Tag Archives: SZA

Meditating in the Music – Falling in Love with SZA

Image

Music is so much a part of my life.  The messages resonate deep in my soul… and when I am searching, it helps.  So, a few weeks ago, I was introduced to SZA. Then I got to see her perform and she blew my mind!  She told me to: “go to church if you scared…”

and I said…

I KNOW IT HURTS

EVOLVING

 

I KNOW IT HURTS_SEPT 2014 2

My playlist consists of 2 songs today.

1. Every word in this song instigates something inside of me. I can feel it, twisting and turning in my gut.

2. This right here, you gotta get ready for it! … SZA is so live!

This is SZA. She is so beautiful, inside and out.

Have you ever felt like you were in a noisy place, yet somehow your mind maintained it’s silence? SILENCE IN A NOISY PLACE? Thank you for your time. god’s bless me. Peace.

Shila Iris aka Queen

My Experience at AfroPunk was so Amazing!

Image

Me at AfroPunk- Picture Courtesy of Aagdolla Photographer

Me at AfroPunk

This year, the AfroPunk Festival in Brooklyn, New York was amazing! I had been wanting to go for 2 years, but once again I almost flaked out and stayed home. However, some wonderful ladies pushed me to go. I got my small amount of disposable income together and went for it! I am so glad that I did. I would estimate that over the course of 2 days, August 23 and 24, at least 50,000 people got to experience the funk of AfroPunk!

The 10 Major Cool Things About AfroPunk…

1. The beautiful Afrikans! -Gazing into the crowd, we looked so good ya’ll! Go Brown people! Everyone was fly! The Diaspora was well represented.

2. The Music- Oh my! LiAnn La Havas, D’Angelo, SZA, Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Shabazz Palaces, and The Internet were among my favorite.

3. The Vendors- Handmade goods galore! We are so talented! These were the best vendors that I have seen at a festival, ever!

4. The Free Things- they were giving away some very valuable merchandise. No contest, just walk up. Lovely.

5. The Good Vibrations and Energy of the Crowd- Everyone was so welcoming and full of love! “I got the vibrations to change the nation, lick shots in the air, crowd participation!”

6. The Photographers- AfroPunk is well documented.

7. The Artists- There were so many expressionists and bold people who were just rocking eccentric styles! I appreciated the confidence. Keep ya head up!

8. The Bonding Experience of Going with People- Although the ladies I went with only recently joined my Universe, they were great to experience AfroPunk with. We were on the same frequency.

9. What AfroPunk represents and the AfroPunk Official Merchandise. Everything sold out. This festival represents so much positivity. Image of No Hate (Black)

10. The Appreciation- The people who organize AfroPunk are so appreciative of the participants. They walked around and mingled. So wonderful. They send out nice emails to thank you for attending:

THANK YOU
There are few words that can express the amount of gratitude that we have for the AFROPUNK community.  People who consciously make an effort to join us year after year at the festival and online, supporters from around the block and around the world that come together for two days to celebrate culture and freedom with us. For that and more, thank you! See you next year!

Shila Iris for AfrikanEssence… I like saying AfroPunk… smile. Lol.