Posts

Verse iTal on Asylum Radio

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Haarlem , a city 15-minutes (via train) outside of Amsterdam, was the location of Verse iTal ’s second interview. Following the directions to the studio, we found ourselves walking through a residential area, questioning whether we were in fact going the right way. Arriving at the given address, we didn’t know what to expect, as it was an apartment building but I could hear music coming from one of the floors above making me semi-confident that we were in the correct spot.  DJ Spy, the host of the live streaming show on Asylum radio , greeted us warmly into his apartment, which as it turned out doubled as his studio. He had an impressive broadcasting set up and his neat room was complete with a coffee table of snacks for his guests! (Thanks for the peanut M&M’s!) Now I must mention here that I have never seen someone (efficiently) do so many things at the same time. I mean this guy was doing duties that would normally take a whole team to do… and at lightening fast speed...

Exploring Vondelpark, Amsterdam

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Large green open spaces are as important to a city as vacations are to working folk. You just need them to keep your sanity! Being able to leave the noise, pace and grime of the concrete jungle and easily enter a peaceful oasis is an invaluable resource to any city dweller. Amsterdam has over 30 beautiful parks to unwind in. One lovely park was very near to our flat but we heard so much about Vondelpark we made it a priority to visit. The 70-acre Vondelpark has the distinction of being not only the largest one in Amsterdam but also the most popular park in the Netherlands.  Even on cold days, like the ones on which we visited, Vondelpark is alive! Many people were out exercising, dog walking, bike riding and taking leisurely strolls. The parks facilities include restaurants and cafés, several areas for kids to play (including a wooden climbing area….yes we climbed through it lol), lakes to sit near to and relax and a beautifully landscaped garden filled with colourful tulip...

Verse iTal on LionFace Radio

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Not many people can say that when they visited Amsterdam they went to local radio stations. Yeah, not a normal stop on the tourist trail I know, but when you’re rolling with Verse iTal , radio interviews are on the schedule. The first interview was on the two-hour reggae show ‘ LionFace Radio ’ and I was very impressed as we walked into their professional studio. Ras Mikeyy, the host of the show, was already on air when we arrived and Verse jumped right in as his special guest. With DJ Orangekid mixing the tunes, Verse iTal sang live in the studio and the online fans responded right away expressing their enjoyment of the vibes he brought. We were very grateful for the opportunity for iTal to be on the radio while in Amsterdam. Big thanks to Ania for putting Verse in touch with Ras Mikeyy! Here are some photos from the interview. A video of Verse in studio is coming soon! Verse iTal in the studio  Ras Mikeyy live and direct on the mike Verse iTal in studio with ...

Biking through the canals

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Amsterdam is such an interesting city. With so much to see and explore, it is so easy for visitors to keep themselves entertained. A very unique way to discover the city is via the canals that run through it. You can take a boat tour through the canals learning the history of the city and seeing the sights from the vantage point of the water. You can get a day pass for the canal buses to hop on and hop off at various ports near to your chosen destination. You can also have a canal cruise where you relax and enjoy a delicious meal. Can’t you picture yourself enjoying a pizza party with friends as you embark on an evening cruise? Another option exists though, and after a day of sightseeing Verse still had room for more adventure and suggested we rent some Canal Bikes . For 8 Euros, you can rent the canal bike for 1 hour and have the luxury of dropping it off at another mooring lower down in the canal system. In these 4-seater bikes, the front two people pedal just like you would...

Gone again... to Groningen

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Sitting near a window, I sleepily gazed out as we left Amsterdam on a Sunday afternoon. We were heading North via train on a two and a half hour trip to Groningen , for Verse iTal ’s next gig. Normally I would have curled up and had a blissful nap but we had to change trains in half an hour. Besides, I thought, “When next would I have the opportunity to gaze out and see the Netherlands landscape roll by?” We arrived to a cold and rainy Groningen and waited for DJ D-ONE, a Trini guy from the Herbalize it Sound System , and his girlfriend to meet us at the train station. While waiting, we marveled at the number of bicycles that had been left at the station. I don’t think I have ever seen that many bikes together in my life. All of them parked and chained outside the station as their owners probably went to some other town via train. When they arrived, our hosts informed us that this was a normal sight in this university town, as Groningen is known as the “World Cycling City”. ...

Emptiness by Verse iTal

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This is a video I made for the Trinidadian singer Verse iTal for his song "Emptiness". This, along with 11 tracks are on his latest Album "The Fullness". The video is comprised of still photographs, some strung together to create motion. Verse iTal's Album can be purchased on itunes at: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-fullness/id458471196 Enjoy!

Albert Cuyp Market

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Weaving between the thick crowd, my eyes darted from booth to booth marveling at all the products that were on offer at this bustling market. Here, one could satisfy both shopping cravings and food cravings all at once!  Stalls that line both side of the street sell a wide variety of items from clothes, fabric, suitcases, flowers, incense, toiletries, glasses and movies. While stalls selling food items like meat, cheese, fish, fruit, vegetables, nuts, chocolates, cake, local snacks and fresh juice are all mixed in between. Located on Albert Cuypstraat, the market is pretty easy to find but a good marker is that it is very near to the Heineken Experience . When you pass the Heineken brewery and continue walking on Ferdinand Bolstraat, you will soon see a sign pointing you towards the market. Otherwise, ask around and you will be sure to find it in no time!  We visited the market twice and did some shopping and sampling of the local snack Stroopwafel both times. Stroo...