Sitting On A Book Shelf

I have an admiration for anyone’s work. I think it is ultra important that everyone’s job in the world is given the utmost respect, especially when they do it right and with passion. Last week I flew to London for a radio interview, besides loving the fact that I was traveling alone, which happens very rarely, I also fell in love with the fact that one can, once again, listen to some talented musicians while using the underground service. When my uncle lived in Victoria in the 80s, I visited London regularly with my parents and was always mesmerized by the array of musicians playing their instruments with such intensity it was enviable.

So I was gladly surprised when I stepped off the tube when I was met with the sweet sound of a violin, walking briskly towards the district line tube I was met with a cool looking young man strumming his guitar and singing one of his compositions and on my way back an accordion released the melancholic sounds of ‘Sous le Ciel de Paris.’ There’s nothing quite like music to accompany your journeys and when it’s live, it beats the crap out of your ipod!!!

On my return I visited the Progress Printing Press at Allied Publishing in Valletta. I felt as excited as I used to feel when on a school visit, to anywhere. With the difference that I was visiting because I was actually preparing for the release of ‘Ira Losco A Photographic Journal by Allen Venables’ a book of 400 Pages gracing the book shelves early December.

Back in year 6 when I was only 10 years old we were given a school project to do, which entailed writing a book. We were divided into groups of 6 and we had to come up with a new exciting concept and do the task in two months!

Because I could draw, and I’m pretty sure THAT was the only reason, I got roped into the ‘cool’ group. I was in charge of the artistic direction, I didn’t know what that word was then, but I fulfilled the position as best I could and we all worked hard to get it ready. Half way through the process of compiling ‘The Brownsworth Family Outings,’ drama was incessant, with one episode, where I lost ALL of the drawings I had prepared. Panic stricken I started to re draw the images only 2 days before the ‘presentation’ only to find the blasted drawings in my desk beneath my “ginormous” dictionary. I wasn’t very good at looking for stuff, I still don’t possess the skill till today!

When we finally presented the colourful book to our teacher we could tell she was highly impressed by our efforts. We had taken great pride and enthusiasm in writing the most original of short stories and accompanying them with our best works of art!

This book still sits on my bookshelf at home and now I am proud to add my first publication right next to it.

It was when I met the men working on the book at Progress Printing that I really did understand that many take pride in their jobs on this island. Undoubtedly there are the few who loathe going to work, for various reasons, but these guys welcomed me with open arms, praised the shots and told me they hadn’t worked on a project this exciting in quite a while.

The laborious job of shooting all the beautiful photographs and assembling this great journal is of my official photographer Allen Venables, who has been awarded numerous prizes for his brilliant work. The 400 pages encapsulate the best gigs that the band and I have ever played, together with some daring publicity shots which some of you might not have ever seen!

My thanks go to ‘Allied Publications’ who believed in this venture even in its humble and initial stages, Howard Debono from ‘Jagged House Management,’ the band who, through their performances were Allen’s models and last but not least Allen Venables himself, who is responsible for some fantastic images that truly represent some of the most memorable moments in Local music.

And thank YOU who will hopefully be leafing through this book, thank you for supporting local music and believing in the power of touching people through art.

Ira Losco and DJ Ruby are nominated for‘Best remix’ at the BMAs 2009 with their Club Anthem ‘What’s The Matter With Your Cabrio?’ Ira Losco’s book ‘Ira Losco A Photographic Journal by Allen Venables’ hits the shelves on Wednesday 2nd December. Signing Sessions will be announced.