French Girl in Brooklyn

On Van Hunt "Hello Goodbye" (The Reimagined)

March 31, 2020March 31, 2020Leave a comment

For clarification, this is a « reimagined » version of Van Hunt first album.

TRIM, 2019

Van Hunt is IMO one of the most underrated artists out there.

Can I say I wish him all the success he desires, but also selfishly want to keep him to myself – sharing with us his artistry in human size intimate acoustic venues?

What can I say about the TRIM – Reimagined album, besides the fact it keeps me in my feelings – big time? I love every bits of it and wished I had known all the lyrics by heart last year at his summer concert downtown Brooklyn last year. The sound of this album feel like a long term relationship where you have beautifully matured into your grown-self and finally accepted that the textures and added layers accumulated over the years are what makes it *perfectly unique*.

I appreciate songs that make me think about my human condition, don’t you? In Hello Goodbye, Van delivers a potent truth: “love shouldn’t be so complicated”- yet, & once again – what would we write about if it was? (Asking for a friend)

Many have been stranded in *that* relationship – you know- with someone who can’t be in touch with their own feelings (you may have been that mofo yourself – shiiiiiittttt).

Well it’s healthy to bring what’s bothering us so openly – and almost taking the ultimate stand – not judging, just saying… it’s the first step towards untangling that type of situationships.

Hope it all worked out!

Giza Pyramids

March 6, 2020March 3, 2020Leave a comment

Original Drawing – Gold pen-touch by @sakuraofamerica and Acrylic Paint on 6 ply black paper 28in x 22in – available on Saatchi

The shape of a pyramid is thought to be representative of the descending rays of the sun, and most pyramids were faced with polished, highly reflective white limestone, in order to give them a brilliant appearance when viewed from a distance. (Wiki)

I was frankly inspired this past week. I have never been to Egypt, but I visited Mexican pyramids and there were already pretty grandiose. I hope one day ❤

Follow my Art page on Instagram

This is how it would look in your living room – Mockup by Saatchi

Ohhhh, Artsy, Artsy Me…

March 3, 2020March 2, 2020Leave a comment

« The circle represents the notions of totality, wholeness, original perfection, the Self, the infinite, eternity, timelessness, all cyclic movement, God (‘God is a circle whose centre is everywhere and whose circumference is nowhere’ (Hermes Trismegistus).

It makes me feel but I feel peaceful watching these! Check out some of my latest creations, soon available on Saatchi

Gold pen-touch by @sakuraofamerica on black paper.

On Anderson Paak “Your Prime”

March 2, 2020March 31, 2020Leave a comment

Malibu, January 15, 2016

So, let’s start at the beginning: it is for me physically impossible to be in a bad mood while listening to AP. Like he has an ON switch for my happy mood (I can’t think of anyone else making me feel that way on the top of my head.)

When I first heard him I thought: James Brown meets Kendrick Lamar for some reasons (that’s how I felt- still feel).

This is a gift but it also can be very deceiving; for instance, Your Prime is full of cynicism: “Know what she want and she know I ain’t shit but a savage” sounds very dysfunctional, right? Yet the way he says it makes me want to try it anyway, well if I were 23 and live on a beautiful campus – that is… which is not the case, since I am a GAW (Grown A$$ WoMan)

Still on repeat tho…

On Amy Winehouse’s “I Heard Love Is Blind”

February 28, 2020March 31, 2020Leave a comment

Frank, released on October 20th, 2003.

Authenticity is an interesting quality. It is admired but also feared by those who pretend to be someone other than themselves so to be liked by many. Her genuineness made Amy special – and also very vulnerable – but let’s talk about that song right here:

With an extreme nonchalance she delivers her simple and unapologetic truth: she was longing for her man. I know the lyrics sounds cold blooded but I have to respect how candid and honest her explanation was. Polyamorously…

IMO, the tune climaxes she call for forgiveness “How can I put it so you can understand: I did not let him hold my hand”

Rest in Power sis.

On Doing What’s Right

February 27, 2020March 9, 2020Leave a comment

Art by Daphné Essiet (myself – Check my IG)

Two people can do or react similarly for different reasons. Two people can do and react differently for the same reason.

Read that again.

It’s hard to tell which is which for many reasons. One: we project – we tend to empathize more with those who look like us or we relate to. We automatically side their way – the one we feel safest.

Two: conditioning. In order to survive, humans instinctively form groups and rely on patterns to know what’s safe or not; we follow the rules so we keep within the group. Unfortunately, these patterns, although accepted as facts, don’t always hold truth. That’s why it is important to understand who controls the narrative.

Three: we make mistakes. Our ego has a hard time admitting it could be wrong because it makes us uncomfortable – then, lacking comfort for too long leads to change and heighten humility. Our ego ain’t having that.

I won’t necessarily blame those who won’t challenge the status quo or « pretend » to be someone they aren’t so to be accepted, praised, liked, get liked. I can’t be mad at someone trying to do their best so they can « fit ». Been there, done that.

Honestly, I think a lot of people don’t even really know who they are, or what they like because they never really question whether they enjoy what they do or was done out of habit.

Authenticity brings alignment – that’s the type of feeling we are longing for. It takes courage to reveal your true self . Itv also comes with a territory filled with vehement hate, fueled by fear of being left behind.

Ultimately, I believe it can be really challenging to be who you truly are for some people, simply because being accepted is fundamental to our survival as a species and in order to do so, we have to comply with certain standards rooted into some sort of privilege. It’s fair to consider the reasons we have at hand to understand why people behave the way they do so we can respond in a more informed way. It is not about being right or wrong, it is about doing what is right and consider everyone’s humanity.

On the Way to Oz || Original Tune on Depression and More

February 24, 2020March 31, 2020Leave a comment

with my Ukulele in Central Park – Pics taken by my sister Roxane

Here is a live version of a song I wrote when I was in France.

It talks about how the pressure of society/family leads us into feeling down and that may lead to depression. We could help each by offering judgment-free space to our loved ones and feel more empathy towards one another.

Lyrics:

There are places we’ll never let ourself go

And to cope we drink, take drugs, have sex, and scroll

Up and down until we numb ourselves so cold, so cold

We pretend to enjoy things we don’t care for

And to cope we tell the world how much it cost,

And we post until we numb ourselves so cold, so cold

Then one day, the chasm between our heart

And the reality is so wide we can’t breathe

Then one day the pain we subject our soul

chatters our sanity way too deep

Some believe that money will quiet their wounds

When in fact it emphasizes their own flaws

And to cope they wander aimlessly

in virtual reality

We keep at it despite red flags and the signs

Trick ourselves into contortionning our mind

Fool ur friends and hide in plain sight

Til we no longer can lie

Then one day, the chasm between our heart

And the reality is so wide we can’t breathe

Then one day the pain we subject our soul

chatters our sanity way too deep

There’s a way to get back t yourself

It’s not easy but

You gotta let it go

And if you want

We can hold each other’s hand

On the yellow brick road

On our way to Oz

And if you want

We can hold each other’s hand

On the yellow brick road

On our way to Oz

You can download a version on my soundcloud

https://linktr.ee/daphnemiaessiet