BeExposed: Issue 9

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Get the look Fashion Editorial: On the run Meet the designers Martin ‘MartyMar54� Medina Meet the models Jam Mustafa cartoon Herinson Alvarez Carvajal 2

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One to watch: Wolfie BeInspired: Hattie Collins Playlist On the flip side: Beauty editorial Body beautiful Secret ingredient Foodie shades of grey

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Editors notes As the winter months drift by, we have once again succumbed to the Miniature Heros tin and way too many glasses of mulled wine.

But now it’s the New Year we are dusting off our gym gear and hitting the tread mill in the hope of sweating off our turkey induced weight gain. While we cross our fingers that our will power stays intact, we welcome you to our black and white sports inspired issue bringing you the hottest gym looks from many new and established designers.

Francesca and Ellie talk healthy grub and rustle up some recipes in our BeGourmet section from page 84 along with features writer Harriet discussing our obsessions with being body conscious and the curse of comparing ourselves to gym bunnies on the gram. We say ditch the social media if it will ruin your self esteem! A healthy body and mind is the winner not a daily battle against the mirror.

In BeExposed’s music world we are very excited give our 9th BeInspired feature to the queen of music journalism, Hattie Collins. Rachael Evans discussed her journey through the music game and how the industry has changed from page 56.

Check our female singer songwriter Wolfie’s exclusive shoot with us, starring the slick urban brand Marbek. Music Editor Lawrence caught up with her after the shoot for the low down in Wolfies epic musical journey so far and a teaser into what she will be up to in 2016.

Constantly pushing the boundaries we continue our black and white theme though to our BeBeautiful series. Beauty Editor Jolanda transforms our models into beautiful, mythical creatures shot by much loved and regular contributor, Rob Parfitt.

Last but not least we open our pages to 3 incredible illustrators, amazing us with their monochrome doodles and graphic sporty luxury from page 32.

So remember to stay best friends with your gym kit, stop comparing yourself to well edited photos on Instagram and BeInspired by positive changes to your health and wellbeing.

Tiffany and Helen xx 3

Contributors 2.

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1 Will Harper, stylist 2. Ellie Matthews, food writer 3. Francesca Watts, food writer and food stylist 4. Harriet Dixon, features writer 5. Jolanda Coetzer, beauty editor 6. Rachael Evans, music editor 7. Lawrence Linell, music editor 8. Rob Parfitt, beauty and talent photography 9. Ugne Pouwell, fashion photography 10. Jemma Pearson, still life photography

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1 Bringing energy and sass to our black and white, sports inspired editorial ‘Earn your stripes’ 2. Do you know what you are really eating? Health buff Ellie reveals all about ‘Secret Ingredients’ 3. Black and white food doesn’t have to be bland, as Francesca whips up a delicious smoothie treat 4. #Thighbrow, #thighgap, how about #thisgirlcan. Harriet talks body confidence on page 76 5. Our beauty editor delivers symmetry, precision and art in our ‘On the flip side’ beauty editorial 6. Rachael quizzes Hattie Collins on the rise of the increasingly popular Grime scene 7. On the pulse with the hot talent for 2016, Lawrence talks to our one to watch, Wolfie 8. From dark and mysterious beauty to relaxed shots of music talent, Rob is a portrait perfectionist 9. The talented lady behind the lens of our slick and glossy fashion editorial 10. An eye for detail, Jemma gets her hands on the latest accessories to energise your gym routine

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Stance socks x Rhianna Its winter, we all need socks. But there are socks and then there are socks that Rhianna has designed. Why not pimp up you toes by rocking the Stance x Rhianna ‘Broke Bitch’ range, because lets all face it ‘broke bitch’ is a pretty accurate account of our finances in January.

We love the individual toe, pedicure style; these socks provide a fun and inexpensive fashion update but are also super soft and smooth as are all of the styles from Stance.

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www.stance.com

Nike Trainers These Blazer Mid Diamondback trainers are high on our lust list for the New Year. It’s still wet outside and while our running shoes are screaming out for use, these snake patterned Kurim leather beauties are the sports luxe update our 2016 wardrobe needs.

Available at www.net-a-porter.com

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Umoro sports bottle The Umoro One is the perfect gym companion. This nifty little design allows you to use the bottle as a regular water bottle during the day and your gym session and then at the push of a button you can add up to 50g of your supplements to your post work-out refuel. This is the perfect device for January gym bunnies who want to make their workouts more efficient. www.umoro.com

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Collina Strada Collina Strada is a brand made for effortlessly chic women who like wearing unfussy, modern and ultra cool clothing and accessories. We love the black leather bags with geometric pleating details, the perfect all day and all night bag for the brands

New York cool

girl crowd. We want

to be part of their gang. www.collinastrada. com

Miansai Slick, beautifully crafted jewellery for men can be a difficult find but Miansai have come up trumps. These classic cuffs made from Itlaian leather, precious metals and custom made marine grade ropes are simplistic but stylish with a nod to an outdoors lifestyle. Worn on their own or stacked up with a leather jacket is the way to wear it.

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www.miansai.com

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Eleanor Amoroso Eleanor Amoroso’s jewellery is hand wrapped, hand knotted and hand stitched by herself in her London studio. Known for modernising the ancient knotting technique of macramÊ her work is made up of bold silhouettes and unique textures. Elegant and modern, we want it all. www.eleanoramoroso.com 8

Bjorn Borg Swedish brand Bjorn Borg have been producing underwear since 1984. Inspired by the legendary tennis player of their namesake the brand is the new go to for athletic style underwear which is also cool and fun. Our favourite celebrity endorsement for the brand is the cheeky lean in 15 genius Joe Wicks aka ‘the body coach’ who is regularly showing off his buff body in a pair of Bjorn Borg undies…enjoy. www.bjornborg.com

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Push workout monitor What is your gym workout routine and how do you know if what you are doing is effective? How do you know if you aren’t exposing yourself to injury? This is where PUSH comes in. PUSH is a wearable device, which not only recommends exercises and tells you how to do them but also gives you insights into your performance meaning better and faster results. www.trainwithpush.com

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The Upside clothing Striving towards an active yet fashionable lifestyle, Australian designer Jodi Meares produced The Upside. The brand achieves a balance of functional activewear with a chic aesthetic meaning you can wear it in and outside of the studio.

Known for it’s slogans tees and dynamic prints The Upside will help you feel the part in your new workout regime www.theupsidesport.com 11

Apple watch This is one of the easiest and most stylish ways to monitor your health and fitness. With features such as a built in heart monitor and the watch even telling you when you have been sitting down too long, this is the ultimate lazy person personal pocket trainer. www.apple.com

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Product photography: Jemma Pearson

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earn your stripes Art direction and production: BeExposed Photography: Ugne Pouwell Photographers Assistant: Riccardo Branca Stylist: Will Harper Hair and MUA: Jolanda Coetzer using Bobbi Brown Models: Jourdan Coupland @AMCK models Hellyda @Nev’s models

Opposite page Hellyda wears: hat: New Era, coat: Charlotte Byrne, leggings: Adidas, shoes: Topshop, Earphones: Molami Jourdan wears: headphones: Urban Ears, jacket: Charlotte Byrne, trousers: Charlotte Byrne, trainers: Adidas 15

Jourdan wears: As previous page

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Coat: Charlotte Byrne, leggings: Adidas, shoes: Topshop, mesh bag: Alexander Wang, Earphones: Molami, Bra top: Caitlin Parker

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This page and opposite Hellyda wears: bra and pants: Bjorn Borg.

Jourdan wears: boxer shorts: Bjorn Borg 18

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Hat with visor and jumpsuit: Both Charlotte Byrne

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Headphones: Urban Ears, jacket and trousers: Charlotte Byrne, trainers: Adidas 21

Jacket, top and trousers: All Sammie Dz Olawuyi (House of Dz), trainers: Adidas 22

Jacket and crop top: Sammie Dz Olawuyi (House of Dz), shorts: Stylists own, socks: American Apparel, trainers: Diemme 23

Headphones: Molami, bra top: Caitlin Parker, Jacket: Charlotte Byrne 24

Coat: Phoebe Stevens, top: Sammie Dz Olawuyi (House of Dz), shorts: Stylists own, socks: American Apparel, trainers: Diemme 25

Glasses: Stylists own, Jacket and skirt: Phoebe Stevens, trainers: Diemme

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Goggles and jacket: Phoebe Stevens, trousers: Sammie Dz Olawuyi (House of Dz)

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Meet the designers 1.

What was the inspiration for the collection?

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What is your collection about?

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Do you feel like you have to be the face of your brand, should it be about you?

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If you could have a fashion partnership who would it be with and why?

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Why do you think everyone in fashion is obsessed with black?

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Caitlin Parker 1. I was inspired by Dogtown and 1970’s Californian skateboarding culture, subverting typical summer leisurewear into a collection, which envisioned a ‘Californian Winter.’

2. The collection is a hybrid of tailoring and sportswear. It is casual, functional and rooted in considered design; it is aspirational and wearable for the modern woman who seeks individuality and a contemporary twist.

3. I would prefer my designs to be the focus but I feel it is important for my collections to reflect my personal interests and interpretations.

Caitlin Parker

4. I would love to have a fashion partnership with Peggy Oki (a skateboarder, surfer, artist and activist), as she is a uniquely talented and accomplished woman.

5. Because black creates an air of mystery.

Rosamund Pheobe Stevens

Rosamund Pheobe Stevens

1. My inspiration came from the juxtaposition between the visual de-humanisation of mental health patients as portrayed in, ‘One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest,’ - in terms of uniformity, constriction - and the imagery of historic mountaineers. This culminated in a collection of oversizing, padding and restriction.

Conceptually, both carry a burden, emotionally and physically.

2. It combines utility and luxury using technical sportswear detailing. The design comes from a gender neutral, non-sexualised perspective, challenging the concept of femininity in womenswear.

3. Although fundamentally my brand is personally representative of my ideas, I would hope that it stands alone conceptually and is not solely a ‘piece of me’.

4. As I have enjoyed designing outerwear to a high technical specification I would welcome a fashion partnership with Moncler.

5. My uniform of black allows me to focus my creative energies on to my designs; I do not want focus on myself but on my creation.

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Charlotte Byrne 1. The final frontier represents my love for all things space. I studied the suits worn by astronauts and was amazed by the structure and functionality.

2. To begin with I was designing my collection for men, however as time went on I realised that it also looks great on women to. I think it’s important to have a muse in mind but you never really know who’s going to love your clothes.

3. I think it’s important to show the world who you are but I feel my brand is something that will grow and change as I experience new things.

Charlotte Byrne

4. KTZ are one of my all time favourite brands and I would love to collaborate with them, utilising their beautiful prints with my pattern cutting would be dreamy.

5. It becomes more about textures, the layers and the shapes.

Sammie Dz Olawuyi 1. This collection was inspired by Nigerian luxury and my Grandma’s village culture.

2. I wanted it to represent me, by mixing two different cultures seamlessly; London Street wear with Nigerian traditional attire.

Sammie Dz Olawuyi

3. I want people to like my work for its own credentials; not because I did it, but my work will always represent me because it is my take on what fashion should or can be.

4. With one of the leading sports brands like Nike, Puma or Adidas because I always had a massive admiration for gear that is stylish yet functional; and sports brands do this the best.

5.Black is everything. When can’t you wear Black?

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‘I think in black’ - Gareth Pugh

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Martin ‘MartyMar54” Medina Occupation: Advertising Designer Location: NYC Lower East Side What are your top 3 favourite sneakers?

Air force 1, air max 90, Jordan 3 What is your favourite sport?

Football “NFL” and basketball

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Name: Hellyda Age: 25 Location: London Agency(ies): Nevs London, Central Lisbon How long you been in the modelling game? 8 years 3 things you love about modelling?

- The flexibility and been able to travel all over the world.

- Getting to know new people every time you go to a casting or job.

- Getting all kinds of make-up and hair styles done by super creative professionals; it’s really inspiring and I take so many ideas for myself.

What is your favourite brand? Stella McCartney, I love the style and the fact that her clothes and accessories are ethically conscious.

If you weren’t a model what would you be doing?

I’ve asked myself that question many times. I don’t know exactly what, but think I would definitely be working in the fashion industry.

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Why? I’ve always been interested in fashion and love wearing things that nobody else has. In fact I’m running a brand called Meneghinis; they are very particular velvet slippers from the Venetian XVlll century fashion.

What is your most embarrassing shoot memory? I was 17, shooting a TV ad for Vodafone Portugal. I was on my bike in a white skirt while flirting with a boy passing by. After shooting some scenes I noticed some blood on my skirt, turns out my period arrived early! We rushed back and the assistants had to wash and dry the blood. Also it was the first time I wore a tampon. So embarrassing!

Where is the best shoot location? In Patagonia, shooting a look book for Howies.

What are the last 3 tracks you played?

- Destiny’s child - Say my name (Cyril Hahn remix) - Nicholas Jaar - and I say - Metallica - One What is your favourite city? London which is why I live here Favourite place to vibe in London? I love going to the Good Life eatery, Cpress, Joe and the Juice, Chottomatte and the cuckoo club.

Name: Jourdan Copeland Age: 22 Location: Lewisham Agency(ies): AMCK Models/London, Premium/Paris, Red NY, D’management/Milan, Uno Models/Barcelona How long you been in the modelling game? 3 years 3 things you love about modelling? I love that it has allowed me to travel all over. Also how random it can be, and with a little bit of luck, fortuitous.

What is your favourite brand? I could wear Y-3 everyday If you weren’t a model what would you be doing? I’d be a Pastry Chef creating amazing desserts somewhere Why? For the love of good food. It’s a great feeling if someone enjoys a dish you’ve put work into.

What is your most embarrassing shoot memory? Loafers, Leggings, string vest tucked in, nips out. Outdoors on my own, in public.

Where is the best shoot location? Miami Beach What are the last 3 tracks you played?

- Sángo - Na Hora - Mura Masa - LovesickF*ck - Fritz Wentink - Man at Parade What is your favourite city? Amsterdam…so far.

Favourite place to vibe in London? I try to carry good vibes everywhere.

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‘Black is modest and arrogant at the same time. Black is lazy and easy - but mysterious. But above all black says this: I don’t bother you - you don’t bother me’ - Yohji Yamamoto

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A cartoon by Jam Mustafa, exclusive to BeExposed 45

Herinson Alvarez Carvajal Age: 28 years Occupation: I’m a graphic designer at a national newspaper and in my free time I work freelance.

Location: Concepción, Chile.

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Wolfie

my music. I wanted it to have that Soul element, influenced by UK elements of Garage and the Grime instrumentals.

Then I went to Kilburn Uni, and did a High Diploma and a Degree in Musical performance, composition, theory and production. Instead of doing my final Last month we caught up with one of London’s latest major project I thought I’m going to do an EP and not RnB protégés - Laura Wolfe AKA Wolfie. A one to watch, do anything to do with my degree. So I locked myself as fresh out of university, Wolfie’s 4 independent releas- in a studio in Wembley for a couple of months and es over the past year - with minimal promotion - have released the EP ‘7DS’ just over 18 months ago now: naturally received wide acclaim through their poignant ‘The 7 Deadly Sins’. quality, relatability and originality. Her phenomenal year has seen Annie Mac presenting ‘Seeds’ for her Free BE: Which one is your favourite?

Music Monday, as well as ‘Come Over’ being Radio 1’s record of the week.

Wolfie: Probably the final track ‘Superbia’. Each track title is in Latin and based on one of the seven deadly Her top track ‘I Be Ghost’ was chosen as Radio 1Xtra’s sins, ‘Superbia’ meaning ‘Pride.’ It was a long track, Best of British and, on top of this, she has an ever around six and a half minutes, where I’m just venting growing fan base, which includes the likes of Professor about my life up until that point, what happened and Green, Tinie Tempah and Pharrell, so we are eagerly how pride and me being proud has influenced me. awaiting more goodies from this talented female artist.

We got an incredible response from 7DS. People like Making music the way she wants to, she stands a lone Soulection were contacting us out of the blue, and it wolf in the British R’n’B industry, fusing underground wasn’t what we were expecting at that time it’s safe to musical production elements into a widely appealing say - we were just testing the waters.

R&B paradigm.

Then I went quiet for a while and focused on my craft Wolfie herself comes across as a refreshingly grounded and where I wanted to take it next, because that EP and politically charged individual, who draws the viswas on the darker side of R&B and quite heavy cerality nature of her music from a striving for connec- production-wise. I moved away from that and started tion with her own personal musical catharsis. writing more about my current experiences, as 7DS was reflective of my past.

Text: Lawrence Linell Photography: Rob Parfitt

BeExposed: You’ve been making some serious waves in BE: Do you find that your music has autobiographical the British R’n’B music industry this year. Could you elements to it? tell us about where it all started and how you got into music in the first place?

Wolfie: Most definitely, every song links to me somehow. It could be something my sister is going Wolfie: There was a prominent moment for me right through or a close friend of mine. I’ve always got to back when I was 4 years old. My sister and I started be fully connected to it somehow, and it has to come doing dance shows and one day our dance teacher from a real substance or, honestly, it wouldn’t work for announced, “we need someone to sing a Disney song, me. but it’s a solo.” So I thought, right I’m all over this, I want to give it a go. During the performance I was BE: What other influences do you draw into your thinking, oh my God I prefer this so much to dance! music?

This is me now, I want to sing.

I was in the choir throughout school, and then studied music at Dartford College, this is where I was introduced to artists like Lauryn Hill, Tweet and Bilal.

I was brought into that, as I was more into Punk, Reggae, Grime and Garage.

When I got to college, I knew where I wanted to take

Wolfie: It’s always about having that balance in music, and being brought up listening to Punk and Reggae as contrasting influences helps me achieve this. For me they’re quite politically driven genres, although with the songs that I’ve released now, you wouldn’t listen to them and think “oh she’s got such a movement behind 50

Wolfie wears: Hat: Marbek, top: Tiffany Baron, jacket and joggers: Aida & Nik Hair and MUA: Jolanda Coetzer

‘I always like to have that balance between negative and positive in my music.’

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Background visual art: Nas Abraham

‘I always aim to make sure the essence of the song is still there and it is getting delivered in the way it should be.’

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Wolfie wears: Hat: Marbek, top: Marbek, Leggings: Adidas

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Wolfie wears: Jacket: Palace, top: Stylists own

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there, she’s got an agenda or she’s trying to take this somewhere political”.

live instruments and it’s not all electronic. When I perform live I have a full band, so it’s just making sure that the whole essence of each song is still there, with the live instruments, the live production elements and the backing singers.

Musically and subconsciously I like to have that balance in my songs, for example in ‘I Be Ghost’ I say ‘I’m ghosting’ - like I’m not talking to anyone, I’m doing my own thing for a bit, I’m getting my money up so to speak.

But contrastingly I’m also saying it’s for me, it’s for myself to make sure that I am in a better place when I come out of ‘Ghost.’

BE: Are there any performances that have stood out for you in particular?

Wolfie: We had a performance at the end of last year at the Ace Hotel in Old Street; it was the last time we performed all the material from the old EP. It really I always like to have that balance between negative and felt like a pivotal moment for me. It was a moment positive in my music. A lot of the songs I have been where I could take a step and think ‘wow I can feel working on in the studio right now are a bit heavier that my music is going somewhere.’ The audience was politically. There are some dark tracks like ‘I Be Ghost’ incredible, people form labels coming down, Dream but also lighter ones like ‘Drifting’ or ‘Come Over.’

Mclean was there, Professor Green was there. Such an incredible turnout for the band and for myself. At that BE: We recently featured Ray Sargant’s Remix of ‘I Be point we all felt such an energy on stage.

Ghost’ in one of our Sunday Sessions. Can you tell us how it came about?

BE: If you could pick any location to perform, where would it be?

Wolfie: When we released ‘I be Ghost’ we didn’t have a team on board. It was just me and my manager and Wolfie: Gosh, anywhere? In space would be a bit wavy. we didn’t want to rush into a conformed paradigm of I was saying the other day that if I got married I’d pushing things out to radio, magazines, blogs etc. I like to do it in the woods, because I really do love the just wanted to release the music online, put it out on woods. That’s not playing on the whole Wolfie persona Soundcloud and see what it does and who picks it up. at all. Of course I’d love to play Glastonbury and other big festivals, but I’d really love to do a big hidden The response online was incredible, a bunch of online performance in a forest. magazines and blogs got involved straight away, and from that BBC Introducing picked it up, then 1xtra BE: What can we hope to see from you on the not so and Radio 1. Pharrell even showed interest in what we distant horizon? had done, which was amazing.

Wolfie: Some live shows, some remixes, an EP early A month after the original came out we put the stems next year, with some interesting guest artists featuring online and took it from there, with no boundaries or on some of the tracks. More music and more good expectations, we just wanted to go with the feeling and vibes really. go with the vibes. That’s how the remix came about and Ray Sergeant’s track stood out so much, it’s so BE: Why is making music important to you? vibey, his musical ear is amazing. He’s got so many textures on the remix, textures that we would never Wolfie: It’s so cliché but music is my therapy if I’m have thought of production-wise, so it was lovely to honest. I’ve got a very small circle of friends and I am hear that combined with the whole essence of the always with the same people because I’m so insular. song.

There are very few people who I can get really in depth with - sharing how I feel about what’s going on in my BE: What are your aims when performing your tracks life, and unburden myself. to a live audience?

But there’s no limit with music for me. I can say what Wolfie: I always aim to make sure the essence of the I want on a track because I just feel like I’m talking to song is still there and it is getting delivered in the way myself when I’m making my music (laughs). it should be. I like having the producer’s elements of the tracks getting heard. I try to make sure it emulates BE: Laura Wolfie, it’s been a pleasure, cheers.

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Half Hour with Hattie Collins

The music industry is an ever-changing sea of talent and sounds, with an almost limitless reach. This attribute can also be extended to a select few who operate behind the scenes, pulling the strings that can guide us to the music that really matters.

The interview subject for this issue is by no means new to the industry. She has had an extensive and impressive career throughout her years of music writing, and currently contributes to The Sunday Times, The Guardian, RWD, BEAT, ASOS and Grazia, and is a music editor at the prestigious music and fashion house i-D Magazine. Hattie Collins is definitely a force to be reckoned with and I spent a morning unravelling her opinions on all things musical.

Text: Rachael Evans

In her early years, Hattie would never describe herself as a music connoisseur, but her passion for the daring and well produced began to shine through when she deviated from what everyone else was listening to and fell for the likes of Prince instead.

“I remember when I found Prince - I just thought ‘this is amazing’. Prince managed to have a little bit more of an edge, and if you looked at the back of his records it would always say ‘written, produced and arranged

by Prince’ and I knew this guy was serious.

He spoke out about the music industry very prominently and really pushed for people owning their own masters, which has now become quite a big thing, and that was definitely spearheaded by Prince. He completely opposed and rejected the idea of ‘the industry’ - he’s still only ever done a handful of interviews in 30 odd years, which is pretty impressive. He was just so much about the music.”

This was balanced by an upbringing in a multicultural environment in which the love of heavier beats was encouraged, offering a melodic component to her social circle.

“I went to a really mixed multi-cultural school so there was a lot of breakdancing going on and I heard Salt & Pepper. I remember thinking ‘what the fuck 56

is this and where do I find more of it?’ So, almost concurrently, I listened to Prince on an emotional level and hip-hop on a more social level. That was how I figured out that you can connect with people through music.”

between times. It provides us with an outlet for emotions and has a sociability aspect - going to clubs and raves, and when I was younger it provided me with a friendship circle as it allows us to connect with people.

I think music is everything, I just can’t imagine life without music, which I know sounds dramatic, but it’s such a big part of my life. I’m not one of those people who constantly have their earphones in.

Sometimes I quite like being on the bus and having some quiet time, but music is a huge part of how we socialise and how we deal with things in life, for example music therapy. There is music for all parts of your life you know. Although I can’t stand The Script, people say they are amazing to workout to in the gym and I totally see that. There is a reason that the physics of music connects to certain parts of the brain for different emotions that you are feeling.

I was talking to Skepta about how I listen to Black Listed in the gym and, although he said that was too slow, for me it works. I don’t understand how it works but I love that it does. You don’t always need to know the reasons for everything. It almost blows my mind that people can play such beautiful contemporary music - I love the cello, and the fact that musicians have the capacity to play those notes in the order and style they are playing them amazes me.”

Hattie’s love of the music industry was inspired by the rebellious attitudes of the music she admired as a teenager, and it’s an attitude that has stayed with her throughout her career.

“There is always that attitude: do what you love and the money will follow. But I was searching for what I wanted to do for a long time. I didn’t start writing until I was 28. Prior to that I was always in the creative mind-set, I did drama at university and then had a theatre company for a little while.

So it was never about making money, I was just trying to figure out what I could do - trying to marry my interests, which were music, and writing. I Dj’d at uni (badly) but I had a great record collection and that’s all you need. So that idea of Prince, doing something for the love of it rather than trying to make money, was quite key in me doing what I’m doing now. I almost stumbled upon it - I don’t know what I would be doing now if I wasn’t writing. It was very slow and hard for the first few years, but in this industry nothing is ever guaranteed - it’s a very precarious profession.”

“Music provides an outlet for people, no matter who they are or what they are listening to, that would otherwise not be available to them due to the economic or social backgrounds they come from.”

grime is back In the past few years, grime has moved from an underground scene into mainstream youth culture. With the likes of Stormzy and Little Sims heading the resurgence of grime, Hattie shares some of her insights on the genre she has watched grow from its roots in 2002 to the influential genre it is today...

We all know music is important, otherwise you would not be reading this interview. The question that is harder to answer is the why. I asked Hattie for her view on what makes music such an intrinsic need for the majority of the human race.

“I think it provides markers in our lives. Over the past year in interviews I’ve always asked artists ‘why do you make music?’ and it’s always interesting hearing the response you get - you can always kind of tell what kind of artist they are, some people say that they want to build a brand (meh). For me, music marks emotive moments in my life: happy times, sad times, and our in57

Why is Grime such a prominent genre in your life?

“When I moved to East London around 2003/2004 was around the time grime got started. Growing up in the 80’s as a hip-hop head it was all about the Bronx, New York, LA and, as much as I loved hip-hop and as much as we tried to recreate it as kids in Birmingham, we knew we weren’t in the heart of the action. I always wished I was born in the Bronx in the 70’s, so when grime came around it served as the equivalent for me.

I didn’t realise it at the time; it’s only upon reflection that I realised I’ve lived through the beginnings of this genre. I was going to all of the nights and putting on my own grime nights and writing about these artists, so it’s been quite an unplanned interest, but it’s allowed me to grow up with a scene and it’s been amazing.”

“One of my best friends introduced me to grime and I thought it was just noisy and terrible, but I was slowly seduced by it. I was just such a hip-hop head before and I think in the 90’s you had to choose your genre and stick to it - it was a tribal thing and you stuck to your tribe or your subculture - whereas now it feels to me that kids and young people are still invested in a culture, but they’re not stuck in one genre - they’ll explore other things too.”

“It’s great that grime is so British as well, that is so important as really this is the first time since the protests in the 80’s that young Britain has had a voice.”

Grime has had quite a big gap - it came about in the early 2000’s and then died down to a subculture, but it has really risen again in the past couple of years - what’re your thoughts on that?

“Between 2002/3 - 2008 it was so creative and there was such a huge output, but 2008-2013 it was dead.

When I’ve written stuff online, people comment saying that I don’t know what you’re talking about this person is doing this and this person is doing that, but it lacked any new talent. Yes, grime kept happening and shows kept happening, but it was the same old names like Wiley and Skepta and, to an extent, those weren’t particularly great periods for those guys either.

I feel like the people that were talented in the grime scene went off into other genres as the house and bass scene really rose during this time, or they just stayed

too underground. For me, there weren’t any grime artists that were really interesting at that time.

Stormzy and the like were really young at that point and so, by the time they got on people’s radars, it was 2013. Now grime is entering its second decade, I think it’s a really exciting time.

I do feel that grime has now established itself better than jungle and garage did, and I think it will be a genre that continues to evolve over the next few decades.”

Young people especially love the grime scene at the moment; do you think it speaks to them given the current climate in the UK at the moment?

“It’s hard to say because if you look at the songs that have done well, like Meridian Dan’s German Whip, it is quite aspirational. In Skepta’s That’s Not Me he rejects all the labels that he’d previously been coveting. I guess kids thought ‘ah yeah I don’t have Louis Vuitton’, so I think the bigger artists people like just from an entertainment point of view.

I do think however that the smaller artists coming through from Manchester and Nottingham etc. are speaking more directly to young people today, and the disillusionment with government and politics, and how all the youth centres are closing down and youth employment rates are terrible. Part of it I guess is looking at it as ‘that’s something I could do and make a success of it’, as an entrepreneur or a manager. Also, it’s a way of expression; especially in 2002/3 it was a way of expressing how shit it can be when you’re living at the bottom of the ladder.

So in that sense it speaks to a younger audience that is thinking: ‘I’m 16/17 - what am I going to do with my life?’”

Many of the older generation who listen to grime think it’s really aggressive - do you think that paradigm really exists between music and the idea that young people are violent?

“I’m probably an exception as grime is not for me. I’m not supposed to listen to grime but I do, because I love it and it’s a part of my work, but it shouldn’t be for people of my generation. People of my generation should find it aggressive and offensive, they shouldn’t understand it and it should seem harsh and abrasive, like my parents did when I listened to Snoop Dogg when I was 14/15 and thought it was the best thing ever.

Parents shouldn’t understand youth cultures and

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subcultures and newspapers shouldn’t understand it either, and that is absolutely fine. What I love about grime is it’s still a very industrial sound, that it was known for in the beginning, so it isn’t easy on the ear - it’s angry, which is what all the best music is, like punk or early rock ‘n’ roll. It should be something that goes against the mainstream and offends people, because otherwise what’s the point?”

“I’m hopeful and excited but I’m also nervous, as it’s harder and harder to make a living as a writer, so these are all challenges that we face - both music makers and the people that comment. Everyone’s still trying to figure things out I think, but, as long as we keep an open mind with these innovations and try to keep up with them, the future is hopefully quite bright.”

“It’s great to have music for entertainment purposes like Adele and Rihanna, but you also need music to rally with and to feel uplifted by. To feel a sense of hope which they can relate to, due to the social and economic backgrounds, and that does question the status quo.”

“I think the internet has saved everything and destroyed everything at the same time, even just in terms of how we socialise - I do hate it when I’m with my friends and everyone’s on their phones, but then where would we be without Google maps?

I just wonder sometimes whether the snake will eat it’s own tail? I think the Internet is wonderful but I also think that we should be more cautious. I’m cautiously optimistic. I mean, without the Internet grime wouldn’t have grown like it did.”

“We live in an impatient society and an impatient world, always trying to make things easier and faster - but we don’t want to lose the human dynamic.”

What are you looking forward to, given that the music industry is changing a lot, it isn’t just a case of big companies feeding music to the masses anymore, and the internet has revolutionised the way people discover music?

“I think it is really interesting now how big companies are going ‘hang on, how do we do this?’ as the old way isn’t working. I’m interested to see future releases from artists like Kanye West and Rihanna to see how they approach it, and that’s all well and good as I’m sure they’ll sell millions. On a lower level, I think the Internet has made a democracy for music.

You don’t need big media companies; you can just film things using your phones, like how Stormzy and Skepta have done. Skepta won a MOBO for an £80 video last year. It’s much more democratic than it used to be, which is exciting. It means that there’s a whole load of shit that you have to plough through, but it also means that there are channels if you are a 15-year-old kid and you’ve got something to say.

People can listen to it and it can be accessed through so many different platforms, like social media and Grime Daily and i-D. What’s great about i-D is that it is a big platform, similar to Noisey or Pitchfork, and it’s through the support of bigger platforms like these, and institutions like the Barbican, that help the genre (grime) evolve.”

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feature Playlist This year has seen a prominent reemergence of Grime, Hip-hop and street inspired music, the next generation of artists re-infusing the music they love and grew up with to recent electronic embellishments and an increased focus on production.

The diversity of sound within these genres is rapidly increasing, and here are some of the best highlights of 2015.

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‘There are no ugly women in the World, just lazy ones’ - Coco Chanel

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ON THE FLIP SIDE Production and art direction: Tiffany Baron and Helen Butcher Beauty portrait photography: Rob Parfitt Product photography: Edd Fury Hair and MUA: Jolanda Coetzer using Bobbi Brown Models: Jean Lily @Nev’s Models Pietra@ Leni’s Models 65

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Bobbi Brown - Skin Foundation Stick.

Available in 24 skin tones with a sheer coverage that will colour correct and give you an even natural finish. ÂŁ29.50 67

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Grown Achemist: Matte Balancing Moisturiser - Acai Berry & Borago 60ml ÂŁ43. Body Cream - Mandarin & Rosemary Leaf 120ml ÂŁ16

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Nasomatto: Black Afgano, 30ml ÂŁ118 A Unisex fragrance produced by hand in small batches and rumoured to arouse temporary bliss.

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Issey Miyake: Nuit d’Issey Eau de toilette with a leathery, woody and fresh fragrance for him 75ml £42 and 125ml £60 from theperfumeshop.com

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body beautiful Text: Harriet Dixon

It was the #thighbrow hashtag that really tipped me over the edge. Along with the #thighgap, #legsorshotdogs and #thinspiration hashtags, it seems not a week goes by without a new social media trend, provocative ad campaigns (I’m looking at you, Protein World) or celebrity interview emerging which pours fresh petrol on the debate of women’s bodies. Never before has the female physique been under such opposing scrutiny. From the ‘skinny shaming’ of Cheryl Cole, to both the celebration and ridicule of plus-size blogger/model Tess Holliday, it seems no body shape is immune from dissection in the public sphere. With all the crazy pressure from the media, and the fashion world still dominated by thin models, who is defining ‘body beautiful’ these days?

over those few weeks created momentum for a new breed of role models for young girls. Now, the enduring feel-good sentiment is evident through Sport England’s #thisgirlcan campaign, which proudly shows women (of all shapes and sizes) participating in sport: sweating, jiggling, but determined and euphoric. Nike’s current ad campaign, with its empowering rhetoric #betterforit, has a series of short videos which enter the minds of women exercising -”oh good, a bunch of models in front of me”. These examples have captured the zeitgeist of women in sport: acknowledging the embarrassment and insecurities which often plague us, then turning our striving for strong and healthy bodies into a positive, motivational message.

The modelling industry has long been defined by its obsession with thin models. In recent years, the inclusion of ‘plus-size’ models on the catwalk, and move by ASOS to launch its hugely successful ‘Curve’ line, signals positive intent by the industry to both cater for, and celebrate, women bigger than a sample size. And yet, size 16 model Naomi Shimada recently pleaded for the fashion world to embrace variety: “Let’s not make plus size a token thing. It shouldn’t be a trend. It shouldn’t be a joke. We need creativity. We need diversity.” On the other end of the spectrum is size-6 model Charli Howard, who caused a media storm last week when she published an open letter to her modelling agency in response to them telling her she was ‘too big’: “I no longer allow you to dictate to me what’s wrong with my looks and what I need to change in order to be ‘beautiful’”. The fashion world seems to be in a state of limbo: at one end, continuing to emphasise ‘thin is beautiful’, but at the other, recognising that it’s a limited body image which can cultivate insecurities in women.

‘Never before has the female physique been under such opposing scrutiny.’

As usual, the focus on menfolk’s bodies isn’t as intense as it is for women. A blog post by US student Mackenzie Pearson earlier this year on the ‘dad bod’ quickly went viral and has become the standard nickname to throw at any man over 40.

But the difference is it’s affectionate and cuddly - compare it to Mail Online’s description of new mum Zooey Deschanel in her first public appearance since giving birth 3 months ago: “Incredibly, the actress had no bulge, no fat and almost zero trace that she just had a baby”. The significance of media in their observations and objectifications of women cannot be ignored. Mail Online has become laughable in its limited, often intentionally provocative, vocabulary in its articles on women: ‘leggy’, ‘enviable curves’, ‘pins’. Websites such as these have conditioned us to look, form an opinion, comment and share – and sadly it is often the most critical and vitriolic comments which attract the most attention. However, there is a positive move in the social media world with Instagram acknowledging its powerful position as a platform for ‘thinspiration’: the #thighgap hashtag now brings up a ‘content advisory’ message before proceeding to view the posts.

The London Olympics was a pivotal moment in the perception of women’s bodies. Jessica Ennis-Hill was suddenly the woman every girl wanted to be.

We saw what her strong, athletic physique was capable of: awe-inspiring achievements. Aside from Ennis-Hill, the proliferation of muscular, talented athletes competing through blood, sweat and tears 76

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‘In the week after Suffragette was released, it seems ridiculous that in 2015 women are still so defined, judged, and valued by their bodies’ In the week after Suffragette was released, it seems ridiculous that in 2015 women are still so defined, judged, and valued by their bodies. Without jumping too high on to my feminist soap box, there is a depressing inevitability that women will always be judged in this way. However, the uproar in response to Protein World’s advert earlier in the summer (“Are you beach body ready?”) was a profound moment: the (mostly) critical response showed that consumers are not passive creatures, happy to absorb pressure on how their bodies ‘should’ look as they go about their daily commute. As women we are self-critical enough without being bullied by a billboard! The campaigns by Sport England and Nike aim for positive body image, focusing on achievement, goals, ambition – with the end result being body confidence and happiness. And isn’t that what every woman wants? Go sisters!

Who is your female fit-spiration?

‘Jessica Alba because she is smokin’ hot, ridiculously fit toned, tanned, healthy body.’

‘Ellie Goulding looks incredible, she’s worked hard on her figure but in a healthy way and is strong not skinny.’

‘J-lo as she is so toned and sexy – not a skinny bitch.’

‘Kirsty Gallagher, she showed off such a hot bod on Strictly!’

‘Rosie Huntington Whiteley has the long coltish legs that dreams are made of. While I will never be a super model I can aspire to her healthy glow and toned, M&S lingerie ready bod.’

‘Mindy Kalling because she just doesn’t give a shit, and in a world of anorexic stick insects living on Chia seeds and cucumber, she is dangerously refreshing.’

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sugar... so sweet My friend is a stronger woman than I, she has given up sugar! While I guiltily hide my bar of diary milk away, I wonder whether the benefits of the sugar free diet she describes out weigh the cheap thrill of unwrapping that delicious purple wrapper?

Why did you decide to go sugar free?

What have you found hardest/easiest?

Many factors actually, but ultimately because I was working out with a personal trainer in order to lose some weight (I was ‘obese’ according to my BMI) and get muscle strong, and she advised I wasn’t perhaps seeing results as quickly as I’d like, because there was still a lot of ‘treats’ in amongst all the healthy meals. I had also had a conversation with my GP around the same time and she had kindly suggested that I lose a stone before I next saw her – a real YIKES moment. I had wrongly assumed because I was working out so much that I could still allow myself a ‘treat’ every day or every other day and I would just burn it off! My PT recommended to me ‘The Sweet Poison Quit Plan’ by David Gillespie, so I would truly understand what she was meaning about the sugar content of everything I was ingesting, and I honestly have not looked back since finishing it.

The hardest thing is still ongoing – cooking! I hated it! But you have to plan with this and I’m slowly finding it more enjoyable and easier to prioritise, as I’m really interested in the nutrition side. Also, the occasional heart strings type tug I get when there is birthday cake in the office, or going out to eat, and I need to modify my meal accordingly instead of just whatever I fancy (or more accurately - used to fancy!) It’s also breaking the lifelong habit and going against something that’s seen as completely ‘normal’, and not dangerous, in our society. You become a weirdo! (I’ve embraced this totally as I know I’m doing something that’s right for me). The easiest thing, is just not eating what I was eating, as mad as that sounds. My cravings have simply dropped off as I really understand the science behind it. It was shocking too, I thought I knew a lot and I didn’t. Once that had sunk in, the appeal...kind of lost its appeal!

It flicked a switch in my brain that I thought would never happen! I truly get it and I want to know more.

What changes have you noticed to your body/mood/ general health?

Can you share your 3 top tips for quitting the evil ‘S’?

I feel happier, lighter in anxiety, my nails even seem stronger! I actually feel free. The biggest noticeable difference is my weight. And by weight I mean body fat percentage and visceral fat (the dangerous kind the hangs on to your organs etc.). As soon as I cut the sugar out, a few pounds literally fell off. This sounds great in theory, but I have been hyper aware of my body during training and so this did unnerve me a little. So I’m making sure I’m eating lots of good wholefoods and not letting myself feel deprived at all.

1. Read a good book that will give you all the facts and figures like the one I mentioned earlier (there’s also a brilliant documentary on Netflix called ‘Fed Up’).

2. Get cooking outside what you normally would go for. This was hard for me as I hated it and found it intimidating (I was toast/pasta/fajitas or cake baking!) but, knowing I’m finally on the right track, I am finding it easier to navigate and prioritise. The book ‘I quit Sugar’ by Sarah Wilson is fab.

3. Lastly, focus on what you CAN have (a lot!), enjoy it and eat plentifully knowing you aren’t doing any self harm.

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10 tips for a stronger, healthier you If you want to get fit and strong this year then follow these top tips from personal trainer Amy Golby.

Having played netball at national level and being a self confessed ‘fitness freak’ when she started University, after life got in the way of training and she let her diet slip Amy left University four stone heavier. But after hitting her personal rock bottom she has spent the last year literally working her butt off and is striving to reach her fitness goals. You can get inspired by Amy’s journey and start your own at www.dreamsanddumbbells.co.uk

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Prep, Prep, and Prep again - The key to staying healthy is to prep for everything from food to workouts – I always sort my food out for the upcoming week on a Sunday, this stops you from making bad decisions because you know exactly what you’re eating and when. I also plan my week out in terms of workouts - this means I know what I’m training before I’ve step foot in the gym and know how hard I should be working.

Her workout Wednesday focused on arms and shoulders

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Set yourself goals - For me this is a vital tool: I’m a massive goal oriented person and need something to aim for – whether it’s a marathon, triathlon, or even just a pull up, I set myself an ultimate yearly challenge and I then train for that goal. This keeps you focused and the sense of achievement when you get there is worth every drop of sweat.

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Mix it up – I see people all the time in the gym that go every day and never look different or never progress and it’s because they do the same thing day in and day out. Make sure to mix up your exercises every 8 to 12 weeks to keep your body guessing!

inny Strong not sk

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Visualisation – Whether it’s strength or cardio, I always visualise my body performing whatever I’m doing. This is so important when strength training - you will contract the muscles so much more and get more out of your training if you really concentrate and visualise/feel the muscle. When it comes to cardio seeing yourself succeeding in your head boosts you to push yourself to new levels.

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Follow Amy’s journey on her website and social media platforms: Twitter: @Dreams_Dumbbell Instagram: @dreams_and_dumbbells Facebook: Dreams and Dumbbells Web: www.dreamsanddumbbells.co.uk

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Amy’s amazin g

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Remind yourself – If you’re on a long journey make sure to document it, and on the days you don’t feel good or motivated remind yourself why you started and how far you’ve come.

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Have a break – Recovery is a vital part of any successful training program: always layer in a tapered or rest week every so often – overtraining can sometimes be just as bad as not training!

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Treat but don’t over eat – If you work hard and you plan your diet properly there is always room for a treat day, where you can relax and have those things you love BUT don’t let it be an excuse to over eat and lose focus.

progress so fa r

Amy’s body inspir ation @casidavis

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Leave your ego at the door – If you want to be fit and healthy and stay that way you need to ensure that you treat your body with respect so it can continue to train. Concentrate on yourself, not others - make sure your form is always on point – it’s better to drop the weight to perform with the correct technique then to lift too heavy and be unable to train for months.

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Have Fun – Being fit and healthy is a lifestyle and you have to enjoy yourself, do exercises that make you feel good/ or you enjoy alongside ones you struggle with to keep your motivation high but to also consistently challenge yourself.

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Funky Leggings! - If you’re going to live in the gym you might as well look on Fleek!

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‘Fashion is the healthiest motivation for losing weight’ - Karl Largerfeld

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SEC RET ING RED IENT FOOD LABELLING: IT’S NOT ALWAYS SO BLACK AND WHITE Words: Ellie Matthews

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When I was given the brief for this issue of Be Exposed it was certainly a challenge. Black and white – not always colours one would associate with food and dining. That said, a common saying in the UK is that something ‘isn’t all black and white’, alluding to the fact that what we see on the surface isn’t always the truth.

And when it comes to things not being as honest as they may claim to be, what better topic than food?

There is a keen focus on the food industry at the moment. Alongside the emergence of stylish veganism and locavores, there has finally been a nationwide acceptance of the negative effects of sugar.

According to scientists across the globe, it doesn’t really matter how many gorgeous fresh vegetables you eat, or whether your cookie comes from the generation-old bakery down the road, if you’re necking a tonne of sugar everyday your health is going to be affected. Everyone is talking about sugar. From points-scoring politicians to food-hero Jamie Oliver, plus hundreds of YouTube celebrities and food activists - sugar has been identified as the evil to avoid.

‘There always seems to be a new food enemy for us to focus on, and this has brought me around to the topic of black and white: even when we know our enemy, how do we identify it?’

But remember when it was fat we were all terrified of?

Or how about carbs back in the 1990s? There always seems to be a new food enemy for us to focus on, and this has brought me around to the topic of black and white: even when we know our enemy, how do we identify it? There are around 56 registered terms to describe ‘sugar’ that manufacturers can use of their packaging. Whether they name it rice syrup, organic raw cane sugar or maltodextrin the final product is still the same: sugar.

The UK Government guidelines on food labelling state that consumers must be informed in a clear and easyto-read way that is not misleading. Ingredients must be listed by their percentage weight within the whole product and any allergens must be clearly highlighted.

Seems fair right? But what is clear, easy to read or informative about 50+ names for the same ingredient?

Further to this, how about marketing claims on pack85

aging, fat free, lighter choice, low calorie, low fat – take your pick and you’ll find the message on hundreds of products across the marketplace. Although, yes, a product may be low fat, what isn’t made clear to consumers is the impact on the product of it being low fat. It is common for manufactures to replace fat molecules in processed foods with sugar. Fat provides flavour (think about the gorgeous fat marbling in a slab of beef), and by taking fat out of a product flavour is lost. The best replacement for lost flavour is sugar, and, especially in Western countries where we are already suffering for a sugar addiction, this added sugar creates a reaction in the body making us want more.

For certain colourings and additives, manufacturers are required to state that the product “May have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children”. There is no legal labelling required to indicate high sugar levels and the addictiveness of sugar. This ‘pure white’ substance, that many people still believe is completely innocent, is actually deadly for our health. The question is, should the government enforce clear labelling on the effects of sugar. . I read an interesting quote a few weeks ago which said “an apple doesn’t need a label to tell us it’s healthy, we already know”. If we already know what is healthy, should we not already know what is not healthy? Sadly, because of misleading and often completely false information (certain ‘healthy’ smoothie products contain more sugar than a chocolate bar), the public’s perception of ‘healthy’ and ‘not healthy’ has been completely skewed.

‘Because of misleading and often completely false information (certain ‘healthy’ smoothie products contain more sugar than a chocolate bar), the public’s perception of ‘healthy’ and ‘not healthy’ has been completely skewed.’

The same message applies to some of our favourite health products at the moment. Looking at coconut water, for example; this seemingly incredible product, that boasts ultra-hydration properties, is actually very high in sugar, with certain brands adding further fruit sugars to the mixture to make it more palatable. The same applies to some sugar-alternative favourites loved by the health blogging crowd. Some of my laugh-inducing favourites include ‘coconut blossom nectar’ and ‘date syrup’ - both still sugar, no matter which way you look at it!

If we take a step back and look at the marketplace as a whole, the health foods industry is completely saturated. As consumer awareness of what is and what isn’t healthy increases, marketeers are capitalising on our desperation to be healthy. Our understanding of healthy foods is so misinformed that we have become heavily reliant on these marketing claims. A current trend is for gluten-free products. Although intolerance to gluten is a prolific and a highly uncomfortable illness that affects many people, the UK’s love of gluten-free products vastly overtakes the actual number of people with a gluten intolerance. Aside from the lack of gluten-based flour in the product, there is little difference between gluten and non-gluten foods. In fact, in many instances, other chemicals, additives and yep, you guessed it, sugars are added to gluten-free products to improve their flavour and texture.

I for one have had just about enough of these health claims. I know an apple is healthy, I know water is healthy, I even know that certain home-made treats are healthy - I do not need to be told constantly that something is raw, sugar-free, gluten-free, ultra-amazing and healthtacular. I stand up for good, natural and honest produce where no label is required to inform me of its goodness.

Get in touch via Twitter to let the team at Be Exposed know what your current health-food gripe is and the foods you know are naughty but love to eat.

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FOODIE Shades of Grey Words by: Francesca Watts

A universal mantra for maintaining a healthy diet is to eat in colour. Whilst a plate piled high with vibrant greens, deep purples, and dazzling shades of red may taste as appetising as it looks, it’s definitely time we embraced the lesser known, yet abundant, nutritional benefits of a monochrome palette.

BLACK RICE

BLACK GARLIC

CAULIFLOWER

KEFIR

SESAME SEEDS

Also known as ‘forbidden rice’, as it was once the preserve of Chinese royalty; black is actually the most nutritious of all rice varieties. High in vitamin E and packed with more antioxidants than blueberries; combined with coconut milk and maple syrup, black rice makes an unnervingly delicious, traditional Asian rice pudding/porridge hybrid that is the best way to start – or finish – your day.

Seems too good to be true but this is the real deal.

A preserved version of ‘normal’ garlic that sees it exposed to moisture and heat for several weeks, in order to turn the cloves black, sticky and so sweet you can eat them straight from the bulb. Often mistakenly described as fermented garlic, it is another ingredient that has gained popularity in the west after originating in Asia.

Reminiscent of molasses, with a sweet balsamic flavour, it adds depth to any dish and is a store cupboard essential for the enthusiastic home cook.

During the recent ‘no carb carbs’ movement, which has seen pasta, rice and even pizza cast aside in favour of more waistline friendly, lighter, protein packed vegetables, grated cauliflower has proven itself to be at the forefront of a plant based diet, and a beacon of versatility. It’s no wonder, when you consider it contains only 14 calories per serving, is high in fibre and vitamin C and adopts the flavour of whatever it is combined with, erasing its long established reputation of over boiled, dry florets.

Step away from the sugary, yoghurt drinks and expensive probiotic supplements; there’s a new kid in town, by the name kefir. Fermented foods are the next big thing in health, and that’s what kefir is; fermented milk (or vegan friendly coconut milk). It is enzyme rich, easy and economical to make at home and helps to keep your digestive system healthy and flourishing with happy, healthy bacteria. This leads to a strengthened immune system and can help prevent and ease symptoms of digestive issues such as IBS.

A long time staple of Asian & Middle Eastern kitchens, (they’re a key ingredient of hummus by way of tahini), Westerners are slowly awakening to the versatility of this delicate, nutty seed.

High in copper, manganese, calcium, and dietary fibre, they are considered an antioxidant and help lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Get them into your diet by grinding and mixing with salt to create gomasio; a condiment for sprinkling on anything and everything or in a delicious smoothie.

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BANANA SESAME SMOOTHIE Ingredients (serves 2): - 2 bananas - 500ml milk (use almond or coconut milk for a vegan version) - 1 tbsp mixed sesame seeds - Drizzle of raw honey, to taste - Handful of ice cubes Method: Combine all of the ingredients into a blender or nutribullet and blend until smooth. Transfer into two tall glasses and enjoy straight away.

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