There has been a delay in the recording of Lu Cozma & Tempesta Crews new album. Fear not dearest follower of the weird and wonderful... the release date is nigh!
Spring shalt be the time of fruition. Along gestation ay, grant ye', but well worth the wait.
Updates and postings will follow... news will get t'thee, by town cryer, dirty rotten pigeon, snail mail or electronic means.
Multumesc. Ta very much.
Lulu
www.myspace.com/lucozma
www.myspace.com/tempestacrew
Friday, November 14, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Location, location, location
It wasn't the easiest of tasks. The ideas were flowing for a photo shoot, but the right locations seemed to elude us. Rugz managed to get us into a high school to use their theatre stage, however,once we all arrived (me being late cos of the bloody traffic), we were told that the school was going to be closed up. After quickly assessing the situation we came to the consensus that although the stage area was nice, to get photo's hurried in 10Min's wasn't the best option! We were disappointed because we were told initially we had a couple of hours.
I've learnt that here you just have to think on your feet and be spontaneous, cos things will never quite turn out as you'd planned and things change like the wind... our photo shoot seemed no different!
We quickly packed up, got in our cars and took to the road, hunting down an appropriate place to down tools and get on with the job at hand. Meh! Not so simple when it's hot and sticky and the traffic is shite!
We'd had an idea about a crematorium in the middle of the city. Hmmm... could be worth checking out. We got our gear and started to walk up a slight incline to where the crematorium was hidden. Eventually out from the undergrowth, in a quiet haven, loomed the most beautiful disused art deco building I'd seen in a long time. It was relatively small in size, dilapidated, sadly in terrible condition, but for us it was just perfect.
The security man, on realising we weren't there to cause trouble or do anything that would mean him getting up from his packed lunch, waved us on and muttered we only had half an hour to do what we needed to do. To say we got cracking was an understatement.
Quickly shovelling on make-up, getting my hair sorted and choosing an outfit (yes, I had many to choose from. I came well equipped and prepared) was swiftly accomplished. Getting changed with virtually no privacy proved to be a challenge but, where there's a will there's a way!
Neve and Shatyr donned monks outfits and I as instructed to do so by our more than capable photographer Ioana, got on with striking poses and generally making a pigs ear of looking like I knew what I was doing.
Shortly after starting the shoot a security car rolled up. We gulped, took a breath and kind of expected the worst... our time was up. A rather beefy chap got out, asked what we were doing. After briefly explaining that packed lunch man said it was OK, he parked up and preceded to sit back and watch the shoot.
We got back into posing and carried on with what we were doing. Another security car came, we repeated our explanation for being there, packed lunch man etc etc. He parked up and sat watching. After another 10 Min's.... yes a third security car came. Asked the same questions we replied the same answer, so he too, parked up and watched the shoot. The weirdest 'audience', I've ever experienced and one of the weirdest scenarios that'll make me giggle for awhile yet!
He kept to his word. Half an hour later, packed lunch man shuffled over and grumbled with a dead pan expression that we'd better scoot. We didn't need telling twice! So with my high heels, black and white stripy stockings and 2 monks in tow, we headed off back to be swallowed up by the hub and noise of the city.
It was cool hanging out at the crem'... must do it again sometime!
Lulu
www.myspace.com/lucozma
www.myspace.com/tempestacrew
I've learnt that here you just have to think on your feet and be spontaneous, cos things will never quite turn out as you'd planned and things change like the wind... our photo shoot seemed no different!
We quickly packed up, got in our cars and took to the road, hunting down an appropriate place to down tools and get on with the job at hand. Meh! Not so simple when it's hot and sticky and the traffic is shite!
We'd had an idea about a crematorium in the middle of the city. Hmmm... could be worth checking out. We got our gear and started to walk up a slight incline to where the crematorium was hidden. Eventually out from the undergrowth, in a quiet haven, loomed the most beautiful disused art deco building I'd seen in a long time. It was relatively small in size, dilapidated, sadly in terrible condition, but for us it was just perfect.
The security man, on realising we weren't there to cause trouble or do anything that would mean him getting up from his packed lunch, waved us on and muttered we only had half an hour to do what we needed to do. To say we got cracking was an understatement.
Quickly shovelling on make-up, getting my hair sorted and choosing an outfit (yes, I had many to choose from. I came well equipped and prepared) was swiftly accomplished. Getting changed with virtually no privacy proved to be a challenge but, where there's a will there's a way!
Neve and Shatyr donned monks outfits and I as instructed to do so by our more than capable photographer Ioana, got on with striking poses and generally making a pigs ear of looking like I knew what I was doing.
Shortly after starting the shoot a security car rolled up. We gulped, took a breath and kind of expected the worst... our time was up. A rather beefy chap got out, asked what we were doing. After briefly explaining that packed lunch man said it was OK, he parked up and preceded to sit back and watch the shoot.
We got back into posing and carried on with what we were doing. Another security car came, we repeated our explanation for being there, packed lunch man etc etc. He parked up and sat watching. After another 10 Min's.... yes a third security car came. Asked the same questions we replied the same answer, so he too, parked up and watched the shoot. The weirdest 'audience', I've ever experienced and one of the weirdest scenarios that'll make me giggle for awhile yet!
He kept to his word. Half an hour later, packed lunch man shuffled over and grumbled with a dead pan expression that we'd better scoot. We didn't need telling twice! So with my high heels, black and white stripy stockings and 2 monks in tow, we headed off back to be swallowed up by the hub and noise of the city.
It was cool hanging out at the crem'... must do it again sometime!
Lulu
www.myspace.com/lucozma
www.myspace.com/tempestacrew
Sunday, July 20, 2008
And so I survived. Plus, HEAT... the new track
Unscathed and still alive, I've returned to the nitty, gritty, city. Yep, my adventures took me to the outer perimeters of my fear and shook me out of my cosy comfort zone.
Girlie screaming has never been my thing. However on the odd occasion afew slipped out... I admit my weak moment(s)!
The mountains were the most stunning I've ever seen. I had to keep rubbing my eyes to enable me to take in the beauty surrounding me. I was convinced it was an illusion... my eyes/mind playing tricks on me. I soaked up the atmosphere and gladly de-cloaked myself from the hard armour of Bucharest. It was such a release letting go of the stress and breathing in a fresh, natural energy, rather than car fumes and city dust.
It's lovely too when you hook up with friends you haven't seen for a while... those first moments of hugs; smiles, the buzzing, rapid chitter-chatter between sips of beer. Totally ace.
I decided to hit the sack early the first night. My nemesis awaited the next morning.... a wide expanse of water. Kayaking was on the agenda!
For someone who just about paddles in knee deep water and still has her toes curling at the soundtrack to Jaws ringing in her ear was more than freaked out by the concept of voluntarily getting into a flimsy, inflatable dingy and 'splashing about' on a VERY, VERY DEEP lake! Gulp! However I wasn't gonna let my fear of drowning or having my leg bitten off by an overgrown thuggish, toothy fish creature stand in the way of what could be a perfectly pleasant, gentle experience. Hmmmm!
When there's water and testosterone pumped men folk about, it's always a recipe for complete mayhem. Gentle paddle? For God's sake, what was I thinking!
Of course... it's all part of the experience! You get chased by your so called 'mates' who are relentlessly on a quest to topple your dingy thingy over or at the very least make you as wet, as wet can be and then you do the same back! Thank goodness for wet suits... didn't stop me from getting wet, cold and shivery, but I found after going blue with hypothermia that peeing in it keeps ya well warm!
After more than a couple of hours (felt like an eternity) I think eventually I must have lost the will to live. All I remember screaming was something on the lines of 'Stop. I want my mama'! To which pity was reluctantly bestowed on me and I was taken safely back to shore. I didn't care that I had become a giant prune... a blue one stinking of pee. I was on solid ground and the feeling was more than pleasurable.
After stuffing our faces with the best home cooked grub ever, quad biking was next. Full stomach and choosing to go team up with Jurgen... made a few eye brows fix to a raised position. I soon realised why. Jurgens need, is for speed. He's a regular quad biker, or should I say ATV rider, whatever. It's got 4 wheels and goes like.... fast. It goes especially fast when Jurgen happens to be on one!
It was totally amaaaaaaaaaaaazing. Apart from most of the forests fly inhabitants splatting on to my gritted teeth or into my eyes and my lunch trying it's best to get back 'out', the experience was at times fast, furious and a bit frightening... bring it on! Just as fun as stock car racing, only better, cos you get to do more than go around in circles . Ace.
The only thing out of the whole weekend experience that I couldn't get to grips with was climbing. My head for heights is, well, pretty non-existent. Ten points for attempting, ten points for the biggest wimp! Accepting defeat on this event; bottom shuffling down to safety and letting the 'big kids' do their thing, was only fair.
And so I survived. Without a bruise, broken bone or chipped nail! Hallelujah.
I've arrived back home to a multitude of emails; requests, things to do, telephone calls to make, and general chaos. In other words.... normality.
Shatyr has been busy posting the new track on various sites.... been gone 2 days, and I can't keep up with him! The reaction so far has been great. The tracks official title is HEAT. One of our summer tracks that is just so apt for this wonderful summer climate here in Romania.
Priority is to get radio play and publicity in any way, shape or form. Hmmm... well, as long as we keep our clothes on and our dignity's in tact. Of course!
Right, I'm off to get cracking on things, cos this albums not gonna get itself out there.
Posts on progress will follow shortly...
Lulu
Girlie screaming has never been my thing. However on the odd occasion afew slipped out... I admit my weak moment(s)!
The mountains were the most stunning I've ever seen. I had to keep rubbing my eyes to enable me to take in the beauty surrounding me. I was convinced it was an illusion... my eyes/mind playing tricks on me. I soaked up the atmosphere and gladly de-cloaked myself from the hard armour of Bucharest. It was such a release letting go of the stress and breathing in a fresh, natural energy, rather than car fumes and city dust.
It's lovely too when you hook up with friends you haven't seen for a while... those first moments of hugs; smiles, the buzzing, rapid chitter-chatter between sips of beer. Totally ace.
I decided to hit the sack early the first night. My nemesis awaited the next morning.... a wide expanse of water. Kayaking was on the agenda!
For someone who just about paddles in knee deep water and still has her toes curling at the soundtrack to Jaws ringing in her ear was more than freaked out by the concept of voluntarily getting into a flimsy, inflatable dingy and 'splashing about' on a VERY, VERY DEEP lake! Gulp! However I wasn't gonna let my fear of drowning or having my leg bitten off by an overgrown thuggish, toothy fish creature stand in the way of what could be a perfectly pleasant, gentle experience. Hmmmm!
When there's water and testosterone pumped men folk about, it's always a recipe for complete mayhem. Gentle paddle? For God's sake, what was I thinking!
Of course... it's all part of the experience! You get chased by your so called 'mates' who are relentlessly on a quest to topple your dingy thingy over or at the very least make you as wet, as wet can be and then you do the same back! Thank goodness for wet suits... didn't stop me from getting wet, cold and shivery, but I found after going blue with hypothermia that peeing in it keeps ya well warm!
After more than a couple of hours (felt like an eternity) I think eventually I must have lost the will to live. All I remember screaming was something on the lines of 'Stop. I want my mama'! To which pity was reluctantly bestowed on me and I was taken safely back to shore. I didn't care that I had become a giant prune... a blue one stinking of pee. I was on solid ground and the feeling was more than pleasurable.
After stuffing our faces with the best home cooked grub ever, quad biking was next. Full stomach and choosing to go team up with Jurgen... made a few eye brows fix to a raised position. I soon realised why. Jurgens need, is for speed. He's a regular quad biker, or should I say ATV rider, whatever. It's got 4 wheels and goes like.... fast. It goes especially fast when Jurgen happens to be on one!
It was totally amaaaaaaaaaaaazing. Apart from most of the forests fly inhabitants splatting on to my gritted teeth or into my eyes and my lunch trying it's best to get back 'out', the experience was at times fast, furious and a bit frightening... bring it on! Just as fun as stock car racing, only better, cos you get to do more than go around in circles . Ace.
The only thing out of the whole weekend experience that I couldn't get to grips with was climbing. My head for heights is, well, pretty non-existent. Ten points for attempting, ten points for the biggest wimp! Accepting defeat on this event; bottom shuffling down to safety and letting the 'big kids' do their thing, was only fair.
And so I survived. Without a bruise, broken bone or chipped nail! Hallelujah.
I've arrived back home to a multitude of emails; requests, things to do, telephone calls to make, and general chaos. In other words.... normality.
Shatyr has been busy posting the new track on various sites.... been gone 2 days, and I can't keep up with him! The reaction so far has been great. The tracks official title is HEAT. One of our summer tracks that is just so apt for this wonderful summer climate here in Romania.
Priority is to get radio play and publicity in any way, shape or form. Hmmm... well, as long as we keep our clothes on and our dignity's in tact. Of course!
Right, I'm off to get cracking on things, cos this albums not gonna get itself out there.
Posts on progress will follow shortly...
Lulu
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Little House On The Prairie?... Not likely!
The album's taking shape. The tracks are coming to life ... our 'babies' are now able to stand on their own. We've selected several to work on first, I suppose in some ways they're the core of the whole album in as much as they'll set the energy, pace and theme of it.
Considering I'm what you'd describe as techno phobic, I've had to pull myself up by the boot straps and bloody well get used to numb butt cheeks sitting so long by the computer, blisters on my index fingers (yes, I'm one of those who can't type) whilst navigating myself through downloads, mp3's and listening to our progress via the laptop! Yep I know... welcome to the real world.
It seems to me that it's not all that bad. I mean, what was I getting my knickers in a twist about? Just means I've had to down my guitar for the time being, put my dictaphone to early retirement (previously, I recorded all my own vocal ideas by this antiquated method) and dust the 4 track down with regularity as it sits in it's new position as ... that 'thing' stuck in the corner of my music room. It'll be worth a fortune in years to come, as an antique, so I'm gonna cling to it for dear life!
Now that I've become deflowered by all this techno whatsit, I've decided that enough is enough ... just for a few days. I've been quite giddy (doesn't take alot) with my poor brain on overload, trying to grasp how to access and download etc. I need to clear my head, get refreshed, rest and gather some energy for the next onslaught that the album will bring early next week.
The possibilities are :
1. A pleasant meander in the countryside maybe?
2. A Sunday jaunt, with a stop off ... beer? Or even a meal?
3. A trip to the Black Sea possibly?
4. Or simply stay at home with the quilt over my head?
NO! Attention! Fratii Jderi, here I come!
And it ain't gonna be no Little House On The Prairie, kind of experience. You know, the one where cute Laura runs down the meadow clutching a posy of dead flowers, plaids of hair bellowing in the wind, big grinning, gappy toothed smile. Stop it Lu, cos it ain't happening!
Yes, I'll be in the mountain countryside, but it seems like I'll be neck high in mud; getting soaked on the rapids, scaring myself silly on cliff faces (stand aside Stallone, bow down and fear me... yeah right!), and out running bears and wolves that might take a liking to me!
Could be the making of me, as long as I don't break a nail. Then again I'd rather that than break my neck... leg, head, arm!
Bring it on, I say. The question is, do I bring lipstick or lip gloss? Only kidding. Lip gloss of course! Tut!
Lulu
( http://www.fratiijderi.ro/index.html?r )
www.myspace.com/lucozma
www.myspace.com/tempestacrew
Considering I'm what you'd describe as techno phobic, I've had to pull myself up by the boot straps and bloody well get used to numb butt cheeks sitting so long by the computer, blisters on my index fingers (yes, I'm one of those who can't type) whilst navigating myself through downloads, mp3's and listening to our progress via the laptop! Yep I know... welcome to the real world.
It seems to me that it's not all that bad. I mean, what was I getting my knickers in a twist about? Just means I've had to down my guitar for the time being, put my dictaphone to early retirement (previously, I recorded all my own vocal ideas by this antiquated method) and dust the 4 track down with regularity as it sits in it's new position as ... that 'thing' stuck in the corner of my music room. It'll be worth a fortune in years to come, as an antique, so I'm gonna cling to it for dear life!
Now that I've become deflowered by all this techno whatsit, I've decided that enough is enough ... just for a few days. I've been quite giddy (doesn't take alot) with my poor brain on overload, trying to grasp how to access and download etc. I need to clear my head, get refreshed, rest and gather some energy for the next onslaught that the album will bring early next week.
The possibilities are :
1. A pleasant meander in the countryside maybe?
2. A Sunday jaunt, with a stop off ... beer? Or even a meal?
3. A trip to the Black Sea possibly?
4. Or simply stay at home with the quilt over my head?
NO! Attention! Fratii Jderi, here I come!
And it ain't gonna be no Little House On The Prairie, kind of experience. You know, the one where cute Laura runs down the meadow clutching a posy of dead flowers, plaids of hair bellowing in the wind, big grinning, gappy toothed smile. Stop it Lu, cos it ain't happening!
Yes, I'll be in the mountain countryside, but it seems like I'll be neck high in mud; getting soaked on the rapids, scaring myself silly on cliff faces (stand aside Stallone, bow down and fear me... yeah right!), and out running bears and wolves that might take a liking to me!
Could be the making of me, as long as I don't break a nail. Then again I'd rather that than break my neck... leg, head, arm!
Bring it on, I say. The question is, do I bring lipstick or lip gloss? Only kidding. Lip gloss of course! Tut!
Lulu
( http://www.fratiijderi.ro/index.html?r )
www.myspace.com/lucozma
www.myspace.com/tempestacrew
Monday, July 14, 2008
Forthcoming album
After a brief collaboration on their debut album release 'Torential' , Romanian hip-hop artists Tempesta Crew have joined forces with UK artist Lu Cozma and are presently recording their much anticipated first album.
'It's been amazing to hook up with Tempesta. We started exploring our different styles and realised that the sound was too good to be ignored. The whole process from embryonic ideas through to recording has been extremely exciting. We're all very proud of the album', says Lu.
The yet to be titled album merges the distinctive styles of the Crews hip-hop sound with Lu's earthy, dexterous vocals.
Lu later added, 'The energy of the tracks, the melodies and lyrical content are what makes this album interesting, fresh and original. Whats more, we've had no qualms about singing and rapping in both English and Romanian. Music can be used to unify people, why the hell not do it with language!'
Updates on the album will be posted shortly. For more information on Lu Cozma www.myspace.com/lucozma & Tempesta www.myspace.com/tempestacrew
'It's been amazing to hook up with Tempesta. We started exploring our different styles and realised that the sound was too good to be ignored. The whole process from embryonic ideas through to recording has been extremely exciting. We're all very proud of the album', says Lu.
The yet to be titled album merges the distinctive styles of the Crews hip-hop sound with Lu's earthy, dexterous vocals.
Lu later added, 'The energy of the tracks, the melodies and lyrical content are what makes this album interesting, fresh and original. Whats more, we've had no qualms about singing and rapping in both English and Romanian. Music can be used to unify people, why the hell not do it with language!'
Updates on the album will be posted shortly. For more information on Lu Cozma www.myspace.com/lucozma & Tempesta www.myspace.com/tempestacrew
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