Chic Lifestyle Magazine Issue 43 by Chic Lifestyle Magazine

- LIFESTYLE -

Issue 43

Sheffieldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Premier Lifestyle Magazine

Maybe it’s lively atmosphere that makes the Mogul Room so special or perhaps it is the open-hearted service team that makes dining here so worth while. The menu is unique and unparalleled in Sheffield. The food is both fresh and mouthwatering. The flavours are fused magnificently. Yet there is only one way to decide what makes the Mogul Room stand out, and that is to experience its charms for yourself.

The Mogul Room, 282 Sharrowvale Road, Shefﬁeld, S11 8ZL, Tel: 0114 267 98 46 book now. WWW.MOGULROOM.COM

New shop opening in Shefﬁeld Training

Martial Arts

Boxing

Fitness

Pro-X Sports, one of the country’s top online specialists for Mixed Martial Arts, Boxing, Nutrition Supplements, Fitness and Training Gear, are bringing their ﬁrst retail outlet to Shefﬁeld this Spring!

What’s more, a former world class Taekwondo champion who competed for England will be managing the shop! So you can expect highly personalised service and get real insightful tips and advice from Shabir Akhtar and his experienced team.

The 1000 square foot shop on London Road will be home to what promises to be the largest stock of equipment and clothing in South Yorkshire.

Did you know that Shabir, a keen boxer, was the ﬁrst person in the country to have won both the heavy weight title for the ITF BTC Championship in England and the WTF BTC title (Olympic Style Taekwondo)?

Pro-X Sports’ extensive stock means that for virtually anything you need, For the very best in martial arts fightwear, you’ll find it! At knock-out prices. boxing gear, fitness and training Customers can expect to choose equipment, nutrition supplements and from over 2000 products ranging from much more – head to Pro-X Sports, on gloves to training weapons, sparring 35a London Road, from 31st March! and weights to name but a few. Pro-X Pro-X Sports – knockout also offers a great selection of clothing and uniforms from leading brands. prices whatever your game!

www.pro-xsports.com

Join us on Facebook to get a 10% discount!

0844 800 1724 ProXSportsUK

@ProXSports

Contents | Contributors

Welcome Editor’s Letter Well, it finally feels as though spring is here; the sun is blazing through the windows at Chic HQ while a cool breeze churns through the open door. In fact, we were quite tempted to give this issue a miss and have a cocktail party BBQ instead, but we couldn’t do that to you now, could we? Instead we’ve put together a cracking issue full of tasty titbits for you to sink your teeth into, so set that deckchair to highest recline, pour yourself a mojito and kick back with Sheffield’s finest.

Flaunt | Page 6

A sneak peek at the unmissable events coming to the Steel City this month

Paloma Faith | Page 14 Petite pop princess, style icon and star of stage and screen, Paloma Faith pops in for a chat

This month, while our travel editor has been scouting out my favourite city - Edinburgh - to find you the best eateries and attractions, the Chic chef has been keeping things seasonal, cooking up a light Salmon and Asparagus Penne – don’t say we don’t look after you.

- LIFESTYLE -

Our cover star, Paloma Faith, is about to release her sophomore record, Fall to Grace, I hope we’re not spoiling anything by saying it’s stunning – we bring you an exclusive interview with the pop princess. As if that weren’t enough, rising indie star Bastille drops in to talk new album and future plans. As always, our beauty and fashion editors are on hand to give you their top tips to looking and feeling your best. We’ve been scouting out the finest restaurants and salons to to share with you, as well as giving you our hot picks of the month’s gigs, films and events in our regular flaunt feature. Each issue we shine a Spotlight on Sheffield’s vibrant arts scene; this month it’s the turn of local artist Bird Lovegod, whose latest artistic endeavour involves handing out pink umbrellas to passers by, and cleaning up supermarket trollies. Have a look, it’ll all come clear.

With all this sunshine it’s time to get floral!

Bastille | Page 22 Following a stunning gig at the Harley last month, we talk to rising indie outfit, Bastille

Your editor

Kieran Smith

SHEFFIELD’S PREMIER LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

We hope you enjoy spending an hour or so with Sheffield’s number one for lifestyle and culture; don’t hesitate to get in touch with any feedback or suggestions. We look forward to seeing you again same time next month.

Chic Fashion | Page 18

Issue 43

Sheffield’s Premier Lifestyle Magazine

Beauty Tips | Page 30

The Team

Our in-house beauty expert gives her hot tips for getting a beach worthy body in time for the summer

Managing Director Hussain Shafique

Beauty Review| Page 31

Editor

Chic’s resident beauty critic pays a visit to Pure Beauty on Queens Road

Kieran Smith

Design Director Shane Gilmartin

Junior Designer Rebekah Cohen

Web Designer Francesca Cirillo

Sales Manager Melanie Jackson

Accounts

Cuisine Recipe | Page 26

Beauty Editor

Our resident chef walks us through a seasonal Salmon and Asparagus Penne

Kelly Markell Kate Hobson

Contributors

Jeremy Williams, Paul Cotton, Sarah Kimble

Special Thanks

Tresses| Page 32

Warren Higgins, Chuff Media, Paloma Faith, Kojo & Lee, Pure Beauty, Owlerton Stadium, Bird Lovegod, Bastille

We put Division Street’s unique Kojo & Lee to the test

Our policy Not connected with any other company or group. All material is copyright of Chic Promotions Marketing LTD and is not to be reproduced without permission. The placing of an order for an insertion of an advert in this publication shall amount to an acceptance of our terms and conditions. We aim to produce a high quality, up to date magazine for your pleasure. We strive with every care possible to ensure the information published is correct. However on occasion some material may be altered after the magazine has gone to print. Therefore we cannot accept any responsibility for these changes and can only offer our sincerest apologies in such an event.

Cuisine Review | Page 27 This month it’s the turn of Owlerton Stadium’s Panorama Restaurant to be put to task by the Chic foodies

LIFESTYLE

Spotlight| Page 36 This month we get inside the mind of Sheffield based artist Bird and find out about his Good Deed project

recycle

City Break| Page 40

when you have finished with this magazine please recycle it.

Rich in history and natural beauty, we pay a visit to Edinburgh

Chic Lifestyle Magazine | Issue 43

Flaunt | Preview

Blink 182

“ Blink 182 will be making a stop at Sheffield’s Motorpoint Arena this June, as part of their first UK tour in seven years...”

Blink 182 / Sheffield Motorpoint Arena

Sunday 17th June / 7.30PM / £33.19 / www.motorpointarenasheffield.co.uk

For those of a certain age, and certain disposition, the trio of Tom, Mark and Travis came to define the sound of their youth, your own editor among them. In 2005 the band announced they would be imposing an indefinite hiatus on future activity, and the young punks and skaters that had grown up listening to “What’s My Age Again?” on a loop

Chic Lifestyle Magazine | Issue 43

were forced into adulthood. In September of last year, following countless delays, Blink 182 released Neighbourhoods, their first album since their hugely successful 2003 self-titled effort. Neighbourhoods has introduced a more mature, more ambitious sounds and has already been embraced by fans new and old. Blink 182 will be making a stop

at Sheffield’s Motorpoint Arena this June, as part of their first UK tour in seven years, and with support coming from Twin Atlantic and All American Rejects, the night promises to deliver. I’ll see you at the front.

Flaunt | Preview

Bear Grylls / Sheffield City Hall Friday 25th May / 7.30PM / Tickets: £39.50 / www.sheffieldcityhall.co.uk

Man-machine Bear Grylls will be bringing his first ever live UK tour to Sheffield City Hall this month, following a recent sell-out run in Australia.The star of Born Survivor and Man vs Wild, one of the most watched TV shows on the planet, will take to the stage to share his epic stories of adventure and survival. The tour will see Bear recount experiences ranging from his journey to the summit of Mount Everest to a never before seen behind the scenes look at his hit TV show. Grylls said, “The show is essentially a fun journey through some of my toughest expeditions from Mount Everest, the Arctic, to the French Foreign Legion, 21 SAS and more. Then of course there are all the Born Survivor missions and behind the scenes stories! Above all it is a fun packed family show that folk have really seemed to enjoy!”

Magic Worlds / Weston Park

May 2012 - 6th January 2013 / Free admission / www.museums-sheffield.org.uk

For the remainder of the year, Weston Park will be transformed into a fantasy land fit for Mr Christian Andersen, or the Brothers Grimm. Magic Worlds is a new family-friendly exhibition which delves into the spell-binding world of magic and illusion. Created by the V&A Museum of Childhood, Magic Worlds will invite visitors to explore the fantastical realms of witches, wizards and fairies and celebrate the conjuring feats of the finest stage magicians. Designed around the themes of fantasy, illusion and enchantment, the exhibition features a huge range of costumes, tricks, vintage toys, paintings, ceramics, illustrations, posters, puppets and games. Visitors will find displays based on their favourite fantasy tales, including Snow White, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan and The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. Objects on show include film replicas of Harry Potter’s broomstick and the One Ring from The Lord of the Rings, as well as vintage Cinderella and Prince Charming mechanical dancing dolls and puppets of characters from A Midsummer Night’s Dream dating from the 1940s.

Gary Numan / Sheffield O2 Academy Friday 25th May / 6.30PM Tickets: £25 / www.o2academysheffield.co.uk

At one time, Gary Numan was considered little more than a poor man’s Bowie, thanks to the increasing popularity of electronic music, along with the continued support from the likes of Noel Fielding, his talent and influence has been reevaluated in recent years, marking him out as something of a cult music hero. This spring sees Gary embark on his first ever ‘Singles’ Tour, where he’ll be playing everything from the punk début ‘That’s Too Bad’ to his first electronic release ‘Down In The Park’ and the hits including ‘Are ‘Friends’ Electric?’, ‘Cars’, ‘Complex’, ‘We Are Glass’, ‘I Die: You Die’ and ‘Berserker’, plus later Top 30 successes ‘Rip’ and ‘Crazier’ - along with a selection of material from his critically acclaimed new album, Dead Son Rising. To coincide with the tour, Numan is releasing a DVD collection, Machine Music, which is a visual retrospective of a career spanning five decades. Don’t miss your chance to catch this living legend in the flesh.

Issue 43 | Chic Lifestyle Magazine

Flaunt | Preview

We caught up with Andy Abraham to find out more about The History of the Big Bands Can you tell us, in your own words, about the new show? Really, it’s a bit of history of the great band leaders of the 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s; people like Buddy Rich, Harry James, Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller – the commercial music of the early 20th Century, the people that helped shaped music today. And also, for me, the swing singers; Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Sammy Davis Jnr.. So it’s big songs, lots of classics and some originals as well, that have been specially arranged by some great contemporary song writers, Eliot Kennedy, Peter Adams and Geoff Morrow, who’ve all written hits for some big artists. It’s just great fun. Your time on the X-Factor and your solo records had more of a soulful slant, how did you get involved with the History of the Big Bands show? Many of the songs I performed on the X-Factor were soul songs, from the 70s and 80s, but there were a few numbers that I did which were more representative of easy listening music and swing music, songs like ‘Unforgettable’ and ‘When I Fall in Love’ etc. The transition was quite easy really. I had to work on getting the phrasing for songs like ‘Mack the Knife’ and ‘Cry me a River’ because they have an individual style, that you have to worktowith and also make your own. you can’t “ Adams has managed cement his position as one ofIfthe greatest pull it off, it” can sound quite lame, but workcontemporary songwriters. ing alongside the Barison’s Swing Band, it really sounds authentic and fresh. People are coming to the show - young and old - and really enjoying it, the instrumental interpretations of these classic songs and enjoying the vocals and just having a great night.

Ryan Adams

What do you think makes these songs so timeless? Well, they are timeless, I think great songs are just great songs. If you can interpret a song in the right way and make it still feel fresh I think it’s a testament to the great musicians who created the music and who understand the music. For the full interview with Andy, head to www.chiclifestylemagazine.co.uk

The History of the Big Bands with Andy Abraham / Lyceum Wednesday 23rd May / 7.45PM / Tickets: £23 / www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

The History of the Big Bands sees the incredible vocal talent of former soul man, Andy Abraham transport the audience back to the music of the Big Band era, swooning and crooning to the irresistible sound of swing. Characterised by its swinging rhythms and room-filling orchestrations, Big Band music grew out of Dixieland and Hot Jazz in the 1910s and 20s, spreading from New Orleans to Chicago and New York through the popularity of Louis Arm-

Chic Lifestyle Magazine | Issue 43

strong’s All-Stars and other much-loved bands of the era. Its songs and instrumentals are some of the best known and most recognisable of the Twentieth Century and their popularity endures today. Andy will be backed by a magnificent 13-piece big band featuring world-class soloists taking on the famous solos as played in the legendary jazz clubs and concert halls of New York , such as the Savoy

Ballroom. Recreating the atmosphere of this classic era in music, History of the Big Bands is a tribute to some of Jazz music’s most legendary geniuses, including a rare performance of Sir John Dankworth’s underground classic ‘Experiments with Mice’. Make an unforgettable night of it at the Lyceum Theatre on Wednesday 23rd May.

Flaunt | Preview

Rhod Gilbert / Sheffield City Hall Wednesday 30th May / 7.30PM / Tickets: £25 / www.sheffieldcityhall.co.uk

Rhod Gilbert seemed to get very big very quickly. The Welsh comedian was nominated for the Best Newcomer award at the Edinburgh festival in 2005, and has since gone on to play arena sized venues, as well as notching up an admirable count of panel show appearances, and even a turn at the Royal Variety Show. Gilbert’s last show, Rhod Gilbert and the Cat that Looked Like Nicholas Lyndhurst, was a smash, both on stage and DVD, at the end of this month, his new show, The Man with the Flaming Battenburg Tattoo will be playing Sheffield’s own City Hall. Rhod’s stand-up rants on life’s minor irritations are legendary, but this year, he’s a more mellow fellow altogether. He’s now so laid-back he even let someone tattoo a Battenberg on him. Will the new, chilled-out Rhod get his girl and live happily ever after, or will it be microwaved baked potato for one again? Could it be the Mr Angry of comedy as you’ve never seen him before?

Stewart Francis / Sheffield City Hall Friday 8th June / 7.30PM / Tickets: £18.50 / www.sheffieldcityhall.co.uk

Perhaps it’s reactionary towards the acerbic, shock-comedy of Frankie Boyle and Ricky Gervais, or perhaps it’s part of a cultural yearning for simpler times, but the past year or so has seen a resurgence in old fashioned comedy values; from the sitcom based antics of Lee Mack and Miranda Hart, to Tim Vine’s end-of-pier shtick, and the king of the one-liners, Stewart Francis. You may have seen Francis on Mock the Week or Live at the Apollo, coming out with such blinders as, “I quit my job at the helium gas factory. I didn’t like being spoken to in that voice.” Since cutting his teeth on his native, Canadian comedy circuits, Francis has written for the likes of Jay Leno, and appeared on countless British panel shows. His latest stand-up show, Outstanding in his Field, is a demonstration of his impeccable comedy smarts and a lesson in the art of the one-liner, it will be making a stop at City Hall on June 8th.

Paul Morrison: Auctorum / Millennium Gallery Thursday 7th June – Sunday 4th December Free admission / www.museums-sheffield.org.uk

Over the past 15 years, Sheffield-based artist Paul Morrison has established a global audience for his bold and intriguing images. With solo exhibitions in many major cities from Manchester to Tokyo and New York, 2012 will see Paul’s first large-scale exhibition in his home town of Sheffield. Morrison’s striking, often black and white, work finds its inspiration in the historic and contemporary, from engravings and botanical illustrations to comics and animation. Found images are then seamlessly woven together using digital software and often re-created on an epic scale, on walls or buildings. These are illustrations to a story which is yet to be written – one which the viewer is invited to create themselves. This exhibition includes paintings, drawings, sculpture and film from the last three years. Featuring a host of new works created specifically for the exhibition, including a vast new wall painting, Auctorum will be one of Morrison’s most wide-ranging exhibitions to date and marks a significant homecoming event for the artist.

Issue 43 | Chic Lifestyle Magazine

PA L OM A FA I T H Interview

Stepping out as a solo artist back in 2009, it was immediately and abundantly clear that Paloma Faith was the complete package. A captivating chanteuse, a rabble-rousing entertainer and theatrical fashion chameleon, Faith’s début album, ‘Do You Want the Truth, or Something Beautiful?’ remains a glossy collection of retro-referencing soul and sassy pop. Earlier this month, Paloma released ‘Picking up the Pieces’, the first single from her sophomore effort, Fall to Grace, announcing the return of a bold voice in the UK charts. Overseen by legendary producer Nellee Hooper (Bjork, Madonna), Fall to Grace is a huge, cinematic record, clearly the product of vision. Chuff Media’s Jenny Entwistle caught up with Miss Faith to talk about the themes and influences at work in Fall to Grace. You’ve just released your single ‘Picking Up The Pieces’ – can you tell us a bit about what this song is about? It’s about being in a relationship with somebody who you think might be on the rebound but is going out with you, but you’re not sure. They’re recovering from their past relationship and what it’s like to be in that position when you’re doubting yourself and your role in their life.

For your new album ‘Fall To Grace’, you’ve stated that you’ve taken a more cinematic approach, with it being the ‘soundtrack to your life’. Was this a conscious decision on your part, to combine your music with your love of acting to make the album more personal? It was a conscious decision but it wasn’t really that I wanted to combine it with my love of acting; it was more that I wanted to combine it with my love of film as a viewer. I watch a lot of films all the time so I wanted to somehow cultivate the atmosphere of films into this whole album and everything we put out.

Do you have any favourite tracks? What track are you most looking forward to fans hearing? I love all of them, but I think some stand out ones are probably ‘The Next Thing’, ‘30 Minute Love Affair’ and ‘Blood Sweat and Tears’, they’re kind of, more dancey ones, which make me excited to have a dance! I’m really

looking forward to the emotional side of things, ‘Just Be’ and ‘Streets Of Glory’, I’m really excited about. ‘Just Be’ is a very stripped back ballad with piano and then ‘Streets of Glory’ is the opposite, it’s got bells and whistles and everything all in one. They have string arrangements from David Arnold who I think is incredible.

You’ve previously said that, “A lot of people write songs because they want to record them in a studio”, whereas you write songs so that you can perform them live. Do you prefer performing the chilled out songs better, or the more upbeat numbers? I think both, a mix of both. Like light, you need light and shade; gigs are full of light and shade as well.

You collaborated with lots of artists, from rapper Ghost Face Killah for a remixed version of ‘New York’ to Cee Lo Green at the Brit Awards. Who would be your dream collaboration? Andre 3000.

Going back to your acting career, you’ve appeared in several films and television dramas. You’ve recently been announced to appear in the BBC adaptation of Blandings – can you tell us a little more about your character and how this came about? I’m just appearing as a character called Jordan who’s in one episode, episode 5 of the series; she’s basically a 1920s version of me! She’s a London cabaret performer and is a bit playful, and quite cheeky. I had an audition – I don’t think they even knew I was an actress! I went to an audition and they said that they liked my interpretation of the character and I said, ‘I’m just being myself!

You’ve been hailed in the press as something of a fashion icon - who would you say were your biggest influences or inspirations, and are there any new designers we should look out for? My biggest inspirations are probably Marilyn Monroe, Marlene Dietrich, Coco Chanel – I love the way she dressed – Bjork and Grace Jones. Designers I love Dolce and Gabbana, I keep wearing them, Alexander McQueen I think is incredible and I love all the high-end stuff like Jean Paul Gautier. New designers - I think Piers Atkinson and Victoria Grant are amazing.

You mentioned that Bjork is one of your fashion inspirations – you recently worked with Nellee Hooper who produced your album; what was it like working with him? Did you learn anything from him? I learn new things every day! I learn new things all the time. If you go through life not learning it’s a bit weird. I learnt loads - it was amazing working with him. We were a match made in heaven, as he’s really into visual things and so am I, so I suppose he’s the first producer I worked with who understood my language as I sort of, speak in pictures. My old A&R from my record company left and this guy called Colin Barlow took over the record label and I told him what I was after and how I didn’t really know who to approach and he suggested Nellee. He said, ‘I’ve got a really strong feeling about this, and you’ve got to trust me’, and I did. I met him, and I thought he was brilliant!

You’ve been acting as a mentor for Danny’s team on BBC’s ‘The Voice’ to help prep the vocalists for the ‘Battle’ round of the competition. What was the main piece of advice you gave to them, and how was the experience for you? Did you learn anything by going through the process with them? I think the main piece of advice I was giving them was about performance and how I think it’s not enough to just stand on stage and sing the song, you have to do extra, whether it be physically moving around and giving depth to the song that way, or giving a more emotional performance. I just feel like to me it’s important that we have something to look at, so I focused on that. I learnt how much talent there is out there, and how it’s a really strange industry as at the end of the day, not that much talent breaks through. It’s unbelievable sometimes when you just take a minute to think, ‘actually, there’s loads of people who could be wearing the exact same shoes that I’m wearing’. It makes me feel grateful for what I’ve got and what I’ve achieved – obviously I’ve worked bloody hard for it but I think there’s a certain combination of hard work, perseverance and a little sprinkling of luck.

What are you plans for the rest of the year; do you have any live dates or plans to tour? I’m doing some warm up shows this summer, I’m yet to find out dates – I’ll be promoting this record then I’m hoping I’ll tour towards the end of the year but I won’t if people don’t buy the album! So I’m waiting to find out if people will buy it so I can go out on tour and show off!! I’m very nervous about the release, I keep ringing my manager up, as I’m a bag of nerves!

Paloma’s new album ‘Fall To Grace’ is out now.

Chic Lifestyle Magazine | Issue 43

Fashion | Womens

s n e m o W Fashion

- Darling Buds of May -

Summer is on its way, and the catwalks are blossoming with the arrival of Spring/Summer’s floral collection! The floral trend has come into full bloom this season with a stunning show of delicate prints. Work the trend with intricate micro-florals and create the epitome of classic femininity and subtle elegance, or get creative with the twists and swirls of the bolder floral prints to add an edge of striking extravagance to your look. If the thought of being covered head to toe in flowery patterns terrifies you, keep it simple with minimal petal-pieces, and vamp it up with bright accessories for an ultra-glam look.

Editor’s Pick

Marc Jacobs

Small Daisy Printed Cotton Blouse www.net-a-porter.com £650

Dress it up with bright accessories and even brighter shoes, or tone it down with a biker jacket and classic shades – ultra chic!

Dolce & Gabbana

Floral-Print Silk Crepe Dechine Dress www.net-a-porter.com £875

Marc Jacobs

Daisy-Print Scarf www.net-a-porter.com £320

Karen Millen

Paint Splash Floral Jumpsuit www.asos.com £175

Jimmy Choo

Polar Tropical-Print Espadrille Wedges www.net-a-porter.com £265

Maarten Van Der Horst Floral Print Dress www.topshop.com £120

Aminaka Wilmont

Floral-Print Jersey Leggings www.net-a-porter.com £255

Chic Lifestyle Magazine | Issue 43

Toms

Classic Corbel Flat S hoes www.selfridges.com

Yves Saint Laurent

Arty Flower Gold Plated & Enamel Ring www.harveynichols.com £165

Fashion | Mens

s n e M n o Fashi

- Blue Moon -

Fashion for men is taking a colourful turn, with the Spring/Summer 2012 collections featuring a more vibrant palette, moving away from the monotony of monochrome and launching the stereotypical ‘boy’ colour – blue! Blue is a naturally versatile colour its ubiquitous style means it adapts to all the major fashion archetypes from military to tailored suits. Be experimental and team aqua with navy, baby with indigo and for the style-conscious, don’t forget the coveted prints, all in blue of course!

LTD

Silicone Black Strap Analogue www.asos.com £95

Editor’s Pick

Burberry

Printed Cotton Jersey T-Shirt www.mrporter.com £225

Go a shade lighter than navy, and easily incorporate this season’s pastel hues to your outfit for a smart and chic look!

Gitman Vintage

Tennis-Print Cotton Shirt www.mrporter.com £145

Paul Smith

Cutter Brogues www.selfridges.com £345

Maison Martin Margiela

Slim-Fit Cotton-Twill Blazer www.mrporter.com £145

Richard James

Half-Lined Wool-Blend Suit www.mrporter.com £825

Vivienne Westwood Brooks Brothers

Milano Straight-Leg Cotton-Twill Chinos www.mrporter.com £89

Ted Baker

Slim-Fit Chinos www.selfridges.com £89

Embroidered Crest Polo Shirt www.harveynichols.com £115

Issue 43 | Chic Lifestyle Magazine

No Free Fitting Just Fair Prices Full Fitting Service Available Free No Obligation Quote

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BASTILLE

London born Dan Smith’s musical project Bastille is about to explode big time. Having built up a loyal fan-base supporting everyone from Fenech-Soler to Foster The People. Last month Bastille treated Sheffield’s The Harley to the opening night of his début solo headlining tour. The packed venue was granted an intimate exhibition of new material alongside long standing live favourites, with epic covers of City High’s “What Would You Do?” and Corona’s “Rhythm Of The Night” thrown in for good measure. With the hype surrounding music’s next big name rising to fever pitch, Chic sent Jeremy Williams to have a quick chat with Smith about his growing success.

Chic Lifestyle Magazine | Issue 43

You have just released “Overjoyed” from the “Laura Palmer” EP as your latest single – When can we expect a complete album? I am right at the end of finishing off the album, we are just mixing some of the songs. On Friday we were lucky enough to have a day of recording at Abbey Road to do our strings, which is just ridiculous and amazing. We could only do it because we got it for free. The rest of the album we recorded in my friend’s basement studio so it has all been quite modest. So we are just putting in the strings, mixing the last few tracks and picking which ones will go on the album. Are you revisiting any of the old material for the album? Yes. Obviously a lot of the material I had is what originally got the attention of the label I am now working with. We had released about six tracks before all of this, so it is nice to have them on the record. We have got enough new ones to fill an album by themselves, but I think it is nice to combine them. Take “Laura Palmer”, we have re-recorded it for the album and added a string quartet. It feels like a little bit of a departure from what we had done before, but it still feels like the same song. It just feels like an album version of it.

So it is not just a case of revisiting, but also revamping? Some stuff. Other stuff, like “Flaws” will be exactly the same. With the EP that we put out before, they were in the state they were in when we had to release the EP, but I always wanted to do more. They were always going to change a little bit. Stuff like “Overjoyed”, which we have just re-released, is exactly the same. Your previous releases “Flaws/ Icarus” and “Laura Palmer” have had conceptual through-lines - is that something you are looking to take forward to the album? I think it will be the songs that I think work best together. One thing I have found with a lot of the new songs I have written that there have been themes constantly popping up. I feel these themes draw all the way back through to “Flaws”. I think it will feel quite cohesive. If anything, sonically it might feel a bit mental because it will be from “Flaws”, which is quite minimal and electronic and earthy through to “Things We Lost In The Fire” and “Laura Palmer” which just sound massive, with huge Abbey Road strings. Then we have another new song, which is called “Bad Blood”, which will probably be our next single, which

kind of just grooves along quite slowly. I think hopefully thematically it will all feel cohesive. Are there any of the new tracks which you are looking forward to people hearing? I guess this “Bad Blood”. A lot of people really like songs that they have most recently written, and I have never really been like that til now. This song, “Bad Blood”, which incidentally is a lot heavier live than it is on record, I got to the point where I have been reworking all the songs to album and occasionally a fear creeps in that I am not able to write songs any more. Then I wrote a song called “Oblivion” which I am really happy with. It is just so depressing. Then I wrote this song “Bad Blood”, which is equally depressing, but both of them are sonically different and different to other stuff on the album. I just can’t wait for people to hear them. It looks like “Bad Blood” will be the single after “Overjoyed”, so it will be really fulfilling to have new material out there. Are you reworking everything for the live forum? Not really. The way I have made all the songs is through writing and recording by myself on my rubbish little laptop. I get them to a point where they are pretty much finished and I work on them with my friend Mark. We work

in his studio and change some of the sounds, maybe record things on better mics. That is basically how we have done the whole album. When it comes to the band, they may add in little bits, but most of it comes from myself and Mark. What is the goal, post album? It would be nice to just sort of release quite a few singles from the album. If things go well we should be able to release six or seven singles from the album, which would be great. I’d like to make another mix-tape, we’d all like to tour loads and do a whole load of other covers. I am also working on other things outside of Bastille at the moment, which is a lot of fun. It is so nice to have making music as my job. It is crazy and all very new to me. I love the band and making the music that I like to make, but there is also loads of other stuff that I want to do. I have been working with a rapper from New York and a few other producers, so it has been fun. I just want to do as much as possible, especially writing for other people.

Photos by Jeremy Williams

Bastille | Interview

www.bastillebastille.com

Issue 43 | Chic Lifestyle Magazine

South Sea

bigsounduk@hotmail.co.uk f: Southsealive South Sea Live is the latest admirable effort to bring some life to the Sheffield Music Scene. A real labour of love for Barnsley native Dave Hancock with support from his team, Iain West and Steve Gilberthorpe; time has been spent clearing out and revamping the bar to turn it into an authentic rock and roll venue. Hugely passionate about live music, the team behind South Sea have years of experience on the circuit being a band themselves, and are keen to bring some authenticity and excitement back to Sheffield’s underground scene. The 200 capacity venue’s centrepiece is its sixteen by ten foot stage, complete with impressive light rigs and smoke machine, all overseen by the seasoned in-house technician. Commitment to putting on quality gigs is too often neglected by those organisers putting pocket before passion, it’s refreshing to see a team genuinely keen to support Sheffield’s up-and-comings and thrilled to be a part of the Steel City’s rich musical heritage. There is surely no better way to spend your Saturday night than with a decent pint and some cracking live music courtesy of Sheffield’s finest – South Sea bar is situated at 3 Spooner Road in Broomhill. Get yourself down. 3 Spooner Road, Broomhill, Sheffield, S10 5BL

Experience some of the best unsigned bands on the circuit in Sheffield’s new live music venue

Cuisine | Recipe

Salmon and Asparagus Penne Though it might be difficult to believe, spring is upon us, and for foodies across the country, May is the perfect time to enjoy one of the seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most versatile, healthy and all too often neglected greens. People tend to struggle working asparagus into their dish, when the truth is it goes with almost anything. This month, the Chic chef has been cooking up a springtime storm in the kitchen, as he walks us through his Salmon and Asparagus Penne pasta.

To Cook: 1. Cook the penne pasta in plenty of boiling, lightly salted water according to the packet.

2. Boil the asparagus in a little lightly salted water for 4 - 5 minutes, drain. 3. Steam the salmon either in the microwave on medium for 3 minutes or on a covered plate over the cooking pasta.

4. Melt the butter in a saucepan and add the sun dried tomatoes, then stir in the yoghurt and cornflour, half the lemon zest, chopped watercress and seasoning. Heat gently, stirring for about 2 - 3 minutes. 5. Drain pasta and rinse through with boiling water. 6. Combine asparagus, pasta and yoghurt mixture together, add flaked salmon. 7. Reheat for a few moments, then, divide between 4 warmed plates. 8. Sprinkle over Parmesan cheese and the remaining lemon zest. Serve at once.

Chic Lifestyle Magazine | Issue 43

Ingredients 300 - 350g penne Pasta 125g asparagus, cut into short lengths 50g sun-dried tomatoes, drained and sliced 250g salmon fillets 2 tsp lemon juice 250ml yoghurt, such as Onken Natural Set Yoghurt 2 tsp cornflour, or plain flour 1 tsp lemon zest 25g butter 75g watercress, large stalks removed 25g Parmesan, grated

Cuisine | Review

Owlerton Stadium

www.owlertongreyhoundracingstadium.co.uk

There’s something a little old fashioned about a night at the dog tracks, the sport has an unfashionable image, Hillsborough’s Owlerton Stadium has done its best to change that Promising a “great night out for all”, the team behind Owlerton pull out all the stops to create a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere and to ensure all their patrons have a great time. The Panorama restaurant overlooking the track offers the best seats in the house, and we took the opportunity to put their culinary skills to the test.

“ Lady luck wasn’t with us at the track, but regardless, the great atmosphere, stunning grub and the entertainment on offer ensured a night out at Owlerton is nothing short of the dogs’.”

“ hearty favourites ” The menu at Owlerton consists of a reliable selection of tried and tested, hearty favourites at reasonable prices. For starters, I opted for that Sunday staple, Crisp Yorkshire Puddings with Henderson’s Onion Gravy; the Yorkshire puddings were light and fluffy and the gravy, to die for. My partner chose Prawn and Crayfish Cocktail, a distinctly eighties dish that is all too easy to get very, very wrong. Fortunately, the chefs at Owlerton know what they’re doing, serving up a generous, contemporary dish that was refreshing and packed a punch of flavour. The choice of mains on offer at Owlerton are slim but varied; pasta and rice dishes sit alongside rich British classics. As the surroundings dictate, my parter and I both give into the call of Slow Roast Belly Pork, Buttered Leek Mash, Grain Mustard and Apricot Sauce - the pork is soft, succulent and melts in the mouth. Generous helpings of the fluffy, sweet, buttered leek mash went down a treat, while the sweetness of the seasonal sauce perfectly complemented the tender pork. The deserts on offer at Owlerton are nothing short of utter indulgence. I went for the Profiteroles, which were delicate and neatly presented, packed full of a very light cream, which was most welcome after such a heavy meal, and once again we were treated to generous servings, this time a cascade of chocolate sauce – delicious. My parter indulged in Vanilla Cheesecake with Marinated Cherries and Vanilla Ice Cream, which was rich and very sweet, but a perfect finish to a fantastic meal and the start of a brilliant night.

Jewel In The Crown 436 Attercliffe Common, Sheffield, S9 2FH 0114 243 0275 www.jewelsheffield.co.uk

For a unique taste of mouth-watering Asian flavours, spend an evening at Jewel In The Crown, a restaurant offering something much more special than the usual mix of spices. Priding themselves on the ultimate dining experience, Jewel offers the finest Asian cuisine, with chefs using the finest, seasonal ingredients to ensure the freshness of their dishes. Putting a cosmopolitan twist on Asian dining, Jewel In The Crown places a modern slant on traditional flavours, served in beautiful, contemporary surroundings. The restaurant has recently added some tantalising new dishes to their already extensive menu, and has reduced their prices after feedback from their customers. Try the new Chef ’s Special Starter of Garlic Butter Scallop, then perhaps follow with the Lobster Salon, founded in the village of Sylhet by the chef on a special visit to Bangladesh, cooked with special bhuna sauce and a mix of fresh curry leaves and crushed pepper. Or try the new Jewel Special Vegetable – fresh, seasonal vegetables cooked with onion, garlic and tomato puree, then garnished with melted cheese.

Want to be reviewed in our magazine? Contact us on 0114 261 07 08 or email us at info@chiclifestylemagazine.co.uk

On arriving at the stadium, the atmosphere is palpable, the expansive 300 seater restaurant retains the excitement of the track whilst also offering some respite from the commotion. We are welcomed warmly by the staff, who remain attentive and helpful throughout our meal. Our seats positioned us right by the dog traps outside; it felt as if we could actually reach out and fuss the hounds! A novel – and very handy – feature of the restaurant is that staff are on hand to take your bets from the table, making betting easy and hassle-free; this, of course is both a blessing and a curse, as I found out with a substantially lighter wallet by closing time, but what’s a night at the dogs without a little flutter?

Tempted? The flavours have to be tasted to be truly experienced so pop down to Jewel In The Crown for an alluring taste of contemporary Asian cuisine.

Issue 43 | Chic Lifestyle Magazine

Beauty | Tips

Tip Off

As the weather turns warmer our minds look towards the summer holidays. But before you jump into your bikini with all guns blazing, save yourself from a nasty shock when you look in the mirror by fully preparing your bod for the beach in plenty of time. Believe us, it will be worth it, if only for the holiday snaps. This month, we’ve scaled the shelves for the hottest new body perfecting products on the market, and reviewed Sheffield salons Pure Beauty and Kojo & Lee. Tricks

Holiday Prep

Cowshed Slender Cow

www.cowshed.com

Luxury British brand, Cowshed, have concocted a new trio of products, Launched in, May. Slender Cow is designed to help detoxify, firm and tone the skin, created especially for ‘gym-shy cows’ to budge stubborn cellulite. Packed with Dermochlorella, a freshwater micro-algae to improve skin tone and firmness by up to 46 per cent, plus decrease the appearance of stretchmarks, you’ll be well on your way to a beach-worthy bum. Step One is the Detoxifying Body Scrub, packed with Himalayan pink salt and Dead Sea salt polish to purify and refine the skin. Follow this with Step Two, the Body Sculpting Serum containing Tamanu, Macadamia Nut and Borage Seed oils to help strengthen the skin and improve the appearance of stretch marks, then the Extra Firming Body Lotion is Step Three, to firm, tone and awaken sluggish skin, laden with skin-softening Tamanu, Rosehip and organic Coconut oils.

Giorgio Armani Luminessence

www.giorgioarmanibeauty.co.uk

For the ultimate in luxury skincare, Giorgio Armani has launched new range, Luminessence. Using its ‘Bright Regen’ technology, the products harness the natural power of light to brighten your skin’s appearance. Skin light traps are corrected, such as pores, wrinkles and dark spots. Through research into how light operates on the skin, Luminessence enhances light’s seven-phase journey through the skin, creating an ultra-natural and luminous glow. The product is exclusive to Harrods from May and nationwide from September.

Try Garnier BB Cream Miracle Skin Perfector, £7.49 or MAC Prep + Prime BB Beauty Balm SPF35, £21

Dove Summer Glow Nourishing Lotion for Normal to Dark Skin £5.69 www.boots.com

MAC Prep + Prime BB Beauty Balm SPF 35

£21 www.maccosmetics.co.uk

Looking beautiful on the beach begins before you’ve even stepped onto the plane. Rising temperatures mean the usual beauty regime is hard to follow, so we’ve compiled our top tricks for holiday harmony, leaving you free to enjoy the sun. The secret to looking hot in the heat is semi-permanent fixes. Think about getting your eyelashes and eyebrows tinted a few days before you fly (although a patch test is required a few days before so check with your salon in plenty of time), which won’t wash off in the pool and keep you looking glam all day long. When there’s sunbathing to be done, you don’t want to be worrying about a less than perfect polish. Treat yourself to a gel manicure and pedicure – a colour polish dried under UV light which lasts for about two weeks chip-free, keeping your fingers and toes sparkling. As far as the tan is concerned, remember that until the genuine tan takes a hold, in the first half of the week you’ll be looking a little bit pasty. There’s nothing wrong with faking it so apply tinted moisturiser for a few days before you travel. Thanks to the saltwater, pool chlorine and sweat a full on fake tan will end up looking patchy in no time, so resist from going overboard to avoid the tell-tale faking it signs. Try: Dove Summer Glow Nourishing Lotion for Normal to Dark Skin, £5.69, www.boots.com You might be forced to step away from the straighteners on holiday – hopping in and out of the pool combined with sweaty temperatures might just send your strands over the edge into frizz-dom. Combat this by rocking a new curly style (pack the frizz control) or messy up do, and stick a cute flower in for full paradise chic. Try: Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray, £19.50, www.bumbleandbumble.co.uk Smothering your face in heavy foundation is a big mistake when on holiday. A glistening T-zone and melting complexion is never the best look. Try adding a touch of fake tan to your cheeks until you become sun-kissed, and for the balmy evenings on the tiles add a touch of BB Cream – moisturiser with a hint of foundation for a subtle glow and coverage. Try: MAC Prep + Prime BB Beauty Balm SPF 35, £21, www.maccosmetics.co.uk

Chic Lifestyle Magazine | Issue 43

Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray £19.50 www.bumbleandbumble.co.uk

Tantalising Tan

If you’re lucky enough to jet off to sun-soaked climes this summer (or even in your garden if the sun gods just happen to be on our side this year), then you might also be lucky enough to develop a beautifully natural tan. Keeping it looking glossy and sun-kissed often proves to be a challenge however, so here’s our top tips for prolonging that glow for as long as is possible. Nourishment is a must for sun-saturated skin. Ensure you moisturise every single day to avoid patchy white bits and flaky skin, replenishing the essential oils that the sun may have dried out. TRY – Jo Malone Vanilla & Anise Body Crème, £48, www.jomalone.co.uk Although you might think exfoliation is a big no-no when it comes to tan longevity, it actually helps to remove the dulling dead skin and unearths the glowing layers underneath. Don’t go crazy with the scrubbing however; a gentle shower gel scrub will suffice. TRY – Molten Brown Renew Ambrusca Wash & Scrub, £21, www.moltenbrown.co.uk Once the authentic glow has diminished there’s nothing wrong with faking it – if you can keep it a secret then we will. TRY – St Tropez Gradual Tan Everyday Body, £14.30, www.st-tropez.com

Try

Beauty Review | Pure Beauty

- Pure Beauty 651 Queens Road, Sheffield, S2 4DX 0114 327 7517 Having opened in October 2011, Pure Beauty is one of the latest additions to Sheffield’s Beauty scene. Fancying a bit of a pamper, I booked myself an appointment to try out a treatment. Owned and managed by Asia Butt, the salon offers a full range of beauty and hair treatments, including waxing, bleaching, facials, pedicures, manicures, massage, make up, eye treatments and nails extensions. As a ladies only salon, Pure Beauty offers clients full privacy with a concealed window and treatment area. Having built up a loyal following of clients from her previous beauty room on West Street, Asia decided to move to a more residential area where she could expand into larger premises. Asia also offers a full threading service in complete privacy, and henna tattooing for weddings and events, plus Crystal Clear microdermabrasion is now available, with other new treatments in the pipeline.

Pure Beauty offers a range of facial treatments, and Asia decided to treat me to the Deep Cleanse Facial, using the Dermalogica range. Asia started with the Pre-Cleanse product, which rinses away oil-based debris from the skin’s surface, without leaving behind any greasy residue. She followed this with a dose of the Essential Cleansing Solution, a rich, creamy cleanser to gently lift impurities from dry, sensitive skin, whilst conditioning and soothing. Dermalogica facials and routines use facemapping to help gain an idea of what the skin type is, what any specific problems or needs are and which products would be best to use. Asia checked my skin and noticed a few blocked pores, so continued with the Daily Microfoliant, a unique rice-based enzyme powder which microfoliates dulling debris, leaving skin smoother and brighter. Asia then applied Scaling Fluid to the affected area, a formulation of natural plant extracts which deeply cleanses the skin, reducing oil

production and dissolving clogged pores. To remove blackheads and blocked pores, the pores must first be opened. Asia left me under a facial steamer for a few minutes, which blew hot steam across my face, opening my pores. Once complete, she set about the extraction work, using a tool to individually push out blackheads. Although sounding painful, this was actually pretty much painless! Asia finished off with a massage facial, a relaxing treatment to soothe after exfoliating. Using an eye cream and Barrier Repair moisturiser – a product infused with Dermalogica’s UltraCalming Complex which soothes sensitized skin and reinforces the protective barrier – my skin was left soft and deeply cleansed, with the moisturiser quickly soaking in. I even noticed a visible difference to my skin, with fewer blocked pores and a smoother feel. Check out the salon on Facebook at ‘Pure Beauty Salon’ for the latest updates and offers, or give them a call to book an appointment. Chic Lifestyle Magazine | Issue 43

Want to be reviewed in our magazine? Contact us on 0114 261 07 08 or email us at info@chiclifestylemagazine.co.uk

Beauty Review

Tresses | Review

Kojo & Lee

www.facebook.com/kojoandlee

Admittedly, once you’ve seen one hair salon, you’ve pretty much seen them all. Reception, cutting stations, basins, product-filled shelves… you know what to expect. Newly launched Kojo & Lee offers an entirely new hairdressing experience however, so I popped in to see what it was all about. Tucked away upstairs in The Great Gatsby bar, the Kojo & Lee salon literally consists of the bare essentials to hairdressing: a chair and mirror, plus an electricity supply for the hairdryer and straighteners! Having worked at Toni & Guy for 15 years, stylist Nikki Lee Hampton decided she wanted to branch out, and was introduced to the space in Great Gatsby after cutting the owner’s hair. She moved in and Kojo & Lee was born. Kojo & Lee fits perfectly into the space. A lover of all things vintage, Nikki’s chair and mirror match the theme of the space, with the dark green walls, wooden flooring, shelves decorated with vintage glasses, intriguingly mysterious skulls and antique tables. A retro record player spins the dulcet tones of Kate Bush, and on asking for a cup of tea you’re presented with a china tea set on a silver tray, complete with tea pot and cups.

Our model was after a shorter style which oozed volume. With no basins in the salon, she’d washed her hair at home before arriving, and Nikki wet her hair down for the cut. Having long hair with a few lengthy layers, Nikki cut the length down to her collarbone, adding more layers for increased texture, sectioning the hair and creating the basic shape. On a regular trip to the hairdressers, you often find yourself bombarded with products, but not having a range of products to sell, you don’t get this at Kojo & Lee and you know any recommendations will be from the quality of the product. Nikki used Toni & Guy Volume Plumping mousse, available on the shelves at Boots, then blast-dried the hair using her fingers to pull the hair upwards from the root to add body. She then blow-dried it straight with a round brush, clipping into sections, and using the brush at the top of the head to boost volume at the crown. Once dry, Nikki lightened up the front before cutting into the layers to make them less heavy, as our model had thick hair, and didn’t use any final products to finish so as not to lose any movement and texture. Nikki had created a strong shape with lots of layers,

Chic Lifestyle Magazine | Issue 43

which can be blast dried for ultimate texture, or given smooth edges for a smarter look. The result was an incredibly glossy, healthy looking style, with oodles of volume and texture. It was the whole experience itself which really stood out from the crowds of other salons however, getting back to the essence of hairdressing and highlighting Nikki’s true love for her craft.

Kojo & Lee

73 - 75 Division Street (upstairs at The Great Gatsby), Sheffield, S1 4GE 07989 951211 kojoandlee@gmail.com f: kojoandlee

Want to be reviewed in our magazine? Contact us on 0114 261 07 07 or email us at info@chiclifestylemagazine.co.uk

Building up the business organically, Nikki is creating a client base solely by word of mouth, focusing on a more laid back and relaxing hair cutting experience. She plans to open up her own salon one day but for now is enjoying this unique concept. Offering the one-on-one service, a cut at Kojo & Lee is never rushed and there’s never a line of people waiting for their spell with the scissors.

Block Paving & Landscaping 15 years experience Portfolio available 5 years guarantee Rest assurance & reliability Contact: 07795663211 07865991879 breci@btinternet.com

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Hansley Beard Events & Wedding Design Studio 359 Abbeydale Road, Sheffield, S7 1FS www.hansleybeard.co.uk 07810 162 146 / contact@hansleybeard.co.uk

The pressure of fruitlessly striving for perfection can turn your wedding dreams into a stressful situation. Fortunately, help is at hand in the shape of wedding planner and stylist Jennie Beard, director of Hansley Beard Events & Wedding Design Studio. Jennie’s job is to transform aspirations into reality, in all aspects from simply advising couples on their creative ideas to fully planning and managing the big day. Running the business via her website for nearly four years, Jennie opened a studio on Abbeydale Road in February, as a place to showcase her work, meet with clients and display the decor items she has available to hire, making the styling process much more of an experience for clients. Many couples come to Jennie wanting a quirky yet stylish theme, something personal and different, and Jennie has a huge collection of decor items and vintage props to accommodate any ideas, including china, lanterns, birdcages, glassware and fairy lights, all available for hire. Another of Jennie’s specialities is dessert tables, a personalised, sensory experience to add a sweet little something to your guests’ enjoyment. With a background in archaeology and heritage, Jennie says the love of vintage runs in her blood, with antique dealer parents and her great grandmother’s sweet shop. One of Jennie’s favourite weddings was set in the bride’s parents’ garden in York, backing onto the River Ouse. She arranged and decorated two marquees, adorned the garden with fairy lights and lanterns, and ensured all the day’s logistics were taken care of behind the scenes, liaising with the caterers, florist, music bands, P.A company and generator supplier to make the day a success.

With over 20 years of event experience under her belt, Jennie has been trained by the UK Alliance of Wedding Planners to hone her skills to weddings, and can also turn her eye for stunning design to a range of events including parties and themed corporate events. Give Jennie a call to find out more or to make an appointment at her studio, open between 10am5.30pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday or Saturday.

Bottom Photo by DJB photography

Other services available include a two-hour creative styling advice session at her studio, in which couples can share and explore their creative wedding ideas with Jennie or a one-hour troubleshooting session, where Jennie can work with couples to troubleshoot or fill in any gaps they may have in their wedding, and perhaps highlight any vital aspects the clients may have forgotten about.

Spotlight | Bird

Spotlight Bird

Sheffield is home to one of the most diverse and fruitful art scenes in the country. Catering for all tastes and abilities, the city is a hub of creativity and imagination, boasting a host of galleries, from the small, intimate Old Sweet Shop, right through to the spacious Millennium Gallery. Each month we aim to shine our Chic Spotlight on one of the Steel City’s most inspired artists. Bird Lovegod does something different; good deeds as art, each good deed is documented, and are made available in a book you can purchase from the artist’s website. I met Bird in his studio at Sheffield Hallam University to discuss his project; whilst initially conversation felt stilted, before long Bird comes out of his shell and is fascinating, erudite, witty and keen to change the world. Do you want to start by telling us who you are and what you do? Hi, my name’s Bird, I’m an artist and also a student at Sheffield Hallam. I do good deeds as art – humanitarian interventions. That’s what I do, but I also paint, draw, everything else. How long have you been doing the good deeds? The first one was in the summer of 2010, then I did a couple the next year. These sort of deliberate, intentional, documented acts of kindness and then I started doing it basically as a business and as a professional art practice last summer. How is it professional? Every time somebody buys a piece of my material artwork, I do a good deed, document it and then send the buyer a certificate showing them what it was that was done. So I did twenty five that first summer, and what I was selling was a book of my first year’s work at art school, a two hundred page book of all my paintings and essays and what have you. Then I came back to Sheffield from London in the autumn, and produced a book of the good deeds, one good deed per page, I started selling those and every time someone bought one, I would do another good deed. So it becomes a publishing system that generates good deeds. What constitutes a good deed? There’s a wide range [picks up book] in this book, which is one to sixty, there’s all sorts of things. Pick a number from one to sixty. 42. OK, 42 was buying some flowers for the manager of a canteen, to say “thank you” for letting me have my lunch on tick whilst I ran to the bank. Number 16. 16 was tidying up a load of shopping trolleys that were strewn around Whitecross Street in London, so I collected them up and returned them back to Waitrose. Some of the good deeds are for individuals while some are for the wider community, some cost money to do - like one, I bought some Converse trainers for a Big Issue seller – others don’t cost money. I read on your press bio that you planned to start off small and gradually build up to grander acts Yeah, the value of the artwork is increasing, and as that increases, the amount of money that can be put into the good deed increases and that increases the magnitude of the good deed. It’s hard to quantify it though, because you can change someone’s life with a cup of hot chocolate at the right time and place, so it’s not always about the amount of money that you’ve got. But one of my ambitions with this system is to save a person’s life as art and with art. And when my works are selling for sums of money that generate significant revenue to do the deeds with, to transform people’s lives as part of the art. What kind of reception do you get from the recipients? Very good, people are very receptive to having acts of kindness done for them. It was raining the other month and I was handing out umbrellas to people, that’s one of my good deeds. If you say you’re an artist it kind of explains why you’re doing it, it justifies it. Is it something that should have to be justified? That’s a good question. It shouldn’t necessarily have to be justified, but then again sometimes it’s necessary to rationalise it. Other than financial gain, what do you get from it? It’s like a self-improvement practise, and so as well as being on the lookout for good deeds that I can do, it makes me focus my attention on ways I can do good, and it focuses my thoughts on what it means to do good. Some of the good deeds have even been acts of forgiveness and this way the system becomes a personal practise; I’m been paid to forgive someone essentially. This raises some very interesting questions. The biggest question I think raised by the whole project is; are you not just commodifying virtue? Absolutely. Nailed it on the head.

Chic Lifestyle Magazine | Issue 43

Do you not feel any guilt? None whatsoever. Are you religious? I have a theology, I don’t have a religion. Everything’s commodified to some degree or another, let’s not be hypocritical, life is commodified; there is literally probably a billion people who live or die, depending on whether they had a few hundred quid, so we’re already there. The bigger picture is to make the world a better place, and if that means that, through the sale of material goods, virtuous actions are initiated. That’s a bloody good thing. It also makes bloody good art. I’m not sure it’s a good thing. That’s why it’s good art. In Christian teachings, if you do a good thing - give to charity for example you keep it to yourself. You’re publishing your good deeds. Absolutely, it should be screamed from the rooftops. If you have a light do you put it under a basket? Do you know that’s a quote from Christ? Another big Christian teaching is the concept of free will. Your good deeds depend on the purchase of your artwork. Does that not eliminate free will thus invalidating the good deed? When people buy your art, they know they are funding a good deed? Absolutely, it’s what they’re buying. So it eliminates the free will. What free will? Well, in a normal environment, I determine my own actions and choose when I do a good deed. You have to do a good deed. I don’t have to do it, I’ve made a free choice To start the project? Yeah. And now you’re involved in it, you couldn’t say, “I don’t feel like doing a good deed today”? Of course I could. Or, I could pay someone else to do it. Is that in the contract? Oh yeah, I’ve already been down that road. Do you want to tell us about it? Well when I want to upscale this and potentially initiate hundreds of good deeds a week, or even thousands, it becomes a scenario in which the only way I’m able to do that is to pay other people to do good deeds. Do you genuinely want to make the world a better place? Let me show you a vision that I’ve had. Imagine that you when you buy insurance for your car, that as well as getting your insurance certificate, you get a good deed certificate. So you buy an insurance policy, and out of that six hundred quid, thirty goes to the doing of a good deed and you get a certificate showing what that was. Just one company doing that, could generate perhaps millions of good deeds a year. That would change the world. How is paying for a good deed any different from, say, paying somebody to clean my house? It’s good that my house is clean. There is a difference, if you wanted good deeds doing, you wouldn’t have to pay. So you want your house cleaned? Get in touch with somebody and they’ll come and clean your house for free. You want your car cleaned? They’ll clean it for free. You want a lift somewhere? Had your bike stolen? Want a bike? It would change the world. I don’t dispute the positive reactions of the recipient, nor that it must feel good for you to have done something positive for someone. But I can’t imagine you, personally feel rewarded; would you not feel more satisfaction doing something good for someone without thinking, “that’s got to be documented”.

Spotlight | Bird

I get more satisfaction when it’s documented. Why’s that? Because then I’m building a system that’s duplicable and sustainable and that can change the world. I’m not after karmic brownie points. If whoever was in charge of karma told me, “Bird, earn zero karma for this process because you were paid for it and because you’re doing it for other reasons,” I’d say, “fine”. I’m not doing it for that, I’m doing it to create a system that transcends capitalism and makes it a healing force. It’s interesting that you’re talking about art, and you have specifically referred to it as “art”, but you’re discussing it in business terms. Someone could say to me for example, “Bird, go do your good deeds and I’ll give you ten quid for each one”. That’s not scalable, it’s not a true system. If I create a system that is profitable, then it will proliferate and will grow. It’s like Damien Hirst painting spot paintings, what’s he gonna do, is he going to fill his life with five hundred spot paintings or is he going to sell them? It gives it life when it becomes a business, and gets it in to the wider domain. Our society is entirely built on capitalism. Is your system then, built to work inside an already existing capitalist structure? It is designed to cause capitalism to evolve into a humane and altruistic system. I believe everything should have a good deed attached to it when it’s sold. Would this project work in a utopian society? This project would create a utopian society. This project is a utopian society. Let’s consume our way to paradise. Which, while we say that with a dollop of irony, that’s what we’re sold all the time through advertising, and if we attach a good deed to the purchase of material goods, then we’re ten seconds away, nine, eight . . . We’ll finish on a light note. What’s your favourite good deed? The next one

As Bird and I part ways, the rain is pouring down outside. He hands me an umbrella, “had some left over”. Change the world eh? Just maybe . . . Phone: 07535 670 581 Website: www.BirdLovegod.com u: @BirdLovegod

Chic Lifestyle Magazine | Issue 43

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City Break | Edinburgh

- Edinburgh City Break

Edinburgh is arguably the most beautiful city in Britain - a wealth of history, culture and art, cradled by the breathtaking natural scenery of the Scottish Lowlands. Edinburgh’s integral role in the age of Enlightenment once earned it the nickname Athens of the North, and the description is still apt. From the brooding castle that dominates the city’s skyline, to the world-famed festival that transforms the city over the summer months, Edinburgh’s fruits are plentiful. Here’s just a hint of what Auld Reekie has to offer.

Attractions

Edinburgh has plenty to offer tourists, but never feels like a tourist destination. Unlike London or Manchester, Edinburgh is a city that rewards most when explored, each alley and doorway offering new surprises, from local art exhibits, to whisky tasting and ghost walks.

Edinburgh Castle

Of course a stay in Edinburgh wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the castle. One of Scotland’s most iconic visitor attractions, Edinburgh Castle sits on its own volcanic rock at the top of the Royal Mile. There’s much to see and admire at the Castle, a mighty fortification and favoured residence of Scotland’s kings and queens. Make sure you look out for the Royal Palace, created in 1617 in honour of James VI, the Crown Room in which the Scottish Crown Jewels are kept, and the Stone of Destiny where previous Scottish Monarchs were crowned. Castlehill Edinburgh, Midlothian EH1 2NG

The Writers’ Museum

The National Museum of Scotland has recently reopened following major refurbishment and is, of

Issue 43 | Chic Lifestyle Magazine

course, well worth a visit, boasting some 20,000 plus pieces, including a T Rex skeleton and specimens collected by Charles Darwin. But for those of you who want a real slice of the Scottish heritage, pay a visit to the Writers’ Museum in the heart of the city. The Writers’ Museum sits in the historic Lady Stair’s House which dates back to 1622, and celebrates the lives of three of Scotland’s great writers - Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson. The museum offers a glimpse into Scotland’s rich literary heritage, told through the eyes of its greatest penmen, and is as fascinating an experience for those who aren’t familiar with the authors’ work as those who are.

Lady Stairs House, Lady Stairs Close, Lawnmarket, Edinburgh, EH1 2PA

The Scotch Whisky Experience

A visit to The Scotch Whisky Experience is a must for any Edinburgh virgin. Situated towards the west end of the Royal Mile, The Scotch Whisky Experience is a journey into the world of Scotland’s biggest export. Take a swirling, bubbling barrel ride through a replica distillery as you become part of

the whisky making process. Along the way you’ll hear the stories behind this magical craft, with expert tour guides and whisky advisers with you every sip of the way. The team at The Scotch Whisky Experience will help you discover the aromas and flavours that appeal to your palate and lead you to your perfect Single Malt Whisky. And you even get to finish off the tour with a dram of Scotland’s finest. The Scotch Whisky Experience, 354 Castlehill, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh, EH1 2NE

Holyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat

Holyrood Park condenses the beautiful, rugged landscapes Scotland is famed for, right by the bustling city centre. The park is always very popular with tourists, and it’s easy to see why once you walk it. Holyrood Park is a prime location, adjacent to the new Scottish Parliament and the popular visitor attraction Dynamic Earth, both of which are located at the bottom Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. The walk starts opposite the Palace of Holyrood House, finishing some four miles later at Dunsapie Loch. The highlight of the walk is, without a doubt, the

City Break | Edinburgh

summit of Arthur’s Seat; rising 250 metres above sea level, Arthur’s seat dominates Edinburgh’s landscape, from the top stunning views of all of Edinburgh can be seen, as well as much of East Lothian, Midlothian and across the Firth of Forth to Fife. Arthur’s Seat is often mentioned as a possible location of the mythical Camelot, and it certainly retains that magical quality. Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh, EH8 8EQ

Food

Edinburgh is a city awash with fresh produce, hearty regional offerings (haggis, neeps and tatties anyone?) as well as haute cuisine from across the globe. The city’s natural beauty creates a perfect ambience to make a meal for two that extra bit special.

The Witchery

Hidden in a collection of ancient buildings in the heart of Edinburgh’s historic Old Town, just as you approach the castle, you’ll find The Witchery, one of the city’s most famous eating establishments. The Witchery has developed a world-wide reputation for its exceptional dining experience, showcasing the very best of Scotland’s produce in the most magical of settings - “magical” being the key word. A fine dining experience at The Witchery is like being transported into a fairytale world, huge rustic flower displays are illuminated by candlelight flickering off the tall carved-wood walls. Guaranteed to be the highlight of anyone’s trip to Auld Reekie, tables go fast so be sure to book in advance.

Nightlife

Drawing in huge numbers of both students and tourists as well as having to look after the locals, Edinburgh is a city that has evolved to cater for all. Nowhere is this more evident than in the city’s vibrant nightlife; from haunted pubs to heaving clubs, Edinburgh has a night on the tiles for everyone.

The Banshee Labyrinth

Situated on Niddry Street in Edinburgh’s Old Town, The Banshee Labyrinth lays claim to being Scotland’s most haunted nightclub. Half of the club was once part of the infamous “Underground Vaults” the former haunt of Auld Reekie’s criminals, thieves and vagabonds. It was in these former slums that many a poor and innocent soul met a very grisly end. The Banshee Labyrinth ends the Edinburgh ghost tour, and makes the most of its spooky heritage; the dungeon-like rooms are illuminated in ghostly purples and greens. Rum is a speciality, with the three bars stocking over sixty varieties. As well as blasting out a wide selection of rock and metal, the club has its own cinema, showing a range of cult classics for free! For those who enjoy the darker side of life, a visit to The Banshee Labyrinth is a must.

Dragonfly Cocktail Bar

Resting in the heart of Old Town, Dragonfly Cocktail Bar is an unassuming, attractive cocktail joint, whose passion and enthusiasm for creating flavoursome, refreshing and occasionally experimental cocktails, marks it out as the perfect place for a few drinks before bedtime. Their extensive drinks list has been honed over the past five years since opening; just reading the menu is sure to have you feeling giddy, with such concoctions as, “Sage Against the Machine”, and “The Cocktail Formerly Known as Prince”. Dragonfly’s staff are warm and friendly and happy to guide you through what’s on offer, and although they don’t do food, tell them you’re peckish and they’re happy to order you in a pizza. If there’s a better example of the fraternal Scots spirit, I’d like to know about it. Dragonfly Cocktail Bar, 52 West Port, Edinburgh, EH1 2LD

29-35 Niddry Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1LG

The Witchery by the Castle, Castlehill, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh, EH1 2NF

Restaurant Martin Wishart

One of Edinburgh’s handful of Michelin Starred eateries, Martin Wishart opened his eponymous restaurant in Edinburgh’s historic Port of Leith with his wife Cecile in February 1999. Now celebrating thirteen years of continuing growth, the doors that opened with just four staff now play host to a kitchen, front-of-house and management team of over twenty five. Martin directs this team with one member of staff for every two guests, and holds true to his original mission to bring the very best traditional and modern French cuisine to Edinburgh, using the finest and freshest Scottish local ingredients. Martin gave Edinburgh its first Michelin Star in 2001 and this has been confirmed every year since. Of course Michelin Star dining comes at a price, but it’s more that justified for an opportunity to taste the signature seafood dishes of Scotland’s own master-chef. 54 Shore, Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH6 6RA

The Elephant House

Since opening in 1995, The Elephant House has established itself as one of the best tea and coffee houses in Edinburgh, offering a wide selection of international teas and coffees as well as a selection of savoury snacks, paninis and an assortment selection of tantalising cakes and buns. The café is quaint and quirky, decorated in all shapes and sizes of elephant ornaments, many of which are for sale. The Elephant House’s real appeal though, is its notoriety as the chosen workplace for Edinburgh’s authors; most famously, J.K. Rowling has named the café as the birthplace of Harry Potter. It’s no exaggeration, set foot in the Elephant House any time of day, and you’re sure to see someone sat by one of the back windows with a cup of joe, furiously typing away. Who knows, time it right and you might even bump into Ian Rankin or Alexander McCall-Smith.

21 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH1 1EN

Issue 43 | Chic Lifestyle Magazine