K’Sandra Skyrocketing to the Top!

K'Sandra Light 'n' Dark Album by Andrei Photography

K’Sandra, the highly acclaimed Dance/Electronica music dynamo is skyrocketing up the charts!! 

• Dance Artist of the Year with the album “Light 'n' Dark”!
• The song ‘Push the Girl’ on MTV!
• A gig at the upcoming Sundance Festival!
• A hot new double-CD on the way - "Even Lighter - Even Darker"!

K’Sandra is Sensational, Hot, Sizzling, Electrifying, Dance Making & Boundary Shaking!  With an energetic sound synced with a primal baseline, K’Sandra is a DJ favorite. K’Sandra is PUSHING to the TOP!  This Talented Musician & Passionate Lady will not be stopped!

Let’s get an insider’s look at the Lady behind the music!

Interview

Alex: How long have you been in the music business and what got you started?

K’Sandra: Been doing music since first grade and it has been always part of my life, no matter in which stage of life I was it is a part of me. Actively being in the music business I would say I started the real business side of it just maybe 7 years ago with every step of the way being a learning journey. I started singing at a classical conservatory and later on trained with professional vocal coaches around the world, and trained dance professionally and have been always aiming towards making my passion my profession. What got me just simply started was my love for singing and expressing my emotions and feelings and pain that I sometimes carried inside of me thru singing and not thru talking.

Alex: Do you have a creative process you go through when creating a song or album? If so, would you mind sharing it?

K’Sandra: The creative process I go thru when working on a song can be just a tiny inspiration like a hummingbird flying up to me, or a very deep and dark experience that has caused that my life path or current action step needed to be changed.  Or I just simply listen to any song of Michael Jackson still to day and I hear a new song in his song. Or sometimes I am at a great rave and I hear this dominant bass line that is just filling every cell of my body with a great vibration and I feel I get an idea for a song that could be written around that bass line. That is what creation is to me, it's a never ending process of someone or something inspiring you new. When working on an album I tend to set a topic, just like movie people do when they decide to work on a movie, I see the whole concept, the whole packaging, design, story of the album and then pick which songs would be best suiting to the album. It is super important to me that an album tells a whole story and is not just like major labels love to do the best selling singles (3 or 4 of them and the rest crappy filler material). I really hate filler material. I have gotten feedback to my album Light 'n' Dark that each song is a great song and that people feel not cheated when buying my record.

Alex: How many languages do you speak and how many languages do you like to sing in?

K’Sandra: I speak 3 1/2 languages but I sing only in English (for now but I can not wait to record a Spanish single).

Alex: For people trying to find their voice in English, do you have any tips or breathing techniques that might help with talking and pronunciation?

K’Sandra: Intonation is a big thing, it is honestly not an easy thing for a foreigner to sing in English and to sound American or British. Language has been something that fascinated me my whole life and listening to the intonation and where to set the breath/pauses when singing can help a lot and to know which emotion to put into specific words. There are of course many other things relating to breathing techniques but listing those would result in me writing a book here ha-ha.

Alex: Who would you most like to open for or who do like out there in the music world these days?

K’Sandra: I used to always say Madonna when asked that question, but I have to change my mind when seeing on her last tour that she used guns on stage (for sure not real ones but still...), that is something I just don't find cool. I love guns and they are great on the shooting range if used with a smart brain and to train targeting or in a movie on set, but in front of fans??? to show creative expression, I feel that's not cool. Why not use water guns...  Of course I can not say Michael Jackson since he is resting in peace....hm..maybe opening for Sting, or maybe for Bruno Mars. I like a lot of music out there though, it can change every month.

Alex: Now on to your newest video Push the Girl is being played on MTV. What was the inspiration behind the song?

K’Sandra: The song is about pushing thru boundaries and not taking no for an answer (which I have done too often before I realized it's gotten me nowhere but made me unhappy). It is about encouraging to take any action, no matter if your boyfriend or anybody is making you feel bad. Be a tough girl and don't take any shit and let others know not to mess with you even if people think it makes you arrogant or a bitch, it does not hurt to have both sides, a soft one and a rough one.

Alex: If you could open for any musician or music group, who would it be and why?

K’Sandra: As above mentioned, maybe for Sting or Bruno Mars, or maybe for Beyonce, she is a great performer and got a great stage energy.

Alex: What can we look forward to in the future from K'SANDRA?

K’Sandra: I will be releasing a double-CD called "Even Lighter - Even Darker" with some hot, nasty,nice, trancy, dubsteppy, rocky, house, techno, and remixes in 2013 were I will be working with DJs worldwide that submit their best remix of a song of "Light 'n' Dark" and the best ones picked by fans will make it onto the album.

I am also going to work on more songs and will be collaborating with some new people for my 2nd album and I do plan to release some cool merchandise and a new line of essences and maybe even my own brand of water.

Alex: K'SANDRA - you are a strong, passionate, and highly successful musician in a tough industry, what is your motto or mantra?

K’Sandra: If you are ready to go thru death to be re-born, or if you are ready to live the most horrible life to find your truth only then you are ready for success, unless you are Justin Bieber and some major label drops by and gives you a good contract or if you are Rihanna and somebody has a crush on you while vacationing and brings you to the US.... If you really want to pursuit something, no matter what profession it is and you do it for fame or just for money it's the wrong mantra, but if you do anything in your life with the outcome that it can benefit the greater good then you are on the right way.

Alex: What is the best way for people connect with you and your music?

K’Sandra:

K'Sandra on Stage-photo by Hayley Sargant

   www.IamKSandra.com

My whole album "Light 'n' Dark" is on iTunes and also on Pandora and of course on www.CDBaby.com/KSandra  

or you can go directly 

thru my own store at  

www.IamKSandra.com

Alex:  Thank you K'Sandra for taking the time to do this interview! And we will be looking forward to the release of your new "Even Lighter - Even Darker"

K’Sandra: My pleasure Alex!

Until Next Week Enjoy K'Sandra's Push the Girl 

(live at Avec)!

 

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Glamour & Beauty & Talking Style with Jennifer Lopez!

Beauty & Glamour are constantly talked about on TV, in magazines, and with friends from the block.  Jennifer Lopez, recording artist, actress, businesswoman, and mother, exudes Glamour and Beauty.  She has been a trendsetter for many years and is considered by some to have redefined beauty in Hollywood.  Jenny from the block has become a Glamour & Beauty Icon for the ages!

“The 40+-year-old says she loves to get glammed up but looking good is hard work.  I don't want anybody thinking it's easy. It does take time and it's hard work. HDTV wide-screen is nobody's friend!”  ~ Jennifer Lopez - Glamour & Beauty Statement ~

Interview

Interviewer:  What is your beauty routine?

J-Lo (Jennifer Lopez): My routine is really basic. I don't have any crazy secrets, like sleeping upside down or whatever! I just try to take care of myself, because it's so easy to get lazy, and not cleanse your skin and not put moisturizer on before you go to bed, or not use conditioner on your hair when you can.

Interviewer:  What is the first thing you do when you get up in the morning?

J-Lo: I have a shower to get that fresh, clean feeling I love, and then I put on my moisturizer. I always use lots of moisturizer.

Interviewer:  How do you get that wonderful glow to your skin?

J-Lo: I've always taken good care of my skin. I protect it from the sun and, because it is normal to dry, I try to keep it moisturized, especially when I'm flying. To get a natural, radiant look I choose neutral shades of make-up for my lips and eyes - the more nude, the better.

Interviewer:  What products are always in your beauty bag?

J-Lo: I usually have lip gloss in there, and perfume, mascara and moisturizer. That's about it. Oh, and I love bronzer too.

Talking Style

Jennifer Lopez has a reputation as being a Diva but in an interview she comes across as very down to earth, friendly, and approachable.  J-Lo is enthusiastic and happy to share information about the topic of Glamour & Beauty.  She gives lots of detailed information about her techniques.  Jennifer’s speaking style is as smooth as her skin and glows with a natural beauty that the listener can relate to even if we aren’t glamour and beauty icons. 

For example:

“The 41-year-old says she loves to get glammed up but looking good is hard work.”

~ In other words, no untouchable Celeb magic just hard work.  You know the feeling. ~

“My routine is really basic. I don't have any crazy secrets, like sleeping upside down or whatever!” 

~ In other words, anyone can follow my routine.  I am not hiding any beauty secrets from you. ~

“J-Lo: I usually have lip gloss in there, and perfume, mascara and moisturizer. That's about it. Oh, and I love bronzer too”  ~ In other words, nothing exotic.  Any lady can have these beauty tools in their beauty bag. ~

Relating to the listener or your audience is an important point in presenting yourself in conversation or to the public.  When the listener feels they are relating to your ideas, then they listen more, want more, and ask more questions.  It also creates a sense of empowerment, for those listening, that you can do it too! It’s not magic or out of reach.  It is just good old fashioned, down to earth, hard work.  But at the same J-Lo gives the listener a boost by sharing her thoughts on Glamour & Beauty.  It is nice to hear this advice from a pro because, for most of us, we struggle on a daily bases about how look good!  Jennifer Lopez is reassuring and empowering at the same time. 

Strategy

The above ideas can be transferred -super effectively- into conversational situations if you are the speaker.  It will make people want to listen to you while feeling good about themselves.  This strategy is creates a type of magnetism around the speaker.  The listener feels they can trust the speaker or relate to you because you are like them.  However, consciously or subconsciously, the listener feels you (the speaker) are in some way ahead of them or doing better than them in some aspect of life.  Listeners will be drawn to you.  With this feeling developed in the listener, the speaker can then create a sense of empowerment: ‘You can do it to!’ or ‘You can be like me! It’s not impossible!’ With these emotions established within the listener, the listener will listen more, want more, and ask more questions.  And if they try and use your ideas successfully, they will come back for more.  As adult relationship research has revealed, people tend to respond positively to people they feel are similar to themselves even if they are not in reality.  J-Lo is a master! The listener feels like J-Lo and is empowered to become like J-Lo without even knowing it.  And of course, in reality, not many people in the world are  even close to having similar lives as J-Lo.  J-Lo is a superstar celebrity that is off the charts in music, acting, beauty, glamour, and a thousand other things!  However, we will happily come back for more!

Give it a Try! Let your J-Lo loose!

Try it out with a friend!  It can be a lot of fun!  To come across smooth, confident, and enthusiastic, a speaker’s answers must be practiced and detailed.  Over time you will refine them to suite your style! 

Here some fill in the blanks with your own Glamour & Beauty Style.  Fill in the blanks might feel a bit weird or phony but, in reality, celebrities also script their answers for the media. 

Question 1: What is your beauty routine?

Your Glamorous Answer 1: My routine is really basic. I don't have any crazy secrets, like __________ or whatever! I just try to take care of myself, because it's so easy to get lazy, and not ___________________________________________________.

Question 2: What is the first thing you do when you get up in the morning?

Answer 2: I ___________________________________________________.

Question 3: How do you get that wonderful glow to your skin?

Answer 3: I've always taken good care of my skin. I ___________________________________________________.

Question 4: What products are always in your beauty bag?

Answer 4: J-Lo: I usually have lip gloss in there, and ________, ________ and ________. That's about it. Oh, and I love ________ too.

If you are finding it a bit difficult try what J-Lo does, make a Glamour & Beauty statement.  Don’t worry about spelling or grammar! Just write an idea or two.  Don’t stress out about it!  Leave it for a day and then look at it again.  It will help you to rough out your own personal ideas of Glamour & Beauty!

Take care Glamour & Beauty Icons and I will see you next week! 

Feel free to comment here or connect with me on

 face book!

J-Lo in Action!

Alex

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Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook: - Talking Tips

Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive officer of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg recently increased his personal wealth to a little under 20 billion dollars at the age of 28.  He is still a ways off Bill Gates in age and money but the future will be interesting.  He is one of the world's youngest billionaires and considered to be one of the most influential people by Time Magazine.

Currently, Facebook has 901 million monthly active users; approximately 80% are outside of North America.

Interview

Question: How is Facebook affecting the web?

Mark Zuckerberg: I think it's shaping -- it's shaping the broader web. I mean, right now, if you look back for the past five or seven years, the story of social networking has really been about getting these 800 million people connected, right, so that they can stay in touch with all these people who they care about, and getting them signed up for Facebook and all that. But if you look forward for the next five years, I think that the story that people are going to remember five years from now isn't how this one site was built. It was how every single service that you use is now going to be better with your friends because they can tap into your friends.

[Adapted from Charlie Rose Interview - Prepared by National Capitol Contracting 200 N. Glebe Rd., #1016Arlington, VA 22203]

Speaking Style

Quite often at dinner parties or other social gatherings we are asked our opinion(s). 

Mark Zuckerberg’s style is great for discussing a topic in a relaxed manner.  Mark is ‘down to earth’ and obviously connects easily with those around him; even in an interview situation.  Although his answer style is casual it is actually well crafted.

I think there a few tips we can pick up from Mark Zuckerberg.

Tip 1: State your Opinion Clearly.

Question: How is Facebook affecting the web?

I think it's shaping -- it's shaping the broader web.

Mark doesn’t mess around.  Right away, he tells the listener his opinion directly.  However he is unassuming, or not overbearing, because he gives his opinion with an “I think….” phrase.

 

I think + opinion/idea/belief

Tip 2:  Give Details to Support your Opinion

Mark immediately supports his belief by introducing his idea with: “I mean, … “.  This speaking form used after an opinion is to clarify the speaker’s opinion/idea.

 

Opinion/ idea + I mean…

Tip 3:  Create a Framework Within your Answer 

The framework gives context to the details.  Mark implements a short past and future time context.

If you look back for the past five or seven years…

But if you look forward for the next five years,…

 

Past expression + details

Future expression + details

Tip 4:  Use a Humanizing Language Device

A humanizing language device can be used to convey a difficult topic and connect with the listener.  Mark uses the phrase ‘the story of /that’ to connect with the listener.  The key point to this language device is the referencing of ‘a story’.

the story of social networking has really been about…

I think that the story that people are going to remember five years from now…

What I mean is that ‘everyone likes a story’.  We have all grown up on ‘stories’.  People can relate to them.  For example the listener might now think (after hearing Mark’s answer): “Maybe this Internet world isn’t so difficult, boring, or cold.” Social networking has a story.  All humans have a story therefore we can think of an Internet social networking platform as human.  Mark’s humanizing language device is subtle but quite effective. 

the story of/that + topic

 

Put it into Practice 

Example Ideas

Topic 1: 3D (three-dimensional) or (S3D stereoscopic 3D)

Question: How is 3D affecting the media?

Mark’s Answer style: I think it's shaping -- it's shaping the visual media experience.

I mean, right now, if you look back for the past five or seven years the story of 3D has really been about creating a greater visual sense of reality for the viewer.  It puts the viewer right there with the objects or characters in film. 

But if you look forward for the next five years, I think that the story that people are going to remember five years from now is about the horizontal movement of the 3D.  3D has moved from films to TV, games and soon onto mobile devices. 

Topic 2: Toyota Prius

Question: How is the Toyota Prius affecting the automobile industry?

Mark’s Answer style: I think it's shaping -- it's shaping the broader automobile industry.

I mean, right now, if you look back for the past five or seven years, the story of

the Toyota Prius has been about selling North American drivers on the benefits of the Prius vehicle. 

But if you look forward for the next five years, I think that the story that people are going to remember five years from now isn't how this one company successfully sold the Prius.

It will be about how Hybrid vehicles disrupted the gas driven automobile market.

Now try your own ideas.  Here is the structure of Mark Zuckerberg’s Speaking Style to help you remember.

I think + opinion/idea/belief

Opinion/ idea + I mean

Past expression + details

Future expression + details

the story of/that + topic

Well until next time, try Mark’s style out at your next social event.  Never be afraid to give your opinion. 

Now, sending positive wishes to Mark Zuckerberg and his new bride Priscilla Chan!

 ALEX

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Will Smith: a father’s influence

                                                                                  Will Smith

Question: Who was a big influence in your life?

Will Smith: My father. When my father got out of the Air Force, he started his own refrigeration business. I might have been 12 and my brother 9 when one day he decided he wanted a new front wall at his shop. He tore the old one down -- it was probably 16 feet high and 40 feet long. And he told us that this was going to be our gig over the summer. We were standing there thinking, there will never, ever, be a wall here again. We went brick by brick for the entire summer and into winter and then back into spring. One day there was a wall there again. I know my dad had been planning this for a long time. He said, "Now, don't you all ever tell me there's something you can't do." And he walked into the shop. The thing I connect to is: I do not have to build a perfect wall today. I just have to lay a perfect brick. Just lay one brick, dude.

Conversational Speaking Styles-Talking about an influential person in our life
Often we talk about the past with friends.  As we get closer to people, we often tell them about who influenced us in life.  Of course it can be a father, mother, aunt, uncle, manager, teacher, event in your life.  However, people quite often tell you about one of their parents. 

Will Smith, was originally a singer/rapper that created humorous songs.  He is very good at talking to people.  People love to listen to him talk.  His style is casual and he sounds very ‘down-to-earth’ (= sensible, realistic, not vain, not snooty).  Even though he is being interviewed he comes up with very ‘rich’ (=a lot of) information about himself in a short period of time.

Now how can we use this in our own lives? How can we transfer Will’s style to our own?

Speaking Style- Over View
You probably noticed that Will Smith uses past simple and past continuous verb tenses throughout his story.  There is only one perfect verb tense usage  “might have been”!  On TOEIC and TOEFL tests the past perfect is important.  Also, in school, this grammar idea is emphasized a lot. But don’t worry if you have spent hours and hours on difficult grammatical points.  Your hours of study can easily be used with British Native Speakers.  British Native Speakers use the perfect tenses more often than American Native Speakers in English Conversation. 

So when you create a story about who influenced you in life, try to use past simple and past continuous.  If your listener is British then feel free to use more of the perfect verb tenses. 



Speaking Tip!
Most people are not as good at talking as Will Smith.  So, it is a good idea to write your ideas down first.  Just like in a diary.  All you have to do is write down some key words and phrases.  Don't make the story too long or it will bore your listener.  About 6-8 sentences is enough. Will's story is a bit longer but he is a pro! Then like an actor practice telling your story. You don't have to memorize it but be comfortable with the key words and phrases!

Have a good week! And Enjoy using English at your next party or friendship encounter!
 
Will Smith in an early Music Video
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince (Will Smith)

  

Until next week! Take care!

Alex
Celebrity English
Communicating with the World
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