Slightly later than planned, this edition of #VoxExtra has a report on use of mobile phones usage in cars, the impact on #brixit on employment in the UK, introduction of #NHS chargers for Non-UK citizens and we chat with 2 outreach workers for ‘#LondonCityMission on their role in supporting the #homeless on the streets of #London. Oh yeah and those #Beyonce pictures get a mention as well.
LGBTQ History Month is a very important month for people to celebrate. It not only raises awareness for those who know nothing about LGBTQ people, but can provide some information for those who are members, or those that are discovering. Yes, the importance of LGBTQ History month is very real. And Omnibus tend to realise that as they are holding a series of LGBT events titled the ‘Unnatural Acts’, a series of, music, comedy and visual arts.
I had the pleasure of talking to Marc Wayland, a helpful volunteer who was working with Omnibus in the launch of the event.
The Labour Party face trouble as several of their MPs have resigned over the House of Commons approving the second reading of a bill to allow Prime Minister Theresa May to invoke Article 50, which will trigger Brexit, the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, following the result of the referendum last year and after party leader Jeremy Corbyn told them that they must trigger Brexit.
Shadow minister Tulip Siddiq, Shadow environment secretary Rachael Maskell, Shadow minister for diverse communities Dawn Butler, Shadow Welsh secretary Jo Stevens and Shadow Business Secretary Clive Lewis are among those of the 52 Labour politicians who resigned against Brexit.
Butler tweeted after resigning: “Been an honour to serve n shadow cabinet doing a job I love. Can’t let down future generations voting against poor excuse of a Bill #Brexit”.
Meanwhile, SNP MP Hannah Bardells quoted T2: Trainspotting when talking to MPs at the Houses of Parliament last Thursday (February 2): “I saw Trainspotting 2 recently and it inspired me. Choose Brexit. Choose making up numbers from thin air about the NHS and plastering them on the side of buses. Choose racist and xenophobic sentiments seeping out from some corners of the Leave campaign. Choose hate crime rising over 40% and LGBT hate crime by 150% in England and Wales following the Brexit vote. Choose taking the people of our nations to the polls on one of the most important issues of a generation with nothing written down and no plan. Choose ignoring the interests of the people of Scotland … despite the fact we voted overwhelmingly to stay in the EU. Choose the great Brexit power grab, taking back control of straight bananas … Choose the UK turning its back on Europe.”
She later tweeted: “Inspired by #Trainspotting2 – I wanted to highlight that Scotland did not choose #Brexit, it chose life, in the EU.”
Yesterday (February 8), the House of Commons voted in favour of the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) bill by 494 to 122, a majority of 372. It will need to gain approval from the House of Lords before Mrs May can invoke Article 50, which she was promised to do so in April.
After the vote, Lewis announced his resignation as Shadow Business Secretary and then Corbyn tweeted: “Real fight starts now. Over next two years Labour will use every opportunity to ensure Brexit protects jobs, living standards & the economy.”
Croydon born Keshia Adele has proved she’s more than just another South London girl. With her debut EP ‘The EPithany’ being released in April and her single ‘Can’t’ being released soon; she’s a star on the verge.
Keshia Adele (born Keshia Aneksi Adele Melbourne-Baynes) was born into a music family with her father, a bodyguard to the stars, her mother a backing vocalist and her external family; an array of Dancers, sound engineers, songwriters and DJ’s.
I spoke to her about her affiliation to music, her process and her musical influences.
So the anticipation for your music is building up, what can we expect from the EP?
This EP allows me to be very naked and allows people to see something different to what people know of me, my music is much more vulnerable and raw and I just hope it shows my love for music. It’s basically my story and that’s just how I’m putting it out there. In person I’m very guarded so this allows me to show that defenceless side to me.
Let’s start of at the beginning, when did your affiliation for music and performing start?
My affiliation for music and performing started years and years ago. I’ve been performing since I was about seven, gigging since I was about seven, seven and a half. So I’ve been gigging and performing for quite a while but I think I’ve took my performing to the next level since I performed in The Wiz in 2014. I really began to realise how important it is to bring a story to the audience and how important not only singing the story and telling the story in such a way is important but actually how performing it is really important, so I watched a lot of Janet Jackson gigs and stuff like that in preparation. I also love how art is expressed in all different ways so obviously as a singer I’m a story teller and I sing from experience and through other people’s stories.
How would you describe your musical style?
How would I describe my musical style?, in terms of my musical style I’m influenced a lot by R&B and new jack swing anyone who knows me knows Janet Jackson is definitely a huge influence and when I’m talking about R&B I’m talking about 2000’s and 90’s, Aaliyah is definitely a big influence. I love dancing so although this EP doesn’t really show the performing side to me, it is more vulnerable and exposed but there are definitely more songs to come that are more dancey. My musical style also has an Erykah Badu vibe. I love mixing R&B, soul, new jack swing and Neo-soul to make this thing called me you know?
So with that in mind who would you say are your greatest musical influences?
Obviously as I mentioned earlier I’m heavily influenced by Janet Jackson, Aaliyah and Erykah Badu but there are other people like Michael Jackson, I have a huge thing for prince as well so you can find a bit of him in there.
What was the process like?
The process was very long, I’ve been writing this EP for about 9 years now and over them 9 years; It was a lot of hard work and a lot of working through them feelings that I felt when I originally wrote the songs, A lot of changing artwork and developing my sound.
Who did you work with on the EP?
I have written the EP all on my own so yeah me, I would like to say a younger me and an older me. In terms of producers my friend Demi-Leigh (she’s also an artist) she’s produced two of the songs and then we have Tom; my band leader and Ben Becontoy who also helped produce so yeah that was it.
What do you what people to take away from your EP?
I want people to Hold on to the EP. It has an embedded message in it really, it’s for people who are going through a certain heartbreak and it’s really for them to take away and understand there not the only ones who are going through this and also for people who haven’t gone through it to know that hey if you do go through it you’re not the only one who has been through it, yeah that’s really what I want people to take away from it.
‘Can’t’ is this single so this leaves the questions on everybody’s mind, When can we expect the Single and EP?
You can expect a single very soon there will be a single coming out in March and possibly one closer to Valentine’s Day and I’m releasing the music videos soon thereafter and the EP will be released closer to April.
You can find it on my website, Reverb Nation and Bands in Town and you can follow me on instagram @misskeshiaadele or on Snapchat.
Beyoncé took social media by storm on Wednesday; that her and husband Jay-Z are expecting twins. As you can imagine fans went crazy, some even resorting to tears! But why was there such media frenzy? Pharrell’s wife gave birth to triplets two weeks ago, and nothing was said on it. Ciara has been pregnant for a while now and still nothing has been said compared to the reactions of Beyoncé
Photo credit – Awol Erizuko
The mother-to-be quoted her announcement picture with:
“We would like to share our love and happiness. We have been blessed two times over. We are incredibly grateful that our family will be growing by two, and we thank you for your well wishes. – The Carters”
To some Beyoncé is just a woman having twins; however because of her name it has been shared, spread and spoken about non-stop since she broke the news.
Of course, any pregnancy is a gift and something to celebrate. But meanwhile, the world almost had a nuclear holocaust.
Do you think the Formation singer is over rated? Or are you one of many who Crazy in Love with the news?
David Bowie was born David Robert Jones in Brixton, London, on 8 January 1947 and died from liver cancer on the 10th of January 2016. Bowie had a massive impact on people all over the world with his lyrics and androgynous alter ego Ziggy Stardust. The character was well known for the success of his single “Starman” and album ‘The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust’ and the Spiders from Mars, which won him popularity all over the world. And his legacy will live on in the heart of Brixton.
There have been recent proposed plans from Lambeth Council to change the road name formally known as Tunstall Road, to something in memory of David Bowie. However, the people of Brixton didn’t seem to mind much.
The people of Brixton were asked the following questions of: “What is your opinion on the name change?” and “Is Brixton the right place for the memorial?”
Ex-Lambeth College business studies student Djodjo Nsaka, was found dead with knife wounds on Friday the 20th of January 2017 at about 1.15 am on Fulton Road in the Wembley area.
He was pronounced dead at the scene, despite the efforts from the London Ambulance Service paramedics. It is believed that Djodjo is the first teenager to be killed on the streets of London this year. A 20-year-old man had been charged with Djodjo’s murder.
His friends Janet and Solomon described him as someone who was always smiling and supportive. Solomon even went on to say that he was a good friend because he had his back and he got Solomon his first job.
His former Lambeth College teacher Bridget Vaughan gave some kind hearted words. Djodjo was described as a distinct character, very respectful, well mannered, charming and a unique individual.
After two years, the #OscarsSoWhite controversy is far from over but the good news is that there has been non-white actors and actresses nominated for the four categories in this year’s Academy Awards: Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress.
Denzel Washington received his fifth Best Actor nomination for his role in Fences, in which he also directed and is up for a Best Picture nomination as well. At eight nominations, Washington is now the most nominated African American actor in the Academy Awards.
Ruth Negga has been nominated for Best Actress for her role in Loving. She is the first black European and African actress nominated in a lead acting category.
Mahershala Ali has been nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Moonlight, while Dev Patel is nominated for the same award for his role in Lion. The Best Supporting Actress award has had a notable first in which three black actresses were nominated for the same award: Viola Davis for Fences, Naomie Harris for Moonlight and Octavia Spencer for Hidden Figures.
It is not the first time in which three non-white actress were nominated for the same awards as a similar occurrence happened a decade ago when black actress Jennifer Hudson won the award for her role in Dreamgirls with fellow non-white actresses nominated being Mexican actress Adriana Baranza and Japanese actress Rinko Kikuchi, for their roles in Babel.
Will this happen in future ceremonies? Only time will tell. The 89th Academy Awards will take place on Sunday 26th February on ABC. Comedian and talk show host Jimmy Kimmel will host the ceremony.
Photo credit – Awol Erizuko
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