332 quotes found
"Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree, Merry merry king of the bush is he. Laugh, Kookaburra, laugh, Kookaburra, Gay your life must be!"
"I am fairly classless because it is very difficult to class someone who comes from a mixed marriage. There isn’t a class structure in Nigeria, there’s a tribal structure and prestige as far as money is concerned. My mother comes from a family where her mother was very working-class and her father was middle-class stroke artsy-fartsy."
"One bloke approached an entire interview as if I was trying to be a jazz musician. I’ve never said that. I’ve never even tried it. And if we did we’d do a darn sight better job than we are doing now."
"Most things around are very similar in every respect, the music and the way people look. In order to be in a band, you have to have certain colors in your hair—still! Our image is striking because it is different, not because it is particularly outstanding."
"I don’t like segregation…Music is something which should be available to all people. When you go into a club there is no color bar on the dance floor, so why should it apply to radio station? Unfortunately it does. It does not only apply to black and white, it also applies to heavy metal, pop, all that. It’s such a big place with such big corporations everywhere that in order to feel safe they have to categorize things."
"You sort of feel like you’re a gladiator going out there because even though you know most of these people have come from a good place and they love your music and they come with a feeling of love, which is what you walk away with…It’s a bit like being thrown at the lions when you go out there because you have this sort of fear, even though it’s irrational, (that) you’re going to get torn apart, so you go out and you have to be good."
"The vanishing middle-class, distinct rich/poor class divisions in the US and poverty continue to be issues that nag and tear at the social fabric but rarely are put front and centre in plays and works for live performance. I don’t think every play needs to address these topics, of course. I do think the daily lives of citizens—the sheer struggle to get by, make do, and the increased dependency on credit (and therefore, debt) are issues that affect everyone…"
"There are so many “invisible” stories still, and one of the beauties of writing for the stage is making these so-called “invisible” stories seen and heard and felt. In terms of form, I think my work as a dramatist is becoming starker and leaner, rather than more baroque…"
"Plays are events in time and space. Plays are music. Word music. Visual music. I’ve always thought of plays as a form of composition—of text and the architecture of the experience of the full-length evening…"
"These type of stories still go on. This is something that has to be said. It’s been done in many ways, but I think that theater being done live has a different impact. And when we come out of the show we stop and think–”What can I do in my society to make it better?”"
"We are disoriented because in the infosphere there are a million suggestions about how to reach that goal [health], a bunch of trends, offers, promises – contradictory, fake, true, absurd… So we find ourselves spending limitlessly and thoughtlessly for the fulfillment of that goal. Thus, the basic capitalistic principle that never leaves you satisfied has been applied to health domain."
"I am fascinated with the phenomenon of secondary consumption or whatever to call it – when you watch somebody consuming something, when somebody is doing something in your name. That is the essence of today’s entertainment, even of the way how we act."
"By discriminating against age, we put ourselves in a position to fear it and make extraordinary efforts to avoid the inevitable."
"We are part of society, it is the environment that forms us. I try to have a critical attitude towards what comes from the environment, but we all know that it is disputed how often and how often we manage to get out of our own, already formed, perspective. When such breakthroughs happen, they are valuable experiences, I would say."
"The introspections into my work are fun, that's the beauty of the whole thing. I generally don't look at introspection into my character, because I would often get annoyed - what about one-sidedness, what about inaccuracy, and so on. This is where we clearly need media literacy, so that we can manage not to take information for granted and learn to speak and judge others with reserve and appreciation for the fact that we don't know everything about everything."
"I would like the audience to remain interested in something that is not ace. There were some works that analyzed the "Triptych". I'm honored."
"“Don’t try to tailor yourself to somebody else’s story because you might just deprive the world of the beautiful story that would have been you.”"
"“Don’t make any decision for now; don’t make permanent decisions on where you are now. Think about you in the future; don’t make temporary decisions to soothe or cater for temporary needs or present purchase.”"
"“If you are not preparing for the future, then everything that you are doing would not add on.”"
"It is about showing people they can be who they are truly, without the masks and pretenses. You are a human being, and you can find yourself."
"Frank Ocean played a huge part; the first song that I’d heard by him was “Swim Good.” I used to also listen to Lil Wayne and Aaliyah. Lauryn Hill’s “I Gotta Find Peace of Mind” was very, very spiritual. I could feel the energy on it. Songs like those made me want to release. The songs that all of these artists sing are releases and the expression of their spirits."
"I got exposed to a couple of studios, and I met a few producers and started seeing the process of music being made. It made me question, “What is this?” I’d been only exploring piano and guitar at the time, and now you’re telling me I can do more than I’m already doing?"
"I love, love, love guitars and chords. I like things that are based on the instruments I originally learned—violin, flutes. I like things that sound raw and pure. When it comes to drums, I like them very percussion-heavy and in my own way. I enjoy hard kicks and tight snares."
"I used to write poems a lot – I’ll just sit down and write things I’m feeling, and it’ll come out so poetic, even if I’m just talking about breakfast."
"That sense of being an outcast continued into high school. “I just wasn’t popular; I cried a lot, I was very shy. I would cover my head with a blazer. I wouldn’t be able to talk – I just was a loner. And my only escape was the music room."
"I was very naive. I didn’t know that people lie, I didn’t know that people didn’t write their own songs. Music has always been my expression of how I felt. It’s always been my life."
"Music is my happy place. Music is the only thing that makes me feel truly at home. If I'm sad, it's the only thing I can run to. If someone says to me "here's a billion dollars, just chill" I would still do music. I mean, I'd collect the billion dollars and then do music. That's how bad it is. That's how much I love it."
"It was just very easy, it wasn't something I had to try for. So I understood music to be my thing and no matter what it was going to take, I had to end up in it."
"Freestyling, for me, feels like a release. A lot of things I feel, I can't explain, I just sing it. So it was one of those days when it was just inside me. I don't know where it came from. By the time I finished, I knew I had something special."
"Everything happened organically. The fact that so many people resonate with it makes me feel really good. I'm happy they can feel it."
"It was just really crazy. I couldn't believe it. I still can't believe it. That was when I realized things have actually changed."
"Locally, I'm definitely hoping for Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Niniola. I'm also hoping for my friend, Dami Oniru. I'm hoping we can release some of our collaborations. Internationally, I'd like Stormzy, Ms Banks, and maybe Khalid. This is the longest shot ever but I want to work with Frank Ocean. Koffee as well! She's top on my list."
"Well, I’ve never felt more connected with my fans like that before. It just felt like we were all in one room and it was a lot of people, but it felt like we might as well have been in a big ass living room, just vibing. I really felt like that experience and the presence was just incredibly intense. I haven’t let go so much as I did before that day in terms of performing."
"I had a show the night before, so on Friday I was just sleeping the whole day."
"But I wasn’t thinking about how to be better in the limelight, I was just thinking of how to be a better person in general, the best possible version of myself. And I think once you start being visible, a lot of these things that you didn’t know existed start coming to light, you start knowing yourself more, too."
"What I hope that God does through me, is for the image of the African woman to be changed to something luxurious, or desired, or sought after. For the demand of the African woman to go up… Let us not be chasing foreign things, let us be something to be chased. And that can’t just happen with me; it’s a together thing. It has to happen with a whole industry of women already doing real and amazing things. That’s the future."
"The more power the people have, the greater we become as a whole."
"I don’t want to be somebody that follows; I don’t want to be the ‘after’ person."
"When I see any one of you gracing a stage, I feel like that’s me. We’re all winning and we’re about to move in like a tsunami… know that love lives on this side. As we show the world how it’s done."
"I think the perfectionism is definitely a Nigerian thing. For me, it’s definitely Lagos. Because if you check around the world, Nigerians are always the best at whatever they’re doing, whether that’s braids, hair, make-up, doctors… They’ll give you food and it’ll be over good, so that when you’re paying them, you know why."
"It’s not necessarily people, it’s really just a system. But once you’re an artist you’re not really an artist, you’re an entertainer – your life is entertainment for people. It’s a system of distraction."
"I can understand, when it's the speaking."
"When did I realize I was blown? When I got a DM from RiRi."
"“I think it’s important to be real with yourself and the people around you.”"
"https://thenationonlineng.net/tems-my-songs-are-mostly-from-experiences/"
"My music is based on touching you in a certain way. I don't have a wall, that's my brand."
"When I started out, I had an idea of what I wanted my sound to sound like. But I didn’t know what steps to take and how to say it so I just winged it and hoped for the best. My references were the people who I looked up to. I listened to them and took what I liked from them even though they come from different genres. Chronixxx does reggae, there’s Rihanna, Daniel Caesar and Caiphus Semenya. A song that impressed me lyrically was amaGama by uNathi. That’s the writer I want to be one day."
"I feel like being honest helps me heal. I decided to put that in my music. I hope they [fans] notice how I stand out."
"When you are being real, there’s no one like you, and there’s so much power in that."
"Many are grateful for this year Be happy you are still alive I'm going to get all my love for you I'm happy you're still alive Put it in there Tell him you understand Please forgive each other Mistakes happen."
"'On the dark side of the moon Yeah is where I felt I reside Till the day I met you I was cold, Frozen inside."
"I thought singing would be a hobby; a second love to be done in my spare time. I never thought of it as a career really."
"I didn’t think I would go so far. I thought I should just get the experience and move on with my life."
"I do like this idea of time. For me there is no before or after. It’s all during. It’s just a bunch of “durings.” I don’t think of myself as someone in the past, I’m a person going through something. I do like to see how these “durings” influence the future."
"Koko and I somehow had the ability to walk alongside our hurt and disappointment; we never let it get ahead of us or lead us astray.’"
"How could he possibly describe anything when the world around him had lost its colour"
"I birthed myself; it was bloody and painful but now I’m standing on the roof of a city as something new."
"The city is like that: it loves new and shiny things; which also leads it to be a graveyard of previously beautiful relics."
"Things that lurk in the shadows do not like the light. People get used to one tiny light and begin to seek out more of it in the world and in themselves – that’s how the light liberates us."
"Being liked is not nearly as great as being happy with the decisions I make. I'm not money, so I know not everyone likes me"
"It’s fantasy when white people write it. When black and brown people write it, it’s magic realism"
"It seems as if the whole country is falling apart, so why be a good person, why be good to yourself, when the country is not being good to you, it’s not giving you the opportunities you need"
"It’s always the youth that are making the sacrifices. When I think about the Soweto riots in 1976 in South Africa, it wasn’t people that stopped working and said, we are going to fight against these policies, it was the school children"
"I write for myself and then I edit for the reader, to make things easier for them, to refine the ideas"
"I try as a reader to put myself in places I’ve never been to, in the shoes of people I would never meet"
"I don’t think all women need to birth themselves"
"I definitely feel the world lacks a sense of humour"
"And there is a place where we one day will delve Where there's no more walking on eggshells Where ideas are for free, oh it's the place to be Your great mind's no longer the minority I'll see you there with your hands in the air Where the canvas is bare And there's no more despair... and I'll see you there"
"But don't leave that fiery heart behind Take it along for the ride And don't leave that fiery mind behind Take it along for the ride And...I'll have to say fair well so long"
"She looked out out to the horizon She didn't have much left to see Greed had taken the trees away Greed had taken the bees away ...She looked up to where there should've been stars"
"Oh society... You took it away from me When you brainwashed me with formulas of how I should be Shaped me and raped me of my individuality Schooled me and fooled me Told me what I could and could not see Took me and shook me Of my urges to be free"
"Music came back to your ears And you danced and you danced For all of the years You’d forgotten how To live for the now"
"It's all lies And my limbs have danced for the Amsterdam sunrise With not one restriction and not one disguise Monotony is what I despise Integration to society would be my demise It's all lies"
"Days move on and times they change In a blink of an eye things rearrange We're moving We're sucked in and we're spat out On the other side of the rabbit hole But we find our way Find our way Do you want to be just a machine in this crazy society? Pick the lock Grab the reigns Forget there ever were chains 'Cause there never were chains"
"I stand here with all my love Uncover the windows Let in the light Grab the hand that's reaching out... This world can cater for us all When the sun rises, it rises for us all"
"On days you'd sail away I would try to find my own way On days you'd sail away I would try to find my own way home"
"The moon was full and it left me howling My head was spinning and my heart was growling I received crimson stains on my sheets that morning The world felt big and the tides were moving"
"I saw you throw your hands in the air and say a prayer Your eyes closed, your nose breathing in the salty air There was nothing you could do to make me love you anymore"
"All you had to do was see me Really see me Recognize the workings of my mind And then touch me Like something holy And then touch me Like something that is now but could never be"
"Oh, remind me of your name again As you take me on that train again Back to the pavements that we walked, and walked Oh, the drugs that made us talk and talk And I'll take you dancing, I'll take you round and round I'll lead you to the hilltops, and I'll take you on the ground"
"Every plant given life by His hands Every stone placed to build pathways in the sand There was a magical feeling surrounding that land A mystical feeling surrounding that land"
"I've got so much to say And yet nothing comes close To the way we communicate When we don't say a word I hear you clearly without sounds Oh, I don't need these ears when you're around"
"There's an empty space whеre you once offerеd yourself to me My mom knows I'll be alright, but she'll be glad I'm home She's always casting spells for me Keeping guard for me, working hard for me I swim out of the window and into the night I am smiling, I am screaming, I am glowing from inside"
"“Thanks to God for my sister Janet, who got saved after Mum’s burial, and introduced me to faith, without her knowledge. At the age of 9, I could kneel beside Janet, and repeat her prayers. I slowly learnt how to pray, and began telling God, that when I grow up, I want to be known”."
"“People may criticize from afar but they have no idea what I was going through. Only the few people in my circle know and can tell, It has been a challenge and a learning process. Through it all, I have learnt a lot of lessons. It wasn’t easy,”"
"To say something is impossible is to fear. I have no space for the word impossible. I don't tolerate it. Sometimes it gets me in trouble, but whatever it is, I will face it."
"The music don’t stop, it sings to an action. Who are you? Better know your reaction."
"Courage is never born with a person; time and circumstances inject it into a person and bring it forth from within."
"No matter how frequently you visit the realm of dreams, you will inevitably confront the unvarnished truth. However, our truth is so much bitter that not even the entirety of the world's sugar can sweeten it."
"Education is necessary, I know. But education without values is like a flower without fragrance. No matter how expensive or beautiful the vase, without the flower, it has no meaning. Similarly, education without values can make one literate but can’t make one strong and complete."
"When there is the moon, the night automatically becomes beautiful; there might be no need for extra light. Light must be saved for those moments when the night is dark, and the moon doesn't appear in the sky."
"Plain paths are not always straightforward. You might encounter uneven, sometimes steep, sometimes flat obstacles along the way. That's the nature of a path. Therefore, after reaching an easy path, the walking stick should not be discarded."
"I realized that while women may seem like regular individuals, mothers are nothing short of divine embodiment. They transcend the ordinary, not only navigating life's challenges but also contending with the forces of nature in relentless devotion to their children."
"Light must be saved for those moments when the night is dark, when the moon doesn't appear in the sky."
"After reaching an easy path, the walking stick should not be discarded."
"After reaching an easy path, the walking stick should not be discarded, for there might come difficult paths again ahead."
"In your journey, be prepared to encounter an array of obstacles – some steep, some flat – for that's the nature of the path."
"Mothers not only navigate through life's challenges but also defy the forces of nature when it comes to protecting and caring for their children."
"The moon looks beautiful when it rises at night. Light must be collected for times when the night is dark, when the moon does not rise in the sky."
"No matter how satisfying the shade is, one must step out of it. Because if you keep staying in the shade like this, even your own shadow will abandon you."
"I can read and see the words that you have confined behind the wall of your lips in the expression on your face and in the gaze of your eyes."
"Even if the roof of a house leaks a lot, it still provides more shelter than a tree."
"If strong trust is not knotted in the foundation of love, a home that could shield its inhabitants could not be built. And life could not be lived wet, whether it be in rain or tears."
"If strong trust is not knotted in the foundation of love, a home that could shield its inhabitants could not be built."
"Life could not be lived wet, whether it be in rain or tears."
"The essence of love lies in feeling it. Love remains steadfast through sorrow and joy. Love is in preserving trust rather than just having it. Love is in winning hearts through genuine care, not through threats or pressure."
"I do not yearn for the cloud for I am not the rain. I am the sheer cloud itself, without whose presence there is no existence of rain."
"Sometimes, to do wrong deeds, one's intentions don't have to be bad; unfavorable timing and circumstances might lead one to do so."
"A man who only becomes a husband brings pain to his parents, and a person who only becomes a son brings pain to his wife."
"In deep relationships, there must be seven colors: First, trust. Second, dignity and comfort. Third, equality and freedom. Fourth, love and belief. Fifth, recognition and affection. Sixth, concern and pain. And seventh—soul and body."
"An overflowing pot must be emptied before anything new can be added. If you cling to the sorrows of the past, how can you make space for the happiness and joy of the present?"
"A rainy season can keep the earth moist for a while, but it must keep raining to nourish it. Men probably don’t understand this. That’s why they want us women to keep living in the same season of rain without realizing it will only dampen us and never let us flourish."
"How can those who incinerate with jealousy at the sight of someone else's external glitter not realize that not everything that shines is a diamond? Only the person wearing new shoes can truly experience the pain; for others, captivating is the allure of new shoes."
"One cannot spend their entire life sitting under the open sky just because their house has fallen; shelter must be sought! This is the truth and the right thing to do."
"To reside in someone's memory, one must set aside selfishness, as selfishness and fond memories cannot coexist in the same space."
"Sometimes a broken relationship will always remain distant, even when you try your hardest to bring it close."
"If a relationship lacks harmony, even the words that reach the tip of the tongue, unable to be spoken, retreat back into the heart and settle into knots."
"Perhaps, cold relationships cannot be warmed even by the warmth of the heart. Or maybe, the relationships of people we don't like remain obscured, even though they are right before our eyes."
"There is a vast difference between losing a battle after a hard-fought struggle and surrendering without lifting a weapon. If you are defeated while fighting a well-matched adversary, you are a warrior; but if you bow your head without ever raising it, you are a coward."
"A daughter who respects you while you’re alive is far better than a son who performs the rites and rituals after you’re gone."
"Even if you’re planning to get me married, that will also cost money! Just help me start my studies; I won’t be a burden on you."
"Before becoming someone’s wife, I need to be a daughter first. I owe it to the one who gave me birth and life."
"Amidst the shadows of adversity, a heart burdened and broken finds its steps faltering. Yet, it is in the act of rising, of daring to tread once more, that the flicker of confidence reignites."
"Life doesn't end just because someone leaves."
"The absence of lost things is felt most painfully when the things you possess stop providing satisfaction."
"One who intends to understand grasps even the slightest hint, but the one who has no intention to understand never comprehends, no matter how loudly you shout."
"The home is not always ruined by outsiders; sometimes those within the family ruin it even more severely."
"When you're comfortable within yourself, you don't care about others' problems or the challenges they face in life. However, when you're in distress, the memories of those you've abandoned leaving in dire situations, come back to haunt you. How selfish humans are!"
"When you stop respecting yourself, the world starts disrespecting you."
"I don't know why, those tear-filled eyes felt very familiar to me."
"Meeting you like this after so many years, I felt as if my heart had returned with me."
"I knew he loved me."
"She had become such an integral part of my life that, without her light, presence, and solace, I would feel incomplete."
"Your arrogance in your manhood prevents you from understanding."
"When a son takes care of his parents, no questions arise, but why is it questioned when a daughter does the same?""
"You've earned enough and given him to spend, so why would he bother lifting a finger?"
"Not for the body, but for the heart; companion and company are needed."
"Even if you choose not to marry me, the respect I hold for you will not lessen by even a single drop."
"My heart didn't want to believe it, but the truth was right in front of me."
"From now on, everything in life will appear blurry to me. What’s the point of wiping my glasses when my vision has already left me?""
"Life cannot move forward just by being drenched in emotions."
"This time, she silenced me not by speaking, but by pressing her lips against my mouth."
"I spent the years of my life as a stone, and then I longed to live the rest of my life with her, as a human."
"Those tied by a rope may squirm; they may try to break free and run away, but those tied by emotions go nowhere, even if they are left completely free."
"One feels weak only when they believe someone will offer support."
"Actions done against the will of the heart never bring good to anyone. Refusing may bring pain for a while, just for a moment, but agreeing to something merely to please someone aches forever and hurts everyone.""
"Those who can bend need not be taught how to stand tall."
"I hope not to encounter such a person again on my path who is interested in everything about me except my true self."
"I quietly hung up the phone. There was no point in me protesting."
"By dreaming of his company, I could forget my worries and pain."
"The pain shown by others and later understood doesn’t hurt as deeply as the pain one feels firsthand and then witnesses."
"One who has fallen and been badly injured won't regain the confidence to walk again until they get back up and try."
"A home isn't always destroyed by outsiders; sometimes family members cause even greater damage."
"How vast, how extensive the boundary of your company the magnificence of your affection."
"Expressing not to you; but with you, I've bound my love unseen from anywhere."
"May I meet you someday like this may there be no rush of saying goodbye may there be no fear of interruptions may all the emotions be poured out, and every nook and cranny of my heart be emptied. may I hold no regrets within may memories not haunt us later."
"May I grasp you and drift into a deep slumber may there be no haste to wake up may there be no fear of missing a moment may I get melted on your embrace, and meld into your wholeness."
"May I never tire of expressing myself may I find contentment in listening to you may there be no constraints of time and may we be bound together as a single knot you, time, and I."
"May I get melted on your embrace, and meld into your wholeness."
"May there be no unfulfilled dreams like this may there be realities that satisfy me."
"Hidden are the faces around me, like words tucked within quotation marks."
"Behind masks of smiles, some faces have buried their pain, while others have hidden almost their entirety."
"Every face is hidden behind some mask or another yet still, they are deciphered just as phrases are understood from within quotation marks."
"I know it's almost beyond possibility for your essence to be enveloped within mine. Yet, the heart, after all, is a heart."
"My life is devoted to pulling me underground yet, I stand strong on my battleground determined I am not to let my life defeat my pride."
"In this relentless clash, between me and my life both of us persist restlessly, trying to find the weakest moment in one another.”"
"At times, life chases me in haste, sometimes, I'm the one to chase my life. at times, life flees from my reach, and sometimes I try to escape from the grasp of my life."
"The rain drenches not my heart spring ignites not my desires and in the name of love these days no longer any furor does stir within."
"Your memory alone, once filled my heart with delight, but now, even in the presence of you my soul would not sense the thrill of living, but a deep apathy."
"When memories, of days gone by resurface; with reflection and reminiscence of my casual childishness, may your eyes moisten may your lips turn into a smile unveiled, yet concealed."
"I rushed to Mother clasped her in a tight embrace, and with resolute tones, proclaimed, 'Mother! I'll never make another home! I'll stay forever young! '"
"Whether you become a daughter, sister, lover, partner, sister-in-law, daughter-in-law, mother, or anything else with complete honesty, the satisfaction you'll find in becoming yourself cannot be found in becoming any of these relative beings"
"I have no need for the boundless sky; the moon and stars are beyond my grasp. I prefer to exist in the real world, for dreams alone cannot sustain me."
"Like, love; but do not make the person an indispensable part of your habits, routines, and daily affairs. It can be relatively easy to forget an individual, but breaking a habit is exceedingly difficult."
"Whether you want to break free or connect, it's your choice. But with great courage, I locked my eyes with yours."
"If you ever become fatigued from chasing your dreams, you are always welcome in my world of reality."
"Sanu Sharma is such a writer whose literary prowess extends beyond conventional storytelling, blending poetic elegance with profound social critique."
"Sanu Sharma’s writing is both poetic and socially provocative, with a distinct ability to craft multidimensional female characters navigating oppression, self-discovery, and resilience."
"Sanu Sharma’s initial poetic lines create an aesthetically powerful entrance to the novel, immersing readers in beauty and intensity."
"Biplavi by Sanu Sharma is not merely a feminist novel; it is a broader social critique that questions class disparities, patriarchal oppression, and the hypocrisy embedded in societal structures.”"
"By redefining the term ‘Biplavi’ through a female protagonist, Sharma challenges the traditional male-centered narrative of revolution, making the novel a bold literary intervention.”"
"The strength of Sanu Sharma's novel Biplavi lies in its courageous exploration of women’s struggles, not as isolated incidents, but as deeply embedded systemic issues that shape their existence."
"Despite dealing with complex themes, Sanu Sharma’s writing remains engaging and accessible, balancing depth with readability through minimal symbolism and sharp satirical undertones."
"Presenting the subtle experiences of human emotions in an artistic way is a hallmark of Sanu Sharma's fiction."
"Free from the complexities of literary theories and experimentation, this novel Utsarga by Sanu Sharma is deeply emotional."
"Sanu Sharma has explored and unraveled the female psyche so deeply in her novel Utsarga that the reader becomes a witness to it."
"Primary strength of Sanu Sharma's novel Utsarga lies in its seamless storytelling that never loses the reader’s engagement."
"Sanu Sharma's novel Utsarga takes the reader on a journey through an entirely new path."
"Utsarga by Sanu Sharma is a timeless love story woven into a novel."
"Sanu Sharma is a prominent contemporary Nepali novelist known for her unique storytelling style, making her a favorite among readers."
"Sanu Sharma's writing typically explore hidden human realities, subtle emotions, and the introspection of the human mind."
"Sanu Sharma's novel Tee Saat Din employs a film-like storytelling style, making it visually engaging and fast-paced, appealing to younger audiences."
"Tee Saat Din by Sanu Sharma is a powerful novel for young readers, portraying their struggles and triumphs in a relatable and inspiring way."
"Through its balanced narrative, Pharak offers an insightful portrayal of characters struggling with their desires and actions, emphasizing that understanding one's true nature requires peeling away the layers of duality and hidden motives."
"Sanu Sharma masterfully weaves dramatic developments and logical sequences, creating a storyline that keeps readers engaged by resolving initial uncertainties through a deepening understanding of characters."
"Sanu Sharma is a significant voice in modern Nepali literature."
"The novel 'Pharak' by Sanu Sharma presents a unique perspective on dismantling traditional patriarchal structures, challenging societal norms, and advocating for women's identity and freedom."
"Sanu Sharma’s novel Pharak leaves a powerful impression with its elegant language and masterful use of aphoristic sentences.""
"Because nobody knows your vision better than you do. Nobody can tell your story as you can. You have to live it."
"So always fight for yourself and believe in yourself and your vision."
"And it’s okay to say, ‘Hey, I’m not okay today.’"
"Be the truest form of yourself. If you go with what everybody else is doing you may risk falling into the crevices and the cracks, because there's so many people doing the same thing."
"When I create music, it's not just about the song. I have to visually see something in my head too."
"Whatever you’re doing, if you feel like you’re in this place, and it seems to be working, stay there. Don’t allow other things to make you second-guess yourself, as long as it feels good to you."
"People don’t realize that artists are sensitive or that they have feelings."
"Music is a male-dominated field. Women are not always taken as seriously as we should be, so sometimes we have to put our foot down."
"You know what you want more clearly…you’re less likely to settle or compromise your standards just because somebody looks good or says all the right things."
"The best thing about getting older [is] learning how powerful human connections can be…It’s great when two people can share something deeper than just lust and passion between them – something real and lasting."
"You have to stay patient and stick with whatever is best for you…If it doesn’t work out, don’t beat yourself up about it – just keep going until you find the right one."
"And I always want my product to be what's in my heart, so I'm writing and in the sessions. It sounds like me because I'm there."
"Back in the day, the music industry was my God"
"My first single from my upcoming EP is locked and loaded, and there's an exciting opportunity for you to remix it."
"Being a visionary woman means feeling the fear and doing it anyway,”"
"The beat that pulses through House music compels an individual to move their body. Yet, House music is more than an irresistible groove. In the eyes and ears of Zimbabwean-born artist Jackie Queens, House music has the power of building communities."
"House music is cathartic. I associate this feeling with house music most out of all the others. When I’m dancing, I feel renewed, and when I’m listening to it at home or on the go, I feel energized and happy. As a symbol of a fighting spirit, it stands out as a platform for the free expression of people when I consider its roots and the impact it has had on the world, especially for Black and Queer people"
"At the moment, I’m inspired by people. In particular, the many ways in which we demonstrate our humanity. Sometimes we aren’t kind or generous, but even in those moments, compassion and courage shine through. A source of inspiration that never goes out of style is music. As I am continuously in awe of what we are capable of creating, it never becomes mundane for me."
"In these different environments, I am inspired by the selflessness, collaborative spirit, and audacity of the people I interact with. Humility is a necessary quality for working with people of varying backgrounds. I continue to learn, not only about myself, but also about the world around me. Even if I won’t live to see the world in full colour, I’m inspired by possibilities. There is a glimpse of the future, no matter how fleeting, when there are small victories."
"From inequality, racism, sexism, and discrimination, the answer is endless. However, in light of COVID 19, I have been thinking a lot about the working conditions of people in the music industry, like artists, events staff, promoters, etc. Music workers have little to no rights or security and we operate in a deeply unequal and exploitative system. From that perspective, I’d like to see more attention paid to music workers rights and concerted efforts made by those who have power to change the environments we work in."
"Anyone can exist, dance and love as they are with full freedom."
"There will be more music! As a label we’ve been away for a while, so I’d like to do more digging around and unearthing gems like I used to do. I would also like the work of Bae Electronica to be multiplied on the continent of Africa, and for more women to do what we do"
"Desiree’s debut EP just came out on Bae Electronica, I’m very excited about that. It’s a pivotal release for the label because we’ve been part of her journey from the beginning. From a shesaid.so South Africa perspective, our chapter has a very special partnership with Rocking The Daisies to present the Oasis, a safe space for women and LGBTIA+ festival goers. We’re working extra hard on that right now and it’s one of the things I’m most proud of and excited about."
"Emmavie and Gina Jeanz. They are my favourite producers right now. Both are extremely good at blending the classic with the contemporary. It’s R&B/soul with Emmavie and Gina Jeanz shines when she injects 90s house motifs into her cuts. Their range of production is so dynamic and refreshing."
"I looked back at the tracks I’d been listening to on repeat the past six months. Normally, I spend quite a bit of time thinking about mixes or mixtapes, thematically, as well as how to situate the listener in a particular time or place. In the beginning, that was the plan, but then I asked myself “what am I listening to?” I was pleasantly surprised to find quite a few classic tunes on there, the Dear Friend DJ SPinna remix is an all-time favourite. Although it’s recently out, I’ve been listening to Desiree’s track for a while now, I love it so much, obviously lucky enough to get dibs on that!"
"I went through a lot since Kgosi came onto this earth. I know a lot of people have been saying that I'm quiet... I haven't been feeling like making happy music. I have been making music and thank God that I can do that all the time,"
"But now I'm happier, I'm thinner, I'm sexier. When my son was born, I was at my heaviest, and I wasn't happy, I was performing because my songs were popping. The only thing that kept me going was because...my baby boy. Being a mom has just elevated me ... I want to be fit for myself."
"“I am the happiest I have ever been,” she tells me when I ask how she is."
"“I feel like life is good, I am truly blessed. I can’t complain.”"
"“Working with Beyoncé really did change my entire mindset. I realised that she’s in her late 30s and she is still in the game,”"
"“I wanted to be active with him, I want to take walks with him, I want to ride a bike, I wanted him to watch less TV,”"
"“I don’t know if other mothers can relate but after pregnancy and giving birth, everything felt mushy. Everything was soft. It was like I couldn’t walk or move like the way I used to before,”"
"“I felt that I could eat whatever I want, however I wanted and whenever I wanted and it was fine because I just had a baby,”"
"“I try to speak with my friends and my family, I went into therapy, and I use the gym also as a way to listen to my own thoughts. I spend a lot of time talking to my son as well. He surprises me when he talks about me or when we are sharing thoughts, he also gives me a lot of enlightenment,”"
"There's no separation, where you come from, whether you're Ghanaian, whether you're Jamaican, whether you're Haitian, we're all one and that's what I wanted to portray on my album."
"I always say my motivation came from the unknown, from having the space, being given the opportunity to explore a different country, a different language and having peaceful surroundings."
"Wake up Africa, wake up and stop blaming / Open your eyes, eyes, stand up and rise!"
"Making collaboration with me? Yes, why not! If you got the interest, you like me and I like you, then we are good."
"My music gave me strength and motivation. And it almost seemed like it was not really my words; it was almost like a voice that was outside of me, motivating me. I said to myself that I like what I do."
"The word ‘Supreme’ is just everything; it encompasses all our emotions, all sides of our being. And, for me, I seem like there is so much that has been said before, and so much I had said in the past, and I just felt like if I am going to say anything now, I have to go within. Going within doesn’t necessarily mean superficially going within my ego; it means going within the body to remember whom I am. And when I do that, the world remembers who they are, because we are all connected."
"I see myself as a smaller version of the universe. And everything that is within me is within this universe. And I am a reflection of you and vice versa."
"You want to change something about corruption, then don’t be corrupt."
"If something is meant to move, it will move. Energy goes where attention is. When your attention is on beyond the sky and stars, then that is where your energy is going to flow."
"Love yourself, Nneka; because only so can you truly love God and others.’ I would say, ‘it is okay to go through certain things. It is okay to have had a difficult life experience. It doesn’t define who you are. It is a life experience. It is there, but it is not who you are. And it is okay to be afraid, but bear in mind that most of the fear you have is what they told you to be afraid of. It is the conditioning. Most of it is not real."
""Music has brought me lots and lots of joy. For me, it's a feeling""
""I went through a lot. I went through a lot of changes. I lost weight and some unfortunate fellows said I did surgery.""
""I grew up in a polygamous family with many people, so you can’t come and do rubbish. I received excellent care, a lot of love and protection.""
""I chose music after struggling to make people laugh as MC, ""
"I think I’m learning how to release every day. Recognizing that everything you encounter, touch, or love can become part of you, and in essence never disappears, as long as you can recall it to memory or heart. It’s all so connected that we lose everything, but also, we never lose anything."
"It doesn't feel like it's just originating from my brain. It feels like I'm following an invisible thread of intuition, from one choice to the next... maybe I don't even fully understand once I've written it, but it just feels right. And I just trust that. And then over time, it reveals its layers of meaning to me. That's a mark of what I feel is a good song. It keeps me wanting to play it."
"Real love makes your lungs black Real love is a heart attack"
"This place smells like piss and beer."
"I drove in circles 'round the freight train yard and he turned the headlights off Then he pulled the bottle out then he showed me what was love"
"I see all parallels."
"There's only so much letting go you can ask someone to do."
"Lenker isn’t the room-swallowing presence that [Frances] Quinlan is, but she more than makes up for it in commanding songcraft, which skews dynamic, dissonant, and placid without ever changing its sepia tone."
"It is very difficult for entertainers to find love, because people already have a perception of who an entertainer is. They think we have wild lifestyles. It is very difficult for many people to see us for who we really are."
"No one likes to be cheated on, and I live by the rule that says, ‘Do unto others what you wish them to do to you.’ I believe in karma. That thing you don’t want your partner to do to you, don’t do it to them. Simple."
"I have not been able to say what my style truly is, because I am fluid."
"A very beautiful experience for me because I put a lot into it and we are all experiencing the reward today."
"["Your Dog"] comes from a feeling of being paralyzed in a relationship to the point where you feel like you are a pawn in someone else's world. The song and the video are meant to show someone breaking away and taking action, but at the same time, it's only a quick burst of motivation. It's a moment of strength amidst a long period of weakness."
"Getting off social media was the greatest thing I could have done in terms of my relationship with fans. That sounds really counterintuitive, but when you meet people in real life, the experience is often really pleasant. I can’t remember the last time I had an actual bad time, except if someone was being a little strange or taking too long. The part that can start to make you feel really alienated is sitting on Instagram and interacting with a stranger. I’m just not that type of person. If I’m not on social media, I speak to maybe five people on a daily basis. I just don’t have any desire to be any other way. [...] It gives you such a negative view of what fans are thinking or what they want from you. [...] Flooding yourself with strangers is too much."
"I don't wanna be your fucking dog That you drag around A collar on my neck tied to a pole Leave me in the freezing cold."
"I found God on Sunday morning laying next to you My arms stretched out like Jesus White sheets nail me down to the bed."
"Mary has a heart of coal She’ll break you down and eat you whole I saw her do it after school She’s an animal."
"I am fake it till you make it in a can And you have a calmness that I could never understand"
"I try to break your walls but all I ever end up breaking is your bones And the bruises show Standing in the living room talking as you’re staring at your phone It’s a cold I’ve known"
"I lost myself to a dream I had And I’d never give it all away But I miss feeling like a person"
"I’m barely a person Mechanically working"
"This soft music is not precious. It’s gnarly and intense, like the heart itself."
"Whether you’re reminiscing about late-night make out sessions in high school or surrounded by plenty of “cool” girls in your city, Soccer Mommy’s is something that defies age."
"Some of the magnetism of her pop-inflected indie rock comes from the winding shape of her melodies; in their unpredictable motion, they often resemble counterpoint written to a root melody that’s been erased."
"We're just spinning where we stand"
"You are burdened by only your dangerous mind"
"I’m in a state again, but I stay polite It keeps me alive"
"I need to stop singing in code To start ringing true because true rings only"
"There comes a time when you decide if you fight it off or learn to die."
"You’ll be a home for ungrateful drones who will churn your bones to butter."
"This summer hurts!"
"Is there room in the band? I don't need to be the frontman If not then I'll be the biggest fan."
"You used to be so sweet Now you’re a firecracker on a crowded street"
"A preacher in a t-shirt told me I could be a leader [...] You showed me the light All it did, in the end, was make the dark feel darker than before"
"How did they betray me? What did I do? I never touched you how I wanted to If you get married, I’d object Throw my shoe at the altar and lose your respect"
"Without you I am surely the last of our kind Without you I am surely the last of my kind"
"I let my mind get turned inside out Just to see what the kids were laughing about And it wasn't worth understanding Something I could've gone my whole life not knowing."
"I thought you'd hit rock bottom, but I'm starting to think that it doesn't exist You've been falling for so long and you haven't hit anything solid yet"
"If you hadn’t come over, I would be so much colder I would be much less confused"
"I want what we have, our beautiful life But the stillness, the stillness, might eat me alive"
"The people in her songs seem to naturally settle into realms of instability and ambiguity."
"Wish I could write songs about anything other than death."
"Good God, when’re you gonna call it off Climb down off the cross and change your mind? All right, then, I’ll go to hell"
"What if it’s all black, baby, all the time?"
"I’ll wrap Orion’s belt around my neck and kick the chair out."
"Beat myself till I’m bloody, and I’ll give you a ringside seat."
"Day-one chip on your dresser get loaded at your house"
"It’s the mercy I can’t take."
"What right had you not to let me die?"
"I don’t need a savior I need you to take me home"
"You’re the prettiest mermaid in the souvenir shop But if you’re coming home this late, you know you’d better be drunk."
"Good neighbors make good fences."
"I started playing bluegrass music at such an early age that it never really dawned on me that I was the only female around at times. I think that was one of the reasons that I fell in love with Alison Krauss so early on. I was nine years old when I got my first Alison Krauss recording and she really became a big hero to me. I remember getting my first Rhonda Vincent album, too. I didn’t know anything about her music, yet, but I thought it was so cool to see a woman holding a mandolin on the album cover. I remember being about nine or 10 and thinking, ‘that will be me someday—a woman mandolin player!"
"I think we have, just like in society, a way to go for everybody to be recognized equally. [...] But I think women have learned business and honed their craft. They’re great musicians. I think that’s been a very important point for women growing in bluegrass.” For Bradley, Emmylou Harris was one of her first inspirations in music. “When Emmylou came out with ‘Roses in the Snow,’ I was a teenager and that absolutely, that was just it, that was the first real representation of the female artist making one of the best records that ever been in bluegrass, acoustic and roots music."
"Born and raised in the coalfields of Appalachia, Dale Ann Bradley today is one of the most respected bluegrass vocalists, with five IBMA Vocalist of the Year Awards under her belt. She’s got the kind of hard twang of the best Appalachian bluegrass singers, and she’s always one with a kind word and helping hand for new musicians."
"From My Soil to Yours has a lot to do with acceptance of myself — all the versions of me till now — and also opening up the space for versions that are yet to come and understanding that, as a human being, I am ever changing because, at some point, we think that this self-love and self-journey has a stop, whereas it does not"
"I struggled a lot with the separation because the industry calls for you to separate yourself from who you are and the art"
"I found myself in that dilemma of separating myself from Amanda Black and Amanda who are in essence me, they are one and there is no difference between them"
"I am lucky to have an audio diary that I literally go back to before I start a new project, and I listen to Amazulu, I listen to Power and I listen to Mnyama and it gets me to understand quite a lot"
"I have truly been called for this music. Over and above healing those that consume my music, I myself find healing in the messages in my music, I find healing even when I perform"
"I believe everyone has a voice and should always find courage to use it even when it’s not popular to do so. Every voice matters. Everyone has got a story to tell"
"I’ve learned that although there is no separation between myself as an artist and myself as a human, I value the ability to continue living my life outside of the limelight which allows me to still be able to be authentic in my artistry"
"The music is about falling in love with self, honouring yourself by self-acceptance. The theme and message is spiritual reconnection and trusting herself with her music"
"I’ve realised my need to talk, I’ve realised my power to talk. I only attributed it to the music for a while and allowed people to tell me it’s only in the music. Now, as I am unfolding, I’m finding my voice to speak for people who can’t speak for themselves, to speak out about things that are affecting me. I am black and I am a citizen of South Africa, that on its own is something to speak out on ... It's because I have found me again, I found my voice again and I am here to use it"
"We are in the system, and it's rigged. Better we get to know it if we are to survive, break out and thrive, at this moment its near impossible to live outside it. So we need to equip ourselves with the knowledge that will allow us to have more than a fighting chance"
"You don’t talk about how you become OK and how you went through it, and this is what this album is about ... I ignored my emotional, psychological because I was in the battle ... and I neglected me."
"I went through a break-up, and all my plans were in the trash. I kind of just shut down and I remember that there were so many things happening all at once ... I went through a mental block for two-to-three months, and I was at home ... it made me reconnect with myself."
"Going through the break-up within the lockdown, I was actually seeing what had actually happened, I had time to think about it and ask myself questions. I couldn’t really run away from myself any more, there was nothing to distract me ... Even being home, it reminded me of myself"
"I remember I was not able to express to people in the house that I don’t feel like getting up from bed, and not being able to give that a name, I just went through this darkness that I couldn’t explain"
"I feel that with this journey and just relating to the album ... I felt an awakening, I think I reminded myself of who I am ... ever since I started waking up understanding my blackness and my place in the world ... It started then opening my voice again. It shows on social media now"
"It's not the award that means so much to me;it's the fact that I was the first woman in 20 years to win the award after Brenda Fassie"
"Because we need to keep this winning streak going,we can't let it be another 20 years before another woman wins"
"I had the time of my life doing this, it was like being a kid the whole time"
"It was hard because when I came to Joburg I did not have a place to stay so I had to squat at the studio to record and make music until I found someone who gave me the opportunity. There were many challenges because of that but fast forward, things ended up good after I recorded uMuzi eSandton"
"I would camp at Big Zulu's studio, so whenever he came to his studio we would all run away because I believe we were not allowed to be there. So we would camp there and make music. It was a lot of us in studio, until this one time I decided that I'm not gonna go when others were leaving, I'm gonna stay and see how this thing works"
"I ditched my family because they didn't want me to do music. They wanted me to finish school. So I left and came to Joburg. At that time there was something that was pushing me and that was 'the world needs this and the world needs a message that you are coming with'. Because I believe that every time I sing a song, it has a message"
"Whether its good or bad. Whether it influences others in a good or bad way. I was told by something at the back of my head that I need to go and work on my goals, go and find what you want to do, its possible. I was driven by the passion that I had."
"I remember praying to God crying out to Him that if He saved me, I was going to serve Him. I was not ready to die just yet"
"This thing was attacking, paralysing and taking control of my body. I could neither see nor hear it, however, could feel its evil presence, ready to get to me"
"I knew deep down in my heart that I had not gone to church for a while or done anything Godly in a long time. This were things I was now willing to change about myself"
"I called upon his name and began feeling better"
"It’s been two years now since I made the commitment. I read the Word often and go to church"
"[On joining the Radical Party] I joined not so much out of organic membership, but in response to a plea from the Radical Party, which was struggling to survive. I did it out of gratitude. I didn't vote for them; I was a socialist. I did it so that a party that had brought divorce and abortion to Italians wouldn't die."
"[On Domenico Modugno] He got really angry when I won [the Sanremo Festival] with "Non ho l'età" in 1964. He went there to win, not to participate. When he wrote "Dio, come ti amo" (Dio, come ti amo), he thought about pairing with me ("that way I'd neutralize her"). It worked, despite the sabotage from the record companies."
"I sang with the simplicity of a sixteen-year-old girl whose mind is uncluttered by prejudices. I never had any, I'm not a conformist."
"The popularity is shocking, as was the [Sanremo] festival with its circus."