MS DYNAMITE'S EMAIL REVIVAL

NOTE: Slight delay on putting this one up, event has passed but here's my interview with Ms Dynamite. Tim Robbins interview will be up later this week. 

THERE'S a movement taking over the Roundhouse – and it's gathering pace as we speak.
From tomorrow, young people will seize control of Camden Roundhouse, mastering every aspect of the Turning Point festival of comedy, music, circus, cabaret and theatre.
More than 300 artists have been signed up to take over five stages over the next three days, featuring the likes of Professor Green, Toddla T, Ms Dynamite, Roll Deep and Devlin.

So who better to tell us a bit more than Camden institution Ms Dynamite aka Niomi McLean-Daley.
She's been building up her career again but due to some unhappy interaction with the Press, her management have insisted all interviews be conducted by email – beware an abundance of exclamation marks.
So here's how it went:
RG: What’s so special about Turning Point?
MD: It's put on by young peoplel!!! I LOVE THE CONCEPT OF THAT! We commonly talk about young people with such negative and biased views! I'm of the belief that if we 'as adults/society/the authority' etc.
give young people respect, love, faith, time and tools to grow with the things that inspire them, and a chance to fulfil their passion, they will succeed EVERY SINGLE TIME! I know this gig will prove that!!!
I love that it's in Camden and at the Roundhouse, who are absolutely amazing with young people!!!
They offer SO MUCH in terms of music, media and the arts to young people and I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND AND ADVISE EVERYONE TO CHECK OUT WHAT GOES ON AT THE ROUNDHOUSE!!! (under and behind the shows).
RG: What can we look forward to from your appearance?
MD: ENERGY, POSITIVITY and MORE ENERGY!!! Xx
RG: Who are you most excited to see on the line-up and why?
MD: I'm excited to see everyone (not a cop out) but I genuinely like all the artists and am happy to be working along side them in 'this' particular show! I think it'll be amazing!
RG: What do you think of the Roundhouse as a venue?
MD It's amazing, I've seen my brother (Akala) and a few other artist, groups perform/act there... This'll b my first time though, I can't wait!
RG: What are your favourite Camden haunts/ favourite things about Camden?
MD: I LOVE the multi-culturalism of Camden!!! I love the fusion of styles, foods, music, dress codes, ages, energies and beliefs!!!
RG: Any Camden gripes?
MD: Camden have the most HASTY, UNFORGIVING, NO LEE-WAY what so ever TRAFFIC WARDENS, I've ever experienced! Parking is a complete nightmare!!!
RG: What’s it like to have a musical sibling?
MD: All my siblings are musical... I have a younger brother who goes by the name of 'Snooze' he raps, writes, produces, directs, designs websites, films videos etc, a sister named Jessica who has an amazing voice and is an amazing writer and the others are a bit younger (still in school) but all are equally talented in a musical/creative way!
It's the nature of our family, we've never known it any different, my mum and dad ALWAYS have and had music blasting in the house!
We used to make up songs and perform for our parents and aunties and uncles as birthday presents at bbq's and parties... When myself and Kings (Akala) look back, we're just like "how did we ever not see this
happening?"... :o)
RG: Akala told me he’s become vegan and enjoys eating at Inspiral cafe in Camden Lock. Are you a vegan? If not, could you ever be?
MD: I'm not a vegan but am a veggie and can I just say I LOVE INSPIRAL!!! I'd like to become a vegan, but food is still my weakness, my comfort, my addiction & my passion.
I can't help but think about ALL the CRAP I'd miss if I became a vegan... But it is exactly that... Crap! And I will get there one day, soon as I get the discipline my brother's blessed with! Lol!
RG: What’s the strangest gig you’ve ever done?
MD: I've done great gigs, fantastic gigs, amazing gigs, funny gigs, sad gigs and not so good gigs but never really a 'strange' gig?
RG: The Mercury Music Prize has just passed by, who did you want to win and why?
MD: Corinne Bailey-Rae... I love her! She's one of the sweetest, most graceful, ambitious, talented young women I've had the pleasure of meeting!
RG: How has your music progressed since then and what direction do you want to continue in?
MD: Umm, the turns and twists my career has taken since then would fill this whole issue and more!!! Lol!!! There have been many highs and lows but I'm in an amazing position now, totally recognising and appreciating that the lows made the highs sweeter and that its all been equally neccessary to get here where I am today! :o)
RG: What did you think of (winners) The XX?
MD: Yeah, they're cool... I like what they did with Aaliyahs 'Hot like fire' and also the 'Florence and the Machine' cover (of the cover) they did was great too!
RG: Do you think the prize helped your career?
MD: Definitely!!!
RG: Do you think there’s any truth in the belief that the prize can sometimes do more harm than good?
MD: Depends how you look at it?
RG: If you were in an American high school, what clique would you have been in as a teenager?
MD: No clique... I've always been a leader that floated like the wind through different 'groups', I had my days with my 'middle class' friends, my days with my 'hood' friends, days with my 'grungy' friends and days with my super-slick friends, black, white, Asian, Male, Female etc etc, we just did our thing.
I'm me, me has never belonged to 'one group' of people and can't be defined by one style... I've always done me!
RG: What’s the worst trouble you got into at school?
MD: Oh the list is too long!!! Lol! X
RG: Lady Gaga, love or hate?
MD: I'm full of love for 'everyone', hate no-one... a more accurate answer would be "I respect her hustle!"
RG: Tell me something no-one knows about you.
MD: There is genuinely NOTHING no-one knows about me! I LOVE to talk and am not ashamed to chat my business!... I'd tell any-one anything... Other than obvious stuff! If I'm happy, sad, hyper, tired etc. The world knows about it! I've always been like that!
RG: What do you like to do when you’re not making music?
MD: Be with my son!!!
RG: Who would you most like to collaborate with?
MD: Damien Marley!
RG: What’s it like being a famous mum?
MD: I LOVE IT!!! :o)
RG: You’ve had a bit of a reputation for being political in the past., are you happy with the election results?
MD "Yeah, I'm over the moon!".. Lol! I'll leave it to your common sense, xx
RG: If not, who would you like to see as Prime Minister?
MD: I think a group that represents our society (of young, old, rich, poor, English, African/Caribbean, Asian, Eastern-Europen, Spanish, Japanese, gay, straight, religious, athiest, with disabilities, from conventional AND single parent families etc etc etc) that would govern our 'world' with compassion and 'open ears'... Would be a BEAUTIFUL sight!
RG: What are you working on at the moment – what direction are you taking musically and what kind of subject matter are you thinking about?
MD: I'm having fun with music, trying all different styles and directions and am talking about a wide range of subjects!
RG: Who are you listening to at the moment that you’d recommend our readers to watch out for and why?
MD: I worked with Katy B nearly 2yrs ago and am really happy to hear her able to bless the world with her talent/gift! Also Emeli Sande, I can not wait for her album!!!

KOKO'S SECRET STASH OF STRIPEY CARDIES, ROBERT PLANT'S GOLD TOUCH + THE RETURN OF MS DYNAMITE

NEXT time you’re racking your brains over where you left your favourite neon stripey cardigan after a night out, check the nearest British Heart Foundation charity shop. Turns out Koko donates all lost property there every two weeks so it’s sure to be a haven of cool-kid garb – just one fact I discovered in the smallprint of a press release about Koko being named London’s most environmentally friendly venue. Even the new roof terrace has been laid with rubber tiles from 6,600 reclaimed truck and car tyres. At least you won’t worry about getting struck by lightning.

• For some, Led Zeppelin can’t be touched and their memory must be preserved intact at all costs and left in peace. For others, anything associated with Led Zep is gilded in gold. If you’re of the latter view then Robert Plant and the latest incarnation of Band of Joy play a rare show at Kentish Town’s HMV Forum on September 2. It precedes the release of Plant’s 10th solo album Band Of Joy, recorded in Tennessee and co-produced by Nashville legend Buddy Miller. Here's a taste of what to expect:

• At The Good Ship, next Saturday (July 31), are Horseman Shakes and the Draymen. I just picked them out for their bemusing name.

• Camden revivalist Ms Dynamite joins Professor Green for the three-day Roundhouse Turning Point Festival, alongside Toddla T, Devlin and many more (September 17-19).

PINK'S ACROBATICS, MISSY ELLIOTT'S FAILS, SNOOP DOGG'S SUNNY DISPOSITION AND JAY-Z'S CAMERON-LIKE TENDENCIES

PINK dropped from the sky, Missy Elliott's German tracksuit offended, Snoop Dogg wore girly hair bobbles and Jay-Z played the popular card at an eventful Wireless festival last weekend.
By Sunday night, Wireless stragglers looked more like extras from Shipwrecked than holders of the coolest hip-hop tickets in town as arid weather conditions turned Hyde Park into one giant dustbowl and filthy feet, mud-caked fingernails and dirt-streaked faces became the official festival uniform.
Not even the luxury loos, Ugg boots store, makeovers, Superdrug counter, Elemis massages and Bed Head hairdressers could combat the dust.
Pink's headline performance was a spectacle in itself, so carefully stage managed that it even ended with a roll of credits.

And they deserved the praise, Pink dropped onto a walkway from a gift-wrapped box suspended high on a crane, running through hits, many lesser-known tracks and some covers.

She mashed up Lou Reid's Walk on the Wild Side with Green Day's Basket Case, later launching the loudest sing-along of the weekend to 4 Non Blondes' What's Up – a perfect fit for her voice.Pink's songs have rarely been captivating but her performance skills and powerhouse vocals are something to behold.Her set was a fully-functioning carnival, she made full use of the slides, her drummer stood inside a waltzer and Pink's acrobatics matched those of a circus professional.From Cirque du Soleil roof-dangling on drapes, to soaring over the crowd suspended on four-way wires, to literally running over the heads of the audience in a giant inflatable Zorb ball, it was a non-stop feast for the eyes.Earlier Plan B drew hundreds from Gossip's main stage set as crowds caked the outside of the Pepsi Max tent to try to catch a glimpse.Beth Ditto made her usual threat to strip but thankfully failed to deliver.Not even Ditto's lungs could compete with the crowds singing along to Plan B 150m away and her cover of Tina Turner's What's Love Got To Do With It was drowned out.The Ting Tings banged out a bit of a racket but the most euphoric moment of the day was lying in the grass, staring at the clear blue sky listening to The Temper Trap.Day two's headliners LCD Soundsystem seriously disappointed – an odd choice for top billing when the likes of Missy Elliott and Snoop Dogg were in town.

To be fair, Missy's set consisted of a number of big fails. 1 – coming on 20 minutes late, 2 – playing a medley of best-known tracks so fast you almost missed them, 3 – part-miming, badly, 4 – bringing on latest protege after only 10 minutes, who also mimed, 5 – making an ill-judged return to the stage in a Germany tracksuit – her
prerogative I say – but she drew boos from a huge group of miserable bad sports, 6 – overrunning and having her set cut mid-flow.

Still, Get Your Freak on was a popular three minutes, her rapping was fierce and she threw herself into rallying the crowd for the brief time she was on.
A quick dash to Darwin Deez confirmed why he's the Napoleon Dynamite of the moment and a delight to watch – but the pull of legend Snoop Dogg was too strong.
The sunshine loved Snoop, who came on with a knuckle duster-style mic and charted his hip-hop history through a memorable, laid back set.
Still hard to take Gangsta rap seriously when it comes from a man with clear plastic bobbles on his plaits.
Day three was uncomfortable as thousands crammed into the park, may looking for trouble. Huge groups of boys cleared the ground of bottles by flinging them into the crowd, prompting Lily Allen to point out the number of girls she'd seen crying in front of her after being hit.
Earlier, Professor Green on the second stage was a huge, popular draw, Slash played a couple of his own solos which flew above the head of most of the crowd, but woke everyone up with Sweet Child O' Mine and a vastly diminished D12 delighted the many who rushed to see them on the third stage – though twice as many were left out in the cold.
Lily Allen brought on Professor Green for a drum 'n bass remix of Smile before the two launched into their new single Just Be Good To Green, which ended up as a huge rave.

Jay-Z the ever professional, played the popular tracks, some lesser-known older ones and never let the crowd forget he was thinking of every single one of them.

Much like the David Cameron in the leaders debates, he took note of his audience and singled out the ones who most knew his songs, or those who most caught his eye.
When he realised he had 24 minutes left he declared he was not ready to go and promised to run through as many track people asked for as possible, flicking from a bar of Bonnie and Clyde to a chorus of another, he skipped around, prepared to please his devoted followers.
He ended on Encore – the smash hit mash-up with Linkin Park's Numb – a wise and explosive choice that confirmed Jay-Z's generous showmanship.

JARVIS COCKER IS GREYER THAN YOU THINK

IT'S been a lifelong (since I was 14) ambition to meet gangly Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker so my dreams were fulfilled last week when he kindly posed for a photo with me at Proud Camden’s second birthday celebrations. 

I’ll spare you the evidence but must note how attentive he was to troubadour Joseph Strouzer who serenaded him with The Ballad of the Big Beautiful Woman. Jarvis – greyer than I ever imagined – signalled his approval but warned Strouzer was unlikely to get any airtime. Later Amy Winehouse did some backing dancing for Professor Green but looked pretty vacant – I blame the stifling heat.

• I’m not quite sure what happens at a convention for The Who – do people turn up dressed as the Pinball Wizard? Will a row of scooters park outside Dingwalls on October 3, when the gathering rides into Camden Town? I can’t say but I’m sure gonna check.

• Rock supergroup Them Crooked Vultures play a benefit gig at on July 5 at Brixton 02 Academy for Eagles of Death Metal bassist Brian O’Connor who has cancer and no medical insurance. No bland statements from O’Connor, thanking supporters he said: 

“I am excited for my full recovery and look forward to getting back to what I love most, melting face with my bass. I’m feeling great, after all, I am half unicorn.” Get down there if you can.

• Even if you find Devendra Banhart’s video for Foolin’ a bit too disturbing, he’ll be captivating live – see him at Koko (July 4).

• You can now stand under Koko’s legendary Hollywood-style illuminations every day as the roof terrace is officially unveiled tomorrow (Friday). It’s actually been open for a while and you may find yourself rubbing shoulders with the acts as they slip out on the terrace for a smoke – or fresh-air Camden style!

GENEROUS JARVIS COCKER, SERGE'S SOUNDTRACK, N-DUBZ' "SUCCESS" + WINO POPS UP IN CAMDEN SHOCK

PROUD Camden held an extravagant birthday party on Wednesday night – to mark their second year in Camden Market’s Horse Hospital. The Delays launched their new album but didn't play live in the end - apparently due to some sort of leg injury - you can still sing boys!

Jarvis Cocker did a fantastic job hosting, posed for a photograph with me and generously stopped to listen to troubadour Joseph Strouzer play the Ballad of the Big Beautiful Woman all the way through.
His verdict: "I like it, especially how it turned out in the end, of course you won't ever get any air-time."
Strouzer said afterwards: "I guess he was referring to the ever-so subtle sexual references woven into the lyrics."

Professor Green did a brilliant job of headlining, bringing some grime vibes to the gallery, while Amy Winehouse popped up, as she does, onstage, took a spot next to the backing singers and danced along for a whole song before running off to mingle. Mumford & Sons DJed but it felt like a waste of their talents. Great night though.

• The iTunes Festival begins on July 1 at Camden Roundhouse, a month of huge names, from Tony Bennett to Ozzy Osbourne, Scissor Sisters to N-Dubz. Eighties hair rock bands Europe and Foreigner this week confirmed they play on July 25.

• The beautiful Serge Pizzorno, yes Kasabian bandana man, is lending his talents to Mighty Boosh star Noel Fielding. Fielding’s summer art show, at London’s oldest cake shop Maison Bertaux, Greek Street, Soho (July 5), includes an installation with an original soundtrack by Pizzorno.

• Love Being N-Dubz – a six-part C4 documentary on Camden’s finest, with the second programme going out on Monday. Best quote so far from Dappy: “I’m a success, sir”, followed seconds later by “I’ve got an Oyster, I’m legit.”

• Juliette Lewis unveils her new album Terra Incognita – the album she’s always wanted to make – at London Borderline on June 30.

• Celebs are coming out in force to back a revival of the Finsbury Park Rise Festival, after Boris Johnson’s office pulled funding for it last year. Writer Meera Syal and Labour leadership contender Diane Abbott have joined Roots Manuva, Asian Dub Foundation, and Beardyman in their support for replacement festival UpRise: London United Against Racism (July 11). Info from www.uprise.org.uk

• Here’s an opportunity for genuine talent to impress industry giants EMI at Camden Roundhouse – 30/30, a groundbreaking youth music project for 16-25s. Over the course of September, 30/30 (30 days, 30 bands, 30 tracks) will offer 30 unsigned artists one free day’s recording time in the Round house’s EMI Live Music Studio, along with top guest producers to profes sionally record and mix their track for free.
Artists should visit www.roundhouse.org.uk/3030.