Clockwise from bottom L: Jimi Hendrix, Maggot Brain, Erykah Badu, Patti Smith, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Steve Miller Band

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Finally updating the Mixtape on the sidebar! If you’ve listened to it already, you can tell I had a hard time deciding if I was in a bluesy or psychedelic mood. Either way, all these songs put me sleep which is what I imagine would happen if I ended up getting stoned. Let me break it down:

1. “Born Under A Bad Sign” – I would be remiss to actually dub any sign of the zodiac as “bad” (as in bad), but when Jimi says so, then it’s probably bad as in good! It was actually a hip-hop track by DJ Erb that mixed Jurassic 5 and Jimi Hendrix that got me and Wayne hooked on the album this song originally came from, Blues. It’s just a matter of time before it finally drops in our lap and onto our record player. Interesting note: this song also got mah man thinking of taking up electric guitar. I think he fantasizes about chillin’ and getting lost in the moment as much as I do! Fantastic realization if I do say so myself.
2. “Incense” – I had to put in some R&B flavah, it’d be illegal not to. And Erykah is ridiculous at merging blues with funk and psychedelic. With a name like “Incense,” how could it not?
3. “Funkadelic” – if it’s possible, this song make me fall asleep faster than Jimi’s does, but in the best way possible.
4. “Kashmir” – this is by far probably one of my most favorite songs ever, it’s a classic, best of the best. I sail away on the best 8 minute trip of my life.
5. “Fever Dog” – I know I posted the vid for this not too long ago, but seriously. Best 8 minute trip continued by best fake rock band. Are you seeing a theme here?
6. “Dream On” – Aerosmith. Need I say more? It’s Crazy being seduced by more Crazy. And giant screaming lips. But he saves that for the end. *wink*
7. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” – No, it’s not Nirvana, the band, but when sung by Patti Smith, it could quite possibly be Nirvana, the state of eternal euphoria. Okay, not quite. It’s more like yodeling folk singer-slash-spoken word. But it’s okay, because it’s Patti. I read “Just Kids” not too long ago and found a heroine in her awkward brilliance.
8. “Fly Like An Eagle” – Only because I love the lyrics “I want to fly like an eagle/ To the sea/ Fly like an eagle/ Let my spirit carry me.” Words to live by.

Overall, stoner album, I’m not gonna lie. But no matter your poison (or lack thereof), rock on. We’ll see you in the vortex.

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It’s the season of Daisies! I injected a little bit of hippie love into the website’s sidebar in honor of all things peace, love and happiness. Gen owns this amazingly nostalgic tome called simply “Hippie,” which we’ve also referred to when putting together the first issue. It’s on my agenda to snag myself a copy! And I watched this crazy interesting documentary called “A Lion Called Christian” about these 2 dudes from London who decided to buy a lion cub together. I guess this was the swinging 60′s when humans and wildlife could peacefully coexist in the urban jungles of Europe. The film follows the duo’s journey as they raise a lion in the city, give him up to the wild and reunify with him some time later. So inspiring! Makes me wanna get down with my wild side, haha! Hope these recommendations inspire your free-lovin’ spirit today! –love’n'light, Amee

And her heart is full and hollow
Like a cactus tree
While she’s so busy being free
Like a cactus tree
Being free

“Cactus Tree,” Joni Mitchell

Purplegram, yo

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Instadump! Just a little love letter to my desert heart’s fantasies. Vegas, Palm Springs, San Diego, Highland Park, San Gabriel Trails, Paris, and Ramona: all places where I’ve tried to capture some essence of desert love.

Peep us on Instagram at “purplerootcollective” for continued updates on PRC in chill mode. And for those who don’t have Instagram, we’re at: http://statigr.am/purplerootcollective. See you there…

– love’n'light, Amee

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Yessss! I’ve been waiting for another opportunity to attend this conference and was stoked to find the announcement in my in-box this morning. (!!!) Finally, a way to connect with our indigenous spirituality. A weekend camping out in the woods and connecting with Mother Earth? Yes, please! Who’s with me?

–love’n'light, Amee

“I am a Golden God!” –Russell Hammond

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While working on the first issue the other day, I had Almost Famous on repeat until “Fever Dog” became the single-song soundtrack playing in my head for the rest of the week. I actually looked up Stillwater to see if they were a real band. The free-spirited part of me can relate to William Miller, amateur journalist, pretending to know what the hell I’m doing. But besides selling tickets, it’s the drama and naivete that makes the plot of the movie interesting and the ending just that much more satisfying…--love’n'light, Amee

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A couple months hella late on this one! When there was still a chill in the air. I introduced Gen to my photographer friend, Thomas, for a little shutterbug sesh at Space 15 Twenty back in October and to play with portable photography equipment. Bonus: we spotted Mayer Hawthorne getting his celebrity on. Next on the agenda: fitting a shoot in at Venice! Just waiting for the stars our schedules to align… –love’n'light, Amee

The old world is dying, but a new world is being born. It generates inspiration from the chaos that beats upon us all.- Carlos Bulosan, American is in the Heart

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What up, Earthlings! Had to take a time out while the sun was hibernating, but it’s coming back out to play. And so are we. Working on our final drafts for the 1st issue before it all comes together. Then the party begins…

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Grabbing Life by the horns.

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The Motherland has always remained somewhat of a mystery to me; I’ve never been. So I have to rely on little recollections my parents tell me until I get a chance to plant my feet on the ground that birthed my people. My family on both sides aren’t city folk. My dad talked about riding bikes as a youth with his cousin next to the China Sea, or how he and other kids would run past the tree on the side of the road haunted by the White Lady. My mom’s side owned property and worked the land to feed themselves. She told me how they used to tell time by the planes that flew overhead and how the rice they cooked wasn’t white like in restaurants, but pink and red, purple and brown, a rainbow of Earth’s colors. The carabao was like a member of the family, tilling the soil while my mom as a young kid rode on its back. It’s amazing to think about how different their lives are now, driving on paved roads and enjoying the comforts of the ‘burbs.

I’ve had my eye on this bull skull ring for a couple years now and was stoked to finally cop it after landing a J-O-B. When I’m feeling particularly bad-ass (think of all the damage I could do with a ring whose horns span my three middle fingers!), I rock it and am reminded of where my folks come from.* — Love’n'light, Amee

*Yes, I am fully aware that the horns on your typical Western bull is shaped differently from that of a carabao. If you can find a comparable carabao skull ring…hit me up.

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Exploring freshwater caves and frolicking in Caribbean waves, I swear the water is warmer than the beaches in Hawaii. Never thought that was possible, but this was one of the most memorable birthdays ever. My booty thinks so. — Love’n'light, Amee

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“In my dream, I was floating, a kaleidoscope of colors blurring my reality.”

I’ve found my meditative soundtrack: stoner music by Camel Heads, a psychedelic guitarist band straight out of Sao Paulo, Brazil. It’s particularly effective while I’m reading about Eastern spirituality, transpersonal psychology, peak experiences, etc. I’m on my way to downloading both of their albums, and what’s dope is that when you purchase them, you can name your price, no minimum required. Just for fun, and in no way a reflection of the quality of their jams, I’ll buy each one for $4.20. I wonder if they’ll get it… –Love’n'light, Amee