Before I go any further lets take a quick run through at finding the right partner to even try a relationship. I hope everyone realizes that looks are not everything, and neither are the things that go with it. I know many people who only go after certain “type” or “look” and wonder why they don’t have much success. Also be sure that you are on the same page as far as goals and expectation page being on the wrong page leads to many relationship failures. And finally before we get into this a disclaimer, everyone must realize that in searching for their significant other you are at risk to run into the immature, trifling, damaged, or downright ignorant possibilities that exist for both males and females.

A big problem I find with many relationships is people who are not complete themselves trying to be in a relationship. No matter the reason, be it some form of mental, physical, or emotional abuse in their past, or a series of bad experiences with relationships, one cannot shortchange the possibility of future relationship success by carrying bad luggage. Even worse is hanging the mistakes and faults of past partners gone wrong over this person you are trying to be in a relationship with. You cannot make person C pay for the mistakes of the previous A and B. If you find yourself still struggling with issues from a previous relationship then take the time to avoid them (and subsequently dealing with anyone) until you take the time to heal properly. There is nothing worse than allowing your own emotional issues ruin another relationship (and possibly create bad experiences for someone else). Also one should ask themselves am I mature enough for a relationship or would I rather be “open” to running around and “experiencing” other people as I grow (make sure you figure this out and don’t hurt anyone while trying to find you own way).

The other issue is that people don’t know how to give their all properly. They either give too much (trying to cover for the other’s deficiencies) or they give too little (creating said deficiency). Nobody can give more than 100% despite what many motivating clichés may say. Trying to go beyond your own 100% for any reason, be it compensating for your partners lack of anything from esteem, respect, priority, or even love and care can cause damage to yourself and the overall relationship. Doing so puts a strain on yourself and does not help your partner grow or get better at what they are lacking. Instead make sure proper communication about your wants and needs (and your partners too) are communicated, and do your best to find out what you guys need to work on in order to meet them for one another.

Finally realize that all relationships either last till death, or unfortunately end badly (with the rarity of a “good” ending). Someone once asked me “what’s wrong with me? Why do my relationships keep coming to a heartbreaking end?” First one must realize that a relationship is an emotional and spiritual investment, so if it doesn’t work then there WILL be pain and questions left behind. Just because there is a failure doesn’t mean there is necessarily anything “wrong” with you. As with any situation one should always look realistically in the mirror to identify what they did wrong and could do better, and everything isn’t automatically the other persons fault. Sometimes two people who are nice and good just are not the right match for one another, also just because it didn’t work doesn’t mean there is no hope. Fearing failure is one of the worst attitudes you can have in life, and can prevent its full potential.

In the end communication can never be stressed enough when it comes to relationships, especially early on in them. By figuring out your goals and expectations you can avoid many headaches before they start to become painful. When early on don’t try to portray yourself as the “perfect” partner, being upfront here will make a better relationship and save you future troubles. After you guys are on the same page make sure each person is a complete individual, capable of being on their own, not needy of each other, but wanting. Finally cast aside all preconceptions, mistrusts and doubts and judge each person on their own character and what they display to you. Never forget your past lessons, but learn to properly apply them, so that you can find what you’re looking for. Remember to never give up hope, and never let a demon of the past capture your potential for future victory; by holding on to those bad experiences, you give the person responsible for them power over you. Let go, live, and learn.

And

It

Was

…

AMAZING.

FYI…this whole week (or until I run out of things to say) is dedicated to my fantabulous fashion trip. And you’re gonna love it. I promise.

Yesterday, I went downstairs to the lobby of my building and chatted up the desk receptionist there. I think it’s really important to get to know the people who do things for you. For one, it makes transactions easier. For two, NETWORKING baby! You never know how someone can help you. But anyhow, this is how the convo went:

I always thought cardigans needed more back appeal

Desk Receptionist: Are you wearing your sweater backwards or is it made like that?

FashionJunkie: I’m wearing it backwards.

DR: Oh, ok. I figured you knew it was backwards. You always tend to do your own thing with clothes, so…

FJ: Haha, I didn’t think it was -that- noticable that I did my own thing.

DR: Oh yeah. it is. …You look cute though.

Outfit: Aqua v-neck cardigan backwards, white camisole underneath. Long pendant necklace with square black gem. Hair on the side and pulled back with a black elastic headband. Skinny jeans and purple velvet ballet flats to complete the look.

The outfit came into my mind in the shower when I was thinking of how frumpy I felt in that cardigan when I wore it the regular way.  When I tried it on backwards though, the result was sexy and snug in all the right places in the front. The back had a dramatic plunge and a slight off the shoulder effect. I felt casual, sophisticated, and comfortable. And I definitely turned heads. I found this cute image at Style Bubble to show you what exactly what I’m talking about.

I’m not the first person to wear my cardigan backwards, so I’m not trying to take credit for the idea. What I am encouraging you to do is to create your own style and start your own trends. Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box. That’s why the box is there in the first place. Happy styling!

Many have said Hip-Hop is dead and many have claimed to be the one to bring it back or carry it. If hip-hop is dead or dying, what killed it? Is it the relentless parade of individuals who would be willing to redefine it over and over again? How can something so beautiful and pure be redefined, thus killed by all those who wish to be its next star? This young star hopes to be the one to not try to redefine what hip-hop is, but bend hip-hop to his own imagination.

As a native of Prince Georges County, Maryland and an Alum of Hampton University, Deron Hogans seeks to use his talents and experiences to not only break into the music scene but empower and motivate people for greatness.

CN: Where are you from? Tell me about your background.

D: I was born in South Carolina. Raised in the DMV. Fort Washington to be specific. I lived the quintessential Prince George’s County life, a little hood, a little luxurious lol. I went to black private schools all life. So you could imagine, middle class kids in the hood who think they have way more money than they do. That about sums it up.

CN: When did you get into music?

D: I’ve been into music forever, since birth. Granddaddy was a quartet singer. Mommy played the trumpet. Daddy was a rapper in the 80’s. Yeah. I am music.

CN: What are your influences?

D: My influences are revolutionaries and those who build movements. My influences step outside the lines of music. We are talking about people like Che Gueverra, Martin Luther King, Ghandi…People who motivated and inspired millions. I hope to be as influential at some time in my life.

CN: What is your favorite artist and song?

D: It’s hard for me to say I have favorite one artist because I look up to so many that have come and gone in this industry. But there is one artist, who made one song that always serves as an inspiration to me. Sam Cooke’s “A Change Gone Come” always touches me every time I hear it. And, the great songs that have come from its sampling and rearranging are a testament to its greatness.

CN: How would you describe your own genre of music?

D: My music sits in a familiar place of sound to today’s listeners of popular music. A lot of people say I sit in the category with Kanye, Drake, Cudi, and artists of that mold. The differences between them and I is I have an acute affection and adoration for gritty R&B and Houston gangster rap.

CN: What are your greatest challenges as an up and coming artist?

D: My greatest challenge is my hometown. I say that not because of the “crabs in a bucket” mentality, but because of the “I am Hip-hop” mentality. I think the whole scene has been overwhelmed and utterly defeated by the drive of each rapper to define what hip hop is and dictate that definition to every other artist and person out there listening. Hip Hop is different for every person and has been around for a long time now. Swagging, trapping, rapping, conscious, whatever you do is good for you, But when you try and make it right for someone else, you’re wrong.

CN: What has been your greatest success? Or best memory?

D: My greatest success actually has nothing to do with music. At Hampton University, my alma mater, I organized a march on campus called Man in the Mirror. The goal was to unite young black men and empower them. It was beautiful to see all those faces marching in the name of one cause and purpose. I plan to continue that initiative as a non-profit organization.

CN: What is your own favorite song?

D: My own favorite song has to be one that I recently recorded for my next project @arehegold called #tweetlove. It’s interesting because it’s kind of poppy but very lyrical; it’s definitely a win and something light to listen to. I love it.

CN: What are your Career Goals?

D: My career goal is to win, and winning means being a legend on Jay-Z or Diddy status.

CN: What would you want the world to know about yourself and your music?

D: The world should know that Deron is not one dimensional. Deron is an intricate work of art that is created at the hands of many producers, public relationists, visual artists, photographers, and one writer, ME. Deron is not the American dream, but the human’s dream, because we all have something that we aspire to be, and Deron talks to that specific commonality amongst all of humanity.

Related Links & Music:

Deron: Imma Be Up On It

Deron: Chillin

Deron: Swaggavision

Deron’s Myspace Page

A chat with this sensational trio reveals that a mix of fresh tunes, a rallying spirit, and a fierce teenage ambition are the key to musical success.

CapitalNoise: The annual Fort Reno shows are a perfect way for bands to appeal to younger crowds. Where were some other places you performed before coming there and to Black Cat in DC?

Emily: Before Fort Reno and Black Cat, we played at venues like Santa Fe Cafe, The Bullpen, and Solly’s Tavern.

Annika: Quite a few Over-21 places in the DC area.

Emily: And after playing Backstage at the Black Cat, we recently had the opportunity to play on the Main stage.

Michael: We also played at DC9.

Emily: Right now our goal is to get a gig at the 9:30 Club. We also want to play at Jammin Java in Vienna, Virginia, and just scheduled a gig there for March 2nd.

CN: Which of these have been your favorites?

Annika: For me, it would be Santa Fe Cafe. I loved the environment, the stage, and the sound. The crowd we played for was really great too.

Michael: Mine was DC9. It also had good sound, and lots of great people.

Emily: Yeah, for DC9, the supporting bands were very cool; we played with Pomegranates and Phantogram, who were great and drew a good crowd.

CN: You were chosen among the top 50 performers for Teen Battle of the Bands, is that right?

Emily: Yeah. Basically, I entered a contest called School Jam USA, and we were told that a little over 200 bands entered. It was narrowed down to 50 by the organizers. We passed a voting round where fans, friends, friends of friends, and family could vote for us. It was very tough–there are only three of us, and we were up against bands with four or five people from different schools. We have a slightly smaller social network, so we had to rely on loyal fans that were willing to spread the word about us.

CN: How did that work out?

Emily: Well! It got us to the next round!

CN: Was this a new experience for you?

Emily: We’ve entered in other online contests before, but we’ve never really taken it to the extent where we were trying to get people very involved. The incentive was great here–money for our school, money for our band.

Annika: Also, the attention from the rest of the students at our school was another payoff.

Emily: Without our school’s support, we wouldn’t have gotten to that point, so we’re very grateful for that. It was like we had a story–a local teenage band becoming known in the DC area.

Annika: Which got us an interview with NBC.

CN: You chose to shoot your music video for “Alone” on the Georgetown Bridge. Why did you choose that location?

Michael: We chose that location because it really represents DC well. We like the way it looks.

Emily: It looked nice overlooking the water, and to DCers, it’s a recognizable landmark.

CN: Do you see the DMV area as your band’s original loyal fan-base?

All: Yeah definitely.

Michael: Absolutely.

Annika: Once you have that foundation in the city, you’re known as a “DC Band”, so when we go to play in California, we’re the “DC Band” playing in California.

Emily: Which means we first have loyal fans, before gaining new fans and connections in other cities. It’s the loyal fans that help you succeed. It’s the fact that if you want to spread your music around, you can’t do it alone.

CN: You guys have a lot on your plate while still attending high school. How do you deal with all the responsibilities?

Michael: (Chuckle).

Emily: Well, it’s difficult. It generates a lot of late nights for us. We try not to let schoolwork slip. We try to prioritize, but sometimes we just don’t have as much time as we want. For example, juggling the NAMM Trade Show with exam week is difficult.

CN: Your song “And We’re Off” seems to give off a strong message about your band. Emily stated in one of your other interviews that Power Pirate’s music is “purposeful”. Could you elaborate on that?

Emily: “And We’re Off” is a super-optimistic song. It’s a song about how we’ve gotten this far through the support of fans, and how we are continuing with Power Pirate for as long as possible. We’re serious and we’re not going away. Other songs, like “Alone”, are very personal songs, so we’ll have songs about what happened to me, or things that I observe. I enjoy writing lyrics, so I try to write about things that matter to me.

CN: Michael mentioned that some of your inspirations include Muse, Infected Mushroom, and Silversun Pickups. Is there anything in particular that you like about their music or style that you try to incorporate into your own?

Michael: I like the production style of Silversun Pickups. Infected Mushroom very much influences the way I play keyboard and how I think of arrangement, buildups, and dynamics in song.

CN: I can definitely hear that through the melodies. So is Power Pirate planning to release a full-length album any time soon?

Michael: Absolutely. It’s already been recorded and I’m in the process of mixing and producing it.

Emily: The CD will be called “Plane Ticket” and it’s scheduled for release later this spring.

CN: Do you have any words of inspiration to any other younger or start-up bands out in the area?

Emily: I think the important thing to remember is to follow your dream and do it yourself. It’s something we’ve always stressed and tried to get other bands to do as well. We do the graphic design in-house. Michael does the photography and for the band, too.

Michael: We recorded and produced the whole album and the two singles at home in the basement.

Annika: We also do the booking. Starting bands shouldn’t think that you need a manager or someone to depend on. Just try to start out on your own. Gain support, and slowly build up from there.

Emily: Another thing is that you shouldn’t let other people’s mistakes slow you down. Don’t put blame on others when something goes wrong. Just fix the problem next time around.

CN: So on that subject, how do you handle creative differences?

Emily: Well, Michael and I do the melodies. I’m more into pop music, and Michael is more into… (to Michael) What do you call it?

Michael: I dunno, I listen to a lot of music.

Annika: I’d say Emily is more vocal style, and Michael is more instrumental.

Emily: It’s also like pop versus more… obscure music. If that makes sense.

Michael: Yeah it’s more like what Annika is saying: vocal versus instrumental. The point is, we do have our differences and we do argue sometimes, but in the end we compromise and have the best of both worlds.

Emily: It comes through in our music. It is original but it’s still accessible to a huge audience because it has those these roots.

CN: Thanks so much for taking the time to talk with CapitalNoise. Best of luck to all of you!

Listen to some of Power Pirate’s tracks HERE!

Related Links:

Power Pirate Homepage

MySpace