Beautiful song and message from singer Carolyn Malachi. To learn more about the singer, visit her -
Showing posts with label Inspirational. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Inspirational. Show all posts
Carolyn Malachi - Beautiful Dreamer
Beautiful song and message from singer Carolyn Malachi. To learn more about the singer, visit her -
Introducing Amana Melome
AMANA Melome "PHOENIX RISING"
"While maintaining her natural elegance, combined with her American and European heritage and cosmopolitan influences, Amana Melome's latest album "Phoenix Rising" is a refreshing voyage of world music, floating between neo-soul, funk, jazz, folk and reggae. The new album is available on iTunes May 21st.Amana is an international singer and songwriter who was raised in Italy. Her sound is akin to such contemporary artists as Sade, Erykah Badu, Les Nubians and Esperanza Spalding. Growing up on a world stage, Amana developed an appreciation of all music genres. She is inspired by her Caribbean-American roots and the musical legacy of her grandfather, jazz bassist Jimmy Woode, who recorded with such icons as Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and Miles Davis.
Amana moved to New York to pursue her passion of singing, where she studied at NYU. Later she moved to Los Angeles and met producer Saverio “Sage” Principini, who has produced Grammy and Latin Grammy nominated and award winning songs for various international artists. Sage recorded Amana’s first album -- Indigo Red in 2008 on IRMA Records and it was one of the first CDs distributed and sold through Whole Foods Markets. Following the American and European release of her record, Amana was headlining festivals, clubs, and performing at private events for such international fashion designers as Fendi and Christian Dior before she was cast in a lead role on the most popular Italian sitcom, Un Medico In Famiglia (English: A Doctor in the Family). Amana speaks English, Italian, French, German, Spanish, and Portuguese and often performs songs in different languages.
Back in Los Angeles, Amana recently returned to the studio and completed the recording of her new album, Phoenix Rising, with Sage at the acclaimed Henson Recording Studios in Hollywood, California. Visit amanamusic.com to hear more." - Locke Dunn, Mozaic Media
Photos from album photo shoot; Amana with actress and director Nicki Micheaux at her album release party; and a photo from a performance.
Making That Natural Step
Making that natural step – Loc's
Advice and Inspirational written piece by Naturaleza
no-one likes it?
everyone says it is not me?
people look at me strangely?
Do these sound like questions you ask yourself?
Try these on instead - What if...?
I like it alot?
it makes me happy?
doing this allows me to be creative in other ways?
people say crap about it? I'm doing it for ME!
Don't let the views people have of you hold you back from doing it.
You know what I mean! Having natural hair!
I won't pretend to be the guru on the topic. I can only share my experience. This is the second time that I've begun the journey. I don't know exactly what it is, but this time I feel more relaxed, feeling fit in my skin and loving who I am.
Maybe it comes with maturity...not with chronological age per se. But maturity that allows us to block out the detractors. When we get to that phase that as people we are comfortable with who we are, who we see and quite frankly, we are not put off by what people say.
We just smile and nod!
Trust me...I smile and nod!
-Ask questions: Educate yourself by asking other people around you who have natural hair how they maintain it. In my case, I preferred to ask questions about sizing and method to start my locs because I did
not want small locs. Find out about products and of course, the cost to maintain your hair looking its best.
not want small locs. Find out about products and of course, the cost to maintain your hair looking its best.
-Use your tech resources: The Internet is there to help. There are many sites, Blogs, Vlogs like Youtube to educate you. We all have different reasons for wanting to have natural hair. But, don't get bogged down by what people want. Get excited about what you want! Use what you see and read to make informed decisions.
-Choose a responsible someone: That someone does not have to be a Broad Street cosmetologist. But, in the case of locs, I would rather have someone who knows what they are doing start them as they can show me what to do when making it to the salon might be difficult. Hey, that someone might even be your sister, your barber, your best-friend!
-Transitioning: Not every day will be the same. Some days you may not want to do a twist out or do your full hair regimen. So what? Why can't you rock your headband? Or, do a scarf to complement your outfit? You are not your hair! Be creative with what God gave you! Dealing with locs has meant for me dealing with frizz and people who know me when I had relaxed hair, know how every strand of hair was in place. They knew I had every possible curling iron size under the sun. The frizz is like a lesson in PATIENCE AND FORBEARANCE! When transitioning, do you want to wear braids? What about doing the Big Chop (BC)? Or, even microbraids? These are things to consider.
-No more burns: Need I say more?
-Product junkie: Then, of course we think about products. Hmmm, another yummy part of having natural hair! But, hey! Take it easy! You still want your crown to look lovely. There is a whole world of natural hair care products locally and overseas. Some say "natural" on the bottle. Others, are 'natural' with the ingredients they put IN the bottle, too! So, do your leg-work.
And, don't let people put limitations on how long they think you will keep your hair in its natural state either. That decision is up to you. Nor, should you set up yourself for the - kinky hair vs. loc'd hair debate. In my humble layman's opinion, "Natural "means no element of chemical processing. So don't put yourself on a guilt trip either.
Life is dynamic...don't be afraid! And as you may (or may not realize), a woman's sense of style and dare I say, how she wears her hair changes throughout her life; from phase to phase.
Remember: Love you! Embrace your beauty - inside and out!
French Native Beauty - Anaïse
Q: What is your hair story? What kind of hair styles have you rocked, before embracing your natural hair?
A: I was 12 or 13 years old when I started relaxing, but I met problems with breakage, lot of length gone and damaged hair! I was 15-16 years old and I thought I would prefer a short and healthy natural hair, rather than “long” and damaged relaxed hair. Then I decided to do a big chop once. Unfortunately, it wasn't so easy at this time because I wasn't enough mature to embrace my natural hair. Indeed, relaxed hair is a standard for a lot of people. I decided to go back to relaxed, as it took a good length.
Q: When and why did you decide to start wearing your hair naturally?
A: I was around 19 years old and I left my country to study in France. So it was easier to wear my hair in my teeny weeny afro again! Before going to the plane, I went to a hairdresser for the big chop again! No laughs, no unkind remarks… it was easier, new friends, new schoolmates, new life, new community! You know, living in French Guyana is like living in a small village, and it’s harder to correspond with a beauty standard or ideal because people like to talk, gossip, and give "advice". Obviously, in France there are many black people who don't like kinky hair and prefer relaxing but in general, "indifference" is the norm. I realized we can be pretty the way we are. Everyone has complexes and some unkind remarks that can hurt, so you can choose to pay them no mind even if it's not easy everyday!
Q: Did you have any big fears about going back to your natural texture?
A: Hum...looking like a guy! But I found great ways to feel more feminine. Since the BC, I've tried to take care of my hair, my skin, make up, jewels, etc.
Q: What are three products you can't live without for nurturing/styling your hair?
A: Organic Root Stimulator's Olive Oil Moisturizing Lotion, Curl Junkie's Hibiscus & Banana Deep Fix, Bioshine Intense's aloe vera treatment (Brazil)
Q: What would you say to someone who's thinking about embracing their natural hair, but scared about being rejected in various parts of their lives?
A: Appearance isn’t the most important thing (humor, intelligence, temper, points of view are far more important in terms of relationships), but people sometimes act like is. Everyone wants to be loved and appreciated for who they are, but you also do your best to be an “attractive person”. I’ve never really felt ashamed about my hair but there was a gap between my natural hair (+ other things) and some TV idols. Today, I feel prettier than ever because I'm not challenging a beauty standard. I understood
there is difference between "my beauty" and "the ideal of beauty".
Q: How can we keep up with you and your journey i.e. blog, twitter, facebook, fotki, tumblr, personal or professional website? (Optional)
A: I have a blog but if you don't speak french, it's difficult to understand! http://nefertarians.blogspot.com/
Thank you Anaïse! Gorgeous pictures and I enjoyed reading your interview. ~ Karen
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