Creative Writer With A Passion For Music

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A Tribe Called Quest: We got it From here… Thank You 4 Your service

A Tribe Called Quest: We got it From here… Thank You 4 Your service

The distinctive, characteristic pioneers of contemporary Hip Hop culture A Tribe Called Quest have recently released their sixth album after 18 years and it’s what everyone is talking about. Three weeks after its release and I still can’t stop playing the perspicacious album, which strides […]

Power to the people: Welcome back Fabric

Power to the people: Welcome back Fabric

Two months and many high-powered campaigns later victory has risen and Fabric has been granted their license back. The music community from all different ages, cultures and backgrounds including prominent DJs such as Alan Fitzpatrick, Nina Kravis and Artwork, London mayor Sadiq Khan and many […]

Green Mango Natural Hair Salon and Davines Product Review

Green Mango Natural Hair Salon and Davines Product Review

The great thing about expression is the freedom that lies in your hands. There is no right or wrong answer, and the beauty of it is that you completely make it your own. This is one of the many pleasures I take from blogging, it’s like my own special world that is subjected to my own preference. In addition to that, there are so many individual types of doors that are opened through blogging, giving an insight into other people’s beautiful creations. Now I’m going to try something new, I embrace my hobbies and dreams through music and food (obviously!), but now I’m going to share my “favourites”.  Today’s post starts with a review on hair salon Green Mango, and the products they sell because seriously, it is one of a kind.

Like most of the female gender I have experimented with all types of hair products, which are awful for your hair, from straighteners to curlers to peroxide – yes I did come out ginger. After fighting off making that dreaded trip to the hairdressers for so long I grudgingly made the appointment only to embarrass myself with my straw crisp hair and roots that had grown out for far too long to be examined by hair perfectionists. I felt to sob at how much of my once beautiful luscious hair they had chopped off within seconds, but they promised me if I continued to treat my hair with their hair products and treatment then my hair would return to it’s vibrant, healthy state. I know what you’re thinking. They’re having you on Aly! They’re just trying to make a sale, at £15 a bottle what are you thinking? But to my own dismay, and to my delight, I have never looked back.

Green Mango Natural hair salon is an eco-friendly salon who are the first natural salon in the region to use wind powered energy and energy saving light bulbs which made me feel that extra bit better about going to an environmental friendly salon for my damaged hair. I will always recommend to go here for your hair; it’s just so unfortunate they don’t have a salon in London!

Green Mango has a collaboration with Davines, a premium hair care brand which is now my personal hair elixir. I’ll talk you through the mixture of products I have used from Davines, which will end up saving your hair!

 

  1. Minu Shampoo & Conditioner

I started using Minu shortly after my hair treatment. Minu is great for coloured hair and smells lush! It’s mostly used to cleanse the hair but preserve the colour, so would highly recommend if you tend to retouch your hair regularly!

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  1. Momo Shampoo & Conditioner

Momo is what I used along with my hair treatment which replenished my hair from its dry and brittle state. It brought my hair back to life from dehydration, so if you find you use heat on your hair regularly or your hair has become lifeless from hair dye, then use Momo to resurrect it to its natural state.

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  1. Love Shampoo & Conditioner

The thing I loved most about this one was the colour of it. It’s such a cute lilac and was what I imagined fairy shampoo to look like! It’s great to de-frizz hair, so if you find your hair becomes static and frizzy often then Love will definitely calm it down. Love leaves your hair soft and shiny, which is something that completely transformed my hair.

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  1. Oi Shampoo & Conditioner

I cannot stresss enough how much of a favourite of mine this! It smells so luscious and the texture is silky and smooth on your hair. Oi is pretty much a mixture of Love and Momo, where it gives you that silky, smooth look, it also leaves your hair in great condition. Team it with Oi oil and you will be left with five star hair.

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  1. Oi Oil

Although this may break the bank a little for £30 a bottle, believe me it is absolutely worth it. I would say it lasted me about 3 months and I used it every day, squirt a few drops on your hair and brush it through with your fingers, and you will be left with soft, shiny hair. It brings a beautiful anti frizz effect, leaving your hair polished and bouncy.

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  1. Nourishing Reconstruction Miracle

This ultra-amazing treatment was what saved my hair from that downwards spiral turning into crisp life-less hair. I’m not going to lie to you, it smelt awful! And I felt gross when I let the formula seep into my roots, but it did wanders! It completely transforms your hair and brings it back to life. Definitely would recommend!

They did tell me it’s always best to mix and match between the variety of shampoo and conditioners so your hair can benefit from the wide range of products. If you do try Davines, I hope you like them as much as I did.

Indian tapas at Bonoo – a brand new contemporary method of dining with Indian cuisine

Indian tapas at Bonoo – a brand new contemporary method of dining with Indian cuisine

If you happen to follow the lifestyle side of my blog, it will be no secret to you guys that I love to indulge in eating out, or even just food in general. As Saturday night swiftly approached after the long grind of a week, […]

ABC Presents… Alexander Nut, Ruff Dug & Josey Rebelle

ABC Presents… Alexander Nut, Ruff Dug & Josey Rebelle

Long gone seem the parties where you are engulfed in a loop-de-loop maze where disco meets soul, and you are led far, far away on a journey of groove, I thought to myself. In today’s modern 21st Century, it’s all about exploring the possibilities of […]

Rosa’s Thai Restaurant Review

Rosa’s Thai Restaurant Review

If there’s anything I excel at, it’s food finding. I have always said eating is my favourite pastime, and that especially includes dining out in restaurants of fine cuisine. I’m really loving Asian dishes at the moment and my senses guided me to Rosa’s. With Thai food you are provided with aromatic spices, a selection of delectable dishes ranging between chicken seafood and vegetables, and on top of that when you choose rightly you are embraced with a beautiful Asian culture. How could you possibly go wrong? I had seen Rosa’s knocking around in multiple parts of London, including Carnaby and Shoreditch, it was only fate that I was led to the Soho branch. My friend who accompanied me on this oriental adventure had boasted to me about this majestic little Thai restaurant she had been to before, which was rich in flavour and fantastic for price, and that we needed to go. Unknowingly I pointed out to the trendy little restaurant tucked away in the corner of Soho and so it happens this was the restaurant she had described.

The highly popular restaurant was already packed out on a meek Monday evening. I thought to myself, if it is this busy now I wonder how demanding it is at the weekend? As we took our seats the waitresses were frantically rushing from table to table taking orders under pressure. Saying that, at the end of our meal our waitress profusely apologised exclaiming how busy it has been and she had not meant for the service to be poor. The humbleness in her apology added to the great customer service and we reassured her we loved the food and there was nothing to worry about.

We started off with spicy prawn crackers which was served with a scrumptious satay sauce. A recommendation by my friend which I further praised her for because it was so delicious! Partnered with an amazing value for money house white wine (starting at £18!), we sipped on the dry, crisp beverage enriched in fruity flavours leaving us perfectly content as we awaited our food.

 

prawn crackers

 

As our main dishes arrived I knew we were not going to be disappointed. A delightful warm plate of egg noodles enriched in a special oriental sauce, filled with juicy prawns and garnished with a variety of vegetables with a chilli sauce as requested. The rich chilli-soy flavour kept delivering a mouth-watering sensation after each bite. The striking edition of prawns – stepping away from the average chicken accompaniment – was the special ingredient to the gushing flavour, even now I’m practically dribbling reminiscing over such a fabulous meal.

 

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I view the mastermind behind Rosa’s as a culinary genius. I may be biased down to agreeing that Oriental cuisine is the one of the best cuisines, and perhaps I have genetic ties to this type of food by being half Asian, but the quality and authentic taste that comes hand in hand with each dish is an absolute bargain, and the restaurant should be applauded.

Black History Month: Erykah Badu

Black History Month: Erykah Badu

    Highly successful, beautiful and spiritually empowering Goddess that is Erykah Badu continues her legacy of contemporary jazz, soul and R&B into our modern age. In light of Black History month, I’d like to feature this incredibly inspiring influencer among our generation. I have […]

Sunday Seventies

Sunday Seventies

There are so many alternate music periods to muse on which we may call our favourites, and there are many distinct generations that are very mesmerising. For one, 90’s R&B, and then we have late 80’s and 90’s acid house, but I would say my […]

Wasabi? The Soy Awesome Matsuri Restaurant!

Wasabi? The Soy Awesome Matsuri Restaurant!

That’s enough of the terrible puns for now. Over the weekend I discovered an elite, stylish Japanese Restaurant called Matsuri, tucked away in an intimate part of Soho. As I stepped into the crimson painted restaurant, it spoke authentic elegance. The whole venue was decorated in major detail true to its nature, with a gigantic, incredible scarlet statue placed directly above a long spiral of stairs, shadowing over suspecting spectators. It really contributed to the traditional vibe amongst the restaurant.

 

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We are shown to a long circular table which stretched so far there was enough room for around twenty people. I’d always seen this type of restaurant in the movies and dreamt of coming to an innovative high-end restaurant like Matsuri. The service was undoubtedly flawless which Matsuri take modest pride in. Our waitress was on hand when we needed something, but beneficially did not pester us unwantedly every five minutes.

 

Matsrui - 15 Bury St, London, SW1Y 6AL, United Kingdom. Photo by Neil Beer.
Matsrui – 15 Bury St, London, SW1Y 6AL, United Kingdom. Photo by Neil Beer.

 

Rightly, the term “You get what you pay for” is true to its form. The sophisticated menu boasts its exclusivity in perfect lobster and octopus highlighted as must haves, alongside a £500 wine that would incline some to take out a mortgage to afford the bill. However once I ordered I was eating my words, as I have never been to an extremely delectable restaurant as Matsuri. My father and I both decided to go for the Matsuri set menu and shared a selection of delicious plates.

Every single assortment of the course was absolutely exquisite. We started with fresh sushi followed by a steaming seafood soup. The food had a taste of Japanese origin and the five star quality savoured in our mouths. We continued to take pleasure in the menu as more sushi and tempura arrived. Complimented with a strong elderflower-gin cocktail alongside the soothing, chilled Japanese composition in the background, the mood of the restaurant had a feel of serenity.

 

The Matsuri, St James
The Matsuri, St James

 

My favourite part of the meal was the main course, where we were served thriving lobster – of course, my top choice – and a chunky steak cooked medium rare – what else?! This exceptional meal was served with sautéed vegetables cooked so perfectly the aromas suckled slowly through our noses.

 

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Before I could turn to unbutton my jeans from being so pleasantly full the waitress politely revealed the evening was not quite over yet. The finale was dessert. The chef came out to cook us fire ball ice cream served with mango and pineapple. My heart jumped up into my throat. This sounded undeniably extroadinary and my stomach did mini cart wheels at the excitement of this dish.

The chef did the usual chopping as he had done with our main, and I put my phone down in disappointment convinced that was all he was going to do. But my dad nudged me and pushed me to have patience, and there it was, a big roar bellowing from a blazing fire coming from the shining steel cooker. There it was. My ice cream was on fire! Only for a short few seconds, but it was tremendously amazing.

 

 

 

 

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You’ve probably have guessed by now I am a true foody. I felt so content and gratified at Matsuri. I was in my element. But it really saddens me that the restaurant will be closing. After twenty successful years in a prominent part of London many will be disappointed at the mighty Matsuri’s close. For those of you who have been enlightened by this review you have until the 23rd October to grab the best Japanese in town. So get skating, it is very much worth it.

 

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Is June Marieezy the new Jhene Aiko?

Is June Marieezy the new Jhene Aiko?

Although I love a decent rave I also like to take a step back and have some me time. This includes listening to contemporary R&B music where the lyrics really speak to me. A couple of years ago I discovered the elegant Jhene Aiko, who […]