Need You

It seems that I haven't written in a while, so I'm starting off with a song suggestion- Need You by Travie McCoy. It's a brilliant song with a funky rhythm and lyrics that speak volumes. And here's the youtube link:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=735DwZMMR3U&ob=av2e

University life so far isn't half bad; I've been to loads of gigs and gotten alot of work done too, and today I made my first proper cooked meal- a chicken curry! YAY! And I am super proud of the fact that it was actually edible! DOUBLE YAY!

I also now have my own radio show- mondays at 8pm on Crush Radio. To stream it live you can visit http://www.crushradio.co.uk/ , plus you can send your messages and requests to me either through the website or by text (text the word 'crush' and your message to 60300). Do message in and leave me a note!

About 10 minutes ago I watched World's Strictest Parents, and I think I actually cried. There was a really sad story about a boy whose mother fled from Columbia due to gang violence, and how the son thought it was all his fault. All I can say was that it was very emotional.

Talking of shows, I was watching a sketch by Michael McIntyre, and he confirmed what I knew all along- common sense has evaded the human race. He talked about how everyone rushes to get on the tube, and how there is a need for every single person in the carriage to be reading the metro- in the interest of climate change wouldn't it make sense for one person to read to the whole carriage?!?!?! In the mornings at least- when every person on the jubilee line tends to get off at Canary Wharf. In theory its possible- however in pratice it would never work! It was quite a funny sketch and I would recommend you watch it.

It seems the bulk of my mealtimes now revolve around bbc iplayer and 4OD- all I can say is thank god for fast connections in halls of residence! The only sad thing about halls is that the heater only turns on when the temperature is below 18 degrees, and let me tell you 19 degrees is still freaking cold! :(

Tuition Fees are being increased= (if it includes my year) the end of a very short university life. Not really much more to say about that, except for the point that there is a march against higher tuition fees in central london tomorrow.

A new day, a new Call Of Duty Game- yes of course, its Black Ops. Apparently going down a storm in men and boys bedrooms all over the country- looking forward to trying it out! :D

Thats all for now folks!

xx

Marching on

Today I'm writing on a poltical note. I know- boohoo. Though it may seem dull, Britain is going through a huge change as an outcome of a coalition government. I was sitting peacefully, eating some pineapple and I flipped on the television to find myself looking at the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osbourne. To be fair he made some good points whilst outlining the budget for the UK- but there was a huge uproar as he announced that VAT was going to rise from 17.5% to 20%. To be honest- everyone saw this coming. No matter what Government we chose (even if they had promised no increase in VAT) we knew there was going to be a rise in order to pay off the deficit. It's ok- we've been lied to before in the past, I'm sure we'll get over it. However, on the other hand, all the drink lovers out there will be happy to hear that the VAT rise does not include alcohol. I for one was happy to hear it wasn't to include books either. I feel this was one of the main talking points of today's budget plans- so I thought I would mention it.

On a lighter note, my servitude to the Cardinal Wiseman School will end this Friday- HURRAY!! I will no longer be attatched to the school as I move forward onto better and brighter things.

AND, on a final note I have been listening to a brilliant song called 'Marching On', hence the title of this post. It's a song by Timbaland and One Republic, a collaboration which I believe to be brilliant. It is the perfect song to get you out of a bad mood- it's hopeful lyrics and  melodic rhythms envisage a better future for us all.

Timbaland - Marching On (Timbo Version) (featuring One Republic) - Shock Value II



xx

Dynamic Movement

Hey guys! This short post is about Dynamic Movement- a slick free-running group, who have created their own soundtrack- so here it is....

The Dynamic Movement Soundtrack- Free Download

Talkin' With Style

Hello!

It's all been a bit hectic the past couple of weeks, but I thought I would give you something to read! I recently did an interview for my 6th Form Magazine, 'Banter', with We Are Fiction, a brilliant UK band. Unfortunately, the next issue of 'Banter' has been postponed indefinitely, and so I no one has had the chance to read to interview yet, but here it is in all its glory. ENJOY! :D

The Banter Green Room – Interview with ‘We Are Fiction’ by Jemini Gova

‘We Are Fiction’ Band Members

Phil- Vocals

Adam- Guitar/Vocals

Andi- Guitar/Vocals

Ryan- Bass

Tom- Drums

The Peterborough quintet, ‘We Are Fiction’, formed in 2007, creating a post-hardcore/melodic screamo band that has been tearing up venues all over the country. The bands’ strong ethos of ‘party hard’ ensures lunacy and chaos ensuing at their energetic live performances. Parting ways from their record label Rising Records last year, the group has decided to go it alone and has already released a mini-album with six tracks on the playlist. I, Jemini Gova, interviewed Tom from ‘We Are Fiction’, and asked him about the split with Rising Records and more…

What has changed for you since performing and sharing a stage with acts such as Atreyu, We Are The Ocean, Deaf Havana and Story of the Year?

I think it’s opened our eyes to how hard the music industry is. Just talking to some of those bands and seeing how much of their time and effort goes into trying to make music their life is crazy. I think when most people start a band they think that they could make it within 2-3 years maximum; where as in reality it takes almost double that in most cases. It’s a very hard industry to break into, but it’s something we wouldn’t give up for the world. There is nothing else we would rather do with our lives.

The song ‘Bitch', which was released digitally on 2nd November 2009, is a very potent and strong song. The title itself gives you a clue as to what the song is about. However, what was the inspiration for the song? What is the story behind it?

I think every guy at one point in his life has been royally fucked about by a woman. It can be the most frustrating and emotionally deflating thing to experience. This song is pretty much stands up and says “Fuck you” to any women who has ever knowingly done this to a man. It sucks. But don’t get us wrong! We’re not calling every woman a bitch by any means! The majority of women are straightforward and very nice people; this is just focused on those frustrating few.

You have an interesting competition going on at the moment, about drawing a certain prominent part of the male anatomy to win some merch. I’m sure you’ve had some interesting entries. How is it going?

Yeah, the competition is going well! We’ve had some amazing entries. There are some very talented people out there. We’re planning on making a competition each month from now on to give people the chance to win some free merch. The winners will be announced on our myspace and facebook pages, along with a special section for them on our mailing list email. Make sure those who haven’t entered get involved!

What artists or bands are you guys listening to at the moment?

Allsorts! Cancer Bats, He Is Legend, Underoath, Everytime I Die, Alexisonfire, amongst others. Some underground UK bands as well such as Lavondyss, Deaf Havana and Proceed.

You guys have had great success with your music reaching many people through the medium of the internet, for example Myspace, and the band has received high profile press such as Kerrang!, and NME Radio. But, when did you first feel like a real band? What was the event? Why did it make you feel like a real band?

To be honest, I don’t think that point in time has really happened yet! We have a habit of cutting ourselves short a lot of the time. We’re our own worst critics. But that’s not a bad thing, it means we’re constantly striving to become better and better at what we do. A few years ago we would hear bands that we we’re friends get airtime on Kerrang Radio and we were all like “Wow! They are so lucky!” When it happened to us we kinda just went, “Ok, what’s the next step?” Not that we weren’t pleased or excited that it happened, its just we’re always so keen and excited to see what’s coming next on the path that we sometimes miss what we’ve already achieved.

Young people are stereotyped with so many negative connotations nowadays; however music seems to be one of the ways in which the younger generations can be reached. What do you think about the British music scene at the moment, and what sort of influence do you believe it is having on today’s youth culture?

The British music scene is and always will stand-alone. Nothing compares to the music that comes out of this country, it’s unique and I think that’s something to be very proud of. Most British bands that have made it in this country have got a predominantly “British” sound; it’s edgier and has a tinge of grunginess to it. Compare British music to American for example and you’ll hear the difference; American music on the whole has a much softer tone and rounder edge to it. As a result, I think this reflects on the youth culture. Fashions seem to be edgier and more out there than other countries, we also seem to have a different attitude towards music and going to shows. It’s not a bad thing, it’s what makes us who we are.

You recently parted ways with your record label, Rising Records, and decided to record your EP self-funded. What led to this decision?

Let’s just say we wanted to get the ball rolling again and the quickest way to do so was to go it alone. It seems like it was the smartest decision we made for a long time to be honest, as we don’t have to answer to anyone but ourselves now; we’re our own boss’s. The only down side is that everything we spend money on comes out of our own pockets. We’re in a lot of debt at the moment as a result of releasing this EP. So, if you want to help us out, buy some merch or our music so we can eat!

On the 23rd November, you released a mini album self titled ‘We Are Fiction’. What are the main themes of the album? What is all about?

The EP touches on topics that we feel passionate about; from horrible women, to tossers who start fights with you for how you look, to our passion towards music and the band. We strongly believe that you write best about the things you know, so that’s what we did. We just wanted this EP to be an introduction to people about who we are as a band and as people. We’ve taken a hell of a lot of rubbish in the past 3 years we’ve been together and as a result this has shaped us into the people we are today.

What are your top three bands of all time?

Underoath, Alexisonfire & Nirvana

What advice would you give to Banter readers who want to get involved in music?

If you want to make it, be prepared to give most of your life to it. Only the lucky few make it in an instant; the rest of us are on the long hard trek up the music ladder. In the words of ACDC, “It’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock and roll.”

And now for our Quick-Fire Round:

Cats or Dogs?- Dogs

Hulk or Superman?- Hulk

Warner Bros or Disney?- Warner Brothers

Reading or Glastonbury?- Reading

Junk food or Healthy food?- Junk food

Santa or the Tooth Fairy?- Santa

iPhone or Blackberry?- iPhone

MySpace or Facebook?- Myspace

Finally, what is the next step for We Are Fiction, what can we expect from you in the future?

A lot of touring and gigging for the rest of this year. We’re also going to be writing as much as possible so keep an eye out for future releases.

‘We Are Fiction’s’ album is available to buy from iTunes and Amazon now!

©Jemini Gova

xx

Hold On

Just a quick note to tell you about a brilliant dubstep track I have been listening to-

Rusko - Hold On (feat. Amber Coffman) (Sub Focus Remix)

The smooth vocals of Amber Coffman do not prepare you for the hard drum and bass kick, which comes out of nowhere. This song is a perfect mix for all as it combines the best of Rusko's dubstep genius with a touch of sugar in the form of Amber Coffman. This song is set to be a big tune for all the dubstep fans out there. Sub Focus add a spin on things in this track, making it more collected. The whole tune has a great vibe about it- be sure to check it out!

Hold on- Listen here

:D

xx

Carry Out

Sadly I haven't had much time to write recently due to the influx of work on my desk, however, hopefully, once I get into the flow I will be back on track.

To my amazement, I actually saw a person reading on the bus the other day- I know, I was shocked too. For a moment there I thought I had lost all faith in the reading skills of the general public, yet here I am proven wrong. The woman in question was reading a book called Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick- an interesting read. I asked if she was enjoying it so far, and she was. That was it- END CONVERSATION. I probably would have analysed the the whole book with her if I didn't have to get off at the next stop, but hey- the wonderous world of work was awaiting me.

I have been watching this new series called Drop Dead Diva, about a model who manages to get herself stuck in the body of a size 16 lawyer. The first episode was more moving than I expected it to be- it actually made me emotional *sobs*. Nevertheless, if you feel like checking out something new and different (well, for television- body-swapping has already been done a thousand times in books), have a look at it.

Ciao
xx

Hella Good

Today I decided to try a bit of optimism.
It worked right up until the point where there was a traffic jam and I had to walk half way to school. So much for a good start to the day. However, I kept up my mood, and apart from a few unavoidable glitches, I remained hopeful. And I am very pleased to say, my mission has been accomplished!!! (Y)

Short Post today, so I will let you bask in the glory that was today's English weather. I actually thought I was still asleep when I awoke to sunshine, so lets hope it is here to stay!

xx

Too little, too late

This evening, as I was channel flicking trying to find a decent programme; one that wouldn't induce me to vomit from an overdose in my emotional capacity, I came across Big Daddy, a rather endearing little tale of a child being thrust into the arms of a complete stranger. Of course it had the usual happy ending with everything ending just supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, but it began in Adam Sandler's usual comedic style. Thankfully this is one movie I actually like, as it is not overly-gooey, and it doesn't take place in a perfect world. It made me think about how unstable society is. In some ways, we have all lost some root traditional values, I mean whatever happened to trust? Nowadays it feels like you are just competing against everyone: survival of the fittest and all. Sorry to go off on a tangent but hey, freedom of speech was given to us for a reason.

I have just finished reading Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan, a sadly depressingly twisted story, and I voiced this opinion on my twitter profile. Weirdly enough I received a tweet from Margo Lanagan, saying that her 'job is done'. She then told me that her next novel promises not to be so sad, and for that I'm grateful. I don't quite know if I would be able to cope with the emotional overload if it were not.
Yesterday, I found myself trailing Ealing Broadway in search charity shops, hoping to scout out some second hand books on Orwell, Achebe, and a few spanish authors. Sadly, to my dissapointment I only managed to dig out one spanish book and a York Notes critique of Joseph Conrad's Heart Of Darkness. After all the promises my english teacher gave me of charity shops stacking highly esteemed books, I was bitterly dimished at not coming home with a pile of books in my hands. My mother was actually surprised at me only having brought two books- knowing me she probably thought I was going to buy the whole of Waterstones too, but they turned out to be somewhat poorly stocked in the works of the above authors.

The other day I received my timetable for my exams and somehow I actually believe that a certain exam board are trying to stretch me, by placing one exam at the beginning of May whilst the other (a 3 hour exam) will take place at the end of June, and they are both for the same subject. My school also happens to be celebrating their 50th anniversary jubilee celebrations at the end of June too- where I have been asked to participate in the proceedings. No matter- multi-tasking is one of the skills I put on my CV and the time will come when I will have to demonstrate that ability!

The time has come where I must prepare some work experience- so I might as well start trawling the net now!!

Hasta luego- or as my spanish tutor tells me- Ciao (I could have sworn that was Italian, but hey, SHE's the teacher!)

Long time no write

Well, the pressure has been on for the last couple of weeks- the impending doom of exams and so on, but I have a little break before the next  session of back-breaking revision begins.

I went to see the Wolf-Man last wednesday, and I found it to be somewhat clichéd and predictable (but then again what more can you actually expect from a film titled 'Wolf-Man'). The plot thickened (not that much- perhaps only to the consistency of a fruit smoothie), and I found myself wondering if I was ever going to see any true horror. During the course of the movie, I believe I became a psychic visionary, because as soon as Sir Anthony Hopkins arrived on the screen I prompted to a friend- 'Ah, the prodigal son returns', which turned out to be the first lines out of his mouth- not the most original script. Although the movie did attempt to capture my attention, it failed somewhat miserably. However the film did manage to tickle my funny bones and send me into a fit of laughter when Sir Anthony Hopkins appeared covered in fake fur with an angry smirk on his face looking like the most unconvicing werewolf of all time (and this comes from a person who watched Big Wolf On Campus- the teenage werewolf drama). Nevertheless it filled up my time- though I will dread the day they decide to make an ill-fated sequel; let's hope we never see that day.

I was surfing the net and I found an intruiging quote from Sir Anthony Hopkins today.

"You look at fashion magazines and you think, 'What are we living in?' You look at the red carpet, Paris Hilton, you know, these people and you think, 'Is there anything going on up there?' It's a mass enslavement and it's kind of fascism. And it's the androgyny of it; the androgyny of the human soul. I don't think people think any more. But maybe I'm just old."

Wolf-Man may not win any Oscars, but I believe some part of this speech is completely true and it all makes complete sense. Some people have just been drained of all independent thinking. Mass enslavement would be an appropriate term-

The sixth form had a non-school uniform day a few weeks back; the only thing you could see for miles about was our school sixth form girls in matching checked shirts, leggings and Uggs. Part of it is conformity- gaining a sense of belonging, being liked and accepted, the other part, I believe, is an actual lack of thinking- have we lost all control our limbs? do we not control all our own thoughts? or have people been brainwashed by such a sense of self conciousness that they have forgotten how to be themselves?

Any thoughts?

xx

Time After Time ....

welll.... its a new year, a new beginning and all...

New years was spent with some of my lovely family, and I spent Xmas day slaving away helping my mum cook a feast for our entire family (and thats a lot of cousins) since it was my brothers birthday; yes its on christmas day! but other than that it was pretty ordinary. A few parties there and there: that was quite fun....

Anyway, on new years day I finally went to see AVATAR!! I have to say it was extraordinary visual experience; the storyline wore a bit thin and had no true depth to it, but the graphics sure made up for it! The stereotypical happy ending was even tolerable... even if there was a bloody war beforehand. It was directed by James Cameron, the man who filmed Titanic. But did you also know that during his 'hibernation' for the past few years, he also worked on the tv series Dark Angel- starring Jessica Alba, a tv show I watched religiously; it has a great sense about it, it has an original idea, watch it and you will see what I mean. its slighty more sci-fi-ish, but its good, it comes on E4.



Snowing Now!!
 xx