Nike gets it right with this video. Intricate and powerful it uses star power, the excitement of the game, athleticism and nods to all the social networks and cultural phenomenon that play a part in today's society. I love it when big companies get it right and here, they certainly do.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
this is cute
You know that feeling of warm springy/summer air where people in big cities start dressing innapropriately because they've been all snuggled up in their parkas and salt-stained boots for too long?
Well, I got a taste of that recently when I came home from a weekend at the wintery Juno awards out in St. John's, Newfoundland. Brrrrrr.... but, the return to the beautiful sunny skies of Toronto was totally worth it.
And then today, I came across this little promotional video about this "Book of Awesome" which I sort of loved and thought, that's exactly what I love about the changing seasons. So, since I've neglected this wee blog for a bit, I'm sharing.
Enjoy!
Well, I got a taste of that recently when I came home from a weekend at the wintery Juno awards out in St. John's, Newfoundland. Brrrrrr.... but, the return to the beautiful sunny skies of Toronto was totally worth it.
And then today, I came across this little promotional video about this "Book of Awesome" which I sort of loved and thought, that's exactly what I love about the changing seasons. So, since I've neglected this wee blog for a bit, I'm sharing.
Enjoy!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Flossin’ in Austin at SXSW
I got my cherry popped this year. As a first time SXSW’er (that’s South by Southwest-er to those who don’t know the festival) I was a newbie, a beginner, a first-timer, a virgin.
So as all virgins do, I got some advice, some tips, come know-how, from the know-it alls, the storied festival-goers. Here’s what I was told:
1. Comfortable shoes. Essential for the day parties which turn into endless night parties.
2. Don’t drink during the day, you won’t make it through the night.
3. Hot tub in your hotel. Do it for your feet.
4. Your head might explode with the amount of music you will experience.
5. Before you get there take the time to schedule and RSVP to parties otherwise you may stand in lines. In other words, learn the system.
6. Warn people you will be at SXSW. They may understand what you’re in for.
7. You will eat a lot of BBQ, stock up on greens before you go.
8. Bring cards, because everyone you need to meet will be there.
And I’m sure there were more pieces of advice, but these are the ones I followed. But what’s more interesting, is what they didn’t tell me.
They didn’t tell me that because of the insane combination of Mexican food (Austin is an easy drive to the Mexican border) and the amount of BBQ marinated Brisket and assorted meats on offer for free everywhere, your stomachs will be in constant churn. Best to bring tums and get ready to run to the loo frequently for your entire stay.
Also, bring toothpicks and floss! I spent a lot of time trying to, rather unsuccessfully, pick at my teeth before meetings, after meetings and during meetings. Also during concerts, after concerts and until I finally made it sinkside to find my floss and a mirror. It’s the ultimate networking fail!
So here’s a suggestion I offer up for free to potential corporate sponsors for next year... perhaps someone should consider – in the middle of this crazy marketing mecca/music festival- to hand out some branded floss or toothpicks? They would come in handy and people would talk about them.
I’ll follow up soon in a post about the music I saw - SO MUCH GOOD MUSIC – but to give you a taste, here’s a video of the Damien Marley and Nas set I attended. I didn't take the video, but I'm posting this shaky one as the person must have been standing nearby at the show. Just one regular Wednesday night at SXSW....
So as all virgins do, I got some advice, some tips, come know-how, from the know-it alls, the storied festival-goers. Here’s what I was told:
1. Comfortable shoes. Essential for the day parties which turn into endless night parties.
2. Don’t drink during the day, you won’t make it through the night.
3. Hot tub in your hotel. Do it for your feet.
4. Your head might explode with the amount of music you will experience.
5. Before you get there take the time to schedule and RSVP to parties otherwise you may stand in lines. In other words, learn the system.
6. Warn people you will be at SXSW. They may understand what you’re in for.
7. You will eat a lot of BBQ, stock up on greens before you go.
8. Bring cards, because everyone you need to meet will be there.
And I’m sure there were more pieces of advice, but these are the ones I followed. But what’s more interesting, is what they didn’t tell me.
They didn’t tell me that because of the insane combination of Mexican food (Austin is an easy drive to the Mexican border) and the amount of BBQ marinated Brisket and assorted meats on offer for free everywhere, your stomachs will be in constant churn. Best to bring tums and get ready to run to the loo frequently for your entire stay.
Also, bring toothpicks and floss! I spent a lot of time trying to, rather unsuccessfully, pick at my teeth before meetings, after meetings and during meetings. Also during concerts, after concerts and until I finally made it sinkside to find my floss and a mirror. It’s the ultimate networking fail!
So here’s a suggestion I offer up for free to potential corporate sponsors for next year... perhaps someone should consider – in the middle of this crazy marketing mecca/music festival- to hand out some branded floss or toothpicks? They would come in handy and people would talk about them.
I’ll follow up soon in a post about the music I saw - SO MUCH GOOD MUSIC – but to give you a taste, here’s a video of the Damien Marley and Nas set I attended. I didn't take the video, but I'm posting this shaky one as the person must have been standing nearby at the show. Just one regular Wednesday night at SXSW....
Saturday, March 13, 2010
inspiration
I've not had much chance to post on the ol' blog lately, as my clients have been keeping me busy.... (March always does seem to be insane for entertainment media and events!)
I did, however, want to take a moment to quickly post this video re-recording of K'naan's Wavin' Flag. I've always been a huge K'naan fan, right from the first album, and when I saw him at this year's Polaris prize, I was amazed at how much he's grown as a performer since I last saw him. He's really, quite simply, a star.
See him live. Or, additionally, go on itunes and buy this song and you'll be helping out the folks who need it most in haiti. And remember this song, since you'll be hearing it more and more as the World Cup nears....
K'naan's notice on the world stage will go meteoric at that point, and it's certainly well-deserved.
Enjoy.
I did, however, want to take a moment to quickly post this video re-recording of K'naan's Wavin' Flag. I've always been a huge K'naan fan, right from the first album, and when I saw him at this year's Polaris prize, I was amazed at how much he's grown as a performer since I last saw him. He's really, quite simply, a star.
See him live. Or, additionally, go on itunes and buy this song and you'll be helping out the folks who need it most in haiti. And remember this song, since you'll be hearing it more and more as the World Cup nears....
K'naan's notice on the world stage will go meteoric at that point, and it's certainly well-deserved.
Enjoy.
Young Artists For Haiti-- Wavin' Flag by K'naan from M.Meir on Vimeo.
Monday, February 8, 2010
anniversary
Today marks a very special day in my personal history. My dad mentioned to me yesterday that it's the 29th anniversary of my arrival in Canada.
Not long before we made the decision to decamp, my parents were living in the gritty neighbourhood of Brixton, in South London. My dad was making his way as an accountant and my mum was walking me around the markets. I was the first grandchild, so we went up to Lancashire and Yorkshire fairly often to see the grandparents.
Perhaps it was frustration with the Britishness of everything, or the fact that they were some of the first to have a child in their group of friends, or the need for change, but when it was offered that they could move to Vancouver with the company, my parents went for it.
And so, on February 8 twenty-nine years ago, they arrived in Vancouver airport. It was only supposed to be for two years and my mum worked part-time eventually until they were settled. They met friends through a babysitting coop and eventually, when the time came, wrote letters to their mums saying they weren't coming home.
My little sister came along soon after that, making her the first Webster in our family tree to be born in Canada.
Soon after we left London, the riots broke out in Brixton. Who knows what that would have meant if we'd stayed! The song below is a dedication to that turning point. Happy Monday everyone!
Not long before we made the decision to decamp, my parents were living in the gritty neighbourhood of Brixton, in South London. My dad was making his way as an accountant and my mum was walking me around the markets. I was the first grandchild, so we went up to Lancashire and Yorkshire fairly often to see the grandparents.
Perhaps it was frustration with the Britishness of everything, or the fact that they were some of the first to have a child in their group of friends, or the need for change, but when it was offered that they could move to Vancouver with the company, my parents went for it.
And so, on February 8 twenty-nine years ago, they arrived in Vancouver airport. It was only supposed to be for two years and my mum worked part-time eventually until they were settled. They met friends through a babysitting coop and eventually, when the time came, wrote letters to their mums saying they weren't coming home.
My little sister came along soon after that, making her the first Webster in our family tree to be born in Canada.
Soon after we left London, the riots broke out in Brixton. Who knows what that would have meant if we'd stayed! The song below is a dedication to that turning point. Happy Monday everyone!
Monday, February 1, 2010
re-disc-overy
After a delicious smoothie, I sat down to get some computer work done. I was pretty focused this morning, and my desk faces a second floor balcony window which runs from floor to ceiling. The window is delightful on days like this, when I can see blue sky, chimneytops and white squirrels running across the nearby fence. It's that kind of fresh wintery morning that I love when I'm about to strap on cross-country skis and warm my body up while racing around the track. Winter that tickles the nose.
Work was mainly research, strategy and clean-up today so I needed to have a soundtrack that enhanced the room. I wanted instrumental, but not something like Brian Eno's Music For Airports (which has been a longtime favorite) since I know that disc inside out.... so instead, I picked one I used to enjoy in the car coming home from work, trying to tune out the noise and congestion of the city.
There's an openness to this music - Japanese composer Radicalfashion combines the elements of classical piano preciseness, found noises, with electronic experiments... it's almost as if at times he's building electronic windtunnels using radar fields and whispers. I can't describe how happy I am right now, and I suggest you find this gem of an album (I'm listening to Odori although he has other albums that are just as much appreciated) and add it to your collection.
I found a review of this elsewhere. And a sample, below, to moving images. Have a great week!
Work was mainly research, strategy and clean-up today so I needed to have a soundtrack that enhanced the room. I wanted instrumental, but not something like Brian Eno's Music For Airports (which has been a longtime favorite) since I know that disc inside out.... so instead, I picked one I used to enjoy in the car coming home from work, trying to tune out the noise and congestion of the city.
There's an openness to this music - Japanese composer Radicalfashion combines the elements of classical piano preciseness, found noises, with electronic experiments... it's almost as if at times he's building electronic windtunnels using radar fields and whispers. I can't describe how happy I am right now, and I suggest you find this gem of an album (I'm listening to Odori although he has other albums that are just as much appreciated) and add it to your collection.
I found a review of this elsewhere. And a sample, below, to moving images. Have a great week!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
the joy of moving images
Once again I'm typing quickly and about to run out the door. Heads up to anyone who loves Joy Division... there's a theatrical screening of Grant Gee's Joy Division documentary on Friday, February 5, 2010 in Toronto. Tickets are cheaper than if you went to a mainstream theatre! It's being put on by one of my new clients, the Images Festival and you can visit them online at www.imagesfestival.com to get more info and purchase tickets.
Check out the trailer for the film here: JOY DIVISION TRAILER
Check out the trailer for the film here: JOY DIVISION TRAILER
Monday, January 25, 2010
something to get you through the week
Busiest Monday I`ve had in a while so not much time to post...but...Gorillaz is coming out with a new disc soon!
You gotta love it. Here`s the link to stream it:
Plastic Beach - new single
You gotta love it. Here`s the link to stream it:
Plastic Beach - new single
Friday, January 22, 2010
haiti music
There's a flurry of fundraisers for Haiti relief this evening, including a massive Canadian one being taped in Toronto, preceeding the large MTV George Clooney-led telethon event in the US.
It's a devastating disaster and reminded me of my time in India when I was there during the 2004 tsunami. It was a heart-wrenching time - especially when you know how poor these people already were - to have a natural disaster affect them so terribly. There's a lot of focus on getting aid to the people on the ground now, but the time and money will still be needed many months from now.
I came across this clip from a recent Haiti fundraiser. She's called Selah Sue and has a SPECTACULAR voice. It really inspired me. She's Belgian and has an EP available now called Black Part Love.
It's a devastating disaster and reminded me of my time in India when I was there during the 2004 tsunami. It was a heart-wrenching time - especially when you know how poor these people already were - to have a natural disaster affect them so terribly. There's a lot of focus on getting aid to the people on the ground now, but the time and money will still be needed many months from now.
I came across this clip from a recent Haiti fundraiser. She's called Selah Sue and has a SPECTACULAR voice. It really inspired me. She's Belgian and has an EP available now called Black Part Love.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
bl-eeee-p
Over the three years I worked at Fusion3, I got some of the coolest electronic releases crossing my desk... most of them were hard to find in the Canadian market and those journalists who loved that stuff clamored to get their hands on promo copies whenever they landed in house. Great education on a lot of the euro producers/acts out there and it made me love the glitchy electronic scene... from the most minimal to the more avant-garde.
Today I felt one of those electronic urges when I came across Bleep.com's newsletter... they're doing this special for the "top 100 tracks of 2009." Which, in their eyes, is completely great electronic music that they've sorted through and compiled into one easy downloadable file. It's approx 50$ in CDN funds but I've been enjoying a beat filled day because of it. Only available until JAN 26!!!
Here's the link. Enjoy!
One of the tracks you can hear in the 100 tracks is this one...
Today I felt one of those electronic urges when I came across Bleep.com's newsletter... they're doing this special for the "top 100 tracks of 2009." Which, in their eyes, is completely great electronic music that they've sorted through and compiled into one easy downloadable file. It's approx 50$ in CDN funds but I've been enjoying a beat filled day because of it. Only available until JAN 26!!!
Here's the link. Enjoy!
One of the tracks you can hear in the 100 tracks is this one...
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Electronic cleanup
I'm finally on the road to electronic recovery! I've migrated music, backed it up and am now funneling music into a stereo system so I can avoid listening to shitty computer speakers. Makes for a much better music experience. The only thing better would be for me to integrate something like SQUEEZEBOX into my setup and then I could shuffle music while cooking and take a glance to see what I'm listening to. But, one always needs personal projects, don't we?
Anyway, this sounded spectacular today on the stereo setup and I didn't want you to miss out. Enjoy the music... they're on tour in Canada soon, so you can also hope to catch them on the road...
Anyway, this sounded spectacular today on the stereo setup and I didn't want you to miss out. Enjoy the music... they're on tour in Canada soon, so you can also hope to catch them on the road...
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
glorious kinetic art
I've got some truly talented friends! I get to see Mitchell F Chan this Friday afternoon when he opens his new "kinetic art" exhibit at downtown Toronto's Spoke Club. Luckily, he doesn't want you to miss out and he's made a video for you to enjoy. It's really inspiring... he's literally translated sound waves into a aural-visual experience. It's breathtaking.
Monday, January 18, 2010
said the whale
My neighbour passed along a disc by BC band Said the Whale and it opened my monday morning workday with some lovely music - I'd guess Broken Social Scene is a major influence and in particular, I think they may have been listening to some You Forgot It In People while they got ready to record this track . I'm into sharing, so here's something just for you. Enjoy!
Friday, January 15, 2010
er, hello 2010
Hello world! I've been negligent this year in filling this wee blog with my thoughts and musings, mainly because I was in visiting family and building my plans for the new year during my absence. Everyone needs vacations, don't they?
So, a few things to keep you occupied for now. One - My client NXNE sent out a press release this week to industry and media reminding everyone that the deadline for submitting to this year's festival is JANUARY 31, 2010! Apply if you would like to be considered is the key message here! It's very easy. Just submit your info at www.nxne.com via their link to the Sonic Bids website.
Two - I had a meeting with a lovely Jazz singer this week who is planning on dropping her new album (her sophomore) this year. I haven't seen her live yet, but plan on seeing her play this month. I took a listen to her debut album and was pleasantly surprised with her vocal power and her personality as well. She was trained in the Classical program at U of T (a place where a close friend of mine, mezzo-soprano Mireille Lebel also studied at similar time) and I know how hard it is to get into that program and how hard they train you there as well. Her switch to Jazz as a career was one of passion and I dug up this video of her Jazz arrangement of a pop tune you probably know for your viewing pleasure.
Happy Friday!
So, a few things to keep you occupied for now. One - My client NXNE sent out a press release this week to industry and media reminding everyone that the deadline for submitting to this year's festival is JANUARY 31, 2010! Apply if you would like to be considered is the key message here! It's very easy. Just submit your info at www.nxne.com via their link to the Sonic Bids website.
Two - I had a meeting with a lovely Jazz singer this week who is planning on dropping her new album (her sophomore) this year. I haven't seen her live yet, but plan on seeing her play this month. I took a listen to her debut album and was pleasantly surprised with her vocal power and her personality as well. She was trained in the Classical program at U of T (a place where a close friend of mine, mezzo-soprano Mireille Lebel also studied at similar time) and I know how hard it is to get into that program and how hard they train you there as well. Her switch to Jazz as a career was one of passion and I dug up this video of her Jazz arrangement of a pop tune you probably know for your viewing pleasure.
Happy Friday!
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