N*E*R*D = Musical genius...my muse.

FUNK rock, mellow beats, sweet soul and perfect lyrics = the genius that is N*E*R*D. From the second their performance came to life, loyal fans at the HMV forum in London didn’t stop to catch a breath as they rocked along with the band.

The three piece band, Pharrell Williams, Chad Hugo and Shae Haley are unstoppable. If you’ve loved their vibe and aura ever since they splashed onto the music scene back in 2002 with their album In Search Of; then their latest album Seeing Sounds will definitely not disappoint. Each track sets free the addictive and overwhelming unique beats, thought provocative contagious lyrics and distinctive instrumental fusions. They refuse to be categorised into one genre. To hear and see their creation, from past to present, was truly overwhelming, out of this world, amazing and quite possibly one of the best moments in my life…(yeah I know I sound like a nerd) especially as I’ve been waiting to see them in the flesh since In Search Of. I’ve fallen in love with the band & what they’re all about all over again!

I am SO HAPPY I finally saw them...it was well worth the wait. To be honest, I'm pretty impressed with the shots I managed to capture, especially as I was squashed near the front in a mosh-pit! You can probably hear me singing too in the background in my videos...I couldn't help it..I got lost in the moment...!

Their beautiful album is a melting pot consisting of songs which keep you clinging onto their every word. Lovebomb is dramatic, epic and the title itself is a symbolism of two very powerful or destructive words, like a nightmare eating up a dream. If you want to read deeper between the lines, the song is an anti-war song, indirectly singing about how we need to pull together, open our eyes and realise that the Government isn’t always right or isn’t always leading us onto the right path.

The album has definitely moved on with the times; it’s aware of the world we’re living in now and I’m sure it’s loyal fans have played and re-played each song over and over again. I know I have. Some of the songs reflect sounds of the 60’s & 70’s pop metal, such as Windows, which is fundamentally about a peeing tom with oldskool handclaps & vocals. Sounds scandalous but the music drowns out its initial meaning. It skips between various themes and issues, in which its listeners can most definitely understand, get lost in or relate to. You have to unravel each song through its layers.

Crashing down can be broken down…life isn’t always going to be sugar coated and full of sunshine. Quite evident as the end of song instrumentally goes passionately wild and crazy with an outbreak of drums and guitars-like the human emotion of screaming releasing all their frustration and anger. One of my favourites from the album in which I listen to loudly on my 7am drive to work every morning.

What I love about N*E*R*D is their adventurous streak, they experiment with different sounds & beats, their ‘gangster’ lyrics are merely mocking those in the hip-hop scene and each lyric can have more than deeper meaning attached to it. They appeal to people who feel like they don’t quite fit in with the rest of the sheep in society. They have so much substance & there is no-one out there who even comes close to them. Their sound is simply irresistible...

Save your local citizen journalist!

JOURNALISM has evolved and developed as a result of the deep, dark recession. The past year has seen redundancies, job-sharing, cut backs in newsroom budgets and news content being compromised as a result of these shrinking newsrooms. Not a pretty sight.

Employed journalists were constantly on edge wondering if they were going to be the next batch to be made redundant. Those who wanted to be employed by a newspaper felt like they had no chance.

However, all is not lost! Cue the phenomenon that is Facebook and Twitter. As newspapers cut their workforce and said goodbye to its printed publications, the web became the best cost-effective and efficient form of gathering and presenting news. In a bid to increase it’s interaction with its readers, on-line newspapers tapped into the regular use of video content and blogs

This rise of online journalism has introduced the trusty, local citizen journalist. However, even though journalism is adapting to how its readers and audiences are choosing to view the news, journalism still needs to be preserved as a skilful profession. Anyone can share information or ‘news’ but lets not forget, only a journalist can piece together a fair and accurate news story.

When you log into Facebook/Twitter, you can obtain various types of ‘news’ about what’s going on in your friends’ lives. Some of this information can be taken as an exclusive scoop.

Last year I wrote a front page story for Cannock’s Chase Post newspaper, based on rumours that Gary Glitter would be moving to the local area. A Facebook user started the group to petition his move- if rumours turned out to be true. For a journalist, it’s easy to obtain quotes and interview the Facebook user when content is open to the public.

To me, locality is absolutely vital with the way social networking sites are incorporated into news gathering. People like to read what’s going on in their local neighbourhood and how it could directly or indirectly affect them, as opposed to issues on the other side of the world.

Newspapers in particular need to let go of its traditional image and adapt to the rapid use of the internet. For example Facebook fan pages for the newspaper can appeal to the younger readers. Long term it’s beneficial.

Accuracy, fairness and objectivity still need to be upheld by a journalist, whether they are behind a news-desk or blogging on the go. This skilful profession needs to be preserved; social networking sites are now just another method of newsgathering, presenting news and drawing in more readers.

Domestic violence against men by Harvy Matharu

MEN are just as likely as women to be victims of domestic violence in the Cannock area. The British Crime Survey figures for the West Midlands show that in 2007/08 - a higher percentage of men, 5.4% were victims of partner abuse than women 4.9%, aged between 16 and 59.
Across the Staffordshire area, there could be a higher number of silent victims too afraid to speak up.

Diane Yates, domestic violence coordinator from Cannock Chase Council, revealed that Cannock has the highest incidents of domestic violence within the Chase Division. She said: “It is a hard for any victim to report domestic abuse; they usually hope things will improve. They often feel they are to blame for the abuse. Male victims sometimes feel they will not be believed on the grounds that men are viewed stronger than women.”

I found a Facebook common interest group which stems from the West Midlands, called ‘Stop domestic violence against men.' A male victim posted a comment within the group of his traumatic experience. He said: “I am a male victim; my ex-girlfriend and her boys were abusing me for nearly twelve years. I ended up self-harming myself, I cut my left arm with knives, pen and hitting myself and broke my jaw, I ended up in hospital after I took tablets, I nearly died of overdose. I hit the wall all the time, because she was treating me badly and her sons as well, she wouldn’t move out from the house four years ago. Now they have moved out and I am very happy. When she came home from pubs, she always hit me for no reason, I couldn’t hit back because she is a woman. To all males, do not suffer in silence and we are not alone.”

If you are the victim of male domestic violence, contact victim support on 0845 30 30 900.

(A feature I researched & wrote for the Cannock Chase newspaper 2009.)

My quickie with Jay Sean

Once upon a time...I worked as a journalist for a British-Asian national newspaper - Eastern Voice. (Click on the image twice to zoom in.)

After taking over the music scene in the U.K and before heading off to America, I interviewed the pop sensation (about 5 times actually, he must of thought "not her again.)

It looks like taking a chance with his music career and quitting med school really paid off. He's evolved into a pop icon whilst breaking stereotypical and musical barriers. Just reflecting on that point, if you don't take the chance, then you will never know what's around the corner...

The Boy With The Topknot

The Boy With The Topknot: A Memoir of Love, Secrets and Lies in Wolverhampton

TORN between two identities, Sathnam Sanghera, a successful London journalist from a Punjabi Sikh family takes a nostalgic yet challenging trip down memory lane, as he uncovers the truth about his family growing up in the 90’s in Wolverhampton.

This is one of my favourite books of all time. Even though it's been out for quite a while, it's still sitting proudly on a Waterstones shelf amongst local talented writers.

The book is written as a family memoir and engages the readers with how his family struggled and overcame taboo issues such as mental illness, illiteracy and domestic violence. Through exploring these personal issues, he has attempted to break these restrictive barriers within the Asian community. I have read this book a few times and each time there are strands of the narrative which can be related to-even if you're not Asian. For any British Asian growing up in Wolves, it allows you to visualise the characters in the book and their local surroundings.

Not forgetting the recurring arranged marriage system, in which Sathnam is sure that many of the readers may be able to relate to. I interviewed Sathnam when the book was first published. He revealed the deeper narrative which unfolds through each chapter.

One of the main strands within the book is the “us” and “them” notion which still exists today. He interweaves his own experiences with the hurdles his family had overcome. The clash of cultures sees Sathnam leave his swanky London flat behind for Wolverhampton, where his inspiration stemmed from for the heart of his story. Chapter by chapter, he reveals his secrets. It turns out that Jagjit Singh Sanghera, his father, is schizophrenic, as is Sathnam's older sister, Puli. The next secret is Sanghera's. "I'm going to type up a letter I've been drafting, in one way or another, for half a lifetime. When I'm done, I'm going to send it to someone in India who, for an almost unethically small fee, will translate it into a language I can speak and understand but cannot read or write ... [then] hand it over to the person I love more than any other and let the contents break her heart." He wants to tell his mother that the arranged marriage she desperately desires for him will never happen, not whilst he is wrapped up in his lies between his two lifestyles. It is a well-rounded story which makes you look at your own family closely whilst capturing the true essence of being a British Asian, growing up in Wolverhampton.

When Gordon Brown met Harvy..he smiled!

Smile Gordon! (omg he actually did)

Back in 2008, equipped with my notebook and pen, I attended the Labour Conference at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham. I was actually star-struck for a moment when he walked into the room! Being the enthusiastic geeky-journalist I was back then ( and still am) I managed to squeeze my way through the crowd to the Prime Minister for a quick snap.

Don't ever say he never smiles!

De-activate Facebook

I did something crazy last night.

I de-activated my Facebook account.

It was something I had wanted to do for quite a while, just to see what life would be like without constantly informing the Facebook world where I was, what I was doing or when something bizarre or random had just happened. I’ll admit it; this became a habit of mine. In just a few minutes, with a few simple clicks I had detached myself. In a bid to tempt it’s users from leaving, before you hit the deactivate button, it shows you a random selection of your friends who will apparently “miss you” if you leave. Ha! Yeah right.

I have never felt so liberated. I’m free!

So...no more constant status updates whilst exploring the lives of others to fill the voids in my day. Now what?

I suppose I better use my time productively now.


Funnily enough, five minutes after I’d escaped from Facebook, I had the urge to update my status about how free I felt from people bragging on Facebook whilst fulfilling their ego.

Hmm... I wonder what everyone’s up to?

OMG it’s been 4 years since graduation!

I STEPPED BACK in time over the weekend in Nottingham, the vibrant and eclectic City where I studied and lived in for three years. As the train drew closer to the platform I could feel my heart beat skip a few beats. I suddenly felt like I was a student again, equipped with my bag of food supplies and my little pink suitcase of freshly washed clothes from my weekend at home. I felt excited and nervous to be back in the City where I learnt how to be independent, made friends for life, partied (a lot) and of course, studied my dream course-broadcast journalism. Walking through the City centre I couldn’t help but glance around, thinking to myself, “Hmm that would make a good news package,” but then I had to snap myself out of the student mentality of where the next assignment was going to come from.

When the sun went down, the drinks came out. It was a re-union night for ex-Nottingham Trent students so luckily there weren’t any little fresher’s invading the night. As we tottered towards the student union, we immediately felt like we had no worries in the world. The bar was the first stop! I’d almost forgotten how cheap and cheerful student nights were!

Going back for the weekend made me realise how much of a different, thorough perspective I now have on life, ambition and the people I meet. We were all once naïve, innocent, excited students living week to week through coursework and partying. I’ve realised that everyone is starting to take their own paths…whether it’s getting hitched and having babies, settling in their careers, moving abroad or just coasting for the time being.

Back to the real world then...

www.icantbelieveivejoinedadatingsite.com

PART 1: *Sigh*

I’ve done it. I can’t believe I’ve joined a dating website! It’s called SikhFaces.com. A handful of my friends have signed up and didn’t really give it a second thought. “Hey, it’s no big deal,” was the impression I was getting.

I explored the site, it’s almost on the same page as Facebook; after going through the initial process of setting up a profile and uploading a respectable photo (no, not one where you’re drunk in a club with a super mini skirt on!) you’re free to message people who you think could tick your boxes.

It’s quite a challenge to describe your ideal soul mate though, what if they just don’t exist?!

I have to admit, it took me a lot of persuasion to join. These kinds of sites were once taboo and people were almost embarrassed to admit they’d registered with one. The uncomfortable, awkward self-consciousness attached to these sites has vanished now. But when you take a step back and think about it, you have nothing to lose really. It’s difficult to meet people on the same wavelength as you in your everyday routine, so if someone is but a mere click away, then why not? What do you have to lose? I’ve recently realised that the journey we all take to take to find your soul mate could be quite an interesting and open-minded one. I’m no expert at the whole dating scene so this could be quite funny….

So who is a click away?

I received messages from guys who thought they were compatible with me. It was the usual, “Hi, you seem interesting do you want to tell me more about yourself.” They seemed ‘normal.’ But let's forget about those run of the mill messages for now. I started to really question what the hell I was doing on a site where people with the name of 'devilish' and 'prince charming' started messaging me, more than once. They can’t be serious…can they? I mean, I know it's good to stand out and be individual, but come on! Do these people really think they would be taken seriously with those names?! It made me squirm; it made me feel anxious about the weirdo’s out there on the other side of their computer screens!

Shortly after I left the site...do you blame me?!

Fancy a curry?

I am an Asian girl, so that must mean that when I go home, I immediately get changed into a Punjabi suit and step into the kitchen to whip up a spicy curry, as I’m apparently a culinary expert at cooking curry. Right? Actually….No.

It’s quite surprising that some people still have these narrow-minded notions. I was faced with explaining my ethnicity at work recently through a string of some ridiculously naive questions by an elderly English woman. (A bit like a Little Britain character.)

“So where are you from? Where are your parents from? When you go home do you wear a suit? Do you visit your family in India?”

Left completely astounded, my response to those questions were, “Well I’m from here, (Wolverhampton actually!) I hardly ever wear Indian attire, well, only at parties, and all my family are in the UK, I have no family in India.” I added, “I’ve been to Spain more times than I’ve been to India.” To which she seemed slightly confused because I am pretty sure that I threw her perceptions off course.
I was overcome with a feeling of amusement and shock. I wasn’t offended but I did feel slightly uncomfortable. These questions weren’t asked maliciously, but innocently which made me wonder how many other people think like this and think its perfectly normal to do so.

From my own observations, there is still an element of stereotypical values in the media. The Asian shopkeeper and the overly-religious family etc. We’re not all the same. I am very proud of my identity and of my British Asian roots; however it does get annoying that people can ask such ignorant and slightly amusing questions.

Right…I’m off for a curry now.

Brit Awards 2010...What a shambles...

An amateur school performance…those are the words which spring to mind for the Brit Awards. What a disappointing show, it lacked talent and class and real musicians. Instead, viewers were treated to a two hour circus show of singers who couldn’t even manage to sing live, Peter Kay, the presenter who looked like he was trying to hold the show together and really didn’t look like he wanted to be there and a string of lame jokes where watching tumbleweed roll across the stage would have been much more entertaining.

Stop me if I’m wrong, but I thought the Brits were all about celebrating the crème de la crème of British music? When I switched over to ITV, I certainly didn’t expect to watch a poorly organised and edited show starring a batch of reject guests…Spice Girls…(well two of them) and Sam Fox. Then to see Jonathon Ross walk on stage in a ghetto-esq outfit was just too much and I actually felt embarrassed for him. What a desperate attempt to entertain. The cherry on the cake was watching Cheryl Cole mime…she couldn’t even manage to do that properly. Why people think she can actually sing and see her as a role model is beyond me. Then Robbie Williams just looked like a drunken uncle at a wedding.

In my opinion, the only worthy singer to actually deserved all three of her awards was Lady Gaga. She sang live and sentimentally dedicated her performance to the late Alexander McQueen. I actually felt insulted for Lady Gaga when Geri and Sam Fox said that they would have preferred for her to sing something which they recognised…how narrow-minded for a “musician” to say. I’m sorry Geri…are all artists supposed to play the same songs over and over again?! As for “Kula Shaker where are you now?!” Well, to that, I say, “Spice Girls where are YOU now?!”

I don’t think the Brits are about real musicians with actual talent anymore. From last night’s debacle, it’s turned into a freak show for deflated egos. What a shambles.

All I know is that I will never get those two hours back.

Artwork by Kaz Matharu

R.I.P Ricardo...

R.I.P Ricardo...sad, sad day

Ricardo...my snowman.

So how many of you know who built the FIRST snowman?

According to the New York Times:

It's a well-documented fact that very first snowman was made in Eau Claire, Wisconsin on January 7, 1809 by a Mr. Vernon N. Paul and his nine-year-old daughter, little Yetty Paul. According to Mr. Paul, he told his daughter that the snowman was intended to frighten away the Boxing Day elves. (Popular legend said Boxing Day Elves reclaimed Christmas presents.) Once the Paul family's neighbors saw the snowman, and little Yetty explained to her friends how easy it was to make (and no doubt, how effective it was at keeping the Boxing Day elves away), children all over the town were making snowmen. Word soon spread and the New York Times dispatched a writer named Hillary Sherpa to check out rumors of a town populated by snow men. Of course, she found that Eau Clairre was not really populated by snow people, but instead, effigies of people, made of snow.”

"Have yow seen this?!"

WOLVERHAMPTON is apparently the 5th worst city out of 9 from around the world, according to Lonely Planet. What a load of rubbish- it’s unrealistic to say the least. Wolverhampton is not that bad! Ok, so I might have had a laugh about it a few times and it does have certain characteristics which add comedy value (the crazy preaching cowboy, the ring road tramp r.i.p, the nearly non-existent nightlife and rubbish Christmas lights) but when it comes down to it, I can think of places around the world which I would hate to be stuck in!

DJ and artist Goldie, 44, grew up in Wolverhampton and was quoted in The Sun newspaper as saying: “There are places in Brazil where the poverty and crime make your hair stand on end. Wolverhampton feels pretty safe for a city where people have faced hard times.”
The thing is, Lonely Planet didn’t even visit the City to review it…so how can their so-called review be accurate?
Anyway…England's first automatic set of traffic lights were unveiled in the City in 1927… so there!
So if ever you’re lost outside Wolverhampton just look for the blue neon lights on top of the Mander House to find your way back home….

Chav!

What a chav-tastic piece of jewellery from Topshop...you can't really be expected to be taken seriously wearing this can you?

S L O W bus drivers...

Don't get me started on slow bus drivers....

So it's 6:45 am & I'm waiting for a bus...
25 minutes have passed & still no bloody bus..that's kind of frustrating considering the bus should be every 5 minutes..

THEN when the bus does arrive, it's the slowest bus driver ever who thinks it's perfectly fine to drive at 20mph! So anyway, I'm already late for work & I've missed the second bus...to make matters worse, the bus driver travels at a speed in which it would be quicker to walk/jog/sprint...

Waiting for the second bus in the freezing cold isn't much fun either; sometimes I have to resort to wiggling my toes just to keep the blood circulation going...

FINALLY the second bus arrives..I'm on the way to work..but the driver only goes and takes a break after driving for 5 minutes!!!!

People have to get to work you know!

ARGHHHHHHHHHHH!

Rainbow legs

Coloured tights are big on the fashion scene at the moment. It's not just rainbow legs strutting around..patterned tights are also a must have. Even if they don't match your outfit, who cares? If they look & feel funky, just wear 'em..you don't always have to match.
Well I love my bright pink tights anyway. Alot.

Cool geeks

The definition of a geek is, “A person who is single-minded or accomplished in scientific or technical pursuits but is felt to be socially inept.”

It’s also a contagious trend which is easy to create. The beauty about this look is that you don’t need to put too much effort into it. A few statement accessory pieces teamed with your imagination will do the trick.

The ‘geeks’ are characterised as being clueless about fashion and for their hate towards designer, high-end fashion pieces. But now their geek-chic unique image has gradually crept into the world of fashion.

Geeks, nerds & dweebs are stereotyped as those who have a very distinctive, signature look. Geeks represent a culture of all things “un-cool.” They wear braces with their trousers, have plasters taped around their thick rimmed glasses and have their shirts tucked into their jack-up trousers…just think of Napoleon Dynamite. Over time, this trend has become a phenomenon in the fashion world; anyone can bring out their inner geek.

Flashback...

Material Girl...

The chameleon of fashion herself, the ever-changing queen of pop, Madonna, is THE style icon of the 80’s. She has definitely influenced the face of fashion, past & present.

Leggings, messy chic hairstyles lace, chunky statement jewellery, blazers and oversized jumpers have come full circle back into the world of fashion. Teenage girls back in the 80’s wanted to follow in Madonna’s fashionable footsteps, now it’s their daughters, their “Material Girl’s” who are still trying to re-create the 80’s look.

This trend will never grow old.