Carol Watts

Carol Watts, Northampton bread poet, graced us with her presence at DMU to give us an insight into her multi-media poetry.

Carol Watts could be seen as an inspiration to many aspiring writers in many different ways and many unusual but unique forms. Transforming writing into art and videos, could be seen as crazy but Carol sure knows that this will fascinate many different generations.

One specific part that captivated me and caught my eye was the musicality of the pieces. It really did bring the event to life. 

Not only did she include the audience but she even sang for us.  

The tone, the rhythm and the melody was magnificent. 

Carol Watts, phenomenal poet really did give us all something to think about. 

No matter who you are, what you do, or where you are, inspiration is all around us.

Akala

Akala, MOBO award winning Hip-Hop Artist visited De Montfort University today as part of Cultural Exchanges week.

As a Shakespeare and a Hip-Hop fanatic I was over the moon when I heard he was there to wow the audience with his take on Shakespeare. 

Akala, the founder of 'The Hip-Hop Shakespeare Company' started off with a little bit of audience participation, Shakespeare vs Hip-Hop - which was which? We had to guess whether the phrases were lyrics from rap songs or Shakespeare quotes. 

This was my favourite part of the event.

To follow was an insight into African History and Timbuktu. Now I know what you are all thinking, 'that's not a real place' and until earlier on today, so was I. 

IT IS REAL, I SWEAR.

Then the magic began and he began to perform.

 It was beautiful!

Shakespeare intertwined with Hip-Hop, a perfect end to a perfect show. 

Check him out, you'll be a fool not too: http://www.akalamusic.com/

Hot!Mess

Hot!Mess was full of a hot mass of people at the event I attended today, for the Cultural Exchanges Festival this week at De Montfort University.

 

Locally based fashion label Hot!Mess showed the entire audience that you can do anything you want to if you just believe. 

At just 19 and 21, Tayla and Flo created an inspirational and unique brand to appeal to the younger generation of today. Being such young entrepreneurs, designing and launching your own fashion label could be seen as a farfetched dream but they went out and caught it. 

By promoting their brand all over the internet, using the social media - the world is starting to know who and what Hot!Mess is.

This wonderful idea sparked in the brain of Tayla's Grandmother - the 'hoarder' of all American Fitness clothing. Tayla joined forces with her friend Flo, who became her model, photographing with just her iPhone and that's where it all began. 

It surely kicked off in the celebrity industry as many big names now where this brand all over the world, from Cara Delevingne and Little Mix to Pixie Lott and Rizzle Kicks. 

It for sure is the hottest fashion right now - and all because of a young girl with ideas and dreams who wasn't afraid to achieve them.

Hip Hop to Shakespeare

Shakespeare, hip-hop, in one performance? Hell yeah. Two of my favourite things are being put together. This is surely going to be one hell of an event.

2006 Best Hip-Hop Artist MOBO winner Akala, put together a company that combines the writing of Shakespeare, with the pleasure of Hip-hop to create this ground-breaking show.

This event is set to be one of the most interesting and intriguing performance that I would ever want to see. Not only hearing the words of Shakespeare once again, but them being performed in such a unique style. I can only imagine what to expect.

I know for sure that even if this show doesn't reach my expectations, it will still entertain the audience and definately give some excitement to their evening.

Leah Stafford

Hot!Mess Hot Stuff!?

I'm not exactly the biggest fashionista, but this event somehow has caught my eye!

I'm not really that big on fashion, I just tend to go with the flow - unlike most people my age. I can't explain why this caught my eye, but it did. It may just be the name of the label, it may be their colourful website or maybe even the fact celebrities are wearing this label a lot recently, but I am excited to go and experience this event. Not only because it's to do with clothes and celebrities, but it's something I can learn about. Learning about the industry seems exciting, even if I have no plans to enter it, after all there's nothing wrong with being in the know!

 

Hot!Mess must be good if a number of celebrities are wearing their label, from Cara Delevingne to Rizzle Kicks to Little Mix. This event looks to be a good un' and without a doubt I shall be attending.

 

 

Leah Stafford

Weekly subject post comments...

Okay people, I need ideas. 

I want to blog about a serious subject once a week. I need ideas on what to blog about though!

Leave comments below please! :)

My best & worst moments of 2013

I have been preparing this list for a few months now, and in fact I have only recently narrowed it down to the top ten, as I have many more. From sports to music to film, there have been many highlights of the year for myself and maybe all you bloggers out there.

It's the beginning of 2014, and I am late in posting this but oh well, here it goes:

Miley Cyrus twerks off the nation at the VMA'S

What in the right mind was she thinking!? The Disney Channel sweetheart has turned into a self-obsessed stripping popstar. Although, we can all say what we want about her, she sure as hell knows how to work the crowd. 
Her attention-getting methods aren't exactly the best but they don't vary wildly from that many 21 year old girls. But Cyrus took that to the extreme level, and rigid hands were wrung. The nation exploded with outrage, slating the 21 year old. That was the day "twerking" was created. 

Fergie Retires

This was by far the most shocking news of 2013. The greatest manager of all time was retiring, Manchester United would never be the same again. It came a shock to many United fans, that their beloved manager was retiring after an outstanding amount of years with the club. 
I can honestly say, as a United supporter that the club won't be the same, without this legendary manager. He is sadly missed and will always be the best and greatest manager of all time. 


JLS announce their split

This was the heartbreaking moment of 2013 for me. As a JLS fan from the very beginning, my heart went out to these 5 boys when they announced their split. I was in tears when I found out, sad I know. Along with many other fans, I was tweeting them to try and change their mind but nothing was going to do that. I was just happy I got to see their last tour and I'm pretty sure they'll have a reunion later on in a few years time. We still have Marvin on the voice, Aston's going solo, Ortise's managing and we can always visit JB's farm I suppose. R.I.P JLS!


Bieber retires from music

This was the happiest moment the year gave me. Bieber had quit, thank the lord. As many "Beliebers" were drowning in tears, I was celebrating with joy. He's not only lost control of his life, but he has made his fans lose control of theirs too. This announcement was all over the news, internet and papers, it was made such a big deal of. Well all I can say is that, atleast this boy saw sense and quit, whilst ahead because I'm pretty sure that he would have got into a lot of trouble and made many mistakes if he'd had carried on in the music business doing what he is doing now. Well done Bieber, for making all our dreams come true and quitting. I praise you.

An ordinary student.

I don't really know how to talk about myself, I find it silly. I'm nothing special, just an ordinary student trying to get a degree that interests me. (And to get a decent enough job to pay off all the debt)

I hate talking about myself, it's not that easy as you may think. Searching through your mind trying to find something interesting to say is difficult. There's not really anything interesting to say.

My names Leah, I'm nineteen, female and love to write. Like I said, nothing special.
I live in Leicester, my home will always be Chesterfield though no matter where I end up living.
I'm not your typical student, I don't go out every night getting hammered, just at the weekends.
I'm very family orientated and I like to talk, sometimes too much.
I've always been very career driven. It's kind of an advantage knowing what you want to do from an early age.

I've been writing for quite a while. I write many things from poems to reviews to short stories. Although I enjoy it, it's not as easy as it looks. I get inspiration from anything. Family, friends, memories and experiences mainly, although I do have a wide imagination which sometimes takes over. I've writen fiction and non fiction, poems about everything and many reviews. I've also written newspaper articles, that have been published, which I'm very proud of.

My favourite colour is black.
My favourite animal is a dog or polar bear.
My favourite food is Steak.
My favourite actors are Will Smith and Zac Efron.
My favourite book is P.S. I Love You.
My favourite TV Show is The Inbetweeners or Hollyoaks.
My favourite artist is Eminem. 

I want to be a writer. Whether it's writing stories, scripts, reviews, articles or poems, I just want to write. I get great pleasure out of writing. To be able to get a career out of doing something I love would be amazing, but I know I'll have to work to get where I need to be. 


I've been told one thing in life, since being a little girl and it's the motto I go by day by day:
Always believe in yourself, and others will believe in you.