IT'S FINALLY HERE!!! My first single Breathless is finished and it will be available for sale as an mp3 download for $0.99 tomorrow Tuesday 9/20/2011 on My Bandcamp Page and within a couple of weeks iTunes, Rhapsody, Amazon MP3, etc. In addition to the song, there is bonus material to accompany it that will be exclusive to Bandcamp for a limited time. Be one of the first people to get it and be a witness to history in the making. This is the start of something great.
Often being compared to greats like Jill Scott, Demeriese Naima Valier (pronounced Dee-MARE-ris Nah-ee-mah Vah-leer) is assured to make major contributions to R&B and Soul music. Breathless, her first single from her forthcoming debut LP Soul Beautiful is reminiscent of an early Erykah Badu joint. It is an homage to the pioneers of contemporary soul music with it's live instrumentation, funky drum rifts, and minimalistic keys under an elaborate vocal line. This coupled with the earthy warmness of Demeriese's mezzo-soprano voice makes for a very refreshing listening experience.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Vegans Eat More Than Just Salad!
I have been eating a vegan diet for about 1 1/2 years and I have been meat free for 3 1/2 years. Whenever the subject of food comes up and I mention my diet to anyone they are either impressed or confused as to how in the hell I am so big if I'm not eating meat. The ones who are confused sometimes ask "how are you still alive without eating meat?" or "how do I get protein?". Whatever their reaction, they both seem to have the impression that the only things I eat are salads, fruits, nuts, and side dishes. That is so not the case. I enjoy just as much of a variety of food now as I did when I ate meat. As a matter of fact, I eat with more variety now because eating a meat free diet forces you to expand your taste in foods because the Standard American Diet is severely lacking in satisfying options for people who don't eat meat products. Here are some pictures of a few vegan dishes I made:
Couscous, baby portabella mushrooms, tomato, & spinach in a spicy peanut & curry sauce, roasted red bell pepper hummus, homemade pita chips, and fresh cherries to finish it off.
Marinara sauce with zucchini, yellow squash, & spinach over fried eggplant & whole wheat spaghetti.
Pineapple banana sorbet made with sparkling mineral water inside of tart shells. Garnished with fresh strawberries and dark chocolate & amaretto sauce. It usually looks better than this, but I was in a rush.
Groundnut stew also known as African yam & peanut stew. Sweet potatoes, yellow squash, zucchini, tomatoes, okra, & peanuts in a spicy peanut sauce over couscous and served with collard greens that were marinated over night in a proprietary blend of citrus juices, herbs, & spices and then cooked slightly in olive & sesame oil to remove the chill.
I was getting fed up going back and forth between the greens and the stew. They both tasted so good I just said fuck it and mixed them together. Also, it is very aggravating trying to eat hot couscous with a fork so I put the fork down and dug in with my bare hands. I felt like I was back in Benin. ;-)
Couscous, baby portabella mushrooms, tomato, & spinach in a spicy peanut & curry sauce, roasted red bell pepper hummus, homemade pita chips, and fresh cherries to finish it off.
Marinara sauce with zucchini, yellow squash, & spinach over fried eggplant & whole wheat spaghetti.
Pineapple banana sorbet made with sparkling mineral water inside of tart shells. Garnished with fresh strawberries and dark chocolate & amaretto sauce. It usually looks better than this, but I was in a rush.
Groundnut stew also known as African yam & peanut stew. Sweet potatoes, yellow squash, zucchini, tomatoes, okra, & peanuts in a spicy peanut sauce over couscous and served with collard greens that were marinated over night in a proprietary blend of citrus juices, herbs, & spices and then cooked slightly in olive & sesame oil to remove the chill.
I was getting fed up going back and forth between the greens and the stew. They both tasted so good I just said fuck it and mixed them together. Also, it is very aggravating trying to eat hot couscous with a fork so I put the fork down and dug in with my bare hands. I felt like I was back in Benin. ;-)
Weight Release Journey Reprise: I'm Getting There
I know there are some of you who were really into my blog series Weight Release Journey. The journey has never stopped, but me writing about it did because I was just soooo busy last year. I have made tremendous progress and I am now more than halfway to my goal. When I started this blog I was a size 18 approaching a size 20. I am now a solid size 16. My goal is to get down to a size 12. I am not a small woman. I have big bones and because of that there has to be a 30 lb. difference in my weight for my dress size to go up or down. I have another 40-50 lbs. to release before I get to my goal size. Here are some pics of where I've been in the past and were I am currently:
2006 - Aprox 250 lbs.
2007 - Day before college graduation. 275 lbs. This is the point where I said "fuck this fat girl shit" and also when the serious health problems started to kick in.
2010 - May Aprox. 230-240 lbs. I had become a vegan at this point and had lost a great deal of weight, but it kept fluctuating between 220-240 lbs.
2010 - July Aprox. 215-220 lbs. I stayed here for a while, but I gained a little weight over the holidays.
Which is why I took this picture in January of this year. I had to drop those holiday pounds right quick. It didn't take long though. Aprox. 215-220 lbs.
And here I am as of 9/9/2011 Aprox 190-200lbs.
Now I have to hurry up and drop the rest of this weight because I'm going to be in the public eye a lot. I'm a singer and even though my voice alone will sell albums & singles, I'm sure that if I got my measurements back down to oh let's say 40-28-40 I'll be able to sell a lot more. Well, not necessarily. Adele has the best selling album in the US this year so maybe my music will be just enough, but that's too expensive of an experiment to for me to conduct. I'm in the home stretch now. Through it all I shall succeed!
SN: I know some of you probably picked up on the fact that I'm guessing my weight. Well I'm not a stickler for numbers when it comes to this. Ihave an ideal size I'd like to be, but the number is just not really that important. People put too much emphasis and getting down to a particular weight and don't take bone size and density & muscular structure when losing excess weight. Plus my scale is broken anyway and I can think of a whole lot better ways to spend $20.00 like gas for my car, lol. As long as I can see that I'm getting smaller I'm good. And don't even get me started on counting calories! That's a blog for a another day.
2006 - Aprox 250 lbs.
2007 - Day before college graduation. 275 lbs. This is the point where I said "fuck this fat girl shit" and also when the serious health problems started to kick in.
2010 - May Aprox. 230-240 lbs. I had become a vegan at this point and had lost a great deal of weight, but it kept fluctuating between 220-240 lbs.
2010 - July Aprox. 215-220 lbs. I stayed here for a while, but I gained a little weight over the holidays.
Which is why I took this picture in January of this year. I had to drop those holiday pounds right quick. It didn't take long though. Aprox. 215-220 lbs.
And here I am as of 9/9/2011 Aprox 190-200lbs.
Now I have to hurry up and drop the rest of this weight because I'm going to be in the public eye a lot. I'm a singer and even though my voice alone will sell albums & singles, I'm sure that if I got my measurements back down to oh let's say 40-28-40 I'll be able to sell a lot more. Well, not necessarily. Adele has the best selling album in the US this year so maybe my music will be just enough, but that's too expensive of an experiment to for me to conduct. I'm in the home stretch now. Through it all I shall succeed!
SN: I know some of you probably picked up on the fact that I'm guessing my weight. Well I'm not a stickler for numbers when it comes to this. Ihave an ideal size I'd like to be, but the number is just not really that important. People put too much emphasis and getting down to a particular weight and don't take bone size and density & muscular structure when losing excess weight. Plus my scale is broken anyway and I can think of a whole lot better ways to spend $20.00 like gas for my car, lol. As long as I can see that I'm getting smaller I'm good. And don't even get me started on counting calories! That's a blog for a another day.
Breathless Press Release
I know I've been talking about this song for a long time, but through all the stumbling blocks and set backs, I've made it to a point where I'm ready to release this song for national radio air play. As a token of appreciation for rockin' with me for so long here's a free download of a demo version of "Breathless".
Breathless by Demeriese Naima Valier
Release Date: TBA
Record Label: Jamboree Music - JAM101
Demeriese Naima Valier wrote Breathless in December of 2005 while on Christmas break from college and it is the lead single on her debut LP Soul Beautiful. She says that at the time she had never been in love with anyone nor was there any man whom she had her eye on at the time, so it was shocking to her that she could even write a song like Breathless.
Breathless is an internalized dialog set to music that explores a whirlwind of emotions from confused, to aroused, to completely delirious by the end of the song. Sort of like the same way you feel when you're falling head over heels in love with someone.The music changes just as much as Demeriese's emotions do throughout the song. Starting off with only a string bass and Naima scatting, and then as the singing begins congas, it switches to a smooth Neo-Soul swing by the time the chorus comes around. Then just when you're used to the chill vibe, Demeriese unexpectedly takes you to church at the bridge.The producer, Klark Kent, was able to expertly convey with music the emotion that is behind the words that Demeriese wrote.
Demeriese jokes that she wrote the song so she could "conjure her up a man" that makes her feel the way she's singing about in her song. It's been said by wise men all over that words have immense power. It will be interesting to see if The Enchantress's spell will work.
Monday, August 8, 2011
How To Get A Good Man
There has been an entire industry centered around the fact that women are clueless about men. We're reading all these tips in magazines and self-help books looking for a new sexual technique that will have him climbing the walls. Either that or it's some "expert" who tells you how men really think, which is nothing more than a vague generalization based on some cave man prototype. The truth is that men are not as complicated as we make them out to be. Here are a few simple steps that can help you to find a man:
1. Look attractive & approachable.
Men are visual creatures. I know it would be so nice if a man would look at a woman and say "Wow she has a huge intellect. I need to get with her ASAP!" but that's not the way it goes. Keep yourself looking nice. You don't have to get dressed like you're going out, but look appealing and feminine. Don't leave out the house with that stained shirt and sweat pants and keep your hair neat. That also goes for your attitude. Keep it at home along with the sweat pants and stained shirt. Try wearing a smile instead. You draw more flies with honey than vinegar.
2. Read a book.
One of the biggest complaints I hear from my male friends is how so many women are dumber than a bag of rocks. Get off of Facebook & Necole Bitchie's website for a little while and read a book. Become knowledgeable about something other than shopping and different types of weave. If you're beautiful and freaky, that's lovely but after the novelty of the sex wears off men get bored. If you can not stimulate their minds as much as you do their genitals you'll be dumped for a woman like me who knows these things. Pussy alone has never been enough to keep a man and nothing is going to change about that now, especially since women are giving it up like they make coupons for it. If you're not big on reading books, at least stay well informed on current events so that you'll have something to talk about other than Basketball Wives or your favorite position.
3. Learn how to cook.
I know it sounds cliche, but the way to a man's heart is truly through his stomach. It's just as true today as it was 100 years ago. Another complaint I've heard from men is that women these days don't like to or just don't know how to cook. Now I know that unlike 100 years ago that women are way busier and spend more time outside the home, but that is still no excuse to not know how to prepare a good meal. To a man, nothing says I love you better than a home cooked meal. Try it, especially if you live in a place where most women have that I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T attitude. Cooking for a man sends the message that you're nurturing and loving, something that all men desire from a woman. So go ahead and throw out those take out menus and replace it with an apron and a Magnalite pot.
4. Don't be afraid to be a freak.
Now lets not get it twisted. I said "freak" not "whore" or "slut". There's nothing wrong with enjoying sex and being good at it. It only becomes a problem for women in this society if you're enjoying it with multiple partners. If you're in a relationship with someone, don't be afraid to let your hair down and get loose. Let go of your inhibitions and don't be afraid to try new positions, role play, introduce food, or toys, etc. No one wants a woman who just lays on her back and doesn't do anything. You don't have to be in freak mode constantly. Denise LaSalle said it best: "be a lady in the streets/freaky in the bedroom". If you're challenged in this area refer to #2. The Joy of Sex is a good book on the matter. If the reason you're holding back in the bedroom is because of religious programming, then I don't know what to tell you. That's another blog for another day.
So basically, look good, read a book, learn to cook, and be a lady in streets but a freak and the bedroom. Men aren't complicated at all. I heard one say recently "Keep my stomach full and my nuts empty and I'm good". Lol. There's more too it than that, but these are the basics. If you get these down pat, along with some other things (like knowing when to shut the hell up) you'll be able to find and keep a good man.
1. Look attractive & approachable.
Men are visual creatures. I know it would be so nice if a man would look at a woman and say "Wow she has a huge intellect. I need to get with her ASAP!" but that's not the way it goes. Keep yourself looking nice. You don't have to get dressed like you're going out, but look appealing and feminine. Don't leave out the house with that stained shirt and sweat pants and keep your hair neat. That also goes for your attitude. Keep it at home along with the sweat pants and stained shirt. Try wearing a smile instead. You draw more flies with honey than vinegar.
2. Read a book.
One of the biggest complaints I hear from my male friends is how so many women are dumber than a bag of rocks. Get off of Facebook & Necole Bitchie's website for a little while and read a book. Become knowledgeable about something other than shopping and different types of weave. If you're beautiful and freaky, that's lovely but after the novelty of the sex wears off men get bored. If you can not stimulate their minds as much as you do their genitals you'll be dumped for a woman like me who knows these things. Pussy alone has never been enough to keep a man and nothing is going to change about that now, especially since women are giving it up like they make coupons for it. If you're not big on reading books, at least stay well informed on current events so that you'll have something to talk about other than Basketball Wives or your favorite position.
3. Learn how to cook.
I know it sounds cliche, but the way to a man's heart is truly through his stomach. It's just as true today as it was 100 years ago. Another complaint I've heard from men is that women these days don't like to or just don't know how to cook. Now I know that unlike 100 years ago that women are way busier and spend more time outside the home, but that is still no excuse to not know how to prepare a good meal. To a man, nothing says I love you better than a home cooked meal. Try it, especially if you live in a place where most women have that I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T attitude. Cooking for a man sends the message that you're nurturing and loving, something that all men desire from a woman. So go ahead and throw out those take out menus and replace it with an apron and a Magnalite pot.
4. Don't be afraid to be a freak.
Now lets not get it twisted. I said "freak" not "whore" or "slut". There's nothing wrong with enjoying sex and being good at it. It only becomes a problem for women in this society if you're enjoying it with multiple partners. If you're in a relationship with someone, don't be afraid to let your hair down and get loose. Let go of your inhibitions and don't be afraid to try new positions, role play, introduce food, or toys, etc. No one wants a woman who just lays on her back and doesn't do anything. You don't have to be in freak mode constantly. Denise LaSalle said it best: "be a lady in the streets/freaky in the bedroom". If you're challenged in this area refer to #2. The Joy of Sex is a good book on the matter. If the reason you're holding back in the bedroom is because of religious programming, then I don't know what to tell you. That's another blog for another day.
So basically, look good, read a book, learn to cook, and be a lady in streets but a freak and the bedroom. Men aren't complicated at all. I heard one say recently "Keep my stomach full and my nuts empty and I'm good". Lol. There's more too it than that, but these are the basics. If you get these down pat, along with some other things (like knowing when to shut the hell up) you'll be able to find and keep a good man.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
You Know What...?
To hell with people's feelings. For a long time I've kept my tongue in check to spare people's feelings and not tell them how I truly feel about a situation. I can't do it anymore. I've got to let it out. It's not in me to hold back on what I have to say, and I refuse to do so any more. It just ain't in me. It never has been, and never will be. It's genetic. Both of my parents are the same way. I came here to speak the truth and that's exactly what I'm going to do. I'll try my best to be tactful, but this is no guarantee because most of the time I'm like "fuck yo feelings" when it comes to speaking my mind. So if you ask me my opinion on something, you'd better be damned well ready to hear the truth be it good, bad, or ugly.
People really trip me out these days with the superficial bullshit that they get all emotional about. I mean it's just ridiculous. People get upset about people living lifestyles that they don't agree with or because of something offensive that someone said and I'm just so like get over that dumb shit. The world is undergoing a major transformation and you're concerned about who I'm having sex with or who I pray to? You're mad at people's ignorant comments like it really makes a difference about what some douche like Glen Beck says? People wanna know dumb shit like what Lindsay Lohan ate for lunch or where Obama was really born (which is very thinly veiled racism if you ask me). It's time to let go of all this mundane garbage and get ready for what lies ahead. I mean am I the only one who's noticing that food prices are shooting up just as much as gas prices? Am I the only one who realizes that the government is passing laws making it illegal to grow food in your own backyard? Wake the hell up everyone!!!!
This was just a random rant. Had to get that off my chest.
*blank stare*
People really trip me out these days with the superficial bullshit that they get all emotional about. I mean it's just ridiculous. People get upset about people living lifestyles that they don't agree with or because of something offensive that someone said and I'm just so like get over that dumb shit. The world is undergoing a major transformation and you're concerned about who I'm having sex with or who I pray to? You're mad at people's ignorant comments like it really makes a difference about what some douche like Glen Beck says? People wanna know dumb shit like what Lindsay Lohan ate for lunch or where Obama was really born (which is very thinly veiled racism if you ask me). It's time to let go of all this mundane garbage and get ready for what lies ahead. I mean am I the only one who's noticing that food prices are shooting up just as much as gas prices? Am I the only one who realizes that the government is passing laws making it illegal to grow food in your own backyard? Wake the hell up everyone!!!!
This was just a random rant. Had to get that off my chest.
*blank stare*
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Getting Out of My Own Way: A 30 Day Challenge
I am on a mission. I've decided to get out of my own way. I've come to realize that the only stumbling block that I have is myself. I'm endeavoring to get my music career launched and it has been challenging to say the least. I have been getting these seemingly golden opportunities that always become messed up, but not by anything that I have done, at least not on a mundane level. After doing some soul searching I've come to realize that I need to do a clean sweep of my life. I've been holding on to some attitudes, behaviors, and people that stop my destiny from manifesting in the best way possible. For example, I'm very disorganized. Things are always scattered in my home. When I cook, I almost always leave something out and forget to put it back, clothes piled up on my bed instead of in the drawers and hanging up in the closet where they belong. All this clutter is a reflection of the clutter in my mind and its holding me back, so in the next 30 days I'm de-cluttering my outer enviroment and my mind. I've already decreased my Facebook friends list from 537 to 127 people, I've gotten rid of all the old books, sheet music, clothes, etc. that I've been holding on to since I graduated from college, and I've cut myself off from almost everyone on my mother's side of the family. Anything that dosen't serve my higher purpose is going out the door. All the meditation, positive affirmations, diet, etc. don't do any good if you're still holding on to the clutter in your life, be it physical, mental, or emotional. I have everything I need inside of me already. Greatness awaits me. The universe has been sending me signs for years. I just need to make myself receptive to the great things that lie in store for me.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
My 5 Year Loc Anniversary
What's up everybody! Last month I celebrated my 5th year of wearing my hair in locs. It has been the best hair decision of my life. I just did my first re-twist of the year and I took some pics. I can't believe how long my hair is!
People are always complementing me on how good my hair looks, so here are a few of my tricks for soft and lustrious hair:
I wash my hair with Aubrey's Organics shampoo. If I run out and I can't get some more immediatley I wash with plain black soap. After I wash my hair I do a herbal infusion. I use distilled water, rosemary, sage, basil, eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender, chamomile, hibiscus, black pepper, cucumber juice, aloe vera juice and grapefruit juice. Yeah, it's a lot, but my scalp feels so good after soaking my hair in it for 30 minutes. Then I do a hot oil treament with coconuit oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, jojoba oil, oregano oil, lavender oil, tea tree oil, and vegetable glycerin. I put a shower cap on my head after soaking my hair in this solution and then I go outside and sit in the sun for about 45 minutes. I rinse out the excess oil and then I retwist my hair with my own twist butter made with shea butter, coconut oil, jojoba oil, sunflower oil, and lavender oil. I finish it off by spritzing my hair with water and glycerin. Yes, I really get it in when it comes to my hair, lol. I give myself the spa treatment. Day to day I use the same oil mixture that I use to do my hot oil treatments minus the glycerin and I spritz my hair with water and glycerin throughout the day.
I am a firm believer in not putting anything on my skin or hair that would poison me if I ate it. If I can't eat it, then it's not going on my skin or hair.
Now tell me that this isn't some of the best looking locks you've seen? Lol! *moment of vainity*
Sunday, January 23, 2011
If you could go back in time 10 years and tell your younger self something, what would it be?
Men, sex, and clubbing are so overrated. Oh yeah, and go to Berklee College of Music instead of Southern University if you want to major in music.
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