Issue No.3
oyinza Brand 25/8 NC GREY
Shekinah Photographer
Debola Shomoye Singer
それは軽い
CONTENTS
I
XXI
OYINZA
TNO OUTFITS
VII
XXVII
PLAYLIST OF THE MONTH
SLIGHT MOTIF CASTS LION KING
IX
XXIX
NC GREY
DEBOLA SHOMOYE
XII
XXXIII
SHEKINAH
PLACES TO VISIT IN DUBLIN
XXXV CONFESSION BOX
oyinza STYLIST
INTERVIEW BY: FEMI FALNA
We sat down with Oyin who started Brand 25/8 after an Instagram Live video she hosted got comments from those watching asking if she would sell the glasses she was wearing. Hesitant at first, she was later convinced by her mum to start her own glasses brand. It was also her mum who came up with the name Brand 25/8. Oyin made the website for the brand herself and after grinding for a month was up and ready to start selling glasses. The photos you will find on all Brand 25/8 social media platforms were all shot by Oyin. The self-proclaimed 'One Woman Show' is humble enough to admit she could not have done it without the help of her friends, boyfriend and family. Working on Brand 25/8 has helped Oyin understand how to sell. She believes the experience she has gained from this project will help her greatly with future endeavours. So the future for oyinza is a busy one. She has a new compnay she would like to launch in 2018. She is currently just stuck for a name, maybe her mum can come through for her again. Oyin also has a big idea for the summer she would like to collaborate with Slight Motif with, so keep your eyes out for that. All in all, oyinza is just one of many young entrepreneurs in Ireland doing bits. Slight Motif will be here to support her with what she may do next and we hope you will too.
TWITTER: @OYINZA
Brand
d 258
Brand 25/8 If you want to get your hands on some Brand 25/8 glasses, just hit up any of their social media which can be found below. As Oyin as stopped production on the glasses and is moving on to other projects, there are only a limited amount left, so hurry! EMAIL: BRAND258@GMAIL.COM INSTAGRAM: BRAND 25/8
Playlist Of The Month
By Charlie Adebayo
Song
Artist
Album
Party Here
Octavian
Party Here
Gardens
<insert project name\>
No One Knows
AYLØ ft. Tau Benah & Chris Generalz Brent Faiyaz
De Javu
Burna Boy
Outside
Durag
Prod. Solo x Manii x Txmmy Rose x Jafaris
Trust It
How it Goes
Ayzee
Relevant Moves
Freaky
Fasina ft. Minz
Freaky
V.I.P
Evans Jr
4you!
wys?
AYLØ ft. Santii
<insert project name\>
Heaven's Gate
Burna Boy ft. Lily Allen
Outside
A.M. Paradox
Slight Motif
Advertise Here slightmotif@gmail.com
Sophistication Personified :
NC GREY
NC Grey
INTERVIEWED BY: FEMI FALANA
We recently caught up with NC Grey to find out how her music career is going and also to have some fun with her in a video interview we did with her and the fashionable sunglasses company 'Brand 25/8'. The interview titled '50 Shades of Grey' will be released soon. Her music, which NC Grey describes as a fusion of Jazz, vintage R'n'B and Soul, has seen her perform in gigs all over the country. She believes growing up in her church choir helped paved the way for her inevitable music career. Before making the big decision to pursue music, NC Grey admits she was initially worried, not that she could not sing but if her voice was good enough to compete with what was out there. It is safe to say now that it was. She claims what really made her finally decide to pursue music was the death of a friend of hers. The realisation that nothing is guaranteed was that final push she needed. NC Grey is currently in the middle of planning a stripped tour that will see her perform in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and some venues outside of Ireland. Looking to the future, NC Grey sees herself performing more shows in different parts of the world. She believes with her kind of music it is very important to do more intimate shows where she can have a deeper relationship with her listeners. She plans to perform more shows in countries that have an established jazz scene, countries such as France and the US. Regardless of where she may be performing, we at Slight Motif know that NC Grey will wow the audience with her amazing vocals and exemplary live-set.
TWITTER: @THENCGREY
Top 5 Artists You Would Like To Feature With? DEAD OR ALIVEÂ
Jill Scott - 'She will say that she is a poet first before she's a singer. I feel like there is something special about where she pulls her lyrics from and being in the same room with her writing would be an honour.' Sade - 'I would do anything ro bring her out of retirement' Prince - 'Bring him back from the dead if possible. Again, what an honour it would be.' Femi Kuti - 'He's alive so I don't have to bring him back from the dead. Femi Kuti for obvious reasons.' Katie Laffan - 'She's an Irish artist and everytime I see her perform she gives me chills.'
Shekinah Photographer Dublin, Ireland
@empressshekinah
Shekinah Photography Dublin, Ireland @empressshekinah
Shekinah Shenikah Photography Photography Dublin, Ireland Galway, Ireland @empressshekinah @
Shekinah Shenikah Photography Photography Dublin, Ireland Galway, Ireland @empressshekinah @
What To Wear To
TNO II Not sure what to wear, we got you covered. Here are some suggestions designed by popular African designers.
COUTURE FEATURED: Kimono Kollections N'omose Couture Sammies Couture
Slight Mot
Th
Lion Simba
Jafaris, Rapper
Nala
Hyenas
Rafiki
Sean X, Singer
Uniiquesoul, Singer
T.E.D, Band
Timon and Pumba
tif Casts:
he
King
aa
Mufasa
King David, Rapper
Scar
Raphael and Ezije, Reckless Thought
Sarabi
NC Grey, Singer
Toyosi, Oh Man Podcast
Zazu
Tosin Toki, TNO Host
Inte Pho
He ho on Sh sp vo ge
He Gr mu em sch ha rec lea am fam pia tha ke gu ea  I c rhy
De vo so fro im lik ye my ge co lie ca the
Debola Shomoye
erviewed by: Kenny Olaniyi otography by: Tobi Irein
ere at Slight Motif we're all about promoting omegrown talent . On this issue we showcase ne of Dublin's many talented artists, Debola homoye, a musician and singer who 'aims to pread love and peace worldwide' through her oice and music. We sit down with Debola to et further insight into her music.
er musical journey began as a young child. rowing up Debola learned to play a number of usical instruments. Her talented voice merged as she performed with church and hool choirs. 'It started in primary school, we ad an ensemble but it was tin whistle and corder. An then my mum got me to start arning how to play the piano. It was basically message from God, like an epiphany in my mily. And that’s how I started playing the ano. I didn’t start singing till a few years after at.: I play two instruments properly, the eyboard/piano and bass guitar. Yeah any uitar is just like a piano on strings. So it’s super asy if you know how to play the piano. can sorta play the drums, but like simple ythms. Don’t get me playing any funny stuff.'
ebola possesses a compelling and unique oice, with an impressive vocal range. Her rich, ulful and powerful tone distinguish her voice om the norm. She continually seeks to mprove her vocal and musical abilities 'I feel ke my voice has evolved even compared to a ar ago. I would say that I’m starting to find y voice, I’m starting to find the types of enres that I like. There’s a new era of music oming up that’s urban. I don’t think my voice es in that area. I have a very strong voice and I an’t tailor it down to a certain genre I’m still in e process of discovering my voice.'
Her musical inspirations stem from primarily Gospel, as well as soul, pop and jazz. 'I feel like Gospel inspires me a lot. A lot of Gospel musicians sing gospel but are not Gospel artists, if that makes sense. Also jazz . Me and jazz are best friends. I love anything Jazz.' I also like Pop in terms of Pop Jessie J.' She also vibes to hip hop from time time to time.'There’s one particular rapper everyone knows, that I feel inspired by. I'm inspired by the effort put into his music , not necessarily his raps, but the actual music and the way he arranges it. Chance the rapper. He’s definitely up there.' ' Debola has been privileged with opportunities to solo sing and play in the National Concert Hall, Dublin and Heilbronn, Germany amongst others. The Hellbronn performance gave her a 'sweet' taste of the musician life. 'Performing at the Hellbronn was a big highlight for me. I played keys for two acts, one as the main key player and the other as backup. it was the first time i experienced something like that. Flights and accomodation were paid and i got paid too! Yo, the musician life is sweet. It was amazing and the fact that somebody wanted to me play for them was dope too.'
PLACES TO VISIT INÂ
Dublin
Temple B Dublin's Cultural Quarter
Tea Garden
This tranquil, candlelit tea house offers intimate, individually-styled spaces with tatami tables. However, more importantly, it is a great spot to get your shisha on. You can find the Tea Garden at 7 Ormond Quay Lower.
Project Ar
A home for contemporary arts, a pr and a critical hub.
Tramline
"To hangout by day, an event space, a conference centre and a live venue by night" - (lovindublin.com)
Guinness Storehou
It's the home of the Black Stuff, th start to your Irish adventure.
Bar The Wrights Venue “Irelands Largest Multi-Award Winning Venue”. Ireland's home of urban events.
rts Centre
roducing house, a resource for artists
s use
he heart of Dublin and an unforgettable
Smithfield Square
Discover Cafés, Restaurants, Bars and Entertainment in the heart of Dublin 7. Come for the culture, stay for the night life….. Smithfield Square is the perfect area to wine, dine and be entertained.
CONFESSION BOX
TNEMTNIOPPA ADRAG
I'm fucking a married man. He's a pretty important figure in the Irish Police force. His wife lives over-seas so we regularly hookup whenever he has the time. I feel guilty postsex or whenever we go out for lunch. It's usually a fleeting sense of guilt that permeates my thoughts. I went to Night Vigil last week and prayed for the Holy Spirit to intervene, but perhaps my prayers are lacking in depth because I'm ready to undress as soon as he asks me to. But that dick though!!! Some A1 shit. Pray for me y'all. Bio: 19 year old You don't know me Writer
CONFESSION BOX My boyfriend never comes home but that doesn’t stop me from getting my groove on. Funny thing is I know he’s faithful and he stays in contact with me all day he’s just living a fifa and get high with my boys life. He used to take care of his but these days he has no job, He don’t take me out, doesn’t clean up after himself, he don’t pay the bills, don’t do grocery shopping, just bums off me and his mum while we work hard and handle everything. Now I’ve cheated on him and I can’t stop. My side piece said I can have fun with ‘lil boyfriend’ for now but eventually he’s going to 'park in that pussy and set up shop’. I got wined & dined, treated like royalty then had the best sex of my life. Do I leave my absentee London boo or do I have to tell my American Airforce bae I’m cutting the creeping?
Bio: 22 year old 5'5 Weekends Covered
CONFESSION BOX Hi,
DEIFSITASNU
So I'm a single black girl in dublin. My dilemma is that why is it so difficult to reach orgasm with guys? Planning on going on a sex quest.. all I want is an orgasm tbh, everyone I've had sex so far has tried, when the sex is over they say "did you orgasm?", I say "what do you think?", they go "yes you did"... honestly if I did you'd know because I'll twitch but nooo... what can a girl do to get an orgasm. Bio: Single Black Girl Lives In Dublin
NOT TO BE MISSED
The January Motif Calendar
13
26
21
19
The Big Gig
19
Tramline, Dublin
Mid-Winter Festival
21
August Alsina
24
Trad Fest
26
TNO II
Olympia Theatre, Dublin
Galway Town
18
Outkast Appreciation Night
20
Vegan Foodie Festival
Temple Bar, Dublin
Dublin
Hangar, Dublin
19
Ycee Wright Venue, Dublin
22
Showcase Ireland RDS, Dublin
Maldron Hotel, Dublin
ICYMI
Issue's I and II available.
CREDITS Photographers: Tobi Irein, Shekinah, Irish Times and Alvaro AM. Interviewers: Charlie Adebayo, Kenny Olaniyi and Femi Falana. Models: Nathalie De Hertog, Chief Editor - Femi Falana Editor- Charlie Adebayo