As you can imagine, we are getting a lot of international traffic from all over the world on our website. A friend called our attention to the Google Translate application which will translate every page on our site into other languages.

The Google Translate control is on the right sidebar at the end of the column. Just choose your language and voila (a bit of French) the Namba Gear page is translated.

We’ve noticed that even if you don’t speak another language it can still be fun to play around with. The translations may not be 100%, but certainly get close enough to figure out what is being said.

Namba Gear wants to thank all of our friends and supporters around the world. Rock on, dudes! (We just wanted to see how it would translate “dudes”. In Icelandic it’s spjátrungur.)

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NAME

CITY: Philadelphia, PA

WEBSITE: www.gcdigi.com

NAMBA GEAR: Big Namba Studio Backpack

As owner of the Phiadelphia based production company, Groove Control Productions, Keath “Lion” Lowry has propelled the enterprize into a new music dimension through his talents as a producer, lyricist and composer.

Lion started his career as a lyricist penning “Love’s Calling” for Next Plateau artist, Sybil, this song is featured on her Greatest Hits cd released Jan. 2007; as well as “You Are The One” for Tommy Boy/Warner Bros. artists TKA.  This track was featured  in and on the sound track for the film, LEAN ON ME with Morgan Freeman. The song “Butterflies,” produced and co-written by Lion appears in the recent film release WHEN WILL I BE LOVED,(2004) starring Neve Campbell and Dominic Chianese (The Sopranos).  Recent Placements: “Dirty Pulse” in the film “LOVE AND RAGE” (Sep. 2009)“Feels Good” placed in the film CONSENT (2009), “Trouble”  placed in the film LITTLE SOLDIER (LILLE SOLDAT ) (NOV.2008). “Feels Good” featured in the International Reality show QUEST CHINA(2008).

Lion, as a producer, composer, remixer/engineer has worked with artists, Tank (Blackground/Universal), Stevie Wonder, Freeway (Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam), Floetry, (Dreamworks), Jaguar Wright, Helen &Terry(Philerzy) Chris (Young Gunz) Cassidy (Full Surface),  Allen Iverson, Rosco P. Coldchain(Startrak), Journalist(Universal)The Lost Boyz, and McFadden and Whitehead.  He has recently worked with some of the hottest emerging writers and vocalists such as: Chief Honcho (Philly), Shatia (Harlem, NY), Nate’ (Philly), Lise (Delaware),Wise (D.C.,Virginia), She(Philly)and D-Dub all featured on his Full Circle album.

Keath is also a member, and works as a mix engineer under the Worship Ministry of Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Pa.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR LATEST PROJECT, RECORDING, OR PERFORMANCE:

Groove Control Digital  recently debuted with DC Rapper Khidar. Groove Control Digital recording artist and Washington, DC native, Khidar is leaping into the Hip-Hop industry with his January 2010 release entitled “Ladies Please.” Originally Written for the God-Father of Go-Go, Chuck Brown, “Ladies Please” has infectious beats produced by Keath “Lion” Lowry.

The prequel to “Ladies Please” is “The Countdown”. A track that the streets are calling a blistering “teaser”, is available on iTunes now and is being spun by DJs around the world, with continuous requests for servicing daily. “We just wanna give the people what they been askin’ us for, so I just get in the studio and do my thang ya know,” explains Khidar.

Lowry comments, “Khidar brings the definite flavor that comes from growing up in the streets of Washington, DC and with that being the case, we’re looking forward to the world having the opportunity to experience what we’ve been exposed to for years.” Groove Control will utilize digital distribution as well as various online marketing, promotions and publicity components to foster global awareness of each forthcoming release on the label.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT YOUR NAMBA GEAR BAG?

“What I like best about my Namba gear bag, is that I can carry large as well as small gear in an organized and compact way. This was best demonstrated a few weeks ago during my trip to Cannes , France for the MIDEM conference (pictured here). I used my Big Namba Studio Backpack  everyday while attending the conference to carry business cards, hard drives, my laptop, headphones, and storage for stuff given to me at the conference. I was even able to store my external cd/dvd burner in my bag (with everything else), this allowed me to make customized cd’s or dvd’s in my hotel each night before returning to the 4 day conference. Being able to showcase my music and business with on-the-spot listening session from my iPod or laptop, to handing out business and promo cards, helped make a very successful MIDEM conference for me. Thanx NAMBA!”

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This was our first year to attend MBLV, the Mobile Beat DJ show in Las Vegas, NV. Namba Gear had a great location next to our friends at Rane/Serato and we met some very cool guys. Namba Gear was in the “loud room”.  It should have been labeled the “loud, dark, smokey room”.

Here is our display at MBLV, backdrop for many artist photos coming up. Love the carpet.

So that everyone immediately got the idea of how to use our laptop gear bags, we were showing the Vestax VCI-300 in the Lil Namba Remix Backpack and the Novation SL25 MKII MIDI controller keyboard in the Big Namba Studio Backpack.

Featured performer and Washington DC native, DJ Kool (l) showed up at our booth 1st thing to get a Remix Backpack. Shown here with DVDJ Unique (r) and his new Big Namba Studio Backpack.

DJ Zan the Man picked out a charcoal grey Big Namba Studio Backpack.

Here are the Rane/Serato guys across the aisle from us.

DJ Ryan picking up a Big Namba Studio Backpack for the trip back to N. California.

Here’s Namba Gear’s California homeboy DJ Jimmy G and his new Studio Backpack. See you guys next year!

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A few photos from the 2010 NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA. Namba Gear was located in the technology section of NAMM next to our good friends at Bias software and Apogee. Here is our booth with Akai APC40 resting in the open Studio Backpack. Notice the “sneak peak” of the new Midnight Blue Limited Edition Backpacks on the top of the shelf, and our buddy Fred the Mannequin displaying a Mayan Brown Remix Backpack. 

Namba Gear owner Woody Moran (l) with Shaka Laptop Messenger Bag owner  Jamez Bernardi (r) helping out at the Namba Gear booth. Nice t-shirt Jamez.

We noticed right away that Jamez has a “special talent” and was really good at making friends and showing off the Samba Personal Stash Bag. Pictured writer/reporter Amy Kelly (l) and Jamez (r). 

Great friend, Grammy Award winning producer, and Namba Gear endorser Jason Miles (l) with Woody (r). Jason uses the Big Namba Studio Backpack, Kava Laptop Messenger and just purchased a Samba Personal Stash Bag. 

Namba Gear co-sponsored a Fiesta Latina concert along with other companies represented in Latin America by Studio Sound International (SSI). From left to right Marco Renteria (bass), Norman Merten (guitar), Waldo Madera (drums) and SSI owner Chris “Fingers” Adams on keys.

At the party we ran into our Italian distributor Moreno from Soundwave Distribution (l) and award winning German composer and Namba Gear endorser Volker Barber (r). 

By the time the fantastic Marco Mendoza Trio arrived on stage for a smokin’ set, things were starting to get a little fuzzy. At the time, we actually thought that this was a really good photo of the band taken from the house console. Sorry, this is the best photo we have of the band, but the music was an incredible treat.

It was not an unusual sight to find folks trying on the bags to see how they fit. Pictured are proud new Namba Gear owners Rebecca and Rene.

Several of the people who purchased bags while at the show promised to send us photos of their travels with Namba Gear. We’re looking forward to posting their photo adventures here, and/or on Facebook and MySpace. If you aren’t already our friend on these social networks, please friend us.

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We recently read Hugh MacLeod’s new book, “Ignore Everybody, and 39 Other Keys to Creativity“. You might already be aware of Hugh from his website www.gapingvoid.com, where he has successfully morphed his New York City bar & coffee shop past-time of using the back of a business card for his bizarre cartons and provoking observations into a nice little money-maker, with more than one million people having downloaded “How to be Creative”, his original post which inspired this book.

So essentially we have 40 tips on creativity.

Although Hugh was a copy writer for an advertising agency when he started his little hobby, most of the tips are easily transferable into the lives of songwriters and musicians. So, here’s a little sample of Hugh’s tips along with Namba Gear’s commentary.

Keep Your Day Job

Hugh refers to this as the Sex and Cash Theory (see we told you that you’d like this book). This is about balancing the need to make a good living (cash) while maintaining and nourishing the creative spirit (sex). Hugh provides several examples of individuals who balance this duality, many times throughout their entire lives. His observation is that this is not only a smart way to live, as no one really wants to be a starving artist, but may play a vital role in ultimate success. We all know great musicians who have given up everything to pursue their dreams, only to have it come crashing down; and now they are stock brokers or insurance salesmen or whatever. The “all in” folks rarely seem to make it.

Put The Hours In

“Doing anything worthwhile takes forever”, is the opening statement of this chapter and it’s so true. Hugh is a perfect example as he appears to be an overnight success story, but in reality has been pursuing his craft for over 10 years. We learn from both our successes and our failures, and it seems that long-term success is almost always a result of accumulated experience. “Stamina is utterly important,” says Hugh. If you are working the Sex & Cash Theory, you are staying grounded and the ups and downs of your creative pursuits don’t have the same impact, and you can be in for the long haul.

Ignore Everybody

This is the 1st tip in the book and probably the most relevant. “The more original your idea is, the less good advice other people will be able to give you.” As a musician, there is a great example that came to mind that illustrates this. First thought was The Ramones, who are credited with inventing Punk Rock and continue to be celebrated today.  They were so passionate about their music that they created a bubble around themselves and ignored the people who said their music would never be appreciated, much less sell.

That’s just a sampling, but “Ignore Everybody” is a good read with easily applicable tips for the creative songwriter and musician to help you stay the course and enjoy life. (There are also lots of cartoons.) Enjoy.

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The NAMM show is for the trade only and is not open to the public. However, if you are going to be attending NAMM and already own a Namba Gear bag, please stop by, say hi and let us get a photo with you. See our 2009 NAMM Show wrapup by clicking here.

If you are a reseller, distributor or independent rep, please give us a moment to show you why Namba Gear is in a league apart from other laptop gear transportation solutions and why we proudly proclaim our products to be “high performance”. If you would like to set an appointment, write to: woody@nambagear.com.

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Make a Smilebox photobook

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Here’s the Holiday Special

We are going to get just a little jump on the holiday spirit. Since we can hardly wait to start seeing our shirts being worn… on the streets, in the studios, in the clubs, (Heck, we would be happy to see one on someone weeding their garden). But we digress, since we can hardly wait to see our shirts being worn, we are going to include a FREE Namba Gear t-shirt ($20.00 value) with every webshop laptop bag order from now until January 1st, 2010.

Order either the Big Namba or Lil Namba laptop backpack, or Kava or Shaka laptop messenger bags off our online webshop (sorry, the Samba Personal Stash Bag doesn’t qualify) and we’ll put a free men’s large t-shirt in the box. You don’t even need to order the shirt, we’ll just put it in the box. The shirts are also available in men’s medium or men’s xl sizes, so if you need a different size just tell us in the comments section of the order form.

We have limited quantities, so this offer is available only from our online webshop, while supplies last. Our webshop ships U.S. orders only.

Happy Holidays from your friends at Namba Gear!

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