Ladybrille® Blogazine

FOR PRESS RELEASES

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Music CD/DVDs,T-Shirts and Book Giveaways!



Autographed CD from the gorgeous and sexy Zamajobe. Album Ndawo Yamiin 2005 was nominted for four categories in the South Africa Music Awards: Best New Comer, Best Jazz Vocal Album, Best Joint composition [done with Erik Pilani], and Best Engineer. Click here for our Interviewwith Zamajobe.

Autographed limited edition CD AND DVD from Grammy Award Winning Artist, Actor Common.CD: The People DVD Videos: The People and The Game.

Autographed CD, "Joyful" from Ayo. Album is Platinum in France & Poland and Gold in Italy. Click here for our Exclusive Interview with her intro to the USA market.



Autographed CD from South Africa's [SA] Freshly Ground. Band nominated for 3 SA Music Awards. The band is the first South African musical act to win MTV’s Europe Music Awards for “Best African Act.” Winner of Sound City Music Video Awards, "African Video of the Year," for "Pot-Belly" video. Click here for Exclusive Interview.



Autographed CD from Emerging Nigerian American artist NAIRA. Recently nominated for "Best International Album" at the Nigerian Entertainment Awards. Click here to vote for her for the NEA 2008 Award; and click here for our Exclusive Interview.



Autographed book from Award Winning Author & Founder of TangoDiva.com, Teresa Rodriguez Williamson. Teresa has been featured in over a "100 publications, "LIVE with Regis and Kelly," "ABC news," "NBC News," "Bay Area Backroads," and Weekend Today in New York." Click here for our interview with her.



Autographed CD & a "Gongo Aso" Tee Shirt from Nigerian Superstar/Musician 9ice. Winner of 'Best Revelation' of the Year and "Best Vocal Performance" for the Hip Hop World Awards, 2008. Nominee for "Best New Artist" for the Sound City Music Video Awards, 2008, Up for three awards for the Nigerian Entertainment Awards [NEA], 2008. Click here for his site. Click here to vote for him for the NEA Awards. Stay tuned for interview!



Autographed Mixed CD & Tee from "PaintSoul" by CHOSAN, collabo with Kanye West for Diamonds from Sierra Leone Video which won a Grammy. Also recent collabo on "In the Name of Love Africa Celebrates U2." Click here for interview.



Autographed CD from 3x Kora Awards Winner, Nominee Best African artist MTVE, MJTX Awards. Click here for our Interview.

How to Enter:

Send an e-mail to contest@ladybrille.com.

List the name of the CD/book/Tees you want to win.

One winner per prize

Include your name, age, address and phone number

Winner will be selected at random

Winner will be notified via e-mail and has 24hrs to claim prize

Contest open only to residents in the USA and Europe. You must be 18 to qualify. Deadline extended to April 30th, 2008, at 11:59pm Pacific Standard Time [PST], USA. Also, stay tuned for our continous features of amazing names in the music biz!

Good luck!
Read More

Friday, April 11, 2008

South Africa's Freshly Ground, the Band

You would have to be living underneath a rock, especially if you are in Africa, if you have never heard of the wonderful, refreshing and amazing South African Band, Freshly Ground! Seven very diverse individuals in language, race and nationality come together to produce a truly multicultural cound that is "freshly ground."Zolani Mahola is lead vocals; Simon Attwell handles flute, mbira and harmonica; Peter Cohen is on drums; Kyla Rose Smith is violinist extraordinaire and also vocals; Julio "Gugs" Sigauque is the go to man for acoustic guitar man; Josh Hawks handles bass guitar and vocals and last but not least is Aron Turest-Swartz who is the go to for keyboards, percussion and vocals.
FreshlyGround broke on the music scene in 2003 with their Freshman album “Jika-Jika.” However, it was not until 2005 that their biggest breakthrough came in the form of their sophomore album, “Nomvula.” In 2007, they released another album M’acheri and their single “Pot-belly” from M'acheri is getting major play across airwaves within and outside Africa. In 2005, the band was nominated for three South African Music Awards. In 2006, they became the first South African musical act to win MTV’s Europe Music Awards for “Best African Act.” The band have also been recently nominated and head to Nigeria today for the revamped Sound City Music Video Awards which they will headline with the American rapper, Nas.
Due to popular demand in the USA, the band recently signed with Sony BMG Africa and will be in New York late 2008 to wow their USA fans! Guess what? We are proud to be the first USA based publication to bring Freshly Ground directly to the Ladybrille readers in the USA. Yes, the band took time out to show LADYBRILLE.com some love and introduce themselves, just in case you never heard of them. Click here to see how to win a copy of their autographed CD; which we believe will sell like hotcakes when they soon introduce themselves to their American fans!
Doo Bee

LADYBRILLE.com: Zolani, beyond your beautiful voice, I love your style
sense. Do you collaborate with SA designers to dress you for the video shoots for your songs? FreshlyGround:
Well, we have not collaborated with a specific designer who has done all the shoots. It has all been relatively haphazard. . .However, for the most recent video –"Potbelly," the designer Maya Prass dressed me and I have really found her clothes most suitable, especially for a round-figured girl like me.
LADYBRILLE.com: Let's talk about your 2005 Nomvula release which had "Doo Bee" and "Nomvula" as hit songs. Could you tell us what Nomvula means and is all about? FreshlyGround: Nomvula tells a little bit of my [Zolani's] life story. It is a tribute to my late mother and my father who raised me and my siblings. A brooding thank you song.
LADYBRILLE.com: "Pot Belly" from your latest release, M'acheri, is
receiving lots of play time. Tell us why you all decided to go with that song and the message you are trying to send across.
Freshly Ground: We went with that song because we had played it to audiences before we released the album and we had an amazing response to it in the live arena. We hoped that it would follow that we would have a great response when people heard it on the radio and we weren't disappointed. The message of the song is that we all have the capacity to love and be loved.
Nomvula

Kyla Rose Smith, Violinist
LADYBRILLE.com: [Kyla, what’s your view]?Is there collaboration with SA musicians and fashion designers for music video shoots? FreshlyGround: We have not really been a part of any collaboration's with fashion designers. It’s quite difficult to get one person's fashion tastes to fit with seven individuals and their style. Obviously as musicians and performers we are always looking for interesting ways to style ourselves and dress up for stage but so far we have not received many offers from designers.
LADYBRILLE.com: How do you think that gap can be bridged to really amplify SA's fashion and music industry? FreshlyGround:I think thats as artists we could be more open to all sorts of different collaboration, but also I think that over the past few years music and fashion are two very diverse and growing industries in South Africa. We even have some musicians who have their own fashion labels, like Zola. I think that an interesting way for musicians to bridge the gap with fashion designers is to collaborate on a designer label and put your own individual style in the eyes of the fashionista's and also vice versa, for fashion designers to put their designs on the South African stages.
Pot Belly

Peter Cohen-Drummer
LADYBRILLE.com: [Peter], for our audience, who have never heard of you all, describe your music style and how Freshly Ground came about? Freshly Ground: Our music is quite hard to describe in terms of style as we have so many different influences. . . This is probably as a result of how we came together as well. It was a very organic process with very little planning. People often think we put this thing together with a lot of careful thought. This, however, is not the case and I would say the same about our style of music. Let’s just call it Freshlyground. . .that’s our style of music.
LADYBRILLE.com: You've got seven very diverse people in language, culture and race in one band yet the unison in voice and message come across in your music. How do you all make it work? Freshly Ground: [T]his is not an easy question to answer. . . I am not sure how we make it all work. What I do know is that it is working and this is what's important.
LADYBRILLE.com: Fill us in on South Africa's [SA's] music scene. What is the current state of SA's music industry? Freshly Ground: I think the music business around the world is in quite a state of flux regarding the issues of distribution and this filters through to SA as well. Having said this, I think there is a lot of amazing stuff starting to happen here in terms of content being created. . .There are a lot of bands and artists doing great things and getting a lot of recognition here and abroad: Simphiwe Dana, HHP, Love Jones, Harris Tweed e.t.c.
LADYBRILLE.com: Let's talk about playing in the USA. When do you guys plan on making that a reality for your fans here? Freshly Ground: I am not sure when this will happen. Our calendar is very full at the moment but there is no USA. Maybe next year. . . oops! I lied! I just saw an entry that says we will be in New York in September.

LADYBRILLE.com: Whoo hoo! Awesome! We will be looking for you guys. Thanks guys and see you here soon! FreshlyGround: Thanks! We are working on it.
Read More

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Top Africa/Related Fashion,Music,Movies + Art Events

Below are our top picks of Africa/Africa related fashion/music/movies and art events we think you should check out for April 2008!
MUSIC: Drum roll puuuuhlease for the biggest, “baddest” and highly revamped 2008 Sound City Music Video Awards! The award show takes place this Friday on April 11th, 2008 in Lagos, Nigeria. YES there will be live red carpet coverage, YES Africa’s music celebrities will be representin’ to the fullest and YES you are required to look “hot ta def” so our fashion police does not arrest and send you to jail! The event will be shown across the continent and also shown live in the UK, parts of Europe and the USA. If you will be in “Las gidi” as the city of Lagos is fondly called, be sure to check on it! Acts like South Africa’s FreshlyGround, Nigeria’s 9ice, Ghana’s Tic-Tac and many more will be performing! Visit the site here.

BUSINESS: If you’ve got money on your mind and your mind on your money; AND you happen to be in Mountain View, California, then the TAN April 12th, 2008 business mixer is your thing! The event will be held at the prestigious Fenwick & West law firm located at 801 California Street in Conf. room 110, from 5-9pm. For more info. e-mail the TAN folks at info@africannetwork.org.


FASHION: Okay, if you’d rather do something else as in fashion, fashion and more fashion events, then Onna Ehrlich is your woman! This very Ladybrille fashion home girl is about to cause some chaos with her glamourous Hollywood comes to "Las gidi" via her designer Hollywood A-list handbags. Lagos has no idea what is about to hit them! The event is by invitation only and takes place on Sunday April 13th, 2008 from 3:00pm to 11:55pm in Lagos, Nigeria. For a chance to attend, e-mail Onna Ehrlich at info@onnaehrlich.com. Be sure to let them know you read all about it at LADYBRILLE.com.
ART: No shopping, no awards show, no business talk. Sounds like me right about now! You just want to relax, have some hor'derves, take in beautiful artwork and talk to artists and likeminded art lovers. Hmmm . . . then Visual Collaborative is a must! Icy PR and Adeave Studios have produced this cool exhibition that takes place this Saturday, April 12th, 2008 at the Undercurrent Arts Building located at 2563 N. Miami, Florida 33127 and goes from 7pm to 10pm. For more info., check out the clean and rather sexy site here.
MORE MUSIC: “For the Love of Music” concert series kicks off in what they hope will be a bi-monthly event. The headliners include Keno, Candyse Jones and of course our very own NAIRA who recently gave us an exclusive on her new look, new website and new sound. If you have not checked out her interview, be sure to do so here to learn all about NAIRA. The event takes place on April 12th at 9:20pm and April 13th at 12:20am at the All nations Bar & Bistro located at 3352 Chamblee Tucker Road. Show up only if you can “hang,” especially on the Sunday event. For more info., contact avantgardexchange@gmail.com.
MORE FASHION:
Our friends at Brooklyn's based Harriet’s Alter Ego is all about the fashion hustle with their event “Hustle and Sew.” They believe “everybody needs a side hustle” and of course for us, sewing is part of that equation. The event will be held at their boutique located at 293 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, NY. To get your “Hustle and Sew” on, contact them at info@harrietsalteregoonline.com

MOVIES: We told you about the Africa Movie Academy Awards a while back. The producers describe the event as “THE BIGGEST AND THE BEST MOVIE AWARDS IN AFRICA, A TRUE REWARD SYSTEM BY AFRICANS FOR AFRICANS.” The event takes place on Saturday April, 26th, 2008 in the city of Yenagoa, in the State of Bayelsa, in Nigeria. It is a star studded event featuring Nollywood, Gollywood and some black Hollywood celebrities.

Finally, our top event list would be incomplete without telling you about the AFRICAN VIBES [AVM] 2ND YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY! Being in magazine print business is tough and to do so, especially for an African owned QUALITY publication, for two years, is AWEEEEESOME! We of course introduced you to Amabel Niba one of the co-founders and Editor-in-Chief of the AVM in our October Ladybrille Woman of the Month. Now, head out and celebrate with her and her team! She promises it will be good times. It is two days of partying and begins April 26th, 2008 at 9:00pm and ends April 27th, 2008 at 4:00am—okay almost two days of partying. ;)
If you can’t make any of these events, no worries. We will do our best to keep you updated with the juicy scoop on the who, what, when, where and why. Just keep it locked,logged, bookmarked on LADYBRILLE.com!
Read More

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Homecoming: From England to Nigeria


By Chiedu Ifeozo, Ladybrille Columnist

It was another sunny, yet freezing cold morning in London. I walked out of the Caledonian road station, and trudged down the road to work. I had a lot on my mind; I had a big decision to make. This story actually began a long time before this beautiful morning. It began the day I arrived in England, with the inevitable decision of the next step after my education, looming in the future.

I don’t know about others, but I certainly thought about it back then. Now, the moment was near, and I was worried about my next step. My parents had been calling me for months, with questions that most students in the Diaspora dread to hear. "What are you doing?" "When are you going to get a career job?" "When are you coming back home?" Luckily I had got a job doing administrative duties earlier on that year, I was very glad for the opportunity to make some money.

At the time, such was my thought process that I felt it was alright for an engineer with a master’s degree to be doing administrative duties. I remember telling myself that I'd keep applying for career jobs, and it was better than sitting at home. Well eight months later, on that December morning, I was no where nearer to getting a career job and I had started to settle for my current state.

I went to interviews, joined job agencies, and filled countless applications online. I had achieved a second class upper certification grade, but I received many letters of rejection starting with "I'm sorry…", I kept them at first, I don’t know why, perhaps I just needed to remember which companies I had applied to, yes I applied to that many companies, and under any discipline.

My university course ended in 2004, and I never gave up, I took up a course in graphic and web design, I liked the course but really it bought me time to continue the search, the rest of my time I spent writing. I did this for a full year before getting the admin job in 2005, and it was a welcome relief, I was beginning to lose my mind.

So here I was on the way to my saviour of a job, a job that I didn’t particularly like, but I had to contend with, I was slipping into the abyss, a seemingly comfortable zone, where all that mattered was that I was living a comfortable existence, but I wanted more. I think a lot of students in Diaspora feel the same way, but they feel handicapped, like they have no options, the only choice being to stay abroad at any cost. It is the same with some folks back in Nigeria, they want to get out of a country that they do not feel helps them to grow, to develop and to achieve, they’ve lost hope in the system. They would rather go through a lot of pain to make it to Europe.

I was tired of being somewhat unwanted, in an environment where immigrants are seen as leeches, there to take away their jobs and crowd up their streets, they conveniently forget that I paid my taxes very regularly and had done my best to integrate and contribute to the British society. I was disappointed at every turn, and grew increasingly unhappy.

I got in to work, but this day was different, it was my last day. I had finally made the first decision; I had to leave my job. The next day, I bought a ticket to Nigeria and thus began my homecoming.


Read More

Monday, April 7, 2008

N.A.I.R.A Soars On "Angel's Wings"

Cleopatra Yejide Adedeji aka N.A.I.R.A took a hiatus from the music scene to deal with loss in the family. Now she is back and talks to LADYBRILLE.com in what turned out to be an exclusive interview on her loss, new image, new album titled “On my Angel’s Wings” and her worldwide takeover. Enjoy! To see how to win an autographed CD from N.A.I.R.A., click here.

LADYBRILLE.com: For people who don't know you? Who is NAIRA and who are you primarily trying to reach with your music? Naira: My goal is to reach the hearts and minds of the masses one stereo at a time WORLDWIDE! My music is a reflection of who I am or am becoming as well. The torch that burns for all mankind in the most funky, neosoul/hiphop way ever imagined. I am NAIRA means Nigerian American I Represent Africa/Atlanta/or any other befitting word beginning with an “A.”


LADYBRILLE.com: You took a break from the music for a while. Why? Naira: In my eyes the days of my 1.25 year hiatus seemed like an eternity and then some. It was undeniably morose and jaded! In looking back, I didn't necessarily see a way out of that feeling. My anchor, my inspiration,direction, and my lifelong hero was gone. My mother was taken from this world and transcended into the next in a way not befitting of her deeds. In recapping the life of a loved one that has passed on, many people tend to exaggerate his/her true persona, but my mother was a true earth angel. Complete with flaws, but full of vigor, love, perseverance, bravery, kindness, elegance, and the love of God. So without her in the lives of me and my siblings, one may see why I took a break. A break I wasn't sure I was going to come back from...BUT I AM INDEED BACK!!!


LADYBRILLE.com: We empathize with your loss and applaud you for your strength and drive to get back to the music.


LADYBRILLE.com: With the tours, promotions, gruesome schedules and of course still dealing with your recent loss, why do you think this is a good time for a come back?
Naira: Honestly, I didn't choose to do it by myself I was pulled back in with the overwhelming amount of love from my fans and supporters. After months of receiving email upon email, texts, and phone calls I truly felt like I was letting them down by staying away. My little brother Isaac and [my] aunt Bim are responsible for the last and final push. My bro would come to me after school hug me and then say "Yo big sis, I am so lucky to have a rockstar for a sister. I thank God for your music. You are the best!" I would quickly run away from him and literally cry, because I thought coming back would be so hard. Don't get me wrong it is most certainly still is, but he was like my number 1 fan and I couldn't bear let him down. So for some months I re-tapped my inspiration through all of them. Sculpted together several songs that embodied how I felt about my mom, our family's loss, and the world at large. The project in and of itself is dedicated to the life and times of my mother. My inspiration, my hero, my angel. So today and for ever I'll soar "On My Angel's Wings"!

LADYBRILLE.com: Indeed. So, you are out with a new album, new look, new website, a whole re-branding of Naira. Is that a reflection of change within?
Naira: It is absolutely a new Naira. I can never be the same again! I still embody my swagger, business savvy and whatnot, but in the core of my being I am brand new. It is quite challenging finding out who I am now though but interesting, all the same.


LADYBRILLE.com: Inner growth can be very difficult but is truly rewarding when the journey is complete. I listened to your new album and all I could think was how your voice is more like that of Janet Jackson's when you sing. You in fact rap and sing. How hard is it to do both?
Naira: I started off as a singer and late in elementary school started the rap phase of things. It has always been in me. I often hear that I sound like Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, and or Tweet at times. The new album is a little more edgier in the sound range though. A little electro-soul and hiphop for ya [smiles] I presume that's where you got Janet Jackson from.


LADYBRILLE.com: I like when you sing, but I'll have to say, personally for me, I really enjoy when you spit [rap] rhymes. For example, I like "The City is Mine," a lot. But, I would put my money on it that "Worldwide" is the hit! Tell us about the "Worldwide" single.
Naira: My single Worldwide is a perfect example of what I represent as an artist. As well as the platform for which I want to extend myself on. It's a fun song about different parts of the globe and what's popping there. In a few they'll all be "Listenin' to me!" and singing along with the rest of the song's lyrics. It is most certainly a hit song and has actually been played on the radio in several countries worldwide. [From BBC Radio, Netherlands, Australia, Ghana, Nigerian, and many others]. Big up El Dee and Nick P of Hevy Hed Productions!

LADYBRILLE.com: Very nice. It is definitely a hit song in my book. I know you’ve attempted to penetrate the Nigerian market in Nigeria, in the past, but that has not been too successful. What do you think it will take, this time, to infiltrate Nigeria’s pop culture,airways, music scene e.t.c. with your music?
Naira: I think that I have been considerably successful in penetrating the market, but to a certain extent. Yes, my songs have been played and videos aired, but from an album release/business standpoint I agree that venture has been unfruitful thus far. The way the industry operates in Naija is quite different than ours. So the companies that were interested didn't quitemeet me where I am with regards to business functionality. All is well though! We are in the works of wrapping up a couple of videos to launch overseas. The average people that make up the Nigerian market truly appreciate visual representation in lieu of actual radio spins, or shall I say in addition to. So that’s what I’ll give them. A hot hot video to accent a blazing song!

LADYBRILLE.com: I know your mom was a big lover of African fashions. Do you forsee yourself incorporating elements of African fashion and arts in your personal style, music/video shoots?
Naira: I have always been interested in doing so, but have experienced difficulty in finding the perfect touches and blends that will personify me in my urban essence. So with that being said, all established and aspiring producers, designers and creators, get at me so we can make history in 2008!

LADYBRILLE.com: Let me end on this note, you are a very savvy young woman who knows how to get her business hustle on. Tell the people what kind of N.A.I.R.A. enterprises you forsee building in the future?
Naira: [laughs] hmmm. .. let me just say this, the world will see what I will unveil in due time. You are correct. I am most certainly an enterprising individual. It's in my blood! For now though the new album "On My Angel's Wings" is available online now at www.iamnaira.com, www.amazon.com, www.rhapsody.com, and at an I-Tunes store near you soon. Before I go, I'd like to thank you Ms. Uduak and the Ladybrille staff for allowing me the pleasure of being in your lovely blogazine. You all are the first to officially hear my story since my hiatus and most importantly I love what you exemplify. The true essence of where the West meets today's African fashion, music, and entertainment industry. Much success to you.

LADYBRILLE.com: Awwww! Thank you Naira! We are honored and much success to you as well! Please feel free to always keep us updated on your progress.
Read More

Giveaways,Giveaways and More Giveaways!


Happy Monday to you! Yes, we know. Mondays are anything but happy as you sluggishly make your way from a relaxing weekend to work. But, hey! That's were we come in to help jumpstart your day, and frankly your month, with some va va va voom giveaways! Whoo hoo!

So, here are some of the sample goodies we will be giving away. Autographed CDs from artists such as: Grammy Award Winning Artist Common [watch out for his movie this Friday, Street Kings, in theaters near you], Our girl Ayo [Did you see her on the David Letterman show a couple of months ago? Keep watching for Ayo and of course feel free to say you first got the exclusive on Ayo at LADYBRILLE.com],Kaysha, Naira, Chosan, FreshlyGround and 9ice. T-shirts: Chosan and 9ice. Books: Autographed book, "FLY SOLO: the 50 Best Places for a Girl to Travel Alone" from the one and only Teresa Rodriguez WilliamsonIt's okay. You do not need to do a Johnny Nash to show your appreciation.

Here's How to Get these Cool Giveaways:

Send an e-mail to contest@ladybrille.com

Do so after the articles on these artists/personalities are published.

Include your name, age, address and phone number.

Winner will be selected at random.

Feel free to click on the APRIL Blogazine Archive on the upper right side bar to see
previously published articles.

1 person per CD/Book/T-shirt.
Eligibility: The contest is open only to residents in the USA and Europe. You must be 18 to qualify.
Contest closes on April 26th, 2008, at 11:59pm Pacific Standard Time [PST], USA.

Please read our privacy policy to see what we do with the information you submit.

Good luck!
Read More

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Africa-China Relationship

The much talked about and seemingly high interest in investments by Asians in Africa is definitely intriguing. Below are two documentaries Part I &II approximately 9-10mins each on Africa/China's relationship. Enjoy!

Africa-China Relationship,Part I


Africa-China Relationship,Part II

Read More
Theme images by Jason Morrow. Powered by Blogger.

© 2007-2017 Ladybrille® Blogazine, All Rights Reserved.

Designed by ScreenWritersArena