Monday 30 April 2012

New Video 'Albion Voice.'


Welcome to the premiere of the video to My New Single, 'Albion Voice,' Hope you all enjoy it. Lots of Love, Bishi xxx

Director: Matthew Hardern
This is the lead track from the album of the same name -
Limited free download available from May 28th for the Queens Jubilee !!!
www.bishi.co.uk

Recorded over 2 years in London, LA and Buenos Aires this song features, (film composer) John Williams' string players! It is about the search for identity in a multicultural world.

Bishi's new album Albion Voice explores themes of Britain ancient and modern, the rich tapestry of East London's folklore, social politics and cultural mix providing a vivid backdrop to the writing.

Thursday 26 April 2012

The Joshua Lightshow...Freak Out


The Joshua Lightshow, inaugurated  by Joshua White, invented the oil based Lightshow as we know it. White describes it as, 'a visual experience that the audience could enjoy while listening to the music of the time.' That era being in the 60s.


All the effects were built from scratch & performed live in real time.
Here is an infamous film, recorded on 35mm film, 'Liquid Loops.'


 The Joshua Lightshow famously performed with The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, The Silver Apples and  Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention.
They even created happenings with Yayoi Kusama & were a guest feature in the infamous party scene in, 'Midnight Cowboy.'
White laid the JLS to rest in the 70s, but revived it as White discovered a group of younger artists, which include Seth Kirby & Ana Matronic of the Scissor Sisters, who loved the analogue equipment that created these shows. These days they their work combinse modern technology & they perform internationally in Galleries, Museums & prestigious venues, such as The Welcome Collection in London & The Planetarium in NYC.


For me the Joshua Lightshow are the godfathers of a type of visual music spectacle that has  influenced my own work.


I even collaborated with the Bardo Lightshow for my webcast, 'The Power of Projection,' I premiered on Nick Knight's Showstudio.
Here's a still by Matt Chaney


                                                                       Freak Out!

Tuesday 24 April 2012

Did Someone Mention Tea Sets?

Hello Bishi World,

Just to let you know the new single, 'Albion Voice,' is out NOW on itunes:
                       http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/albion-voice-single/id510824887
                  Over in Bishi Towers, we are busy developing a merchandising range of plates, mugs, designer tees & prints for the Album Release.

 



The inspiration had mainly been based in classic commemorative plates, but harnessing the punk energy of Jamie Reid's artwork with The Sex Pistols & Gilbert & George's 'Jack Freak,' range.




In fact, Louise Gray has just written a piece about the new record drawing comparisons between myself & The Sex Pistols in the New Internationalist Magazine May 2012 Issue:
Read more on her blog:
                                            



Wednesday 18 April 2012

New Track: St George & The Dragon


LISTEN HERE:
St George & The Dragon


Click this link to download your free MP3 of the song:
http://is.gd/Lh7Az3

This song tells the legend of Dragon Hill, a small knoll beneath White Horse Down in Uffington, Wiltshire. It is told that King George slay'd the beast upon the hill and there he is buried to this day. The great white figure (horse or dragon) was scribed in the chalk downs to mark forever place where the dragon lies. And so, say many, lies England.

To 'turn again' in English folk lore, is to waken the ground beneath your feet thus binding your wish with the turning of the day/ earth. It is said that when the Dragon stirs again the people of England will return to peace and prosperity, so turn again on Dragon Hill, beneath the hill at Uffington and awake the dragon within.

Happy St Georges Day !!!!

Friday 6 April 2012

Hirst the Worst or Damien is Best?

This week saw the opening of a Damien Hirst Retrospective nicely timed for The Olympics.
A melee of Collectors, facelifts, Italian Suits, minor celebrities, Art Glitterati & London Gutter-ati {which is most relevant to me!} descended into the Tate Modern.


I had exceedingly low expectations, having been to a few Hirst Openings in the past.
To be honest, most of the work looked like Dubai restaurant chic, or something in a nice wallpaper magazine spread. {Ironically, it's worked well on both platforms.}

However, the brilliance of Damien Hirst's early work soon got my juices going. There was a butterfly room, specially commissioned for the exhibiton, where butterflies fly freely in amongst flowers & rotting fruit. It was the best thing about the show. A violet butterfly even sat on my quiff. It got more snapped than Ronnie Wood, who was also posing with a brown butterfly at the same time!

I witnessed negative mutterings & sighs of disdain from various artworks giants   {Mind you, they tend to do this very well! } However the general feelings of rage stemmed from how one dimensional & shallow most of it felt. A bit like drinking too much champagne - but I can't see what's wrong with that in the long run. We all love bit of champers innit!


Due to my recent conversion to Instagram, I snapped away unaided & unstopped by any ushers. It occurred to me that Hirst's real talent was in making iconic statements, which magnified beautifully through a smart phone reality. God Bless Social Networking!


My favourite work is Hirst's 'A Thousand Years.' It's been described: 'A very provocative work that actually contains an entire lifecycle of several maggots. The maggots hatch out of a minimal white box and then feed on a cow's head conveniently placed in the larger glass case. Some of the flies then die in the "insect-o-cuter" while other survive to continue their rather revolting cycle.'
For all of the Hirst haters, this is the one piece that is evocative of a thousand metaphors for the cycle of life & death.




Sunday 1 April 2012

'Albion Voice,' - Exclusive Video Still!

Here is an exclusive video still from the 'Albion Voice,' video, filmed earlier in the week in Chichester taken by Paul Morgan. I'd just like to thank all the crew:
Director Matthew Hardern
Outfit: Sybil Rouge
Hair: Christian Landon
Styling: Kirsty McKenzie
Camera: Jack Shelbourne
Camera Asssitant: William
Stills & Location: Paul Morgan




The concept behind the visuals for 'Albion Voice,' has been to appropriate British Iconography with an Asian twist. Rather than presenting an idealised 'East meets West,' scenario the 'Albion Voice,' visuals are set to challenge stereotypes on Colonialism & race.

Artist, Yinka Shonibare {above} who is known for his exploration of colonialism & post-colonialism in the context of today's globalised world, has been a particularly strong influence on this album cycle.


And I am an unashamed fan of Julie Andrews....No big Art theory here. Just a love for showbusiness & British Icons.


OK, so we were TRYING to avoid looking like a Disney Princess. However, my good friend, Musician & Artist Ebe Oke, pointed out today that I looked like the lead character in Disney's 'Tangled.'
BUT we could always get conceptual here.
Limited Edition Bishi Dolls anyone?