E B O N Y • B O N E S

www.iamebonybones.com • www.instagram.com/msebonybones

[iamebonybones]

VOGUE (de) & Ebony Bones

"The Most Exciting Phenomena In The Pop World.."

Honoured to speak with VOGUE (DE) about art, culture and fashion plus the new album Nephilim featuring The Beijing Orchestra: 

http://www.tinyurl.com/VogueDEbones

[iamebonybones]

V Magazine Video Premier : Nephilim ft The Beijing Philharmonic Orchestra

Thank you to V Magazine for the premiere of the new video for Nephilim!

Excited to announce I'll be playing an exclusive show live in New York in June Performing new tracks from the upcoming new album, stay tuned for more details.

[iamebonybones]

Huge Delight Speaking With The Guardian’s 

Brilliant Nadja Sayej About The Upcoming New 

Album

Written by - Nadja Sayej

With a blonde afro and a London accent, Ebony Bones is a visionary artist who works across genres and disparate sounds. What sets her apart is that she writes, composes, produces and releases her own punk-inflected, alternative soundtracks, many of which are graced with dark pop undertones. Studying alongside Amy Winehouse Bones has been enlisted by Yves Saint Laurent and Alexander Wang to score campaigns and runway shows, and is also noted for her collaborations with Yoko Ono. With a forthcoming third album featuringThe Beijing Philharmonic Orchestra, Bones is a self-produced artist and one of a few women in the male-dominated production world. Making her one of the most prominent female producers and redefining voices in the music industry today.

Bones was born to an immigrant father from the Caribbean who ran a vinyl stall in Brixton Market in London, and her mother, a fashion agent for top fashion designers, including Moschino. She studied at London’s Sylvia Young Theatre School alongside classmate and friend Amy Winehouse. At 12-years-old, Bones was discovered by Oscar-winning actor Sir Mark Rylance, then the artistic director of the Shakespeare Globe Theatre, and enlisted for his production of Macbeth as the First Witch.

At 15-years-old, she starred as a rebellious teenager in the British TV show Family Affairs. Starring alongside Idris Elba, she stole the spotlight as the feisty young character - Yasmin Green. She garnered nominations for British Soap Awards as one of the longest-running actors on the show, which was syndicated globally, staring from 1998 to 2005.

Becoming friends with punk legend and drummer Rat Scabies, from 70s punk band The Damned, Bones began writing songs alongside Scabies in 2005, who gave the artist her eponymous stage name and taught her a DIY punk ethic and “trial and error” approach to making music. “It’s perfection comes from its imperfection,” said Bones. “In an age where human flaws are erased from music, the imperfect can be very striking.”

In 2008, Bones uploaded an anonymous demo to MySpace. The Orwellian-themed anthem “We Know All About U,” was premiered by BBC Radio 1 Dj Zane Lowe, as ‘Hottest Record in The World,’  garnering millions of radio plays and raving reviews, becoming the BBC’s most played record by an unsigned artist.

In 2009, Bones released her debut album Bone of My Bones to critical acclaim. With tracks like ‘W.A.R.R.I.O.R’, ‘Guess We’ll Always Have NY’ and ‘The Muzik’, the album was used for runway shows and campaigns by Yves Saint Laurent, EA Sports FIFA and various Citroën car commercials including the controversial commercial featuring John Lennon.

Photographed by legendary photographer Jean Baptiste Mondino for New York Times T Magazine, her concerts were heralded by the publication as a “riotous jungle-punk stage act”. Bones goes above and beyond with a high-watt stage presence, bringing a whirl of energy to the stage with her fashion antics. Known for her multiple costume changes, she can often be spotted donning designer pieces by Iris van Herpen and Manish Arora

Her music, however, isn’t the traditional punk trio. Pushing boundaries as one of the first and few female music producers to work alongside orchestras, there is a real cinematic feel to her work. Traveling the world collaborating with symphony orchestras from India and China she asks classical musicians to step outside their comfort zone to perform her unconventional compositions.

“It’s about changing people’s perspectives. By breaking down existing genre boundaries, my approach to music including collaborations with The Mumbai Symphony and The Beijing Philharmonic Orchestra, reimagines orchestral music while challenging the prevailing mainstream mentality, that classical music is an art form that can only be performed by, for and about white males such as Beethoven” said Bones.

“I’m always pushing myself into unknown territory, I enjoy the challenge of stepping outside my circumference and learning from other cultures. There’s always a huge risk of recording alongside musicians you’ve never met, and don’t even speak the same language. Will it work? will you be able to communicate? In many ways it could be a recipe for disaster but these are all the elements that drive me as a creator. Music is the galvanizing force that brings people together.”

In 2013, her sophomore album “Behold, A Pale Horse” was released on her label 1984 Records. Premiered by NPR, who described Bones as “a major player for years to come,” the apocalyptic inspired album was recorded in India at YRF Studios aswell as Miloco Studios, London and featured tracks alongside The Mumbai Symphony Orchestra, and The New London Children’s Choir on a playful cover of The Smiths' ‘What Difference Does It Make’.

With its stringed percussion and harmonious chants, Behold, A Pale Horse is said to have “jagging guitars, jungle-inspired drums, and fierce vocals that seem to taunt as they go,” according to SPIN Magazine. The Independent praised the album as “a beguiling blend of chants, afrobeat, and the darker end of post-punk,” the self produced album also featured contributions from Liquid Liquid’s Sal P for the remix of ‘Bread & Circus’. The video, directed by Al Pacino’s daughter Julie Pacino and Jennifer DeLia, was premiered by Jay-Z via his lifestyle website Life & Times, heralding Bones as a “producer with a wide variety of influences, inspiring others through that journey."

In 2015 Bones released Milk & Honey, Pt. 1, her debut EP, which included the catchy disco-punk track ‘Oh Promised Land’. The song was used by Ray-Ban for their summer campaign which also featured Bones. She then headlined ‘Pop-Kultur’ festival to a sold out audience at Berlin’s legendary Berghain venue, that same year. Speaking to The New York Times about music production, Bones explained “It was an ambitious thing; I saw a deficit of female producers, and it’s still that way,” she said, noting that every non-classical Grammy Award for Producer of the Year had gone to a man.

Catching the attention of Yoko Ono with her avant-garde approach, Bones was enlisted by the art legend to re-work her song ‘No Bed For Beatle John’, for Ono’s ‘Yes, I’m A Witch Too’, her first album in nine years. Released in February 2016, it was heralded by The Guardian as “a brilliant track produced by Ebony Bones that pairs Ono’s eerie falsetto with majestic horns.” Featuring artwork by designer Karl Lagerfeld, the song was originally recorded by John Lennon in 1969. 

                                             *   *   *

As a self-produced artist, Bones is one of a few women in the male-dominated production world, making her one of the most prominent female producers in a burgeoning feminist movement within the music industry today. Given that less than 5% of solo music producers are women, Bones alongside Grimes, Linda Perry and Tokimonsta were the few producers featured by HBO/VICE for their 2017 special. Her production is as important as the music itself, and her skills are informed by self-produced musicians like Kate Bush, Missy Elliott, Linda Perry and Lauryn Hill. “Gender and ethnic diversity are markers for many of the key things that make music and art vital and resilient,” says Bones. “However, with the frighteningly low proportion of female music producers, there is currently only one dominant voice that determines what we all hear, and what music gets made.”

Her highly anticipated forthcoming album Nephilim, released July 20th sees Bones continue to push her musical ingenuity. She makes her directorial debut with the breathtaking new video of ‘Nephilim’ released May 4th, which may possibly be her most stunning visual yet. Featuring collaborations with The Beijing Philharmonic Orchestra, Bones took time away from touring to write and produce the new album, recorded in Beijing, New York and London. Collaborating alongside the orchestra at Beijing’s Tweak Tone Labs Studio, the album explores several themes including censorship; the conspicuous kind in China vs the more insidious kind in the west; as well as the emergence of nationalism in the world, post-Brexit and post-Trump.  

Unafraid to break down existing genre boundaries, the songs on Nephilim have an otherworldly, futuristic sound. She demonstrates an electronic avant-garde prowess, with experimental jazz, a sophisticated symphonic sense, teamed alongside afrofuturist overtones. There is a real cinematic feel to Bones' productions, displayed on orchestral tracks like 'Nephilim' and instrumental passages like 'Truth or Treason' that serve almost as a soundtrack for a film.

Bones reached out to the orchestra following her collaborations with Yoko Ono and The Mumbai Symphony Orchestra on Behold A Pale Horse. “China boasts some of the worlds best classical musicians and it was an honor to collaborate with them. I sent the Beijing Philharmonic the scores I had composed, and they were excited for the collaboration,” said Bones, who was invited to perform at the World Exposition in Shanghai 2010, which saw over 73 million visitors.

“Many people asked about recordings in Beijing and censorship in China, and while I didn’t directly experience any, it got me thinking about all the ways in which censorship manifests itself in our culture,” says the artist. “It takes on covert forms, like who gets to speak and who doesn't get to speak, and all the ways we silence the voices of people we don't want to hear” said Bones. “Beginning with the theme of religious censorship, I made ‘Nephilim’ conscious of the fact that these were not subjects females usually write about.”

The manifesto-like lyrics in the punk-inflected track ‘No Black In The Union Jack’ begins with an audio clip of British Member of Parliament Enoch Powell’s notorious ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech attacking immigration in 1968. “This hate speech was so vile, it has never been broadcast in full,” said Bones. “It is one of the most incendiary racist speeches of modern Britain and this year marks it’s 50th anniversary.”

The new album also explores the emergence of nationalism in the world post-Brexit and Trump. “Xenophobia aswell as fear of immigrants and foreigners was strongly associated with support for leaving the EU; post-Trump and Brexit have created a hostile environment for immigrants, fanned by nationalist bile and scapegoating as displayed throughout these songs.”  

Bones expanded on the larger issue of censorship “While writing the album, I began thinking about how women have been erased historically and all the ways we silence the voices of people we don't want to hear,” she said. “While I have accomplished a level of success in my art, I am not ignorant to the fact that for the majority of women, and especially women of colour, invisibility, not being seen or heard is a through-line for most of our careers.”

The album was engineered by Grammy Award-winning masterer, Mandy Parnell of Black Saloon who also engineered Behold A Pale Horse. Bones enlisted a host of musicians for the album, including a horn section featuring saxophone legend, Jimi Hendrix and James Brown collaborator - Lonnie Youngblood. Among the new 11 tracks on the album, there is a stunning cover, of the Junior Murvin/The Clash classic ‘Police & Thieves,’ which is performed by The Bones Youth Choir.

Speaking truth to power, the afrofuturistic anthem ‘Kids of Coltan’ touches upon the subjects of neo-colonialism and human rights violations. “The song is about the culture of complicity, as I began thinking of the young child laborers who make our smartphones and electronic devices,” said Bones. “Modern day communication is built on coltan mining, by young children in the Democratic Republic of Congo. From picking cotton to picking coltan, I realised this is today’s modern slave trade, of which we are all complicit.”

From ‘Kids Of Coltan’ and ‘Police & Thieves’ to ‘I See, I Say’ and ‘What Difference Does It Make’, children are a constant theme in Bones’ work. “A child's innocence allows for greater perception. Kids tend to be good at expressing their creativity, but then as adults people tend to lose this as they grow older, it’s something we have to protect and nurture.”

The giant themes and futuristic sounds of Nephilim are a reference to Bones’ own avant-garde approach, and as science fiction author Philip K. Dick once said, “Artists have the capacity to accidentally predict the future, it’s in their essence as creators.” Bones proves to be a step ahead.

New single ‘Nephilim’ featuring The Beijing Philharmonic Orchestra is out digitally May 4th

Written by Nadja Sayej

Photo Credits:

Photo by: Antonello Trio

Hair: Ernesto Montenovo

Styling: Ramona Tabita

Make-up:  Elena Pivetta

[iamebonybones]

Coming Soon: ‘Nephilim’ by Ebony Bones ft. The Beijing Philharmonic Orchestra

Director: Ebony Bones & AndreaZ Producer: Ebony Bones Editor: Maxim Young & Biki @ Gorilla Editors Art Director: Vittorio Marchetti Creative Director: Ebony Bones Production Assistant: Olivier Ubbesen DoP: Ebony Bones Styling: Ramona Tabita Wearing: Yves Saint Laurent & Manish Arora Hair: Ernesto Montenovo Make-Up: Cate P Camera: Vincent Willommet

Written & Composed by: Ebony Bones Produced by: Ebony Bones String Arrangement: Ebony Bones Edited by: Juliette Jones Mastered by: Emily Lazar / Lodge Mastering Mixed by: Ebony Bones & Adam Connor Orchestral Engineer : Lei ChangHang Studio Assistant: Akira Allman Studio Engineer: Adam Connor Drums: Ebony Bones Drum Programming: Ebony Bones Vocals: Ebony Bones Strings: The Beijing Philharmonic Orchestra Recorded @: Tweak Tone Labs Studio, Beijing China 

photos by @olivierubbesen

Behind The Scenes: Making of ‘Nephilim’ ft The Beijing Philharmonic Orchestra

String Musicians: Pang kuo🎻Liu xiao🎻Ni bingxue🎻Yang shuang🎻Gao yan🎻Zhang lei🎻Yin yue🎻Zhong linong 🎻Cui xiaolei🎻Hou yuhong🎻Tang xin🎻Liu xing🎻Gao xuesi🎻Volodya baran🎻He hui🎻Bi fang Mi wei🎻Fang zhenhua🎻Lang ying🎻Shi yunbo🎻Chen junjie🎻Su guanyu🎻Zhou xu🎻Yu hai

[iamebonybones]

MAKING THE NEW ALBUM: BLACK SALOON STUDIOS

Grammy Award Winning Mastering Engineer Mandy Parnell of Black Saloon Studios, Is The Sonic Guru Behind Many Of Your Favourite Albums.

Girls compete with each other, but women empower one another. Although only 5% of solo music Producers and Engineers are women, I've had the huge pleasure of working alongside the industry's very best, including New York's Grammy award winning mastering engineer Emily Lazar of Lodge Mastering and Grammy award winning mastering engineer Mandy Parnell, who also worked alongside me on the previous album 'Behold A Pale Horse' which featured The Mumbai Symphony Orchestra.

Behold A Pale Horse recorded at YRF Studios Mumbai, India & Miloco Studios London

As one of a few women in the male-dominated production world, Mandy is one of Europe's leading mastering engineers, where the likes of Bjork, Brian Eno, Aphex Twin and more come to hear their finished tracks. However it is her work on Björk’s albums Biophilia, Vulnicura and Utopia, that Mandy is perhaps best known.

“Luckily, at Black Saloon Studios we have a reputation of working with the best artists and Producers such as yourself, who are not afraid to break down existing genre boundaries and challenge the prevailing mainstream mentality.“

“The herd mentality. It's an age old problem really, but with the popularity of social media it has taken off to another level..”

Working alongside her mastering partner Martin Korth, it was nice to return to the UK following recordings in Beijing and New York for the new album, to master tracks featuring The Beijing Philharmonic Orchestra at Black Saloon in London. As a Producer and songwriter, I enjoy being present throughout every step of the albums creation, (including mastering) and as two of the most inspiring individuals I’ve met in the industry, it was a pleasure to sit down and learn from such inventive and creative minds. I caught up with Mandy's mastering partner Martin for a few questions..

What’s the best advice you’ve been given? That's got to be 'trust your instincts'. Because we learn so much, technical and otherwise, that we sometimes forget to listen to that inner voice that knows what is right. And a lot of the time it is, even if we can not quantify why. Not that we should ignore all that we've learnt, but we should not base all our decision making on a set of rules and logical conclusions alone. The problem we face is that instinct is not taught at schools or universities - the more educated we get, the more we forget to use the tool we already have since early childhood.

“There is all this talk about individualism, 'out of the box' thinking and other flashy terms but it is all an illusion. We are more into the same thing than ever before..”

What is your proudest achievement in work? I don't really know. It feels like a step back if I knew, limiting in a sense what I can achieve later. I like to see what happens, what life throws my way, and take my best shot at it. I'd say personally I got the most satisfaction from projects that push the boundaries and break the rules that were there before, defining something new in the process. Working on Bjork’s album Vulnicura and then with her Björk Digital virtual reality project was such a thing where the whole idea of a static mix was overthrown as the mix had to be dynamically created in real time depending on the position and orientation of the viewer. And everything with 360 degree immersion, rendered down through a regular 2-channel headphone. To approach mix and mastering for VR, we first had to invent and create a new toolset to then carry out the work with, because none of the standard tools sounded right for the level of immersion we needed to create. That kind of thing, the challenge, is what drives me. The achievement is just a badge, saying 'been there, done that'.

"No matter how good the artist and the songs are, that just can not be a healthy environment for music or art in general if the whole pie is only divided by a handful at the top.."

“We should not base all our decision making on a set of rules and logical conclusions alone. The problem we face is that instinct is not taught at schools or universities..“

Whats your favourite city? When I used to go on tour as a front of house sound engineer, my favourite thing was to explore cities in the afternoons between soundcheck and show. After seeing so many different cities on different continents, it's a difficult choice. And a lot of them have something special about them, something that makes you want to go back there. Zurich is where I lived for the longest time and it is an amazing city. It's got all the features and amenities of a large city but yet it is small in size and never feels congested. The public transport system must be one of the best in Europe and I still end up going on foot to most places, it's that compact. Nonetheless, just like with music, I still like to explore new places and my favourite city might be somewhere out there, waiting to be discovered.

"I can proudly say I’ve not had a single day of formal training in this job.."

What do you like most about the age we live in? The availability of and access to information. When I was a teenager, the internet was just in its infancy, so I've still experienced a good bit of pre-internet time. But the rise of the internet changed pretty much everything, I would not want to miss it. We can now communicate online, we can work online, we can shop online, but most importantly we can educate ourselves online and that is what we should take advantage of because a lot if knowledge can be found on there, some of it even completely free of charge. Me becoming an audio engineer? It all started with spending hours studying message boards on the internet and just jumping in head first, experimenting with a multitrack cassette recorder. I can proudly say I've not had a single day of formal training in this job. In this age, we can be whatever we want to be. But it should also be our duty to ensure that it stays that way for the coming generation, to keep/make it available to everyone and free from censorship.

Behold A Pale Horse mastered by Mandy Parnell

[iamebonybones]

MAKING OF ‘NEPHILIM’ VIDEO : BIKI GURUNG OF GORILLA EDITORS 

To make a movie analogy, a music producer is basically the Director of a song. Recently taking time away from touring to write and Produce the forthcoming new album, (which features The Beijing Philharmonic Orchestra) - I had the huge pleasure of making my directorial debut for the new video of ‘Nephilim’ working alongside a phenomenal group of like minded individuals. This included editing with the lovely folks at Gorilla Editors. 

The brain child of Maxim Young, Gorilla are a portable editing boutique who bring the skills and experience of a traditional edit house to a new way of working, combined with the flexibility of a varied roster of talented editors. One of which was the very talented Biki, from the city of Pokhara, Nepal near the Himalayan mountains. From editing campaigns for the industry’s leading players including Adidas and Puma, I caught up with the young Nepalese editor for a few questions..

“From working on campaigns for Adidas, to working alongside great artist and directors like you - I’ve gained so much experience”

What’s the best advice you’ve been given?

The best advice I received was from my sixth form tutor, advising me to specialise in video editing. If it wasn't for her advice, I might have missed out on all the amazing people I've met and all the knowledge and experience I gained from working on the projects with those individuals, or all the friends I made from choosing this career path.

“Social media and people who feel the need to post or make an Instagram or snapchat story for every little thing they do.“

What is your proudest achievement in work?

Its great being a part of the team at Gorilla, from working on campaigns for Adidas, to working alongside great artist and directors like you - I’ve gained so much experience. However I think my proudest moment would have to be a holiday video I made in Italy with my girlfriend and her nan. The video itself wasn't technically or creatively "good" to be considered my proudest work but what makes it special was how much her and her family loved it. It filled me with pride to see them so moved by what I created.

“Whenever I visit my family, I always look forward to seeing the Himalayas..”

What do you most dislike about contemporary culture?

Social media and people who feel the need to post or make an Instagram or snapchat story for every little thing they do.

Whats your favourite city? Pokhara, Nepal. Whenever I visit my family there I always look forward to seeing the Himalayas. 

What do you like most about the age we live in? 

Definitely, how well everyone is connected. It is so easy to stay in contact with friends and family no matter where they live! Unless ofcourse they don't have internet I guess..

Stay tuned for the upcoming full video for ‘Nephilim’ www.gorrilia.tv

[iamebonybones]

MEANWHILE IN NYC

Wearing black, to mourn my apathy..

Photos by @olivierubbesen 

[iamebonybones]

BROOKLYN MUSEUM: ‘DAVID BOWIE IS’ EXHIBITION

Born in Brixton, David Bowie showed us we could be who we wanted to be. From Brixton to Brooklyn, the new exhibit at The Brooklyn Museum tells Bowie’s story through costume, film, photography and set designs as well as more personal items such as musical scores, storyboards, lyrics and even diary entries. 

The exhibition reveals the breadth of Bowie’s influence, explores his creative processes and, in turn his influence on our world. It even features one of our favourite backing vocalists and artists Klaus Nomi. 

Bowie, husband of model Iman, gave the late Luther Vandross his first professional break as a backing singer. He promoted individualism and freedom and continues to inspire artists, designers and musicians with his distinctive sound and vision. Thank you Brooklyn Museum for the invite. 

[iamebonybones]

JULIETTE JONES & DIRECTOR DEE REES

Director of Oscar nominated ‘Mudbound’, Dee Rees enlists our girl and fellow composer Juliette Jones for Oscar's Samsung ad

With Juliette also featured performing violin, the Dee Rees directed ad debuted during the Academy Awards and also boasts well known faces including Insecure’s Issa Rae, Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi, and Fresh Off the Boat’s Constance Wu, as well as up-and-coming creators.

Art like life is all about collaboration - like minded individuals coming together to create change and shift the narrative through different mediums..

(*Composer Juliette Jones)

Seamlessly weaving advice from more well-known creators alongside up and coming ones, the commercial argues that a certain level of acclaim does not make your advice more valuable than someone else’s. Your drive and willingness to create does.

(*Director Dee Rees and Cinematographer Rachel Morrison)

Art like life is all about collaboration - like minded individuals coming together to create change and shift the narrative through different mediums. I had the huge honour of collaborating with New York violinist and composer Juliette Jones who assisted me in Asia with orchestral arrangements for The Beijing Philharmonic Orchestra>. As an avid performer and highly sought-after musician, founding her own string production company, Rootstock Republic - Jones has been enlisted by everyone from Oscar and Grammy winner Hans Zimmer, to Stevie Wonder,  Franc Ocean to Pharrell Williams, Jimmy Fallon and yours truly. Check out our interview with the wonderful Miss Jones below:

(*Exciting times ahead - NY fun with Juliette Jones)

What’s the best advice you’ve been given?

It’s a tie: “Trust your gut; it’s your God-voice” and “Listen with your mouth closed.” Living in a city like New York where you’re surrounded by abundance–of just about everything–it’s really a crucial part of my sustainability to be able to get quiet and really listen when there’s so much physical noise, mental chatter and energetic stimulation. And inside of that reality, there’s the beautiful and sometimes tumultuous “everydayness” of being an artist in a city like NY. There’s a pre-conceived notion about being in a cut-throat environment; and while the city is not devoid of that, the presiding reality is that the community you build around you really helps to shape your experience. My community affirms and inspires the necessary stillness and quiet and God-voice intuition. To be honest, sometimes it really feels like a “superpower” to be able to get quiet enough to really ‘hear’ and feel what’s “right” in a given moment. Especially if I have to make big decision, my default is to retreat to create a sanctuary where I can think without distraction or unsolicited input.

“I don’t exactly fit the status quo–and never have–and that has always compelled a lot of curiosity.."

(*Ebony & The Beijing Philharmonic Orchestra)

What is your proudest achievement in work?

I’m proud of every step on my path. I say that because we’re not socialized to celebrate process and small steps. It all counts and was ordered for me to arrive exactly where I am right now. I’d say that founding my own string production company, Rootstock Republic is currently my proudest achievement. The incredible work that we’re doing, and the legacy that we’re working so hard to etch for our children’s children’s children. The company is comprised of 20 and 30-something year olds who are equally dedicated to thinking beyond the scope of the present. And the vision that seeded the company was really an imagining of something that I always believed was possible but didn’t see enough of–creating more space for innovative, provocative, ground-breaking, versatile string players of color. It was kind of a gamble, but one I couldn’t afford not to bet on.

“The freedom to create, to disrupt, to shift trajectory..”

A Black woman, Classically-trained Violinist from the predominantly white suburbs of Buffalo, NY founding her own string-based company? I’m laughing just saying it aloud. Let’s just say, I don’t exactly fit the status quo–and never have–and that has always compelled a lot of curiosity. But, trusting my intuition and having the unmeasurable support of my sister, Anaxet Jones (also the company’s legal consultant) and best friend, Jarvis Benson (Principal Violist, Client Consultant, Personnel Manager)–both Executive Members of the company–has created a wide launchpad for the success we’ve garnered since Rootstock’s founding in 2014. We have worked in film, music, video games, dance and theater; and have partnered with some incredible institutions like Red Bull, Apple, Interscope and Tidal; and worked in collaboration with groundbreaking artists like Aretha Franklin, John Legend and Janelle Monae.

 “Like, really, what will the result of our efforts, our output, our current impact look like in the next 50 years?”

(*The Beijing Philharmonic Orchestra)

What do you most dislike about contemporary culture?

This is easy and my answer is short: A general sense of entitlement and lack of cultural accountability. The draw towards instant gratification, political complacency and narrow social advocacy for human rights outside the shape or scope of our own personal needs and interests. Our ancestors taught us so much, equipped us with so many tools and left too many lessons for us not to do better than we currently are. We need to think of the bigger picture, future trajectory; we need to operate from a position of legacy. Like, really, what will the result of our efforts, our output, our current impact look like in the next 50 years?

“We’re living in a time of heightened creativity and innovation, and that’s really inspiring to be a part of and to bear witness to..“

Whats your favourite city?

I’m a proud New Yorker. I’m from Buffalo, NY to be exact, went to college in Baltimore and have gratefully traveled the globe; but NYC, Harlem in particular, has been my home for almost 10 years and no matter where I go, it still has my heart. The spirit, the creativity, the innovation, the grit, the community, access to resources, sense of fearlessness here–there’s really no place else quite like it. There’s a sense of wonderment about this place that I’ve never experienced anywhere else. It doesn’t mean NY doesn’t have her moments, because sometimes she really tries it (lol), but I feel like I’ve reached a place of balance in my relationship to and with this New York City

What do you like most about the age we live in?

The freedom to create, to disrupt, to shift trajectory. The access to information is a powerful tool in the right hands. We’re living in a time of heightened creativity and innovation, and that’s really inspiring to be a part of and to bear witness to. May it all be for the good of our communities, our planet, and the legacy we’ll respectively leave behind.

Excited for you to hear the collab..

[iamebonybones]

ART DIRECTOR : VITTORIO MARCHETTI

Sought after by the industry’s leading players from Dior to Nike and Levi’s, I caught up with Art Director Vittorio Marchetti during Milan Fashion Week, about being one of the industry’s youngest heavyweights..

“From being enlisted by Dior and Nike to working with great artists and composers like you, I’m proud of everything I've done..”

(*Dior campaign by Vittorio Marchetti)

What’s the best advice you’ve been given?

Definitely one of the most important advice from a professional point of view comes from my university professor. We have to have fun while we do our work, anxiety and stress are the worst enemy in our field.

“With access to information galvanizing and bringing people together, we are able to artistically produce diverse and important work that will stand the test of time.”

(*Vittorio Marchetti, Ebony Bones, Ramona Tabita, Cate P, Andrea Z) 

What is your proudest achievement in work?

I am still very young, all the jobs I have done will definitely contribute to something, but at 22 from being enlisted by Dior and Nike to working with great artists and composers like you, I’m proud of everything I've done whilst being quite young. I just want it to grow organically and professionally.

(*Nike campaign by Vittorio Marchetti)

What do you most dislike about contemporary culture?

Globalization and Social Networks

What’s your favourite city?

Paris, but I would like to discover new realities.

What do you like most about the age we live in?

This culture has succeeded in creating opportunities that developed from a smart phone. With the access to information galvanizing and bringing people together we are able to artistically produce diverse and important work that will stand the test of time and always be remembered. Transformation of technology has allowed us to create new opportunities and new methods of futuristic thinking,

[iamebonybones]

MAKE UP ARTIST: CATE P

Enlisted by some of our favourite brands, commercials and celebs, Cate P is one of France’s most in demand make-up artists. Studying at The London College of Fashion and collaborating with some of the biggest national and international magazines including The New York Times’ T Magazine, and Vogue, I caught up with the French-Cameroon make-up artist for a few questions..

“People don’t talk anymore. We communicate digitally through cellphones and computers..” 

What’s the best advice you’ve been given?

To be on time. Whilst living in New York I have been told, you can be the best make-up artist in the world, but if you are always late people will not book you. Which thankfully wasn’t my case, lol. But I still appreciated the advice. I received it as advice to take your work seriously.

What is your proudest achievement in work?

Aswell as working alongside artists like you, some of my proudest achievements are the small things in life such as doing make-up on individuals who might be ill, or perhaps have issues in their lives and something as simple as doing their make-up makes them smile and feel better.

What do you most dislike about contemporary culture?

People don’t talk anymore. We communicate digitally through cellphones and computers but when people are face to face it’s not the same

What is your favourite city?

I would love to visit Senegal, but I also love Rome. I feel like Senegal might replace Rome as my favorite place, but for the moment it’s definitely Rome in Italy.

“I like seeing diversity and inclusion increasing...”

What do you like most about the age we live in?

I like seeing diversity and inclusion increasing, and that there are less difficult access and boundaries within the creative fields.

[iamebonybones]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHN LENNON

‘As usual, there is a great woman behind every idiot.’ - John Lennon

Happy Birthday to Jonh Lennon on what would have been his 77th Birthday!

The ‘great woman’ behind John Lennon is ofcourse Yoko Ono, and I was extremely honoured to be enlisted by Yoko for her last album ‘Yes I’m A Witch Too’ featuring my re-work of ‘No Bed For Beatle John’

Originally recorded by John Lennon at Queen Charlotte’s Hospital in London‘No Bed For Beatle John’ was an attempt by Lennon and Ono to make a record of their life together. Featured on “Unfinished Music” Lennon described it as “Saying whatever you want it to say. It is just us expressing ourselves like a child does..What we’re saying is make your own music”

ONO album cover by Karl Lagerfeld

[iamebonybones]

MEANWHILE IN PARIS.. 🇫🇷

Carefree Caribbean getting her 5 a day ;)

[iamebonybones]

STREET ART 360

(Ebony Bones by Street Artist - Jay Kaes - Brick Lane, London)

Street art is a city's outdoor museum. Not just phenomenal to look at, it often functions as a gateway into the underlying social, cultural, or political concerns of the setting in which it appears. 

Graffiti, murals, —street art takes on various names, but one thing that rings true across the world is the cultural relevance behind these works of art. One of the reasons for the increase in popularity, oddly, is the Internet. Thanks to robust blog and website coverage, each and every new wall gets seen well beyond the immediate locale. I spoke to my dear friend Laurent Jacquet, editor and founder of leading street art website Street Art 360 for a few questions..

What’s the best advice you’ve been given?

“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life." said Confucius. Working for and with street artists and graffiti artists has made my passion my living. My soul, my eyes, my heart is inspired everyday.

“Unfortunately there's many who still believe urban art is tags and vandalism..”

(*Ebony Bones by Street Artist Vinie Graffiti - London)

What is your proudest achievement in work? 

It's in the future, though soon. Although this won't be stagnant, nothing is for ever. Change is my inspiration. 

What do you most dislike about contemporary culture?

The negativity of those who have yet to discover. My intention is to try to change this positively. For example unfortunately there's many who still believe urban art is tags and vandalism. However this seems to be rapidly changing with the everyday increasing viewers, and positive feed back from my publications in streetart360.net 

“Social media communication is something of a paradox I feel. Positively, the creativity, arts, information, aesthetic beauty around the world now available to us all - whilst also unfortunately providing a platform to those who promote the worst in humankind..”

(Street art by artist Bart Smates)

“Working for and with street artists and graffiti artists has made my passion my living. My soul, my eyes, my heart is inspired everyday.“

What’s your favourite city?

Ouahh ... the list is so long. I can't make any one choice. New-york for its eclectic mix of culture, Berlin for its creativity, Paris because it's my birth city, Roma for its history and sun,London for its energetic vibe, and of course Edinburgh for its romantism  ... Barcelona, Amsterdam. 

(New work of Ebony Bones by artist Jay Kaes in Brick Lane, London)

What do you like most about the age we live in?

Internet and social media communication which is something of a paradox i feel. Positively, the creativity, arts, information, aesthetic beauty around the world now available to us all whilst also unfortunately providing a platform to those who promote the worst in humankind. i love your music and its originality Ebony. Continue to please us. 

Check out one of the world’s leading street art sites here:

www.streetart360.net

https://twitter.com/StreetArt360

[iamebonybones]

STYLE QUEEN : RAMONA TABITA

Fashion Editor and Stylist  Ramona Tabita Began Her Career In The World of Fashion Enlisted by Vogue Italia as the Fashion Bible’s Online Editor

Fashion editor, eclectic stylist and dear friend, Ramona Tabita began her career in the world of fashion enlisted by Vogue Italia as the fashion bible’s online editor, under legendary Vogue matriarch Franca Sozzani. Branching out and defining a style that is now recognisable, Miss Tabita has collaborated with the world’s biggest international brands including Versace,Missoni and Alberta Ferretti and is now sought after by the industry's leading players.

Truly embrassing the meaning of diversity - Ramona has styled shoots for some of our favourite brands, commercials and celebs

“I’m scared that for young women the modern icon is Kim Kardashian..“

For Ramona, working in fashion doesn’t seem like a career choice, but a fate that she could not resist. Born in Sicily, studied in Rome and living in Milan - growing up, Ramona was raised in a very fashion forward family, and as a result, an organic interest in styling was born. 

“Approaching the creative process with the innocence of a child..“

Deeply embedded in the fashion world, she began with a passion for photography, writing and creativity. With years working in the fashion industry under her belt and truly embrassing the meaning of diversity - Ramona has styled shoots for some of our favourite brands, commercials and celebs. She notes that her career is not always as glamorous as many may imagine it, attesting that nothing comes easily. Collaborating with the biggest national and international fashion magazines, I caught up with the Italian style queen and dear friend for a few questions..

What's the best advice you’ve been given?

Always approaching the creative process with the innocence of a child. Instinct, as if no one had ever explained to you how to do it. I always apply this to my work. When styling, I don't think about the tendencies or trends of the moment or even the looks on the catwalk. I close my eyes and think of dressing a child that discovers a world of clothes in her mother's closet.

Valentino & Ebony Bones

https://www.facebook.com/REDValentino/posts/10153561046777697

“Beauty is great, but it shouldn’t be the only source of your self-confidence”

What is your proudest achievement in work?

I'm quite ambitious, so it's really difficult to say. I can say there is still so much work I would love to do

What do you most dislike about contemporary culture?

Beauty is great, but it shouldn’t be the only source of your self-confidence. I don't like the relationship between teenagers, young girls and their bodies. They post pornographic pics onto social networks but don't even realize it. There is a difference between true confidence and needing external acceptance. I'm scared that for young women the modern icon is Kim Kardashian.

What's your favourite city?

The city I find absolutely magical and full of opportunities has to be Paris. Yes my favourite city is definitely Paris.

(*Ebony Bones - Vogue Italia)

What do you like most about the age we live in?

If a person is determined to become famous, they can do so via social media, even if the individual lives in a small suburban village and never leaves his bedroom. Yes this is the era of 'opportunities'.

Good news for all you gregarious hermits ;)

[iamebonybones]

DAVID BENRIMON FINE ART

Veteran New York gallery owner David Benrimon, began his career in the art world working with legendary artists Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein.

The creative brilliance and emotive power of artists such as Basquiat, Warhol, Picasso and Frida Kahlo continues to have a huge impact and influence on a wide range of artists, filmmakers, and musicians. With the recent sale of Jean Michel Basquiat's "Untitled" selling for a record breaking $110Million, setting a record price for any American artist - the art market continues to demonstrate its resilience to the financial sector with robust sales.

(*’Rinso’ by Jean Michel Basquiat via David Benrimon Fine Art)

Veteran New York gallery owner David Benrimon born and bred in France, began his career in the art world working with legendary pop artists Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. Now with over 30 years of professional experience in the art industry, he founded David Benrimon Fine Art in 2002 located in Manhattan’s Crown Building to advise collectors on today's dynamic art world. Specialising in Impressionist, Modern, and established Contemporary artists, focusing on the acquisition and sale of original paintings and sculpture by a wide range of distinguished artists, including Jean Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, Frida Kahlo, Matisse, KAWS, Monet, Keith Haring, and Roy Lichtenstein, Botero, Salvador Dalí and Picasso, kindly donating drawings from the later to the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation.

(*Marilyn Monroe by Andy Warhol via David Benrimon Fine Art)

“We live in an age where anything is possible - the opportunities for creativity are endless.”

From featuring at art fairs including Miami Art Basel, and Art New York, to exhibiting works by renowned husband-and-wife duo François-Xavier & Claude Lalanne and recently representing a selection of paintings by Oscar-winning actor and artist Adrien Brody, David’s appreciation and passion for art are infectious.  I caught up with New York's top gallery owner and good friend for a few questions..

“My proudest achievement in work is to have my children working with me. I work in the most beautiful business and am happy they can continue it.“

What's the best advice you’ve been given? 

The best advice is to always smile and crack a joke. People can be too serious and it's a good way to lighten the mood and catch them off guard.

What is your proudest achievement in work? 

My proudest achievement in work is to have my children working with me. I work in the most beautiful business and am happy they can continue it.

(*’Untitled’ by Lauren Benrimon via David Benrimon Fine Art)

What do you most dislike about contemporary culture? 

Though technology is a good thing, sometimes you miss that personal touch. Too much is done by emails instead of in person or even a phone call.

What's your favourite city? 

My favorite city is New York (shocker!) but it truly is the best city in the world. My other favorites include London and Paris as they are all hubs of music, art and culture.

What do you like most about the age we live in? 

We live in an age where anything is possible - the opportunities for creativity are endless.

(*Veteran New York gallery owner David Benrimon and actor/artist Adrien Brody)

http://www.benrimon.com/

[iamebonybones]

THESE BOOTS WERE MADE FOR STALKING

(*Image from Take Over Art Exhibition, Switzerland by street-artist Jay Caes)

Often a professional, successful woman can be a target for a stalker, especially if they or their work – appears in the public domain.

Stalking is one of the most frequently experienced forms of abuse globally, with statistics showing up to 7.5 million people stalked in the U.S per year - 61% are female victims. That’s 1 in 6 women. 700,000 women in the UK are stalked each year according to data from the Crime Survey of England and Wales although the British Crime Survey estimated 5 million people experience stalking yearly. Nearly one in three women in France have been victims of stalking in their life - one of the highest rates throughout Europe according to the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights.

According to new figures, Cyberstalking is now far more prevalent globally than face to face stalking and harassment, with many victims finding themselves pursued by complete strangers. With social media and other online methods making a stalker's task that much easier, the popularity of such sites means that cyberstalking can be done at the touch of a button. Inexpensive cell phone spy software, now makes it easier than ever for the average person to spy on a mobile phone from any country - rather than waiting at someone's house and following them wherever they go.

It’s all part of the on going issue of violence against women and girls.

There are many misconceptions about what stalking is. Described as ‘a criminal activity consisting of the repeated pursuing and harassing of another person’ - stalking is far from romantic. It’s about fixation and obsession and most of all it’s oppressive aswell as insidious, and can escalate to rape and even murder. 

To add to a long list of female specific problems, a women’s job could also make her more susceptible to stalkers . Yes, there’s a certain breed of stalkers who only seek to silence women. They are not attracted to their victims and don't even know them personally, but harass and ‘police’ women holding high-visibility jobs or positions normally held by men. Bent on ruining their reputations and self-perceptions of women who somehow or in some way challenge the status quo. They have no desire for a relationship with their victims, but yearn for a sense of power and control, sadistically finding pleasure in gathering information about their victim (sometimes fantasising about assaulting them, physically and sexually). But what drives an angry man-child to harass and cyberstalk women? The answer is pretty simple in short, these scumbags are bullies - they desperately need to feel bigger and better than someone else. Often a professional, successful woman can be a target for a stalker, especially if they or their work – appears in the public domain.

TODAY IN TOXIC FRAGILE MASCULINITY ✨

These stalkers and those they persuade to ‘stalk by proxy’ – stand in the way of gender equality.

The celebrity hacking scandal showed that even famous, successful women were victims to cyber abuse by fragile males who used nude photos as a weapon to silence and humiliate women - as if by doing so asserted some sort of power or dominance in the world. According to Stalking Crimes and Victim Protection, males who abuse, stalk and harass are likely motivated by jealousy, envy, insecurity, fragile identities and a desperate need to assert their masculinity (or lack thereof.)

Look Who's Stalking

So who are these creepy cyber-stalkers who seek to silence women? Who are these sick and lonely cowards who abuse the anonymity of the web as their only possibility to molest others? According to recent studies, many stalkers suffer from forms of mental illness including depression, substance abuse, and often Borderline Personality Disorder. However stalkers are not homogenous - they are motivated by different things and that motivator may oscillate over time. Not all stalkers have a mental disorder. However, when people fixate it's clear there are psychological issues of some description. This is why a mental health evaluation by a professional trained in stalking is important.

Women of colour face cyber-stalking and online harassment more than any other group, followed by caucasian women and then men of colour.

So is this a gender issue? Normally the most dangerous cases tend to be. It’s all part of what’s going on with violence against women and girls. What's most disturbing is a serious concern that many women might avoid positions that put them in the public eye, or jobs normally held by men - because they fear being harassed and stalked. These handful of cyber-stalkers, and those they persuade to ‘stalk by proxy’ online – could stand in the way of gender equality.

‘Im not Stalking, I’m just investigating’: Yes these stalkers as a group, have an impressive capacity to use moral licensing to rationalise, minimise and excuse their behaviors. They like to hide behind ‘credibility’ and go to extreme measures to track and attack professional women, by attacking their reputations, then ‘gaslighting’ them with vile smear campaigns.

So is this a race issue? According to Danielle Keats Citron’s book, Hate Crimes in Cyberspace, Women of colour face cyber-stalking and online harassment more than any other group globally, followed by caucasian women and then men of colour. White males are least likely to be harassed online, and when they are, they are largely targeted or attacked for being gay. 

PALADIN: LAURA RICHARDS

(*Laura Richards: Former head of Scotland Yard's Homicide Prevention Unit, FBI adviser & Founder and Director of Paladin, National Stalking Advocacy Service)

So how best to deal with these cyberstalkers? I had countless friends and peers in the industry who had endured years of cyberstalking, harrasment and even death threats, all in silence. I wanted to find out more about this damaging abuse afflicting millions across the globe, so spoke with former head of Scotland Yard's Homicide Prevention Unit, Laura Richards. Founder and Director of Paladin, the world’s first National Stalking Advocacy Service. Laura who seconded to the FBI and trained at the Behavioural Analysis Units in Quantico, is one of the world’s leading Criminal Behavioural Analyst and has trained thousands of police officers, and specialist professionals across the world including Europol, European Homicide Working Group, National Centre for the Analysis of Violent Crime, New South Wales Police, Australia, South African Police (SAPs), Johannesburg and more.

“It's the double standards and casual sexism that is commonplace, along with abuse and death threats that happens at the click of a button online, when we dare voice our opinion with serious impact - just because we are women.“

Paladin was set up following the highly successful All Party Parliamentary Stalking Law Reform Campaign spearheaded by Laura, which led to stalking becoming a criminal offence in 2012. After a decade of analysing violent crime at New Scotland Yard Laura became the violence adviser to the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) With a minimum sentence of 10yrs for cyberstalking, Laura helps to hunt down stalkers, and her organisation Paladin are currently doing wonderful work to build stalking cases, support victims, aswell as working to create a serial stalker register as most stalkers are regular offenders.

What's the best advice you’ve been given?

Believe and trust in yourself - you can do and be anything you want.

What is your proudest achievement in work?

Successfully spearheading two major law reform campaigns on stalking and domestic violence to better protect victims in England and Wales. The stalking law reform campaign was the shortest most successful campaign in Parliament (achieved in 15 months), I was told, until the domestic violence law reform campaign (achieved in 12 months). The domestic violence law whereby coercive control became a crime in 2015 is the first law of it's kind in the world. My hope is that other countries will follow suit.

And, of course, there's Paladin, National Stalking Advocacy Service - the only trauma informed national stalking advocacy service in the world, which has assisted over 2000 victims since it's launch in 2013. Without this service, so many would have suffered in silence. The team are lifelines to many.

What do you most dislike about contemporary culture?

The shit girls and women deal with on a daily basis and feel we have to put up with, and simply shouldn't. It's the double standards and casual sexism that is commonplace and the abuse and death threats that happens at the click of a button online when we dare voice our opinion with serious impact just because we are women. Yet so many people say and do nothing about it.

Not all stalkers have a mental disorder. However, when people fixate it’s clear there are psychological issues of some description.

What's your favourite city?

London - it's my home city and when the sun is shining, simply put, it's hard to beat! Steeped in history and culture, surrounded by beautiful buildings and with a river running through it, the diversity of people, smattering of fabulous and unique bars, restaurants and music - what's not to love

What do you like most about the age we live in?

The ability to travel and explore. I love adventures and experiencing new cultures and with the shrinking world and ability to hop on a plane, why would you not? Next stop... the moon!

If you have been a victim of any form of stalking or would like help, contact Paladin 

Laura Richards: Criminal Behavioural Analyst www.laurarichards.co.uk

To Donate to Paladin please click here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/paladin-nsas/stalking-takes-lives