Intimate and Interactive with Damien Marley and Nas...

Ok…so I know I’ve splashed it all over facebook, twitter, myspace, and anywhere else I could possibly lay it down…but that’s to be expected after spending a night in the studio with 2 music greats, Nas and Damien Marley…right??

Now I must officially blog about it and all its glory…

Was it incredible? Yes.
Was it inspiring? Yes.
Was it cloudy in there? Yes.

In a tribute to Africa, Nas and Damien are working together on a collab that melds the magic of Road to Zion with the illness of Illmatic. And here I was, watchin it all unfold…from vibin to unmarked music, to gettin in the booth and layin down vocals…I got to witness the art and the making of.

Over a few weeks, I was able to sit in on the different sessions, which also included a little visit by Junior Reid (awesome) and met some incredible producers, engineers and musicians…I feel truly blessed. And yes, I just used the word “blessed”…b/c I truly feel blessed, and not because I’ve been hanging out with a bunch of Jamaicans for the past couple weeks. I mean, it may have some influence…but I still feel “blessed”…ok…I digress…and rhyme a little on the offshoot. Yesssssss.

Ok, so back to it. Jim Henson Studios in LA…incroyable…aka…incredible for all the non-frenchies. This studio was INTENSE! The main room had gear that made me feel a little spacey and overwhelmed, and even though I watched very whole-heartedly, I still couldn’t get a grasp of what 97% of the lights and buttons did. However, the second room was a little more my speed. A massive space flooded with drum kits, guitars, basses, grand pianos and congas (notice I pluralized each)…with room enough to spare for an orchestra, a choir, an elephant, and the 10 thousand dreads smoking weed that kept showin up. It was fantastic in all its gloriousness.

So once I sifted through the thickness we were calling air, I sat back, and watched these amazing artists vibe, write, and lay down their creativity with such awe and inspiration, that I felt completely and utterly compelled to keep my path in check, and really keep at this dream of mine.

I’m really lovin it here in LA…wouldn’t change it for the world. It’s incredibly challenging and can eat at your soul…but the moment you feel you have found your breaking point, something great can come around and make it all worth the struggle. And even though I haven’t reached those stars yet, all I can do is keep working hard and ask for the love and support to continue…because in truth…it makes the world of difference, and I’m eternally grateful for all of it!

Mikwetch y’all!

~isKwé

one year ago....pt 1

I'm feeling slightly reflective at the moment, and just discovered this blog I posted last year, as I set out on my travels and new-found life...enjoy...the year ina nutshell is comin next!!



So here's the scoop, for those of you not in the loop (haha…sorry. That'll be my last cheesy rhyme for the blog... Hopefully... I make no promises.).

I sold my condo last week. I'm leaving for NYC in one month. I have no fixed address anymore. I will be living out of a backpack for the next year-ish. I'll be jumping back and forth between NYC and LA hustling my music. My middle name is Lynne. "Couch Surfer" is soon to be its replacement. I have 1.5 brothers and sisters, spread out over 3 people. I am a musician. I am going after a dream. I will have little income. You think you know. You have no idea…this is the diary (blog) of Meghan Meisters.

So my lovely 1.5 bedroom loft was placed on the market last week, as things start to wind down for me here in the T-Dizzle. Be it that we were first time sellers, we had no clue how things worked. You put the property on the market, people come and look at it, some might put in an offer, and then hopefully they buy it. Simple? Nope.

Step 1: Contact realtor...
Step 2: Choose date to place property on market.
Step 3: "Tidy" things up, so home is presentable.

Easy enough so far, shouldn't be a big deal. Then it happens. Our realtor, who is a very lovely person, lets us know she has a few "small things" that need to take place in 2 days in order for the place to be market-worthy by friday.

THE LIST: (as referred to in email by realtor)

-Clean up in the bathroom (new caulking)
-Remove the table and chairs (dining room)
-Remove stools from Breakfast Island
-Remove all artwork from walls
-Remove personal items from the counters etc (anything that makes it seem like you live there)
-Remove all books from the bookshelf
-Sort out the Laundry room area and push back washer/dryer 1 foot.
-Sort out the closet in bedroom
-Touch up paint in den
-Remove futon
-Remove dresser from bedroom
-Remove what you can from the den
-Buy flowers for counter
-Pack away all CD's and DVD's
-Call for the status certificate

The word "tidy" has now become a synonym for "just move out completely and please do so over 2 evenings".

Ha!

We are now made aware that not only are we to get rid of our "un-matching" pieces of furniture (how dare we live in such a modern environment, and continue to live with wood tables, rather then the uber-stylish glass), but that the real estate company we are working with will be hiring a DESIGNER to come in and bring in new furniture, at their expense.

Haha!

So we end completing SOME of the required tasks in order to sell our home. And by some, I mean that we allowed them to bring in their "pretty" glass tables and oversized, "modern" artwork, packed our books, cd's and dvd's and tidied up. No painting, no removal of futon, no flowers.

Then BAAAAM! We got an offer on the same day our place hit the market, for above asking price, no conditions. Papers were signed, and the whole thing took 24hrs.

And you know what…I have an inkling that it would have sold EVEN if my Dad's artwork were still on the walls and we were minus a few glass tables. But I'm no designer.

And here I sit. We have to be outta there for July 1, 2007, and today is June 1, 2007. And seeing as there are only 30 days in June, well…you can do the math.

Let the couch surfing begin!

Any takers? I'm a good cook……….

A Denver ReCap...

So here it is...you know, for someone who aspires to being a writer AS WELL as a singer, I'm waaaaaaay too slack on my blogging/noting/chitterchatter updates.

The madness ends now.

Some of you may be aware I was slated to serenade the folks of the Democratic National Convention (DNC for those of you seeking simplicity in your lives) in Denver last month. And I did. End note.

Hahahahahahahahahahaha. Jokes.
*deep sighs*

I can safely say I have never witnessed as many police and swat officers in my life...next to Caribanna in Toronto of course...however, unlike our internationally renowned island festivities, the coppers in Denver were pretty friendly, regardless of their 30 to 1 ratios. And the city was buzzing, energy you could feel the second you entered the airport.

This was actually my second time in Denver (not counting my endless layovers at the Denver airport), and now I fear that every time I plan on returning, I may be let down due to a lack of excess millions of people. But the city itself is lovely, and well groomed...and none of this is relevant.

Back to the goods...
I was set to perform at the Denver Art Museum, which just-so-happened to be the very venue that one Ms. Jennifer Lopez/Anthony was hosting a little soiree of her own!!! I wasn't blessed enough to compare bootys with her magesty of great booty, but I DID catch a glimpse of a photo someone snapped with their camera phone of her walking up to the bathroom...and for those of you interested in such phenomenon, it was quite robust.

Needless to say, Obama couldn't find time in his little 'ol schedule to book it from the Pepsi Center and come witness my musical genius, as I was backed on guitar by Quetzal Guerrero and on percussion by Alberto Lopez, but we'll call it his loss and wish him ALL THE LUCK IN THE WORLD to whoop this country I find myself living in back into tiptop super shape! Because lets be honest...the man is cool, black, cultured, smart, black, cool, awesome, black, and the face of some SERIOUS, MUCH NEEDED CHANGE in the US of A...

So, with all this being said...I bid you good luck, Senator Obama, in your journey towards change and all things good, and it was an HONOUR to perform at an event that represented even a smidgen of an ounce of change for our future.

Chi Mikwetch (Big Thank-Yous) to everyone who was at the Native Nations Uniting for Change, I feel humbled to have been asked to join you...