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Janita’s Fascinating New Video

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New York musicianĀ JanitaĀ talks about the beautifully atmospheric video for “Traces Upon Your Face.

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The video for “Traces Upon Your Face is gorgeous. Totally in tune with your growth as an artist and performer. What’s interesting to me is, while you’re a natural in front of the camera, you’re actually behind the scenes in this one, yet represented onscreen by a beautifully articulated marionette – which is something you may have even felt like at some points in your life before you cut away those strings. Am I reading too much into it?

Thank you so much! Yes, Iā€™ve absolutely felt like a marionette at times in my life, and Iā€™ve addressed that in my songwriting too, in different ways. The fact that thereā€™s a marionette in my video is not a coincidence. Ironically I feel like I’m more present in this video than I am in any other one so far..! The director, Charlie Harjulin, had previously made a deeply moving video about being bound and restricted, and what I saw made me keen to work with him. Busting out of cages of all sortsā€“ā€“whether they are of my own making, or created by othersā€“ā€“is a central theme in my life.

The song and video are beautiful, yet there’s real worry being expressed in both. You’re singing about the fear that a new love may turn out “just like the others” and visually we’re seeing a girl lost in the woods, haunted by the past, not sure who she can trust. Yet you’re putting your heart out there even though you’ve been hurt before, which brings an optimism to the song. Am I getting that right?

Yes, thatā€™s exactly right. The song “Traces Upon Your Face” is about exorcising the ghosts of the pastā€“ā€“wanting to move forward, and to learn to trust. I personally have an unwillingness to stay stuck, and it drives me, even when Iā€™m scared beyond my wits; and however dark a song I write, thereā€™s always hope and optimism bubbling underneath. Iā€™m happy to hear that it comes through to the listener, and the observer. I have to say, Iā€™m still amazed at how well that worry, courage, and soul can be expressed through a marionette. For me, the character is genuinely touching.

Artists like Bjork have relied on beautifully abstract videos, too. I think it opens up opportunities for the viewer/listener to make some of their own interpretations. It certainly strikes different chords than music by itself. Are you a visual person? Howso?

I am a visual person, yes. Music, dance, and visual art were of equal importance to me as a kid, and I think that those early interests are a real clue as to what people are most inclined to be when they grow up. These days, I frequent museums and exhibits, and Iā€™m very inspired by visual art, lighting, videos, movies, personal style…. My latest album, ā€œDidnā€™t You, My Dear?ā€, this new video, my recent live performances, my photography, and artwork, etc., have all come togetherā€“ā€“for what feels like the first timeā€“ā€“to represent accurately who I am as an artist. I canā€™t tell you how good it feels to be seen for who I am. Particularly after so many years of having been a marionette (there it is againā€¦.), a tool for other people’s careers and aspirations.

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I’m reminded a bit of The Dark Crystal, or videos done by the Brothers Quay (Tool, Michael Penn). Yet this is all in-camera work. Not stop-motion and no CGI, right? It’s a performance in and of itself. How’d you get involved with filmmaker Charlie Harjulin and artistic director Margarita Leonore? How hands-on were you in the process?

Thanks! Yeah, I see that. As a kid in the 80ā€™s in Finland, I grew up watching Polish, East-German, and Czech doll animations on TV. Itā€™s what was on, and with only two or three TV-channels at the time, my options were limited. But I developed a real love and appreciation for puppetry then. So when Charlie Harjulin introduced me to Margarita Leonoreā€™s work online, I was immediately enthralled. Her puppetry had a nostalgic quality for meā€“ā€“reminding me of my childhoodā€“ā€“and the visual felt right for the song.

Charlie and I have actually known each other since we were five years old. We were classmates for more than a decade, and even childhood sweethearts. Weā€™ve remained friends throughout the years, but weā€™d never worked together until this project. I was determined to participate in the production of this, and ended up traveling to Barcelona where Charlie and Margarita both live, to help out with the filming. I even got a chance to do some puppeteering myself!

True, itā€™s all in-camera work, and no CGIā€“ā€“everything is performed live on a surprisingly small set. While I was on set, we cut up and mushed those rotten veggies you see (and we smelled…), broke countless glow sticks, twirled hand-held lights (that ended up weighing a TONā€¦), and bribed volunteers with pizza. A couple of long, but incredibly rewarding days for me. I was present for the production as much as I could be, and Iā€™m so happy I went for it. It was truly an unforgettable experience!

I have your record Didn’t You, My Dear? in heavy rotation. It’s one amazing track after the other. I know it took a lot of emotional investment to write, record and perform… but I’m selfishly dying to know what’s next. Are you writing new material?

Thank youā€“ā€“thatā€™s wonderful to hear. I am indeed writing new material! My lyrical perspective is changing, and Iā€™m using more imagery these days, which is exciting and challenging at the same time. Musically, some of my classical background seems to be rearing up its head, and I also have some new folk influences that are working their ways in… However, my next album wonā€™t be a departure from Didnā€™t You, My Dear?,Ā rather a natural evolution and continuation. Iā€™m interested now in building a body of work with a singular vision, which is a sensibility that wasnā€™t available for me in the past as an artist. Iā€™m hugely motivated by whatā€™s to come, but also thrilled about whatā€™s going on right now. Iā€™m determined to savor every moment!

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Rest Easy Eric Curran a.k.a M.C Krispy E

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Almost every year for the past 6 years and on the same day, Iā€™ve posted the same pic of me in the hospitalĀ  during my temporary and untimely demiseĀ  in 2015. A few weeks after I was back to ā€œnormalā€, I asked Eric ā€œWhyā€™d you take the pics?ā€ And he said, ā€œI knew you would want to write about it if you lived.ā€ Eric was right. Eric was often right and Eric always had my best interest at heart. I am going to miss my friend.

You ever meet someone and become friends immediately?! Well this was not the case with Eric. Before he was my manager at Morgan Stanley, I would often see this 6ā€™4″, giant white guy walk up to the only black woman at work, say something then walk away without any hint of human emotion. Naturally I thought he was a jerk until I asked her ā€œYo, is that dude bothering you?ā€ She laughed and proceeded to tell me he was a great person, which I ultimately got to experience first hand. Little did I know this Italian from Staten Island was more Brooklyn than most Brooklynites.

Eric was not with the shits!! If there were ever someone who lived their life in direct, honest and no uncertain terms, that would be Eric. He would ask me questions at work like ā€œWhy are the other consultants making more money than you?ā€ I knew the answer to that question and so did he. Eric then proceeded to increase my salary by 15K. After arguing with all our managers that ā€œYou need to hire Alfred!ā€, they eventually did 1 year prior to the 2015 incident. In the hospital, one of my friends asked me, ā€œWhat if you didnā€™t have health insurance when this happened?ā€ I would be in debt for the rest of my life is the obvious answer. I still am in debt for the rest of my life but at least, it is to those who made sure I had a more enjoyable life and for that, I will gladly repay.

My mom loved to tell me the story of how she met Eric. After they told her I was going to be in the ICU for some time, she told the doctor ā€œWell Iā€™m not going anywhere.ā€ She then hears a voice from that back of the room that says ā€œWell Iā€™m not going anywhere either!ā€ That was Eric and in true form, he was at that hospital every single day until I was discharged.

Eric passed away in December 2021 of stage 4 cancer. After feeling faint on his way to my bbq, he went to get checked out and was diagnosed. During the past 5 years, Eric lost his mom, twin brother and dad. I can’t even begin to imagine what that must have felt like but I’m glad that pain he was feeling is no more.

Itā€™s been a bit difficult to deal with it to be quite honest and Iā€™ve been writing this in my head for years but never had the bravery or grace to accept that my friend wouldnā€™t be here soon. I also canā€™t imagine what it must be like to lose your entire family nucleus unexpectedly. In true Eric fashion however, I would like this to not be about me but whomever has lost someone and has been coping. Iā€™ve always intimated that my life would not be as enriched as it was were it not for the people in it. The problem with that is there is also no way to deny that it feels empty without those who helped craft your path. Rather than focus on the negative, I would rather focus on the examples of duty, family and emotional intelligence. All concepts reinforced by Eric that have led me to have successful relationships since Iā€™ve put them into practice.

From being my manager to my business partner, writer, book editor, artistic director, and most importantly, my friend, I am going to miss you MC Krispy E a.k.a ā€œEnrique Pollazo!ā€ And although you told me Enrique means Henry in Spanish and not Eric, it was too late!

Sidebar. The day I was discharged, while everyone was deciding what was best for me, no one had remembered that I would need clothes in order to leave the hospital. Eric shows up (unasked) with all the clothes I had on the day I coded, laundered and ready to go. I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve friends like this but i need to keep doing it! Sidebar complete.

Rest in Peace Eric. ā€œBe Good.ā€

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Writing Your First Book / Should I Self Publish?

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I had the distinct pleasure ofĀ  participating in a panel discussion on writing your first book, presented by the Harlem chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.Ā  Alongside Jim St. Germain, Author – A Stone of Hope: A Memoir and Dr. Keneshia Nicole Grant, Author – The Great Migration and the Democratic Party: Black Voters and the Realignment of American Politics in the 20th Century. Ā We opined on pain points, benefits and strategies regarding our inaugural voyages into authorship. Feel free to watch for your self and I hope this provides some insight to all those looking to make the same voyage. Enjoy!

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What the NFT is a BEEPLE?

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On March 11 this year, the digital artist Beeple sold a collage of digital images from his “Everydays” series for nearly 70 million dollars as an NFT, or non-fungible token. And if that sentence confuses you, you’re not alone.

A non-fungible token is a unit of data on a digital ledger called a blockchain, where each NFT can represent a unique digital item, and thus they are not interchangeable. NFTs can represent digital files such as art, audio, video, and other forms of creative work. While the digital files themselves are infinitely reproducible, the NFTs representing them are tracked on their underlying blockchains and provide buyers with proof of ownership.” – Wikipedia

Still confused? Let the artist himself explain it, and learn how he went from NFT newbie to making the third most expensive artwork by a living artist in three months. Not to suggest Beeple is an overnight success. The “Everydays” series alone involved creating a piece of art every day since May 1, 2007 – and he hasn’t missed a day.

Check out some of Beeple’s amazing and controversial work below.

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