Sparks to Flames

To say that I was apprehensive about seeing a good friend of mine play a gig with his band would be, not only, rude but wholly and entirely untrue. The thought of it was so exciting and novel! :D

The word 'Flashfires' a few months ago would have drawn images of Australia. Of wild fires, destruction and fear. But now I've come to realise it as a synonym of musical expression, passion and sheer, sheer talent.

I'd heard Flashfires new single on the day of it's release anticipating that it would be good, but perhaps not as good and professional as it turned out. On the 5th May I searched for 'Circus Boy' (their debut single) on Spotify! To be truthful, I'm addicted to Spotify. How practically every song recorded is all in the same place baffles me more than it should. And so, when I found Flashfires there was this sense that the band was already going places. One does not simply just appear on Spotify! 

I'd heard their single multiple times and on repeat a few moments before I was to leave the flat and off to my first ever Flashfires gig! 

The venue was only small and, as of 8pm, not yet full with sweaty men and women in leather jackets and dressed to the nines in black. The boys seemed rather relaxed and it was so nice to get to know them on a personal level as people before musicians. 

But it wasn't long (since I arrived late! - surprise, surprise) that they were off; earplugs in, guitars tuned and (for Fraser) glasses on.

I hadn't heard any of their material before. But on the basis of 'Circus Boy', if their music was anything like that single, it was going to be a good night. 

And it was! Their set was bloody fantastic!! Absolutely amazing and I couldn't believe it. I had a clear idea that they were going to be good but as good as they were? I couldn't imagine! 

And I was amazed; not only by their musical talent but by the fact that they were so incredibly modest for the amount of talent that they had. I would be raving about it to everyone if it was me. But the band seemed content with what they had. Nevertheless, I just couldn't help wondering why everyone isn't on Flashfires??!! Why aren't there millions of repeated mouse clicks on the tune on Spotify? Or repeated downloads on iTunes? They're fantastic! And the energy of lead singer: Alex Gonzato, is unprecedented!! 

Now let's just stay with him for a minute. Of course, what comes with hanging around with a group of your best friends for over 4 years is a whole host of jokes that can't be explained to the 'outside' world and a few nicknames which can be explained to practically anyone. For Alex, his nickname: Gonzo, was simply a contraction of his surname; Gonzato. But what it meant was something so personal and true - or so bandmate Fraser tells me. 

Ever heard of the word 'Gonzo'? Nope, me neither. But you WILL actually find it in the dictionary. It means eccentric which most definitely defines Alex and his performing style.

I had such an amazing time last night and could only describe the event to myself in a string of expletives followed by the word "brilliant". 

They played my personal favourite at the start: 'Manshark' (the demo video of which you can find here) along with their debut single: 'Circus Boy' and a load of great songs in between. 

Suffice to say, I was bawled over by their performance and I cannot recommend them more! Everything about these guys suggest that they're onto a winner and I would urge EVERYONE to do their best to make it to one of their gigs. They were brilliant. Absolutely brilliant! 

Please please please take a look below. There's a list of their upcoming tour dates and I would thoroughly recommend you sticking the dates in your diary. These guys need your support and ought to feature on any and all music devices that you and everyone you know own! Please give them your time; hit 'follow' on Spotify, 'download' on Amazon and iTunes and 'play' on YouTube.

Honestly, they won't let you down.


(MANSHARK - FLASHFIRES)

Spreading Like Wild Fire!

It's funny where life puts you. How it puts you there and who it puts you with.

I remember, as a child, all I could ever dream of was being famous. I wanted to be a singer until I grew old enough to learn that my singing ability wasn't worthy of anything but calling together a pack of wolves. I changed. I wanted to be an actress.

Yes, I remember thinking. This is right. 

One of my first drama performances as a year 7 saw me rolling around the floor having created my own ghost story. I performed it, rather fearlessly, to the entire class having spent hours practicing in my bedroom. I like to think that I achieved great things with it. But every subsequent performance I EVER did at school was compared to that one performance. Nothing matched up. I couldn't top it.

I wasn't a singer. I wasn't an actress. And it took me a while to realise that fame was most probably more agro for me than it was worth. For a while I had an ache. I was, potentially, giving up a life of fame because I believed that I couldn't do it. I wanted to do something. But slowly settled away from hopes of fame to just being myself and sharing what I was capable of with others.

There are some of us in life who were meant for things like fame. Who have things worth sharing with everyone else and who have something so uniquely awe-inspiring that no-one can get enough. And there are some who aren't meant for fame but just for ourselves and others.

I've never had a particular genre of music I walk towards. Different things fit different situations. Ben Howard. Katy Perry. Imagine Dragons. Jessie J. Metallica (sometimes!) And in that sense music is an experiment.

'Flashfires' is one band that fits the bill and they are, most certainly, one of those collaborations designed for great things in the world of music. There's nothing about this photo which doesn't scream "we're going to make it!"



The band define themselves, rather uniquely, in the category of "Fire-Indie-Disco-Rock" and their debut single CIRCUS BOY is out today - available on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon and anywhere where music is the centre of life!!

Their music is fantastic and should be right up your street if you're a bit of a music extraordinaire and like things that are a little bit different. Indeed, if you're a fan of indie music or rock or even disco, why not combine them all and give Flashfires a try? Even if you're not into that kind of music, one listen can't hurt -----> Circus Boy by Flashfires- you know you want to :D

A review of their live set coming soon!

Well, Thanks For Your Input !!!

There is never a time when a criticism can't be better used.

I've been a writer for the University newspaper since the beginning of term and, I suppose, as a journalist you have to be open to controversy. That is a fact that I wholly accept. But when you don't even write anything offensive, criticism is completely unnecessary!

If I had to decide, I'd say that I was more of a blogger than a journalist. My mind isn't adapted for this structural conveying of information with specific points and targets than need to be met in order to keep the reader entertained. My mind is wild and rambles beyond belief but in a bid to broaden my horizons I tried writing for the newspaper.

I stick mainly to opinion articles because I know that's what I can get away with. It's just my opinion - I don't have to be write. And because it is my opinion, I get excited by the fact that I might spark debate.

One of the latest articles to be published under my name was "We wouldn't hurt a fly" which examined thug culture in Britain. Admittedly it wasn't one of my best pieces, it was a piece I used
to break into this type of writing to develop a certain professional style. But, even though it might not have been a righteous article for publication, the editor of the section deemed it good enough to be featured. And so it was put up on the website for the whole University to peruse at their leisure and negate my views should they so desire.

On many of my articles, I'd never had a comment before. I assumed my writing just got brushed away as a topic of little importance, but at least, I figured, I was building my portfolio.

So when I saw that I had a comment on the thug culture article, my heart leapt a little. But it was for a completely different reason that it was still jumping after I closed the window.

The comment wasn't bad but it still knocked me.

I love the unrelated part about celebrities, it read.

I had written that bit mainly to up the word count so it would be of suitable length. And at the time I thought that celebrity influence was an additional viewpoint that would provide insight into the problem.

Perhaps it wasn't. And perhaps I shouldn't have mentioned it. Maybe it was irrelevant. I didn't really know why I cared so much about someone else's opinion on my work. I was looking for the spark to start a meaningful debate, but when I got a frank and useless comment, I was suddenly thrown.

I found myself thinking of retaliation. I felt the need to craft ridiculous speech.

"Yeah well ... well ... well, I've got an interview at Gregg's, so there!"

I didn't have an interview at Gregg's. I don't know why anyone would have cared if I did. But I felt like it would be some backlash, something that would make that user stop in their tracks. I thought it was like a warning: Don't mess with me!!!

It wasn't.

But for all the worrying I had done on the subject, just one simple classic song filled the room.

"You need me, I don't you."

It's funny how music can do that. Calm storms, ignite flames, burst rivers.

I listened to the song, the careful matrix of the lyrics. Ed Sheeran was right; I didn't need them. In the first place, I didn't even know why I was getting worked up. I already knew that, but I just needed someone to tell me. 

I'm a first year and though I'm not a baby, I could do with guidance. Perhaps the slight cast on the day wouldn't have been there had someone commented;

I don't think this part should be there. 

I feel defiant to change it for their sake. So now I'll leave it posted; wrong. Some people are just so quick to criticize.

Thank goodness for Ed!

Obsession Number 2

Here comes obsession number 2 ... OLLY MURS!! 

I absolutely love Olly Murs; his voice, his smile, his music. I love his style - how he dresses for videos and photo shoots and I've been pretty obsessed with him since he released he's first single after The X Factor. 

I wouldn't say he's my idol, though. For me, an idol is someone you aspire to be and I don;t see myself singing or growing a beard any time soon.

My favourite song of his is Dear Darlin' with Right Place, Right Time in a close second.

I was actually so 'fanatically engaged' (shall we say) with him that I watched this video: 

And this one ...

... more than once. I think he's a real gentleman and getting to meet him would be a dream come true! 

My 13 Top Picks of 2013

1. This hair style:

 

2. This CD:

3. This series:

4. This shirt:

5.  This blog:

6. These shoes:

7. This photo:

8. This book:

9. This event:

10. This video:

11. This song:


12. This film:
 and this one: 


13. This advert:

Hair cuts from the old age

If you walk into Leonard's the hairdressers, there are a number of things that would strike you. The young, faded picture of a gorgeous Matt Le Blanc in the window, the interesting colour of sofa, the striking haircuts hung upon the wall that would sooner have you run out of the shop to take your service to a horrendously priced Toni & Guy, the oriental old-style fan, the spiral staircase and wicker woven laundry basket under the stairs.

This isn't your typical hairdressers.

Sitting in a part of town called the arcade, it fits quite suitably. Very 80's. It's unusual though, for all it's character. Whilst it offers modern day prices on trims, up to date magazines listing all the latest technology for Christmas and new, professional men's electrical hair trimmers, it is still quite a quirky and retro place. 

I sat, temporarily fixed on leaving my iPod untouched and stalling my desire for Craig David, to listen to the ceiling radio. The soft hum and the delicate hues of the browns and mixed creams of the decor for just a moment, transported me back to an old-fashioned coiffeur. 

As I've advanced in my teenage years I've developed an innate love for the 1920s period onwards, partly fuelled by obsessively watching and re-watching Downton Abbey. Since then, I've been desperate to live a simple life; no TV, no iPod just me walking out with a hamper basket full of sandwiches, apples and juice and sitting at the base of a big tree trunk and reading until the sun falls. 

Easier imagined than done. 

I only just realised in March, about half way through year 13, that - in fact - my dreams were unattainable. I remember that realisation so clearly. I was in the shower. I'd always said to myself that once I got out of Dubai and through my teenage years and degree, I could then buy a house near the countryside and complete my olden day ideal. And then, one sleep disillusioned morning in the shower before Sixth Form I thought; 

Hang on. Wait, you know you're never actually going to get to travel back in time. The 1920s will never come again! You can't, in the 21st century, live without Internet. It's a physical impracticality. A near-on social suicide. 

I remember that morning in tutor, telling one of my best friends; Danielle, my sudden, disturbing and heart-breaking epiphany. From that day onwards, I became incredibly conscious of how I could still live my dream and avoid alienating everyone around me. 

And so, sat in that old fashioned hairdresser, I could, if only for 2 or 3 minutes, allow myself to drift forward into the past. To a setting I could seldom every dream of being in again.