NOR Interviews: 3Sum

Photo above: 3sum: Amstel Makwane(L) Koyo Bala (center) and Jeff Moyo(R)

The group 3Sum is the first openly gay music group in South Africa. The group debuted in 2002 and is made up of members Amstel Makwane, Koyo Bala and Jeff Moyo.

“They had a fear of how people were going to accept, us,  these people…being on stage…being gay.”

 

 NOR Interviews: 3sum [4:50m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

Feedback? : letters@noneonrecord.com

Episode #45: I Love the 90’s (09.25.08)

The week Hanifah and Olive along with a friend, Dumeha discuss music groups they loved in the 90s. As they reminisce they question what lead to these groups demise. Also they talk about the danger of Mercury in retrograde. Don’t forget to vote for Hanifah’s video on www.logoonline.com

Boss, the plane!…Palin sees Vladimir’s plane over Alaska! (video)

Katie Couric keeps a straight face as she interviews Sarah Palin on her international experience with a focus on her comments around her front porch view of Russia. This interview shows why Katie makes the big bucks, because I dont’ think I could have held my jaw back from dropping. This reiterates how utterly and completely mortifying it would be if this woman even takes a wiff of the oval office. She reminds me of those mean white chicks from summer camp who’ve won meaningless popularity contests throughout life until they were forced to actually live one. Sarah Palin is a beauty contest winner turned mayor turned governor turned VP pick for the white house. This is one more popularity contest I hope she comes in dead last.

Below is an excerpt of that interview.

Watch CBS Videos Online

The transcript:

COURIC: You’ve cited Alaska’s proximity to Russia as part of your foreign policy experience. What did you mean by that?PALIN: That Alaska has a very narrow maritime border between a foreign country, Russia, and on our other side, the land– boundary that we have with– Canada. It– it’s funny that a comment like that was– kind of made to– cari– I don’t know, you know? Reporters–

COURIC: Mock?

PALIN: Yeah, mocked, I guess that’s the word, yeah.

COURIC: Explain to me why that enhances your foreign policy credentials.

PALIN: Well, it certainly does because our– our next door neighbors are foreign countries. They’re in the state that I am the executive of. And there in Russia–

COURIC: Have you ever been involved with any negotiations, for example, with the Russians?

PALIN: We have trade missions back and forth. We– we do– it’s very important when you consider even national security issues with Russia as Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where– where do they go? It’s Alaska. It’s just right over the border. It is– from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there. They are right next to– to our state.

just for kicks:  Sarah Palin states she believes if Vladimir were to fly over America it woudl be through Alaska proving her strong international ties. just like the view from her front porch I imagine her much like in Fantasy island her leaping up to scream “The plane! The plane!”.

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W. : The New Oliver Stone Movie

On Oct. 29 a movie about an American president will be released and it is not a fairy tale. W. the new Olive Stone picture which was written by Stanley Weiser who has also written Murder in Mississippi and Freedom Song. W., gives a glimpse into how current President George W. Bush ended up in the White House.

This movie will star Elisabeth Banks as Laura Bush, Josh Brolin as George W. Bush, Thandie Newton as Condoleezza Rice, Richard Dreyfus as Dick Cheney, Jeffrey Wright as General Colin Powell, Ioan Gruffudd as Tony Blare and Noah Wyle as Don Evans.

The movie has received a lot of criticism because it will be coming out right before the Presidential election. You be the judge.

DJ Rimarkable talks shop

DJ Kristi Lomax interviews DJ Rimarkable-
Our series of interviews with the U People DJ Allstars, jumps off with Detroit’s own DJ Remarkable. Our conversation included a discussion about hip hop vs. house music, religion and music from her AUGUST mix for U-People.

This multi-talented selector, also spoke about her evolution from DJ to music producer, composing original tunes for Bay area artists like Valerie Troutt, and the perils of leaving the club with no phone numbers.

Get turned on to music and a new DJ.

Ask Dr. G Love: Later Alligator…

Dear Dr G Love,

I just turned 18 last month. My bf and I have been dating a while.
We are both virgins. We both have expressed a desire to have sex. I
have decided that I want the first time to be in my bed. I think my
room is good because we both would be comfortable and could take
our time. I live with my single mother. The only problem is my
mother. She has said that she does not want to find me having sex.
However, she has a bf. I have heard her and her bf having sex
recently. I have mention that I have heard them doing it. She has
said that they were expressing their love for each other. I don’t
mind hearing them. I just wish that I too could have the chance for
my bf and I to have sex. I don’t want to sneak around or worry
about being caught or quite. There may me some noises of my bf and
I expressing our love for each other as well. After all I am 18
now. I would guess that my mother has figured that my bf and I want
to do it too. How can I start a conversation with her on this
topic? How can I ask for permission to do it with my bf in my room?
What can I say? What information/ advice do you have?

Thank you .

later alligator,
Leah

Hi Later Alligator,

I like your question a lot. First of all, you seem to have a very healthy approach to sexuality and to your family. That’s a beautiful thing and it puts a smile on my face. What you are expressing is a need to have integrity with both your love life and your mother. Your question reflects a very loving and mature attitude towards your growth into womanhood. Now, what you must do is harness this maturity and approach your mother with calm, clear honesty. (Sometimes easier said than done)
You must remember that it is difficult for most mothers to see their children grow up into sexual beings. So, there is a good chance that your mother is uncomfortable with “allowing” her daughter to have sex in her own home. She may be asking herself: is that responsible? Irresponsible? Poor parenting?…These are some legitimate concerns that may trouble your mother around this decision. Therefore, it is going to require that you be the caring adult in this conversation – seeing and respecting both sides of the story.

I suggest that you express your feelings and desires clearly – including the fact that you don’t want to be sneaky or uncomfortable as you begin your next phase of womanhood as a loving and sexual being. You should try to make your mother understand that you are honoring both her and yourself by making this decision and by sharing it with her. Perhaps you can arrange to have this rendezvous with your boyfriend when your mother is not home. It being her house and you being her daughter, it really may be too overwhelming for her to be home and possibly hear you and your boyfriend having sex. If the two of you are willing to sit down in a loving quiet space and treat this conversation as a rite of passage into the next phase of your relationship as mother and daughter, you may find that this is one of the truly powerful experiences of your relationship with each other.

The best of luck and love.

Dr. G Love

Hello Dr. G Love,

I have a question about sexual consent and women. Does sexual consent need to be gotten each time orally or are there other ways sexual consent can be given? It does not seem that people stop during foreplay and ask each other about consent. How are some ways in which a woman can give sexual consent non-orally? Tell of possible ways a woman may give consent. Maybe kissing is a form of consent however a woman may kiss with no desire for sex. If a woman is touching her own breasts is this an invite for her man to do the same and considered consent?

hope to hear from ya soon

Matt

Dear Matt,

Sexual consent is something that has to be taken very seriously on a case by case basis. When you ask “does sexual consent need to be gotten each time” do you mean each time you have sexual relations with the same woman or a different one? And ultimately the answer is YES – to both.  Yes you can, during foreplay, ask if you can touch your partner’s breast or remove an article of clothing or kiss her inner thigh or slide your hand up her skirt… Do you get my drift yet? Asking for consent can be very sexy. You don’t have to “stop” to ask. It’s all part of sexuality and be-ing present with your lover. If you are having sex then no matter what needs to happen – Be Sexy About It.

Another way to secure consent is to discuss sex in advance. You can discuss your sexual histories, STD’s, likes, dislikes, erogenous zones, safe words, whatever comes to mind. On the topic of safe-words, (a safe-word is a word that you and your partner decide to use during sex that means STOP! – this word should be a word that you both pre-agree on and  is not a word that you might use during sex – for instance “Pineapple”) often people reserve the use of safe-words for “rough play” or S/M bondage role play, but this is not the only kind of sexual interaction where a safe-word is helpful.

Having a safe word – especially if you are practicing casual sex with new partners – can be a great way to insure you don’t overstep your boundaries with another person’s comfort zone. Many people may feel more comfortable just knowing that you were caring enough to ask about consent and desire. And the more at ease you and your partner(s) are, the better the sex is.

I would say a general rule of thumb around consent is – If you’re asking yourself, then you should be asking your partner.

Enjoy and be safe,
Dr. G Love

NOR Interviews: Nick Mwaluko

Nick Mwaluko talks about transitioning from female to male after immigrating to the United States from Kenya.

“Could I have lived in the other form? I still would have  clean water…the three meals a day.”

Nick Mwaluko was born in Kenya and currently lives in New York City.
He was interviewed in New York City. Nick has also written for the Huffington Post and further shed light on who he is in the article “Becoming a Man“.

 

 NOR Interviews: Nick Mwaluko [6:32m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

BIO:

Nick Mwalukowas born in Tanzania, East Africa and raised in Kenya. After arriving to New York City, Nick entered into Columbia University on fellowship. Transitioning from female to male in his third year of study, he remained on the Dean’s List and graduated Magna Cum Laude. Nick’s play WAAFRIKA, which is about a Kenyan woman’s affair with a white female PeaceCorps Volunteer, premiered with critical acclaim and has won numerous awards. He is finishing his Masters in Fine Arts with a Concentration in Playwriting from Columbia University.

Photos of Nick Mwaluko: Sulai Lopez
Photos of Selly Thiam: Olive Demetrius

Sabelo Narasimhan

Sabelo is a defunct photography student who spends a lot of time in microeconomics classes and playing tennis these days. A queer immigrant of south Asian decent, Sabelo has spent time on both coasts and can’t decide on which is better. So left both and headed abroad on a 4 week trek east. Using layers and contradiction, reflection and depth, colors and shadows, Sabelo explores the people and places that we move through/around everyday.

Episode #44: Down With Boundaries (09.17.08)

This week Olive and Hanifah discuss how heteronormative behaviors effect interactions within the lesbian community. They want to know if you have had similar experiences.

Also Gloria Bigelow is back with another U People story.

Tarrah Reynolds talks with U People

Interviewed by: Tika Milan

U PEOPLE: Your song “Where I want to go”, which is a beautiful song, was featured on February U People Mix. Where did that song come from?

TARRAH REYNOLDS: I wrote that song when I was fasting. I was so clear minded. I don’t know if you’ve ever fasted, but it’s that feeling of clarity and I felt that I could just see things that I hadn’t been able to see. I was basically talking about paradise and heaven.

U PEOPLE: How long did you fast for?

TARRAH REYNOLDS: I fasted for like 14th days.

U PEOPLE: What other things inspire your work?

TARRAH REYNOLDS: I just don’t push myself. I just wait for it to come. I honestly try not to force it. When I do that, it’s so irritating. I’m never happy with what I come up with. So I try to be relaxed and let it come to me as natural as possible.

U PEOPLE: You attended Julliard and play the violin. How did the transition to guitarist and singer song writer come about?

TARRAH REYNOLDS: While I was at Julliard, what really opened me up and made me see there were other possibilities was when someone called me to be in a D’Angelo video. That was the first thing I ever did outside of classical music. It was the first professional thing I did outside of an orchestra.

U PEOPLE: What did you do in the D’Angelo video?

TARRAH REYNOLDS: Just played the violin. I was a big fan of his and to able to work with someone outside of classical that I loved just made me want to do more of it.

U PEOPLE: How do you find the balance between what you learned in school and what you’ve learned about your creativity outside of academia?

TARRAH REYNOLDS: Sometimes I complain about Julliard, but I honestly am so glad I went there. I have better technical ability and such a literal understanding of music. That really helps me when I go sing with other singer-song writers or rappers, getting it happens so quickly. I’m very grateful for my education.

U PEOPLE: You’ve played with a variety of people from Tamar Kali and Imani Uzuri to Jay-Z and Kanye West.  How are able to span over so many different musical styles

TARRAH REYNOLDS: I just really try not to have a specific style. Some people try to put me in a category, but I’ve never been one to focus on one particular style. I’ve never really been hardcore about one thing in particular.

U PEOPLE: You’re music sounds very jazzy and folk-y You kind of remind me of Joni Mitchell, but black. There is still soulfulness to it. How would you describe your sound?

TARRAH REYNOLDS: I’m a big fan of Joni Mitchell. Melody is very very important to her and she is very crafty with it. I really love when people take the time to create a beautiful melody. I make my music melodic and soulful and pretty.

U PEOPLE: So what do you have coming up?

TARRAH REYNOLDS: Right now I’m trying to do a proper recording. I have a lot of live stuff. It’s cool but I want to take it to the next step and have something more polished. I hope to have it finished at the end of the year.

Visit Tarrah Reynolds at www.myspace.com/misstarrah

Learn about the U People Download Music Mix Card here.
Get your card today!

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