Author: Dagny Zenovia

  • Make Your New Year Count

    NewYear2014

    Happy New Year! This is the time to reflect on what you are grateful for and celebrate what you are looking forward to. For me, 2013 was another meaningful year full of lessons that featured a number of celebrations and disappointments. I decided to translate these lessons into a check-resolution-list to make sure I do not repeat some experiences and create room for new adventures. These are the top 5 lessons and goals I have for this coming year. What are your plans for 2014? Let me know and comment below.

    1. Find, build, and maintain your purpose.

    The Value Inside

    During this past year I spent a lot of time defining my purpose. I believe the foundation behind everything you do must lead back to your purpose in life. It can keep you strong during the struggles when nothing seems to be working out and can reinforce your triumphs while keeping you humble. As an artist and a scholar, I am constantly mastering the art of balance. My purpose engulfs a variety of things, from making an impact on people’s lives to reaching my full potential to spreading love and knowledge. There is no manual that dictates what I should study or where I should live or who I should reach out to. However, letting go of fear and being open to inspiration and help can go a long way. For 2014 (and the rest of my life) I promise to stay true to my purpose and allow it to evolve in everything I do.

    2. Be happily selfish

    "I am Surrounded by Idiots." Rainbow

    As human beings, we collect a lot of connections. Some are considered friends while others are colleagues, but they all require time and effort to maintain contact. In 2013, I finally came to the realization that it is okay to consider myself as my top priority. Some of us tend to be overwhelmingly generous with our time and talents, hoping that eventually all of our effort will be reciprocated. If this habit overrides taking care of yourself, life can be very disappointing. Thus, being content with yourself can lead to clearly filtering out the “idiots” from those who could use a rainbow.

    3. Honestly measure your self-worth.

     

    This is a habit I am determined to change. Due to whatever experiences we have had, we tend to feel inadequate in what we want to pursue, when in reality we are over-qualified. This sentiment can be linked to measuring your self-worth, but the main thing we need to recognize is that we tend to be our worst enemy in blocking our dreams from coming true. It is not narcissistic to believe in yourself and embrace your greatness. It is not egotistical to allow your gifts to shine.

    [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]

    4. Indulge in creativity and innovation

    [/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”2192″ img_link_target=”_self” img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]

    Regardless of what industry you work in, you should always save room and time to indulge in a creative outlet. Even as an artist, I am guilty of putting my artsy side on a back burner in order to “get work done.” Have you ever noticed a certain feeling of emptiness when day-in and day-out you succumb to the same routine of get up…work…eat…sleep…get up? Occasionally you might squeeze in socializing, but that still does not exercise all of your senses. Creativity is a way to not only relieve yourself of pent up emotions, but is also a way to share inspiration. This can be done in a variety of ways, from painting to tinkering with a car to reading a new book. For 2014, I will continue to not place my talents in a compartment and make time to share my creativity in everything I do.

    [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]

    5. Do something remarkable

    [/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”2191″ img_link_target=”_self” img_size=”large”][vc_column_text]

    Finally, to make sure I make this new year count, I plan to achieve a “remarkable” goal every month this year. This includes independent projects that will be posted on this blog, maintaining my inner peace, completing my master’s program, among other things. Goals can be big or small, but if you are constantly working towards something that has short-term and long-term rewards, you can have a full and remarkable life.

    [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row el_position=”last”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_facebook type=”standard” el_position=”first”][vc_tweetmeme type=”horizontal” el_position=”last”][/vc_column][vc_column el_position=”last” width=”1/2″][vc_googleplus annotation=”inline” el_position=”first”][vc_pinterest el_position=”last”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Jem

    Jem is a singer, songwriter, DJ, and producer from Wales. Her music blends electronica, pop rock, and new wave with laid back vocals. This song has a positive sentiment and reminds me so much of Dido. Enjoy.

  • Temi Dollface

    A singer-songwriter, composer, and performer from Nigeria, Temi Dollface is an upcoming sensation. Her sound is called “Drama Soul,” which combines influences from the past and the present with a futuristic vibe. I came across this video through AfriPOP magazine and fell in love with it. The fusion of afrobeat with 1950s decor and a hint of George Benson melody is really cool. She also has a witty sense of humor. Enjoy.

  • The One Sided Mirror: How Occidentalism Missed The Boat

    The One Sided Mirror: How Occidentalism Missed The Boat

    missed_the_boat

    To provide insight on why the West has enemies, Ian Buruma and Avishai Margalit’s “Occidentalism” portrays an enemy full of jealousy and envy who hates capitalism and imperialism. Unfortunately, “Occidentalism” was written from the Western perspective and fails to reflect on the roots of this resentment.

    Buruma and Margalit mention that contemporary Occidentalism is often focused on America and that “anti-Americanism is sometimes the result of specific American policies…which is normally used as shorthand for U.S. imperialism. [But] Whatever the U.S. government does or does not do is often beside the point.” Ironically, what the author ignores is the collateral damage of U.S. policies that have created emotional victims whose semi-distorted image of the West cuts their wounds deeper.

    “Occidentalism” feeds into the West’s perception of the “other” as Russell Jacoby explains in “The Terror from Within.” “We prefer to imagine threats as emanating from aliens and foreigners” due to “small variations” that “elicit more rage because they imperil identity.” “Occidentalism” hovers above this reality and does not portray the whole picture.

    They consider the “intellectual trap to avoid” as the “colonial guilt,” with the fact that “European and American histories are stained with blood, and Western imperialism did much damage.” The West is not required to apologize for the gallons of blood on their hands or to turn a blind eye when tragedies occur around the world. However, it is naïve to presume the only basis for this Occidentalist hatred is differences in values.

    Some Occidentalists are not ranting about the evils of capitalism or the perceived lack of heroism in the West. Instead, they want to know why a drone dropped a bomb in their backyard or why their village was wiped out with a weapon that was “made in U.S.A.” It is this emotional toll that is the basis of hatred that can lead to violence if their image of the West follows what “Occidentalism” defines. However, the notion that Occidentalists solely contemplate how to rid the world of barbarians is misleading. Most are reacting from the viewpoint of a victim from a recent incident or, unfortunately for the West, from a long list of tragedies and historical biases.

  • Slave To The Rhythm – Unreleased Michael Jackson Single

    As some of you might know, I am a Michael Jackson Scholar. Thus, I rarely share or seek any posthumous productions that come from his Estate or anyone else. However, I came across this track, which I had never heard before, and noted a heated debate from fans comparing this to a Justin Bieber version. I did some digging and was able to connect the dots. For those who are interested, here is some MJ trivia to add to your collection:

    • “Slave To The Rhythm” was created in the early 1990s when Michael was working on the Dangerous album. It was completed in 1998 but never released.
    • For the 2010 posthumous album Michael, Max Methods re-produced “Slave To The Rhythm” to give it a new electro-dance beat, but it did not make the cut for the album. It was leaked to the internet later that year and immediately disappeared.
    • Justin Bieber re-recorded the song as a duet with him and Michael. It was leaked in August of 2013 and Michael’s Estate is still attempting to remove the song from as many websites as possible.

    At first, I could not understand how Justin Bieber could get a hold of an unreleased Michael Jackson track without the Estate’s permission, but I guess there are loop holes celebrities can jump through too. I heard a few seconds of the stolen version and it is nothing to get excited about. Honestly, I do not think anyone should be allowed to record any so-called duets with Michael’s pre-recorded vocals. It is rude and demeans his legacy. A duet with Michael was always earned. It should stay that way.

    Now for the original single, which you can listen to below…until it is taken down from youtube, showcases Michael’s amazing passion and energy. I like the rhythm and I could see Michael creating a killer dance routine to it, but it would be nice to hear the original demo version with the 1990s beat too. It would have also been nice to hear all these unreleased tracks when Michael was alive to re-emphasize the fact that his musical brilliance never faded, but that discussion deserves a separate blog post. Nonetheless, it is worth a listen. Enjoy.

  • André 3000 brilliance in “Sixteen” and “Sorry”

    Andre 3000

    Andre 3000 Andre 3000

    André 3000 is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, instrumentalist, actor, and the other half of the hip hop duo Outkast. For the past few years he has only done features for other artists’, but every time, in my opinion, he outshines them with his rhythmic poetry. André has a way with words that are so honest and thought-provoking. I recently stumbled onto these two tracks and loved the story line in both. Enjoy.