PJ recommended Ear Candy: Golden Debut E.P by Elan Tamara

If there's one debut EP you've got to get this year, (and believe it or not 2009 draws to a close in only 3 months, so there isn't that much time left for those who want make their dent in it) then you have got to get the debut E.P 'Gold Fishes' from Elan Tamara. Copies have already sold out Stateside, with promising sales being seen at Rough trade stores over here.

Her affectious vocals mixed with her commanding song writing and fingers that seem to dance across piano keys in a way I can barely comprehend, leave you with an astounding sense that you truely have locked into something quite special, when you play the EP by this promising, talented and unique songtress. With a voice that has the ability to both bellow and soothe through tracks, the contrast in the strength and vulnerability that Elan is able to evoke definitely makes her an artist to listen out to in the future, so make sure your one of the first to listen to her now.

You can get goldfishes from:

Rough Trade

Sounds Of The Universe

iTunes

Love the Janes

xoxoxox

Young, Fresh and New!

Duval Kojo Bankole Timothy

Intrinsic, aesthetically configured and emerging talent...


explore his world and check out his works...

*Drum Roll* And this years mercury prize goes to

As I write this post at 2:33 in the morning, I shall dare to make the prediction that come this morning, once news of this years mercury prize winner has really hit the streets many may be a little astounded to find that this years winner is in fact, not florence and the machine, no not la roux, not the Invisible or friendly fires,
but 26 year old, female South London rapper Speech Debelle, of Big Dada records.



Although this is not the first time a female MC has won the mercury, we saw lady dynamite take away the award in 2002, it's been three years since an MC has touched the award, and with the innovation pop has seen this year, it would have been quite easy for Mercury to make a popular yet still well respected decision by giving the gong away to many of the other nominee's. However they didn't and many may find Speech Debelle difficult to swallow, her mix of hip hop, jazz, soul and her poetic lyrics, may not seem so unusual to the UK's underground hip hop scenes (I see backpackers either hailing her up as a musicial revolutionary or criticising her lyrical ability) however her sound is something that generally remains within those confines.

So what do I think of this years mercury prize decision?
although I think her music is something people may have to listen to in it's entirety if it is not something they are used to, and even then some may still not like or get her sound, (she even talks about the fact she raps with a lisp in one of her songs and sonically some people may just not like that). I think Speech Debelle is most definitely an intriguing artist, who challenges musical perceptions about what is accepted. I really respect this years decision for once again drawing attention to the innovations that are taking place in music today and bring it towards the mainstream media spot light.

VisuaL inspiration VOL 1

...Edwin Ushiro...



...Aaron Hobson...



...Dan Park...

Check out this years Round House Poetry Slam Winner

Our very PJ poetess Clarissa Pabi won it the year before, so it's only right to see what this years talent had on offer, and I think she's pretty good. I definitely agree though, it's hard being a girl who's funny.

Jay Z, Kanye West and Rihanna Video Leaked!!!!

So if you don't want to wait for the MTV exclusive you can watch it here too now.

Watch Run This Town Video Here!!!

Calling all Photographers - Vice Photo Comp

Vice magazine asked us to let our bevy of budding photographers know about their latest photography competition, their helping Olympus celebrate the release of it's latest D-SLR Olympus E-P1...

As well as celebrate 50th birthday of their classic Olympus Pen by holding a six week photography project in which people can submit photo's on four selected themes.



Daisy Lowe, Alice Della, Miquita Oliver and Lovefoxxx will be jugding photographs by entrants each week, and also submitting their own pics on four themes, for more info get out the site

http://www.viceland.com/storiesoftheeye/

so get happy snappy

lots of love

the janes

xoxoxoxox

Latest Ear Candy: Mount Kimbie

Keep your ears and eyes posted on South-London based electronic duo Mount Kimbie. Not only are these musically switched-on fellas starting to create a buzz with their debut-EP hit 'Maybes,' but they're also turning the heads of some hot bands on the scene lately. (The XX, anybody? Watch this space for upcoming news and collaborations...)

Have a listen to 'em, let your ears be impressed, and come down to Cargo on Thursday night to show some appreciation at their live set!

See you there!
Love, PJs

xxxx

Plain Janes Love making a scene

Check out this interactive art piece created by Film Maker Petah Hayes in Collaboration with PLain Janes and Idea's on Legs for our Plain Janes Love Making a scene night that happened in June.

PJ audience members were invited to dance in black fairy light body suits, and dance to music, their movements were recorded by camera, and turned into this animated piece.

So check it out!!!!

love pj's

ideas with legs from Petah Hayes on Vimeo.

So what did you do this weekend???...Ummm I slept lol

Yeah rediscovering my pillow felt bloody good however my bed got me thinking maybe i would have more interesting dreams, if I had more interesting beds, so with a little research, here are the most inspiring beds I found so far.

Viva la sleep.

Ohm Transformable Bed
Ohm is a bed that can be transformed into two individual beds or used as a bench





Geometric Bed
Ness faceted geometric bed by Jakob+MacFarlane.



The Embrace Lounge
Creative lounge by Lost Angeles based designer Tanya Aguiñiga




One of my personal favourites, seems so romantic to me Tree Bed
Creative $15,000 Tree bed by Shawn Lovell.



Sleeping Tube
Futuristic two metre “sleeping tube”.


and last but not least I thought this was really cute

Private Cloud Rocking Bed
The Private Cloud is a patented rocking bed by German designer Manuel Kloker





Imagine getting it on in that

Love the Janes

xoxoxox

Vice Photo Exhibition 2009

I remember reading ages ago in a paper or something that although photography used to be considered a lesser form of art, it was most certainly coming into it's own as a respected form this decade and damn right it should be too.

So to celebrate the beauty that is photography, why not check out Vice Magazine's First Photography exhibition opening this thursday on the 13th August 2009 and running for two weeks, monday - friday 9am - 7pm at the Print Space in East London,

After the heat that gets created everytime they drop their annual photography edition of the mag, should be good to see what they've got lined up for their exhibition.

The XX's debut album is out... cop that sh*t!!!

Black and White by HelloVon

Digital Art never stops amazing me. Artwork by Von

R.I.P Baatin from slum village...

This news broke my heart, he passed away on the 31st July.

Slum village have to be one of the greatest hip hop groups of all time.

Here's my favourite track by them. The lyrics in the last verse just articulated how real they were.

Hide and Seek

It's such a shame that summer in England has clearly been sucked into an invisible black hole, to make this years recession induced national staycation clearly seeks to remind us about what it really means to be British.

Cold and wet.

None the less there is still loads of events happening in the greater outdoors, so don't let the weather hold you back, fight back by checking out the hide and seek festival this weekend on the southbank.




It's a festival built on alternative reality games, which is something the Plain Janes will be making ourselves more in the coming future, stay tuned for those aswell however in the mean time if you want to find out what others are like check this event. It's also FREE!!!!!!