Nicky Haslam is a man of many parts. He’s best known as an interior designer and author but over the years, in chameleon like fashion, he’s variously styled himself as Liam Gallagher, bought a house in Transylvania on the net and once told Vanity Fair he’d rather meet Kim Jong Il than Nelson Mandela. Whether he’s partying with Paris Hilton or working with a Russian oligarch, Haslam’s character and charm always shine through and for good reason he tops the list of the most invited in the land.
Nicky Haslam’s “Total Control”
Nicky Haslam’s life has been well documented in many a column but his latest move, recording a debut album entitled Midnight Matinée, can certainly be described as a bold departure. Yes, he did cabaret at Bellamy’s in 2009 and The Savoy in 2010 but having heard the first song, this truly does represent something akin to Kevin Spacey’s Beyond the Sea. I must admit that I thought it vastly superior.
Produced by David Ogilvy, who wrote the music for a BBC film about the interior designer, Total Control is the first in the series of songs to be released. It is accompanied by a video by a Canadian filmmaker named Douglas Arrowsmith.
We at The Steeple Times very much like Haslam’s “highly individual” foray into the “contemporary music scene” and for that reason make it our video of the week.
In recent days, Gary Barlow’s albumn Sing has topped the UK album charts with sales of 40,000 copies.
Two hundred and ten musicians, including the African Children’s Choir and the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Band, helped record this special tribute to The Queen. Produced by Barlow with the assistance of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Gareth Malone, Sing also features Prince Harry on the tambourine, Hayley Westenra, Alfie Boe and the Military Wives choir. Sing will be performed this evening at a special concert at Buckingham Palace in the presence of Her Majesty.
Another tribute I was alerted to came from a singer named Anton Lorien who contacted me via Twitter. He was approached in 2011 by the British Monarchist League who asked him to produce a song for a lady he describes as having: “Given her life selflessly to the people of Britain and the Commonwealth.”
Mr Lorien’s song, Like A Diamond, is available to download on iTunes but I wholeheartedly recommend that you watch the video clip available above. It contains some wonderful footage of The Queen and the clip at 3:33 where our Monarch runs to watch her racehorse is especially worth seeing.
Gary Barlow pictured with Prince Harry on the tambourine working on Sing
Both Sing and Like A Diamond capture the feelings of our nation brilliantly. Be sure to sing along tonight.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II governed as constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states and headed the 54-member Commonwealth of Nations. Supported by her gaffe prone husband, “Brenda,” as Private Eye nicknamed her, served steadfast through good times and bad. She liked to drive a little quickly when given control of the wheel of a Range Rover and also found washing up relaxing. This monarch like no other will never be forgotten.
Thomas “T.J.” James peruses the works of artist Conor Mccreedy
Conor Mccreedy is an internationally known artist, art collector and entrepreneur who lives between New York City, South Africa and Paris.
Conor Mccreedy wearing his synonymous “Mcreedy Blue”
Originally from Johannesburg, Mccreedy was intrinsically drawn to painting in his youth. He attended St. David’s Marist Inanda where he excelled at soccer and went on to represent South Africa in the Gothia Cup junior world soccer tournament in Sweden.
Next came a stint at Hilton College. Here Mccreedy was awarded the Kennith Beghin memorial prize for art and also a first prize in the annual university arts competition. At the time, Mccreedy’s art professor stated in a letter of recommendation:
“Conor is one of the most outstanding pupils to come through the department of art in the last decade. He is undoubtedly one of the most naturally talented individuals I have ever seen in my lifetime.”
Obtaining an IEB Matric pass with Distinction in Art gave Mccreedy admission to the University of South Africa but instead he attended university in North Carolina on a golf scholarship. Later, he decided to change paths again and transferred to the Pratt Institute in New York.
By happenstance he met the American comedian Chris Rock’s uncle and through him gained an introduction to the president of the National Arts Club. This brought a significant break and Mccreedy became the youngest artist to be invited to hold a solo exhibition entitled, Outliers, at the National Arts Club in Gramercy Park, New York in 2010.
“Where to Begin” by Conor Mccreedy“Portrait of Mentor” by Conor Mccreedy, 2009
Mccreedy’s artistic style has developed significantly over the years. His masterful strokes of the brush and lines are now considered unsurpassed. Mccreedy’s paintings are dabbled with ambiguity, which causes one to develop a new understanding and outlook. His paintings truly evoke truth and the sublime. In them also, he uses his figures as a tool to question modern views of sexual, racial and social identity.
As an example of his style, Mccreedy’s Indigo Blue Series providethe viewer with a lugubrious surface but, as the eye becomes entranced by his work, the somber veil is lifted and an array of expressions and emotions are revealed.
“Her Stride” by Conor Mccreedy, 2010“Five Female Nudes” by Conor Mccreedy, 2011
Mccreedy uses a specific type of blue for his paintings. He named it “Mccreedy Blue” and it now transcends from his art into his unique style. The implementation of this colour in both his dress and art create a unifying theme of distinction and also are representative of the brand that he has become. Resultingly, GQ Magazine listed Conor Mccreedy as South Africa’s best dressed man for 2012 which is surprising given that he detests shopping.
Mccreedy is also heavily involved in social media also and highly influential in this domain. He is the most followed South African on twitter with just under 300,000 followers and tweets to them regularly. He uses his fame for good as well and chooses to support the Faces of Hope Foundation that provides funding to support children and adults with leukemia and lymphoma.
When home in South Africa Mccreedy becomes inspired by the euphoric scents of the African bush. He has a love for animals, especially lions, and is intrinsically connected to the raw nature and beauty of Africa.
Conor Mccreedy
Mccreedy will be spending this summer in The Hamptons and Manhattan this year. Here he’ll continue to create and be inspired by the world around him.
“Britain’s ultimate interior designer” is a man of many talents and guises. Haslam flits from party to party by night, but by day writes, edits and designs. He’s performed cabaret at The Savoy and Bellamy’s and interior watercolour renderings by him are held by the Victoria & Albert Museum. This trendsetter’s life is indeed summed up by the title of one of his books: Sheer Opulence.
Internationally renowned South African conceptual artist, Conor Mccreedy has exhibited at the National Arts Club in New York and the David Brown Fine Art Gallery in Johannesburg. (more…)
