My dear friend Jennifer Cendana Armas is a gangster. And she’ll be representing up in the Bronx for a showcase next Thursday, March 11th, so if you need a reason to go uptown, this is it! In celebration of International Women’s Day, the proceeds from the show go to Dwa Fanm, an organization dedicated to the rights of Haitian women and girls.

Hoorah! My first video coverage in NYC is finally here. Make sure to check out www.whatthehellz.com to keep up!

(Does anyone else cringe when they watch themselves on video? You know, that whole “I really sound like that” moment? *Cringing*)

According to the band’s site, they sound like Cambodian Pop Psychadelic Dance Party. Need I say more?! Didn’t think so.

Listen and LEARN.

PS. The lead singer is adorable. Looking forward to seeing them perform live at SXSW.

http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=29700526

I’ve been dedicated to being a fan of Janelle for quite some time now. Since that video of her two years back performing “Sincerely, Jane” live, I fell in love. So much so that I journeyed to Atlanta in 2008 to find her- and succeeded! The authenticity and commitment to creating art is a rarity in our current world of music, but artists like her make me believe in the continued evolution of sound and expression, that it hasn’t been convoluted to a lost cause. My golly, thank goodness. To capture such complexity in a way that is both moving (physically and emotionally) while making it sound hella hella fresh is no easy feat. But my gaw, she “put the voodoo in it- without T-painin at that.

HEAR NEW JANELLE HERE.

You’ve swept me off my feet.

International style savant and infamous fashion blogger, Bryanboy is taking over, one Anna Wintour personal note at a time. Just discovered him through my dear friend Marisa, who highly recommended I rip out his article on her latest American Vogue magazine. He’s featured as one of the most influential style bloggers in the world, and I just had to share.

This editorial however, is from another magazine in Singapore. Check out his video below for behind the scenes of the Vogue shoot.

Vogue shoot:

He’ll sweep you off your feet too.

Dear Ladies and Gents,

I have the utmost honor of being invited to deliver the keynote speech at the “Celebration (or as I prefer, Celebrasian) of Asian American Women” at Cornell University in a few weeks, and I am very excited! I will be making the trek to the woods of Ithaca and coming to speak @ Cornell for my 4th time. If you are in Ithaca, I hope to see you! Errr. Is anyone in Ithaca? JK.

Bring your Fierce.

I love love love this new video by Delorean. The video hits home (literally) for many reasons:

1. It’s set in my hometown, Sacramento, and my oh my the cinematography of this video makes this city look more romantic than I’ve ever known.
2. It’s inspired and addressed to Langston Hughes, the legend and reason why I became a writer. Specifically, the song is in reference to Hughes’ “Dream Deferred”, the poem that started it all.
3. In addition to the admirable cinematography, viewers also have the added bonus of seeing through Sean’s earlobes! Hole-y Moley! Teehee.

WATCH and LEARN.

http://www.vimeo.com/9819434

what my daydreams have consisted of for the past five years:

My dear friend Dandiggity is amazing. After a long day in the city, coming home to this surprise is the best thing a gal can ask for. Spread love yall. Happy (early) Valentines Day. (and more importantly…Happy Lunar New Year!!!)

(2008)

I’ve been waiting for daybreak

In a universe cloaked in midnight

Someone pick me stars

To drape across my neck

I want to wear the sky

So I can see I’m fit

To be above everything

I’ve loved in indigo

Ripped in scarlet

Broken in purple

I’m ready to heal

In gold

Swallow the rainbow

So I can kiss you in Technicolor

Babe won’t you know there are prisms

glistening in my tongue

tell me are you ready

for my healing

I will create you a galaxy

Of endless sunrise

Sparked by these lips

I’m not scared anymore

Day is coming