Last weekend, at one of the protests against Trump's immigration ban, my housemate Sean somehow happened upon his Simon & Garfunkel sign-brother, in and amongst the tens of thousands gathered in Copley Square. Now there's a sentence I never ever thought I'd write.
My apologies for cutting out the writing on Sean's poster with my shoddy camera holding. My camera skills are almost on a level with my dad, who - when tasked with filming my 8th birthday party - somehow managed to get almost two hours of seamless, uninterrupted footage. Which would have been great, had it not been for the fact that he was holding the camera upside down, so it's just a video of his own feet.
As well as being a masterclass in photo editing, the bottom of the poster said 'Putin and Trumpfunkel' - which is surprisingly satisfying to say out loud.
As you can imagine, our little patch of the crowd was really digging the serendipity of this encounter. In fact, I was so busy marvelling at the happenstance of these two finding each other, that I almost missed the familiar face just a few feet from my own. There, right in front of me, was Gabriel. His family has been friends with my family ever since we met on holiday, over a decade ago. I'm from London, he's from Paris, but we met at a Club Med resort in Sicily. Naturally, twelve years later, here we both were, at a pro-diversity rally in Boston, Massachusetts.
He and his friend joined my little group, and we spent the afternoon - in between chants - sharing our fears and ideas. Before parting ways, I invited him to join a group that my brilliant friend Mariel has set up, called the Brighton Rebel Alliance. (BRA!) Her plan is for the group to spend time educating ourselves about issues that matter to us, to make time to get together and hold each other accountable for putting our ideas and values into action. The first BRA meeting is this Saturday, and it can't come quickly enough.
This brilliant tweet from Caitlin Moran is the best reflection of my mood this week:
(Yeah, I retweeted it. I am nothing if not a consummate retweeter. Feel free to pop that on my tombstone when the time comes.)
For me, this comment perfectly sums up the push and pull that I'm experiencing on a near-hourly basis: I find myself desperate for some sense of normalcy or light relief, but at the same time, feeling like anything that isn't incandescent fury is a complete waste of energy. I'm getting increasingly and irrationally cross with anybody who isn't using whatever platform they might have to constantly draw attention to the seemingly imminent moral collapse of society as we know it. (And 'a platform' in my book is anyone who knows at least one other person in real life. Who knows how many people their one friend might know?) I'm on the hunt for ways to be useful, resilient, and kind, and - generous soul that I am - I'm livid with anyone who isn't aiding my cause.
This impatience for whatever I've deemed to be irrelevant frippery is especially surprising given that I'm a real Johnny-come-lately when it comes to social activism. But what can I say? Then was then, and now is now. I know that's no excuse, but we're watching GCSE history textbooks being written before our very eyes, so I'm determined to pay more attention this time around. That way I might be able to avoid having to pull an all-nighter before the exam, and my friend might not panic on the day, answering the questions on topics we'd never studied, resulting in an F.
That same year, when my woebegone teacher was dishing out our exam results, my friend Dave was told he'd got a D.
"Oh well! He said, a little crestfallen, but ever the optimist: "At least it's D for Dave isn't it!"
We all agreed that yes, this was a pleasing connection. Then our teacher looked again at the sheet.
"Dave, I'm so sorry, I read the wrong line. You actually got an E."
This was a blow indeed to our collective morale.
"Well. At least it's... E for ... End of Dave."
So, the E for End of Dave here is that we seem to be witnessing a moment of enormous political and social awakening. People are marching - in unprecedented numbers - with their feet, and their wallets, and it IS having an impact. We just have to keep the momentum going.
So, as this is my 20th newsletter, it feels like a good time to take stock, and collate some of the wisdom I've been lucky enough to glean through my interviews.
I've been asking everybody is what's their top tip is for getting shit done. Here are the themes that have emerged so far:
Commitment and enthusiasm. Diving, and leaping, and believing that you can.
Lists are a Good Thing. They're crucial for breaking something down - that might otherwise seem insurmountable - into discrete, achievable tasks.
Lists are also top of the pops for holding oneself accountable.
Just show up, and the rest of it will follow.
Yes! I think that'll give me plenty of inspiration to be getting on with until Saturday.
Here are the actual answers:
Ellie Kendrick, actor and writer:
Write it down, tick it off.
Lily Ash Sakula, comic artist:
I think the thing that has been most useful for me to learn is that: Art is hard. It’s hard to come up with ideas, it’s hard to carry them through, it’s hard to do the physical work of drawing. So you can’t just sit there and wait for inspiration or wait till you feel in the right mood. You’ve just got to make yourself do it ALL THE TIME. It is also really fun, so go for it!
Sophie Crawford, musician and actor:
Make a list. Bash everything out. There’s no point in agonising over stuff.
James Moran, comedy writer and journalist:
Have a list of achievable tasks for the day, and cut back on masturbation.
Fred Rowson, filmmaker/director:
I drink a lot of coffee and try to wear a tie every few days. I start work before 9, and finish before 6, and I write every day, including weekends.
Angus Denoon, chef and independent food trader:
Lists help, so does clarity of direction but ultimately just go and do it.
Ellie Buckland, fiddler turned singer-songwriter:
Don't be afraid to ask for help, especially in the context of mental health. And in terms of songwriting, if you feel like you can, or you want to - you are allowed to. Just wanting to means that you can, and means that you should.
Katie Burns, pollination ecologist:
Play Rumours by Fleetwood Mac on repeat, and drink herbal tea between cups of coffee to stop the jitters. Also, a can-do, just-do-it attitude can go a long way.
Beatrice Perry, fashion designer:
Windows open, no matter the jumpers required.
Laura Cortese, singer, fiddler, songwriter:
Always make the decision. If you've made the wrong decision, you will know, and then you can remedy it.
Layth Sidiq, musician:
Show up early to everything you do.
Karen Montanaro, dancer, mime, and educator:
I used to have a very hard time getting myself into the studio. So I tricked myself: I'd go into the studio for the sole purpose of lying down on the floor — just that — no need to do anything after that. So that’s what I did: I went into the studio, lay down on the floor and simply let myself feel whatever I felt — the heat (if it was winter), the floor, etc. It was interesting and often amazing (!) to watch my thoughts scurry around like mad and use my body to bring that monkey-mind back to the present moment. Pretty soon, I’d put music on and include the music in my present moment. Before I knew it, I’d be up and moving. But I had to start small — limiting myself to only present-moment stuff. Then once my imagination kicked in, I was unstoppable.
Amy Annette, author, comedian, comedy producer:
I have this picture on my wall of Obama looking serious and I just try not to disappoint him. So; I guess it's a case of thinking WWOD?
Kat Arney, science writer/broadcaster and science communication consultant:
Lists. All the lists.
Phil Wang, comedian:
Imagine a world in which you don’t achieve what you want to.
Patrick Kingsley, journalist:
Obviously you have to make every day count, but you need to realise that progress is cumulative. [...] Make lists. Work seven days a week.
Exciting update: When Patrick appeared in The Katch-Up back in October, he was the Guardian's migration correspondent. He's now an international investigative reporter for the New York Times, and their acting Turkey bureau chief. As if you needed another reason to buy a subscription.
Jacob Sharpe, circus artist and juggler:
Wait until you can't stand not doing it. I don't know, sometimes I think it's everything around you that opens up the paths for you to work hard.
You can find all the interviews tucked away in the Katch-Up archive.
Thanks for sticking with me through the first twenty! I can't tell you how much I've appreciated your support.
The Cameo
My guest this week is Sarouna Salfiti-Mushasha.
What’s your job title/profession?
I’m a musician, music producer and audio engineer! I’m also working towards making music for film and games, as well as sound design.
What would you love for people to know about your work?
Hmmm.. That’s an interesting one. I wish people would understand the effort, the creativity and the passion that goes into it. I feel that the “backstage” or “behind the scenes” jobs are often overlooked or undervalued, when essentially nothing is possible with the other. It’s a symbiotic relationship, and I feel they should hold just as much importance. The amount of detail, the time spent on every detail, still surprises me to this day. I think appreciation for detail as well as knowing how to implement those details is a huge part of the job. It’s creativity and ingenuity meets technology and algorithms. But I’d also love for people to know how fun it is. It’s an actual blast - I get to do what I love every single day! And no matter how tiring or frustrating it can get, I always remind myself that I get to do the thing that I was always dreaming of when I was in class in high school, or when I was a kid... And that’s really special to me.
What do you wish people would stop asking about your work?
I don’t get a lot of annoying questions surprisingly, but I do get irritated when someone is asking about the financial future of the job, whether it’s in technology or performance. I’ve always felt music and the arts are like medicine. I don’t think society can function without them. They are - yes - a luxury, to many communities, but I don’t think that the essence of what art and music is can actually be discarded. I feel that people will always have a need for music, for expression, for the desire to see their emotions or their feelings reflected in a work of art or music. I also wish that people would stop “cheapening” the work we do. I’m not just speaking in terms of money or financial terms, I mean in the sense of its social function and of its essence as an art form.
What made you/helped you to choose what you do?
I’ve always loved music growing up, and I credit a lot of that to my parents. They’re not musical per se, but they’ve always had a passion for music and I was lucky enough to be surrounded by that growing up. I’ve always been encircled with so many different genres, from traditional and classical Arabic music, to funk and soul, to hip-hop, to rock and roll, to French music etc. The list goes on. My parents luckily enrolled me in a music conservatory when I was about 6 years old. I also had friends and family friends around me that either were musicians or who greatly appreciated and valued music, which just helped in internalizing the importance of it in my life.
What’s your perfect breakfast/lunch for a workday?
(What do you actually have for breakfast/lunch?)
Oh, I love food. And I spend time making it. For a normal workday, I always try to wake up earlier than needed so I can make time for breakfast. I’d say eggs, with either mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, or sausages, sunny side up or flipped, and then put on a toasted bagel with cream cheese or labaneh (traditional Arabic yogurt-like spread). A cup of coffee, either Arabic coffee or filtered coffee (usually Swedish).
For lunch, if I have the time, I usually make a sandwich, spread with hummus or labaneh, with tomatoes or prosciutto. And then coffee again. I’d say that’s my ideal breakfast and lunch for a workday, and I tend to actually have it!
What’s your perfect time to wake up / go to bed? (When do you actually wake up / go to bed?)
Ideally, I’d wake up at 9-10 every day, and sleep around 1am-2am every night.
Depending on my schedule, I actually wake up around 7-8 am, and sleep around 11pm-12am.
What’s your alarm sound?
I used to be incredibly picky with that, but now it’s just a standard iPhone ringtone.
Do you have a set morning routine?
Yes. Wake up, go to the bathroom, brush teeth, wash face, take a shower, get dressed, make coffee, make breakfast, read/watch tv, then head out to work. If I’m staying in, I just go to my workstation.
Do you have a dedicated/preferred space for practicing? If so, what does it look like?
Not yet, unfortunately!
What are your work hours like? Do you ever try to create a routine for yourself or is that impossible given the nature of your work?
I’m currently doing an internship at the moment, so that has a little more of a rigid structure to it. Usually, I play it by ear. But as of now, I’ve been trying to get a schedule going for how and when I tackle my own musical work or practice.
Preferred tools of the trade? Essential work items?
A laptop, sheet music, music in general, my toys (gear) are definitely preferred. For practicing the qanun, I like to have my laptop around so I can look up songs and references or sheet music. For my sound/audio work, I need my laptop to be able to work.
Do you ever work with fixed goals in mind or take it day by day depending on what comes up?
A little bit of both. A day by day depends on what my goals are. I aim to work daily to achieve them.
What inspires you?
My parents.
My friends and colleagues.
The vast possibilities of music and technology. Any song I hear turns into inspiration of some form.
My culture. I’d definitely say being Palestinian and growing up where I did, influenced me in many ways, and musically is no exception.
What’s your favourite thing about your job?
It’s either the fact that I get to create something from scratch or out of something else, or that I get to develop an artist’s vision or musical image/goal, or that I get to narrate or tell a story. It’s many things. I love going over details, or writing a piece or composing a song. It’s always been connected to something personal for me, usually something that stems from childhood (either something I did in childhood, or aspired to in childhood). Telling stories, helping people, coming up with new ideas and prototypes, trying out things, deconstructing, troubleshooting etc. All things I enjoyed doing or looked up to as a kid. So, I essentially get to be a kid, professionally, forever.
Least favourite?
The hours can be difficult, especially for maintaining a social or family life.
What do you do to get through days when you just don’t feel like it? I try to address my emotions. Understand them, see where they’re coming from. I usually let myself take a break. Because if I don’t feel like it, and then I force myself to do it, I will end up not enjoying it, or even resenting it. And it’s a very difficult balance: it’s work but I never wanted it to feel like a pain, or like it takes excessive mental or physical effort to do. It should feel fun and enjoyable, even if I’m working extremely hard.I try to do something else I enjoy and distract my brain from that space.
Do you have a go-to treat to get you out of a slump?
I usually end up reading, playing video games, cooking, hanging out with friends, going outside.
Working out helps also.
Go-to work snack/sustenance?
Hmm.. usually coffee or tea. I take a small lunch break for a sandwich, or an apple or something small.
What’s your favourite part of the day?
Right after I showered in the morning, and I can get started with my day.
On a good day, it’s between 11am-2pm.
Least favourite?
Early mornings. Or a “dead hour”, which for me is either around or between 3-4.
How you define a good/successful day?
Depends on the day! And the activity. For work, it could mean achieving the short term goal I set for that day. For life things, it could mean taking care of important matters, seeing friends, working out etc.
What’s been your favourite failure? One that you learnt a lot from, or one that you can look back and say ‘well I got through THAT, I’m unstoppable!’
Probably going through Berklee! I failed at so many things time and time again during my time there, and it’s always pushed me to go further. It’s definitely upped my tolerance and helped me look forward to ways for improvement and self growth.
Any hot tips for the old work-life-balance conundrum?
I’ve always felt like that’s a little tough for our field of work. Because so much of what we do, doesn’t feel like work, and it blends into our daily life. I try my best to make sure I have time with my friends and loved ones to do regular everyday things. It keeps me from going into my head, from becoming a workaholic and staying humble.
Working out and meditation helps a lot too.
Do you have any hobbies/passions outside of work?
I absolutely love video games. I love playing them and I’m beginning to make them a part of my work as well. I love reading books, watching movies and series, going to museums and libraries, hunting new music, journaling, traveling and spending time with loved ones.
If so, how do you make time for them? Where do they fit into your day/week?
I always make time for family and friends. Which is why I like working in the afternoon and at night if possible. I try to fit at least 2-3 of those things every day, because they are just as essential, more so actually, than work.
Family, health, and friends always come first.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to someone who wants to do what you do?
Realize the time commitment, the effort and the work you have to put in. Then be patient. Do not compare yourself to others, no matter how difficult or tempting it might be. Work on yourself every day, document that growth and see how far you get after a year or a few months. There’s a lot of sacrifice that comes with these jobs. From every angle imaginable. Be willing to sacrifice. Be willing to be uncomfortable, to be vulnerable, to be in pain, to be emotional, to be overjoyed and to be grateful. Appreciate people around you, and honour the work you do. Contextualize everything. Find people who love you and trust you and believe in you and keep around those who already do. Show them love and appreciation. Respect people and treat them kindly, but also respect yourself above all. Give your all, and then some. Did I mention the being patient part? (That’s way more than one, I’m sorry!)
What’s the best piece of advice someone’s ever given you?
I don’t see it as one piece of advice, but more like a string of advice, that gradually just became one tape reel on repeat in my head. Most of it is listed above, and mostly drawn from parents, teachers and friends.
What’s your top tip for getting shit done?
Sit down. And do it. Literally, do not think about it. Just do it. You can plan for it all you want, but if you don’t act on it, it’s not gonna happen. I’ve always struggled with this, having ADD and all. I try to shut my 'talking brain' off, and let my 'doing brain' take over.
Which three recordings should I listen to this week?
Falyakon by Mashrou’ Leila
White Ferrari by Frank Ocean
Shape of You by Ed Sheeran
I can't get enough of this picture of Sarouna as a fourteen-year-old finalist in a national hip-hop competition. I found this picture in Palestinian Music and Song: Expression and Resistance since 1900.
But here's a more recent (and equally awesome) version of Sarouna in the studio. You can see/hear Sarouna playing in the Middle Eastern Fusion Ensemble at the 7th Annual Berklee Middle Eastern Festival.
Follow Sarouna on Instagram @sarounam.
Some Music
The theme of this week's playlist is resistance, and the subtitle is:
The massive "I think the fuck not" of these protests gives me hope.
- John Paul Brammer.
You can listen to it on Spotify here.
If you've been waking up every morning with a knot in your tum, and your shoulders somewhere up around your ears, I recommend listening to the first track - We Shall Not Be Moved by Mavis Staples - and letting her propel you into the day with a renewed sense of purpose and resilience. When I listen to this song, I'm ready to have at it, like a bat out of hell, but a particularly purposeful and resilient bat.
Also: Four Tet has made a cracking playlist of music from Trump's list of banned countries. So far it contains 336 songs, and runs at 29 hours long. Have a listen on Spotify here.
If you have suggestions or additions, I imagine he'd love to hear your ideas: @FourTet
A Poem
This week's poem is Inspire and be Inspired by Lemn Sissay.
I was going to transcribe it, but in the end I decided not to. (Good story, right?)
Well, I thought I'd be doing you a disservice if I didn't at least nudge you towards carving out two minutes (and five seconds) from your day, just to listen to something as beautiful and encouraging as this.
Actually, I would say it's only 2 minutes and 5 seconds, but I couldn't help listening/watching four times in a row, so I don't want to mislead you in case you end up doing the same.
Eek, I couldn't resist transcribing my favourite bit! I have no self-control. But I still stand by Katya-from-four-minutes ago, because listening to Lemn Sissay's voice is infinitely better than my dodgy, rough-hewn guess at the line breaks.
In the possibilities of light
the nature of trust
the strength
of unassailable
us.
Links!
Nina Simone sings Young, Gifted and Black on Sesame Street in February, 1972.
Initial Meeting of the National Parks Revolutionary Coordinating Committee
YELLOWSTONE: I hear the Education Secretary has a thing about bears. Yosemite and I can coordinate on that front.
SHENANDOAH: You thinking grizzlies in schools?
YELLOWSTONE: Don’t be ridiculous. They wouldn’t go near a school. But unleash some bears in the Department of Education and that lady will fold like a cheap tent. A cheap tent with food in it, attacked by a bear.
Love and Black Lives, in Pictures Found on a Brooklyn Street.
A discarded photo album, some top detective work, and a beautiful, moving story.
29 Classic Movies To Watch In Honour Of Black History Month
From this list, I'm ashamed to admit that I've only seen 6/29. Not good at all, but easily remedied.
Teaching Tolerance (a project set up by the Southern Poverty Law Center) is a fantastic resource, both for teachers, and for people (like me) trying to educate themselves.
This list of Dos and Don'ts of Teaching Black History was in their newsletter this week.
Oh and speaking of good teachers being the best thing in the world, Barry White Junior, a fifth grade literacy teacher has a unique handshake with every student in his class to get them excited for the day.
I'm all about bringing joy to people's lives and inspiring others to do so, hopefully, everybody can start doing it in their classroom.
At the Women's March in DC, my friend Scotty, and his friend Jake, followed a counter-protestor for over half a mile, drowning out his megaphone with their fiddles. He eventually gave up and left, and they made the news!
J.K. Rowling taking down trolls on Twitter is a thing of majesty.
Also brilliant: signs from the Scotland against Trump protests.
Sarouna shared a link to this blog on Facebook, and it offered a perspective on the stars and stripes hijab image that I hadn't considered before.
‘I understand the good intentions, but my liberation will not come from framing my body with a flag that has flown every time my people have fallen. And I hope yours will not either.’
100 and Counting - Secrets to a Long Life. Ashraf and Mohammed were married for 80 years. Their granddaughter Samira shares their story in a sweet, funny, and touching short film.
This kind of thinking outside the box makes my heart sing: A Dutch nursing home offers free accommodation to university students. In exchange for small, rent-free apartments, the Humanitas retirement home in Deventer, Netherlands, requires students to spend at least 30 hours per month acting as “good neighbours.”
If you need an urgent reminder that the world can still be sweet and hilarious, this video of Dads dancing with their babies might do the trick.
And this story of two dads connecting at a protest in Chicago.
In the UK, February 5th is Visit My Mosque Day. You can read this summary report from The Muslim Council of Britain on how it went in 2016.
And here's a lovely post about this year's event from Ben & Jerry's! Which may or may not be how I heard about it in the first place. (Yes, we both know it was.)
If we all get to know each other a little better, we can find the things that unite us and use them to overcome the things that divide us. And what could be sweeter than that?
And that's it! See you next week!
Love,
Katya
The Katch-Up's header illustration is by the brilliant Tamsin Baker.