1 Year Anniversary

I have always been a planner. That's what I do. Idea, Plan, Execute. I am also the kind of person who, if I’m not happy with my current circumstances, I will change them. This is not something everyone can do, and when I see people stuck in a rut with no will or way to get out, I am so thankful I am this way. It doesn't however mean that it’s not scary, sometimes I’m not sure I have made the right decision, but only time will tell.

Looking Back...

It has now been a whole year since I left the UK with my good friend Harri to have an adventure. With traveling in my blood, seeing and experiencing something different was really the only plan I had. South East Asia is one of my favourite places in the world, and though many other people think the same, and view it through beer goggles on rubber rings down the Mekong River, I pride myself in the fact I managed to enjoy not only the well travelled roads, but the less travelled ones too.

Working my way down from Thailand to Indonesia, you can't help but bump into the same people along the way. In the Perhentian Islands a good looking lad got a frog out of my backpack, and 1 month later I bumped into him buying water from the 7 Eleven in Bali. I don't much like feeling like you're on the tourist track, but it's the price you pay for being lucky enough to see the beautiful corners of the earth made famous by the travelling revolution we find ourselves in. Finding myself at the end of the major traveling leg of the trip, I kick back and relax on Gili Air, Indonesia. It’s the alternative to partying island Gili Trawangan, and just what I wanted. Fewer people, relaxed bonfires on the beach at night, a place where you feel at home and with family. With a promise that I would return soon, I left, having no idea how much things could change just a few months later. But that is a whole other story!

I was lucky enough to volunteer at The Isara Foundation, an English Language school in Nong Khai, Thailand. We loved it so much, that we sacrificed Vietnam and Cambodia to stay there longer and do something different, and contribute to the country we had grown to love so much. The kids were wonderful, and I made friends for life living there. With Australia looming in the distance, I couldn't conceive of going back to Western Civilization. I was made to live in harem pants, and the thought of wearing jeans and heels again after 4 months of comfort, was not something I was looking forward to.

It didn't take us long to adjust. Especially for Harri, who loves nothing more than shopping for expensive and beautiful clothes. And I’ll be honest; I kind of loved it too. Now all we had to do was get some money. What lasted us 4 months in Asia only sufficed for 6 weeks in Australia. We set about settling down in Sydney, and were lucky enough to have friends around town which made Christmas fun, despite the fact that it really doesn't feel right celebrating it in a bikini on the beach.

The plan kind of stopped there. We'd made it to the final destination, all we needed was to earn some money and figure out whether we wanted to stay here for the year or not. I hadn't really considered Australia as a place to settle down, and all of a sudden found myself wondering how I got here. It’s the epitome of the road well travelled. Every English man and his dog seem to be here. I was unfortunate enough to experience the egotistical and racists part of Australia, apart from my new friends of course, who all happened to be English or Kiwi. The cultural character of a country is important to me, and if I’m going to uproot myself, surely it has to be to live in a place that I like? 

Ok I may be being a little harsh. It's a lot of fun, and it’s so much about the people you're with, and I was with amazing people. So I can deal with it. I go with the flow. And man, did the alcohol flow. Good times. I land myself in a job that I saw as a sales role, but that's ok, because it’s only temporary. Meanwhile Harri decides she wants to go home for the summer, and I think, why not?

Looking Forward...

Well, work starts to go well, and I’m now thinking going back to the UK where the economy is bad and it's no doubt the same as when I left it isn't such a good idea. I feel happy here now, with good friends around me, the bad parts of the country pale in significance. I have made the decision to stay here for a while longer. I think it’s the right decision, Marcus Evans is giving me fantastic training, and I have serious prospects in what I no longer think of as a sales role. I'm learning how to be a business woman, and although it was never part of the plan, it's a good change of course for me. And if all goes well, I’ll get to travel with my job, all expenses paid! It’s a challenge every day, there is so much to learn, but I’m learning to lead, and as an Aries that can only be a good thing. I think I have finally learned to go with the flow, and take opportunities where they arise, and only now do I know that was the whole point of coming away. So much is out of your control in this life, the one thing that isn't is your power to make decisions and do what makes you feel good. They ask me at work what my 5 and 10 year plans are, I have no idea. But I feel like I am on the right track, and that feels pretty damn good.

A few things...

I've had a couple more articles published about *Chilled* in a Field 2010, about the wonderful Angel Kelly and Frodo Freud. Both gave fantastic performances at last year's event, and are up to some interesting things this year. Hopefully we'll see them both back there this year!!

Frodo Freud, *Chilled* in a Field 2010

Angel Kelly & Friends, *Chilled* in a Field 2010

I've decided to change my plans and stay in Australia for a few months longer than anticipated. Things have started going very well on the job front, and despite my initial thoughts on living in Sydney, I feel the best decision for me career-wise is to stick it out for a bit. I have some great friends here as well so the prospect seems a lot less daunting. It's not forever, but if there is one thing I have learned in my year away, it's that I need to be more flexible and not make plans so far in advance, because you just don't know what's going to happen. I never thought I would stay here, but I'm happy that I am. And i'm not booking a return ticket home just yet, we'll wait and see what happens. One thing I know is that i'll definitely be home for Christmas :)

Some Music Schtuff...

I'm taking a few weeks off at the moment, and thankfully there's been some great new music to keep me company. The most important of which has to be Jamie Woon's new album "Mirrorwriting". I've known Jamie for a good few years now, I used to watching him play at the smallest of small gigs and venues around London and was always moved deeply by his voice. His simple acoustic style was all he needed to wow people, nothing fancy, just great songs played out on his guitar and loop pedal. I always wondered when he would release his album, and why he hadn't yet. After listening, it's clear that it's because he was still defining his style, preparing himself for how he wanted to convey his talent. Keeping the same simple elements in place, Jamie has incorporated the delay heavy electronic components that have made stars of James Blake and Mount Kimbie, and it works wonderfully. The album is full of old acoustic songs and newer more upbeat ones, all in his new style, with haunting effects and spine tingling moments throughout the whole album. Favourites of mine below. Well done Jamie, looking forward to seeing you perform soon!

Speaking of James Blake, I'm a definite fan. I'd only heard bits and bobs before, mostly what Dom played me. And just like I did with Mount Kimbie, I didn't appreciate it at first. I promised myself that I would listen to the album start to finish at some point, and that I did. And I loved it. His voice is something seriosuly special, is it just me or does he sound black? He definitely doesn't sound like a twenty something white boy. Either way, his style, his lyrics, I love it all. The song that really got me is "Limit to your love". It makes me emotional for reasons only I know, and others could no doubt guess- i've always been one for wearing my heart on my sleeve. It's one of those things with music- if your feeling something its like every song you hear is feeling it too, and conveying your emotions through every sound and every word. How weird is that? Well, it's certainly true for this song, I only hope that it doesn't go unnoticed. 

First Articles Published!!

Last year I had the pleasure of being the Music Co-ordinator for Planet Angel's first festival, *Chilled* in a Field. It realised my dream of creating the perfect festival line up, and it was the hardest, most rewarding thing I have ever done. All the Blood, Sweat and Fears was worth it, I thoroughly enjoyed all the acts that played, and watching everyone enjoy themselves, the bands included, was the best part. I have started writing reviews for the bands that played; Smugglers Records artists Will Varley and Coco's Lovers, followed by Ninja Tune's Jono McCleery.

There's nothing like a good YouTube sesh

It makes me wonder what the hell I did before it existed. I remember being 14 and mad over Skunk Anansie just wishing there was a way I could see some video footage of them live. Now we can find everything we could ever wish for, (and a lot we wished we didn't have to see) and i'm ever so grateful.

A Bon Iver favourite of mine, The Wolves, done beautifully at Glastonbury 2009. This song brings a tear to my eye whenever i listen to it, but this version has a powerful effect simply due to the crowd turned choir of thousands, all singing together as the song builds to its climax. A stunning live performance by all accounts.

Love Bon Iver. LOVE Lykke Li. Put your hands together and you get an awesome result apparently.

Lykke Li has a new album out "Wounded Rhymes", it keeps her original quirkiness but adds a new, more aggressive style that suits her well and was somewhat lacking in her debut. It's much less "woe is me", far more "i'm a strong, confident woman". I'm partial to both but glad to see her taking her sound in a new direction that works well for her.

This song is  slightly contraversial, "I'm your prostitute, you gonna get some".....erm, ooookay...Well, thats one way of putting it, can't deny it's a good song though.

And this is a new discovery for me as of tonight, I don't know much about him yet but thought I would share it with you as a parting gift.

And she's back in the game!

Being able to go to gigs regularly is something I sorely miss about living in London. Over here, you get the good artists coming to town, but at a price that makes you want to gag. $160 for the Chemical Brothers show? Erm, I don't think so. So naturally, as a poor and lowly backpacker, its been something lacking in my life for the past 8 months. And how glad was I that I got to to go the two Mount Kimbie shows in Sydney? Very.

Lauren + "Post dubstep"...or whatever you want to call it

It only goes to show what I firmly believe, that with music it's quite often a case of right place and right time. There are so many bands I have listened to that I hated at first, then a few years down the line, when my tastes have changed, I am officially obsessed. When first introduced to Mount Kimbie over a year ago, I didn't get it. Refused to even give it a go. But when I found out I knew the guys, I decided I shouldn't give up just yet. So away on my travels I go, and I got hold of their debut album, Crooks and Lovers, but didn't listen to it until I found the perfect opportunity. Recommended time and place if you haven't found it already: a beautiful beach at sunset. Fondling the sand and swirling it in my palms as I always do, the album put me in a wonderfully contemplative headspace. It was perfect. The airy whispering synths complimented the sound of the waves perfectly. The emotive vocal samples in songs like Before I Move Off really pulled me in, the way that only vocals really can, but the deep bass heavy vibrations of tracks like Mayor are what keep me hooked. There's nothing I like more than an album that can satisfy many of my musical needs in a mere 40 minutes. Good job boys.

2 nights in Sydney

The first night was in Good God Small Club, a converted salsa club with a weirdly clean and Mediterranean feel considering its meant to be the dingy cool place to see live gigs in Sydney. Being the first time I have seen them, I thought it was amazing. I didn't expect guitars and drum kits or singing that's for sure. They played cracking new songs and cleverly adapted old favourites, proving their versatility and willingness to adapt their sound to suit a live show. 

The second gig was at the Oxford Arts Factory, and absolutely blew me away. The venue was bigger, and packed to the rafters with pumped up ravers all screaming in appreciation. Lots of extra bass and a few vodkas saw me hanging off the balcony miming the imaginary words of the Alliyah sample, never wanting it to end. I had an unrivaled view of all the fans waving their hands and surging at every drop, it's one of my favourite feelings at a gig to see so many people unified in their appreciation for good music. I can really say without any bias whatsoever, that it was one of the best live shows I have seen. Ok, so I am a little biased ;) but I challenge anyone to disagree with me!!!

Free Festivals RULE!

Australia day was heaps of fun (ooooh first official use of the word 'heaps'!), it was a sunny day, with lots of interesting things going on in town; car shows, food stalls, tennis live link, and 5 stages of music! We zig-zaged through the Rocks soaking up the incredible atmosphere, nothing gets Australians excited like a mid-week piss up, and we finally settlled at the Parksong stage for a delightful mixture of reggae, electro, soulful acoustic music and a box of goon. 

Sprawled out on a picnic blanket with friends as both the goon and the sun went down, we were in a cheery mood! Australia's original Michael Jackson impersonator was throwing shapes behind us- not sure if the fact he was actually Indian and loooked NOTHING like MJ made it funny or tragic...

The headline act was Katie Noonan, apparently very famous in Australia and advertised as having a wonderful voice for Australia to be proud of (you will find this is their main selling technique for beer, food and pretty much EVERYTHING) so I was excited to see her. It would be fair to say I was in a receptive mood, With the whole Sia album being played before she came on, I was dancing lying down, and fairly drunk. But Katie's voice really did make an impression. It was sweet, soulful and accompanied by great instrumentation. She was quirky and intriguing, and told a good story. She is exactly what I look for in a singer quite frankly! As soon as I got home I you-tubed her and found an amazing cover of Gnarles Barkley's 'Crazy'. It may not be an original song to cover, but damn does she do it well. Thanks Australia Day for bringing her into my life! Oh, and for the day off work :)

mmm whatcha say?

Sydney is not my "lucky" city. I'm just going to put that out there. Not sure why it has to be in the public domain, but sometimes these things have to be aired. I'm almost 100% sure this is not my fault. My experiences so far of Australian men, and men of other nationalities that reside in this country, is overwhelmingly negative. For the most part they are egotistical, arrogant, sexist, racist, self obsessed pigs. I could go on. A friend of mine who has lived here for 2 years warned me that this would be the case, I wish I had just believed her and sworn myself off men, it would have saved a lot of embarrassment. Not just for me, but for the whole of the Australian male race. You know what? That's fine. Asia can be pretty full on in terms of backpacker fun, and quite frankly I was done anyway. But why do the guys have to be so mean? It has at times made me feel pretty crap. But I'm so over that now. Ladies in Australia, if you ever feel marginalised or not good enough because of the lack of braincells in the wanker banker surfer dudes, remember, for one it really isn't you, it's them.

P.S I realise this is a slight contradiction to my last post where I 100% approved Sydney. This is of course because men are not important enough to be considered in the overall view of the city life, and they should not damage a city's reputation. I therefore left them out of the equation, and gave them their own little post.

I have been listening to this song a lot recently, and funnily enough, the lyrics tie into the feeling of loneliness it is important to break free from. Imogen Heap has a beatiful voice that she loves to experiment and play around with, using various forms of technology and looping systems to do so. This song from her 2005 album "Speak for Yourself" performed live is a testament to her abilities. Maybe I should start experimenting?