Greenpoint Spot by Peter Muller
Reflection and Response.
The Snapshots From the Collective series works to create a space for Reflection and Response through photography. ANYone who wants to contribute ANY photos to this project can email us submissions at the.lifestyle.rr@gmail.com. One photo will be posted each week, and photos will only be used for the purposes of this series. Thank you and we look forward to building and expanding the Collective!!
August 2013
Reflection and Response.
Events from the Collective is a calendar of upcoming events from the LIFESTYLE collective’s international community. Events can be submitted at anytime to the.lifestyle.rr@gmail.com or @LIFESTYLE_RR and will be added to the calendar as they roll in.
Yo! Welcome to the long-anticipated LIFESTYLE Spain trip recap! Earlier this summer, we were fortunate enough to have the chance to spend two weeks in Barcelona and Madrid, enjoying the first LIFESTYLE reunion in some time while also pursuing opportunities to create and collaborate with other artists.
We started the trip out in Barcelona, a familiar place that nonetheless presented us with new experiences, interactions, spaces, and inspirations. We set up our one-week HUB in an apartment in the dope neighborhood of Raval – a centralized barrio with narrow, vibrant cobblestone streets and and a distinctly timeless and hardwearing energy.
Throughout the week, ACTIVE was the agenda of the day. We worked on some new projects including a couple of amazing live RR interviews with local artists Javier Blanco and David Figueroa. (Be on the lookout for their words coming at the Collective in the coming weeks!)
We set up shop right on the Barceloneta beach area and played some tunes on acoustic guitar, featuring tracks from P’s album Shake This Maze along with some classic covers.
V’s “Shop Sign Studies” drawings were inspired by the local Raval landscape, full of classic, hand-painted shop signs, each with their own distinct character. Lookout for more artwork to come!
La Ria, a small corner bar in El Gótico became our jumpoff point for playing two shows in the neighborhood. We connected with the owner of the spot one afternoon while having a café, and the following night P played an acoustic set there that also turned into an impromptu jam session with Franck – the cook – who happened to be the dopest percussionist.
The show the next night was at a bar down the street called Las Cuevas del Sorté – in their tiled basement venue with rough stone walls and an unparalleled sound. Friends and fam came out for a show that started as a live looping set that transitioned into an intimate acoustic session, before concluding with a reggaeton DJ set with one of our brothers from the city.
We spent the second leg of the trip in Madrid, which was quite a farewell tour for P, who had been living there for the past two years teaching English and developing a Hip Hop English Education curriculum for elementary-age students. After also completing four albums for the LIFESTYLE Studios, collaborating across the open seas from Madrid to Brooklyn, it was time to head back stateside, on to the next building block.
The last few days in Madrid were a time of celebration and preparation for the road ahead. It all came together for the goodbye concert, “La Despedida de Peter Muller,” at the underground cave at RepubliK Club – a session featuring live looping and beat building with multi-lingual freestyles, along with a late night acoustic session. An unforgettable finale to the LIFESTYLE’s European venture.
July 2013
Reflection and Response.
Events from the Collective is a calendar of upcoming events from the LIFESTYLE collective’s international community. Events can be submitted at anytime to the.lifestyle.rr@gmail.com or @LIFESTYLE_RR and will be added to the calendar as they roll in.
How’s it going y’all! Hope each and every one of you is doing well out there in the world. Thanks again for tuning into another feature here at the LIFESTYLE. Today, we have a super down to earth artist who has been so kind as to share a few words. There is something so charming about the simplicity of her swing. It’s as if she has invited us to dream with her, and that’s never a bad thing. Coming out of Seattle, operating through performance and staying connected through the likes of tumblr and pinterest(be sure and look her up), her writing is very expressive. The young lady is canary yellow against a clear blue sky. With that said, it’s our pleasure to present you Whitney Killian.
I’ve discovered that reflection is the greatest means of self-preservation; it has helped me cope and find peace. I’m emerging from my reflection phase – ready to respond, to react.
Leading off with some basics, where are you from? And where are you at?
WK: Born and raised in the small town of Sumner, Washington – but truly bred in the great city of Seattle, my current home. Over the years, I’ve had some pretty amazing chances to grow and express myself as a vocalist. From my high school choir room, to the jam room in Delta Upsilon at UW, to the basement of the house on 55th & Brooklyn Ave, to the stages of dive bars and the balcony at the KeyArena… with some pretty talented people to help me along the way. I currently have the pleasure of singing feature and backup vocals for Ayo Dot, a respected Seattle hip hop artist, and when I’m lucky enough, I get to jam with the amazing guys of Victory Lap, a great side project cover band we started back in September. Throw in a couple reality TV show auditions over the last few years, and there you have it. Music is important to me and my general happiness, so I always try to keep fun projects on the books.
What does Reflection and Response mean to you? How do your projects fit in with that definition?
WK: Reflection has been my best friend lately. Hardships happen, things won’t always go your way. When storms come and all seems to be lost in chaos, there also comes a unique opportunity to reflect about your response to everything that’s thrown your way. The response can’t happen without the reflection, and the reflection often doesn’t happen without the storm. The best part is that in reflection, some of the greatest and most raw work is produced. I’ve discovered that reflection is the greatest means of self-preservation; it has helped me cope and find peace. I’m emerging from my reflection phase – ready to respond, to react. I’m writing every day, humming new melodies, putting the products of my storms onto paper and into song. I’m crafting my response.
What else have you been working on recently? What are you looking to work on next?
WK: My biggest focus right now is developing my own catalogue of songs and writings. Piano has always been of interest to me, so I’m working to pick up that skill so that I can really start to stand on my own as an artist. Aside from my own writing, I’m loving the super fun and fresh work I get to do with Ayo Dot & crew. Since I joined the band in November, we’ve played a few shows and have been working on some new tracks as a band. Being a part of something new and exciting is completely refreshing, and as an artist who’s looking to establish myself and grow, working with Ayo and the guys has been a great opportunity.
Who or what inspires you?
WK: Lately, the lyrics of great female singers & songwriters have been my inspiration. Ellie Goulding, Stevie Nicks, Adele, Sara Bareilles, and more. These women are powerhouses, and I’ve found their strength to be contagious. I live for the moments when a song – or just one line – can stop me in my tracks and make me feel something, help me gain clarity, or resonate so loudly and so closely that the lyrics start to feel like they’re becoming my own. Those moments make me want to write and create things that will inspire others in similar ways. Oh, and Pinterest and Tumblr, where everyone else’s very public passions inspire me to be a better writer and better human being in general.
Is there anything else you would like the Collective to know?
WK: On the subject of the Collective… I respect the work you guys do. So much. You’ve taken the time to reflect and respond, and to cause others to do the same. It’s people like you who inspire people like me to keep working, to keep making pretty things and putting them out into the universe. Thank you for doing what you do.
Shout out to…?
WK: To my close friends and incredible family – you’ve held me together like glue, you’ve kept me laughing (mostly at myself), you are the reasons why I’m still standing, and you are the reasons why I will not just survive, but thrive. Especially my amazing life coach, Cortney – thanks for keeping your big sis in line.
“Make You Feel My Love,” by Adele, featuring Austin Silva on keyboard and Peter Muller on guitar
Untitled By Whitney Killian
you were my sunshine
my warm summer day
but it’s been coming down hard
since the night you walked away
the storm clouds in my heart
keep me crying over you
they darken my days
they’re not just passing through
you know what they say
when it rains, it pours
and it’s drowning my heart
since i’m no longer yours
Victory Lap Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/VictoryLapSEA
Ayo Dot website: http://ayodot.com/
Whitney’s tumblr: http://whitneykaykillian.tumblr.com/
Whitney’s pintrist: http://pinterest.com/whitkay/boards/
Whitney’s youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/whitneykay2
-Reflection and Response
Parthenon. Skyview. Athenas, Greece. 2012.
Reflection and Response
-P
June 2013
Reflection and Response.
Events from the Collective is a calendar of upcoming events from the LIFESTYLE collective’s international community. Events can be submitted at anytime to the.lifestyle.rr@gmail.com or @LIFESTYLE_RR and will be added to the calendar as they roll in.
June 2013
Reflection and Response.
Events from the Collective is a calendar of upcoming events from the LIFESTYLE collective’s international community. Events can be submitted at anytime to the.lifestyle.rr@gmail.com or @LIFESTYLE_RR and will be added to the calendar as they roll in.
This project started as a collaboration between the bad-ass teacher I work with in second grade English and Science, Ricardo , and the textbook we were using at the time. The unit the kids were doing was on animal habitats and we decided it would be dope to write a song and have me record it to rap later with the kids to see how they would respond. Ricardo wrote the first version of lyrics that would become my first track, “Habitats.”
The version I brought to class turned out to be too fast so I went home and slowed it down. Then we were on a roll. As summer is approaching, I thought it would cool to record a full album of tracks so my students can listen to something different in English in July and August. Thus, “Hip Hop English With Peter,” was born. For a week and a half, I’ve been recording and rerecording tracks based on units from textbooks we work with at school as well as consulting English teachers on common mistakes.
The album contains a range of levels and goals for learning and comprehension. The first 4 tracks were written specifically for second grade, “Work” for third grade, and the last 3 tracks are aimed at practicing 5th and 6th grade common mistakes.
I am also nearly finished with a preschool edition of Hip Hop English, and am working with a preschool teacher who is helping me make songs more enjoyable for younger language learners.
I look forward to working further on this project. This is only the beginning, Below are the lyrics from the first Hip Hop English With Peter for Elementary School English Learners:
Habitats
I am oviparous
I lay eggs
I am a toucan
Fly with friends
I live in a habitat
Rainforest
Weather is warm
Rain is pouring
Wet rainforest, dry desert
Cold polar region
Forest trees birds and bees
All the animals singing
I am viviparous
I don’t lay eggs
I am a camel
With friends
I live in a habitat
Yes, the desert
Night is cold
Day is hot weather
Wet rainforest, dry desert
Cold polar region
Forest trees birds and bees
All the animals singing
I am oviparous
I lay eggs
I am a penguin
with friends
I live in a habitat
The polar region
The weather is cold
No chameleons
Wet rainforest, dry desert
Cold polar region
Forest trees birds and bees
All the animals singing
Wet rainforest, dry desert
Cold polar region
Forest trees birds and bees
All the animals singing
Towns and Cities
Towns and cities
Cities and towns
Cities are bigger more noise and sounds
Towns are smaller buildings are lower
And the streets those are shorter
We can do many things
Go shopping then go out in the evening
And some are by the sea
Others by in the mountains it’s so pretty
Towns and cities have a mayor
With counselors at town hall they work there
organize services for all
Festivals, like the winter ball
Towns and cities
Cities and towns
Cities are bigger more noise and sounds
Towns are smaller buildings are lower
And the streets those are shorter
So What’s in the city?
Some public transport
Underground and the bus
Get my toys at department store
Watch a movie at the cinema
In the town smaller buildings
My house is next to a square
Medicine at the chemist
There is a school, my friends are there
Forces
Push your table
Pull your hair
Forces move objects from here to there
Drop a pencil don’t be scared
Gravity a force in the air
Push and pull forces move objects in different ways
A big object means a big force
They can even change shape
Blow a balloon- it changes shape
Push a rock- it doesn’t change
Squeeze a sponge it changes shape
Forces happen everyday
How does a force make an object move?
A force is invisible but we can see what they do?
Start moving kick a ball
Stop moving block that ball
Move faster go on the swing
Change direction move slower please
Seasons and Months
Autumn September, October,
Wear a jacket it is colder
Back to school to learn new things
My new T shirt is cool to me
It’s Winter it’s cold outside
Please put on your jacket don’t cry
Put on a coat and wear some trousers
Make a snowman for an hour
It’s Spring March April May
Take off your coat put on a shirt is great
It is windy sometimes it rains
Sometimes it’s a sunny day
It’s Summer June July August
Put on shorts outside it’s hottest
Put on your suncap and shorts
Put on sunscreen open the door!
Means of Transport
Train, bus, helicopter, and car
Means of transport, yes they are
Underground, ships, and planes,
Carry passengers goods, and freight
Boats. Motorbikes, and lorries,
Move people and things fast and slowly,
Roads have one lane going each way
Motorways have more lanes
Vroom vrrom goes the car
Choo choo I am a train
Ummm I am a boat
Now wings fly like a plane
Vroom vrrom goes the car
Choo choo I am a train
Ummm I am a boat
Now wings fly like a plane
Train, bus, helicopter, and car
Means of transport, yes they are
Underground, ships, and planes,
Carry passengers goods, and freight
Boats. Motorbikes, and lorries,
Move people and things fast and slowly,
Roads have one lane going each way
Motorways have more lanes
Trains stop at stations
Plans land at airports
Buses taxis underground
Public transportation
Ships stop at ports
Taxis and cars road vehicles
Cars, bicycles, bikes
Private transportation
Train, bus, helicopter, and car
Means of transport, yes they are
Underground, ships, and planes,
Carry passengers goods, and freight
Boats. Motorbikes, and lorries,
Move people and things fast and slowly,
Roads have one lane going each way
Motorways have more lanes
Work
We work we do activities
We get money from the work we do
For example people work on trousers
And work to sell them to me and you
Some jobs use resources from nature
Mining, fishing, farmers with a cow
Some jobs make products
in the industries of furniture, textile, automotive, wow!
We work we do activities
We get money from the work we do
For example people work on trousers
And work to sell them to me and you
Some jobs provide services like
a doctor that helps patients
Some work in retail
As shop owners or shop assistants
We work we do activities
We get money from the work we do
For example people work on trousers
And work to sell them to me and you
Present Perfect
I haven’t ever been to London
But I’m planning on going later on this summer
I have lived in Spain for all my life
I go to school everyday see my friends at night
This is the story of my daily routine
I use the simple present with regular things
Use the present perfect to talk about facts
That are still happening but started in the past
Everyday wake up and have breakfast
Get to school at 9 for a science lesson
After that I have maths then the playground
snack is an apple tastes great wow!
Then more class, lengua and math
When the bell rings I meet my friends to relax
Next to the park I finish my homework
After is dinner san jacobos are so good!
I clear the table after the meal
then we watch a movie that’s our family’s deal
next I brush my teeth and I go to bed
And tomorrow the routine starts over again
I haven’t ever been to London
But I’m planning on going later on this summer
I have lived in Spain for all my life
I go to school everyday see my friends at night
This is the story of my daily routine
I use the simple present with regular things
Use the present perfect to talk about facts
That are still happening but started in the past
What is the present perfect?
Actions in the past that are still current
Like “Hi my name is Peter, the class assistant
I’ve worked at school since 2011 teaching English
Or I have just made a cake.
Why is that current?
Well… I still have a piece and if you are hungry
And I would just love to serve it
I haven’t ever been to London
But I’m planning on going later on this summer
I have lived in Spain for all my life
I go to school everyday see my friends at night
This is the story of my daily routine
I use the simple present with regular things
Use the present perfect to talk about facts
That are still happening but started in the past
The Right Way to Ask
I forgot my homework in the other class
May I go and get it is the right way to ask
May I come in? not “I can pass?”
May I go to the restroom, not I can.
If you are late ask “may I come in.”
We shouldn’t disrupt the other students
If I need a pencil ask “may I borrow one,”
and remember to bring one tomorrow son
After school I ask “may I play.”
Depends on what myp arents say
After dinner I ask “may I watch TV?”
Only if you finish studying.
I forgot my homework in the other class
May I go and get it is the right way to ask
May I come in? not “I can pass?”
May I go to the restroom, not I can.
At the breakfast table I need the butter
I say “Would you pass me the butter, mother.”
With a smile she says “here you go honey,”
I tell her thank you, the pancakes are lovely
My friend Alex from school fell down
I asked “would you like some help right now?”
I went and got a teacher, she said it was fine
she put on a band-aid Alex gave me 5
I forgot my homework in the other class
May I go and get it is the right way to ask
May I come in? not “I can pass?”
May I go to the restroom, not I can.
Once A Week
I listen to music, he watches TV
She looks at a picture. What does she see?
It is a man sitting at a table
Having lunch using a fork to eat
On a Saturday in September
Talking with my friend Vanessa
She told me hello, I said “what’s up?”
Just took an exam, man it was tough
Once a week at 5 P.M.
I go to Maria’s house with all my friends
All day I can’t wait to go
Will it be fun? Yes, I think so
I am good at speaking English
I am bad at dancing tango
But I’m better than my teacher Peter
Man, he dances like a flamingo
I have a brother, I am ten years old
Do we have homework? I hope so.
I wrote it down in my agenda
and I’ll do it, ‘cus I always remember.
Once a week at 5 P.M.
I go to Maria’s house with all my friends
All day I can’t wait to go
Will it be fun? Yes, I think so
Reflection and Response.
-P
June 2013
Reflection and Response.
Events from the Collective is a calendar of upcoming events from the LIFESTYLE collective’s international community. Events can be submitted at anytime to the.lifestyle.rr@gmail.com or @LIFESTYLE_RR and will be added to the calendar as they roll in.
the LIFESTYLE 