, discovery and also redemption. What next for Nada Surf? Who knows, but what is sure is the name Nada Surf being the name on a lot more lips.

‘You Know Who You Are’ is set to release on March 4th.

Deadpool - Film Review

Ryan Reynolds shocks, spins and straddles all aspects of the term ‘superhero’ and turns it on its head with the comic book adapted film, Deadpool.

Marvel fans and X-Men fans in particular may be aware of a certain Marvel superhero by the name of Wade Wilson aka Deadpool, who graced our cinema screens way back when in 2009. He was introduced in X-Men: Origins, accompanying Hugh Jackman's, Wolverine. However, Reynolds wants you to forget about that. Well, Reynolds wants you to forget about that but also remind him if he ‘left the stove on', among other questions which he delivers brilliantly with the use of breaking the ‘fourth wall’ throughout the film. 

The movie was born from the ‘leakage’ of studio footage used in tests to see if audiences would appreciate seeing Deadpool come from page to screen. The test videos went viral online and thus, Deadpool was born. To describe Deadpool as a superhero is a push with the term ‘anti-hero’ coming to mind. With straight of the bat humour and awareness of the superhero genre, dealing with typical superhero archetypes such as the ‘The British Villain,' we as the audience are aware straight away that we’re definitely not in Avengers territory. 

This comes as a refreshing palette cleanser to the bitter aftertaste of the onslaught of superhero movies that have consistently churned out millions out of the global box offices which makes one wonder: what next? Deadpool challenges the trend with a consistent and well paced storyline, steady while yet humorous characterisation and a lot of genuine laugh out loud moments. There were many times in the movie where a gag was made that if it weren't delivered by Reynolds, I probably wouldn’t of found it funny. The fact Reynolds waited eleven years to play this role definitely shows through his passion and energy throughout the film. It really is hard to imagine anyone else playing the effervescent Wade Wilson. 

If you enjoy slapstick humour, a solid storyline and the wit of Ryan Reynolds, you’d be a fool to miss this film.

Rating: 9/10.

#OscarsSoWhite... A Deeper Problem

I love to act. I love to watch films. I love the art of filmmaking. But one thing I hate the most about these things, is the lack of people like me behind these roles.

The echoes of what my mum used to say to me rung through my head, during my formative years of aspiring to be an actor, 'Theres no one like us really on screen, forget about that racist industry.' I'd be so confused at the time, trying to piece out why and how this industry was 'racist'. But as I'd flick through my favourite films and shows, I slowly realised that no one like me looked back at me from the screen. We had a few children stars such Raven Symone and Keke Palmer at the time to relate to, but that was far and few between.

In terms of the recent quotes from Michael Caine stating 'people shouldn't win awards based on their colour', what needs to be understood is that, that is not the point. The point we are screaming in these hashtags, rallies and calls for justice are to notice us. Appreciate out talent and give us the roles we deserve regardless of colour. It is safer and more easier to give a dominant race a role. It leaves controversy, debate and anger at the door and allows people to focus their thoughts on the story instead. But isn't that sad?

Why in 2016 are we still discussing race and why is race still a construct that runs through our lives daily? We, the inhabitants of this multicultural Earth we live on are diverse in many different ways and talented.

I worry, as I step forward into the world further towards a career, that the colour of my skin may hinder me or the aspirations I want will be halted due to my levels of melanin.

What can we do to help this? It begins with the people at the top. Casting directors, agents, prodcuers, writers.. All giving people of colour a shot. Creating art that allows them to be represented as themselves, not as slaves or maids but as the everyday people they are in the real world. So a little girl or boy sitting in front of the screen can aspire and look forward to a future of potential not tainted by discrimination or judgement upon first look.