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David Webster

Introducing Ruth B

David Webster
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Introducing Ruth B

Canada has produced some interesting artists to the world stage. Everything from Leonard Cohen to Carly Rae Jepsen (not to forget Justin Bieber, Shania Twain and Drake to name but a few). The nations freshest offering, however, is the cool good-girl Ruth B.

This 22 year-old recently dropped out of college to pursue music full-time, having garnered success from making Vines. This platform consists of very short videos (among thousands of gifs) – where she was able to cover her favorite songs without too much effort on the production side of things. But that doesn’t mean Ruth doesn’t have plenty of drive or considerable talent. It was her first original song that really started garnering attention on Vine – with many fans making their own covers as well. Inspired by the ‘oh-so-Canadian’ Once Upon A Time TV series, the song became her first single. Check it out below.

 

With a very smooth tone and some considerably flexible runs – she has a very relaxed, yet distinct way of singing. Her voice works well with the melancholic subject matter, but has enough range to make her own version of the upbeat idioms as well. Her cover of Shape of You really showcases her unique vocal.

 

Her most recent single is also an upbeat Rachel Platten-esque vibe. Hopefully her fan base will support her as she releases her album in a week’s time. The feel-good vibe is wholesome but not necessarily ‘safe’. Set to probably resonate with the tween and teen market, I’m looking forward to see how she develops as an artist.

Drawing the line

David Webster
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Drawing the line

One thing I have seen in Africa, that is as justified as it is heartbreaking, is how much the past still affects us. Economically millions are still suffering under the results of colonialism. Civil wars rage on through generations. Apartheid is still rearing its evil head in education, politics, business and even within the church. We have a plethora of cultures and demographics living in circumstances that can be traced back to decisions made by people long dead.

And as much as the problems persist, I believe that there is a very desperate need for the young people of this continent to actively decide how life is going to be in the days to come. Another generation can pass by where people simply exist as an extension of their circumstances, or there can be such a clear shift in attitude, thinking and language that Africa can change. And there are some amazing indicators that we are the generation to do so. Whether it is in the passion of students who have decided that education is not accessible, the many stories of young people who have come from struggle and poverty who are now nation leaders in every sector. We can see it in the way we are able to unite around a cause and our desire to make a difference.

But all of the above is only going to translate into sustainable change if there is a personal decision to ‘draw a line in the sand’. To firmly decide that what has been – the bad and also the good – is not necessarily welcome in each of our own lives. There needs to be a clear distinction between what was and what is. There needs to be a perspective that empowers you to say, “that will not be part of my life”, “that is not how I will think” or “that behavior is a thing of the past as far as I am concerned”.

Jesus drew some lines when he was teaching people. Here are a few lines he drew:

Heaven (God’s Kingdom) and Earth (kingdom of the time)

Jesus said multiple times, “the Kingdom of Heaven is like…”. He was preaching a different perspective. At that time, Israel was under the very aggressive rule of Rome. There were multiple uprisings against the Roman oppression and massacres as a result. Jesus was living in a time when his culture was constantly violated and openly mocked. Many people were hoping that he would overthrow the current unjust system, when Jesus was actually turning the whole situation on its head. He was speaking of the eternal rulership of a God greater than any authority. He was speaking towards a perspective change that belittled the current struggles as temporal. He spoke of God’s Kingdom and how attaching your soul to that eternal authority would make you unshakable no matter what the current circumstance.

Law and grace

The one time Jesus physically wrote on the ground (that we are aware of) is when a gang of religious leaders were trying to stone a woman caught in the act of adultery (the man was nowhere to be seen). The law – which was the cornerstone of Jewish culture – dictated that she be stoned to death. But Jesus stood in between them and drew a line. A line between what is traditionally required and what is right. He said, “you who have no sin throw the first stone”. All of a sudden an age-old line was broken between ‘guilty parties’ and those who were accusing. The true line was then redrawn between those who had sinned and those who had not. Obviously all of them were found on one side. They were united in their guilt and the fact that they all deserved punishment. And then Jesus presented himself as the only true way to escape that guilt to get to the freedom of grace. When we are fighting for a better world, it is important to keep in mind that all of us are on the same side: guilty (regardless of what). Arguing from a place of self-righteousness will never truly solve the problems we face.

Action and intention

When Jesus was in the process of being brutally and publicly murdered, he said these words: “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” In that moment of excruciating injustice, Jesus drew a line between what people were doing to him and their true intention. Whether those who were torturing him were simply carrying out orders, or were blinded by their anger, or were caught up in the frenzy of the moment – Jesus saw through it. He knew that beyond all the emotion and conflict were souls that desperately wanted God and needed his forgiveness. Would we be able to draw that line in our own interactions? As much as God allowed Jesus to be tortured and beaten, the one thing Jesus never became was a victim. Even at the pinnacle of anguish, Jesus had a bigger perspective. I don’t know about you, but I definitely need that kind of perspective as I engage with this broken world.

These are just three lines Jesus drew. But there are countless more. He drew the line between our sin and death. He drew the line between joy and mourning. He drew the line between hopelessness and hope.

One line that I hope we all draw is one between life without God and life with God. If you find yourself struggling to survive in a tumultuous world that is in the throes of liberation, can I encourage you to invite God into your life? I can tell you now, this invitation has been the answer to my ability to thrive no matter what circumstance I have found myself in: financially desolate, emotionally bankrupt and in complete confusion. Click on the link to find out more.

Woodkid live

David Webster
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Woodkid live

Yoann Lemoine is a true embodiment of the modern term ‘creative’. An illustration and animation graduate, he went into the world of silk printing before engaging with film and creative directing of live shows. Directing music videos for the likes of Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Drake, Lana del Rey and Katy Perry – he seemed to have a successful career that was garnering Grammy attention. But that is not the limit of his ability.

Lemoine’s most celebrated creative expression is his music under the pseudonym Woodkid. As a film director, he mentioned how frustrated he was in trying to find tracks to match the emotion he wanted to portray, and subsequently decided to write his own. The result is a deeply expressive genre of orchestral works that provoke narrative (unlike conventional film music, which simply supports an existing narrative). Over the years his music still holds its own as something unique. It is genre-less but is definitely something that speaks to the soul. Woodkid’s rough, limited vocal ability adds a gruff reality to a warm presence of orchestral instruments. Accompanied by atmospheric inter-terrestrial scapes, this music is immersive and intoxicating.

Woodkid has garnered respect and praise from multiple creative platforms: from fashion houses to Pharrell. From classical orchestras and the likes of MTV, he has been recognized as a creative force. He recently released a number of live recordings of a show he did at the 50th Montreux Jazz Festival (he was invited to perform there). He shared his set with the likes of Son Lux, The Shoes and even Elle Fanning (who can SING!). Check out the latter below:

Other notable tracks are his famous tracks Run boy run and Iron check them out below:

As a transcendent artist, it is hard to fault Lemoine. His attitude toward creativity is a refreshing perspective that I hope others will latch onto. The world holds so much more possibility when people are not categorized by ability, but are recognized for their function – which will apply differently in different media and situations. Hope you are inspired!

How God sees time

David Webster
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How God sees time

We live in a world that is more time-conscious than ever before. However, as technology has enabled us to do things faster, that has resulted in us getting busier rather than allowing us more room. Now in one lifetime there is a greater scope to change the world. But there is also a danger of getting completely lost in the clutter of time.

Out of this, there has been a growing understanding about how time is our most limiting factor. It is no longer distance, demographic or any form of disability. But no one can escape time. It is both our most valuable commodity and the greatest judge of our impact, which draws me to question – why does time exist? What was God’s intention in creating time?

There are a few factors to consider when it comes to this question:

God is outside of time.

In the Bible it says that God existed before the creation of day and night. That would mean that God’s perspective is not tied to the limitation of time. When we engage with God on a personal level, we are actually connecting with a God who has not aged. All the greats of history – Martin Luther to Martin Luther King Jr. – were under the exact same God that we can connect with today.

God uses time.

Everything created has been made to be seasonal. Whether it’s the plants on the highway or a stage of development in your intelligence, time is a way for God to grow, develop and communicate with the world. Have you ever been in a season where you have been waiting for something to happen and it just feels like there is no direction or end in sight? How much have you learnt about yourself and the world around you in that season? Without time we would not be able to learn. We would have no opportunity to become wise. We would have no opportunity to know the details of God.

Time is God’s way of relating to us.

In scripture there is an excerpt that says “no eye can see, no ear can hear, no mind can fathom the greatness of our God”. I believe God has spaced out life according to time so that humanity is able to truly learn about the nature of God. History has enabled us to see a God who is as fair as he is kind, as powerful as he is merciful, as vengeful as he is peaceful. The intricacies of his nature will never be clearly understood by one person. But as different generations connect with God in their unique situations in their specific ways, God can share himself with the world.

Time will end.

The Bible also clearly speaks of eternity. It is a frame of existence that is endless. Every soul that has ever lived will continue past the barrier of time. But it is the state in which that soul finds itself when time ends that will continue forever. While there are still seconds on the clock, there is opportunity to change – to grow, to decide, to question. This state of being in time is the greatest gift God could have given us – the chance to wrestle with our beliefs and to determine whether we want to have a relationship with Him.

God sees you. Both within time and outside of it. He sees all of your past and your possible futures as well. But you still have the free will to choose whether or not you want to accept God. He is after a relationship with you – one that is reciprocated from free will. His love for you is unquestionable. His intention for your existence is defined and clear. But you exist within the construct of time so that you can decide whether you want to accept those things and offer your life back to Him. If you feel like you would like to do so right now, click on the link below. It would be the best use of your time.

Arrow Benjamin – making waves

David Webster
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Arrow Benjamin – making waves

When things converge in the music industry, it’s a wonder to watch. And behind all the fortunate situations lies a solid amount of hard work. Arrow Benjamin is an artist to watch. As a writer from the UK, he first made waves with Naughtyboy with the song Runnin’ (Lose it all) – which Arrow wrote. It was a shot in the dark, but they approached Beyoncé and she liked the record enough to lend her voice to it.

From there, Arrow Benjamin has come out with two more singles – Love and Hate and Look at me – under Sony ATV. He also featured on a Youthonix track called Moments. Other songs he has written were picked up by Rudimental, Major Lazer and Labrinth. But the biggest achievement that no one would have noticed is that he contributed to the Queen B’s latest masterpiece itself – he wrote the song ‘Freedom’ for her. And to top it all off, Kendrick Lamar lent his skill to the project.

Recently this track was used in the launch campaign for the Apple Watch 2. Check it out below:

In the music industry they say that you can reach a higher level of success when no one knows your name. And in many ways, that is true. There is no typecast – no PR boxes to tick or fans that constantly need to be pleased. Good music can truly be the highest priority. Arrow Benjamin is living proof of that. Working under a pseudonym (his real name is Dean McIntosh), he has been able to make waves without imbuing any pressure to be anything he is not.

As he mentions in an interview he did last year, he loves being in the British music industry which focusses solely on the ‘goods’ – not on ethnicity or connections. Check out a short excerpt:

This man has mad skills, but is incredibly humble. As the world slowly gets to know his name, I wish him the best. But even in relative obscurity, he seems content. I know personally that he is connected to a local church and has a relationship with God. Without those two elements, I believe the world has the potential to consume your very soul. If you are struggling to be content in the shadows – if you feel like you’re unseen and undervalued, it starts with you. Contentment comes from knowing that no matter what life may seem on the outside, you are seen by God. Click on the link below if you want to find out more.

Valuing diversity

David Webster
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Valuing diversity

Value is such a contentious issue in our world today. Everything has a price – everyone is measuring worth. Whether it is likes on Facebook or hearts on Instagram, your level of achievement academically, how many people listen to you or the type of friends you try to hang around, value has become a yardstick for your importance. The problem is, trying to find value in the external areas of life will result with you bending over backwards to make people happy. In that case you will lose your unique identity so that you can feel okay about yourself.

But there is another way. What you bring is unique. You add an aspect of diversity that is needed on the spectrum of opinion and conviction in this world. Your history, background, achievements, experiences and connections help express your uniqueness, but if you draw your identity only from these things you (and the world) are missing who you truly are.

If you value your individuality – how you are a different expression within the constructs of your family, culture, beliefs, ethnicity, social demographic and so on, – you will value the diversity of others as well.

Now, I don’t want to devalue the importance of family and finding a place where you ‘belong’, but if you only see yourself as others see you, you will lose your influence in all of those areas. You are a voice within your family, within your culture or wherever else you find yourself. Valuing your individuality, in turn,  values diversity.

I believe this correlation is key to becoming a global society that gets rid of prejudice. If you can look beyond your own background to value the individual God has created, you will be able to do the same with others. I am holding out for a day when someone who is considerate and values people beyond skin colour, class demographic, sex or age is not an ‘exception’. I believe that day is steadily on its way.

But it will take all of us to question what dictates ‘who’ we are. Do you come from God first, or your family? Are you a result of your experiences and circumstances, or do you have unique qualities that God invested into you before you were born? This eternal perspective will change how you treat yourself. AND how you treat others.

But it all starts with God. It all starts with knowing the One who knows you completely. As you grow in what it means to be known by the Creator of your life and the life of the person you would consider your ‘opposite’, you will know yourself more. Humanity has tried to unite around many things… but the only true thing every one of us has in common is the same Creator. The same origin – God.

If you are struggling to reconcile who you are in the context of this world, the best thing you can do is to go to God personally. Click on the link below to find out more.

London Grammar – class is now in session

David Webster
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London Grammar – class is now in session

If you haven’t heard of London Grammar, stop reading this and go download their album If You Wait…

Done it? Ok – here’s why they are so magnificent. In a world where producers and experimental bands have been dabbling in the atmospheric and spacious worlds of emotive scapes, none has done it with as deft a hand as this band. Featuring one of the best vocalists alive Hannah Reid, it is a combination that won’t slap you in the face as much as it will slowly conjure a sense of genuine quality.

Since their extremely successful 2013 album, there have been countless acts that have followed in the same vein – creating a niche genre of emotive musicians such as Vaults and Glades. In a time where Florence and her Machine were tearing up with the aggressive barrage of musical brilliance with large reverb and echoing effects, London Grammar subtly sang in those same ‘sonic hallways’.

If London Grammar were a fashion label, they would be seen as a Burberry – where quality overshadows flare, but sets trends that the world seeks to follow. And just when everyone thought that the group may have resigned to different projects, they have produced another richly real album – set to release on the 9th of June this year.

But do not despair! There are three singles off the album that are already out and they don’t disappoint.

The first single (in order of album) is Rooting For You – sporting an honest, rich vocal and electric guitar. The chordal occurrence and lilting trills harken to a medieval style that is epitomized in the high climbing intervals in the first section of the chorus. Growing with strings and ethereal glass synth overtones in the background, it remains poised and yet expressive – like a well-delivered Shakespearean epilogue. Check it out:

 

The second song is Big Picture, which welcomes the piano into the duo. A highly wet reverb timpani or bass drum lands tentatively at the end of the lines before a solid four-on-the-floor and shaker creates more of an ostinato. The tight percussion and light gated synth lifts the mood consistently throughout the song – as if rising from the ground and literally seeing a greater ‘picture’ of soundscape. It becomes a joyously repetitive spacey cacophony that saunters through time and space with the lightness of the clouds.

 

Truth Is a Beautiful Thing is the final single released. Way more melancholic in nature, it definitely sounds like a piece that could belong in the catalogue of Ben Lukas Boysen or the atmospheric band Rival Consoles. Until Hannah’s wildly emotive voice enters. From then on it’s a velvety dance between the timbres that leaves one satisfied and wanting more at the same time.

 

If you listen to these tracks, they are definitely still firmly in the style and canon of London Grammar’s original music. There is not so much a progression as an ‘ingression’ – instead of looking for a way to move on, it seems that they have rather just gone deeper sonically and expressively. There is a certain poignancy in the measure of space that is remarkable – alluding to well-aged idiom that is still as relevant as it was four years ago.

In a world that is always chasing after the next best thing, it is refreshing to find an act that is secure in their craft and their field – producing quality rather than jumping on the band wagon of the concept of ‘creative pilgrimage’. There is a high demand for this kind of stability – it can also be seen in how Adele’s record label refused to publish a country-inspired album she had all but finished. True relevance lies within genuine understanding of identity.

How relevant are you in life? When it comes to truly knowing who you are, I have found the best place to start is in personal relationship with the One who created us. Click on the link below to find out more.

 

The podcast every music lover should listen to

David Webster
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The podcast every music lover should listen to

Music is one of those understated elements of life that unites people. It has the power to be provocative, emotive and even catchy – but drives home messages that are picked up both consciously and unconsciously. No matter how intense the message, however, the soul soars on – eased into the content by melodious brilliance and transportative expression.

Despite the endless possibility in approach and presentation, one medium that I believe has floundered when it comes to music is the Podcast. Inevitably it becomes a version of a radio show – highlighting the ego’s and opinions of the presenters and leaving precious little to be appreciated about the actual song.

I had resigned myself to reading reviews and listening for myself until I recently came across a different kind of music Podcast. Song Exploder is a high-charting almost-weekly Podcast that is making waves by providing good music coverage that lets the song sing for itself.

The success of it, I believe, lies in the simple format. Set up by Hrishisek Hirway – a musician himself – each episode focusses on one song. And in that 15-20 minute timeframe, the artist and/or producer explains how it was made. There is an intentional focus on the ‘nuts and bolts’ of the music – specific riffs, instrumentation, inspiration and structures –  which pulls the artist away from the lofty ideals and forces them to articulate the nature of their craft.

It is also edited in a way that evades the interview format. Hrishisek prompts the artists, but we only get to hear the answers. So it feels like a conversation that is as intimate as it is honest. No frills, no superficial banter – just meaty, stimulating content.

Having been around since January 2014, it is by no means a new player in the industry. But it has garnered credibility over the years featuring artists like Solange, U2, The National, Death Cab for Cutie, Chet Faker, Andra Day, Bjork, MGMT, The Lumineers, Metallica and even film composers Alexandre Desplat, Johan Johannsen and Harry-Gregson Williams.

Not only is it heavy-hitting. It is diverse. You may have no reference or love for country music or electronica, but I have found it makes no difference. It is still a successful act speaking about the process of creating. You might be surprised by what you take away from the most bizarre genres. Celebrating its 100th episode last week, there is more than enough varied content to keep you happy.

As a musician, this is how I would want to encourage people to engage with music. It cuts away all the pretense and propaganda. No marketing stunts. Just the content.

Another area that I believe requires a ‘cutting away’ is in the area of faith. In Christianity there are so many opinions, misrepresentations and persuasions that can completely mar the actual content – the Bible. If you want to cut through the noise and find out who God is for yourself, click on the link below.

Anne-Marie: Africa and Pop

David Webster
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Anne-Marie: Africa and Pop

Africa has slowly been on the rise in design aesthetic. Gone are the days when the only idioms were masks and animal-skin clad models. True African design is much more visually vivid. Granted, the continent comprises some of the most diverse cultures in the world; but there is a richness that is uniquely flavored and the world is taking notice.

One of the greatest areas in which we are getting more screen time is in the music video industry. From Solange’s chilled dance classic Losing You shot in a township, to the urban African music video for Tinie Tempah’s Girls Like, through to Laura Mvula’s highly colourized Phenomenal Woman. 

Where all of the above were shot mainly in South Africa, one of the industry’s most exciting new UK artists has just released two music videos shot in Morocco. Anne-Marie – known mainly for her stratospheric vocal on Clean Bandit’s hit Rockabye is smashing it with heavy pop vibes and a flamboyant rhythmic flavor. Check one of her singles below.

 

One of the most significant aspects of this latest offering is that it is not simply a two-dimensional approach to the region. There is a definite finesse – a stylized approach that is distinctly North-African. The textures are more robust than that of Indian culture. It showcases the influence Africa is having on dance – an area that Beyonce brought to the forefront in her Run the World music video. The fashion is also contemporary African – with vibrant prints but also a more specific modern take that you would easily find on the hugely successful online store OXOSI that is making waves from New York to New Zealand with their African edge.

Overall, I am excited to see a current, influential African style breaking through the stereotypes. Culturally, we have so much diversity to offer. The best design, directing and producing is in Africa’s future and I’m looking forward to a time when there is an army of local artists celebrated on the world stage while still retaining their cultural expression. While the world looks to Africa for inspiration, I believe the industry is heading towards realizing that dream.

The different kinds of creative

David Webster
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The different kinds of creative

I have found that many people categorize people who create. They box them into a certain corner that justifies all the disorganized daydreaming that other areas of society have no time for. But in a world that is developing way faster than our mindsets are, I have found that creativity is becoming more and more vital in every role – whether you’re a businessman or a sculptor.

So here are a few different kinds of creative that you might identify with.

Strict Creative

These are the artistic cats that love their craft more than the air they breathe. You’ll find them holed up in various basement spaces – practicing their craft to a fault. It’s all about precision and definition with them and they normally have a difficult time connecting with people who don’t share their commitment. These types of people will achieve new heights of brilliance but will never believe they have ‘arrived’. Their cause: noble. Their impact: specific. Whether marketable or not, the talents displayed will be marveled at and praised by onlookers.

Functional Creative

This breed of creative is slightly more social. They can engage with a wider variety of people and tend to see the big picture instead of sweating the small stuff. Fine details can be frustrating, while the direction of whatever they are involved in is of utmost importance. Don’t get in between this kind of creative and their vision. It won’t be pretty – even though their craft is meant to be. Definite strength: they know how to make things happen. Dangerous pitfall: they can manipulate unscrupulously if they don’t keep themselves in check.

Catastrophe Creative

This kind of creative thrives on limitations. They are the type of people you want around when you need to get yourself out of a pickle. They think fast and manage the crisis – normally with an ‘out of the box’ approach. Deadlines make them thrive. Urgency is their fuel and impending doom is their fire – and MAN ALIVE they can burn when both are present. Pro: you will never lose with them around. Con: without limitations they can become lackluster and lazy.

Isolated Creative

Most creative people have a tendency to withdraw from unnecessary stimuli, but these people take them as an insult. They are whizzes that can execute a singular vision with a unique style of brilliance. But there is no room for someone else’s opinion. What they bring to the world: some of the purest forms of human brilliance. Possible problem: the world might not need or want what they are offering.

Innovative Creative

These guys are first cousins to the Functional Creatives but are incessantly analysing their current situation. They have an eye for identifying system detractions and are always wanting to improve the WAY things are done rather than WHAT is being done. What’s awesome about them: our way of life is a lot easier because of them. Possible frustration: the content may never become reality because the systems are overedited – you could get caught up in ‘being creative’ and not create anything at all.

To be honest, I have been all of these people at some point. And I am richer for it.

No matter what state we find ourselves in – creativity is a basic part of who we are made to be. You are made to make something of this world. And when inspiration is lacking, God comes through every time. Well that’s in my experience at least. I hope you’re encouraged. And if you find yourself caught up in your dysfunction and need a way out – the best way to start is getting to know God. Click on the link below to find out more.

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