I called it a few months ago and was right. UK singer-songwriter Speech Debelle has walked away with the Mercury Music Prize.  The 26-year-old South Londoner has beaten the like of La Roux and Kasabian to walk away with the $40,000 prize. So happy for her!

There’s only one winner at the Mercury’s, it’s not based on album sales or popularity. It’s based on industry professionals looking at writing talent and the ability to put together an album—a well-respected prize. Speech Debelle’s album only came out in June, and hasn’t even featured in the UK Top 40 chart yet, but after this win it’s bound to.

The thing is that Speech Debelle has done it her own way. She’s not running with the current favourite 80s flavour, she’s not a stage-school alumni like Amy Winehouse or Adele… she’s a young girl who loves music-so she made music.  She raps and sings and takes her influences from rap, hip-hop, jazz, and soul. And her mission was to make music that sounded unique. And that’s what she’s achieved. (more…)

Alas I couldn’t make it to carnival this year… Boo! But the sound of carnival was a (unofficial) track I posted here a couple of months ago: Gracious K’s “Migraine Skank”. This track is blowing up clubs up and down the country. Alas — I leave the dance moves to the young folk (i.e. under 21’s). But it’s still a cool funky house track. They’ve finally released the official video. Have a look after the jump!  Incidentally you can’t go to a club in London without hearing funky house. It’s totally taking over. (more…)

Skin is a biographical film about Sandra Laing — a South African woman born to white parents, but was classed as “coloured” during the apartheid era. It shows the struggle of her parents (who were white with black ancestry) to have her reclassified, so she could get a proper education in a whites-only school.

It stars Oscar-nominated Sophie Okenedo (Hotel Rwanda and The Secret Lives Of Bees), Sam Neill (Jurassic Park and The Tudors).  It’s an incredible and beautifully acted film.

Unfortunately very few people here have seen it since it was released, due to the absense of a major distributor. No-one would touch it because it has a majority black cast. The director Anthony Fabian (who’s white) says that he was told that distributors won’t support a film with a black cast, as they’re “perceived not to make money”. So there are no trailers, posters on buses, or posters on the subway. (more…)

Apparently, teenage girls in the UK are amongst the worst drunks in the developed world. That’s according to this new report: “Doing Better For Children”. Fifty percent of 15 year old girls in the UK reported getting drunk, almost three times higher than girls in France.
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The number doesn’t surprise me. I first got boozed on cider at about 13, at an under-18 rave. I used to hang out with the older girls at school (as I was soooo sophisticated and grown-up). Having a drink while we were out with mates was kinda normal at that age. We could always find somewhere that would sell us alcohol. Or failing that, our parents drinks cupboard/homemade wine etc.
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To be honest once I reached 15/16 my parents were fine with me having a drink every now and then. I’d never come home drunk though. I have Jamaican parents, and value my life WAY too much.

My brother is 15 and regularly has a couple bottles of Bacardi Breezers with his friends when they’re out. I’ve allowed him to sip on a tiny bit of wine at dinner from about 10 years old. Having his first taste of alcohol in a family setting (as it is in France) would mean he wouldn’t get drunk. And it’s worked. Unlike his mates who “found” booze around 14. Their first taste was around friends, which meant they got drunk. But for J, alcohol is no big deal. When all his mates are getting wasted (drunk) on beer and vodka, J is happy sipping away — and coming home sober. (more…)

Gosh it’s that time already?! You know you’re getting old when you start saying things like, “doesn’t time fly.” Well it really does! It only seems like yesterday that Alexandra Burke won “X Factor” (last year), and the series kicked off again over the weekend. I’ll not bore you with details EVERY week — but if I spot a gem I’ll be sure to post it.

With Leona Lewis winging her way to the US when she won, and Alexandra about to release her track with Flo’Rida — the USA will surely be hearing about our next winner when the series comes to an end at Christmas, if ol’ Mr. Cowell has anything to do with it (talking of Si, does this dude ever age?). (more…)

Just a very short post, to declare my love for Usain Bolt. I’m from a family of Jamaicans, both on my mum and dad’s side. And phonecalls are coming in from all over the place to my phone –from Montego Bay, New York, Kenya, Kingston and Atlanta: chatting about just how proud Jamaicans are of this amazing sporting legend. Mr. Bolt, we salute you.

I like Usain too…he’s so much fun to watch! – Steels