Emerging Artist: Billie Black

It's time to mix things up a little with one of my favorite pastimes ... Music. An emerging artist with a classic or new sound really pulls at my heart strings.

(Billie Black via Facebook page)

Lyrics, style and flow are the three characteristics that I listen out for when I hear a new musical artist. I also prefer the ones who have yet to make it to the airwaves of popular radio stations throughout the U.S. You know like the ones you come across at a small venue, SoundCloud or Twitter, which is where I discovered my new musical favorite – Billie Black.

Billie Black shared her video from her single 'I Don't Need Another Lover' this week on YouTube and then it landed in my twitter feed. The British 19 year-old singer songwriter is not trending in social media just yet but I am sure once her EP 000100 drops on Nov. 3, 2014, people will take notice.

'I Don't Need Another Lover' has a smooth funk soulful vibe to it and I couldn't get enough. Take a listen ... 

 

Billie Black is excited to headline her first "proper show" at Old Blue Last on Dec. 4, 2014. So if you're in London on that night be sure to check out her show and update me on how she moved the crowd. 

I'm rooting for you Billie Black! I know a good voice when I hear one! - @TCsViews

I'm still waiting to hear back from Billie Black for an interview with Arts of Cultures to find out her story. I know she has one.

In the meantime, we just have to keep track of her progress on the following social media platforms:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thisbillieblack


tumblr: http://thisbillieblack.tumblr.com/

Twitter: @thisbillieblack

SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/billie-black

What's Your Story: Why She Stayed

The month of October is winding down, which means Domestic Violence Awareness Month is about to wrap up. 

We all know that domestic violence takes place everyday around the world. So it goes without saying that we should always be aware of domestic violence.

The one question people ask a victim of domestic abuse is, 'why did you stay?' This woman's answer in the following video is one I never heard but as a person who grew up in the Caribbean culture I understood exactly where she was coming from.

I named this new segment to Arts of Cultures - What’s Your Story? This is where I ask people to share their story…no matter how big or small. Here's Kay's story of why she stayed in an abusive relationship and when she realized it was time to leave.

 

Empty-Nest Chronicles: The 'Empty-Ness' Feeling

The one thing that I can't shake is the feeling of anticipated loneliness. When I come home from work and my son is not home I start to think, "Wow, the house is so quiet. Is this what I have to look forward to next year?"

(*TC's view of an Empty House –
Painting by Pierre-Monet)

At first I get excited at the thought because I'm not going to have to rush home from work to cook dinner, clean up breakfast dishes, or play the role of a chauffeur after a 1.5 hour commute on the NJTransit and MTA. As I start to figure out what to cook for the evening the feeling of sadness fills the air because next year neither one of the children will be home to ask, "What time will dinner be ready?"

2014: The Year of Football Trouble

For me, 2014 will always be remembered as the year of scandalous news in sports, specifically football. The NFL's image has taken a major hit. From domestic violence on an elevator to a child being disciplined with a switch till his skin was bloodied and bruised. 

(via ESPN, Photo Credit: Peter Yang for ESPN - 

found on EliteDaily)

In my zen humble opinion, it should be a prerequisite for athletes to take sensitivity classes, do some yoga and meditate, which should help center their mind, spirit and balance their aggressive behavior. These classes should be offered starting at the little league level and all the way up through the major leagues. The Seahawks meditates and does yoga...so why can't it be a consideration for everyone else? (If you have a better idea leave them in the comment box below.)

The most recent news on the field comes from Sayreville War Memorial High School in Parlin, New Jersey.

We Missed It: Black Poetry Day

Today, Oct. 17, 2014, is Black Poetry Day. I had no idea there was a day devoted to Black poets. 

Even though I found out about Black Poetry Day through my Zite news aggregator app around 6 o’clock this morning, it wasn’t a trending topic on any of my social media news feeds. 

I even tweeted: 

It’s #BlackPoetryDay! Who is your favorite Black poet? 

But no one responded. 

20 Years and Blogging

Last week marked 20 years since blogging hit the World Wide Web, thanks to the California software developer Dave Winer. Blogging gives millions of people around the world the platform to express their thoughts, ideas, life stories and advice to the masses. 

(see The Guardian's: Happy 20th Anniversary to Dave Winer - Inventor of the Blog)

Dave Winer - Blog Inventor
Courtesy of TheGuardian.com

Winer posted his first blog on Oct. 7, 1994.

Empty-Nest Chronicles: The Emotional Reveal

Empty Nest

Thirteen months have passed since my oldest went away to college. And next year this time my youngest will follow in his sister’s footsteps and also go off to college. My heart is filled with panic. 

“What am I going to do? What will be my reason for getting up every day and trekking it to the place that provides me financial stability?” These are the questions that I ask myself when I walk into my quiet home. 

Better Said Than Written: How To Be Black

How To Be Black
by
Baratunde Thurston

Welcome back to Better Said Than Written, the podcast supplement of Arts of Cultures where I make a personal connection with today's trending topics.

In this episode you'll get a brief rundown on what's trending in my social media feed and I finally share my views on the book How To Be Black. Yes, there's a book on that! Click play and take a listen.



What you've missed on Better Said Than Written:


- Episode 1 - Things I Tell My Black Son

- Episode 2 - Domestic Violence - What Are You Doing?