tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71391052024-03-13T17:14:59.031+00:00The BackyardMy own quarter acre section.
Sunny day: stereo speakers out the window, you'll find me there.Jessiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735391370180343045noreply@blogger.comBlogger520125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139105.post-11456627668689191852012-08-04T13:39:00.000+01:002012-08-04T13:39:25.518+01:00Day 8: Medal TableOlympic athletes are very inspiring. The idea of training for an event for four or six or more years, with that one event as motivation - what discipline! I'm moved to make some long term goals for myself.
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<img border="0" height="365" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUDSoWlvThW0mE4RIJYAw9HoGDuFgywojUx_Axzycj4djiBkiKLpQEcYGCP4RW_IyReAPwL_xCDmdT3Qp1rBBd1MDUYqmWOCfh0futajVtcXG1ihcORJ7V2w8bAK2LhSPZl-Phsg/s400/medal-table.jpg" /></div>Jessiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735391370180343045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139105.post-41718180574904674802012-03-10T19:23:00.002+00:002012-03-10T19:25:18.401+00:00Wicksteed WorksIt's a big day for me: my shiny new website is launched, meaning my New Project is officially under way!
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<a href="http://wicksteedworks.com" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="118" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgTTZZbuxoLFFFStOQ44GvuAHfdzHmLxRSAEZzftHDzqB1Yaoi0U6LSHLYGTsDw6rvE-KKlc3jwbESEhv_SpDGjbvfQqPPWjG1dZcF1TT7BN1o_C6Sz7wfMRX2f4D6-gB6TeFnbg/s320/Logo_Reversed_RGB.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.wicksteedworks.com">Check it out</a>, and please go ahead and like my <a href="http://facebook.com/wicksteedworks">new Facebook page</a> too.
Tomorrow I fly to Austin, TX for <a href="http://sxsw.com">South By South West</a>. Hit me up if you're there!Jessiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735391370180343045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139105.post-55244495957885022772012-01-18T17:00:00.002+00:002012-01-18T17:05:06.824+00:00Perfume Genius - HoodNew video launched today from guess who's tip for Artist of 2012. Check it out:<br /><br /><iframe width="500" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OOpkr8uNWpk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><br />More info on Pitchfork <a href="http://pitchfork.com/news/45133-video-perfume-genius-hood/">here</a>. Preorder <span style="font-weight:bold;">Put Your Back N 2 It</span> <a href="http://www.turnstilemusic.net/artists/perfume-genius/">here</a>. Album streets 20 Feb!Jessiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735391370180343045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139105.post-85149697941629712292012-01-06T10:25:00.001+00:002012-01-06T10:36:38.042+00:00Perfume Genius: 2012 is his yearI know I may post a lot about music and new releases, but if you download nothing else from me all year (ok, all month) then please please download All Waters from Perfume Genius and have a listen. Tell me what you think. <br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://cdn.topspin.net/javascripts/topspin_core.js?aId=3015×tamp=1325830458"></script><br /><div class="topspin-widget topspin-widget-email-for-media"><br /> <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="500" height="500" id="TSWidget118049" data="http://cdn.topspin.net/widgets/email2/swf/TSEmailMediaWidget.swf?timestamp=1325830458" bgColor="#000000"><br /> <param value="always" name="allowScriptAccess"/><br /> <param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"/><br /> <param name="quality" value="high"/><br /> <param name="movie" value="http://cdn.topspin.net/widgets/email2/swf/TSEmailMediaWidget.swf?timestamp=1325830458"/><br /> <param name="flashvars" value="theme=black&highlightColor=0x7badb4&widget_id=http://cdn.topspin.net/api/v1/artist/3015/email_for_media/118049?timestamp=1324038458"/><br /> </object><br /></div>
Perfume Genius' second album, Put Your Back N 2 It, is released on 20 Feb, and I personally can't wait having ordered not one but two signed vinyl LPs. You can get yours <a href="http://www.turnstilemusic.net/artists/perfume-genius/">here</a>.Jessiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735391370180343045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139105.post-7877010272329539762011-12-24T15:09:00.003+00:002011-12-24T16:02:39.323+00:00Steps<p align="center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebackyard/13250265/" title="steps"><img src="http://farm1.staticflickr.com/9/13250265_2472ccf236.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="steps"></a></p><p>These steps connect two sections of Hankey St in Mt Cook, Wellington, where i lived in 2004-5. The street was part of a neighbourhood planned on paper, and it didn't fit the geography of Mt Cook. On reflection it seems that uncooperative geography was but one of the problems faced by Wakefield's surveyors as they set about establishing the city. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_Company#The_settlement_of_Wellington">More on wikipedia here</a>.</p>Jessiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735391370180343045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139105.post-75944481950208439312011-12-13T23:36:00.001+00:002011-12-13T23:36:18.221+00:00The Phoenix Foundation Presents - 'A Very Dystopian Christmas!'<script type="text/javascript" src="http://cdn.topspin.net/javascripts/topspin_core.js?aId=3081×tamp=1323818144"></script>
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</div>Jessiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735391370180343045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139105.post-37136839769428517762011-10-26T22:35:00.004+01:002011-10-26T22:50:03.587+01:00Happy; BusyI went to Budapest on the weekend, to unplug and catch up with Audrey and Josie. We chilled, ate, drank, swam, then did more of the same. There was also the small matter of the rugby world cup final, which we watched in Beckett's Irish Bar, alongside a big crowd of fellow kiwis, French, and assorted rugby enthusiasts.<br /><br />Saw Bon Iver at the Hammersmith Apollo on Monday. I had sore feet but managed to transcend the pain. Lovely evening; and a good crowd too - could just about hear a pin drop.<br /><br />Last night was the big event: <a href="http://www.thephoenixfoundation.co.nz">The Phoenix Foundation</a> performing live on Later with Jools Holland. I was lucky enough to attend the filming and it was a lot of fun. The other bands playing were The Waterboys, Professor Green, Ryan Adams, Camille and Coldplay. All quite enjoyable and relatively diverse. And the boys played really well! I wanted to go out afterwards (and tick off another of London's private clubs) but alas I had a midnight skype meeting that I couldn't miss, preceding as it did a big launch this morning.<br />Tonight's entertainment was a book club meeting. This month we read Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay. It was quite moving, although we all agreed that the now-part of the story was a bit lacking. <br /><br />So it's Wednesday, and I've already have about a fortnight's worth of living inside of four days, and I'm so happy because my flatmate goes away tomorrow for a week so Matty is moving in, and The Phoenix Foundation are playing tomorrow night and Lisa is coming with me, and I'm starting to get my shit together for my aforementioned New Project, and this Saturday I get to see Noel Gallagher live.Jessiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735391370180343045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139105.post-53037591758645883042011-10-26T17:03:00.000+01:002011-10-26T17:03:24.297+01:00New ThingsI've been asking lots of questions of myself lately, and finding some answers. The upshot is that I'll shortly be launching a new project - a digital consulting agency, focusing on direct-to-fan strategy & project management.
Exciting huh!
Watch this space.Jessiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735391370180343045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139105.post-84729876152027602572011-10-12T23:49:00.001+01:002011-10-12T23:49:46.103+01:00Look who's coming to visit...<iframe title="webdoc" width="500" height="640" src="http://www.webdoc.com/embed/C4F5BF43-3B20-0001-4687-13F0E7389B50" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>Jessiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735391370180343045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139105.post-67921653972966809392011-09-02T07:41:00.003+01:002011-09-02T07:48:59.331+01:00A dilemmaMild dilemma faces me this evening. I've been invited to a friend's wedding reception, where I expect to know only the bride and possible one other person slightly. My invitation was for me and a guest, however my guest can't make it and it seems too short a notice period to enlist another.
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<br />Getting to the venue will be a half hour train followed by a cab for a few miles. I've been unwell this week which has lead me to cancel the three nights' previous engagements, in a bid to regain health and also to ensure my ongoing vitality for tomorrow's planned trip to Glasgow, not to mention next week's Trip To New York.
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<br />I am leaning towards unfortunately missing my friend's nuptial celebration, however I'm unsure of the etiquette of the apology in such a situation. Do I draw attention to it ahead of the event itself, or explain myself after the fact?Jessiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735391370180343045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139105.post-71724718972577739112011-08-31T10:37:00.002+01:002011-08-31T10:39:29.347+01:00Songs of Mirth And MelancholyA bit of a departure from my usual indie ways - here's some jazz piano and the like from Branford Marsalis and Joey Calderazzo. Enjoy. More info <a href="http://www.branfordmarsalis.net/">here</a>.
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<br /><iframe id="tsFrame81129" src="http://cdn.topspin.net/api/v2/widget/player/81129" width="500" height="450" frameborder="0"></iframe>Jessiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735391370180343045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139105.post-20315128225497877552011-08-23T23:37:00.004+01:002011-08-24T10:49:12.530+01:00From a Suit to a Fluorescent Jacket<a title="click to see flickr set" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebackyard/sets/72157627503829454/detail/"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6076/6074793818_ab41c0ef14.jpg" /></a>
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<br />On Saturday afternoon, I decided to pop out for a quick bicycle ride, relying on <a href="http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/">@londoncyclist</a>'s Bike Rides iphone app. I chose the route named "From a Suit to a Fluorescent Jacket", which takes in Canary Wharf, Greenwich, around the O2 and on to Woolwich and back again.
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<br />I figured it'd take about an hour, and I'd be home in good time to meet my friend Maria for dinner. An hour and a half later, as I lazed in the hot evening sun at Greenwich Park, I realised I was not going to be back in E8 for some time. All up I was out for about 3 and a half hours, including chill time. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebackyard/sets/72157627503829454/detail/">Click to see photos on flickr</a>.
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<br />It was a gorgeous day, and it felt good to be exploring. I should mention this was partly intended as a training ride, as this bank holiday weekend I'm off to Normandy with some friends to cycle between Bayeux and Cherbourg. More on that later.
<br />Jessiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735391370180343045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139105.post-58739086747336043252011-08-12T10:39:00.001+01:002011-08-12T10:42:07.589+01:00New from Sigur Rós<iframe id="tsFrame92680" src="http://cdn.topspin.net/api/v2/widget/player/92680" width="500" height="450" frameborder="0"></iframe>Jessiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735391370180343045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139105.post-38554779216650622722011-07-14T22:28:00.002+01:002011-07-14T22:32:05.861+01:00Tigers That Talked: Holy Saturday, Gloomy Sunday vs SXSWA few months back, Tigers That Talked created this video for their new single, Holy Saturday, Gloomy Sunday, made entirely from footage taken during their SXSW 2011 experience. Follow the link to download the track for free.<br /><br /><iframe id="tsFrame64760" src="http://cdn.topspin.net/api/v2/widget/player/64760" width="500" height="500" frameborder="0"></iframe>Jessiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735391370180343045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139105.post-1667480470748222442011-07-12T17:45:00.004+01:002011-07-12T18:02:23.691+01:00New from The Glitch MobUsually I'm pretty cut and dried in favour of guitar music.. but the Glitch Mob have been getting under my skin. They've just announced a <a href="http://www.theglitchmob.com/">preorder on their new EP 'We Can Make The World Stop'</a>, and you can listen to it here:<br /><br /><iframe id="tsFrame85703" src="http://cdn.topspin.net/api/v2/widget/player/85703" width="500" height="400" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br />I also really like the <a href="http://www.theglitchmob.com/">offer page</a>. It's super slick.Jessiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735391370180343045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139105.post-76673872360990675422011-07-05T11:05:00.001+01:002011-07-05T11:07:18.555+01:00Unknown Mortal OrchestraI'm going to see this band at the Lexington this evening. I am liking what I hear so far.<br /><br /><iframe id="tsFrame81889" src="http://cdn.topspin.net/api/v2/widget/player/81889" width="500" height="450" frameborder="0"></iframe>Jessiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735391370180343045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139105.post-68402949464889721412011-06-09T16:49:00.002+01:002011-06-09T16:52:08.002+01:00New album from Bon IverFull album stream, right here:<br /><br /><iframe id="tsFrame78889" src="http://cdn.topspin.net/api/v2/widget/player/78889" width="500" height="500" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br />That is all.Jessiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735391370180343045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139105.post-28185387383458549252010-12-27T09:52:00.004+00:002010-12-27T10:35:09.703+00:00Pictures of Music<p>Having a little bit of time on my hands during the Christmas break, I've taken the opportunity to update Flickr with a few pictures I've taken since October or thereabouts of various musical adventures. These include <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebackyard/sets/72157625676398494/detail/">Duane Eddy/Richard Hawley/Jarvis Cocker</a>, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebackyard/sets/72157625682136372/detail/">The Black Keys</a>, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebackyard/sets/72157625682154560/detail/">Casiotone for the Painfully Alone</a>, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebackyard/sets/72157625682170574/detail/">Marnie Stern</a>, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebackyard/sets/72157625556738467/detail/">Arcade Fire</a>, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebackyard/sets/72157625556756845/detail/">Janelle Monáe</a> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebackyard/sets/72157625682272114/detail/">Paul McCartney.</a> <p> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebackyard/5293661104/" title="Duane Eddy at the Clapham Grand"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5248/5293661104_1e8f81cd17.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Duane Eddy" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebackyard/5296350700/" title="The Black Keys at Brixton Academy"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5128/5296350700_caa9578cbe.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="The Black Keys" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebackyard/5295762291/" title="Casiotone for the Painfully Alone at Cargo"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5250/5295762291_58c87e13ed.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Casiotone for the Painfully Alone" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebackyard/5296364858/" title="Marnie Stern at the Lexington"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5044/5296364858_0fc7f51e08.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Marnie Stern" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebackyard/5296379588/" title="Arcade Fire at the O2"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5249/5296379588_da80828e40.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Arcade Fire" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebackyard/5295794121/" title="Janelle Monae at Shepherd's Bush Empire"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5165/5295794121_a1bc9ae27d.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Janelle Monáe" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebackyard/5296405518/" title="Paul McCartney at the 100 Club"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5121/5296405518_6abe2a67cf.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Paul McCartney" /></a>Jessiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735391370180343045noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139105.post-57190971410631003302010-12-23T11:57:00.006+00:002010-12-23T12:12:14.275+00:00Last.fm Artist & Album clouds<p>Strangely, being so absorbed in music and my corner of the industry this year, I haven't been such a consumer of music - although I have been to more live shows than ever before (witness <a href="http://myyear.songkick.com/jesstherese/2010">my year on songkick</a>). So I don't have any top albums of 2010 to speak of just now.. instead I have some tag clouds.<p><p>Top Albums, last 3 months:</p><br /><p align="center"><border="0"><a href="http://lastfm.dontdrinkandroot.net/"><img src="http://lastfm.dontdrinkandroot.net/tools/user/albumcloud/jesstherese/3month_thumb.png"></a></p><br /><p>Top Albums, overall:</p><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lastfm.dontdrinkandroot.net/"><img src="http://lastfm.dontdrinkandroot.net/tools/user/albumcloud/jesstherese/overall_thumb.png"></a></p>Jessiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735391370180343045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139105.post-72837086662016197442010-12-09T22:37:00.004+00:002010-12-09T23:02:31.349+00:00Winter in the Neighbourhood<p>We had a few days of snow last week. It culminated on Wednesday night after the Arcade Fire concert, flakes falling, fresh white powder underfoot, each street light reminiscent of the lamp-post. A day or two later, it was either dirty sludge or hard-packed ice, quite devoid of its original romance. This is an image of London Fields, situated close to my home. </p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebackyard/5247058617/" title="London Fields"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5204/5247058617_f45e73bb5c.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="London Fields" /></a><br /><p>Arcade Fire were great. It was my first time seeing them - not really sure how it's taken so long for that to happen - and the show was at the O2, not really the place for a first viewing. Still, it was magic to look around and see that enormous, sold-out venue filled with such ardent fans. Impossible to get very close to the stage, it was more about appreciating the crowd with a great soundtrack.</p><p>When they played We Used To Wait in the encore, I was transfixed. Have you seen <a href="http://thewildernessdowntown.com/">the video</a> (must be viewed in Chrome)? The finale was Wake Up, but it was hard for me to wake up from the headspace of the wilderness downtown. I love the subject matter Arcade Fire dwell on. It takes me back to those endless, empty days. Small town, big freedom.</p><p>Setlist, photos, and video on <a href="http://www.songkick.com">Songkick</a> <a href="http://www.songkick.com/concerts/6362021-arcade-fire-at-o2-arena">here</a>.</p><p>I had the good fortune to catch <a href="http://www.jmonae.com/">Janelle Monáe</a> at the Shepherd's Bush Empire on Sunday, and Tightrope hasn't really left my head since. <a title="official video on youtube: watch now!" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwnefUaKCbc">Highly recommended</a>.</p>Jessiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735391370180343045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139105.post-63199489525847809402010-11-07T11:10:00.006+00:002010-11-07T11:17:19.774+00:00Life Preservers, Dagger Canes, Swordsticks<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebackyard/5154035936/" title="You can get anything in London"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4018/5154035936_6c483d07b0.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="You can get anything in London" /></a><br /><br />I wanted to write something clever and apposite to go with this picture. However, I have places to go and people to see. The life in London continues.. work = great; fresh challenges with every day, home = fine; and I picked up my guitar yesterday for the first time in forever (although I could use a few nights in with time/energy to cook), friends = wonderful; what more to say? <br /><br />The Black Keys were fantastic on Wednesday. Gigs coming up include Casiotone For The Painfully Alone, Marnie Stern, Arcade Fire and Bonobo. My mission next pay: buy a record player.Jessiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735391370180343045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139105.post-45052526304838182102010-10-02T11:38:00.002+01:002010-10-02T12:01:25.623+01:00Grinderman<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebackyard/sets/72157624953071581/with/5043352915/" title="Awesome..more on flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4145/5043352915_8bc42556fd.jpg" alt="Grinderman" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Loved the <a href="http://www.grinderman.com/">Grinderman</a> show last night at Hammersmith Apollo. Nick Cave taps into such dark elements of the human psyche, not so much violence but some kind of blackness, giving compelling form to shadows of fear and lust and beauty and desire.<br /><br />Feels like I hadn't been to a concert in ages, which added to the experience, as did attending with my lovely friends <a href="http://www.twitter.com/renpissy">Ren</a>, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/grillpanda">Matt</a>, Riddi, Jamie and Gilbey.<br /><br />I just wish Grinderman hadn't relied on EMI for their direct to consumer efforts for Grinderman 2. The emails look shit, they're too long, and their purchase links are all external retailers. It's a wasted opportunity - they should have used <a href="http://www.topspinmedia.com/">Topspin</a>. They are <a href="http://www.myspace.com/grinderman">streaming the album on myspace</a>, which is nice.<br /><br />Aside from that, the only negative to the evening was missing my connection at Whitechapel - took me an hour and half to get home from the station! I was between iphones last night, so it was a novel experience of having no GPS, maps or internet. Unusual, kind of fun in a small dose, like using a portaloo at a festival - hang on, that's never fun. Rest assured I am now safely connected to a shiny new iphone 4.Jessiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735391370180343045noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139105.post-72452809017651437112010-10-01T10:53:00.000+01:002010-10-01T10:56:06.212+01:00Morning<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebackyard/5041440314/" title="Almost sunrise by jesstherese, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4130/5041440314_3f84141b6e.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Almost sunrise" /></a><br /><br />Lovely light this morning.Jessiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735391370180343045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139105.post-59279281291993375022010-08-20T23:08:00.002+01:002010-08-21T01:37:24.523+01:003 years + music20 August is my 3 year anniversary here in London so permit me just a moment of reflection. I arrived without much of a clue what on earth I wanted from this place, and not entirely sure I wanted to be here at all. Fresh out of New Zealand, a Mediterranean summer like no other can do that to a person.<br /><br />Today I find myself somewhere I never expected to be; chasing a big wave, sometimes riding it and sometimes my head seems only just above the water level. But there's always good sounds to be discovered. I'm listening to <a title="Spotify link" href="http://open.spotify.com/album/3gHpxykMceAeKv8vVJosnG">Van Morrison's Astral Weeks</a> for the fifth time this week.. a world of music for the finding, and I love that an album from 1968 can scoop me up just like I can be carried away by the latest from <a href="http://www.arcadefire.com/">The Arcade Fire</a>. <br /><br />Here's some great free music I've come across this week, coincidentally both from Iceland. The first is from <a href="http://www.amiina.com/">Amiina</a>:<div class="topspin-widget topspin-widget-email-for-media"><br /> <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" id="TSWidget33197" data="http://cdn.topspin.net/widgets/email2/swf/TSEmailMediaWidget.swf?timestamp=1282341957" bgcolor="#000000" height="80" width="300"><br /> <param value="always" name="allowScriptAccess"><br /> <param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><br /> <param name="quality" value="high"><br /> <param name="movie" value="http://cdn.topspin.net/widgets/email2/swf/TSEmailMediaWidget.swf?timestamp=1282341957"><br /> <param name="flashvars" value="highlightColor=#c9c9c9&bgalpha=0&theme=white&widget_id=http://cdn.topspin.net/api/v1/artist/2761/email_for_media/33197?timestamp=1282143231"><br /> </object><br /></div><br />And the second is from <a href="http://www.foraminorreflection.com/">For A Minor Reflection</a>:<br /><div class="topspin-widget topspin-widget-email-for-media"><br /> <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" id="TSWidget32462" data="http://cdn.topspin.net/widgets/email2/swf/TSEmailMediaWidget.swf?timestamp=1282316058" bgcolor="#000000" height="350" width="400"><br /> <param value="always" name="allowScriptAccess"><br /> <param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><br /> <param name="quality" value="high"><br /> <param name="movie" value="http://cdn.topspin.net/widgets/email2/swf/TSEmailMediaWidget.swf?timestamp=1282316058"><br /> <param name="flashvars" value="widget_id=http://cdn.topspin.net/api/v1/artist/2994/email_for_media/32462?timestamp=1282316058&theme=black&highlightColor=#c9c9c9"><br /> </object><br /></div><br /><br />You might remember, I'm a fan of lists and particularly the lists generated by <a href="http://last.fm/">last.fm</a>. The contents and layout of this list struck a chord with me when I spotted it a day or two ago in that it almost alternates between 'old' and 'new' - my top artists from the last 7 days. I've been listening to <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/">BBC 6 Music</a> a lot lately, but when I'm not..<br /><br /><a href="http://www.last.fm/user/jesstherese"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4118/4911275431_507a656e99.jpg" /></a>Jessiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735391370180343045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7139105.post-65168130254070598412010-08-03T22:20:00.005+01:002010-08-03T22:47:08.986+01:00About work, and playToday I was called upon to explain what it is that <a href="http://www.topspinmedia.com/">my company</a> does. When I saw the email preceding the phone call I was nervous. I wasn't sure that I would be able to answer the questions that would inevitably arise, with this potential new client needing to learn about the product and service we offer in order to evaluate it for his needs.<br /><br />I made the call, and as the questions were posed, the answers flowed out of me, and I knew what I was talking about. I felt confident, and creative, and I offered extra information and examples on how to extend the services and fully optimise the product offering. I felt great! I realised that I have absorbed more than I knew during the months of internship - and now that I'm contracting in a grown-up sense - I'm learning still more every day. I'm grateful every day that I am exactly where I want to be.<br /><br />There's one project I'm heavily involved in at work, and a big part of it is this website: <a href="http://ukmusicoffers.com/">UK Music Offers</a>. It's essentially a web store selling high quality digital tracks and albums at a low price - 40p per track and £3.99 per album. The artists include Portugal. The Man, Alberta Cross, Metric, Beastie Boys, Dave Holland, Get Busy Committee, Wendy & Lisa and more. (There's one caveat: offers are available to UK residents only.) I'd love it if you'd please take a look, and if you're in the UK, by all means throw 40p to a good cause! What good cause, you ask? This one: my further education, and the future of my career in its current form. I'm very interested in feedback on the content, the layout and the purchase experience, what you think works and what needs improvement.<br /><br />It's been a little while since I posted anything - weekends in Bratislava and the Lakes District and the usual hyper-busy weeks have left little time for creativity after hours. I was inspired this evening by <a href="http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/">Bob Lefsetz</a> - he's often inspiring - and his linking to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=livzJTIWlmY">this short Seth Godin/Tom Peters clip</a>.<br /><br />This weekend I'm headed to <a href="http://www.bigchill.net/">The Big Chill</a> with my good friend Matty.. one last shot at summer festival bliss. Speaking of - wouldn't mind a bit more of that late 20s goodness, weather gods..?Jessiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735391370180343045noreply@blogger.com0