This week's artist: Omega Bugembe Okello
I met this week's artist, Omega, when performing in the annual Easter play at my church. I immediately liked her as she was sweet, approachable and humble. A few weeks into the play I was excited to find out that she ran her own indie record label (she's currently the only artist on it), and it wasn't until a few weeks later when I heard her sing her solo that I realized she could really sing!
Originally from Uganda, Omega sang with the African Children's Choir from a young age. From jazz to R&B to African, Omega's sound is a highly enjoyable fusion topped off by her beautiful voice. I immensely enjoyed two of her live performances in San Francisco, and I'm continually blessed by her humility, faith and poise.
I've been playing her latest album, "Kiwomera Emmeeme" (meaning "it is sweet to the soul" in Luganda, one of the many languages spoken in Uganda), frequently on my iPod. Most of the songs are not in English, so you may not understand the words, but I'm confident you'll appreciate the vocals and music! Some of my favorites from the album:
"Kiwomera Emmeeme"-Talks about the sweetness of getting something you've been longing for
"Mujje"- An upbeat song inviting listeners to come to Jesus. Super fun to dance to!
"Yaye"
"Amazima"
To learn more about Omega's music, check out her website: http://www.omegaworldmusic.com/
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
The Art of Discipline
It's easy to fall into the deception that creating powerful art is only about responding to whatever inspiration comes your way, but there's a lot of discipline that goes into the creative process. We cannot control inspiration; however, we play a part in pursuing it by creating space in our lives for creativity to grow and take root. Steadily engaging a craft, even when you don't feel like it, is essential. In those moments of faithful engagement, no matter how dull or rudimentary they may seem, you are not only further shaping your artistic technique, but you are also showing faith by waiting on inspiration.
My roommate shared an interesting piece of wisdom given to her by a professional photographer: She said that the life of a photographer is hard because you really have to live a life of reflection. That comment struck me because it reminded me that being an artist is all encompassing. In the same way that athletes order their diet, sleep and training in order to keep their bodies in peak condition, artists must not only regularly practice their technique, but they must also regularly reflect in order to create authentic art. When we let our art spring out of a disciplined life of reflection, we create art with a powerful, authentic voice.
My roommate shared an interesting piece of wisdom given to her by a professional photographer: She said that the life of a photographer is hard because you really have to live a life of reflection. That comment struck me because it reminded me that being an artist is all encompassing. In the same way that athletes order their diet, sleep and training in order to keep their bodies in peak condition, artists must not only regularly practice their technique, but they must also regularly reflect in order to create authentic art. When we let our art spring out of a disciplined life of reflection, we create art with a powerful, authentic voice.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Mosaic Music Box-- Lisa McClendon
This week's artist: Lisa McClendon
Pandora has largely been responsible for my growing love of neo-soul/R&B artists, so I was excited to discover Lisa McClendon. Her vibe is a little bit like Lauryn Hill. Her sound is a blend of jazz, funk, hip hop and gospel with lyrics that stem from her Christian faith.
I'm always excited to discover Christian artists that are creating music that's more engaging than the standard Christian music fare.
Some of my favorites so far from Lisa:
"Still Alive" (samples the Bee Gee's "Staying Alive" with a Resurrection spin)
"Hey Now"
Enjoy!
Pandora has largely been responsible for my growing love of neo-soul/R&B artists, so I was excited to discover Lisa McClendon. Her vibe is a little bit like Lauryn Hill. Her sound is a blend of jazz, funk, hip hop and gospel with lyrics that stem from her Christian faith.
I'm always excited to discover Christian artists that are creating music that's more engaging than the standard Christian music fare.
Some of my favorites so far from Lisa:
"Still Alive" (samples the Bee Gee's "Staying Alive" with a Resurrection spin)
"Hey Now"
Enjoy!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Mosaic Music Box
A few months ago my friend introduced me to Pandora. For those who aren't familiar with Pandora, it's basically an online radio where you can direct the music playing according to your tastes by creating radio stations based on artists or songs that you like.
While it can tend to get a bit repetitive, for the most part I thoroughly enjoy Pandora, and it's introduced me to the music of a number of artists that I never would have listened to otherwise. So just as Pandora has introduced me to great music, I'd like to introduce (or re-introduce, if you've already heard of a particular artist/song I feature) you to some of what I'm jamming to while at work:-).
I'll try to post a little something new every week. I do offer the disclaimer that I'm definitely not a seasoned music critic or anything; it's just music I happen to like:-).
This week's artist: Joss Stone
I love her voice, and her music's vibe that's influenced by the sounds of soul and R&B music from the '60s and '70s. I was shocked to find out that she's only around 20! Some of my favorite's from Ms. Stone so far:
"Under Pressure" (remake of a classic Queen song)
"Headturner"
"Security"
Check her out, and let me know what you think!
While it can tend to get a bit repetitive, for the most part I thoroughly enjoy Pandora, and it's introduced me to the music of a number of artists that I never would have listened to otherwise. So just as Pandora has introduced me to great music, I'd like to introduce (or re-introduce, if you've already heard of a particular artist/song I feature) you to some of what I'm jamming to while at work:-).
I'll try to post a little something new every week. I do offer the disclaimer that I'm definitely not a seasoned music critic or anything; it's just music I happen to like:-).
This week's artist: Joss Stone
I love her voice, and her music's vibe that's influenced by the sounds of soul and R&B music from the '60s and '70s. I was shocked to find out that she's only around 20! Some of my favorite's from Ms. Stone so far:
"Under Pressure" (remake of a classic Queen song)
"Headturner"
"Security"
Check her out, and let me know what you think!
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Multiethnic Churches
I too quickly forget that following Jesus is hard--really hard. The sermon at church on Sunday (given by Chip Ingram, not Pastor Paul who is quoted in the article below) was about learning how to suffer well. What a completely counter cultural idea to the American "pursuit of happiness".
The church in the U.S. is quick to forget that the life Jesus has called us to is one that will include suffering, and maybe that connects to our reluctance to build multiethnic church communities. Just as discussed in the article, it's hard to learn to live life--to really intertwine our lives-- with people from different cultural backgrounds. It's easier to stay cute and smile and say hi on Sunday morning, then get into the messy business of loving and being loved across cultural boundaries. But what would it look like if we really took that step?
Recently, I've been asking God to deepen my journey of crossing cultures (this is probably against my better judgement as I know that God gives me what I ask for!). I talk a lot about valuing people of other cultures, and I like to think I've already "arrived" when it comes to entering different cultural spaces, but the truth is I still have further to go in understanding that even if it's hard to learn to live life together, I need my brothers and sisters in Christ that are different from me.
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Recently CNN featured a special called, "Black in America." I didn't have a chance to check it out, but it turns out that the pastor of my church was featured in an article written in connection to the special feature.
Don't have time to dig into it right now, but the article discusses why multiethnic churches are so uncommon in the U.S.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/08/04/segregated.sundays/index.html
The church in the U.S. is quick to forget that the life Jesus has called us to is one that will include suffering, and maybe that connects to our reluctance to build multiethnic church communities. Just as discussed in the article, it's hard to learn to live life--to really intertwine our lives-- with people from different cultural backgrounds. It's easier to stay cute and smile and say hi on Sunday morning, then get into the messy business of loving and being loved across cultural boundaries. But what would it look like if we really took that step?
Recently, I've been asking God to deepen my journey of crossing cultures (this is probably against my better judgement as I know that God gives me what I ask for!). I talk a lot about valuing people of other cultures, and I like to think I've already "arrived" when it comes to entering different cultural spaces, but the truth is I still have further to go in understanding that even if it's hard to learn to live life together, I need my brothers and sisters in Christ that are different from me.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recently CNN featured a special called, "Black in America." I didn't have a chance to check it out, but it turns out that the pastor of my church was featured in an article written in connection to the special feature.
Don't have time to dig into it right now, but the article discusses why multiethnic churches are so uncommon in the U.S.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/08/04/segregated.sundays/index.html
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Joy in Justice
For those not familiar with the San Francisco BayAarea, East Palo Alto (or EPA for short) is a community predominantly made up of working class families of color. Happening to border the extremely affluent community of Palo Alto, that features safe, clean neighborhoods and good schools, EPA wrestles with high crime rates and less than stellar schools.
It's startling to drive all the way down University Avenue, one of the main roads that runs through both cities. You drive through downtown Palo Alto with trendy restaurants and cute boutiques, slowly making your way into residential areas of large, gated houses with perfectly manicured lawns. Once you cross, the highway, however, there's stark contrast.
Side walks and roads are cracked. The houses are small with unfinished lawns. There are boarded up stores.
How is it possible that in such a small area two communities have drastically different experiences of life? Admittedly, I have much to learn about the specifics of the relationship between Palo Alto and EPA as well as the general subjects of justice and urban inequity, so I make that disclaimer, but nonetheless, it doesn't make sense and it's unfair.
A current injustice occurring in EPA is an illegal rent increase affecting many of the residents. With these rent increases families do not have enough money to pay for other basic necessities of life, such as food.
There are a number of local organizations in the area that have partnered together for the past few months to inform residents of their rights and run petition drives during which residents can file petitions against the company that has instituted the rent increases. One of my roommates learned about the opportunity to volunteer during a Saturday petition drive through her church small group, and she invited our other roommate and myself to help out.
When I initially received the email, I resisted. Lately, I have constantly felt tired, and when the weekend rolls around, I'm deeply committed to sleeping in and indulging in episode after episode of "The Office" (hey--don't judge;-)). But I realized that this was an urgent opportunity to actively engage in pursuing justice--a value I claim to hold, yet don't know how much I actually live it. So I signed up.
I thought that volunteering would be a somber event. I don't know what I imagined--maybe a veil of oppression with mournful faces as we struggled to help individuals fill out petitions. The atmosphere was the opposite. As volunteers gathered in we introduced ourselves to one another, laughing and joking beneath the blue awnings, under which tables held computers to fill out petitions for residents.
As residents gathered to review their documents with volunteers, children played in the yard. I had the pleasure of being partnered with a fellow volunteer named Sarai who saved me in my fumbling Spanish moments by interpreting for me.
I imagined that after a 3.5 hour shift I would leave feeling drained, yet the opposite surprised me. I left feeling energized--more energized, engaged and present than I have felt in a long time.
As I said earlier I have much to learn about what it means to live justly, and while there is deep grief in the reality of injustice in the world, I believe there is joy in seeking justice. Sometimes I'm scared to take more steps towards actively engaging justice because I'm afraid it means giving up the chance to enjoy life, but something happens when we refuse to submit to injustice. Something happens when we refuse to be apathetic. And maybe the big surprise is that there is joy when we open our lives to pursuing truth, not only for ourselves, but for communities and societies as a whole.
It's startling to drive all the way down University Avenue, one of the main roads that runs through both cities. You drive through downtown Palo Alto with trendy restaurants and cute boutiques, slowly making your way into residential areas of large, gated houses with perfectly manicured lawns. Once you cross, the highway, however, there's stark contrast.
Side walks and roads are cracked. The houses are small with unfinished lawns. There are boarded up stores.
How is it possible that in such a small area two communities have drastically different experiences of life? Admittedly, I have much to learn about the specifics of the relationship between Palo Alto and EPA as well as the general subjects of justice and urban inequity, so I make that disclaimer, but nonetheless, it doesn't make sense and it's unfair.
A current injustice occurring in EPA is an illegal rent increase affecting many of the residents. With these rent increases families do not have enough money to pay for other basic necessities of life, such as food.
There are a number of local organizations in the area that have partnered together for the past few months to inform residents of their rights and run petition drives during which residents can file petitions against the company that has instituted the rent increases. One of my roommates learned about the opportunity to volunteer during a Saturday petition drive through her church small group, and she invited our other roommate and myself to help out.
When I initially received the email, I resisted. Lately, I have constantly felt tired, and when the weekend rolls around, I'm deeply committed to sleeping in and indulging in episode after episode of "The Office" (hey--don't judge;-)). But I realized that this was an urgent opportunity to actively engage in pursuing justice--a value I claim to hold, yet don't know how much I actually live it. So I signed up.
I thought that volunteering would be a somber event. I don't know what I imagined--maybe a veil of oppression with mournful faces as we struggled to help individuals fill out petitions. The atmosphere was the opposite. As volunteers gathered in we introduced ourselves to one another, laughing and joking beneath the blue awnings, under which tables held computers to fill out petitions for residents.
As residents gathered to review their documents with volunteers, children played in the yard. I had the pleasure of being partnered with a fellow volunteer named Sarai who saved me in my fumbling Spanish moments by interpreting for me.
I imagined that after a 3.5 hour shift I would leave feeling drained, yet the opposite surprised me. I left feeling energized--more energized, engaged and present than I have felt in a long time.
As I said earlier I have much to learn about what it means to live justly, and while there is deep grief in the reality of injustice in the world, I believe there is joy in seeking justice. Sometimes I'm scared to take more steps towards actively engaging justice because I'm afraid it means giving up the chance to enjoy life, but something happens when we refuse to submit to injustice. Something happens when we refuse to be apathetic. And maybe the big surprise is that there is joy when we open our lives to pursuing truth, not only for ourselves, but for communities and societies as a whole.
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