John Newman is an English singer and songwriter. He was ranked one of the most successful and praised British singers in 2013. His debut album “Tribute,” tells a story about his personal experiences with relationships. It has a retro style and unique voice with influences from rock-n-roll to classic soul. Enjoy.
One of my goals for this year is to maintain balance in my life. I decided to record my first vlog post (excited!!) to explain where I am now and how you can also create balance in your life.
I found the key to balance is making time for what you love that makes you feel good about waking up that morning. For me, it is indulging in something creative. What are you making time for?
Sharaya J is a Hawaiian-born and New Jersey-raised rapper and choreographer recently signed to Missy Elliot’s label “The Goldmind Inc.” Her recent single’s “BANJI” and “Smash Up The Place” are pumping with rhythm and humor. Her style, energy, and dance skills are a real refresher in the rap scene. The term “BANJI” is an acronym “Be Authentic Never Jeopardize Individuality.” It describes the movement she wants her music and message to represent. The other ladies in the video are called the “BANJI ladies.” I’m looking forward to a lot of cool, BANJI Certified stuff coming from this artist. Enjoy!
Stromae is a Belgian singer-songwriter fusing hip hop and electronic music while taking the European music scene by storm. Accompanied by up-beat gender-bending music, Stromae’s lyrics tackle and showcase the issues and controversies everyone experience, from unemployment to politics to stereotypes. His second album continues this theme, with its single “Tous Les Memes” questioning the double standards of gender roles. The video for this song is a work of art on it’s own. I love the theatrical vibe and quirky choreography. I also included the video for his debut hit “Alors On Danse” because I still love that song. Enjoy.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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Dagny Zenovia 