Tuesday 8 November 2011

A weekend of Special Ladies....

I was very proud of my oldest friend, Patrick Wolf headlining the Roundhouse, last friday. If The Roundhouse was an oyster then Patrick was it's glittering pearl - quite literally in his sequin top!

 
My favourite moment was when his father, Derek, donning a black trilby, joined him onstage for the encore. He gave it loads of welly on the saxophone, while Patrick jumped up & down hyper-actively.

Patrick then informed the audience that Saxophone was a punk instrument is the 30s {quite right.} He got the loudest cheer as he ranted about 'C*nts like Duran Duran,' who made the Sax cheesy in the 80s. Atta Boy!
 
photo by Pippa Brooks read her review:http://www.madamesays.com/2011/11/08/madame-says-bishi/

I had the honour of supporting Baby Dee at Cafe Oto , on Saturday. We met after her show for Frieze Projects 2010. Dee had a feeling we would work again soon & there we were. Dee's new album, 'Regifted Light,' was produced by Andrew WK, whose sofa I was sleeping on over the summer, courtesy of his wife Cherie Lily. Hey folk -It's a small world!


Originally a church organist, Dee told me about developing an act, within a month of learning the harp, dressed in a bear costume. The Harp was also played on a high unicycle, where she would apply her make up with magic marker pen prior to each performance. It's astonishing to think that Dee only started writing songs 12 years ago, as they breath of  such a timeless magnificence.

Dee was also joined onstage by Marc Almond & David Tibet of Current 93, a personal hero of mine! Here's a version of Dee's, 'Idumea,' from the Current 93 album, 'Black Ships Eat The Sky.'



The premiere of 'The British Guide to Showing Off,' by Jes Benstock, was a documentary charting the history of Andrew Logan's Alternative Miss World. The film starred an all star cast which included Brian Eno, Grayson Perry, Divine,  Leigh Bowery, Matthew Glamorre, Zandra Rhodes, Molly Parkin & Andrew himself!



A pissed up crowd of dress ups, freaks & show offs congregated at The Prince Charles Cinema, whooping & cheering manically throughout the film. There was even a section of me singing, my song 'Indian Skin,' at the 2009 Alternative Miss World. I was so thrilled to be included in the film & relieved that I didn't want to vomit at the sight of myself on the big sceen. Yay!

I felt the most important thing about, 'The British Guide to Showing Off,' is its standing as a historical document, shoulder to shoulder with the likes  'The Cockettes' & 'Paris is Burning,' documentaries. It will educate & inspire generations to come. Bravo to all involved.


Photo by Honey Manko.

The revellers then continued onto our party, Kashpoint, which we brought back for it's 9th Birthday. It was so good, I have spent two days recovering in bed from a weekend of very special Ladies… Thanks to all who came out in support.
Until next time….xxx

Thursday 13 October 2011

Girl About Town- A week of openings!

The unveiling of the Tacita Dean's new work for the Tate Modern felt more like a psychedelic love in rather than a conventional Art Opening. It certainly was an iconic piece of work.

It's a vertical film collage of simulating abstract images. The film is driven by mutating images that invoke feelings in flight rather than a conventional narrative.


 It coincides a campaign by Dean to recognise & save Analogue Film. Screw the guy on the BBC news who said there was no difference between analogue & digital. He clearly needs his eyes checked out!

I loved the work both as a piece of art & a  fellow analogue enthusiast. Off course there IS a massive difference between Analogue & Digital. Analogue gives you an entire spectrum of emotions that Digital is not capable of & this was so evident in Dean's inspiring piece of work.

The Opening of the Frieze Art Fair is one hot ticket & coincides with a brilliantly curated programme of events, by Sarah McCrory of Frieze Projects.

This year Frieze Projects has invited Lucky PDF to run a TV channel, especially for Frieze. The public are invited to engage with the channel at the fair or to watch remotely via the internet.

I was lucky enough to catch their 1st performance of the fair. Love the references to Tony Wilson's, 'So it Goes.'
 
I then swanned off to Lancaster House on my 1st outing as An Official Ambassador for 'The Diana Award.' The event was so inspiring. It was wonderful to meet many amazing young award holders & hear their tales of courage & bravery.
I was also over the moon that my shoulder piece by Ada Zanditon fit in so well with the Lancaster House furnishings. Yay! Check out me & Fashion legend, Zandra Rhodes.

Please go to www.diana-award.org.uk for more info about the charity & all their wonderful work. I look forward to working closely with The Diana Award to spread their message.

And finally Here is Pierre Huyghe's remake of Brancusi's 'Sleeping Muse.'
in the secret back room at The Frieze Art Fair. I loved the crab hiding inside the Brancusi head.I think it was my favourite piece of the entire fair.



Tuesday 11 October 2011

'Postmodernism,' at the V&A

 'Postmodernism' at the V&A is a design based retrospective from the 70s-90s charting what the V&A claim to be 'the most controversial movement in art & design history,' as the era 'defies definition.'

Since most of my friends & contemporaries have been born within these decades, the postmodern aesthetic has been the only state we've ever lived in & don't know any better. {Hooray!}

From Postmodernism's Italian roots, to design Collective 'Memphis,' Ridley Scott's 'Blade Runner & the art of Jenny Holzer - 'Postmodernism' is a feast for all the senses.

The Room that resonated with me the deepest contained Music, projections, artefacts & costumes, from the likes of Grace Jones, Klaus Nomi, Leigh Bowery, Talking Heads & Devo.
There was even an entire enclave dedicated to Laurie Anderson's, 'Oh Superman.'




This room had almost church like connotations for me & came as a relief to see these performers represented in a gallery context- at last.
For years I've struggled in board room meetings & interviews in the music industry & press media to try & communicate the sort of musician/performer I've been influenced by & have always aspired to be. And here they all were.




I just want to say that real music fans {That's all of you - off course!} have always understood the true postmodern performer.
It's where art, design, theatre & technology orbit around Music & where the Music serves as the most important nucleus of any piece of work.


Fellow Friend, Collaborator, Friend & Blogger, Fred Butler said, of the exhibition, 'It's like our brains crammed into a museum.' Right she was.
Get thee to the temple!

Monday 10 October 2011

Miri It Is - Bishi B Side




Miri It Is by Bishi_World
Welcome to 'Miri It Is,' The B Side to the forthcoming 'Dia Ti Maria' choral epic by, me, Bishi.

'Miri It Is,' can almost be considered a 'Medieval Standard.'
Sung in Middle English, the song represents the last of Summer's Merriment before a mournful & harsh winter.

Rather fitting, seeing as we in London have just experienced a freak heat wave in early October!

I'm almost tempted to say this was my attempt at sounding ' Medieval Witchouse!' In any case I hope you enjoy!

Tuesday 4 October 2011

Happy Durga Puja

Happy Durga Puja to all! It comes but once a year for those of us Hindus who don't necessarily celebrate Diwali & what a grand affair it is.



To celebrate this year, my own dear mother, Susmita Bhattacharya sang a programme of songs by Rabindranath Tagore at The Harrow Arts Centre. These songs called, 'Rabindra Sangeet,' is the music my mother is an expert in. {BTW It's Tagore 150th birth centenary dontcha know!}

This is the music I grew up with - Needless to say it had a MASSIVE effect on me.

To those of you who don't know the legacy of Tagore, he's like the Indian Bertolt Brecht crossed with Bob Dylan.
Read about him here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabindranath_Tagore

I was then treated to a Dance Piece, also by Tagore
Now to clear up matters this dance form is NOT 'B' for Bollywood.' Curiously all Indian Culture gets slapped with this unfortunate & generic label!
This dance form is none other than Bharata Natyam - My favourite Classical Dance form in all of India. And, moreover something that has influenced Bollywood.

Tea & Samosa's anyone?

Tuesday 27 September 2011

Behind the Scenes of the 'Dia Ti Maria,' Shoot



These, my friends are some of the stills from the 'Dia Ti Maria,' shoot yesterday. I had such a good time on set & such a GREAT team, I can't stress that enough. The 'Black Narcissus,' meets Laurie Anderson fantasy is well & truly alive.

May I just take this opportunity to thank, Matthew Hardern, Christian Landon, Maria Papadopolu, Peter Gomes, Beau Scott, Noriko Okaku & Gemma Drummond for all their sterling work yesterday.

I was definitely vibing a bit of Sister Wendy Beckett on set yesterday & what a tough gal she was. Watch her here defending Andres Serrano's, 'Piss Christ.'


It was also a delight to have artist & filmaker Peter Gomes on Camera yesterday. He showed me a film he directed in collaboration with the Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company. It was right up my strasse. Check it out here:


Phantasmaton [2002] from mutantfilm on Vimeo.

You can watch more of Peter Gomes' work at: http://www.vimeo.com/mutantfilm

NUNZITA!

Sunday 25 September 2011

Flirting with London Fashion Week

Whilst being in pre-production for the video of 'Dia Ti Maria,' I managed to escape to a couple of fashion presentations for my dear friends during Fashion Week.



It was great to see so many friends proudly exhibit their new collections for the upcoming SS2012 season. I was somewhat alarmed, but mostly thrilled, at the amount of free champagne swilling around on Silver platters. {I mean we are supposed to be in an Economic Meltdown!}  However, it gave Somerset House an air of new found decadence that was complimented with some really great weather. And it felt great swanning around!

The first presentation I attended, was of my good friend/long term collaborator Ada Zanditon. {I'm wearing a piece from 'The Cryoflux,' collection, above, next to Cherie Lily}
A fiercely original designer, Ada's ethical fashion is steeped in narratives that stem from a scientific view on the environment.

Her new collection "Poseisus"  was inspired by seahorses, Greek Goddesses & Haiti Kanaval.
Watch the film below directed by Andrew & William Ho, which has a truly urban & monochrome atmosphere with a bitching soundtrack by Sebastian Bartz


ADA Zanditon ss12 from Andrew & WIlliam Ho on Vimeo.

I was whisked away to St Luke's Church on Old St by Broken Hearts DJ Amber Jane,  to Jayne Pierson's catwalk show. {It was nice to be back, as I once performed with the London Symphony Orchestra at St Luke's!!}
Pierson collaborated with The Royal Ballet, choreographing dancers instead of models, on pointe throughout the entire show. It was breathtaking!



My final date with Fashion week, ended with Fred Butler's presentation at The Portico Rooms in Somerset House. Fred's made some incredible pieces specially made for my appearances including, for Tonight with Jonathan Ross & The Culture Show.



With a sound installation from my oldest friend, Patrick Wolf, Fred's presentation saw her work move into more formal clothing territory, without compromising her trademark geometric precision or orgy of colour that characterises her work so brilliantly.


Fred Butler S/S 12 from Susie Bubble on Vimeo.

Stay tuned for Production shots from my upcoming video shoot!

Saturday 10 September 2011

Behind the Artwork, Behind the Music

Dear Bishi World. Welcome to the virtual unveiling of my Single Artwork. I'd like to thank the amazing team for coming together & making this happen...!

Photo by Dominic Harris
http://www.dominicharris.co.uk

Projections by Noriko Okaku
http://www.norioka.net

Head Piece by Christian Landon:
http://www.christianlandon.com

Make up by Maria Papadopolou:
http://mariasmakeup.com

Nun's Cowell by Sybil Rouge

Art Direction by Matthew Hardern & Bishi

I thought I'd add a few more pictures that inspired me behind making this image:

This is a still from a film by Vittorio De Sica, called 'A Night like Any Other.' It was recently curated in an exhibition by Rankin called 'The Peroni Collection – Italian Style on the Silver Screen.' I love the entire sex & sophistication of the entire genre of 60s Italian Films.


 
This is a still from my most recent show, 'The Power of Projection,' with a projection made by Noriko Okaku. Projections have been an ongoing theme in my music performances this year with special outfits co-designed by myself. Noriko's been one of our key collaborators  & it's been great to have her wonderful visuals, a part of the of the Single Artwork.

Here is a bit of blurb, behind the music, of 'Dia Ti Maria':

Bishi’s new single.'Dia Ti Maria' is an 8.5 minute choral piece; a song of loss, fortitude and self-realization.

Inspired by the Greek Orthodox liturgy, the 1st and last sections are written in Koine (Biblical) Greek. The English lyrics are quotes from the speeches of Satan in Milton's Paradise lost.

Originally commissioned by the Brooklyn Youth Chorus the US debut grabbed the front page of the New York Times who announced Bishi as the 'New British Diva'.

Bishi sings all 50 voices on the recording…

'I chose to sing all the parts because, for me, the piece is about light and darkness within ones own mind and self'

Rich harmonic writing develops from the clusters of Bulgarian throat singing to the more open, pastoral harmonies of English folk. The atmosphere moves from despair to realization and resolve.

Vocal techniques suggestive of Ligeti and Meredith Monk can be heard in the occasional slides and ‘asides’ to give a sense of melodic fluidity to the musical landscape.

The live presentation is an immersive video performance with Bishi centre screen surrounded by projected images of herself. Halos and choirs, inspired by Byzantine icons, radiate around her while the costumes and stage design owe much to Lempika, Erte and the cinematic choreography of Busby Berkeley.


Can't wait to play it for you all!
Stay Tuned for more updates!
xx


Wednesday 7 September 2011

Voices in My Head - 1st DJ mix for Soundcloud



To Celebrate my forthcoming new single release, 'Dia Ti Maria,' on Gryphon Records I've created my 1st DJ mix for Soundcloud, called 'Voices in my Head,' reflecting some of the influences that inspired the record.

I've opened the mix with something from Alejandro Jodorowsky's, 'The Holy Mountain.' His imagery/philiosophy & music have had a huge impact on me having been introduced to is work by Ana Matronic of Scissor Sisters.


Meander your way through Philip Glass & Meredith Monk, The Cocteau Twins & Coco Rosie.

I even re-discovered my love for Bongwater after being shot on the same day as Ann Magnuson, at LA's 'Pop Tart Gallery,' for Austin Young's, 'Your Face Here.'
photo by Austin Young.

Hope you Enjoy!

Voices in My Head by Bishi_World
 

Monday 5 September 2011

On a Projection Tip - Ron Arad's, 'Curtain Call.'


This year, The Roundhouse hosted Ron Arad's, 'Curtain Call,' which was a spectacular 360 degree interactive installation

Made out of 5,600 silicone rods suspended from an 18 metre diameter ring, the curtain became an visually tantalising canvas for film & performance. Arad curated a programme of his favourite artists, who were basically a load of his mates,  especially for the event.

Over the last year the work I've been making/collaborating on has been about creating interactive environments with music & immersive projections so this was right up my strasse.


One of the things I love about projections is their timeless quality - there has a been  a well documented history of Projections within Performance, from Warhol & The Velvets, to Laurie Anderson & beyond. Somehow, projections never loose their power.



Visitors were encouraged to walk around & through the curtains. The middle of the space somewhat resembled a student sit in for the ipad generation, but in the most charming possible light. Pun intended.


My favourite piece by Christian Marclay, was even performed live by Steve Beresford.
Marclay didn't just utilise the visual space, but designed the sound for the 360 environment so the sound would correlate with the movement of the pianists hands.

As ever, it was great to see the worlds of Music/Art/technology collide with such stunning aplomb. I still think that more personality based work needs to be explored through this medium.
But it was a  glorious way to spend a couple of hours on a rainy August in Camden!




Sunday 4 September 2011

Gorillaz Korg i-Electribe - A New Moment for Pop?


Originally I didn't understand the point of an ipad, until my friend Rupert Russell convinced of it's multi-dimensional merits.

Aside from the synths & music apps, I was converted to the Ipad after browsing through some Spiderman comics at the airport. Who'd have thought?

The Gorillaz new album, The Fall,' was made mostly on an ipad. Apparently Damon Albarn was so enamoured with Korg i-electribe, Gorillaz went on to release their own customised version as an app.
The Gorillaz Korg i-electribe gives you plenty of original material to re-mix & re-model.



You can even bounce down your creations onto Soundcloud. Unfortunately their seem to be copyright issues for public usage, but maybe that's the next step in the revolution.

Perhaps, instead of library music, we'll get more copyright free apps for composers/musicians of every stripe to fuck around with & make their own original work. This could even create a totally new plunderphonics style revolution. It's only a thought.

Back to The Goriilaz -There's some great video tutorials about how to work the app & make music.



From the point of view of being a songwriter, it's just a total privilege to be able to pull apart Damon Albarn's songwriting, which I've been a fan of since the word go!

Whilst I was looking through all the videos, I noticed that someone had their own very unique approach to the app & had transformed the Gorillaz synth to sound more like an off shoot from the Venetian Snares. Check this monster out!




This is one of those videos that makes me believe in the power of technology. People just pick up software & transform it according to their own taste. It's almost punk. The words 'expression,' or 'beast' could be equally applied to this particular example.

Now I bet that would make 2D, Murdoc & Noodle happy wouldn't they?

Saturday 3 September 2011

Pulp at Brixton Academy

Pulp's recent gigs at the Brixton Academy proved absolutely glorious to hear the hits again. It was also touching to experience the crowd chant the lyrics in unison. Jarvis was irrepressible & threw even more impressive moves. A bit like the geography teacher at the school disco after a few sambucca's.

There was a fan letter read out on stage, a Mexican flag passed up to Jarvis & even an onstage spat between Cocker & Mark Webber which was, luckily, masked by some very bad front of house sound.



Pulp were one of the 1st bands I really fell in love with as a kid. 'Common People,' was the first 7" I bought, even though I had very little grasp over the song's political & defiant meaning.
I even discovered Performance Art legends, Minty, on a BBC documentary called 'No Sleep to Sheffield,' who were supporting Pulp on tour at the time.
I was later adopted by Minty & ran away to join the Avant Garde Circus….But that's another story altogether.

The song that had a renewed impact on me was 'Mis-Shapes,' which stormed the charts at No.1



The lyrics to 'Mis-shapes,' have been definitive of my life & to many of my friends. It's universal message transcends race, class, gender & sexuality in a unique way that I've yet to hear rival in another pop song.

I did feel a tear coming on during the lyrics, 'There won't be fighting in the streets, revenge is gonna be so sweet.'

Off course with the recent London riots in August 2011, there's been no escaping the fighting on the streets. The roots of the riots are complex but in the moment they seemed to be an act of blind rage, & hell bent on total destruction.
Instead of fighting for individuality & change, the looting seemed symbolic of a society that's gone mad to conform through consumer goods.

I mention all this because too many pop songs these days focus on brandishing labels & faux lifestyles, that a song like 'Mis-Shapes,' actively contradicts.

Since Pulp were in their hey-day, the worlds of music & communication have been totally revolutionised. Even the world of celebrity, which Pulp seemed to be a one time casualty of, has morphed into another more blood thirsty beast. The times have changed but the sincerity & beauty of Pulp's songs still remains intact. And very close to my heart.

Tuesday 30 August 2011

Be C*NTY, BE FIERCE - GLAMOUR OF THE GODS


The Glamour of the Gods exhibition, at the National Portrait Gallery, celebrates Hollywood portraiture from it's Golden Age, 1920-1960.
Selected from the John Kobal foundation, some of these Vintage Prints are being displayed for the first time in History.

In an era overloaded with digital images, being able to experience these prints first hand, was the sonic equivalent of listening to a quadrophonic stereo mix - Sublime, Analogue & full of an entire spectrum of emotions.




I was totally captured by the swirling sensuality & mystique juxtaposed with the animal magnetism that seems to go hand in hand with early Hollywood. 'Glamour of the Gods,' is an aptly titled exhibition for a pantheon of celluloid deities that stare back at you unknowing in their ability to inspire decades of with fierceness.

Hollywood's Golden Age were the architects of an aesthetic & visual language that has arguably dominated a great part of 20th & 21st C culture. They invented icons that changed the world.




My dear friend, Polly Betton, who runs 'The White Blackbird,' made a great point in that the fault with Hollywood today is that they no longer spend time or money creating the mystique of The Golden Age.

They certainly no longer show an interest in creating iconic images of their stars. Their attentions have become transfixed to CGI & 3D. There's always the fast celebrity culture of today, magnified by the gossip industry, the internet & a lust for a public meltdown. And reality TV - let's not even go there.

If you want to sigh at a bygone era- Get thee to the temple, worship & work it children.


Monday 29 August 2011

Speaking of Hot Nuns...



I saw this fabulous movie the other night called Ms.45.
It's one of Abel Ferrara's earliest pictures & stars the beautiful lip luscious Zoe Tamerlis Lund; who would later go onto develop the script of 'Bad Lieutenant,' with Ferrara.

Tamerlis plays Thana, a mute seamstress, who after being brutally raped twice in a day, swears revenge on all men, murdering just about any man who crosses her path.
The film concludes with the staff Halloween Party, where Thana decides to go dressed as a Nun & a hot Nun at that.

After her boss tries to take advantage of her, she tears onto dance floor in a cold blooded killing spree. The distinctly New Wave dance floor descends into a bloodbath, until a female colleague stabs her to death.



It's rough, It's exploitation & I LOVED it.
Ferrara captures the sleazy wilderness that was Manhattan in the early 80s with a stark brutality. It reminds me of the bleakness of New York City, written in books like Legs McNeil's, 'Please Kill Me.'

He also explores a certain kind of sexism young women have to deal, where they feel they can't often fight back a man's unwanted advances, with a raw honesty you don't often see in the pictures.

Most of all I was relived there was another Nun with red lipstick! Here's one of my official Press shots from my forthcoming release, 'Dia Ti Maria.'



Sunday 28 August 2011

Simon Reynolds, 'Retromania.'

Simon Reynolds, 'Retromania,' is an exploration of a culture gone mad for nostalgia, whether it's bands reforming, albums being re-issued, remakes, tributes or mash ups.




The liner notes read:
But what happens when we run out of past? Are we heading toward a sort of culturalecological catastrophe where the archival stream of pop history has been exhausted?

BISHI SAYS NO!

It's actually a fantastic read for all enthusiasts of music culture, pop culture & the far outer reaches of all things obscure. It's meticulous, it's pedantic - There's an orgy of music, books, films, labels & blogs, I plan to Google at a later date. But even I found holes in his argument.

What surprises me most about Reynolds vast thesis, is his absolute failure to recognise the revolution in home technology & how this affected the culture of music, record labels, DJs across the world.

Programmes like Logic Pro, Pro-Tools & Garage Band have transformed the process for how music is made. There has never been more choice or malleability in Music Production from the world of VST plug ins to inventive software such as Max MSP.

Towards the end of the book, Reynolds rather flippantly skims through a number of more recent genres. But rather than an analysis of why they're not good enough, he winds up sounding like an extra on 'grumpy old men.'

It's easy to bang on about the importance & rise in social media & how this plays in the lives of 21stC artists. There again this is completely ignored throughout the book.

There is an entire movement of interactive art & galleries such as my mates, The Bitforms Gallery in Chelsea, NYC who specialise in digital art.
http://www.bitforms.com/index.php

I even collaborated with Internationally renowned Interactive Artist Oscar Sol at The Whitechapel Gallery last year -




Retromania also reminded me of the amount of Musicians/Performers/Artists/Designers & DJs have nothing to do with employing retro or nostalgia at all. Just check out my 'Favourites' bar to the side of this page  I'm lucky enough to be mates with most of them.

You can check out the work of Patrick Wolf, Simon Bookish, Ada Zanditon, Leafcutter John, PlanningtoRock & Luke DuBois. This is only a small role call of mates. There are thousands of them out there in the world.

Reynold's does try to end on a positive note. 'I still believe the future is out there.'
Yes Simon Reynolds - it's out there and amongst us.
And We're living proof.