About Nefisa

ABOUT NEFISA

"in a shell of nuts"

This is an artistic website.

My name is Yoshi, I'm a writer, musician and generally creative-leaning individual. As a result of my own constant struggle, I want every person with gifts to have better exposure, which is where the idea of this website came from. I want this to be a warm place that challenges you emotionally, to a lesser extent intellectually. Even though I pay attention and link to various political articles, it's not really as much about politics as it is about passions about 'things' in general, diversity, justice, art, philosophy, activism, religion, spirituality, creativity etc...the invisible link is ever-present. My website is for all of us humans to lie in together, inhale the fresh vapours of creativity, life, positivity and so on. It's a water-fountain.

The site is split into sections, these are acessible through the panel to the left of this writing.

The PROFILES section is where you'll find, yes you guessed it, the profiles of all the people who contribute to nefisa. There are no deadlines or official duties for these people, they just do what they do and if I think it would fit on the site, then I'll display it. Otherwise they just carry on doing their thing. The reason they are there is because either I saw their work, or they contacted me to let me know who they were. No one is up here who I don't respect and believe in as an artist, and you can read about what they have to say about themselves, as well as contact infomation or links to their personal web-sites. We all start somewhere, and even though I'm on a journey to get my own work more in the public eye, I am aware we all have different goals, different points of satisfaction. Perhaps for many talented people who end up with a profile here, nefisa will be the departure point for their creative output, and for others, it might be more of a destination.

The DRUMS section is for the music; nefisa's musicians (including myself). I listen to all styles of music, and I'm open to all artists who feel their music would be at home here. Get in touch with me, I give everything a chance, and if I don't like it, you can be sure I'll be honest and constructive! Anyone who takes themselves seriously as an artist gets respect, but we can sometimes be guilty of taking ourselves too seriously. I know I have in the past.

The ORBS section is for the visual arts, which has recently come to include some photography. As with the music, your contributions are always welcome if you want to become part of the team, I put art up that moves me or strikes me in one way or another, be it emotional or political, abstract or formal, canvas or installation, or just about any other stupid genres or titles you can think of, I'm truly open to goodness. I have some of my own stuff there also.

The CAKES section is for reviews. The majority of the book, film and music reviews are done by myself, but every now and then I'll commission a review from one of the willing (and literate) members of nefisa. As far as my policy goes, it's like this: I try not to put up negative reviews on nefisa. To call a piece of music "useless" in a semi-critical/well-worded way has, for whatever reason, become one of the main weapons of the tired mainstream AND often lazy 'underground' music and film magazines. Nefisa is a positive website, therefore I feel the need to spread the good word about things I feel are worth mentioning to people, art worth sharing. By the same token, I don't feel threatened / small-minded / parochial enough to waste anyones time telling you 'what not to buy' or 'how bad' something is. Light shines through when it shines properly. Live reviews have also begun of late, although as you can see not all of the shows I attend are reviewed, those are just reminders for me!

The QUILLS section is for creative writing. As with the reviews section above, I am the main contributor here, however I'm always looking for people who can add some diversity and bring something positive to the dinner-table instead of the same old beans and peas. I'm probably the most strict / selective when it comes to this section in terms of other people contributing, but don't let that put you off, there's no way of growing (or knowing!) if we don't interact with one another. If you're good, you're good.

The FOCUS section is for features, special events, rare occurences that nefisa records. Interviews, journals, and articles may feature here.

The LIGHT, also known as 'the humans forum' is where all the people who check this site can speak about that which floats inside their souls. You don't need to be a member to post, it's a human-zoo with open doors.

The SOUK is an exit point of sorts; it's where you can buy, online and safely, some of the things that are featured on nefisa once they become materially available in the 'real world'. Just added on May 17th 2005 was my second LP! So go buy, and check back always because this section will expand with time.

Now then,

Suggestions are welcome, this is my vision, but who I am and what I see is always open- so again, suggestions are always welcome!
Nefisa is Arabic for "precious". It's also a woman's name, but there are many things besides women on this planet that are precious.
I am now alive, sipping lifes non-alcoholic cocktail of styles.
If this was anything other than a creative website, dedicated to pure creativity, then you probably would have witnessed a relentless attack of pop-up adverts by now, and this section would probably have been in the form of an F.A.Q! This is different.
I have spent time and a lot of money that I don't really have on this project since 2002; simply because I feel it's too valuable to stop.
Nefisa.co.uk is run out of Brighton, U.K and on occasion, Maryland U.S.A by myself...

I am webmaster@nefisa.co.uk, I be content.

Peace,

Y.Misdaq aka Yoshi