We just love...Dub Colossus!

Dub Colossus is the vision of Nick Page - aka Dubulah. Composer, guitarist, bass player and programmer Nick started his music career with Mykaell Riley (Steel Pulse) and has since worked with a long list of notable artists and eccentrics. In 1990 he formed Trans-Global Underground with Tim Whelan and Hammid Man-Tu, produced-wrote-played six albums before leaving in 1997 to form Temple of Sound with Neil Sparkes.

Dubulah first travelled to Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa in 2006 to collaborate with musicians and explore traditional Azmari styles, 60s Ethiopian pop, Ethiojazz and 70s Jamaican dub reggae. There he came across some amazingly talented artists - female vocalists Tsedenia Gebremarkos, a fine, soulful performer and highly successful African pop star, and Sintayehu 'Mimi' Zenebe who runs a nightclub in Addis and has been described as 'Ethiopia's Edith Piaf', extraordinary young pianist Samuel Yirga, veteran saxophonist and jazz exponent Feleke Hailu and Teremage Woretaw, a traditional folk singer, an azmari, an exponent of the one-stringed messenqo violin - Dub Colossus was born.


When their first set, 'A Town Called Addis', was released back in 2008 it was hailed as one of the most inventive fusion albums of the year, with its blend of contemporary and traditional Ethiopian styles, jazz and dub reggae. Now comes a lengthy, even more varied and sophisticated album, 'Addis Through The Looking Glass', that moves the experiment on - with the Ethiopian contingent playing a greater role in the proceedings. It's still an experimental fusion set, not a straightforward recording of Ethiopian songs, but the successes of the past two years have led to growing confidence in the band.

This may have started out as a studio-based project, but Dub Colossus proved that they are also a rousing live band known to transport audiences to the pounding dancehalls of Addis Ababa with their intriguing and exuberant mix of traditional Ethiopian sounds, sturdy reggae rhythms and a modern dub twist.

Their newest album - "Addis through the looking glass" is out now. Check their website for further details about the band and where to buy copies of their music.

Happy Jammin!

Love, Your Emi. x x x


Images from:
www.realworldrecords.com
www.kalamu.com

New stockist confirmed: Superfly located in Tarifa, Southern Spain

As of Mid-feb we will be selling our jewellery via the wonderful Superfly store, located in Tarifa, Southern Spain.



Superfly is a milti-brand store, located in one of the most beautiful spots on earth.. Tarifa, 10 km´s of white sandy beach, when the wind is up the sky is filled with kites and the water with boarders. In their main store Superfly offer a great mix of surf, skate and street wear, stocking brands such as:

- Carhartt
- North Face
- RVCA
- Analog
- Burton
- Supemebeing
- Nikita
- and more!!


There is a boutique at the back of the store, which stocks an eclectic mix of fashion brands... a hidden chest of beautiful clothes and accessories is you like, which is where we fit in nicely into the store!

If you are around, call in and say Hi to Katherine, the store owner. She is a reflection of the brands Superfly stocks and is passionate about the beach life that is surrounded by the area.

Superfly will be stocking a capsule collection of some of our most on-trend pieces of jewellery from this season. From our feather earrings to our infamous camera necklace!

It really is worth a visit!

Happy shopping guys...

Love, Emi. x x x

For the love of recycling

A friend of mine sent me this picture. I love it. What an amazing play on words, and by the sound of things, he gets quite a lot of custom!!

Seriously, think about it, the next time you are looking at your cow boy boots, instead of whizzing them in the bin, why not get them re-heeled? Its much cheaper than buying a new pair of boots, and you have the added bonus of them already being broken in?

Im vegetarian, so wouldn't buy leather...but, if you have already bought them, why not get the most out of your boots, re-heel them and re-use them. Way, way, way too much rubbish is going to landfill, seriously, every small amount helps.

Last year, we had a very successful range of recycled jewellery. Stay tuned, we are whipping up a storm at the moment and will be re-introducing our beloved recycled jewellery line, back online...exclusive to our web store.

Have any requests from last season? Email us and we will see what we can do.

Love,

Xander & the team at Emi. x x x

Outfit buiding with Emi♥

This season, Navajo inspired outfits are all over the high street. Go for mixed patterns, layered knits, bright colours and feather & fur.

Finish off with antique inspired accessories and a good pair of heels or boots.

As featured above, the Feather Necklace & Feather earrings all online now.

Get into the Indian spirit of things, but a drum & a didgeridoo (we already have ours, seriously!) Make a healthy jug of Pimms and enjoy with friends around a camp-fire on the beach. Ideal.

Love, Your Emi. x x x

There is beauty where ever you look in the world...

I have always lived in the city, and many people would argue that it can be a really, really ugly place to live. I on the other hand feel you just need to open your eyes a little wider. Take this photo our photographer, Steven took a quick shot at just as he was walking back to the office.

OK, so some may think yeah it just looks like a real eye sore, but you have to look beyond that. Inside this "mess" and great pile of rubble some unknown graffiti artist once brightened up the room with their work.



Just look beyond the rubble...I love the free flowing use of the spray paint and the contrast between the two walls. On one wall, the paint is reminiscant of Tim Burtons work (I know I seem to go on about him all of the time, but he really is one of my favourite director's of all time) I guess you could even go as far as saying the surrealism reminds me of Picasso's work. And yet on the other wall, it has an almost child-like quality to the work with the innocent colourful circles and repeat pattern squares.


I have always been a fan of surrealism and have been inspired around the world around me. One of my favourite pictures I have ever drawn when when I was 16 and doing my GCSE's. Feeling inspired by nature and the idea that everyone holds a door to their mind, I created this piece from pastels. it took me 14 hours to sketch and then colour back in all the detail, but I am really proud of it.

I don't ever really show my drawing to others, I like to keep them to myself. Out of all there work I have ever drawn this is the only one I have hanging on my wall in the house.

I guess some could look at it and say, that piece is screaming out the angst of a teenager but to me it's all about keeping a part of yourself to yourself which is represented by the half open door with the black misty background...

What do you think?

Love,

Xander. x x

COMPETITION TIME!

Its been a while now since we have run one of our competitions...so we thought we would kick off the new year by giving away a piece of jewellery from a brand that we love.

Wanna WIN this fab ring from Stolen Thunder? (RRP £41 and online now at Stolenthunder.com)? It simple.

1. Go to our FACEBOOK page & LIKE us.
2. Tag "Check out the new SS12 collection online now at Emi - An Ethical Company" in your status.
3. Cross your fingers and you could WIN this beautiful ring.

Good luck!

Love,

Your Emi. x x x

After a busy morning at the office, I thought sod it, I’m going out to treat myself for some toff-toff style dinner. After all, we all deserve it once in a while.

A friend of mine found this quaint café called Time to Teatox based in the center of Manchester, close to Piccadilly Gardens.

Picture – home made cakes, treats and THEE biggest selection of tea I have ever seen.



I finally settled on a parsnip soup & falafel flat bread combo with some Raspberry tea. It wasn’t cheap at £11 odd for dinner, but my god it was worth it.

I thoroughly recommend the place. The staff were friendly and the food all home made which I find is the icing on the cake. Ok, so it did take a little time to arrive, but hey-ho when your having food made to order, its well worth the wait!

Love, Xander. x