Sunday Snapshot w/c 19.02.24
This week I get a bit personal...
Hello and welcome to the 4th edition of Sunday Snapshots. It’s crazy to think it’s been a whole month of writing these! According to research on habit formation, I’m just under halfway to making this a habit. If you’re a first-time reader - Sunday Snapshots are a summary of my week where I share 3 songs, 3 ideas that have made me 🤔, and 3 pictures for your visual pleasure.
So how’s the week been Otega?
Honestly?
Honestly, it’s been a tough one but I’m also very grateful for the resources and people I have around me. You’ll have to read on (Socratic section) to find out more about the week.
Without further ado, let’s get into the tunes.
Sonic sanctuary (music):
Agnes Obel - The Curse
Like the walking juxtaposition that is my music taste, I bring to you Agnes Obel - The Curse. Agnes has one of those timeless voices that makes you think ‘I wonder what era she’s from?’ You may have heard some of her songs on TV shows like "Riverside."
I chose to start with this sultry, moody number because it’s almost a metaphor for my week, and the aim is to get brighter from here.
My friend Bhima’s 3-second rule also applies here because in the first few seconds of this song, I find it pulling me further and further into its depths. The first few seconds create an interesting sound, repeated tapping of a violin bow on the strings and the plucking of both the violin and the cello before the symphony of the violin kicks in.
Agnes has a voice that can both energise a Viking army before war and soothe a crying baby to sleep (what a range 😂).
Check out a live performance of the song [here].
Magnetic Man - Getting Nowhere feat. John Legend
For the second song, I’m taking you down memory lane with a Dubstep banger ‼️
Who remembers dubstep?
The first dubstep song I ever listened to was a remix of an Ellie Goulding song. I think it was "Starry Eyed"—sadly, I can’t find the remix to share with you. But let me tell you, I played that song on repeat!
Magnetic Man were pioneers in their own right, and the fact that it had Benga—a Nigerian—as one of the producers made me love it even more. The song features vocals from John Legend, who from his discography, you wouldn’t think would work on a song like this, but I don’t know what to say. It just works.
Have a listen [here].
Skiifall - Our Souls Cry feat. Obongjayar
Firstly, how cool is this image?
I sure do love a good rug, and that is one hell of a rug. But I also love the positioning from a photography standpoint. The protagonist—Skiifall—isn’t in your face but just off center and sits quietly confident, looking directly at you.
The first time I heard Skiifall, I was bamboozled to find out that he wasn’t from the UK. You can let me know in the comments where you think he’s from—no cheating 🥸
Another reason this song is amazing is that it features the vocals from Obongjayar, whose sound is just otherworldly. It’s another proud Nigerian moment because in my ears, I hear a voice that could perfectly accompany a Fuji or Lagbaja song.
The contents of the lyrics are also rather emotional, “your prayers keep me warm, shelter me in this crazy world.”
I also realized that I’ve lied because we’re not necessarily ending on a brighter note, but nonetheless, it's a good one.
Check it out [here].
The Socratic segment (thoughts/ideas):
Daniel Priestley on DOAC
It had been a while since I listened to a DOAC episode, but this episode reminded me why it’s one of the best podcasts in the world. Steven did an excellent job of interviewing, but his guest Daniel Priestley was just a hoarder of knowledge - business knowledge.
They both discussed how developments in the podcast industry have democratised knowledge, and boy did he provide knowledge.
To avoid writing a whole essay on this one item, I’ll share some of my standout nuggets which I got from the episode.
The key to success is failing fast and then iterating.
One of the best ways to test the demand for a business idea is to create a waiting list.
Business is a team sport.
The best asks/proposals have with or without you energy i.e. this thing is going to happen whether you take part or not.
I’ve been very concise on purpose here, but I plan to revisit this episode every once in a while because it was so transformative.
If you’re business-minded, then you need to listen to this [here].
Andy Warhol’s - Empire
The second idea I want to share with you this Sunday is from the Don, David Hockney. It comes from his book - ‘Spring Cannot Be Cancelled’.
A book I purchased in Euston station because I liked that it was a picture book and it was light and art-based.
The idea is from page 146 where he talks about a film made by Andy Warhol in 1964 called Empire. The film is 8 hours and 5 mins long and is a continuous shot of the Empire State Building in New York but it starts from a white screen as the sun sets as the camera was set up for nighttime filming.
“Empire is a poetic reductio ad absurdum: a comment, both witty and profound, on film and our expectations of constant change. It reveals how much in life does not alter at all, at least at the speed on which movies function.”
I think the idea of the movie is just enchanting in itself. The slow observation of a single object - it’s almost like meditation. It’s inspired me to stop moving so fast and to enjoy the slow unraveling of life.
Watch the movie - here.
Evolution
The theory of evolution by Darwin is based on the idea that species gradually change over time. This week has felt like a significant moment in my evolution. It was one of these weeks where I will look back and think that was really significant.
For context, the week started with the sudden realisation that I was approaching burnout. I typically operate in a fast-paced world, but I could see that I wasn’t rising to all of my responsibilities and it would soon consume me. I also listened to a great talk by someone I look up to at work called Abidemi. He’s one of the best speakers I’ve listened to and I’m always left feeling blessed and fortunate. He delivered a talk at work on an initiative I birthed called ‘secret sauce sessions’ where individuals who have outward and inward success share their secret sauce. There was so much wisdom delivered in this one hour and a lot of the topics felt so relevant to myself and my current situation. It was really pivotal in me recognising I needed to stop my current journey and take the next exit because the destination I was heading to wasn’t where I wanted to be.
Although it’s been a challenging week, I feel really blessed to have the opportunity to get off the motorway and choose a different path/course. If there’s anything to take away from this, it’s to listen to the signs and not to spend a minute longer on a path that isn’t getting you closer to your end goal.
So as I move into next week, I see myself evolving into a better version of myself.
Seeing (images):
All jokes aside, we sometimes find ourselves feeling fragile, and it’s part of the human experience. Sometimes it can feel like there’s no one to turn to even though you’re social and have lots of friends. In those times, it’s important to remind yourself that it's just a moment and just like water it will flow and pass.
Thank you for reading, and look after yourselves 👍🏽