#suedediary

#SuedeDiary Monday, October 23, 2017 (Pictured @artykarateparty and Michael Jackson) The El Rey Theatre on Wilshire is one of many Art Deco movie theaters around LA that have been converted into concert venues. The low stages to high ceiling square footage ratios make for sweet cubic tons of audio candy when consuming your favorite bands. Last night we ate until we burst. Naomi “Nai Palm” Saalfield offered a raw, organic and uncompromising serving of her latest release, Needle Paw. Alone onstage with her Thrasher Heavy Metal guitar named Michael Jackson and a few well placed monitors, Naipalm balanced us on a wolf’s fang and delivered an intimate concert to over a thousand souls who lifted their voices as she ran through new arrangements of Hiatus Kaiyote favorites Atari, Crossfire, Molasses, Borderline with My Atoms, tried on a few covers Electric Lady Land, Portishead’s Strangers, introduced us to Haiku and ended with an encore performance of Homebody. Her voice was delicate, forceful, syrupy and hoarse in the right moments. We stood alone there with her on the edge of our own expectations; surrounded by thousands of years of aboriginal influence that allowed us to traverse Pangea and take a leap towards the stars. #Needlepaw #debut #grammy #instagrammy #naomisaalfield #naipalm #hiatuskaiyote #ustour #la #latheatre (at El Rey)

#SuedeDiary Tuesday, October 17, 2017 (Pictured @TheRoots @BlackThought @QuestLove) Backstage at the new @thepaviliontmf in Texas before an amazing show. Shot on the @leicacamerausa D-Lux 109. @amazon @amazonmusic @livenation @livenationurban (at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory)

#SuedeDiary September, 24, 2017. Last year on this day, I attended the opening of the Smithsonian National Museum Of African-America History and Culture as a member of the social media awareness team. I covered the opening for @vibemagazine and @blackenterprise It was a humbling experience. I sat at the lunch counter there and considered the evolution of protest in America. It was sobering. Today I attended an event at the University of Virginia to raise awareness for racial equality in America as the social media manager for The Roots. It was inspiring to see music used as a tool for social change and political consciousness. Those in attendance we served awareness in the form of entertainment. I definitely felt the power of positive energy in that football stadium. And I'm sure the bands did too! Like the lunch counters, I felt that I was part of yet another historic moment. Not such a bad way to spend a Sunday. #Apeoplesjourney #NMAAHC #concert4cville #MusicAndUnity #DaveMathews #digital #content #marketing #manager #socialmedia #contentisking #direct #produce #edit #shoot #leica (at University of Virginia)

#SuedeDiary February 27, 2017 🎥 @dtodd "Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." -Pablo Picasso #respecttheshooter #bts #tour #theinternetpresentstheinternet #photography #depthoffield #portrait #backstage #latenight #earlymorning #band #live #performance #stage #capture (at The Fillmore Silver Spring)

#SuedeDiary November 18, 2017. (Pictured #JohnStewart @blackthought) Backstage The Theatre At Madison Square Garden. @HBO #NightOfTooManyStars @TheRoots #music #comedy #purpose #autism #newyork #philly #photography #digital #edit #produce #direct #content #shortform #media #film @leica_camera 🔴🎥 @iamsuede

#SuedeDiary Nov 18, 2017 (Pictured @chrisrock and @questlove) The Theatre At Madison Square Garden Backstage @HBO #NightOfTooManyStars Shot with @leica_camera #dlux109 #totalblackouttour #theroots #music #comedy #blackexcellence #brooklyn #philly #rockstars #black #digital #film #photography #broll 🔴🎥 @iamsuede (at Madison Square Theatre)

#SuedeDiary Tourè is a genius. An American Writer, Music Journalist, TV Host, Tennis player and avid chatter. The sheer number of conversations he’s had for the sake of sharing our stories and pushing the culture is dizzying. His gift of gab serves him well. Remember that R Kelly sit down!??! The work Tourè puts in is honest and polarizing. The brother is consistently on the side of blackness, even when blackness isn’t always there for him. Thanks to @itsallmind, I caught up with him on the eve of his new podcast and witnessed his magic first hand. Soon you can too! Look out for @toureshow mid November whereever fine podcasts are sold! It’s definitely for the culture. #fortheculture #toureshow #podcast #genius #interviews #africanamerican #writer #author #journalist #musicwriting (at Brooklyn, New York)

#SuedeDiary Once upon a time I️ lived in Fort Greene. Not the gentrified version. Pre 9-11 BKNY Then it was the Mecca of Blackness. You’d see people like Spike Lee, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Biggie and Jay Z on the regular. It was all love n Hip Hop, poetry sessions, dreads blunts and peace gods. As a young creative, it was inspiring. I️ saw an industry I️ wanted to be a part of, but hadn’t yet cracked. One day I️ returned home from my job as a photo assistant, just in time to hear on the radio (I️ didn’t own a tv) that the Grammy’s were happening that night at Madison Square Garden. I️ knew I️ had to be there. I️ got dressed in my finest vintage leather pea coat, big collar Gucci lace shirt, skinny black jeans, motorcycle boots, picked out my fro and hopped the train to the city. No ticket to the show. Only ambition and Blue Nile. I️ scoped out the celebrity entrance on 33rd and talked my way in. It was surprisingly easy! Once inside I️ was immediately approached by a walkie-talkie toting headsetted blonde who instructed me to follow her. Thought the jig was up! But she escorted me INTO the auditorium and sat me down NEXT to Lenny Kravitz. Gobsmacked! After a few award presentations and a performance by The Fuggees, the same young woman fetched me from my seat and rushed me backstage. We passed Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, Toni Braxton, and a whole Wu-Tang clan of stardom. I️ couldn’t believe it. I️ was backstage at The Grammy’s. But my world was about to come crashing down. The headsetted blonde returned and briskly escorted me into the wings and stood me next to Toni Braxton who greeted me with a hug and kiss on the cheek. The Headsetted blonde said into my ear, “I’m sure I️ don’t have to prep you for what’s about to happen and you’ve done this numerous times, but just read the TelePrompTer. You’re presenting the award for best rap album with Toni Braxton.” I️ stepped back and said, “I’m sorry but who do you think I️ am?!!?” She deadpanned, “You’re Maxwell.” I️ shook my head no and she looked at me with blue eyes the size of dinner plates before rushing off into the crowd whisper screaming into her walkie, “Does anyone have eyes on Fucking Maxwell!??!” (at Bedford-Stuyvesant)