October 2012 – A Day In the life of an Artist: David Emmanuel Noel

A number of charity events and fundraising initiatives gain profile at this time of the year. One date to remember is World Stroke Day this October 29th. The World Stroke Campaign aims to disseminate essential life-saving information and share knowledge about actions and lifestyle behaviours that can reduce the likelihood of stroke. The campaign aims to improve and educate the public on the fundamental need for appropriate and quality long-term care for stroke survivors. It also underlines the need to support and empower stroke care-providers. I’ve been recently working with the UK’s Stroke Association and have decided to support the charity and its US counterpart, the American Stroke Association, through donating a percentage of sales from paintings sold at future exhibitions and events. A selection of prints and cards will also be made available for purchase on my new look website www.davidemmanuelnoel.com shortly.

Here are the facts:
o Stroke can be prevented.
o Stroke can be treated.
o Stroke can be managed in the long-term.
o 1 in 6 people will have a stroke in their lifetime.
o Every 6 seconds stroke kills someone.
o Every other second stroke attacks a person, regardless of age or gender.
o 15 million people experience a stroke each year, 6 million of them do not survive.
o About 30 million people have had a stroke – most have residual disabilities

On World Stroke Day, October 29, 2010, the WSO and its members worldwide launched the “1 in 6” campaign. The theme was identified to mirror today’s reality that one in six people worldwide will have a stroke in their lifetime. With the fight against stroke at a crossroads, WSO members and partners around the world joined in solidarity to put forth a simple life-saving message on World Stroke Day: Do not take chances. One in six people are at risk of having a stroke. It could be someone you know. It could be you!
For further information on stroke please visit the following links
World Stroke Organisation –http://www.worldstrokecampaign.org
The Stroke Association http://www.stroke.org.uk/
American Stroke Association http://www.strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/

I’m always motivated to be as creative as I can be after meeting the most talented and interesting people. On the eve of a series of live performances, I had the chance to catch up with the Mobo Award nominee Ayanna Witter-Johnson for a chat and a few questions about her blossoming career.

Congratulations on your MOBO nomination for best jazz act. I’ve listened to your amazing EP. Is there a particular theme behind it?

It is an honest snapshot of my artistry in August 2011. Those were the songs that had revealed some of my journey and lived with me, resonating most deeply with my audience at that time.

Sonically it was an introduction to what I do as a performer in its essence that is sing and play the cello. Thus the sound was very stripped back and purely acoustic.

You’re talented in both singing and song writing but which do you prefer?

Singing because connecting with an audience in real-time is where I feel most at home.

How did you get into music?

I started playing the piano classically at 4 years old, later taking up the cello at 13. Growing up, I went to various stage schools and got a feel for being a performer in general, including dancing and acting as well as music. The turning point was being invited to perform at a jam session at the Jazz Café when I was 19 years old. From then on I began to use my voice and eventually started to develop my craft as a singer/cellist at a gig in a Caribbean restaurant in Greenwich during my undergraduate studies at Trinity College of Music.

Are there any artists in particular who inspire you?

Nina Simone, Roberta Flack and Bach.

Who ideally would you like to collaborate with?

I would love to collaborate with the London Symphony Orchestra, Take Six, Bjork and Timbaland.

So what are your plans for the next year?

To release my first full-length album, tour the UK and the US, complete my residency as a composer on the London Symphony Orchestra’s Soundhub Scheme and to continue being a student of life.

I wish Ayanna the very best with the nomination and her career. Dates for her upcoming performances include:

1. LONDON, British Library

Solo set

Friday 05 October 2012, 6pm

www.bl.uk/whatson/events/event134306.html

2. ANTWERP, The Writers’ Bench

Solo set

Saturday 06 October 2012, 7pm

http://thewritersbench.be/agenda

3. WILTSHIRE, Wiltshire Music Centre

Duo with Robert Mitchell

Wednesday 10 October 2012, 7pm