Plain Janes Love to ARTiculate

Somerset House Graphic Art Fair opens

2011-03-17T10:18:00.000-07:00

If your into design be sure to head down to Somerset House this week to check out their second edition of Pick Me Up, the UK’s first contemporary graphic art fair. After last years popularity they are back again and open until Thursday for a celebration of graphic art at its finest.

Although mainly an exhibition that features innovative and avant-garde graphic artists, collectives and the UK has to offer, there are also some interesting international artists included in the exhibition who have a special relationship with the UK that is present in their work, and if you are in the buying mood there are some amazing and affordable prints on sale for you to dispense your income on, but only if you want to.

Lots of Love

The janes

xoxoxoxox

UK Rap and Rhyme is Evolving

2011-03-17T10:02:00.000-07:00

As a hip hop lover who has spent years and years as both a willing and unwilling participate in debates about Hip Hop I recently stumbled upon some really interesting artists I felt were bringing a new ray of hope for the music scene, and evolving the quality and sound of rap in the UK.

Check the new Gob single by Dels, with some beautiful vocals delivered from Elan Tamara right at the very end of the track. The video and song I must admit has blown me away in an instant

This is Dels - Gob

Let's not forget my brother from another mother, Ghost Poet, who's been receiving critical acclaim and being working on tracks with really distinguished artists such as Kano and Mike Skinner, he's done soo much recently I can't even keep up with him at the moment.

This is Ghostpoet - Cash and carry me home

And Durrty Goodz bars, ohhhhhhhhhhhh my days!!!!!! I think his flow really speaks for itself.

Durrty Goodz - Oi wot u lookin at

Lots of Love

The Janes

xoxoxoxoox

The Beauty of Cigarette Ash!...

2011-01-19T04:11:00.000-08:00

A phenomenal installation by Yang Yongliang, which mimics the form of a gigantic burning cigarette. But if you look really close the ash is made up of black and white layered photographs forming a landscape.

Check out more works by Yang Yongliang

Sarah Young Red Bull Music Class 2010

2010-11-30T12:00:00.000-08:00

Sarah Young & Satoshi Minakawa present Music Class 2010, a live exhibition, studio session and soundsystem at Red Bull Studios London on 4th December 2010, at 7.30pm.

The event will feature Mistajam, Swindle, Jammer, J2k, Mz Bratt, Roses Gabor, Toddla T, RedLight and Donaeo.

Music Class of 2010 is a multi-media editorial concept, which includes those musicians and producers who don’t simply top the charts, but create music with artistic integrity. Twenty-one year old DJ and stylist Sarah Young and internationally renowned photographer Satoshi Minakawa are the creative team behind the project.

The event takes place on December 4 between 7.30pm and midnight and will also be streamed live online.

Further details to follow.

DJs playing on the night will be:

Goldielocks / Kashmir Kid / Tanzanite

Klepto

CJ Beatz

Robbo Ranx

+ Very special guests!

Guestlist registration opens at 10am on Tuesday 30th November. Visit www.redbull.co.uk/musicclass2010 to register. First come first served! Successful registration will admit you plus one guest, you'll receive email confirmation letting you know if you've been successful.

(ps due to too much traffic for the event crashing the red bull registration page for this, you can now send in your request for spaces to sarah young directly at her email address yo@iamsarahyoung.com)

check out the trailer too

MUSIC CLASS OF 2010 @ RED BULL STUDIOS from Music Class of 2010 on Vimeo.

Visual takeover by artist C.R.Thomas @ the Red Bull HQ...

2010-10-29T04:19:00.000-07:00

Last night PJ members Bosola, Hinds, Luke, Jesse and myself went to have a butchers at COPYRIGHT's artwork (AKA C.R.Thomas) exhibited in the Red Bull HQ.

Based on ‘every action has an equal and opposite reaction’, Copyright explores this notion, but in a metaphysical sense. He explores the ideas of karma and consequences, often ending in tragedy.

His graffiti-esque styled 2D artwork sat well within it's enviroment and it was good vibes all round (e.g. free drink= good vibes LOL).

Of course with Red Bull's involvement there was a fully stocked bar with some seriously skilled mixologist (look at the video)

We now figured out this equation Jesse + free drink + in-door swing = 1 JOKE TING!

Everywhere in the Red Bull HQ as you can imagine was fridges RAMMED with product, in door swing, creative suites, retro arcade machines, V.I.P styled shower rooms and more.

Jesse's face reads:

"Why has Luke got the same print as me this is a PAR".

The PJ's would like to say thank you to Gabs for inviting us down and hooking us up with goodies.

If you would like to know more about the artist, or reach his next exhibition check out his website by clicking here...

LUKEY'S HALLOWEEN WARM-UP MIX!

2010-10-26T09:03:00.000-07:00

What better way to get Zombied-Vampired-Mummified-Anything-With-Fake-Blooded-Up than doing so to the absolute KILLA 2010 HALLOWEEN WARM-UP MIX! by LUKEY

Th DJ/Graphic Designer and PlainJanes member, recorded the mix for our friends over at InFormed London who are teaming up with 6FIFTYNINE to throw an insane Halloween Carnival!!! The night will include a collection of circus performers, a Halloween costume contest and tasty treats if you get down early! PLUS+ A killer line up of DJs. Check out their EVENTS PAGE for more information and to RVSP.

PS - Check out the formidable tag-team of LUKEY and SeeOhSay going by the name of SUPERFLEX on their new weekly show that airs on Shoreditch Radio next week, going to be GNARLY!

PJ's love MATHS!...

2010-10-14T09:53:00.000-07:00

Here is a little exercise for you:

1. First of all, pick the number of times a week that you would like to have *** with a person that you fancy (more than once but less than 10 FOR THIS TO WORK)

2. Multiply this number by 2 (just to be bold)

3. Add 5...

4. Multiply it by 50

5. If you have already had your birthday this year add 1760 OR If you haven't, add 1759..

6. Now subtract the four digit year that you were born. You should have a three digit number The first digit of this was your original number (i.e., how many times you want to have *** each week).

The next two numbers are YOUR AGE! (Oh YES, it is!!!!!)

Then if you add all the 3 digits together = the amount of times you think of the person in a week!

(I just made that bit up LOL)

Clement Marfo & The Frontline - CHAMPION Single Release

2010-10-12T01:25:00.000-07:00

Clement Marfo & The Frontline release the limited single CHAMPION!!! It’s available to download on iTunes, so go get your copy NOW!!!. After multiple plays on Radio 1 with Zane Lowe & Jo Whiley, and making the XFM playlist, to celebrate this occasion the single launch gig will take place on Tuesday the 12th of October @ Hoxton Bar & Grill from 8PM with support from Young Fathers & Them Changes its going to be an awesome night. Back home in London as the tour continues, nothing more like home sweet home. SEE YOU THERE!!!

12th October (Tuesday)
Hoxton Bar & Grill
Old Street, London (Nearest Tube station – Old Street)
Doors 7PM
£7 ADV & £8 on the door

Theres form, function and victorinox...

2010-10-09T09:19:00.000-07:00

I got invited to a Bloggers evening at the Victorinox store on Bond Street, music was provided by Casper from Bloggers Delight along with the FREENESS of cocktails and canapes.

BUT... I totally forgot that Victorinox are the pioneers of the Swiss Army Knife and only when you arrive into the basement of the store you get to see the vast collection of knifes on display.

The best part of the night was that you got a Swiss Army Knife made from scratch in front of you and customised with your name on it:

But the whole point of the night was to show the world that Victorinox was not just about the innovative pocket knifes, they also had a new Fashion range (mostly menswear with some womenswear).

We had a stylist who worked for Elle magazine and the Guardian talk through her best picks in the store and a brand rep showing you the various functions of the garment. From SKI gear jackets with flash lights and GPS in them to gym bags that can turn into dress/suit carriers.

Overall I can say that the products all demonstrate innovative, multifunctional craftsmanship, but from what I saw it didn't look like they were aiming at a young target market. It was more for the older male consumer who has money to splash on a Prada trench coat and instead wants a Prada trench coat that is reversible, secretly hides his pocket knife and turns into a bag.

Take a look at the site and make your OWN verdict:

www.victorinox.com

Already on my xmas shopping List MARTINI Gold

2010-10-04T13:33:00.000-07:00

So the new MARTINI Gold drink is currently out now to buy in Harvey Nichols, it's only £35 and available here: (click here)

It's so blatantly one of those presents you can buy for your mum but deep down know it's really for yourself.

They were kind enough to send me an advert bursting at the seems with hot male models, (sorry male PJ members for my objectification of the male form but I simply had to go there for the ladies.)

Lots of love

PJ's.

xoxooxxooxox

Playstation Gamerunners

2010-09-09T03:01:00.000-07:00

Earlier this month PJ's were luckily invited to be one of the first to view some new games being developed by Playstation as part of their new gaming project 'Game Runners'.

Gammer Runners is an experimental project in which PlayStation have invited young people and members of the public from diverse backgrounds to come together to create social games.

Whats really exciting about the project is that shockingly these are not console games but social outdoor games that merge a whole host of different elements such as physical movement, orienteering, problem solving, drawing on traditional game features, as well as new game concepts such as alternative reality gaming (which really got me hooked as we're currently working on an ARG project ourselves.)

The project has been developed by PlayStation and Hide & Seek with a team of 8 initial Game Runners PlayStation have picked to train as game designers and mentor. The teams developed three games: Flags, Blocks & Hoops.

After all the Games got tested the Game with the highest number of votes was then made into a real Game produced for future launch. Here's the winning game we had loads of fun playing.

Lots of Love

PJ's

xoxoxox

Tippexperience!

2010-09-02T08:37:00.000-07:00

I have to say TIPPEX got my attention for more than a 30 second AD on YouTube, with this interactive channel.

Have a go by clicking here!

Remember Michael and Truce from speed drawing

2010-09-01T14:19:00.000-07:00

See if you can spot them in here!!!!

Love the janes

xxxxx

PJ's Pon Di Floor at CARNIVAL!...

2010-09-01T02:11:00.000-07:00

The PJ team reached carnival to EXPERIENCE another year of EPIC MAYHEM!

Captured by Quincey and Laura!

Ghostpoet x Kwesachi

2010-08-26T02:19:00.000-07:00

Sorry I know I always chat about Ghostpoet and Kwes, but they are sick and they are my friends, alas such nepotism. Peep some of their new stuff here.

Latest tracks by ghostpoet

xoxoxoxoox

The PSM - What you didn't see at Secret Garden Party

2010-08-24T17:50:00.000-07:00

Rohan Blair- Magnat is a young documentry film maker, who's been making some interesting moves in motion picture (and also festivals when he has the time.) Check out his most recent work, a documentry where he follows Gorilla Sound System at the Secret Garden Party, earlier this month.

The PSM from Rohan Blair-Mangat on Vimeo.

lots of love

The Janes

xoxoxoxooxoxox

THE BANG BANG TROPICAL THIS saturday

2010-08-24T17:26:00.000-07:00

The Bang Bang returns this saturday 28th August just in time to limber and warm you up for carnival, word on the grape vine is they've got a jerk Chicken Drum outside, free whistles and free shots for early comers, a real Carnival Queen, and a masterclass on stage of Carnival/bashment dancemoves past and present, with prizes for the best/bravest movers on the night!

On the decks they've got DJ's Motive (Party'N'Bullshit), Snips (Living Proofs wheel man), Ben 'RD7' Rogers, Joby Weston, Shook 1's, and Akimi a member of the PJ Collective.

Make sure you hit it up as last time round they had a surprise Male dancer for ladies............. god knows whats going to go down this time.

Here are the details it's @ Bar 512, 512 Kingsland Rd, Dalston from 10pm to 5am, FREE before 11pm £5 on the G-list £7 on the door.

Love the Janes

xoxoxo

Peroni Nastro Azzurro Accademia del Film Wrap Party Tour

2010-08-24T16:09:00.000-07:00

To celebrate Italian film and the unique art of Italian film-making, Peroni Nastro Azzurro and award-winning Italian film director Gabriele Muccino are bringing the Peroni Nastro Azzurro Accademia del Film Wrap Party Tour to eleven cities around the country.

The ‘Academy’ will celebrate Italian film over a series of initiatives illustrating how Italian film can make the ordinary extraordinary.

The Accademia del Film is designed to share and promote the uniqueness of Italian film in the UK and support up and coming film talent. Seven up-and-coming UK film-making talent, including a set designer, a composer, a make-up artist, a producer and a director - all selected by Muccino himself, filmed ‘Senza Tempo’ for Peroni Nastro Azzurro on location in Rome earlier this year.

The tour will run nationwide with a launch in London on the 26th August until November 2010. Each ‘wrap party’ gives all film enthusiasts an exclusive chance to immerse themselves in the beautiful world of Italian cinema, where guests are invited to discover what is unique about Italian film. Visitors will be invited to enter luxury, bespoke cinema cubes to discover more about Italian Cinema, check if it's coming to a city near you.

xxxx

Artist Sri captures hearts with her feminine touch

2010-08-24T14:58:00.000-07:00

PJ's are currently loving the work by London based Artist Sri Mckinnon who's current exhibition 'Archiapelgo'illustrates the nostalgia she has for the lush and tropical landscapes she experienced as a child growing up in South East Asia.

Just to let you know it's shit hot!!!!!

Her work speaks to you like a lightly floating dream you don't want to wake up from, depicting ethereal scenes fused with a gentle surrealist and mystic qualities where nature and femininity dominate her work .

If you haven't had time to peak her exhibition there's still time, it's running till the 13th September at the Eastpak Shop in Carnaby Street.

Lots of Love

PJ's

xoxoxoxoxooxoxox

Courvoisier Summer of Punch

2010-08-18T05:32:00.001-07:00

It was not to long ago that people were saying that staying in was the new going out, then summer came along and quickly we were all back outside again. Could we not somehow find the best of both worlds for those of us for those of us who just like hanging with our mates, indoors, outdoors, up in the air or boozying it up in deserted and secret spaces.

Hopefully the Courviosier Summer punch campaign should get you mobile, they've teamed up with Foursquare to bring you the chance to win exclusive Punch Kits containing everything needed to recreate the punch experience with friends at home, as well as a grand prize of a VIP weekend for two at the Courvoisier Château in Jarnac, France. Mega Plush for those with expensive tastes.

All you've got to do is hit the one of the bars listed below, ‘Check-In’ to the venue via Foursquare and then send in a photo of yourself with a Courvoisier Punchbowl via Facebook or Twitter at http://www.facebook.com/courvoisieruk http://www.twitter.com/CourvoisierUK hash tag #summerofpunch. Best picture every night wins One Punch Kit.

For more info check out http://summerofpunch.com

I'll be taking the most stupid pictures of me doing this next week.

Participating Bars

Artesian
Aragon House
1802
Camino
The Gun
The Well
The Lost Angel
Bar Du Musee
Saf
Anise
The lost society
The Hawksmoor
Kosmopol
Dion

xxxxx

Artistic Wizardry vs Science...

2010-08-15T01:32:00.000-07:00

Art vs Science / MAGIC FOUNTAIN - Official Music Video from Art vs Science on Vimeo.

Major Lazer - Notting Hill Carnival 2010

2010-08-12T08:06:00.000-07:00

Major Lazer, for the 3rd year running is taking over Notting Hill Carnival AGAIN!! Last year we one of the best Carnival’s that I’ve been to without doing the same old walking in the street, which I like but I get bored after.

In association with Red Bull Music Academy, Major Lazer will be putting on the hottest show of Carnival. Major Lazer, Douster, Poirier, Sticky, Joker, David Rodigan and Drop The Lime will host the annual Red Bull Carnival Party, offering the hottest ticket of the Notting Hill Carnival Bank Holiday Weekend.

To get on the guest list, sign up (www.redbull.co.uk/carnivaltickets) on Monday the 16th of August from 9AM. 1st come, 1st served. You don’t want to miss this!!

Inflatable ORGANISMS!...

2010-08-12T04:19:00.000-07:00

Another depiction of beauty within natural organisms...

Balloon sculptures by artist Jason Hackenwerth

I love a man with Tats and lego!

2010-08-04T09:27:00.000-07:00

There are two things which have always really puzzled and eluded me since I was a child 1) Whether I would ever swallow the bullet and get a tatoo (not sure about how i feel about being 60 saggy and illustrated) 2) How I could use lego men to live out my dreams and create mass havoc in a lego brick world of destruction.

Whilst I am still unable to decide what to do about these things The ads were done by GREY are a step closer than I am to finding the answers.

Erol Sabadosh - Big Love (July 2010 Mix)

2010-07-24T06:28:00.000-07:00

Fast becoming London’s sought after DJ and a personal favorite of ours, The artiste extraordinaire that is Erol Sabadosh takes time from playing venues from Beach Blanket Babylon, Punk, Whisky Mist and various clubs in Europe to blend in a new mix of Electro Indie. “It’s Emotional” He described it to me as “different” and we all know how different can be something special. Beats being and doing the same as everyone else. Check out the new mix and sure to catch him at any of his DJ sets in the coming weeks/months. I suggest bugging him on his Twitter (Click Here) for more info.

Erol Sabadosh Big Love July 2010 Mix by erolsabadosh

The Creator's Project - LONDON

2010-07-11T02:05:00.000-07:00

In partnership with VICE and INTEL, The Creator’s Project celebrates our new century’s visionary artists from all backgrounds and all forms of medium. The digital age in which we live in has generated in escalation in visual and creative expression breaking the mould to which imagination knows no restrictions from films, art, gaming, fashion, music and design.

The Creator’s Project is the first of its kind to contribute to such innovative ideas in the modern day world. Starting off in June in New York City, the project comes to London on the 17th of July. The whole day exhibit under one roof will showcase a collection of artworks and installations, screenings, a panel discussion and dozens of performances by creators from all over the world. The 15hour extravaganza starts from 10AM and ends at 3AM.

The event will feature performances, interactive exhibits, films and panel discussions from the likes of Mark Ronson, Spike Jonze, Kele Okereke, Trevor Jackson, Animal Collective, Nick Zinner from the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s, Martin Ware of Human League, United Visual Artists, Mira Calix, Matthew Herbert, Ladj Ly, onedotzero, Patrick Jean, and lots more, including secret special guests.

Below, features on the collaborators of the Creator's Project. It’s more than exciting to watch. Everyday from today, I will post up videos on various collaborators in the event.

Spike Jonze (Film)
Director, producer, and overall creative Midas.

If you haven’t registered for tickets (CLICK HERE) for this spectacular event make sure that you do so as this is not one to be missed!!!

HAVANA CULTURA (LIVE): NEW CUBA SOUND

2010-07-02T02:27:00.000-07:00

I really have to give a big up to Giles Patterson he's a poineer in his support for just straight up good music, being one of the first DJ's to support in the UK artists such as Theophilus London, Jay Electronica, he recently just signed one of my favourite and most promising UK musical talents Ghostpoet to his brownswood records.

But another thing of important note with Mr Patterson is his promotion of global sound, check out his Havana Cultura Projects which have been running for the past year. We hit up one of the parties early on in 2010 and it was latino funk joy of dancing, rhythms and passionate vocals. He's also just released Havana Remixed, which I have been blessed enough to recieve and bump through my stereo happily coninciding with a little bit of summer we're getting this year.

To coincide with the latest release from globetrotting DJ Gilles Peterson – ‘Havana Cultura Remixed’, Havana Club rum will host two concerts of Cuba’s freshest musical talent - performing Latin, afro jazz and fusion to hip hop, funk, reggaeton and R&B.

There are only two UK dates and you can check them out here

Saturday 3 July @ The Sage Gateshead
Tuesday 6 July @ Barbican, London

more info @ www.havana-cultura.com/EN/gilles-peterson.html#/2813

Love the janes

xoxoxox

Janelle Monae x B.O.B x Lupe Fiasco

2010-07-01T17:48:00.000-07:00

I know I've gone a bit music blogging crazy over the past couple of months, but man there's sooo much good shit out there right now, I keep virtually finding my way into youtube and spotify and virtually wetting my ears with sick new music followed by my pants.

I couldn't make my way down to the Janelle Monae concert tonight like loads of my friends, but I did console myself with this!!!

Hope you like

love the janes

xoxoxoxox

Tomorrow the Battle begins

2010-06-25T04:16:00.000-07:00

PJ's Launch our branding spanking new Night, Visual Soundclash at the City Arts and Music Project tomorrow from 9.00 o'clock. Word on the street is we're about to burn this mothafucka down!!! We've just got the sickest line up making it a win win for you!!! Make sure your there to catch the first of many.

For those of you who have been hiding underneath a rock and don't know what the night is about here is the break down.

PJ's invited Four DJ's and Four Visual Artists to collaborate together to produce DJ and VJ sets, broke them into teams and are forcing them battle it out on the decks if they want to play the rest of their sets. Here's where you come in....... YOU DECIDE WHO PLAYS ON. They get 15 minutes to impress you, if they don't then their coming off.

However your gonna have a hard time picking who'll be staying on as we have DJ's PC Williams, 7oel, Bambi and CWD and their getting backed up by artists from PJ's, Ifreecans, Beddow and Batanni, and independant artists Daniel James Diggle.

It's time for your weekly Audio and Visual Overload!

So See ya 2moro!

Love the Janes

xoxoxoxox

Taylor Mali Poem

2010-06-24T00:29:00.000-07:00

Are you speaking with conviction?

There's TECHNIQUE in the BIRO...

2010-06-22T02:21:00.000-07:00

HAH!... Is what I say to every lecturer and tutor that has told me Biro Pens are not good mediums to draw with (b*ll*cks)...

I believe from you know what you want to capture and depict it with the right technique you will produce a crisp sketch!

This guy is a serious talent check out more of his work:

Paul Alexander Thornton

Plain Janes encourage creative brainstorms...

2010-06-17T14:02:00.001-07:00

Check out this Presentation on Visual Note Taking :

Visual Note Taking / Sketchnotes

View more presentations from Eva-Lotta Lamm.

Mike Snow's 'RABBIT'

2010-06-09T10:17:00.000-07:00

One word for this video and that's FIYAH!
The video was shot in Jamaica with an abstract concept directed by Andreas Nilsson...

How to Establish a Vodka Empire

2010-06-04T02:31:00.000-07:00

I quite recently discovered three pretty wonderful things about vodka that I wanted to share.

1) painting whilst drinking vodka helped to make my painting better and was a lot more fun
2) after I spilt loads of paint whilst painting and drinking vodka, I learnt that I could also use the vodka to get the paint out of carpet. Win win!
and finally
3)Vodka changed this mans life forever after he discovered that he was heir to a vodka empire in Ukraine and lead to a documentry he's making about reviving it on Channel 4, however you can catch it first here

Beautiful Bullet-Proof Mechanics...

2010-06-03T13:35:00.000-07:00

This bullet-proof Devon Tread time-piece is the most expensive arm candy on the market but how it's designed and executed is seriously crafted!

Power to the pencil!...

2010-06-02T10:32:00.000-07:00

illustrations by Martin Nicolausson

Gushing Rainbows...

2010-05-17T15:15:00.000-07:00

A stream of colourful illustration and sculpture by Richard Colman

Puke-iful...

2010-05-17T14:57:00.000-07:00

Amazing artistic moments captured by Gina Osterloh

Ear Candy: Plain Janes Meets Jesse Boykins III

2010-05-11T12:08:00.000-07:00

If you've been listening to Theophilus London or Machine Drum lately, chances are that you've heard the vocal talent of Jesse Boykins III featured on one of their tracks. With a voice as smooth as honey and an impressive backlog of musical creation and collaboration alike (two albums, Dopamine: My Life On My Back and The Beauty Created; other collaborations with the likes of Melo-X and Mickey Factz; not to mention having trained under Bilal), it's no wonder that the R&B/Neo-Soul singer is an emerging talent on the New York scene. Recently, Jesse paid a visit to the Big Smoke to perform his first London show and shoot the music video for his single 'Amorous,' off the Beauty Created album -make sure you peep that! Never the ones to miss out, we caught up with him for a chat about music, sunshine, plans for the future and where it is he learned that stage swagger that makes the ladies (including our Reporter Jane) weak in the knees. And while technology failed us in showing documented proof of the fact, there is a rumor around the block that we also got Jesse to play and sing along with a ukulele.....

How do you find the differences between NYC and LDN?

I don't really think about comparing it -to me, it's just a new experience. When I travel anywhere, I don't like to compare it to New York, because that's my home. But I definitely like the energy in London, and I'm very appreciative to be here. The sun's been out lately, so everyone's been a little bit more happy and I've seen a lot of smiles! I've been trying to travel as much as I can, get on the underground and go to to different areas, see what the energy and vibe is like....

Are you familiar with the London music scene?

I'm actually not, honestly, and I feel really bad that I'm not. I've been getting asked a lot about different genres, like everyone tells me 'You gotta listen to grime,' or someone says 'Listen to some funky house, listen to some dubstep,' and I'm like 'Yeah, alright!'. I'm just taking it all in so when I go back home I can go on Google and do my research!

What's your creative process in your daily routine?

As far as creating goes, it's really spontaneous. There's no set creative process -I don't need to be wearing a certain kind of tshirt or anything crazy like that to write a song- it's just whatever inspires me, and whatever I'm able to retain from that inspiration. A lot of the time, my songwriting comes from not even being in my element, like when I'm traveling. I always travel with all of my recording equipment just because I never know when it will hit. When I got here, I wrote something and I looked at it and was like, 'I would have never written that if I was in New York, or if I was in LA or Atlanta.' I really appreciate that aspect of being an artist: being able to take in an environment and just put it out, even if I've only been there for two hours. So I like to keep my creative process as organic as possible, and that goes for songwriting, coming up with a melody for song, laying that melody down and then figuring out what instruments I want to put on it. Nothing forced.

Do you play a part in the production of your music?

I do a lot of my own production, arrangement and vocal arrangement. I feel like it's a similar process to an artist picking what colour paints to use; if I have a canvas, and I have an idea of what I want to paint, I'm gonna draw a sketch out of it -that's the lyrics. Then, I'll pick the colours -that's the sounds. Then, I'm gonna figure out what other details I want -that's the arrangement. So that's how I look at it, creatively.

Who are some other producers/musicians you're interested in collaborating with?

Right now, I've been working a lot with Machine Drum -he's probably one of my favourites, thus far. He's a really, really awesome producer and he knows music so well -because he's a DJ, too- so his ear and taste for music is amazing, and his knowledge is pretty expansive. Melo-x is another cat that I've been working with lately, who is also an awesome producer and DJ. Both of their spans of music are so wide, and even just being around them while they're creating is an experience; I'll go over to their houses and just chill out and be like, 'Oh hey, lemme get that CD to listen to! Oh, that too, and that!' But I also
really like cats like Quincey Jones, and I'd like to have string arrangements on one of my songs. I like Raphael Saadiq, as well -he's probably one of the better producers/songwriters out there right now. There's a really big span of people I'd like to work with, but I'll work with whoever wants to work with me, whom I look up to and appreciate and can tell that they also have a passion for their art. I'm pretty much open-minded if somebody is talented and we have a connection musically.

What led you towards soul music?

It's funny, because I wasn't even really brought up on soul music. I listened to a lot of reggae growing up, and a lot of Latin music when I lived in Miami, which is all about cha-cha-chas and merengue. When I moved to New York is when I started listening to soul music, when I was about sixteen. That's when I started listening to Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder, and before that, I would listen to boy groups like Boyz II Men and Jodeci and H-Town. I just remember being able to connect with soul music on a level, emotionally. I heard R&B singers with songs about being in love with somebody, but that's all they sang about. A soul song can be anything, though, and you can still have that passion. Like, you can write a song about having to pay your taxes and sound like you're about to die, and you can connect with that. It's so easy to connect with. It's really simple, too -it's just a little melody on a guitar and some cat going crazy about something in his life that happened- and a lot of times, that same thing might have also happened to you, or you might think to yourself, 'I wouldn't want that to happen to me, hearing him sound like that!'

Would you ever find yourself gravitating back towards reggae/latin-influenced music?

Yeah, I think about it a lot. My uncle is always saying to me,'Rude boy, you gonna do a Bob Marley or Dennis Brown cover soon?' But it's definitely in my career plan, and I do want to reach back to my culture and say thank you. It's in my music now, even, but it's hard to hear because it's not proper 'reggae'. It's there rhythmically, and in the fact that I value my lyrics so much, because a lot of reggae music is about the lyrics. Everything is a movement, and even when you think it's a love song, it's really about the culture and the upbringing.

Who are some of your on-stage musical influences?

Well, it's like a craft [performing on stage], and when you're learning something, you always want to research it. There are always people who inspire you visually -just like if you're a poet, and you read everything about your own favourite poet. I definitely study my art, and I do watch James Brown performance videos and Prince rehearsals for inspiration every once in awhile. I do watch Maxwell videos from the nineties, because with those cats, you could always see their passion. I study myself, as well, and I always have someone shooting all of my performances so that I can watch them over again. There's no mirror when you're on stage, so I'll watch [the recordings] and say to myself, 'I gotta stop doing that,' or 'I don't like when I do that,' and keep those things in my mind. It's definitely a learning experience,
and you'll find who you are as a performer as you go along, and you'll also find the things that you like or that you don't like. It's one of those things where you learn as you go.

What's the message that you want to spread through your music?

It's the simplest and most common message: love. Honestly, I feel like when you look at the root of everything, it's love or hate. And I don't want to push hate, I'd rather push love, no matter what form of love it may be. Even if it's a sad song, it's still from love or it leads to love, and it's not like 'I hate you. Oh God, I can't stand you.' I never want to promote or push music like that, because music is so powerful, and a lot of people don't understand that. A lot of musicians and artists don't even understand that, until they do a show and see 10,000 people rapping along to a song about wanting gold chains and diamonds, because you said that. But that's not what life's about, and material is cool, but it's more so about the connection with people and with your surroundings and the environment.

Would you ever write a socially/culturally conscious song?

Actually, with this next album I wrote a song called 'Grayscale' which is about the fact that cultures need each other, feed off each other and transfer information back and forth. We're pretty much all the same at the end of the day. But there's conflict in being alike, in some respects. One of the lines in the song that I really like is, 'Blinded by the tone of you, I feel that the truth is known / The air is brail, I sense you're frail, so I need to hold on / Close the eyes, guide me through, close the lips, seek you / An endless journey home'. It just sounds like some deepness at first, but 'blinded by the tone of you' is like, 'You're a different colour than me, and I'm not gonna look at you, but I definitely still like your food.' (Laughs) You know, like, 'I don't really like Jamaicans, but I'll tear up some of their curry chicken.' You know those kinds of people? It's so funny how people are like that -I have friends that are like that, and I've come in contact with a lot of people who are like that, and it really doesn't make any sense to me. In a hundred years, somebody will get asked what their nationality is and they'll be like, 'Human. It's too much, I can't tell you everything, but I'm human.' That's why I came up with the concept of 'Grayscale', because in art, grayscale is every colour from black to white. So that's probably one of the songs I've written so far that's not about a woman or about love, it's about the bigger picture.

Did writing 'Grayscale' have a big impact on you?

It was so crazy, because it just came out of me when Machine Drum and I were working on a song. He started it, and I just had a melody and suddenly started singing, 'The wind it comes, it goes / I move with every breath you make'. And it was just so natural, it was like we were talking to each other. Machine Drum is from South Carolina and he went to school in Orlando -his upbringing is definitely different from mine- but we met in Brooklyn, and it was like all that he experienced took him all the way there and all that I experienced took me all the way there. So no matter where you're from, especially in this day and time, there's still gonna be a connection. You could be from Egypt and your favourite singer could be Janis Joplin, and I could be from Russia and my favourite singer could also be Janis Joplin, but there's that connection through every culture. I didn't even realise the power of the song until after I listened to it about thirty times, and then I was like, 'How did I write that?' We performed it live once at this place called Santos in New York, and it was an early show, so it was a small group of about forty people, but they really responded like, 'Wow!' and I feel like that's going to be the reaction every time.

If you could be known for only one of your songs, what would it be and why?

I don't want to be remembered for just one song. I'd rather be remembered for everything, honestly. But I think from an artist's point of view, and from a person with a creative standpoint, we're never satisfied. That's why, as artists, we keep creating -because we don't think we've ever done our best yet. I think I'll always feel like that, so there won't ever be a song where I'll look at it and say, 'Yeah, I wrote that song. I'm never gonna write another song again.' I'd like to be remembered for an album, though. I'd prefer people to be like, 'Oh, you did The Beauty Created album,' rather than just remember me for writing 'Pantyhose'. Because it's like, did you hear the album? Did you hear the conceptual project of it? Do you know why I wrote 'Pantyhose' and where it fits in the album? I want to be remembered for that. Like, back in the day, cats were remembered for albums, and that's the way I'd like to be remembered, too.

If you could have written any song in history, what would it have been and why?

Wow, there's so many songs that I love that I listen to. That's a tough one.... I really like the Beatles, and one of my favourite songs of theirs is 'Something'. That's probably one of my favourite songs.

Do you have any plans to tour around the US or UK anytime soon?

Oh definitely, definitely. We're putting out a single in June, and with the new album coming out, we're starting to set up tours and plan things. I can't confirm details just yet because we're still in the beginning stages, though. It's a new journey, so we still have to figure out the plan and see how the single does. But I'll definitely be doing a lot of spot dates -I'll be performing with the Foreign Exchange at BB Kings Blues Club in New York, and then I'm supposed to be opening for Erykah [Badu] in LA. So that's what I'll be doing until the conceptual project and visuals come together, and then I'll go and explore and see what happens out of that.

Jesse's second LP, Love Apparatus, is due out later this year. Make sure you keep up with him on Myspace, Twitter and his website.

Coverage by Miss Artful Dodger
Photographs by Munro

2010-05-05T14:13:00.001-07:00

Theophilus London - NEW SONG!!! - Life of A Lover

2010-03-15T09:48:00.000-07:00

YES!!!! Mr Theophilus London is back with a new track called Life of A Lover feat Jesse Boykins III Sure fire banger I'm sure. Now just gotta wait on that new mixtape to drop soon called I Want You. Meanwhile, check out the new track and peep the new Theophilus Blog
Theophilus London Feat Jesse Boykins - Life Of A Lover by gogogadgetmrv

Fiat present EVO music rooms...

2010-03-15T04:33:00.000-07:00

FIAT are evolving today's unsigned acts into the stars of tomorrow, out of a flood of 2500 musicians 20 was picked by the panel of judges which then went to a public vote narrowing the selection down to a lucky 10...

These acts have made it on the live channel 4 show which will be airing from
April the 1st!
PJ reporters will be covering some of the live events so stay tuned...

P.S - if you want to have a chance of winning some tickets to the live shows
(where you will also see headline acts)
sign up to the evo music rooms V.I.P section...

Lady Gaga & Beyonce Telephone (stills from new video)

2010-03-10T06:58:00.001-08:00

In the last couple of years, I have not known an anticipation of a music video say since Scream from Michael & Janet Jackson. Now two heavy weight legends of our decade are about to do just that same thing!
Beyonce and Lady Gaga will be airing the video for Lady Gaga's Telephone single this week and judging by these pictures its looking like its going to be some what of an artistic explosion. I can't wait to see it! Better believe that I will scoop this up quick. so stay tuned....

Date for your diary

2010-03-06T15:01:00.000-08:00

People keep asking me when the next PJ event is, well Ladies and Gentlemen here we have it

Lots of Love the Janes

xoxoxoxox

OFF THE ENDZ - New Play by Bola Agbaje

2010-03-01T11:57:00.000-08:00

'My future is here. My aim is clear and simple. I want out. I wanna be rich. I'm not gonna pretend it's anything more than that and I want it now'

I’m stamping my feet and clapping my hands like I’m at church! LOL for this reason alone, it’s because the new production, Off The Endz play written by Olivier award winning Bola Agbaje has hit the Royal Court Theatre from the 19th of February to the 13th of March 2010!

The Independent recently called Bola Agbaje 'one of the brightest new stars to watch out for in the New Year' and proving so. The reviews of this new play have been outstanding so far.

The story is about David, Kojo (*cough cough* Ahem my name sake, LOL) and Sharon who grew up on a London estate. They are Now in their mid 20s, they're eyeing each other’s kind of life. But how do you choose the right path when temptation lies around every corner? If your emotional or financial debt is sky high, how do you buy your way out?

It stars Ashley Walter who plays David, (and his credits include more noticeably BBC1’s Small Island) Daniel Francis (Kojo) and Lorraine Burrough (Sharon).

For details on the play check the Royal Court Theatre for more information and tickets.

Royal Court Theatre
Sloane Square
London
SW1

Box Office
020 7565 500

Driven by Emotion... HEAVY RAIN By PS3

2010-03-01T11:56:00.000-08:00

We love to play games, nothing more than playing an interactive game involving players and an audience to participate. The same can be said for major game consoles. Take for instance Play Station 3’s new instalment, Heavy Rain.

Breaking all rules on the traditional game play, Heavy Rain is based around its story with its emotional involvement unlike other games, where by battle and competition take place for high scores.

This short film documentary looks at the involvement on emotion. How far will you go to save someone you love? I think most of us can answer that question in a heartbeat. Directed by Neil LaBute, the documentary talks with other films greats as posses the questions and its interesting the thoughts on some.

'How Far Would You Go?' short film inspired by PlayStation 3 title HEAVY RAIN from David Farrer on Vimeo.

This will be one to watch for this month when it comes out. Contrasting your standard game How far will you go?

Heavy Rain is out on PS3 on the 26th of February to buy…

A creative IDEA is only the begining...

2010-02-21T01:59:00.000-08:00

This is a video piece promoting a scholarship in the US, but what I love about it is the tips they give you to keep your creative juices flowing...

Watch and enjoy!

2010-02-20T03:22:00.000-08:00

R.I.P BRADLEY
LOVED & NEVER FORGOTTON
AMEN
XX

MOCK.

How To Make It In America - The Mix-tape....

2010-02-16T04:01:00.000-08:00

The Low down:
How To Make It In America in a new HBO TV show based on the twenty somethings of America, living in NY trying to make it successful, live that American dream. It’s created from the same producers that made Entourage and it’s looking like a good start so far. The show features Kid Cudi and unexpectedly seeming like a capable actor. The show premiered on Sunday so for all you sexy geeks you know how to find that don’t you. LOL!

The Real Deal:
The start of the show got me going with its theme tune by Aleo Blacc, and no it’s not a sample its his voice! SICK!!! But I digress; the mixtape is even more shockingly fantastic!! I swear you will be playing this for weeks. The mix of artists (check the track listing below) made me think…Hmm…Really all on here…. But when you listen to it and it’s like the greatest playlist that I made for you! LOL
It’s available for DOWNLOAD so I suggest that you go get that.

Yep the new Rihanna does it again!!!!

2010-02-12T06:59:00.000-08:00

Hot every single time!!!

A new video to practice dance moves from in front of the mirror (don't act like you don't do it too)

xxxxxx

Check out the Stussy J Dilla Documentry

2010-02-12T06:18:00.000-08:00

To celebrate the life of great hip hop legend J Dilla, Stussy have put together a 3 part documentry about Dilla's life in LA.

With this being the 4th year since the passing of his death, I must say it caught my eye. It was only earlier on in the week that I had been speaking to a friend about the fact this was the first year I would not be going to a a J Dilla tribute event (guilt had caught up with me that I do not annually commemorate like that for members of my family) however I found it refreshing to instead learn a bit more about him and the L.A scene documentry, lets see how the rest progresses.

enjoy

lots of love the pj's

xxxxxx

2010-02-05T18:23:00.000-08:00

LATEST KIDS BOOK ADDED TO MY COLLECTION

"The range of colours that Boutavant uses in this book are breathtaking it was on two different tables in the tate modern shop, knew it wanted me to take it home" - Truce Susan

Published in August 2009 by Chronicle Books, For Just One Day is the latest offering from illustrator Marc Boutavant. With an absolutely beautiful yellow cover design that illustrates perfectly the content of the book (children discussing what animal they would like to be, 'for just one day').

I'm ashamed to admit

2010-02-05T00:51:00.000-08:00

But I really like this new Cheryl Cole track, and the video, it reminds me of strictly. A post filled with taboo's but everyone's allowed their guilty pleasures.

x

SNEAK PREVIEW of Brittanny Bosco's RAGDOLL!!!

2010-02-03T04:53:00.000-08:00

I personally wasn't lucky enough to catch Brittany Bosco during her European Tour last year, but from those I know who did, it was definitely a sight to behold and not something I plan to miss again.

The heat she generated from her performances is definitely making 'Black' her debut album a must have for 2010 but for those who can't wait for it's release, here's your opportunity to get the first listen to 'Ragdoll' her first single from the album.

just click the link www.BOSCO.bandcamp.com

I personally love the sound, it's unmitigating and strong, and I love forces you can't ignore, and because we also love you we hooked you innit.

love

the Janes

xxxxxx

What Do You Do With 900 Post-It Notes And A Blank Wall?

2010-02-02T15:18:00.000-08:00

Well, if you're keen on tapping into organisational skills and a pen is lying around, you could always write out a long To-Do List and slap it up... Or you could set the creative wheels in motion, grab the nearest stack of stickies and let your imagination run wild - which is exactly what the Janes did in our latest and greatest art attack.

Inspired by the Cubism movement of....oh, who are we kidding?...inspired by fun, friends and a fantastic form of expression through conceptual art, we got together and put our thinking caps on to create our very own pixelated art. Check out some of the images we came up with:

We all made a brand-new friend...

Bosola and Quincey found a nice spot to kick back and relax...

Michael found a new girlfriend...

And Miss Artful Dodger finally found a way to articulate her thoughts...

And of course, there were a few obligatory laughs along the way!

Next time you're at a loss for what to write on your own stack of Post-It Notes, we highly recommend turning it into a piece of art. After all, if it doesn't come out as desired, there's still a lot to be said for making colourful confetti...

Lots of Love,
The Janes xxx

Yoh Nagao Exclusive Interview!

2010-02-02T07:55:00.000-08:00

An undiscovered gem is an understatement for the artist that is, Yoh Nagao. The illustrations created by him have been welcomed by all of you readers and I couldn’t let the love that you showed go unnoticed so to love him much more, LOL, here’s a little exclusive interview when we caught up not to long ago.

KOJO VIHRAM: Thank You very much for taking the time out to talk to me. The response posted a while back on your work has been outstanding; I think I can say that you have gained a lot more fans in the UK. Just waiting for the work to come to London and see it all physically, but before I get carried away with much excitement, could you tell the readers know a little something about yourself?

YOH NAGAO: Thank you! Yes, of course. My name is Yoh Nagao. I am currently based in Nagoya-city, in the middle of Japan. I’m Very liberal and have an easy going mind. I grew up within a western culture, so I like to skate board, I love Hip Hop and generally most good things (laughs) I worked for several companies after I graduated art school, and now I'm an artist full time and a freelance graphic designer. Having a little personal matter, I'm still living with my mother with her three cats and one dog, but love the home cooked food. I would prefer my space, it would be nice, but it does get stressful.

KV: Hopefully that wouldn’t be for too long. We all know what that’s like living at home…I could go on…but no! LOL! How long have you been an artist?

YN: It's been about 4 years now since I started with this style. The one you posted up! Originally I always loved to draw when I was much younger.

KV: So is that where all your images stem from, childhood? I remember our first conversation and you mentioned that pictures come your mind, what happens in your mind when you draw?

YN: Yes that is true. Its been a couple years creating this style and many of art work is based from my own real happenings, feelings, experience as it’s beginning to happen or has happened. In my mind, I’m pumping them up to decide a motif, atmosphere or theme. At the start or a moment, I probably would draw nothing at all or just think of something for a while. Then, after decide a layout and I start to draw. So I could say that my creation will be started from thinking deeply in my mind.

KV: Can you describe your favourite artwork that you’ve created?

YN: Yes. "Point to point" is representing my situation of between making my art pieces in my studio in Japan and showing them in overseas. Many of my work tell a bit of something I’m feeling or a specific situation. Then a series of work evolved and then made for my first solo-exhibition in Hong Kong in Feb-2009. At the same time, I have strong desire to get out of Japan as well and to show more to the world.

KV: I like it. It sounds very interesting. Your creative structure just seems to me that it can jump out of the canvas. Would you consider using any other art form in creating art pieces?

YN: Yes I have thought about it many times and maybe I would consider using Fabric, metal or wood. Because I'm thinking to create sculptures someday and also filming is very interesting but that’s another discussion to have.

KV: That’s another great passion of mine and music as well. Have you worked with any other types of artists in collaborating on art pieces?

YN: No I haven't. I wish I could.There are lots of great artists in this world, so I hope it will happen someday in near future or even sooner.

KV: So maybe WE could do some collaboration

YN: Maybe!

KV: Ouch! Lol. Don’t worry I’m not offended, I’m only joking. Speaking of the world, it’s been through many changes significantly in the past year; do you think in general that art is reflective of the world we live in today?

YV: Just a little bit. It is getting more open but there's still a big gap between our lives in general. Because art is still very conservative, I think it doesn't have a strong influence. I bet art won't be super big either, super small existence, I think maybe it will be staying similar a position in the society.

KV: Hard to place, but as the world and society change perhaps the expression in art will grow in diversity as part of people’s influences noticeably in your work, there seems to be a strong influence. Who would you say has been your influence?

YN: My father has been a great influence. He was an amateur underwater photographer and loves the sea. He showed me lots of sea creature drawings, including nonexistent creatures when I was 4 or 5years old. I was so into it then, started drawing.

KV: Who would you like to work with in the near future?

YN: I'm looking forward to collaborate with different artistic professions people like, animators, fashion designers, and photographers. I have a small sense of ideas to reach out and create something on other formats. We will see.

KV: That would be nice hopefully the UK will get to see that soon. Do you plan to show your work in the UK sometime?

YN: I'd love to have it! But nothing planed yet. Waiting for love calls from UK.

KV: (*coughs* Ahem Plain Janes) you never know, its looking like a good year what else have you got planned this year?

YN: Well, 2010 will be a preparation year. I'm gonna have lots of art pieces and some great ideas. I'm also thinking to live outside Japan, get to maybe London, Maybe Plain Janes too. It's gonna be a very exciting year

KV: Ahhh shucks! Well that ended very quickly! Thank you so much Yoh Nagao for taking the time out exclusively to talk with me and share with the readers. It’s been wonderful, very much appreciated.

YN: No, Thank you.

People there you have it! An exclusive chat with the undeniable, extraordinaire, Yoh Nagao. I’ve said his name so many times now that the next time you hear it you’re going to think of Plain Janes…LOL! Much love you all.
Kojo aka gogogadgetmrv.

Click to find out more on Yoh Nagao’s work .

Drape me in GOLD any day!...

2010-01-29T14:45:00.001-08:00

Beautifully executed sculptures by Kevin Francis Gray

Check out more of his work...

PJ's Highlight: The Observer Ethics Awards

2010-01-29T06:23:00.000-08:00

The notion that young people are disengaged with their social conscience really must die in 2010...

I've seen too many people eco campaigning, squatting, producing politically charged pieces of art, journalism and music to let anyone tell me that our entire generation is merely obsessed with WAGS, Skins and scoring kudos points with their facebook profile pics. Indeed sometimes we all do like to score the odd kudos point with a profile pic, but come on that doesn't mean that’s all we’ve got to think about..

So while we're on the subject of thinking, let’s move onto the subject of acting, because some people do take it that little bit further; thoughts can move to deeds, and many deeds can move to change, and celebrating those who bring that change must be commended.

On the 10th January this year the Observer newspaper launched their Ethical awards for 2010, it’s an award that’s been running for five years, and celebrates companies and individuals who make a real contribution to environmental issues and social justice. In the past politicians, campaigners and ethical businesses have been nominated for awards, however this year; there is also an emphasis on individuals who strive to make a difference.

Seeing as the PJ’s are staunch supporters of all creative forms we took a particular interest in their Ethical Fashion category which is sponsored by Marie Claire. The public have been invited to nominate both companies and individuals they believe move away from the stereotypes associated with ethical fashion and who have fresh innovative fashion ideas, blending style and conscience, awesome I personally love dressing up without feeling guilty about it.

So if you are or if you know anyone who is a:

Designer, retailer, or other fashion practitioner working ethically in fashion then nominate yourself for the award here:

Observer-Ethical-Awards

you can also cast your vote for the other award categories.

Check out their video from last years awards below.

Lots of Love
The Plain Janes

I think this is the happiest emo song ever!!!!

2010-01-28T03:30:00.000-08:00

love it.

xxxxx

The ART of sound...

2010-01-27T16:21:00.000-08:00

Zimoun : Sound Sculptures & Installations | Compilation Video V1.5 from ZIMOUN VIDEO ARCHIVE on Vimeo.

Jay Electronica to play Jazz Cafe in Feb

2010-01-23T18:02:00.000-08:00

Whoop whoop, heard about it today, deffo getting my tickets for it tomorrow.

For a taster check out the trailer for his latest video Exhibit A. Leaves you gagging for more really.

Lots of Love

The Janes

*warnning Jay does seem to be taking himself quite seriously in the video, but give it a blind eye for the lyrical content*

PJ's get around

2010-01-23T14:03:00.000-08:00

I mentioned towards the end of 2009 that PJ's had been working on a few collobarative projects with other groups and organisations. One that quite a few PJ members (including myself) got involved with was a project with Iniva at Rivington Place.

We've been working as part of a group called the Inivators, who have produced a programme of events in response to the galleries current exhibition theme 'Diversity in the Visual Arts', the programme includes a modern day adaption of the Guess who board game, a Question time styled discussion and a Pop Up Court, which will be putting cultural institutions on trial for bad diversity practices.

The programme sits alongside a banging exhibition featuring artists Oreet Ashery and Larissa Sansour, Sanford Biggers, Michelle Citron, Julie Dash, Leah Gilliam, Amanda Holiday, Naomi Kashiwagi, Radhika Khimji, Tracey Moffatt, Harold Offeh, Hetain Patel, Lisa Reihana, John Sealey, Tejal Shah, Kara Walker and opens on 28th January and ends in March.

Here are the dates for your diary

Guess Who Tournament, Education Space
30 January, 2pm

Artist Yara El-Sherbini and the Inivators host an afternoon of gaming inviting you to play a new version of 'Guess Who?'. No longer the relic of the 80's, this 'Guess Who?' plays with the here and now, made in the context of difference, diversity and contemporary notions of perception.

You can play this contemporary version of 'Guess Who?', which has been created as part of the installation in the education space at Rivington Place, at any point during the Progress Reports exhibition. On specified days there is also the opportunity to become a character in the game.

____________________________________________________________
----------------------------------------------------

Pop Up Court: Diversity on Trial
27 February, 4pm

Pop Up Court: Diversity on Trial is the staging of a court of law with the cultural sector on trial. The Inivators have endowed themselves with the authority of an independent regulatory body, with the purpose of investigating crimes against diversity in the cultural sector.

Having created their own set of 10 laws or commandments, the Inivators will be in pursuit of cultural lawbreakers through a series of ‘law enforcement’ days. Members of the public will be asked to play witness to diversity in the capital’s major arts institutions. If the institutions are found to have contravened the Inivators laws, they will be tried at the Pop Up Court.

____________________________________________________________
----------------------------------------------------

Questionable Times
4 March, 6:30pm

Questionable Times: The group has created their own version of the popular BBC Question Time programme with a panel of guests who work in the cultural sector. The event has been developed in response to Iniva's founding mission, its history and the changes that have taken place over the last 15 years in the arts and wider society with regards to cultural diversity. The event is chaired by an Inivator and asks guests to answer some of the following questions:

• What does cultural diversity mean in the visual arts today?
• Is cultural diversity still a relevant subject or have the questions around it now been resolved?
• How can progress be made in the visual

I'm personally over excited about Oreet Ashery and Larissa Sansour, Sanford Biggers and Kara Walker, their work kicks ass and I'll be blogging about it soon.

Hope to see you there

Love the Janes

xoxoxo

PJ Spotlight: India Harvey lives on an Eco Village and is a creative genius

2010-01-20T18:02:00.000-08:00

Insomina seems to have laid it's nest to roost firmly in my bed this week and there is simply not enough space for the both of us. Leavng me haunting around the digital realm looking and listening to things, possibly the only upside to lack of sleep.

Yesterday I rediscoverd images from PJ member India's Harvey. She's a phenomal young artist who uses mixes media to produce her work and doesn't fear format. She's worked with PJ's from it's birth, and her boundless imagination, has been a source of inspiration for many of our projects. Check out her site it's really intriguing

She's also a social rebel and eco warrior, who lives on an eco village on kew bridge, they'll be holdig a seed swap for those with green fingers on the Valentines Day you should check out.

My brother from another mother

2010-01-20T17:31:00.000-08:00

AIB is back!!!!!

Make sure you get down there tonight,

If your not going to this today, then what are you doing with your life? (Haiti Benefit Concert)

2010-01-19T14:14:00.000-08:00

I personally think it's impossible to be untouched by the situation in Haiti at the moment and often when such disasters happen, it's pretty easy to feel powerless about helping. Which is why when I heard that Chantelle Fiddy and True Tiger were coming together use Grime music as a vehicle to raise money for the disaster in Haiti, I was totally in support of it.

We're all pretty famiiliar with the general negative stereotypes associated with urban music performers, so clearly these artists were willing to put their money where their mouth is, contributing to the sickest line up I have seen so far in 2010. Okay fair enough we're not that far into it, but it's gonna be pretty hard to compete for the rest of the year.

Check out the over serious line up.

Wiley (Island Records)
Tinie Tempah (Parlaphone Records)
JME (Boy Better Know)
Heartless Crew
Hatcha b2b N Type with Crazy D (Kiss100)
The Freestylers
Ruff Sqwad
Riz Ahmed aka Riz MC
P Money
Loose Cannons (Kiss100)
DJ Cameo (1Xtra)
Logan Sama (Kiss)
DJ Target (1Xtra) b2b Maximum (Boy Better Know)
Twin B (1Xtra) b2b Twin B (Island Records)
Sukh Knight b2b Scandalous Unltd. (True Tiger)
DJ Chef (Rinse.FM) & Rod Azlan (Dub Police)
Anti-Social (Quest, Razor Rector & Gangsta Boogie's Heny G)
Reso
The Others (Dub Police)
Trolley Snatcha (Dub Police)
Tayo
George Lenton
Rico Tubbs
Gentlemans Dub Club - LIVE
The Thirst - LIVE
Debruit - LIVE
Tayo
Seb Chew (YoYo's)
Blue Bear (True Tiger)
Chantelle Fiddy & Hattie Collins (http://www.facebook.com/l/c22a5;Ctrl.Alt.Shift/RWD/I.D Mag)
Klose One & Rattus Rattus (Urban Nerds)
Nasha Experience
Drums Of Death (DJ Set)
Rootikal selectors: David Hill, Stuart Patterson & Ashley Beedle
And as if that list wasn't extensive enough more acts on the night...

All the proceeds on the night will go towards helping the victims of the terribly sad happenings that took place in Haiti recently so make sure you support it.

Location: The Den & Centro, 18 West Central St, London WC1A 1JJ
Tax: £5, but you can of course give more

Need I say more

Love the Janes.

xoxoxox

Yoh Nagao - The Illustrating Kind!

2010-01-14T10:12:00.001-08:00

The wonderful world of art! Sometimes the unexpected surprise just seems to always be the best. I couldn’t tell you honestly how I came across Yoh Nagao but one thing that is certain is that I never stopped looking and searching on him.
His work is very reminiscent of pop art, the concept, the themes, the colours, seems to me there is a narrative to every picture created.
The acrylic paintings are matched with collages, pencil, pen and marker drawings and finished with a digital print.
Yoh Nagao describes his work as,

"sometimes mental pictures, sometimes fictions that are based on real episodes from my life. But they're not serious"

For more on his artwork click here.

Theophilus London - Humdrum Town NEW VIDEO

2010-01-14T09:48:00.000-08:00

I swear I'm like a kid! I’m over hyped by the brand new video by Theophilus London for the single Humdrum Town. His been getting major airplay on US TV and just waiting for the attack in the UK, that’s just going to be off the wall! So if you haven’t peed this yet get a look at it!

End of an ERA start of a LEGACY!...

2010-01-03T08:41:00.000-08:00

Giving you a glimpse of the action that went down with the Yo MAMA vs Plain Janes NYE party which was a LIVE, COLOURFUL blast of pure HYPE!...

Our floor entertained people with the PJ SHOWGIRLS performance and the
BASHMENT DANCE SCOOL!

We would like to thank all those who attended with a BAG FULL OF ENERGY!

and for those who didn't it's seriously not too late, the party just begun...

WATCH THIS SPACE!

K-SWISS culture blog shows PJ's some LOVE...

2009-12-20T04:13:00.000-08:00

The PLAIN JANES were selected to do a mix for the K-SWISS culture blog called KSPACE.TV...

Courtesy of Erol Sabadosh we started off with an edgy ELECTRO mix with more genre's to come...

Check it out!

THIS THURSDAY

2009-12-14T10:21:00.000-08:00

Come down and check out the latest PJ piece as part of a collaborative Exhibition we're doing with Beddow and Battani, who form creative partnerships between writers and illustrators. It's a house exhibition taking place in Goodge street.

Private view on the 17th December 2009 19:00 - 22:00

exhibition runs from 18th December 2009 - 20th December 2009

address is 23 Scala Street, just behind Goodge Street Station.

Lots of Love the Janes

xxxxx

Last Night a rapper saved my life

2009-12-10T13:30:00.001-08:00

Lil Wayne's aka Dr Carter

Love the Janes

xxxxx

Ain't No New Years Party Like a PJ Party ................... HELL YEAH!!!!

2009-12-10T10:42:00.001-08:00

The only thing that could be better would be if we were teaming up with the Force of Nature that is Yo Mama for heaven sakes the boys have been throwing it down all 2009, hence why when they asked if we would collab with them for New Years Eve we said HEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLL YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAH.

THUS THE BIGGEST ARTY PARTY OF YOUR LIFE SHALL POP OFF JUST BEFORE THE CLOCK STRIKES 12!!!

And if you attend not only will PJ and Yo Mama DJ's bring you the biggest beats of the past decade, but we'll also be flexing your creative body muscles, and teaching you how to dance, not just any dancing but Bashment dancing!!! All this while Plain Jane back up dancers collaborate with body artist Laura Cogoni bring you a funky dance piece which uses the body as a canvas.

In the mean time give this a try and start learning a few Bashment moves of your own.

Bashment Dance School Lesson 1: Sesame Street

Lots of Love the Janes xxxx

p/s whoops I forgot to mention PJ Resident Artists Cat Robertson and Rosa De Graaf shall be holding it down int the Photo booth section, hooking up members of the public with their own New Years Weave, so if you ever wondered what you might look like with different hair, get in there!!!

xxxx

Bit by Bit...

2009-12-10T02:14:00.001-08:00

Beautifully executed....

Freshly sketched...

2009-12-02T04:42:00.001-08:00

A great angle on traditional style illustration

by

Martine Johanna

Everybody say HEH!...

2009-12-01T08:37:00.000-08:00

This was jacked from MARTIN COLE, it had to get shared...

expect more random finds from him in the future!...

You may have heard it through the Grape Vine

2009-12-01T04:33:00.000-08:00

But PJ have to two big collobarations coming up this month. We've got a joint House Exhibition coming up on 18th - 20th of december with Beddow n battinis town and The Freecans collective more details to follow, and also a Banging New Years Party with the Yo Mama Crew - Get Ready for our Dance Resolution people you will enter 2010 tonned!!!!

Hold tite flyers soon come!!!

Love the Janes

xxxxxx

Yara El Sherbini plays with Art

2009-12-01T03:38:00.000-08:00

I could totally understand if people possibly thought all we do at the moment is blog but honest to god we do work to! Currently three of the PJ members are working on a collaborative Art piece and a series of programmes at Iniva Art Gallery as part of the INIvators. (PJ world extends to other places offline as well) We're exploring issues to do with Diversity in the Visual Arts and we'll be inviting everyone to come and check it out when it's ready in January.

As part of the piece we're collaborating with an amazingly talented Artist called Yara El-Sherbini, who's work uses site, context and audience to playfully explore art and life. She's hosted pub quizzes, done stand-up comedy (as art), and uses humour and popular culture to engage viewers through her work. Yara we applaud you!!!

Check out her ‘A rather Trivial Pursuit’ Piece

Another one of her pieces is called Universality Challenge and is happening this friday 4th December at the Battersea Arts Centre it's a live piece based on the TV programme, which challenges two teams to battle it out answering questions on art, religion and popular culture.
click here for more info http://www.bac.org.uk/whats-on/universality-challenge/
and get down there!

lots of Love the Janes

You know you love it when you hear a band and it makes you go awwwwww that feels good.

2009-12-01T03:13:00.000-08:00

You got to listen to Zambri five pieced, brooklyn rock-pop-post-punk-can hear lots of fusion don't know what to call it band!

Quotes from their myspace states the following

DELI MAGAZINE "...someone should probably sign them."

Easier from Zambri on Vimeo.

Bang For Changes from Zambri on Vimeo.

download free track here http://www.factmagazine.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3952&Itemid=99

*Music tip stolen from Bookle!!!*

Lots of Love the Janes

PJ Spotlight: Collective Member Rosa Nico

2009-12-01T00:58:00.000-08:00

Plain Jane Member Rosa Nico loves Photography, layering, feminine touches and things that shimmer with flourescent coloured glows. Check out a few pieces of her work here.

lots of love the Janes.

A Golden Farting Bull...

2009-11-27T01:09:00.000-08:00

The bull is said to represent Wall Street, while the man pinned to the wall represents jailed financier Bernard Madoff...

This is his response to the global financial crisis at present, part of the "What you see is not real" exhibition in the Beijing Gallery

A sculpture that definitely brings you the WOW factor!...

Piece created by Chen Wenling

Jim get's all flash on you!...

2009-11-27T01:06:00.001-08:00

A new website of visual click-throughs and special effects, Displaying Jim Carrey's CV in the most innovative form...

Click here to explore!

It's a RIVALRY ting...

2009-11-26T01:39:00.000-08:00

Upgrade of colours, shape and texture...

An explosive collaboration with Cassette Playa & Nike

Wiley killed this!!!!

2009-11-25T13:47:00.000-08:00

it's sooo hard right now not to type something about a band Robbie Williams used to be in and will most certainly return to again, but I won't, I just won't.

LSD hell NO!...

2009-11-25T10:30:00.000-08:00

An entertaining art piece by James Blagden
Let us know of your thoughts...

click here for more info

Where The Wild Things Are - EXCLUSIVE FOOTAGE!

2009-11-21T03:34:00.000-08:00

Many of you might remember one of the greatest children’s book “Where The Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak. It was published in the early 60s and from generations this book has no doubt been passed down or you might have come across it somehow.

I remember so vaguely, finding the book in my cousin’s closet, and finding the illustrations as a young boy a little frightening but young as I was, I was very inquisitive.

In a nutshell, the story is of a young boy being punished and sent to his room. The story then builds on the boy’s imagination and fantasy of big hairy monsters of which to their surprise they find that he is not scared of them and then, the journey begins. Soon enough the boys misses home and soon returns. (Talk about nutshell – LOL!) I guess if I was to really describe the story to you, might as well read the book or better yet, watch the movie. But really read the book too! LOL! (View the trailer below)

I was kindly given some exclusive footage with the author, Maurice Sendak and the director of the new adaptation, Spike Jonez. In this footage, they both discuss the book and the film in detail.

To feed my inquisitive mind even further, here is a clip of how the Big hairy creature monster was created by Sonny Gerasimowicz!

Where The Wild Things Are is due out in Cinema’s everywhere December 11th
Make sure you don’t miss this!

PJs hearts The XX double hearts Kwes and will forever want to get closer to Neyo

2009-11-21T01:05:00.000-08:00

Check check check the rendition

love the janes

xxxxx

Rhymes won't Wait!!!!!

2009-11-18T00:56:00.000-08:00

London Based poet Dean Atta has been making some serious movements this past year, he is constantly on the grind, and as yet the ink from his pen has not stopped flowing, his keyboard has not fallen apart and has his tongue has not got tired. All of which makes the title of his next event even more poignant.

Rhymes won't wait, is a poetry event with a fresh concept and innovative outlook on todays international and social issues. It's the first time a dedicated spoken word event will be performed collaboratively between mentored and leading artists, all in partnership with the UK's leading charities. The event will showcase what CONFLICT means to 18-30 year-olds from across the capital.

So if youur looking for something with a little more meaning to do before you decide to go out and get wrecked this friday, then check at this event at Sound.

RHYMES WONT WAITFRIDAY 20 NOVEMBER, 7-10PM@ SOUND, 1 LEICESTER SQUARE

Original vs Remix vs Remix vs Remix

2009-11-18T00:35:00.000-08:00

Since Uffie's debut album Sex Dreams and Denim Jeans is supposed to be getting released early 2010 and I didn't up the video when it came out last month, I thought I'ld post up the original of pop the glock vs a few unknown producers for people to have a chew over.

You know what they generally say about sequels, but some of it might actually tickle your fancy!

original

vs

Remix

vs

Remix

vs

Remix

Lots of Love The Janes

xoxoxox

Gilles Peterson Presents Havana Cultura Album Launch Party

2009-11-17T13:52:00.000-08:00

Havana Cultura is a new project designed to bring new Cuban musicians together to create a new album of Cuban music.

Hosted by Radio 1’s Giles Peterson, the collaboration with the award-winning Cuban jazz pianist Roberto Fonseca, was to find the best of today’s music generation in Havana and create something special.

Over the past year, they have created and outstanding production of music mayhem of its finest! The 9 piece Havana Cultura band will head line the album launch party and Radio 1’s Giles Peterson will be spinning the hottest Cuban tracks from past to present.

DJ support comes from London’s Sofrito Crew – Hugo Mendez, Frankie Francis and the mysterious Mighty Crime Minister.

Friday the 20th Nov 2009
29 New Inn Yard, London, EC2A 2EY
Old Street
8.00PM - 2.00AM
£12

Elan Tamara Performns @ MoMo

2009-11-10T23:49:00.000-08:00

Elan Tamara is a young music extraordinaire. The beautiful, warm hearted ever so bubbly young lady, sweeted all hearts at MoMo’s for her very 1st performance...

The packed out room cheered to songs like Outside, Frog Song, and Find A Way. The encores of this intimate gig left people wanting more. Rightly so. Due to be performing in December, a date that is yet to be confirmed and if you missed this one, you don’t want to miss the next. Check out some pictures from the night and video clips of her performance.

http://www.myspace.com/elantamara

Elan Tamara - Frog Song

Elan Tamara - Oh Papa

Kidrobot Launches in Covent Garden...

2009-11-03T01:21:00.000-08:00

Kidrobot playfully creative with an adult edge

They produce exclusive vinyl toys, clothing and accessories but the longevity of the company exist within the collaboration of talented designers and artist willing to customise and put their take on a Kidrobot figurine...

The grand opening will be a collaboration with artistic duo TADO:

Thursday 19th of November 6-8pm

Kidrobot London
19 Earlham Street
London, UK WC2H 9LL

Check out what went down last time they made an appearance in the UK...

P.S - This is my favourite section of selfridges all round innovation

Kidrobot x Selfridges - Ye Olde English Dunny Launch Party from Kidrobot on Vimeo.

OKAY I AM OFFICIALLY OBESSED WITH THIS SONG NOW!!!!!!!!

2009-11-01T04:24:00.000-08:00

Got introduced to this song on Tuesday, have played it 100 times since I think.

xxxx

Intrinsically ghoulish SHOTS by Joshua Hoffine...

2009-10-31T09:09:00.000-07:00

To find out more about this multi-faceted talent check out joshuahoffine.com

If you didn't watch Question Time with Nick Griffin last week you must have been sleeping under a rock

2009-10-26T01:57:00.001-07:00

In Conclusion

There is a fault in reality...

2009-10-24T13:27:00.000-07:00

CHOP CUP from :weareom: on Vimeo.

Do you agree, or do you take things on face value?...

Do you stop to question the un-questionable or shrugg it off?...

It's good to have a refresh, because this artistic clip certainly made me think...

I got MORPHED by Damien Weighill...

2009-10-24T05:57:00.000-07:00

I stumbled across this artistic blog called "Your Face" , the idea is simple you send in a clear snapshot of your face and then Damien Weighhill customises it in an illustrative way (my result is above)...

-------

In his own words:

"Real people don't read your blog"

"A fact that I wasn't made aware of when I signed up for these things; It now seems so obvious.

If you are reading this and you do happen to be a real person then why not send me a photo (one which includes your real face) and I will draw a picture of you and post it here to serve as everlasting proof that sometimes facts are wrong"

------

Some more MORPHED characters below:

check out his works of art here

B-boy Championships backstage 2nd day snippet...

2009-10-15T06:15:00.000-07:00

Another year out of three and it was really good to see the familiar faces I grew to know whilst working on the event...

Competiton was fierce, energy was high octane and new talent emerged...

This year I have to say the female talent just got bigger and we was graced with our first ever female locker Dey Dey (France) and B-girl group AT, Candy and Taya to win in the B-boy Championships!

And atleast this year I predicted the B-boy solo world title and it came TRUE Morris repping USA smack it!...

In jesse's words: "I was watching this on tv last year, now I'm behind the dancers on stage. Its like Tekken but dancing, this is sick!"

I thought I add in the fact our PJ Reporter Laura went up for the fresh to death style comp, and didn't get through because Crazy Legs said she was wearing a mets jersey and yet he's a Yankees fan now that's a PAR, I would like to think no-one else agreed coz she was ON POINT...

Coverage by PJ Reporters Quincey, Laura and Jesse

For more info on the event click here

(To see footage and competition process throughout all countries look out for it on channel 4)

Vice Magazine: Stories of The Eye Photography Exhibition

2009-10-14T11:22:00.000-07:00

Back in August, we mentioned the photography competition that Vice Magazine was sponsoring in association with Olympus, and after six weeks of steady submissions, the winners were selected and rolled out to East London last week to exhibit their entries.

The Janes were lucky enough to also make an appearance at the event and check out the work on the display, and we were truly blown away with the level of artistry from each of the applicants. While the exemplary work of celebrity judges Miquita Oliver, Alice Della, Daisy Lowe and Lovefoxx were a sight to behold all their own, the spotlight was not to be taken from the true stars of the evening.

Max Mallender, from York, exemplified true photographic vision with his entry, shot in Thailand with a disposable camera. We were also delighted to see Douglas Bell again on the list of winners, who has collaborated with Plain Janes in the past, and whom we very much hope to see again in the near future. Congratulations to both of them, along with fellow winners Kingsley Ifill and Josh Moore, who all walked away with a brand new D-SLR Olympus E-P1.

All in all, a fantastic night, and we look forward to seeing the work that these boys will come up with next now that they have their new swish cameras to boot...

If you'd like to check out some of their other creative work in the meantime, be sure to visit www.superpanopticon.com and http://www.blackskimask.blogspot.com/

Coverage by PJ contributors Bosola, Kojo, Quincey and Miss Artful Dodger

Artist JR thinks women are Hereo's

2009-10-10T04:14:00.000-07:00

I love French Street Artist JR's work, and the way he places women at the centre of their communities through it. His work in the Brazilian Favela's was capitivating. So when I saw this video piece about his recent work in Paris it had to go up, check out Women are Heroe's 'Paris' to get a taste of what he does.

as well as a few photographs of his previous work.

love the janes xxxx

PJ Guerilla Art Attack! @ Brick Lane

2009-10-10T03:57:00.000-07:00

Plain Janes hit Brick Lane Market last weekend and made a creative scene with a speed drawing event staged by the creative minds of our very own Michael and Truce. Participants were encouraged to pair up and create artistic images of each other based on a list of provided questions, similar to speed 'dating' but with a creative spin. Throughout the course of the day, we saw an unleashing of creativity as personalities unfolded onto paper in colourful representations.

Big ups to all of the participants who joined us and displayed their creative side, the contributing Janes who came out to show their support, and to everyone at Brick Lane Market for bringing the sunny day vibes! We all had a blast and can't wait to start planning the next art attack....

If you missed out on the event but would still like to see what speed drawing is all about, all you need is a partner, two sheets of paper, colouring pens and a creative side. Here are the questions we based our creations on....

SPEED DRAWING
1.) What's your favourite animal?
2.) Describe yourself in one word
3.) What is your background nationality?
4.) What did you want to be when you grew up?
5.) What are your hobbies?
6.) What is the first thing that comes to your head when I say (pick a colour)
7.) What was the last thing you cooked?
8.) Tell me about the last dream you remember having
9.) What was the highlight of your week/life?
10.) Do you have any hidden talents?