RoofHop 1.3 - Sometimes...

I have to start off this post by telling you guys that I met Beatfox for the first time 30mins before we recorded this performance lool! I was unsure as to if he was even going to show, but when he did it was a pleasure to meet him and you can see he fit right in with me and Gibbs and delivered a flawless freestyle performance!!  Secondly...what a way to end the Roofhop day!! We were blessed with the perfect sky, that looks something like a studio backdrop...only REAL and dynamic! - notice the sun going down throughout?

   

 The song SOMETIMES has significant meaning to me and a collective of young producers/writers/directors called Braver Darker! It was written for the as short film project we worked on back in 2010! "Flow and Affect" is a story about Jordan Knight, a young man from a broken home who is struggling not to fall onto the wrong path in a society that is seeming forcing him into a life of violence and crime! SOMETIMES is written from the perspective of his girlfriend...the two are a very much in love...and as is a woman's nature she continuously tries to love him in the right direction! But the star-crossed lovers know not what lies ahead...and SOMETIMES life just can't be controlled! Check out the studio recording here:
 

I feel a bit sad to say goodbye to the RoofHop Series!  Big Up all the artists that took part...and of course massive thanx to the crew and the producers that helped make it happen!  BUT...if you enjoyed it I may have a little treat in store for you guys mwahahhaaaaaa!!

 @sh.x

RoofHop 1.2 - Cheating...

ROOFHOP No.2 is Officially LIVE people hehe! Shot on the roof of The Macbeth in Shoreditch this video sees me and my screen lover - (singer/songwriter Jay Auburn) - argue it out Jeremy Kyle musical stylee hehe! Who's been Cheating on who I wonder...will love prevail??   Dramatics over it was actually a really fun job...as you'll probably tell by us kooking out at the end of the video lol!

     

 The original track was produced by amazing duo 43 and The Wizard! Check out the EXTENDED studio version here...

   

It was mad hot that day, so I couldn't even rock my Choolips Storm Jacket :( But look out for it in following posts!  Gaga eat your heart out lool!  For info on the crew, the "Roofhop Series" and to see the very first Roofhop - BROWSE HERE!   If you've liked what you've seen so far you'll piss your pants for the next installment. Even nature is on our side.... hahahaaaa

 @sh.x

RoofHop 1.1 - Getaway...

So "Getaway" has gone live - 1 of 3 Roofhop video's I'll be sharing with you guys over the next couple of weeks! Welcome to The Bussey Building, a HUGE building in Peckham let out for various commercial and community uses (ie. CLF Art Cafe). From workshop to ware-space BB is topped by one of the best panoramic views in South East London...

 "Getaway" was penned to the instrumental playing us in on the intro - a format you'll see over all the Roofhop videos. It was produced by mad talent Manikz from Auckland (NZ) who saw me on that Must Be the Music madness when it was broadcast over there :o RANDOM. We all know that music brings people together...even those on opposite sides of the world in this case lol! If you like the stripped version and you want to check out the studio recording - you can download it here:
 

BB was the second roof of that beautiful day! I'd like to say a massive thanx to the team of course (more about them in the next post), Choolips for another amazing outfit and Mickey Smith my location contact who took the time out that random Tuesday to let us have some fun!
Enjoy this one...Roofhop No.2 will be along soon enough where I'll be joined by a very special guest :D

 @sh.x

Smell the CHOOLIPS...

You guys KNOW I LovE my 'crazy-sexy-cool' clobber...especially when I'm performing (flashback to face covered in glitter lol)! But when it came to choosing costumes for the Roofhop Series I needed a simple look. Something to compliment the raw nature of the acoustic performances...yet retain the kooky character that defines AA!! Thank god I smelt the roses...or should I say Choolips lol?! Of all the clothes/designers I've ever worn I found in Choolips the ultimate solution to looking 'different' with minimal effort!! Just PUT IT ON lol!

Annegret Affoldabach (designer and founder of Choolips) has weathered many a storm as she strives to bring stylish and ETHICAL clothing to the fashion/retail world! All of Annegret's garments are lovingly designed in her London Studio, before being hand made/printed using traditional Batik techniques, on the Gold Coast of Ghana. And did I mention that it's all ethical? Thats right...Choolips works on a genius Fairtrade system which sees entrepreneurial Ghanaian trailblazers, local batikers, tailors and seamstresses earn more than fair wages for their work. *Two fingers Primark!*

By working closely with African communities (and with a network of other collectives on side) CHOOLIPS has introduced new technology and print design to sustain this ancient Batik technique. And looking at the results it's easy to see why retailers such TOPSHOP and online fashion giants ASOS have jumped at the chance to stock Choolips' hand-perfected designs!! Annegret really has 'put the sunshine back into the high street' and as a budding fashionista myself it's impossible not to love her work!

Thanks soo much to Annegret for letting me wear the SS11 collection for my Roofhop Series. There still maybe some bits left in stock?! so if you want a whiff of Choolips check out the website or click HERE - for SS12/AW12 collections...you'll be sitting pretty all summer :D - Scarves and all!!

@sh.x

Roofhop Taster - Coldplay Yellow...

So, what's a 'Roofhop' right?!  Well it's simple really...take a girl (that's me), a guitarist, 2 camera-men and a driver to cart them all around.  Chuck in 6 rooftop locations and a hand full of amazing guest artist - then cram them all into ONE day!  Et voila!!

When me and this trusty team hit the road roof-hopping in August 2011 we weren't sure what this day of musical madness would bring...and let me tell ya we weren't disappointed!  I've chosen my favorite 3 videos to share with ya'll over the next 6 weeks :D  and because I know you guys LOVE a bit of suspense I just uploaded this little taster to give you an idea of what to expect...

Funny Fact:  just before we shot this we (or should I say gravity) fractured the neck of Gibbi's guitar :o!  He was VEX as you can imagine lol...but after patching it up with a bit of electrical tape (we're rock'n'roll like that you see :P) we rocked on!

Massive thanx to my crew and to Choolips for my amazing costumes (more about them later).  Thanx to Rhian Fox (from Payroll) on guest guitar/ backing vocals...and of course BIG UP Gibbi Bettini for playing his fingers to the bone for 8hrs straight!

The next installment SOON COME .....

@sh.x