Have you found what you are looking for?

For most of my experience, I seem to discover new places, which end up being very special to me - the same way I connect with people: accidentally meant to be, at the right time precisely but the wrong moment and when I am not looking. So my question is: Do we really find what we are looking for? Or should we look for it to be found?


Whichever the case, the world does work in mysterious ways... but still, I can guarantee you that 9 out of 10 people will tell you that their favourite restaurant was found by chance on a hidden corner during a carefree stroll. (and that happens for the world's most known love stories to man kind and successful business ideas we hear about it). So my point is as much as I had promised for CLIP of the day to be - everyday - I would be lying to you if I had come here to write an article about something new, given CONNECT's latest happenings....

The same way you can't learn to have charisma or buy connections, you can't force spontaneity; you either have it or you don't. But ultimately that in it self can be the difference, and I have always been a strong believer that force should  never be imposed but rather always achieved. But I must confess that I have 'forced' myself to come here everyday since the 17th of June, I have continuously forced my self to write and failed. Everytime. Not because I fell out of it, but simply because my heart wasn't here. And that is most probably and the most logical explanation why we only have 1 heart, and why it will never truly function in two places at the same time. You cannot do everything at once. (Not if you truly put all of your heart on it). So like everything else in life, I made a choice and gave you nothing.  Absolutely nothing for ....days. No hint, no apologies or new CLIPS. And if for every choice a consequence, I must now reveal that I couldn't be happier with mine. It is with great joy that I can confirm that CONNECT has officially and successfully joined forces with two new international identities and is preparing  for the launch of a bigger and better new website by the begging of September 2012. That alone has taking more than my regular extra time since March and clearly a lot more of my body and mind, heart and soul lately...and it will continue to until early September. But these are very exciting times for all CONNECT members and the new ones to come....!

So with that being said, I thought I would lock today's CLIP of the day with a few suggestions for the summer straight from CONNECT members, fashion features editors, restauranteurs and  the coolest entrepreneurs....:

1 -This season's sunglasses hot picks - Westward Leaning &  Oliver Peoples 

2 -London's new Greek spot - Mazi Restaurant 

3 -Saint-Tropez's latest hotel found - White 1921  


4- New York's inexpensive opening  The Pod Hotel

5 -Brazil's promessing musical talent - Rodrigo Lampreia & Samba Santa Clara Project 




Well, wherever you are, I hope what you are looking for,  finds you. xx 

CLIP OF THE DAY: Meu amado Brasil.

There are good days and today is one of them. Yup, I get to CLIP about something close to my heart: Brazil and the Back 2 Black project, now for the first time ever in London. Launched in Rio de Janeiro 2009, the annual Back2Black festival is one of the most cutting edge cultural events in Brazil attracting over 50,000 visitors so far and a pioneer in promoting global appreciation for black culture in Brazil. I was lucky enough to go to previous editions which took place at Leopoldina railway station close to hip downtown Rio de Janeiro - so aiming to recreate a similar setting, the London festival will be held at Old Billingsgate in the heart of East London, co-produced by the Barbican, with four different stages and an extensive offering of concerts, debates and exhibitions. So you are in the know,  the eclectic line-up will feature more than 30 Brazilian, UK and international artists, groups, thinkers and leaders, including host Gilberto Gil, performances by Macy Gray, Marcelo D2, Mart'nalia, Roots Manuva, Amadou & Miriam amongst others. This year Back2Black festival features a strong emphasis on UK African connections and communities including Afro-Caribbean artists and brings together a heady mix of different traditions and musical genres, including Samba, Jazz, Funk, R’n’B, Blues, Rock, Reggae, Dub and Hip Hop – all of which have been inspired by Africa. Thanks to CONNECT I have received my invitation for Sunday line up (I'm telling you its a good day). So if you are a member log in into your account to secure yours; or alternatively you can buy tickets online at the Barbican website. Here is a little scoop to help you get in the mood: 

Gilberto Gil - Aquele abraco 

Mart'nalia - Boto meu povo na rua

Marcelo D2 - Desabafo

Amadou & Miriam - Senegal Fast Food

Macy Gray - Sweet Baby

Because everything in life is better with music... See you there xx I.

CLIP OF THE DAY: Name Droppin'

 

Hey back Clippers - landed safe, sound and back in Europe...what am I up to this Friday? Dinner at Bica do Sapato with Chad Hugo in Lisbon. Why is that worth clipping you might be wondering... Right lets "Connect" the dots and do some "name dropping": few years ago I was invited to a party hosted by Alicia Keys and Pharell Williams in London, that was the same night I met Pharell's music partner and NERD* member Chad Hugo, as well as the Parisian producer Cyril Kebellian. Who is Who? Chad is not only a very talented DJ, but he is also one of the man responsible for launching and producing Jutin Timberlake's very first solo CD. Old time friends, Timberlake and Hugo have been taking the beat universe by storm partnening with Madonna, Gwen Stefani, Britney Spears, Snoop Dogg and the list goes on -while Cyril in the mean time was helping Daft Punk and David Ghetta spinning the dance floors from coast to coast. So, if CONNECT  is anything but "learning to keep your connections in touch" then I guess its a no brainer that now that the boys are flying to Europe to start their "Back in Black" tour then here I am to connect them to LUX (co-owned by John Malkovich) who also happens to own where we are off to dinner...So...what is this CLIP really about (besides some serious name dropping)? An invitation to all my dear Lisbon friends to pop in this friday and check Chad Hugo's come back and DJ set sessions from 11pm at LUX. Looking forward to seeing you there xx I.

PS - A special thanks to Connect Ambassador Mariana Melo for organising it all xx

CLIP OF THE DAY: Pretty Talented.

This morning over breakfast the conversation was how girly should a girl be "allowed" to be before she can be considered a real royal pain in the neck...? I quite honestly (and being a girl myself) have no exact idea of that formula....but if there is one subject I would have to give guys credit is the reasons why we can never seem to be truly fair and straight forward in the light of an extreamly attractive woman that also happens to be smart, talented (and actually nice) without having to add an (unnecessary) final remark to justify our means....Girls, lets (just) face it: sometimes women are like "Lana Del Rey's" -gorgeous, stunning, styli-shed, gifted, hard-workers and (for that matter) successful at what they've decided to do in life. Period. What am I listening on repeat since I've started to work today? Lolita's new pop girlfriend Elisabeth Grant (a.k.a. Lana Del Rey) and her new track Born to Die. And so it seems Im not the only one who has surrendered to her voice, style and looks...Mulberry invited her to sing at their known Pool Party, Christopher Kane is playing her tunes on his next fashion show, and tickets for her last show in London sold out in less than half an hour. Nothing else to add, but my own sincere and simple: CONGRATULATIONS, you rock. xxx I.

CLIP OF THE DAY: Brazil Bohemia

Be bohemian in Rio: think great Brazilian music from samba, pagode to bossa nova; culture, endless dance venues and hip bars all in one place - Lapa. Known since the 1950's for its unique mix of colonial heritage and contemporary entertainment allure; at night Lapa has been Rio's best host to carioca bohemian street parties, that go on until dawn. Today I was told about a rather useful portal that gathers all the latest news about where to go and what to do in real time: La na Lapa (Thank you for the clip tip Kiko Mesquita).

CLIP-IT: If you have never been look out for Connect Rio Ambassador's favorite spots - Rio Scenarium, Carioca da Gema, Circo Voador, Fundição Progresso, Gabinete e Estudantina Musical.    

CLIP OF THE DAY: Press Play

The new Florence and the Machine album: Ceremonials is out and I have offcially fallen in love all over again. Sounds that vibrate like a melodic fairy tale are interpreted by the sheer force of a unique and powerful voice: Florence's - as if trying to anounce a God's cerimonial  indeed - imagination plays its best part in form of mysterious masks, nostalgic love, agony, drums, prayers all rolled up on her latest single: Shake It Out -  a  loud and completetly addictive beat  and a kind of song you can't help but  to press repeat.  Her entire work itsn't something you can easily ignore which it seems, few have - (after performing "Dog Days are over" at the last MTV Video awards, the next day, Florence was the most searched name on Google).  The owner of a uncomparable style, untethered to any typical pop genres, punk, metal or even soul....as in this case she really is the soul - herself - So, Leave all your love and your longing behind you - And press play - the dog days are over -Thank you Florence! 

CLIP-IT:  4th Dec in Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre - Holiday concert

CLIP OF THE DAY: In the grace of your love

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reunited with formative dance-rock label DFA and one member short (bassist Matt Safer) - The Rapture - New York City indie-rock band, now wih a dance-punk flair returns with their long-awaited fourth LP: In The Grace Of Your Love, produced by Philippe Zdar of Cassius and recorded in Brooklyn and Paris over the last year. If you’re looking for happy dance music, that makes you move around your living room and sing to the beat while driving - you’ve got it. With guitars tangled around funky bass and sexy backbeats, In the Grace of Your Love is different from the band's previous work thats for sure and I quite like it. To me if a band can rebound from a long absence with a captivating new record, leaves us with no choice but to learn to trust them, seat back and relax.  The Rapture's return mirrors the band's own evolution overtime with GRACE - I guess sometimes absence does make the heart grow founder...

 

CLIP-IT: Tuesday, 1st November, 100 Club London & Wednesday 2nd November KOKO, London.

 

CLIP OF THE DAY: The world fascinates me

 "Art is what you can get away with" Andy Warhol

Two days ago I was invited to the openning exhibition of The Factory: Warhol And His Circle by David McCabe - a photographic memoir of a year spent at Andy Warhol’s legendary studio: The Factory. With only two demands prior to his request: "Don't use flash and 'fit in' ”: Warhol contacted upcoming photographer Mc Cabe and asked him to document the eccentrics, luminaries, art dealers, drug dealers, collectors and misfits who passed through the Factory’s doors from 1964 to 1965 (picture above features Warhol and Savador Dali). After capturing "comprimsing scenes", McCabe left many of the pictures unprinted for 40 years; the exhibition reveals those moments for the first time to the public at the Proud Galery in King's Road. It also serves as a tribute to the 40th anniversary of Edie Sedgwick’s death, troubled socialite heiress tunred into model and Warhol's favorite ‘it’ girl. The Factory: Warhol and His Circle by David McCabe opened on October 27th and runs until December 4th. If you can't get to the exhibition, you can see all the photos in A Year in the Life of Andy Warhol's  book by Phaidon.

CLIP-IT: Proud Gallery Chelsea's basement: The Decca Years: The Rolling Stones 1962-1971  (Proud's previous exhibition)  shows the earliest-known photos of the group taken by Philip Townsend just before they signed to Decca Records.

CLIP OF THE DAY: Within You, Without You.

This week I watched Martim Scorsese's lastest documentary on HBO: "George Harrison -Living in the Material World," - Beatle's lead guitarist, pop culture icon and world's most private superstar like you have never heard or seen before. And all I'm really going to say is: watch it.  

Academy Award winner movie maker Scorsese does a briliant job as the documentary follows Harrison's story from his early life in Liverpool,  to the global and historical success of The Beatles,  his travels to India, and the influence of Indian culture in his music (the tittle "living in the material world" is a Hindu-inspired phrase, chosen by Harrison for his album in 1973).  From neverseen before footage and interviews with Harrison's wife Olivia, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr to Yoko Ono and Eric Clapton and many more. A truly bold tribute to his outsanding legacy - Scorsese and Olivia Harrison  made sure to honour Harrison's own words when he wrote to his family in 1965, (a time when Beatlemania was really cresting): 'I know that this isn't it. I knew I was going to be famous, but now I know I can reach the real top of what man can achieve, which is self-realization.' He knew then that [material reward] wasn't it.

If we could only REALLY learn this during our time here...For my part Its like I used to tell my mum when I was 5: "as long as I have music and sun around me, it will all be ok" - Simple, huh? Well I've never been a real fan of complexity to achieve greatness, let alone happiness...Its either within you or without you.

Wishing you all the start of a great week Clippers

 "....Here comes the sun...."

 

 

CLIP OF THE DAY: On Tropical Tune

From small town Curitiba all the way to the world. In 2008, Copacabana Club released their first album, 'King of the Night' and despite not being from Copacabana (Rio) their uniquely eclectic and tropically mellow sound is stirring up international buzz already. They first got my atention with their song “Just Do It” featured on Levi's add, which lead me to listen to songs “Sounds Like Confusion”, totally different beat which breaks down to it’s bass groove, or "Tropical Splash" electro-pop soothing verse melody and hyper-charged with vocals. AUX named them as one of the "Five Best New Brazilian Bands" and last month Brazilian Edition of ELLE magazine featured a half page article on Copacabana Club as the next band to watch out. I am.

CLIP OF THE DAY: Don't call me a legend.

If I was in Rio this month I would ....

Check out MILES DAVIS - From August 1st - 28th September, CCBB (Bank of Brazil Cultural Center) Centro Cultural presents Queremos Miles – Miles Davis,  a tribute to jazz legend Miles Davis. Broght by The Cité de la Musique, Paris and organized by the late artist managers and his family, the exhibition features over 300 items, from art work (Jean Michel Basquiat paintings, Irving Penn and Annie Leibovit pictures) to clothes, personal music instruments, video documentaries and music never shown to the public before. Curated by Vincent Bessières who designed the itinerary in form of a sort of music retrospective of Davis's unique carrer, you are able to listen to some of his most popular songs on premimum  audio surrounding system. The man who dared "don't play what's there, play what's not there.”  Nine Grammy's later, his name on St Louis walk of fame and  after inspiring the world he would still insist: "I know what I've done for music, but don't call me a legend. Just call me Miles Davis."

CLIP OF THE DAY: In the air of summer

My declaration of Dependence: Summer

'Without giving anything away, I can say it's by the sea, it's a house that used to be the home of a friend of mine. You'll find ships inside of bottles, when the garden's overgrown...The house is white, but the paint is coming off; don't look back and don't think of the other places you should've been.' Gold in the air of summer to me is cold wet hair, skin and salt, dreams writen on a tangerine sky, Kings of Convenience playing, good company, ice and mint, long hot sand paths that lead to nowhere really, rather someplace beautiful, havaianas paving the way and sea-gulls reminding me that lost time is never found again...

After a brilliant performance in Portugal (Paredes de Coura festival) last week, Kings of Convenience are still the best combination of hot and chilled mood and I have Gold in the air of summer on my mind  again today. Starting to pack but CLIP-ing summer with me. I hope you are too.

CLIP OF THE DAY: The beat goes on

Andre do Valle. Think smart, charming, worldtrotter, ex-broker turned into successful music entrepreneur. After living in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Milan, Madrid,  Chicago, Boston and New York he now splits his time between London and Berlin managing Europe's hottest bands of tomorrow, all via his own company Manta Ray. My connection to him? He is the better half of one of my best friends and as I write today's CLIP we both share his living room table turned into an office space at his beautiful London flat and tattler away about the latest on music and connections. I've got this month's British Vogue opened on page 174 (Culture), my headphones on Bombay Bicycle Club's new album: "A different Kind of Fix" and Andre telling me all about their UK tour with his protégé band The Tunics. Launched in 2008 this Indie Rock group of fearless and talented kids from Croydon first got the world's atention with their single "The Cost of living" a powerful song composed as a response for youth violence (a very suitable subject given the current circunstances in London... ) Needless to say that given my personal connection and admiration for my dear friend Andre, I was quick to follow both The Tunics and Bombay Bicycle Club since then, and as they both continue to prove  that the beat goes on, I have The Tunic's "Waiting" single on my ipod and today Bombay Bicycle Club's new single "Suffle"on my mind. So much so that I just got my tickets for BBC on the 15th Sept, Terminal 5, in New York. 

CLIP OF THE DAY: Bringing happy back

BLISS! One of my favorite British artists, Adele is back with a briliant album that seems to have a mind of its own. Her cool bluesy gospel disco album ‘21‘ is #1 in the UK for the 17th week now! I can't get enough of her single Rolling in the deep. And if behind every song there is always an emotion, (despite the lyrics), I'm saying this one represents how happy I'm feeling right now. - and I like to think you all have a little bit to do with it too. CLIP-IT: look out for her RESCHEDULED US tour dates: 15 & 17 Aug LOS ANGELES, 18 Aug SAN DIEGO, 20 LAS VEGAS. Buy her album and listen to Someone like you (live & loud). Get Rolling in the Deep on your i-pods, car and dance floor. And above all: remeber to DANCE - it always brings "happy" back.

THINK CONNECT: LONDON 22 Sept Royal Albert Hall (sold out)

CLIP OF THE DAY: COOLDAY

Today I'm clipping and running around, between e-mails, attending meetings, personal apointments...and events lined up for later. Ray-Ban was kind enough to invite me and my good pal Catarina Jardim to pop at their joined event with Optimus Alive Festival, one of Portugal's biggest music festivals. This is to celebrate their latest competition open to the public called: "Never Hide" Your Ray-Ban moment, where people would send a picture of their favorite moment wearing Ray-Ban glasses. The pictures turned out great!! (my personal favorite above) And as you know to me "Its not about the place its about the moment": who you are with, when you go, those are the elements that make it unique and this is what being a CLIPPER is all about! And if special moments is what makes you and I CLIP everyday, tonight Im heading to Optimus Alive to watch COLDPLAY with my school friends, Francisco Balsemao, Fred Santos and all the gang. If you are in London save the date on the 22nd July and if you are in Rio de Janeiro, get your Rock in Rio tickets to the 1st of October as the boys will be in town!

CLIP-IT Ray-Ban's new collection: Never Hide Rare prints

CLIP OF THE DAY: Thank You

Today is all about gratitude.

After publishing on magazines about art, travel and fashion, I decided to embarc yet on another challenge and create a blog that speaks CONNECT's language. With three T's on my mind: TRIVIA, TATTLER and TIPS, I created CLIP a daily diary where I can share all 3 T's with you and where you get to Clip-it only what matters to you. CLIP is 1 week old today and last Friday we went over 1.000 visits with Glastonbury piece, so thank you so much to all of you who took the time to read it and care for what this was all about. More importantly than figures, what I would really like to say is that the sole reason why I'm now up 2 hours before normal time for work or go to sleep surrounded by newspapers and clips is that in the morning, I get to wake up with an email from someone I have never met in Italy saying she read about Too Many Women and would like to colaborate with London as she also works with a breast cancer foundation. 

BY THE WAY I'M WEARING THE SMILE YOU GAVE ME:

*Bianca Lovel-Parker who wrote a comment that she has King Charles on her i-pod now

*India and John for wanting to know where can they buy British Colony in New York

*Katharina Michalski for asking me to get her BC V-neck t-shirts for her when I'm next in Brazil

*Carolina Bononi for having chosen to dine at Pizza East in Nott Hill last week with her husband

*Catarina De Avillez for after reading Sunday Society decided to go to Westbourne pub in London

*My beautiful sisters and mother for their support, coments & suggestions (I do hear you)

*Ely - the graphic designer and computer genious that keeps me calm and shares my views

*K. Wyser-Pratte who is the reason why all this is possible

                                                              Thank You * Obrigada

Ah! My CLIP of the day?

THEY SAY: BEHIND EVERY SONG THERE'S ALWAYS AN EMOTION

This is my addiction when I'm working: http://www.stereomood.com/

My personal favorites: CHILLOUT, SAUDADE, VINTAGE & BOHÉMIAN.

ENJOY..........I am.

CLIP OF THE DAY: It's Glastonbury day today!

Today is Glastonbury day!!

If you lived in England or are remontely interested in music and summer festivals (I'm a suspect as I stand for the previous 3...) you know that this means putting on your best pair of Hunters, mini dresses or ripped jeans and Ray Ban sunglasses en route to madness. It all started as a series of concerts, lectures and recitals called the Glastonbury Festivals established by a summer school in the town of Glastonbury between 1914 and 1926 by classical composer Rutland Boughton and with their location attracted a bohemian audience by the standards of the time. The first festival at Worthy Farm was the Pilton Pop, Blues & Folk Festival  in September 1970, attended by 1.500 people for £1 (including free milk from the farm)! The following year, Glastonbury Fayre of 1971 was organised with help from Arabella Churchill, Thomas Crimble and MPB Brazilian legend and former Minister of Brazilian Culture: Gilberto Gil.
Over the last 30 decades the “word got around” and today Glastonbury is one of the most important festivals in the world with over 130.000 people and tickets are almost £200 (and trust me: these ones don't include 'milk from the farm...'); but you get to watch Coldplay, The Chemical Brothers, the Kills, Beyoncé, Plan B, The vaccines, Two Door Cinema Club and U2 among others. In fact, this year UK Music published a report stating that Glastonbury Festival contributes over £100 million annually to the UK economy.

MUSIC CONNECT? Well, two years ago, Brit's upcoming badboy star King Charles debut at Glastonbury with the hit "We didn't start the fire". 2009 is precisely the year I also became familiar and quite addicted to G Festival. Last year while I directed The Brompton Club Marketing in London, a friend of mine Alex Potter suggested I invited them to come and play for a breast cancer charity night I was organising to help raise funds. The charity is called "Too Many Woman" founded by another dear acquaintance Harry Becher. So you know this is a briliant foundation that I take pride on having contributed and TMWambassadors include Gwyneth Paltrow, Pippa Middleton, Sienna Miller and Scarllet Johansson. Needles to say the night was a sucess: loud, complete crazyness (I mean have you seen him)?! blended with generosity and class. We became pals and his other hit LOVE LUST never left my playlist since the day we met. For the ones who are going to make it this year (yes, that includes my gals Emma Shenkman, Ana C Rosa, Diana Ztp) Enjoy it! For us who are not in UK ground... King Charles on your i-pods Connect Clippers!