Friday 7 August 2015

Lánre! Your music needs Jesus, sort it out!

Every now and again, after a gig someone walks up to me and says

“I really love your music”

“Your voice is amazing”

“Your music is what I needed after a very stressful day”

So, after my set last Friday night, a lovely gentleman walked up to me.

‘Your music is fantastic, fantastic, I mean you write so beautifully…..your last song Home was exceptionally amazing, amazing!’

At this point, I knew a BUT was coming, I just felt it so I smiled, continued breathing and waited for it.

“…. you know what would make it even more amazing?”

I held my smile and my head titled to the side. It took me a few seconds to realise he was waiting for a response from me.

“No, what’s that?”  I responded.

“If you add Jesus in there somewhere, because you know only God can help you get home. Only God can do that, so if you add Jesus in there somewhere that would be great”

I squinted, smiled and thought of a nice way to tell him no. So, I simply said

no. No. I won’t be adding Jesus in there somewhere. Nope!

He looked at me shocked, as if he’s never had anyone tell him no.

I stared at him because I’ve never had anyone tell me that before.

Picture - Paris 2012 

I’ve had a couple of days to think about it, I think I should have said a bit more than just no.

Don’t get me wrong, I am grateful for the opportunity to share music and the privilege to touch someone’s heart with my music. I am also grateful that I get to play to a listening audience every now and again.

To be listened to, that’s a blessing and I don’t take it for granted at all.

You feel a BUT coming don’t you………..? J

In my mind, here is what I think happened…..

He loved the song so much, he was moved and touched by it and I’m guessing he’s only ever associated those feelings with a church experience… a spiritual encounter perhaps. He looked around him and realised he was nowhere near a church. He looked in front of him and the person singing hasn’t even mentioned Jesus or God once, she did say something about angels but everyone knows that to really evoke those deep feelings you need a lil’ bit of Jesus in there somewhere.

With no other reason to pin those feelings on, he thought to himself that though the the music is good, it lacked something, an essential ingredient to make it great and he concluded it had to be Jesus.

Lánre! Your music lacks a whole lot of Jesus, sort it out!

How do you know this? You ask.

                                                         Picture - Hill City Mass Choir 2003

I was raised in church, I sang in choirs for years and I was also part of a gospel collective that was active for eight years.  I know and recognise this gentleman’s thought process. I get it! 

My story however has taken on some colourful layers over the years. I have had some deep spiritual experiences to know that God is not and cannot be limited to the human boxes we tend to build.

I found God listening to Foy Vance’s music, Laura Marling haunting lyrics, Sophie Jamieson’s delicately crafted songs and Sufjan Stevens’ vulnerable voice.

I know this may sound ridiculous to some people but no one can tell me otherwise because my experiences and stories are mine.

When I write songs, my intention has always been to make people feel very deep within their souls what I feel when I put pen to paper. I am always searching for words that simply explain my faith, doubts, fears, dreams, failures and victories.

So when someone walks up to me and says, your music touched me, thank you.

I ALWAYS send one up to where inspiration comes from.  



Wednesday 17 June 2015

We all want to be heard, who is listening?

there's something about sitting in a room filled with people listening to live music. As a musician living in London what you will come to realise is that although there are many venues to enjoy music, not all of them have a listening audience. Most people go out to music events with friends which is cool but most times, people use that time to catch up with their friends while the musician struggles to be heard.

We all want to be heard... don't we, but who's listening?

For four years I was the host of the weekly acoustic night, Portobello Acoustic Sessions - i really enjoyed sitting in that cosy room filled with listening audience. I was sad to let that gig go! 

A few months ago, I was asked to curate a monthly event at the Omnibus  in Clapham Common called Lánre + Special Guests 

It's a room filled with people who love music - I get to play some of my songs and introduce people to musicians they may or may not have heard of. 

Below is a video of me talking about it - more like a day in the life of kinda thing! :-) 

The next Lánre + Special Guests is Friday 26th June

Thank you for listening ;-) 




Monday 15 June 2015

HER Story: HAIR

I am a believer in the saying that... We need to tell our stories, otherwise others will tell it for us and it almost always is inaccurate. No one can tell your story like you can.

I am currently putting together a series of short stories and this is the first of those.

It's about my hair - see video below

PS: don't ask me how my neck's doing!! hehehe


Thursday 5 March 2015

What to do with quiet moments....

I haven’t blogged in a while, not because I haven’t written anything but because I've been reluctant to share.

Not even sure why that is.

I have a problem with quiet moments.

When nothing is happening. No gigs, no new songs, no calls to inquire about gigs, no response to emails…. Just silence.

I've always felt like, time is of the essence, make the most of it and my way of making the most of it (i.e. time) is doing A LOT!

So, this season is a bit challenging for me.


I've been reading….




I just read ‘The Art of Asking’ by Amanda Palmer

She bares it all. Talk about vulnerability at its best.

I don’t know how to ask for help.

If anything needs doing, I get on with it. I however realise that you can’t get a lot done without asking for someone or people for help.

I need to learn to ask for HELP!

I was raised in the church so I know how to ask God for help. I however find it difficult to ask humans (hehe!) for help.

I think I am proud..... (ya think?!)


I've been shopping..

How do you like my new shoes?




1   I was on Netflix as you do and I watched the movie, A Long Way Down.
2     
3       It’s a story of 4 strangers who planned to jump off the same roof on New Year's Eve, they join together as a kind of family and give themselves six weeks to find valid reasons to live.

Towards the end of the film, I heard a song called ‘Youth’ by a band called Daughter

I think I played it a dozen of times and finally got my copy on iTunes

Watch the official video of Youth below, it's a gorgeous song.





I’m writing again……….wrote a new song with my ukulele. I think I’ll call this one 3 girls (that may possibly change)

One day (soon) I’ll share it with you.

Before you know it, it’ll be spring!

Speak soon x