Y&F caught up with Tiffany via email several weeks ago, who was awaiting her family’s visit, to talk about the new album, being away from home, and making a new life in Argentina. Viva!

Do you remember the catalyst, the spark that made you fall in love with the Latino culture?

I could never forget my catalyst moment. My father is an artist and one evening he took me to an art show that featured the work of a Huichol Indian from Mexico. I was 15 years old and had been studying Spanish for about 5 years but up until that evening had always been too timid to attempt to use it in any real conversational way. When I walked through the door the art goers were going crazy over the work of this artist and as I scanned the room… I couldn’t find him anywhere – “Where is the man behind the magic?” I joked – and someone motioned to a small dark-skinned man somewhat tucked away in a corner of the dining room. I was confused then quickly realized that this man didn’t speak a single word of English and was entirely too nerve-wracked to attempt a conversation. I felt my face flush, my palms began to sweat – I knew in that my moment had arrived, it was my time to use what I had been working so diligently to learn.

I approached him (scared out of my mind) and feigned confidence with a hefty “Hola” – he responded with a mile-a-minute stream of Spanish and I told him that I wasn’t entirely as fluent as I had pretended… it was then that something that I consider miraculous happened. I began speaking, really speaking, and using vocabulary that I don’t remember ever learning in a way that felt extremely fluent. I began translating – between this man and all of those who had been longing to express their admiration for his work. I must have spent close to an hour speaking and my mind was on fire. It was the greatest high I had ever felt in my life. My new friend the artist looked up at me with tears in his eyes and said “Gracias” – the power of language to bridge cultural barriers became shockingly and beautifully apparent to me – and from that moment on, I became passionately committed to my goal of being able to speak Spanish with native-like fluency.

When did you start learning Spanish?

I took my first class when I was ten – was speaking conversationally by the time I was fifteen and I eventually went on to receive my BA in Spanish Linguistics. During that time I spent my weekends recording my first album “El Ritmo del Mundo”.

So you packed your bags and left the States 7 months ago. Did you accomplish the goals you set yourself out for?

Surprisingly, yes… and then some. I arrived here in Buenos Aires 7 months ago with nothing but a guitar and my entire life packed into a suitcase. Starting from scratch was exhilarating. We have now hit the half way mark on the recording of “Real Joy”, which means pre-production is finished and we have begun to perform live here in the capital. I have a killer apartment, a stellar community of friends and adopted family and I am involved in some really exciting projects – such as salsa and tango dancing – and helping to launch the first ever international Tango magazine.

Folks like myself only get to see the glitzier side of the music industry. But can you tell us more about the successes you look forward to and challenges you face when recording an album?

Uff. well – being an indie artist for 8 years now – I have definitely had my ups and downs. There are moments when I have returned home from a show and said “ok, that was officially my last show, I promise” All that is involved from booking the shows (which sometimes includes hauling all of your equipment to and from the venue and running your own sound) marketing, promoting etc… It can be stressful to say the least. When it comes to recording, however, I can honestly say that I love every minute of it. It is a really magical process and so far the recording of Real Joy has exceeded my expectations in every way.

How does your energy and dynamic change when recording solo versus performing with your Argentine band or other producers?

The recording process is much more mental I would say – as you don’t have the energetic feedback from a live audience. I really love the dynamic I have going with my current team. Fernando Iguacel – Co-founder of Control Z studios – is producing “Real Joy” alongside myself and my drummer and longtime friend Martin Sosa. The triad has been really magical.

Here’s Part 2 of Tiffany’s interview.

An Auspicious Day for Romance
Chinese New Year kicks off on Valentine’s Day this year, so if you’re looking to avoid a sea of rose-red on Sunday, well, you’re out of luck. At least stay out of Chinatown this week.

It’s Debauchery Season
For Roman Catholics about to kick off Lent, this week is the last hurrah before the requisite forty days of abstinence for Easter. Whether it’s Carnival or Fat Tuesday, wild celebrations abound.

More after the jump.

Big Win for the Big Easy
With next week’s Mardi Gras coinciding with their beloved football team finally winning the Super Bowl, New Orleans this week is going to be like Boston after the 2004 World Series (except with nicer, less destructive drunks).

Canada Sur La Sellette
The Winter Olympics in Vancouver begin on Friday with the Opening Ceremony. West Coast winter paradise Whistler finally gets its fifteen minutes.

President Obama’s ten-year budget proposal has drawn fire from both Republicans and Democrats for cutting too much and increasing the deficit. We have no idea why everyone’s complaining, because the budget outline shows that even while he’s trying to get the U.S. out of a mess that he didn’t start, Obama’s doing exactly what he said he’d do: cut ridiculous military spending, tax the rich, give breaks to the middle class, fund education and research, and scrap that insane Bush-era promise to put us back on the moon by 2020. So kwitcherbitchin!

Health care legislation is assumed and provided for in Obama’s budget outline. But with health care reform champion Senator Ted Kennedy’s Massachusetts seat taken over by some sexy-ass punk who voted to filibuster the current health care bill, the 60-seat majority needed to pass the bill in the Senate has been reduced to 59. To try to woo one of the opposition, bill negotiations are flying so fast that even the press can’t keep up. Americans are now doubtful that the reform will pass, but we’re keeping our fingers crossed. After all, health care reform might help solve that deficit problem you’re all whining about.

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”, the longstanding policy for gays in the military, came under fire from the Joint Chiefs’ own chairman on Tuesday. (By the way, if you didn’t see the State of the Union last week, at least watch the part where the Joint Chiefs of Staff all get hilariously stone-faced when Obama suggests getting rid of DADT.) The Pentagon is launching a lengthy investigation into the matter, i.e. they’re hemming and hawing, but given that their top guy basically just said, “Look, guys, this policy is f***ing stupid”, it looks like DADT is on the out and out. Score one for the American LGBT community, who’ve been suffering setbacks in gay marriage as of late.

Abstinence programs are back in the limelight this week because a new study said that they might be effective. With Heisman winner and nearly-aborted fetus Tim Tebow’s anti-abortion ad coming out on Super Bowl Sunday, we’d like to point out a few problems with this study, with special regards to the way it’s being touted in the media.

First of all, there is a HUGE difference between the wait-until-you’re-ready abstinence program used in the study and the no-sex-before-marriage programs that seem to have made the teen pregnancy rate shoot up during the Bush administration: Namely, this program doesn’t involve religion! But the no-sex-before-marriage folks are going to use the study’s success anyway as proof that their religion-based health curriculum works, which is like vegans using studies confirming the positive health effects of vegetarianism to promote their beliefs.

Secondly, although it’s great that there’s now federally-funded proof of a method to keep kids from doing the nasty until they’re older, these kids were only followed for two years. By the end of the study, they didn’t even reach 15-19, the average age range when first-world kids start having sex. Even the study’s authors warn that abstinence isn’t a long-term solution. Kids are eventually going to have sex, and this study didn’t account for that in the least. In fact, it didn’t account for the long term at all. Sounds like Capitol Hill to us!

Follow That Food Truck!
The New York Restaurant Week Truck will be selling $6 soups from the city’s best restaurants on a few choice street corners all this week. Get ‘em while they’re hot!

Back To The… 1970s
SF IndieFest is holding their annual Roller Disco Party on Saturday. $10 cover, $5 in costume, free with IndieFest ticket stub.

Critical Mass Criticism
The original Critical Mass bike ride in San Francisco may get the axe. Pissed-off motorists in major cities around the world are waiting with bated breath for the end of an era.

More after the jump.

The ‘Hood As A Tourist Attraction
According to news reports, LA Gang Tours is helping former gang members get back on their feet. But could this become yet another case of exploitation?

Seeing Green Behind The Wheel
With the Washington and Detroit Auto Shows over and the Chicago show about to begin, everyone’s focused on greening their cars. Tesla Motors, the luxury EV darling, filed its $100 million IPO last Friday. Is the electric car coming back from the dead?

Back To The… 1980s
We can’t end a wind-up about wheels without mentioning the recent Toyota recall that’s giving Japan flashbacks of the 1980s. As Camry owners ourselves, we hope to stop hearing about fiery floor mats of death, stuck throttles and ghost acceleration soon.

Apple’s iPad, announced Wednesday, looks poised to revolutionize the e-book, netbook, publishing, advertising, and game industries. Then again, it could go down in history as a feminine hygiene-insensitive flop, as predicted by MadTV three years ago. (We’re guessing the latter.)

The iPad is basically a larger version of the iPhone with no unique features. It’s got no stylus or handwriting recognition to please old-school tablet PC fans, no serious operating system to appeal to your typical multitasking PC user, no camera or significant increase in memory to convert iPhone and iPod Touch users, and no Flash support or widescreen-friendly aspect ratio to woo YouTube/Hulu and movie buffs. And the name. THE NAME!

FounderDating, a “matchmaking” service for aspiring startup entrepreneurs looking for same, held an event in San Francisco on Thursday. Okay, so the Silicon Valley startup garden (or the fields surrounding the Farm, if you will) now has a pollination ground, various incubators, just enough water (VC), and the most fertile economic soil in years (since our economy recently shat itself). Want to place bets on which industry will start harvesting first?

Twitter won’t stop being in the news. They rolled out their “Local Trends” feature recently, and news outlets have been taking notes on tweeting trends about everything from the State of the Union to “alternative” names for the iPad. Even Bill Gates recently joined. Now Japan, in a rare reversal of technology early adopterism, is finally picking up the Twitter slack. Let it be known, though, that Japanese girls were already micro-blogging cheesy romance bestsellers on their cell phones during the train ride to school in 2000. Stephenie Meyer and Biz Stone, eat your hearts out.

Y&F’s Techie Phrase of the Week: Cloud Computing

Now that music is moving into cloud computing (think Pandora, but with a paid subscription for unlimited, on-demand access to songs), the term is starting to show up in news and popular parlance. For the less tech-savvy, let us explain.

Definition: Cloud computing basically means using online products and services to store and manage your data. (“The Cloud” is a fancier name for “Internet”.)

Examples: You’re using it already. Gmail, Facebook, YouTube and blogging clients like LiveJournal and WordPress are all cloud applications.

Advantages: When you store files in the “cloud”, i.e. other people’s servers, you’re not using your own PC’s memory, and your files can be easily accessed from any computer with an Internet connection.

Drawbacks: Internet privacy is a fake idea!

Eat for the Cause
Restaurants across the U.S. are raising funds for Haiti relief this month. Stop by one of the participating restaurants on the designated days to do your part. And don’t forget to text “HAITI” to 90999.

Gearing Up for Super Bowl Season
This year, the Super Bowl is the latest it’s ever been. With all that extra time, practice whipping up these delicious nacho dips for February 7th.

East Coast vs. West Coast: Burgers
Can San Francisco’s sleek and chic Burger Bar hold a candle to New York City’s rabidly popular (and equally alliterative) Shake Shack? Mmmm… we’ll get back to you about that in a bit.

Easy-Does-It Cooking
Cooking for the truly lazy: perhaps you can pair Ms. Wisniewski’s super-simple Steak and Eggs Hash with Mr. Vongerichten’s no-nonsense Ginger Fried Rice. They both take about a half hour to make.

This month, she talked with Y&F about her star-studded job at the embassy, growing up international, living and partying in the sleepless Russian capital, and her thoughts on practicality in fashion (it’s -5°F in Moscow right now!).

A day in the life of the embassy. What’s it like?
Working at the Embassy is a lot like working in a company. There are 200 people here, about 1/3 of them come from the U.K. and the rest are Russian. To work at the Embassy, fluency in English and Russian and the ability to jump back and forth at a split second’s notice is absolutely essential!

I manage the Embassy’s busy events schedule as part of the Press & Public Affairs Section. My job is a big part of public diplomacy: whereas classic diplomacy is aimed at influencing policymakers, public diplomacy aims to engage and inform the wider public on issues that policy affects. It’s sometimes tough to organise up to three events per week – most are after-5 p.m. receptions designed for 120-150 guests, including policy decisionmakers, culture influencers, celebrities, senior-level corporate executives, students, diplomats. By bringing together the right mix of people – those who can relay the message and those who are eager to hear about it, write about it, and pass it along – we conduct public diplomacy. It’s a much more up-close and personal type of marketing than publishing informational leaflets. I love working directly with people in this way. The Press & Public Affairs often collaborate with the U.K. Trade & Investment team to increase the public and media profile of events that are commercial in nature.

That sounds amazing! Besides events, do you deal with the media?
My colleagues and I handle a steady flow of inquiries from both Russian and British press: newspapers, radio, T.V. channels, and magazines, as well as academic institutions, NGOs, charities, and PR and marketing departments within private companies. Like with events, it’s always exciting because you never know how you will be in touch with when walking into the office: the Financial Times in London or the chief editors of Robb Report, Esquire and Vogue! We provide information about the U.K., useful contacts, and advice on traveling to the U.K. On top of that, we run campaigns, such as the Road to Copenhagen climate change campaign running up to the UN Climate Change Conference in December 2009.

So, any celebrity stories from Moscow?
Working with celebrities is one of the most exciting parts of my job! I’ve gotten to work on events for Lord Wedgwood of Wedgwood-Waterford, U.K. Olympic ice dancing champions Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, political figures like Edward and David Miliband, the Duke of York Prince Albert, and the Lord Mayor of London. I’ve also gotten the chance to meet many Russian singers, actors, writers, designers, businessmen, and culture influencers: singers Mummiy Troll, Valeriya, Zhanna Aguzarova, ice skaters Alexei Tikhonov and Ilya Averbukh, businessmen like Victor Vekselberg and Mark Garber, celebrity restaurant owner Arkady Novikov, actress Ingeborga Dapkunaite, teleshow hostess Elena Khanga.

Every day, after the regular work day is over, Moscow becomes a labyrinth of social happenings. Millions of venues open their doors to new receptions, presentations, openings and social happenings – and all of this is photographed into Vogue and GQ’s “faces” pages, gossiped about in blogs, written about in newspapers, caught on T.V. by millions of Russians. It’s typical to jump from one one “red carpet” to the next, covering several in one night. I’ve gone to see the opening of a photo exhibition and accidentally bumped into Mikhail Gorbachev, who was speaking there. My friend went to a Diane von Furstenberg lecture at Moscow State University only to see supermodel Natalya Vodianova make an unplanned appearance. You never know when you will find your favourite designer or T.V. personality at a cafe at 11:45 a.m. Moscow is just full of surprises.

How did you come to pursue this career?
I grew up travelling between Moscow and the U.S. and always knew that I would make a career out of building bridges between Russia and the West, helping companies and individuals to successfully overcome language, culture, and business culture barriers. There is so much to gain from being international – whether you are an individual, a business or a family – and navigating different systems can be fun if you’re in the right frame of mind – and if you have the right amazing people to open your eyes to the new culture, as I did when I immigrated into the U.S. at age 8.

At Stanford I came to be involved in organising events. I was one of the organisers of the inaugural Stanford Energy Crossroads Conference in March 2007, from concept to finish. I was also a part of Stanford Charity Fashion Show in May 2008. I’ve always loved bringing people together: like a puzzle, putting together the myriad pieces of information and directing them to the right people to make an event possible. For me, the invitations and guest list are very special. When you create a guest list and programme, it is like strategically putting together a recipe: the combination of all the ingredients, plus timing, is what makes chemistry happen. The magic of seeing the guests coming together always gives me energy. Once you determine the message you want to convey through an event, the information, connections, feeling or impression that you ultimately want each of the guests to carry away, there is no end to the possibilities of how this can be achieved. Flowers, music, catering, what goes into the goodie bags – all of these are small finishing touches that, ultimately, make a big difference in the memories you create and the impact you generate.

As a student at Stanford University, I studied International Relations. But I’ve always loved the U.K., I studied international law the London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE). Of course, I had no idea back then that I’d one day work for the Foreign & Commonwealth Office – in Moscow! I did also apply for a job at the U.S. Embassy simultaneously. Although that didn’t work out, I am friends with the U.S. Press Officers in Moscow, and they regularly attend our (British Embassy) events as our close friends.

Here’s Part 2 of Alina’s interview!

New York
Kandinsky at the Guggenheim
If you’re a fan of abstract art, hurry and see this exhibition before it closes on Wednesday. Check out the symposium The Universe Resounds: Kandinsky, Synesthesia, and Art (tomorrow, 2-7pm).
Tim Burton at the MoMa
A look at Tim Burton’s life and art, from childhood to the present. Accompanied by film exhibitions screening his works, such as The Nightmare Before Christmas and Edward Scissorhands.

San Francisco
After Dark at the Exploratorium
This adults-only arts and science mixer happens every first Thursday of the month. Next up: Sexplorations, a look at the exchange of genetic information that creates plants, insects, and us.
NightLife at the California Academy of Sciences
A weekly Thursday night mash-up of science and entertainment, to the beats of the resident DJs. This week they’ve got planetarium shows and improv; next week it’s gourmet coffee tasting.

Los Angeles
Heroes and Villains: The Battle for Good in India’s Comics at LACMA
A look at India’s cultural past through the eyes of its globalized present. See how ancient divine heroes from Indian narrative tradition are translated into this originally American art form.

Take note of the fact that this classic was made in the middle of the Great Depression over 75 years ago, yet its style would still be lauded today. From Mr. Astaire’s smart tuxes to Ms. Roger’s insane ostrich feather number in “Cheek to Cheek”, Top Hat made ripples in the fashion world that we still see in the sharp, coordinated suits of today’s metrosexual men and in the jaw-dropping, outlandish dresses of today’s Oscar-going leading ladies.

Gentlemen, don’t try Fred Astaire’s swoon-inducing moves at home (or your local pick-up joint, for that matter). This is a very skilled man with many talents other than flirting, and copying all of his slick talk without the dance moves to back it up could get you humiliated. Do, however, find a tailor who can make you look anywhere near that good, and swear your allegiance to them for life.

And for Bollywood lovers, check out Ginger Rogers’ facial expressions and hand movements during the song “The Piccolino”.

I’m not sure who was riffing from whom at the time, but you might find that Ms. Rogers reminds you a lot of, say, Madhuri Dixit as Chandramukhi in the 2002 film Devdas.

Y&F recently caught up with pop singer Danni Penge, who explained her truths and the apparent madness and serenity behind a musical career. In addition to singing and songwriting, Danni also co-produces other up-and-coming artists’ pieces.

Y&F with Danni

www.dannipenge.com

What’s been going on lately in your life?
I have been living a life filled with music, poems, and reading. I work events in NYC whenever I can and continue to write my own songs. Music is a way of escaping from my own mind and it frees me from worry. I find myself in either a studio, Barnes & Noble, with family/friends, or writing song lyrics. I have a fun-filled 2010 ahead but I know that none of it would be possible without hard work and good people standing beside me.

What can we expect from your songs?
My songs are all very different from one another. My favorite song that I wrote would be “Stuck With Me” because the words I chose were things I constantly tell my friends. “Am I driving myself crazy thinking about the maybes”…The song sums up who I am and that it’s okay to be stuck with who I have become. Most people at times have doubted situations they are in. This song reminds me of that constant battle people face with being content with who they are. I also have songs that allow you to let loose, dance, and get you in the mood to enjoy a great night.

What do most people not know about recording an album?
That if you record with purpose your songs can go very far. When I record a song I usually do it in a darker environment if the song is sad, and if it is a dance song then I record in the light. Setting the mood for me is vital to the way I feel when I sing. I also think that many may not know how important it is to feel comfortable with the producer. Ck Kinchen produced most of my tracks. He is extremely talented and has worked with me… sitting there so I can add or remove something to make it more my own. He has written & produced hundreds of songs and has taught me so many things about recording an album. As of now, I have written all of my songs.

I see you are also involved in other singers’ albums. What are both the attractions and challenges you face when working behind the boards on something that’s not a Danni Penge record?
I love to help people in the industry whether it be with lyrics, ideas, or even just for words of support/motivation. I enjoy recording but I also think this industry needs more people who are team-related. I also like demoing songwriters’ songs to help them get that chance to shop their own music. Challenges? I am very blunt and honest. Sometimes I say things that people may not want to hear or like. It gets tricky but I choose to always stay true to what I believe in musically. If I don’t like a track, I will say it. If I love the track, I will jump up and down like it is Christmas morning and make the producer feel that it’s a hit!

Do you have conscious influences?
I am influenced by people who are musically driven, hardworking, talented, and have their own style. I grew up loving Mariah Carey for her voice. Then as the years went on I found a tremendous amount of respect for Pink. She is so badass and does whatever she wants. She is a great performer and is unique in her lyrics. She can sing pop, rock, or any genre thrown her way.

Tell me something nobody knows about you?
Well now they will know! Haha. I would have to go with—closet nerd. I wear glasses, read books, and love animals. My musical side is something that I use as a gateway from real life. It helps me express myself and walk into a world of adventure and spice. I grew up being in bands and orchestras and did not like to tell people. I was scared of who I was and now that I am older can not believe I hid things like that!

Is there anybody you’d like to work with in the future?
Mariah, Pink, Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys, Neyo, Akon, Rascal Flatts, and Dr Dre.

Why should people seek out “Danni”?
I am a girl who just loves the arts. I adore making my own songs and can write things that people can relate to. I understand how humans work and think. I have the experience with lyrics to pull someone deep into the song. I really think that anything worthwhile takes a tremendous amount of dedication so I applaud anyone who is in the music industry. I will continue to write music for a very long time and hope to one day share it with the world. I am thankful to be born with this talent and will use it as best as I can.

Stay tuned: Y&F will be following Danni backstage on her upcoming NYC gig. Keep your eyes locked here!