Iron Bars
By Maisha Nabila
Gorillaz is a virtual band consisting of four cartoon characters—2D, Murdoc, Noodle, Russell Hobbs—created by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett. In 1998, in an effort to mock what they felt was a superficial music industry, the two created a band whose very essence was superficial. Their albums have a backdrop of the character’s personal “lives,” which are often ridiculous, violent, and as cartoonish as the band itself. This song is a tribute to Gorillaz’s nonsensical ingenuity.
Process
I was inspired by the music of one of my favorite artists, a band called Gorillaz, and wanted to make a song that was similar in style. I used Garageband to create the song, but since I was using their loops selection, it took a long time to sift through their huge library and piece together loops that I liked. I was really proud of the completed product considering that I’m not a musician.
Meet the Pair
MENTEE MAISHA NABILA & MENTOR ALEXANDRA OSSOLA
Maisha’s Anecdote: Working with my mentor has helped me open up about my writing more, which in turn has helped me open up more emotionally as well. Additionally, I’ve become more confident in my abilities. My mentor is a lot more organized than I am, and she has helped me become more organized and better at communicating as well.
Alexandra’s Anecdote: For the past two years, I’ve looked forward to my weekly meet-ups with Maisha to hear her take on recent events, either in her own life or in the world at large. She almost always surprises me. She is bold and determined, with a fantastic appreciation for irony—one day this year, after a particularly enjoyable pair writing session, I told her that I thought she would make a great boss someday, and she laughed and laughed, mostly (I think) because she knew it was true. In her writing she channels the force of her personality, her curiosity, and her brilliance. This piece is no exception.
Maisha Nabila
Maisha Nabila is a class of 2020 Girls Write Now mentee based in Queens, NY.
