About to lift off for another brilliant evening at BlueNoteRecordsFestival in Ghent. Wednesday was very nice, almost succeeded in convincing Shadow to do an interview, but the tour schedule was just too damn tight, too bad.

Thusfar I’ve only managed to properly arrange one interview, the rest of the bunch seems to be in superstarstatus. Which I can only respect.

However, I will still be knocking on management’s doors of the likes of Zap Mama, Guru and Sly Stone. Although chances to interview that last one are extremely small, but then again same went for Roy Ayers last year, when numerous attempts of setting up a meeting ended up in a nice long chat with Roy, about his sneakers, amongst many other topics - you’ll get the whole interview in one of the future podcasts, don’t you worry about that!

Anyway, I’m all into Sly & the Family Stone nowadays. Particularly this tune called “Babies making babies”, as featured on one of my favourite mixtapes, by Rob Swift.

And on that note, I’ll let Sly (on the photo to the right) himself do the rest of the talking. Read the Vanity Fair story on where he’s at nowadays, Or let’s go back, way back, back into the time:

There’s more Sly, here’s the man, the myth, living the life, basically:

Last month I joined Jan Peeters to interview Ben Westbeech, protégé of Gilles Peterson on his new label Brownswood Recordings.

A couple of hours before Ben Westbeech’s gig in Leuven, we join him for a beer and a relaxed chat in front of Leuven’s train station.

After having launched our joint criticism on the strange and not that well succeeded architectural combination of the neoclassical train station, its ultramodern canopy and the red brick bus station, our conversation takes of with Bristol, a safe haven for new electronical sounds coming from for instance Massive Attack, Tricky, Portishead and Roni Size. Bristol seems to be quite a heavily bass-influenced town… (Read the rest of the interview.)

And/or tune in right here:

Ben is performing live in Kortrijk this Saturday the 14th of July, sharing the stage with Jimi Tenor, all for free, so go check that out!

He’s also playing at Dour Festival, which is sold out for the first time, apparently.

Previously on on-point tv:
Dave Decat - Carhartt feature
Martha Cooper Interview
Soul:ID - epk

Damn, what can I say, here’s Baloji with Amp Fiddler in the studio. And then the third killer steps in the spot, and he goes by the name of Peter Lesage! It’s brilliant!

Baloji Live at BlueNoteRecordsFestival this Friday, can’t wait to see that show!

More Baloji video material:
Congo Music Video
SozyOne Gonzalez on the Album Artwork of Hotel Impala

Don’t know how many of you have seen Ricky Gervais’ stand-up performance, but I hadn’t. But guess what, it’s put online for us to enjoy. Entirely:

The rest of the chapters are to be clicked through, or you’ll find them right here.

More Ricky Gervais:
- Ricky Gervais on Letterman
- One Love - Ricky Gervais in Kenya
- Ricky Gervais leaked video for Microsoft

Last month I’ve made the EPK that’s accompanying the release of Soul:Id’s highly anticipated debut album ‘Sex, Love and Philosophy’

I’ve had some great times getting to know the band and I must say I’ve rarely seen such dedicated people, focussed on doing things the right way. Seeing things happen made me realise it actually is not so surprising they’re debuting on the infamous ABB Soul label in the States. (with releases in Japan and the UK following shortly after)

The album is a killer, it was featured in Billboard. Still, no press interest in Belgium, strange, isn’t it? I guess it’s the stereotypical story, you’ll have to succeed abroad before you get noticed. As you’ll see in the video though, the band has been touring internationally already.

ABB Soul made a nice e-card, in which the EPK is nicely featured, which is nice!

A video interview with tons of exclusive video material will be featured on on-point tv somewhere next month. Busy times on the editing tip, learning a lot of new tricks. Stay tuned for more tv, and needles to say, please spread the word. Because here’s what to expect:

- Graffiti Royal Video (ft. SozyoneGonzalez, Shake, Rekto, Olivier Stak, etc.)
- Ben Westbeech Interview
- Dave Decat Interview
- Soil&Pimp Sessions Interview
- BlueNoteRecordsFestival Interviews
- etc. etc.

And after that I’ve got another round of jobhunting to do.

Time for me to plug some more music. Live music. Funk music. Straight outta Brussels comes The Peas Project: an 11-piece live funk outfit, influenced by a dozen of genres and known for their strong live reputation.

I still have to edit the footage over their blazing gig at Jazzbreak just a while ago. I missed out on their Brussels Jazz Marathon show on the Grand Place but looking at the pictures on theirspace it looks like Brussels sure was put on fire that night!

Their debut album “This Is Our First Record” is in stores, I’ll hit you with some live footage later on, but for now, here’s their new clip: “Our Funk Process”.

For live dates, check their myspace, and to all bookers outside of Brussels, Book these cats!

Baloji is going strong. Another video was just uploaded. This time around a high-quality 9-minute feature. Listen and feel the vibe, it’s quite heavy if you ask me:

Love the camerawork and the editing too. More info on Baloji’s Hotel Impala album soon!

Lately I’ve been feeling the need to share some serious topics with you. About online and cultural trends, to be specific.

Some of you will probably find this quite boring, just know that these topics in fact àre all about you, so they do concern you. I’m sorry to say so but you won’t escape marketeers, you won’t escape the media, and since you’ve read this far already you’re damn far from escaping the web.

Introducing Andrew Keen, whose book “Cult of the Amateur - How Today’s Internet Is Killing Our Culture” seems to be growing into becoming the hype of the year.

Basically the web2.0 revolution (read: blogs competing newssites, youtube killing traditional tv watching, etc.) has always been looked at as being the democratisation of content.

The user taking over, making his own decisions, therefor liberating himself from the big corporations, serving other users with what they really want, not with what is dictated by major companies.

Keen, however, believes this is all a bunch of crap. Amateurs have indeed partially taken over the content-monopoly once driven by professional journalists, tv-makers, designers, etc. But this hasn’t given us the cultural revolution so many had hoped for.

Web2.0 has given opportunities to certain talented people, but the really big successes are, for instance, webcam videos about nothing, blogs about nothing, etc. So how does this justify the demonisation of classic media?

Being an amateur myself, I must say I don’t feel offended. On-point is not a political blog and I don’t think I ever pretended holding the truth.

I think it’s good to finally see someone stand up and take a stance against the crowdsourcing trend, a trend that is nice, but isn’t holy, I think.

Anyway. Stay tuned and think about it, these are the times we’re living in!

Here’s a Andrew Keen speaking at ‘Authors@Google’. I’ve made you a small selection of quotes, just for you to think about:

- “If we’re going to use the internet as a self-publicating platform, we nééd to have something to say. Otherwise it degenerates into a state of digital narcicissm where everything simply becomes a reflection of ourselves. We Twitter ourselves to death and we use the internet to tell the world what we had for breakfast or what we watched on televsion and that’s not valuable for ourselve or for any type of collective conversation.”

- “We need middlemen. We need experts. Whether experts are in marketing or in creativity, whether they’re in finding talent and figuring out how to polish it and distribute it. These are the core players in every media system..

- “The flattening of culture, the idealised web 2.0 system, where the intermediarists go away has profoundly unfortunate and often dangerous consequenses.”

- “Media literacy is the thing we need to build now. We have this open system, the challenge is to read it critically. The challenge is not to believe everything that is posted up on Wikipedia. The challenge is not to think that this sort of idealised media system can deliver us truth. -…- Truth is even harder to find.”

“The great seduction of the internet is to become a broadcaster ourselves, to use it as a platform to express ourselves. -…- I think we need to remind ourselves that there are many times where we need to remain silent, where we need to remain in the audience.”

Very much looking forward to hearing your opinion on these statements. I hope you still dare to comment after that last statement though.

Kind of lost touch with Good Magazine, my bad, I shouldn’t have. Not only did these people learn us about Object Orange, in Detroit, a while ago. By now they seem to have built a collection of, well, really Good Videos. Check all of them, or let’s just start with some favourites:

For my photographylovers: NYChildren.org:

For my recordlovers: Bob George - the Archive

For all lovers: Internet Porn:

Well I’ll be damned! Just today I asked him when the video was going to be uploaded, and guess what, there he is: SozyOne Gonzalez speaking upon the artwork he’s done for Baloji’s upcoming album.

From what I’ve heard the album is one master listening experience, haven’t heard anything but the intro yet, but I’m already hooked.

Dave Decat will be one of the next people featured on on-point tv. Until then, check out this promovideo by Carhartt, for who he made several award-winning campaigns, which you’ll probably recognize.

Check out Dave’s myspace for more info and pictures of his work.

Last week’s interview with Martha Cooper was one of the nicest in a long time. So nice I forgot some of my questions, what can I say, I’m an amateur…

Martha Cooper gained international recognization for her pioneering photos of early hiphop culture, being the first ever to capture graffiti and breakdancing.

The final edit ended up being over 10 minutes of video, in which I didn’t want to cut, so take your time, watch, listen or in other words: check it out. And spread the word if you’re feeling it:

Check out her latest book Street Play, The Hiphop Files, We B* Girlz and Subway Art, for some classic material!

Special thanks to Incr1 for the illustrations (mail), digitalovers.net, mr.Ego, Eastpak and the FromHereToFame people, for publishing Martha’s work of course!

I’ve very muched enjoyed the videos of the Google Zeitgeist 2007 conference. Most of them might not be as interesting to most of you so I’ve decided to pick just one for you trendwatchers out there: Josh Spear talking about the whole online community thing, commenting on various new services which I hadn’t heard of yet:

Josh Spear launched him self into online stardom by blogging over at joshspear.com. He’s running his own company now and the blog itself is run by eight (!) other people.

Here are some statements, who might not make any sense unless you see Josh speak upon it. I think the man is actually making sense spotting some trends, and I’ve found these to be very complimentary to my reading of Generation Me - I hope I’ll find some time to share my thoughts on that one, once I’ve finished reading.

“Universities are basically ignoring new media.”

“Ten dollars for a virtual red rose (…) Virtual gifting will be big!”

“…she’s a bit of a new media whore.”

“Dating is gaming. Dating has been gaming on tv for ages, but it hasn’t translated on the internet yet, until now.”

“Brands should integrate, not infiltrate.”

He also speaks upon the succes of Threadless, a t-shirt site selling limited edition t-shirts, designed by users and voted upon by the same community. A concept run by two dudes, who sold over a million t-shirts a year.

Which made me wonder if I were to upload some design, how many users would vote it into the actual printing phase (because just because you contribute a design doesn’t mean it will automatically be printed, you’ll need the community’s approval for that to happen)

There are more videos online, of course.

This is too good to be true: Martha Cooper is coming to town, Brussels that is this very Friday even!

Miss Cooper having earned near cult status with her legendary photos of the New York ghettos will sign her latest book: “Street Play”

If you want to check her work, “The Hiphop Files” is probably the best starting point. Or watch On-Point TV’s Martha Cooper Interview:

As for Friday, click the flyer below for more info:

Again, news from the man called Above.

It was only yesterday that I sit down with one half of the infamous digitalovers to prepare our questions for what is bound to be an indepth interview on the life and works of streetartist ABOVE and guess what. Today the Brussels video of his European tour has been uploaded to his youtube channel. Ain’t that something?

Above is all about arrows basically. That and putting his name up. Up in the sky.

By now our charming local authorities seem to have removed all of the arrows, very much to our disappointment. So for now we can only watch the video, that actually shows only a small part of his work, and unfortunately doesn’t reveal any secrets.

I mean, how did he put up all them signs, on cables above some of the busiest and crowdiest places of the city. (read: Manneken Pis, Boulevard Anspach, Place St.Gery, etc. etc.)

Check this video to see the man at work.

I told you I read my fanmail! This just came in at on-point headquarters:

From June 15th til September 2nd our current favourite French photographer JR is showing his Face 2 Face project in Amsterdam. (check for info)

Be sure to check out JR’s 28Millimetres video if you haven’t done so already.

Gives me yet another reason to go for a little Holland trip this summer. On top of that here’s some videomaterial of the project:

Ow and, his youtubechannel, can’ t do without nowadays.

Thanks a bunch a fan a.k.a. katrien!

You thought stacking chairs was impressive as a public art installation? Check this crazy rotating wall. Next thing you know we’ll be flipping buildings inside-out, with a big old canon bouncing on top! Lovin’ this:

From Gizmodo:

The UK city of Liverpool is playing host to a rather kooky piece of artwork for the next 18 months. Called Turning The Place Over by Richard Wilson, it consists of a rotating wall that turns 360º.

Cut in the wall of an old Yates’s Wine Lodge, the installation sits opposite one of the city’s train stations and is costing almost $900,000 - that’s $50,000 for each month of its existence.

In a day or ten Balo - of Starflam fame - will bless us with a sneak preview of his highly anticipated solo album “Hotel Impala”.

My interest in proper marketing is still present and I must say I was pleasantly suprised to see Balo’s myspace tweaked to the max ànd announcing a series of six promo videos which will be put online from June 11th on on his now empty youtube channel.

On top of that the videos feature some all-time killer on-point stars, such as Sozy.One Gonzalez, Amp Fiddler, Peter Lesage and Urbanus, amongst many many others. Needless to say I’m looking very much forward to this!

Balo will be playing at BlueNoteRecordsFestival, July 13th, in Ghent.

The first two of the following clips are playing, for the first one click play on the myspacepage, check it out and look for the surprise guest in there!

A lot of beatheads out there know about the infamous Dustbusters interview with JayDee. One long indepth talk about the whole of his career, by Y’skid and I.N.T. Thusfar the interview was only up for mp3 downloads, but what you didn’t know is that all of it was actually filmed!

I heard rumours of this getting a proper release or deal or whatever, none of that was confirmed so for now all I can say is check out this superb preview:

Related links:
Video: La Melodia - Time
Podcast: Ame - Shining Back
Video: J Dilla Interviews (Common, Bilal, ?uestlove, J Rocc, etc.)
Podcast: SNS - J Dilla Tribute Part One
Podcast: SNS - J Dilla Tribute Part Two

Bonom. Over the last couple of months this man has been rocketing himself into cultstatus in Brussels.

Most readers will know him from emich’s video of his stop motion pieces he set up with partner-in-crime Lork over at Etterbeek Station (check).

Before that, Bonom was known for his wheatpaste work featuring fossils and animals, as you can see on this here dedicated flickr photo pool.

But Bonom and Lork seem to be on some bigger things now. Bigger as in, the size of an office block. Check out what these cats recently did, just a small walk away from Central Station, Brussels.

A baby in front of the King Boudewijn statue, could this be a clever provocation, or am I overthinking this one?

Just a little further, Bonom put up a big hand together with Bambi. See for yourself.

La Melodia has a first video online, Time, of the full length album dropping in Europe this Summer. Japan has got its release, we’re still waiting, the singles are out on vinyl already though, fans go cop that hotness! (ask your recorddealer or get it here for instance)

After checking the video check out the making of video feature on the TMF site.

La Melodia is: INT and Melodee, both of Imadodattaz fame. Straight out of Eindhoven, Holland that is!

Browsing videos I came accross this nice little INT flavour, hadn’t noticed this lo-fi video yet, the song is classic to me though! Vibe ‘n’ Feel:

Ricky Gervais once again ripped it at Letterman’s last week. He just won another award and is nominated for several online awards, etc. etc. Just watch him:

More Ricky, more Letterman:

Also check out:
- Harvey Pekar (American Splendor) on Letterman
- One Love - Ricky Gervais in Kenya
- Ricky Gervais leaked video for Microsoft

Almost Summer and that means flowers are to be blossoming again. If you’re into urban gardening and you want to put that old flowerpower in contrast with our concrete jungle, what better choice than the giraffe of all flowers: the allmighty Sunflower?

As absurd as it sounds this is no joke. A bunch of enthusiasts plant Sunflowers around Brussels every year. They started their action May 1st and their stories are up for reads at brussels-farmer.blogspot.com.

And this is the year 2007 so all of this was filmed, which is brilliant:

Actually as I’m posting this, there’s a plantation being started at the Botanique, at 13h30. Unfortunately I came accross this just a bit too late, I should have told you earlier, I’ll be quicker next time, promised!

More on Guerilla Gardening. Or how about grass couches in the city? People worldwide seem to be dealing with concrete versus nature, solid versus green if you will.

All of my support to the people who are slowly but surely preparing their upcoming exams. Don’t panic, you’ll make it, if only you stay on-point!

Just know that times are stressful for all of us. Even for a hardheaded BBC journalist like John Sweeney trying to properly interview some Scientologists. Watch him go:

Why did this happen? Well, this might be a hint:

John Sweeney: “While making our BBC Panorama film “Scientology and Me” I have been shouted at, spied on, had my hotel invaded at midnight, denounced as a “bigot” by star Scientologists and been chased round the streets of Los Angeles by sinister strangers.”

As with Louis Theroux’ visit to ‘The most hated family in America’ prepare to be shocked once again. Here’s the first part of the documentary, the rest is to be found on thetube, of course.

Far away you said? Feel free to go take the Dianetics test at the Scientology shop near the Grand Place in Brussels. Wouldn’t recommend it though, they will label you “an instable personality” withouth a doubt, but do take the test, at your own risk. I didn’t.

(via P.F.’s Memorable Movies)

Over a year ago you could catch lloyd and one half of digitalovers down the Brussels streets, heads up high, pointing to the sky, talking to people “check ça, y a une fleche!”

Weird intro, right? Not if you know we’re talking about the works of Above here. The man who gained international fame by putting up big and small arrows all around the globe. Only a couple of months ago the city of Brussels removed the ones in our very own capital. (we counted at least five of them in the Bourse area!)

We got in touch with the man - who replied to our interview request with the killer opening line: “sorry I’m replying this late, but I was on a six month world tour”. That is of course a very valuable argument. But the interview will take place, in time. The man’s back from his European tour now and will be putting videos online in the coming weeks.

Needless to say we love him for that!

Here’s a video of the man working his magic in L.A. (the video lives up the image of the artist I had in mind)

Woostercollective started the channel on thetube dedicated to Above’s touring.

It’s out there on the streets, it’s moving, it’s in constant dialogue with the public and its environment… This must be art! It be what it be, I’m all in favour of this wheatpaste craze, these Berlin cats took it to another level for me with this one.

The art-topic is finally catching fire, thanks to all commentors, you are of great help to me right about now. Some inspiring insights already!

For those wondering why I’m asking an ignorant cliché question such as “what is art?” or why I’m spying on who made you loose your art virginity, let’s just say I’m onto something big here, and I need to catch the meaning of art. That’s really all there is to it.

So even if you’re one cold-hearted bastard towards what is referred to as art, drop your thoughts in a comment, it’ll be of great help to me, yes, even when it’s total rubbish you’re speaking, don’t worry about that!

(via: woostercollective)

I stumbled upon this killer video featuring 4 galleries speaking their mind on ArtBrussels 2007. And I’ll be damned if that isn’t our favourite gallery diva: Alice in the screenshot! Brilliant.

After having seen this, maybe you feel inspired enough to help me defining art, or to share you earliest memory of art? Please do.

If you don’t know about Alice yet, check out on-point tv for a chat with the legendary Delta and the infamous Olivier Stak, just two of their Artists Living In Constant Elevation.

Unfortunately I didn’t manage to finish my take on the whole artbrussels craze, I was lacking time.. and guts. The idea was quite edgy and I didn’t want to see my name on no blacklist, no sir!

However, I will bless you with exclusive Graffiti Royal footage in a couple of weeks. Graffiti Royal being an artbrussels party organised by Alice and Dalton, so I won’t leave you in the cold, no worries!

(Video credit: whatsonart.com)

This easily could have been a Michel Gondry piece, but it ain’t. It’s a killer stop-motion animation with waves of stuff. That’s all there is to it, but I’m a fan of these things, can’t help it.

It actually is a Dougal Wilson ad for ‘the Big Yellow Storage Company’.

Just the fact that as a little boy, Julius Popp used to think grown ups actually have a book with all mechanisms on how Life works, makes him my kinda fella.

Nowadays he sets up typographical waterfalls. And what more is there to say? Let’s watch him do his thing and explain it himself:

(Marketing boys who would want to jump on the idea, too late.)

Typographical masterpiece: Thisiswanted:

With these type of animations (see the Pulp Fiction videos too) I always wonder how this is being made. Anybody out there that’s active in this field? What are the programs used for this? Is there a specific name for this style? Or is it just plain cool?

Meanwhile part two of the Wim Crouwel interview has been uploaded, part one is still here too, obviously.

For those who missed out on the Frank Zappa docu, last Sunday on Dutch television, here it is:

Also check out “Frank Zappa debating music censorship!

Geniuses at work: Herbie Hancock shows his Fairlight CMI synthesizer to Quincy Jones, back in 1983!

What is the pen-controlled touchscreen rocking the sequenser? Looks futuristic, in a cute kind of way, doesn’t it?

Pricetag: around €40.000.

(via)

Last Wednesday Jazzbreak saw Mo&Grazz trying out a new set-up for their live shows. And well, it was killer, see for yourself:

Live on stage:
Backing Vocals: Nina Babet & Stef Caers
Drums: Patrick Dorcean
Bass: Daniel Romeo
Vocals: Monique Harcum
Turntables: Grazzhoppa

Before that it was just Mo&Grazz, two turntables and a mic, which was nice, as you can see.

The track in the video is an extended version of “Some Things Never Change” their latest single (check the clip).

RIP John Cleese.

He ceased to exist. Luckily he got to do his own eulogy, see for yourself! Ow, the hilariousness:

(via: Peter)

After the huge success of the Olivier Stak interview, on-point tv is back with the niceness for you and yours, putting the spotlight to the man called Boris Tellegen, the legend that goes by the name of DELTA!

This one cost me a whole lot of time and effort but it finally resulted into an 11minute feature, so sit back and check it out!

After you saw this, run to the shop and cop the Kroonjuwelen dvd (I know in Ghent it’s for sale at Toykyo), featuring a 48pages booklet and an amazing insight in Amsterdam’s graffiti scene in the early nineties. One bloody must-see it is, believe you me!

Furthermore huge shout-outs to:

Stunnedfilm.nl
Fonz at Duthed.org
Alice Gallery
Digitalovers.net
Woostercollective.com

More info on Delta’s legendary oeuvre, right here: delta-inc.com.

I told you some work was in progress, so here it is: the Olivier Stak video interview, filmed chez Alice:

The expo is currently running at Alice Gallery, till the 3rd of May, so go check that out! And don’t sleep on the upcoming Graffiti Royal event either, featuring Sozyone Gonzalez and Olivier Stak, amonst many, many others.

After this On-Point TV has a well wicked Delta video interview coming up (over 10 minutes of pure niceness!), thanks to Alice and Raph, and digitalovers for the support!

Into the Sao Paulo undergroud with the artist Zezão. Yup, it’s that time again, another underground newsflash, and this time around it’s not about trains, trams, metros or catacombes. We’re talking sewers here. And one artist literraly getting down to the nitty gritty.

Not really a video, but a flash presentation with photos and an audio interview, killer soundscape straight out of the underground. (subtitled in
English)

(via: woostercollective.com)

Capturing the vibe of a live concert with merely one camera is always a task, but might I say, I think I did quite a good job last Wednesday at Egon’s Jazzbreak gig. Loved the vibe these cats laid down, with a scatting drummer and a slightly psychedelic fusion atmosphere from time to time, that’s how we like it, keep an eye open for Egon!

Check it out, it’s not as long as the Flowriders video, or the Lefties Soul Connection video, alhough it is a bit longer than the Brothers on the Run video:

Egon has a myspace too, and Jazzbreak has its very own jazzbreak.be address and on top of that the myspace of course.

Just as a follow-up to Louis Theroux’ adventure earlier this week, I had to point out the launch of this new video site. A god-given YouTube, called no other than: GodTube!

Watch John Piper go: “shocking, stunning, devine, absolute staggering grandeur!”

For the afficionados of online tv-series, who seem to be abandoned by thetube, due to copyright infringement, here are some alternatives: Forget YouTube: Go To These Sites If You Want Hard Core Copyright Infringing Content. Enjoy.

From the makers/founders of Kazaa and Skype comes: JOOST.

The whole blogosphere has been wetting it’s panties on the future launch of this new online television service, rightfully or not, here’s the commercial: “The magic of television, with the power of the internet built right in. Joost puts you in control, and TV will never be the same again. Coming soon!”

Joost is currently in beta testing, and one needs an invitation to join in, unfortunately on-point headquarters wasn’t invited, just yet.

For the people who were at home, or for the stressed out working class heroes: Flowriders Live at Jazzbreak, last week!

Thanks to Michiel Thomas for killer camerawork, great job!