Recently, I’ve been listening to a lot more music, bringing the ratio of music-to-podcast back to a healthy 50%.
I needed something to work along to, and since re-reading this article, I figured, why not listen to something hard, heavy and filthy: Skrillex. Beats1 has actually given Skrillex his own show, called “OWSLA Radio”, after his own label. So I caught up on recent episodes here on Mixcloud:
At some point in this sixth episode, Skrillex & co started shouting someone’s name: “Bibiii”. This part of the episode kinda stayed with me. So, earlier today, when I browsed through I-D’s website and saw a video feature about the lady in question, I decided to check it out.
Turns out that Bibi is actually a songwriter who’s written Rihanna’s “Bitch Better Have My Money”. And one of the background tracks in the video is from her. Something I had heard before but hadn’t had the chance to identify the singer at the time. I started listening to her on Spotify. She’s actually released her debut EP “Free The Real (Pt. #1)”today!
So then, I started adding Jon Bellion to my Spotify Listening Queue. I’ve been a fan of his for a couple of years now and can’t wait for his first studio album (“The Human Condition” —out June 10th.) I really like Jon’s style, and have so much respect for him because he’s able to write, sing, produce and record all on his own. He’s just ridiculously talented.
And then I looked over on Hypebeast Music, one of my favourite websites to keep up with music, only to realise that 3 albums that I expected had dropped.
and on a more gangsta-related note, Skepta’s latest album “Konnichiwa”
Kaytranada
This album is SO GOOD! Kaytra is an incredibly talented beat maker and producer based out of Montreal. I’ve discovered him via Soulection’s iconic radio shows and I was so excited about his debut LP. And the man delivered!
This is a great album that will get you to jump, dance, vibe, and enjoy! And a possibly the album to play all summer long!
Like his previous albums, James Blake delivered a very ambiant and melancholic album. I love this type of music and this really did it for me. I feel like it’s gonna be on repeat all autumn/winter-long. It’s the kind of music you listen to on repeat on a rainy day, when the sky is grey and your mood is clearly meh.
But just like everything Blake touches, it’s really well produced. And I’ve absolutely loved “I need Forest Fire”, featuring… BON IVER (!!!)
At 17 tracks for a total of 76mn, it’s a long one, but definitely worth your while.
And finally, the return of the king of grime. I’m not too familiar with grime or with Skepta in general, but there’s been a lot of hype for this album, and around Skepta and grime in general, so it was very interesting for me to indulge in this artist’s world.
Since the announcement of Prince’s passing, I’ve finally taken the time to educate myself and listen to his music, trying to learn from the different records he’s put out over the past 40 years.
Prince was an artist who’s transcended music: he was moving across other arts, has influenced the world of fashion, and was so influential that he’s amongst the handful of human beings that have done more for the acceptance of others, regardless of their identities, gender and sexuality, than most politicians, regulators, or even artists.
But coming back to the music, I was impressed to learn that he simply knew everything about music: creating and playing, of course, but also all of the technical aspects that go into making and publishing a record. Legend has it that he showed up to a Music Studio as a teenage musician, and impressed the owner so much that the latter gave him a job working some of the machines (remember this is the 80’s, we take it for granted that one could potentially create, produce and release an entire album from a computer or an iPad nowadays.)
I’ve done a lot of reading over the past week or so, adding articles from the New York Times, Pitchfork, the New Yorker, Rolling Stones, The Atlantic, and many others, on to my Instapaper queue. However the piece that’s actually done the best job at explaining who Prince was as an artist was probably the personal one written by Michael Oates-Palmer for Vox.com
I remember being again stunned by his guitar playing. He was so good at everything else — singing, songwriting, dancing, being his crazy self — that we so rarely talk about how phenomenal a guitar player he was.
That second part of the quote also hits the spot:
Think of that: probably the fourth skill in his toolbox, and he was one of the 10 greatest guitar players of all time. One of the only ones of the last 30 years where even if you hear just three-seconds of a lick, you instantly know it's him.
Properly listening and discovering Prince, I’ve come to realise that what I had in mind when thinking of “crazy 80’s guitar solo” was actually Prince. 80’s trademark sounds: Prince. Some of the biggest hits in the history of pop music? Yep: Prince too!
Between the deaths of Prince and David Bowie, 2016 has left a giant gap by taking away two seemingly immortal legends responsible for some of the best party anthems we’ve ever heard, at a time when the love and partying would be much appreciated. Like Bowie, Prince will be sorely missed, however I’m grateful to live in a day an age where it’s so easy to discover so much about these artists. Time to educate myself.
As someone who’s working a lot in Customer Support, I have a handful of industry-resources I’m pretty open to read and catch-up on trends, etc…
In the latest email from We Support NYC, I came across this link, comparing average industry salaries.
Before I dive in, keep in mind that I’m technically a freelancer, contractor working remotely for a US-based company. I’ve worked in the industry since 2011, so I technically have 5 years behind me.
As pointed out by the post itself:
5 interesting facts about compensations in support
The median annual salary raise is 7%.
Your salary will increase by $10,000 raise after 3 years in support.
The gender inequality is still there. Women are paid 5.8% less than men.
Support people in the US make 40% more than in Western Europe
Working remote or having a technical background doesn't impact your salary.
Now, when I look at this number, considering the amount of work I undertake and other different factors I take into account. What's sad is that it doesn't there's a difference of about $20k going against me, compared with industry standards.
The golden rule of freelancing is that you should technically earn more than someone on a full-time job (about 20% or so I’ve heard), since you technically have more risks and taxes to balance with your work and professional services.
So I’m actually way under the standard, which bugs me a bit. Not so much the whole “comparing with others”, but more so knowing that I could earn so much more than I do now and that this higher income would help me move to a less risky situation.
Though I’ve been aware of this for a while and have already set in motion a few things that should help me. More on that really soon!
This new Kindle looks great! I’m part of the minority of people loving this new slim industrial design. But at $289/289€/£269 , this is way too expansive to upgrade from my 2015 Kindle Paperwhite.
You may have to disable your ad-block since they use proprietary players or their videos… (0_o').
Oh, and if you’re using the Ghostery plugin, to protect yourself from third-party advertising services, data-mining, and just for your privacy, you’ll have to temporarily deactivateRich Relevance, reload, and then Kaltura.
One of the most frequent yet hardest questions I’m asked these days is “What do you do?”
Since the beginning of the year, I’ve been asked this question more times than I can count, and every time, have given a different answer.
See, it’s very hard for me to answer this simple question. Am I a developer? No, but I can code. Am I a designer? Not at all, although I know how to use Graphic Design applications well enough to accommodate myself. Am I a web designer then? Not really, although I’ve been creating websites for clients. A (digital) marketer, maybe, then? Well, not really, and yet I’m all these things at once.
This is always a loaded question, and it’s harder to answer with relatives and people who don’t understand the web, or our industry. Because I’m hungry and I’ve got the attention span of a magpie, and since I’ve started freelancing in June 2015, I’ve worked on different projects.
Sure, as of writing these lines, I’m very much involved with my One Big Client, however, I’m also trying to take on more work on the side, that I manage over my weeknights and weekends, to complete my income and most of all, ensure that I don’t rely on a single client.
It’s been challenging, but it’s also allowed me to optimise the way I work to the point where I’ve found the time to launch twopodcasts.
And circling back, it’s enabling me to live in this place I come from, the French Riviera, and work on other paid projects.
In concrete terms: I’ve been paid to handle a brand’s social media presence, I’ve been paid to write blog posts, I’ve been paid to create a website, I’ve been paid to help acquire new customers for a B2B company, and many other projects.
So what do I do? Well it depends: what do you need me to do, for you?
Apple won’t become boring with age. The company is just as exciting — and occasionally as unexpected — as they were 40 years ago. Of course, I owe Apple an unending debt: This is the company that made my life exciting, rewarding, and brought me to Silicon Valley.
A great note worth your time, from the man who almost became Apple’s CEO back in the 80’s. In his article, Mr Gassée reflects on his time at the company, and extends the reflection to the company itself.
During this single episode — which really only spans a single night — Marnie grows more as a person and a character than she did in any of Girls' past seasons.
HBO’s Girls has produced another great episode that goes in depth with one of its most quiet characters.
My point here is that this show puts on characters that are both relatable, and yet incredibly self-destructing. So while it’s definitely worth watching to get an understanding of the millennial generation’s struggles and state of mind, I know for a fact that it does not reflect my personal life.
The characters, while being portrayed accurately, tend to be naive and go over the top as opposed to being realistic and rational. And while I know some of my peers can make the same mistakes, I also know that I myself, as well as many other friends, relatives, and people that I know, do not behave the same way.
Still, this episode was worth seeing, and this article worth reading!
Somehow it is possible if you brave it.
So if you possibly can, please start your own thing. Seek support and build your confidence from friends and great organisations like She Says, Ada’s List, the Female Entrepreneurs Association and the British Institute of Women Entrepreneurs.
In other words, Never give up on your projects, on what makes your heart ticks, and launch something that will put a dent in the universe! For women, but also for anyone else feeling frustrated
Hello and Welcome to a new episode of the [Digital Digest](http://digest.digital) podcast!
This is the third episode, and today, I'm chatting with Paul Papadimitriou, who goes by the title of Innovation Scout. We're going to chat about his childhood and international background, discuss around the topic of Identity, and look into his career as an international consultant working with organisations all around the world.
There's plenty to unpack here, so without further adue: enjoy this new episode of the Digital Digest Podcast!
[mixcloud www.mixcloud.com/tibz/digi… width=100% height=400 autoplay=1]
It’s been really fun to chat with Paul, and it was an absolute breeze to record this interview. He’s a well-traveled, curious man, and I’m very grateful that he shared so much about his life, his work, and his diverse career and travels. Hearing his tales of working with different businesses and organisations around the world is not just a consultant’s dream, but a personal aspiration of mine, and having someone of his caliber on my tiny little podcast was absolutely humbling.
Thanks again for listening, and I eagerly await to hear back from you, my dear listener!
Finally, if you’d like to help — I’ve enabled donations on the podcast’s page. Donating a small amount of money helps me make up for the hosting costs, and if I manage to get beyond the costs, I’ll may be able to record more frequently too (twice a month? Hallelujah!)
Each donation is a unique and will not be a recurring payment every month: it’s a one time only kinda thing. Although if you wish to donate more, I’d be even more grateful :
While we believe the FBI’s intentions are good, it would be wrong for the government to force us to build a backdoor into our products. And ultimately, we fear that this demand would undermine the very freedoms and liberty our government is meant to protect.
The Tech industry at large has sent clear explanations to governments about the risks of creating “backdoor access”.
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver has turned into one of my favourite shows to watch on a weekly basis. Debunking insane policies of the US government, calling out corporate companies and lobbyists or putting Donald Trump in check.
His latest segment is a mandatory watch on the Encryption debate going on, with Apple and the San Bernardino’s shooter’s iPhone at its core:
I’m not a fan of fast-fashion, however, one has to salute the latest collaboration between H&M and… Caitlyn Jenner! Not only does the collection look pretty good, it’s also a great way to help mentalities evolve for the better around the acceptance of the LGBT community.
Being a Frank Ocean fan in 2016 is not about being frustrated; it’s about being a frustration meme. Have you expressed your annoyance that he hasn’t released anything new yet? If not, are you really a fan? Waiting for Frank Ocean has become the new listening to Frank Ocean.
The true life and real sadness of being a Frank Ocean fan!
Natalie Lloyd is a digital strategist and a director at MOHARA, an agency based in Brighton, England. She’s also a close friend of mine.
In this episode, we’re chatting about her background in commercial photography, working from New York to the South of France, running a TEDx event, and… diversity.
