Ian Kamau http://iankamau.com @iankamau Sun, 03 Mar 2013 22:55:19 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Flying Lotus_ Until The Quiet Comes (Short Film: Kahlil Joseph) http://iankamau.com/home/flying-lotus_-until-the-quiet-comes-short-film-kahlil-joseph/ http://iankamau.com/home/flying-lotus_-until-the-quiet-comes-short-film-kahlil-joseph/#comments Sun, 03 Mar 2013 22:55:19 +0000 http://iankamau.com/?p=1731

]]>
http://iankamau.com/home/flying-lotus_-until-the-quiet-comes-short-film-kahlil-joseph/feed/ 1
Hunted & Hated_ NYPD http://iankamau.com/home/hunted-hated_-nypd/ http://iankamau.com/home/hunted-hated_-nypd/#comments Wed, 20 Feb 2013 20:50:34 +0000 http://iankamau.com/?p=1722

via Christine El-Kholy

]]>
http://iankamau.com/home/hunted-hated_-nypd/feed/ 0
YESTERDAYS VISUALS_ (ONE DAY SOON) http://iankamau.com/home/yesterdays/ http://iankamau.com/home/yesterdays/#comments Mon, 11 Feb 2013 00:44:15 +0000 http://iankamau.com/?p=1711

The song ‘Yesterdays’ was released Oct 7, 2011 on the album One Day Soon. It features sign language performance by Muna Jimale (UK based Cultural Curator) and I. Shot by Nabil Shash and assisted by Aden Abebe & Daniel Balay in Esplanade, Toronto. The piece is shot in front of a mural painted as part of The Brighten The Corners Project (coordinated by Well and Good in 2010) – artists: Patrick Thompson & Alexa Hatanaka

]]>
http://iankamau.com/home/yesterdays/feed/ 0
Illume Creative Studio_ Rwanda http://iankamau.com/home/illume-creative-studio_-rwanda/ http://iankamau.com/home/illume-creative-studio_-rwanda/#comments Sun, 03 Feb 2013 03:27:38 +0000 http://iankamau.com/?p=1708

My friends from Illume Creative Studio in Rwanda just release visuals in celebration of their company and their new space in Kigali. These folks were a great support to me on my trip to Kigali and Capetown that sparked a South and East African tour that took me through South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia and Rwanda. They are great and creative people who are going to introduce me to Sonia Rolland so that we can get married and live happily ever after.

]]>
http://iankamau.com/home/illume-creative-studio_-rwanda/feed/ 0
Remembering_ Eliot Rausch http://iankamau.com/blog/remembering_-eliot-rausch/ http://iankamau.com/blog/remembering_-eliot-rausch/#comments Sun, 23 Dec 2012 03:10:51 +0000 http://iankamau.com/?p=1703

remember from Eliot Rausch on Vimeo.

Eliot Rausch is my hero. He makes what I would make if I could. Brilliant every time.

]]>
http://iankamau.com/blog/remembering_-eliot-rausch/feed/ 0
One Day Soon / Because We Were Born Release Gathering (11/11/11) http://iankamau.com/home/one-day-soon-because-we-were-born-release-gathering-111111/ http://iankamau.com/home/one-day-soon-because-we-were-born-release-gathering-111111/#comments Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:45:28 +0000 http://iankamau.com/?p=1685

Sometimes we don’t know what we have when we have it.

After the release of my album, One Day Soon, I experienced one of the longest and lowest periods of depression in my life thus far. I suffered it mostly alone in my apartment during a cold, grey winter in Toronto. Most people I know where completely unaware save a few who cared, and cared to know. I am lucky to have a handful of close friends who supported me though it. The album was not doing what I wanted, a relationship I was in ended between when the album was released on Oct 7 and the album release celebration on Nov 11, I found myself arguing with friends and avoiding them as I only wanted peace, I felt drained, I was left with a great sense of isolation and loneliness.

I wanted my music to be ‘successful,’ I thought the energy that I put in would come back in a form that would help me pay my rent, for longer than two months and not drive me into debt. I felt immobilized; many days I didn’t leave my apartment, often I didn’t leave my bed.

The truth is, I don’t know what I’m doing. I am an artist, that is the only thing I ever wanted to be, the only thing I ever wanted to do, I have other interests of course, but they always lead me back to something creative, something about communication and purpose. I have failed a lot, made a lot of mistakes, but how is it possible when you know so clearly what you should be doing that it never really works?

One day I was having a conversation with my friend Sarah. After an hour of listening to me complain about what I wanted, who had done me wrong and what I expected that did not come true she quietly said “were you attached to the outcome?” I was still for a moment, “yes, yes I was, yes I am.” I have told many people about this moment since it happened, including her, simple and to the point, yes I was attached to a specific outcome and no; that did not happen. I would not say that in an interview “I wanted this album to generate money for me” but that’s what I wanted. I want to make money as an artist, so that I can be an artist full time.

Audience listens during show 11.11.11

The reality is this, I never made music for money, I didn’t put energy into music as a money generator, I made/make art because I love it. I am not naïve, money is important because I need it to live; I am not a child of wealth living off their parents, I don’t believe that who money is not important, however, it is not the driving force in my artistic ‘career.’ I now know that I want and need my art to make me money, or balance it with something that does or I will have to stop. My art making me money and not being shy about that is different however to making my art for money.

I frequently watch a documentary called “Glass.” The film is about Philip Glass a now well-known American composer. At one point in the film Glass says that he spent years financing his own orchestra by working as a cab driver and a plumber to ensure that he could play his own music. At the beginning of the movie he blurts out “there is plenty of music out there to listen to, you don’t have to listen to mine” how stubborn, how foolish, how inspirational; maybe not that bright, but it worked for him. My friend Ravi sent me an article that K’naan wrote in the New York Times that’s been circulating the internet, him and I have the opposite problem apparently, not compromising and elusive success, or finding success through compromise, some balance would be nice.

A few months ago I started editing the footage from the album release gathering that I co-presented with my friend Keisha-Monique on November 11, 2011 (11/11/11). I was in South Africa at the time and as I went through it tears welled up in my eyes, how amazing that day was. On November 11, 2011 I was tired and stressed, I was unhappy with the sound and the lights, it seemed like a million things were going wrong, the sound threw off my performance, I wanted to do something more innovative with the band, I wish I had more rehearsal time, I just wanted to do a great show, something that people hadn’t experienced in Toronto before; I didn’t have the resources. It was hard for me to enjoy it. But as I looked back and saw all the faces, all the artists, all the people in Toronto that came out to celebrate with us, I shed tears, how amazing. I emailed Keisha and Kemba (the coordinators), my band-mates and a few others who participated in creating that night and I thanked them for making such a beautiful celebration.

One Day Soon Album Artwork

I have been trying to be an artist for so long that I didn’t even realize that I had become one. My vision of success was tied to money, I still struggle with that balance,. The energy that I wanted to create I was at least in the process of creating; for a moment it was there. Despite the imperfections something happened that I am now proud of, I missed a lot of it in searching for perfection (I’m a virgo, sue me).

So much has happened since the album came out, not the least of which was being invited to Capetown, then all across South Africa, then Ethiopia, Rwanda and back to Nairobi, I didn’t spend a dollar. The energy that I have been trying to gather and put out keeps coming back in waves and sometimes in the most unexpected ways.

I still am having difficulty paying my rent, I still want to spend all of my time being an artist, I still want to do big things, and build things, and support others in building things for themselves, I still want to build a space that fosters this energy, but I realized, albeit a little late that I am successful and I appreciate those who have followed me on this journey. I will keep pushing, one way or another and maybe I’ll get there one day soon (sorry, I had to do it).

-Ian Kamau

CLICK HERE TO ORDER ONE DAY SOON

]]>
http://iankamau.com/home/one-day-soon-because-we-were-born-release-gathering-111111/feed/ 1
Haute Caribe_ T & T Fashion http://iankamau.com/home/haute-caribe_-t-t-fashion/ http://iankamau.com/home/haute-caribe_-t-t-fashion/#comments Sat, 10 Nov 2012 16:12:31 +0000 http://iankamau.com/?p=1675

Haute Caribe: The World of Trinidad & Tobago Fashion from Wedge15 on Vimeo.

Trinidad is always in my mind. My parents and my entire family are all from that small island just north of Venezuela. Yesterday I was walking around Toronto doing errands and ended up walking next to a father and daughter who were speaking calmly through dancing Trini accents, I almost hugged them both, but thought that might be inappropriate. That silent encounter with two strangers reminded me of this video I saw posted a few days ago. Well done (warning: the first 30sec is a little distracting, you’ll get through it eventually, took me about three minutes).

More information CLICK HERE

]]>
http://iankamau.com/home/haute-caribe_-t-t-fashion/feed/ 0
ERIMAJ_ Social Life http://iankamau.com/home/erimaj_-social-life/ http://iankamau.com/home/erimaj_-social-life/#comments Tue, 06 Nov 2012 02:01:28 +0000 http://iankamau.com/?p=1672

Social Life-ERIMAJ from Tiombe Lockhart on Vimeo.

I like ERIMAJ’s music, and I haven’t heard much. I saw this on Tigist Selam’s Instagram and had to wait until I got home to be able to see it. Peeped it, posting it.

ERIMAJ – Social Life from LIVE AT THE LOFT on Vimeo.

]]>
http://iankamau.com/home/erimaj_-social-life/feed/ 0
Last Ride From London_ Dirty Money http://iankamau.com/home/last-ride-from-london_-dirty-money/ http://iankamau.com/home/last-ride-from-london_-dirty-money/#comments Tue, 06 Nov 2012 01:50:11 +0000 http://iankamau.com/?p=1670

I have to admit it feels weird posting something with Diddy in it, I’m not mad at the guy, it’s just weird. I saw this and appreciated the perspective. “She loved it as much as I did.”

]]>
http://iankamau.com/home/last-ride-from-london_-dirty-money/feed/ 0
Hilman Curtis_ Rest In Peace http://iankamau.com/home/hilman-curtis_-rest-in-peace/ http://iankamau.com/home/hilman-curtis_-rest-in-peace/#comments Thu, 01 Nov 2012 19:46:17 +0000 http://iankamau.com/?p=1668

HILLMAN from Hillman Curtis on Vimeo.

I’m watching this in that strange state when you realize how much someone has affected you only after they are gone. This happened to me recently with the death of Maurice Sendak (creator of Where The Wild Things Are) a little while ago and when Miriam Makeba passed away. When you know someone is special, you benefit from their work, but you don’t really value it until you realize there will be no more of it. I never met Hilman Curtis, but I was introduced to his work by some friends of mine when we were all students at York/Sheridan studying design. Hilman Curtis passed away in April and I didn’t know until five minutes ago. In the last five or six years since I found out about him I have constantly gone back to his site to watch his artist series, short web-based documentaries about contemporary artists and designers, many of whom I studied when I was in school and most of whom I continue to follow.

Hilman died at the age of only 51 after a long battle with colon Cancer, he had an appreciation of light and space and music and art that is rare in a fast world and pointed his lens at some of the most talented and in some cases unknown and under-appreciated but amazing artists and designers of our time. I’m sad that I won’t get a chance to experience more of his work. Rest in Peace Hilman Curtis.

]]>
http://iankamau.com/home/hilman-curtis_-rest-in-peace/feed/ 0