May 29 2012
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Music

New video: Amanda Mair – “House”

Photo: Joel Barhamand

Stockholm artist Amanda Mair has released a second video, this time for “House”, a song she performed twice when I saw her at Debaser in Stockholm last year – because she did not yet have more songs ready to play for the encore.

Today Amanda is a highly praised artist in her native Sweden as well as around the world and the new video features frosty woods, a cold looking sea and icy beaches, possibly celebrating the Stockholm island on which we both grew up. The archipelago can be a cold and cruel yet bold and beautiful place.

I am proud to say that I have known this young artist, celebrating 18 years this summer, for most of her life and that she will be playing most major Swedish festivals this summer. Look out for this lady and may she have a long and wonderful career in front of her!

Watch the brand new video here.

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May 27 2012
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Life stories, Sheffield

Eccy Road Shopping

Maria and I went birthday shopping in the sun – you can see her reflection in the glasses, haha!

She got me a birthday bumble bee ring (see above) and I got myself a black satchel with silver skulls (here modelled in front of two other gifts; a pin up poster and a Disney cuddle toy), both from the amazing Kuji Shop on Ecclesall Road. The place is closing down later this month (hence amazing sale now on!) but will continue online here.

The sunshine shopping spree continued with me trying on some beautiful dresses in JOY, unfortunately all a bit too pricey for me but gorgeous nevertheless. I want them all!

Finally my beloved Loreen (/harem) trousers from H&M and a beautiful bird top from JOY.

I could wear this every day.

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May 27 2012
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Food, Life stories, Music, Pictures, Sheffield

EuphoriYES!

Photo: Laura Kay

In case you missed it: we did it. SWEDEN WON THE EUROVISION SONG CONTEST!!

I’m not much for competing in sports but music competitions are right up my street. Loreen winning the Eurovision Song Contest was the best birthday present I could have wished for and I am still floating around on Cloud Nine, high on Loreen’s voice, moves and pure magical beauty…

Let’s take it from start. This whole historic day was perfect; it began with friends, food and a sunny picnic in Weston Park.

After a wonderful meal prepared by my wonderful girlfriend, a bit of cheeky bubbly and a bunch of super cute prezzies I got into my Loreen trousers, gathered friends around a TV and got the good ol’ score cards out.

Spirits were as high as my pulse when the votes were revealed and whilst my phone ran out of battery due to the sheer amount of Eurovision related text messages, Sweden at last, finally, after so many (13) years of struggle, won the Eurovision Song Contest.

For the first time I understood how football fans feel when their team finally does really well. I couldn’t believe it was happening!

The night continued with a trip down to Sheffield’s finest gay bar establishment, Dempseys, where we once again got to hear the winning song and I got to display my fine crab dancing skills in true Loreen style. I was the happiest girl alive.

Next year, ladies and gentlemen, I shall see you in Sweden. Book 18 May off work, that’s when we do Eurovision Swedish style. Boom!

If you are as big a fan of Loreen as me, keep watching this space. I may have a treat or two up my sleeve.

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May 25 2012
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Gay, Music

Eurovision: Girls On Fire

Shottie for every hottie? Could get dangerous.

Tomorrow is the day. Not only is it my 25th birthday but as I’m sure none of you will have missed, it is also the day of….. (ta-daaaaa) the Eurovision Song Contest.

Whilst our fellow gay boys have had plenty of eye candy in the last few years (Saade, Rybak… Verka Serduchka), 2012 is the year of the foxy females.

Below a list of the luscious ladies to look out for in tomorrow’s competition (time of appearance in brackets).

1. Loreen – Sweden (17)

Need I say more? This mystical, magical being will melt your heart as soon as she opens her mouth and utters the word “why” (you’ll see…why). Her super low cut top makes for lustful longings and when she tells Sarah Cox to “play with your energy baby”, I am more than a little euphoric.

2. Ivi Adamou – Cyprus (8)

La La Love those Lips!

3. Soluna Samay – Denmark (15)

Let’s be honest, all the ladies on board this Danish music caravan are hot (and potentially queer?) stuff.

4. Nina Zilli – Italy (10)

Her good luck ritual is slapping people’s bottoms. Nina Zilli can pat my popo any day.

5. Sabina Babayeva – Azerbaijan (13)

Despite all the work she’s blatantly have had done to her face, this Azerbajani lady is pretty darn beautiful.

Spain and France are two others to look out for whilst you want to do everything you can to avoid the scary Russian grannies. They may be sweet as candy but that pastry baking oven only makes me think of one thing: Hansel and Gretel. Run!

New Eurovision drinking game rule: a shottie for every hottie? A dangerous move.

Please drink, and drool, responsibly.

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May 25 2012
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Coffee, Life stories, Pictures, Sheffield

Frappe with friends

Now I don’t like to advertise a different coffee shop to my own but today this happened.

Afternoon frappuccino with friends.

It were reyt nice.

May 24 2012
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Animals, Video

Magic Meerkats

This is one of the cutest things I ever saw. Hopefully I’ll dream of meerkats…kittens? Who knows. Good night!

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May 24 2012
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Music, News, Pictures, Sheffield

Wicke-wicke-weekend tips

Looking for something to do this weekend?

 Let me point you in the right direction.

We all know that this Saturday night is all about the Eurovision Song Contest (kick off at 8 pm). Or the England – Norway football match if you’re that strange way inclined.

To make up for Saturday night’s TV marathon, how about some real culture the night before?

On Friday Sheffield Sizzler takes over the Crucible Theatre, The Lyceum and Tudor Square in the city centre. This free event will show off the very best of Sheffield’s up and coming stars with performance artists, local bands, a cabaret mind reader (!) and my personal favourite; Madame Zuccini. Another magacial Madame, Madame Mango below.

“…We’re keen to play our part in promoting the grassroots arts and cultural scene that Sheffield is renowned for. The Sheffield Sizzler offers a platform for local talent to showcase their skills to new audiences and provides an exciting addition to our summer line-up,” said Sheffield Theatre’s Creative Producer Andrew Loretto about the event.

Go on, support those grassroots and have a giggle whilst doing it – the whole thing starts at 6pm and goes on until late. With weather forecasts showing nothing but sizzling sunshine, you’re in for one fabulous evening.

But why not start the weekend early? Tonight my good friend System:Attic is playing The Harley together with turntable genious JFB. Click attend for the event here and get polishing those dancing shoes because wicke-wicke-JFB’s got some bare skillz.

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May 22 2012
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Gay, Human Rights, Music

Eurovision fever… and lack of human rights

Photo: Carl-Johan Söder/SVT

Ladies, kids and gentlemen,
it is that magical time of year again,
the time when glittery bells be ringing
and all the children be excitedly singing,
Kids and queers get sparkly eyes,
whilst other merely their anticipation disguise.
Something big is on its way,
we look into the stars and pray:
This year let our wish be seen,
12 points to Sweden and Loreen!

Yes, dear friends, The Eurovision Song Contest is upon us. Tonight the first semi final is held in Baku, Azerbaijan, and on Thursday the second. Swedish entry Loreen will be performing her song “Euphoria” on Thursday (phones at the ready) before she wins the whole thing on Saturday. If not, Europe will have to answer to the lion below. No joke.

What is also no joking matter is the lack of human rights in Azerbaijan where the competition is held. Yesterday Loreen cancelled her PR/tourist trip with Swedish journalists to visit local human rights organisations, something no other artist in the competition has done.

“I can’t sit and sip pina coladas by a pool when I know what goes on in this country…. I am here to work,” she told Swedish broadcasters SVT.

“It’s a shame that other artists haven’t done this… when you have an opportunity to change something then I don’t understand why you wouldn’t make the most out of it,” she concluded.

Read more about her visit, and the the journalists who began to cry when they heard about locals being evicted to make room for the arena and even worse, killed for speaking up against the regime, here (in Swedish).

In my eyes, Loreen is already a winner.

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May 21 2012
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Life stories, Pictures, Sheffield

Kunst

After a long day of creating latte art at my dayjob I went for a walk through a very sunny Sheffield and on my way I came across The Orchard Centre at West Bar Roundabout. Feeling lucky (and high on sunshine) I decided to pop in.

There I got talking to Kate Orme, an artist who with her art minimalistic yet expressive art work attempts to explore this dimension and the next, looking at life and death and what their edges might look like. Interesting stuff!

The exhibition lasts until Thursday this week so if you do get the chance make sure to check it out. Sneak peek above.

Another artist I want to highlight today is my talented friend Konrad Wyrebek who I had the pleasure of working together with on two recent cover photo shoots for DIVA. Today is his birthday and below is a video made by Matthew Miles (also working on the same photo shoots) of Konrad’s latest exhibition in prestigious Berlin gallery Gebr. Lehman. Enjoy!

On the way back from my walk I came across this guy. A lil’ smurf just hanging out in Kelham Island. I wonder who put him there.

Once at home I made a heart shaped egg using my new heart shaped frying pan. Yup, that’s how artistic I am.

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May 20 2012
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Life stories

Wheels, weekend and work

Went to see these rolling ladies at the Sheffield Steel Rollergirls intraleauge bout today.

At first my head was spinning as fast as the skates but soon enough I was shouting “GO FLEUR” as my friend jammed her team another round of points, resulting in their win. Looks like I’ll be returning but whether or not I’ll actually get into a pair of skates myself is for the future to tell.

Tomorrow I am in for a fantastic ten hour shift and the rest of the week will continue in the same manner with work, work and even more work. Will be counting down the days until the weekend when my beloved friend Maria comes to visit! Birthday, Eurovision and visits all in one weekend? Yes, mate.

Partners in crime back in the day.

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