listen

So in the past 6 months or so I've started listening to whole albums again. I swear for the longest time the airwaves, social media screens and platforms have been bombarded with an endless stream of mind numbingly disgustingly catchy 'hits'. Don't get me wrong, I'm no music snob but man..... I'm pretty sure 'music' hit rock bottom and just decided to dig a grave and die there.

So the whole maybe I'll listen to an album started mid last year during report writing time. Spotify suggested Emeli Sande's Our Version of Events and I listened. I loved that the album represented a body of work. A collection of ideas and emotions and some insight into our life and times. It offered more than a catchy 'yeah yeah yeah' hook and I gobbled that shit up.

Then came The weekend's Trilogy album on Spotify and I guess my ears started to open up to the idea that there is-in-fact real albums out there. Albums that represent ideas and experiences from the artists whom are making the music. There was something heavier than the manufactured hits on offer. Sam Smith's EP (not a whole album but a collection none the less) was rotated heavily and I continued to be delighted in whole servings of Aaradhna, Childish Gambino & Haim. Over and over I listened to these albums as they helped me write reports, pack up my house and drive hundreds of kilometres interstate.


So I thought I'd share my favourite albums on heavy rotation. Some are old and some are new but all of them are tasty. Please....if you've heard of an album that's so good you just have to repeat it, then please tell. I've got my musical appetite back and in the words of Anthony Bourdain I'm hungry for more.

Emeli Sande / Sam Smith / Aaradhna / Haim

Quadron / Lily Allen / Ed Sheeran / La Roux

Like I said, I love the whole albums but if you're not into getting/listening to the whole set then get:

1. Emeli Sande- My kind of love / Read all about it Pt. 3
2. Sam Smith- Nirvana / Latch
3. Aaradhna- Wake up / Back of my mind
4. Haim- If I could change your mind / Days are gone
5. Quadron- LFT / Seasalt
6. Lily Allen- Our time / Hard out here
7. Ed Sheeran- Thinking out loud / I see fire
8. La Roux- Kiss and not tell / Sexotheque 

Big love,

Falala Mele

2012 Gigs

 Hello Lovely ones,

I trust you are all getting your New Years plan cemented. This time last year I was in Samoa with some friends soaking up the pacific paradise and the kick back atmosphere. It was pretty fly but I desperately missed my family so this year I'm happy to be back home with them. 

We plan to go kick back at the local carnival and fireworks, play some games, record some whack videos and rather than nurse a crazy hangover (I don't drink anyways); we plan to get up early and take a huge hike through the bush (pretty sure it's 8kms either way) to a lookout. 

We thought we would start 2013 with a physical challenge to keep our mind and body in check. With a challenge comes the feeling of accomplishment once the task is completed and I plan to tackle this challenge with some of my most favourite people. 

Personally I'm really looking forward to the coming year. I made a commitment to work full time for 12 months and I haven't done that in a few years. I'm planning on travelling yet again and I'm also looking forward to the challenge of improving my physical health and well being. I have really loved cementing a fitness routine into my daily life. I am looking forward to reaching a goal of running 5kms on the road :/ LOL Lord help me ;) and encouraging all those around me to improve their own well being. I will have a teenager living under my roof and care and I basically, I am going to save money so that I can move to the UK for a stint of teaching and travelling in 2014.

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY. And why not. I'm young, I'm determined, I'm educated and I'm willing to make things happen. As I spoke with my sister I said it's been a year of music for us personally. Growing up we were quite poor. Enough money for the necessities but definitely not enough money for luxuries like concerts. Our friends would go and we would just imagine what it would be like. This year we attended a lot of music gigs. There is nothing I like more than live music. 

We started 2012 with a bang. Venga Boys.

Here's a list and photos of the gigs we attended in 2012. What were your favourite gigs of 2012?

1. The Venga Boys- Newcastle Entertainment Centre January 14th
2. Lloyd & Lazy J January 26th
3. Superfest Sydney (Chris Brown, Trey Songs, T Pain etc) 15th April
4. Dan Sultan- Wreck Bay Community March
5. Daniel Merriweather  May 3 Wollongong Uni Bar
6. Lenny Kravitz Wollongong Entertainment Centre
7. Celine Dion Caesars Palace Vegas July
8. Lady Antebellum 

My girls before the show started. Venga Boys were AWESOME!!!

Lloyd was late and we were mad but we forgot about it when he sang because he owned the stage.

Lazy J held his own on stage too. Big things to come if he takes his time to come up smart.

Forget the bouquet...we fought for this. Lloyd's shirt off his back. Sometimes it pays to be the big girls ;)

"Your the girls who were screaming smack at us" No that was for the others who sucked ;)

Lloyd crew <3

Superfest. Standing for like 14 hours. No breaks. No way we gonna lose our spot ;) Gangster.
Chris Brown, Ice Cube, Luda, T Pain, Trey Songs, Kelly Rowland, Big Sean, Naughty by Nature, Lupe Fiasco. Luda and Naughty by Nature and T Pain were my favourites.

We made our own shirts with our fave lyrics. I used Miguel's lyrics to Adorn.

Gah best voice bro. Dan Sultan. I <3 thee ;)

Best vibe. Chilled. Raw. Up close and personal.

After much hesitation we walked up and introduced ourselves and asked for pic. Ended up partying with them. Yeah!

Wormed our way from the back right up to the front. Got to touch Lenny and he responded to my demands ;)

Dream list of 2013

Got tickets to see Brian Adams....YEAAAAHHHH BOII!! That's a great start right?

Would love to see:

1. Miguel
2. Solange
3. Tracey Chapman
4. Ameli Sande

I could add a buttload more but I will leave it at that.

Big Love,

Falala Mele

Aussie Curves: Blue Lady Antebellum

Hello Lovely ones! 

This week marks the end of my school holidays :'( so its back to work for me tomorrow. 

I took an 8am flight out of Sydney to Melbourne and caught the 10:30am flight all the way back to Mildura. So I'm sad to be leaving all my Sydney-siders for another 10 weeks. 

My 2 weeks were jammed packed with outings and catch-ups and lunches and dinners so I guess it will be good to get back into my normal routines and my controlled cupboards ;)

Anyways this weeks challenge is Blue and I planned to wear a gorgeous vintage blue pussy bow dress to my friends wedding but the weather was warmer than I anticipated and I didn't want to be melting at my friends wedding so I didn't wear the dress. I will have to save it for another occasion I guess.

On a brighter note I finally made it to one of my opshops. I didn't get to scour them all as I planned but I made it to my favourites Mickey and Mallory and the local Salvation Army store. I found this pretty blue blazer at the Salvos and it was only $3.50! I wore it with another opshop favourite of mine; this pink and brown rose blouse. This ensemble is comfortable and I love how blazers can transform and smarten up any basic outfit. I wore my converse chucks because I was catching public transport into the city to watch one of my most favourite bands at the moment and I just didn't feel like donning a pair of wedges or sandals. I mean any excuse to wear a pair of chicks. I also thought of Closet Confession's October Blaze challenge HERE. So two birds with one stone. Gotta be happy with that right! 

Also October marks the start of Buy Nothing New Month. So before you make a purchase why not take the time to consider if the item is an essential or whether you could swap, borrow or buy it second hand. If you want to participate you can actually win a monetary prize so all the more reason to buy nothing new this October. It's only 4 short weeks and a challenge worth taking.

Those who know me are aware of my love for music and a special place in my heart is reserved for country music. Raised up on it because my Uncle would play all the old classics on all our road trips. Soooo I nearly passed out in class when I saw that Lady Antebellum had tickets on sale. I had no idea they were even coming to Australia. Thank goodness for credit cards because I managed to get 2 tickets to the 3rd and final show of their Own The Night World Tour.

Blazer: Salvos $3.50 Blouse: Opshop $2.00 Tights: Target $10.00 Chain: $2.00 Opshop Shoes: Converse

The concert was sooooooo very good! Lady Antebellum were so much fun with loads of audience interaction. They even sang American Honey acoustically. I was just saying to my sister a few months ago "I'd die if I got to see them live" seriously though I woke up the next three days hearing their songs replay in my head. Definitely the highlight of my school holidays. Planning to go see Boyz to Men in November and the Made in the 90's concert this coming December. Sooooo excited to see Colour Me Bad. How about you guys? Any concerts or upcoming gigs you are looking forward to?

Big Love,


Falala Mele xo

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4th July Pt. 2 Brooklyn African Arts Festival

So it's been a while and I have been DYING to post all my pictures from my AHHHHMAZING summer holiday in New York and Vegas. Here are a few photos from our 4th of July afternoon with our favourite  sisters Gabby and Candice from Trinidad. So it is a long story and I must tell it properly but basically the wonderful Gabby contacted me and offered to show us around while we visited. It was almost instant...after being 2 hours late (getting lost and all that) she graciously took us under her wings and we left New York with two new sisters :) 

It was a challenge to meet up with everyone as people were still working and studying. I did catch up with Deja though. It was short but very sweet :) So that post will definitely be coming up soon. But back to 4th of July....Gabby and her dancers were performing for Diblo Dibala and we most definitely had to go and cheer for her.

Gosh there was no shortage of colour and pattern. Young and old alike....they brought a mean fashion game, and it was all effortless. People of Australia; take note because this is how you do it.

My lovelies Ruthless, Candice and Theresa

Just flawless. Boobs and booty? No need when your game is this tight!

Punch to survive the heat wave

Dress: Thrifted $5 /  Glasses $5 Street Vendor / Shoes: Converse $50 / Bag: Thrifted .50c

Big Love,

Falala Mele xo

Supafest 2012

Catching the train with our DIY shirts (just need tape and spraypaint)

Glasses: Salvos 50c / Chain: Anglicare $2 / Blouse: Thrifted $1 / Earrings: St. Vinnies $2

Supafest is an urban music festival in Australia and it was the first time I attended. I had not planned to go because I'm not really a Chris Brown fan and he was the headliner but my sister's bestie won 2 tickets to go in a dance (aka booty shaking) competition and I really didn't wanna be the one to miss out so I brought my ticket (and was extremely excited to see Missy Elliot, Ice-Cube, Naughty by Nature and Ludacris). Turns out Missy had never confirmed that she was apart of the lineup.  I hate shady promoters and the lies they put out there to sell tickets. She never came. 

So anyways we stood ALL DAY LONG (I'm talking from 11am - 10:30pm without any toilet breaks and only sipping on water to avoid going to the toilet) but it was another chance to dance around with my friends and I repped one of my favourite artists atm MIGUEL and his song ADORN cause I still got that on repeat. Respect to those artists coming out and putting on a good show. Even Chris Brown did his thing. Wouldn't say I'm a fan now, but I'm no longer a hater.

 

Big Love,

Falala Mele