Demur Magazine - A Fashionable Culture - February/March 17

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2017

A FASHIONABLE CULTURE

Dear Loyal Readers After a four month hiatus, we are back! A little while ago we sat down and we realised we needed to refresh ourselves. Here at Demur as you may have noticed, we are big on fashion, art, music and pretty much anything that makes us look well cultured. We also appreciate the striving creatives who sometimes go unnoticed in these industries. When we started Demur, the mission was to give these independent creatives a platform for their work to be seen. What we didn't think about was how exactly we were going to do this. So, for the last four months we have been working on how to better serve these independent creatives, how to improve the platform we are offering and provide better content for our readers.

This time around the team is well equipped, focused and driven to take Demur and anyone else who wants to tag along to the top. There is more to Demur than just a free magazine. Demur is a state of being, it's a way of living. With Demur we are cultivating a fashionable culture that people can relate to. We want to work with as many creatives as possible to build a lifestyle that we can enjoy, a Demur lifestyle. Although it's a bit late to say in the year, welcome to a New Year, New Us, a better Demur.

Until next time…

Noreen Chada, Editor, @noreenchada Contributors Noreen Chada – Editor Shirley Dee- Creative Director Alice Diamond- Staff Writer Kay Samuel- Editorial Assistant Nicole Samoto – Social Editor Stella Dzingai – Contributing Writer Harrison Madzivachando – Creative Content Manager Design Enlight - Design & Art Direction Visit us at: www.demur.co Social Media: Demur Magazine Email: info@demur.co A Fashionable Culture © All Rights Reserved. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily of the publisher, Demur Ltd. Reproduction in whole or part is forbidden except with express permission of the publisher. It is not the intention to print any matter that discriminates on the grounds of race, sex, sexuality or disability. We accept no liability for any misprints or mistakes and no responsibility can be taken for the contents of these pages.

Demur Magazine is a free monthly publication addressing a fashionable culture. Demur Magazine is published and distributed by Demur Ltd. For any distribution enquiries please email info@demur.co

CONTENTS PAGE - 5

DEMUR PICKS PAGE - 7

OUT ABOUT WITH DEMUR IN LONDON PAGE - 9

SCREENING OUR UNSEEN LIVES, A CONVERSATION WITH S.O.U.L PAGE - 14

LOLA CHEL PAGE - 18

STREET STYLE PAGE - 24

DEMUR FASHION DIARIES WITH HELENA THEISE PAGE - 31

LONDON FASHION WEEK HANGOUT SPOTS PAGE - 33

OUT AND ABOUT WITH DEMUR IN PARIS PAGE - 34

5 MINUTES OF IMAN'S TIME

Demur Picks 5

Twinks Necklace Jane Bowler

Merino Jersey Snood Velocity

£30.00

£25.00

Cronus Hockey Jersey Red Space London

Grace Organic Beauty Tea The Seventh Duchess

£38.99

£17.22

Gold Beaded Eye Pendant Helix & Felix

Frozen Hip Flask Skinny Dip

£10.00

£15.00

Horse Printed Sweatshirt Caycee Black Collection

Overhang Aqua Sunglasses Eighty6

£76.00

£32.00

Watermelon Candle Suuny Life

Wrap Around Dress AX Paris

£24.00

£25.00

Classic Suede Trainers Reebok

Scottish Gin Caorunn

£54.99

£27.00 6

OUT ABOUT WITH DEMUR IN LONDON

Boxed In Boxpark Shoreditch 2-10 Bethnal Green Rd, London E1 6GY Tues 28th Feb 7pm -9pm FREE

The World of Ãrpś London Hyde Kensington 1A Kensington High St, Kensington, London W8 5NP Sat 25th Feb 7pm -11pm FREE Ãrpś London, are an emerging brand by young entrepreneur Alex Rose. You are invited to come along and preview the brand's first collection. Ãrpś London have set themselves out to create more than just a clothing brand, rather a lifestyle.

Come along to this exclusive event to be held at the fashionable, HYDE Kensington hotel.

Boxed In returns for 2017. This will be the first show of the year. Enjoy an evening of Spoken Word, Open Mic & Acoustic and discover the talent London has to offer. If you have a bit of talent you wish to show off, turn up early and sign up to perform between 7:00pm – 7:30pm. The stage is yours do what you will with it.

S.O.U.L. (Screening Our Lives) Celebrate Connect BFI Southbank Belvedere Rd, South Bank, London SE1 8XT Fri 3rd March 3pm -9pm FREE

My Soul Music Presents: Kiera Weathers + Guests Notting Hill Arts Club 21 Notting Hill Gate, London, W11 3JQ Sat 10th March 6.30pm – 10pm £6.00

The first edition of 2017, S.O.U.L will bring a selection of short films and works from ethnic minority, independent creatives to the big screen at the BFI in Southbank. After the screening join S.O.U.L and other professionals from the Film and TV industry for an intense networking session.

Bring your charm and business cards.

You saw her wow the nation on X -Factor in 2015, now catch Kiera Weathers live in the flesh as she takes to the My Soul Music stage in Notting Hill. Since XFactor, Kiera has been working on and developing her own material. My Soul Music really do have a knack for picking the artists they bring to their stage, so we are keen to see what Kiera will deliver.

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#BlogConLdn by Scarlett London Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre Broad Sanctuary, London, SW1P 3EE Sat 18th March 12pm -4pm £12.00

Scarlett London know how to take care of B l o g g e r s . Ha v i n g b ro u g ht u s t h e phenomenal #BloggersBall and #BloggersFestival, Scarlett London Events present one of the only London Blogging Conventions around, #BlogConLDN. #BlogConLDN will hosts an array of exhibitors in different industries including, fashion, beauty, food, and drink. Over 400 bloggers are expected to be in attendance. Whether you are a virgin Blogger, beginner, or the don of all Bloggers, you might a learn a thing or two from the “Inspirational Wo m e n i n B l o g g i n g ” s p e e c h a n d workshop section to be delivered on the day.

Tess Redburn Exhibition at Hoxtown Gallery The Hoxton Shoreditch 81 Great Eastern St, London, EC2A 3HU Open Until Fri 4th April 11am -6pm Londoner, Tess Redburn will be taking up residence with her artwork pieces at the gallery at The Hoxton in Shoreditch. The exhibition entitled “Layout, Location, Function” is inspired by traditional Haitain paintings and modernism. The collection shows Tess's colourful art straddling the boundaries between painting, illustration and design.

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Screening Our Unseen Lives, a conversation with S.O.U.L

With the ongoing conversation of d i ve r s i t y, t h e re a re m a ny organisations out there, who are on a mission to be seen as the most diverse of them all in their industry. There is the fear that people are now being given opportunities just to meet diversity quotas rather than on merits. If it means the minorities are being given more opportunities, should we complain? Every vocation has its barriers especially when you are trying to get your foot into the door. S.O.U.L Film UK celebrate and support the unique and creative film talents of Britain's B.A.M.E (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) communities. We caught up with the founders of S.O.U.L Film UK, Lawrence Coke, Iyare Igiehon and Nuru RimingtonMkali for a conversation about the diversity word and Screening Our Unseen Lives on to the big screen.

The tough fight of bringing the creative talents of the under represented community to the big screen and S.O.U.L's plan of execution.

Iyare - I don't see it as a particularly tough fight, there are plenty of examples of people doing exactly that. We had 'The Intent' by Femi Oyeniran and 'The Weekend' by Kojo, that's just two from the top of my head. My feeling is that our communities are going to get themselves on to the big screen whatever it takes and our job is to support them in any way we can. So, our strategy is to facilitate the networking of talent, the sharing of knowledge

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and in the long term to get involved with the creation of new work ourselves.

Nuru - I think the real challenge lies in convincing these institutions that they have a truly vested interest in the intellectual diversity that results from a more varied array of backgrounds and experiences throughout the creative sectors. As long as increased diversity is seen as an obligation, as opposed to an o p p o r t u n i t y, a u d i e n c e s w i l l continue to be short changed.

Diversity inclusion is so much more than just the fair thing to do, or a chance to unlock pots of money tied to racial or gender quotas; it is something big that can lead to new stories, told from new angles - for new audiences.

To me, S.O.U.L. exists for this very purpose. I feel our aim as a community should be to affect change with product, not protest by channelling our creativity into untold stories for untapped audiences. They will only be able to remake Jurassic Park so many more times before things reach critical mass - and maybe Star Wars episode 27 will need to be in cinemas before the penny finally drops, but at some point, they will realise; it's not that there's a lack of ideas out there, it's a lack of those ideas being heard, either by executives in boardrooms, or audiences in cinemas. It is in everybody's best interests for that to change.

Lawrence - Audiences are tired of seeing stereotypical portrayals onscreen and are making it known

they want to see a wider range of content which supports our cause.

Also, online platforms mean the notion of gatekeepers deciding who gets commissioned is thankfully becoming more redundant by the day because people can shoot it, upload it and engage directly with the audience and let them decide rather than some stuffed shirts sitting behind a desk who can't relate. Our overall plan has many parts to it, but personally speaking I believe it's critical for SOUL to continue to provide a safe creative space for people to be able to screen work and connect with like-minded individuals, moving forward I'd like to see this encompass more direct a s s i s ta n ce to c re a t i ve s l i ke distribution, producing etc.

Underrepresentation in the film industry versus meeting diversity quotas.

Nuru - The perception of this occurring is always a concern with anything related to the politics of identity, especially in relation to creativity. There will certainly always be people whose own biases render any form of diversity as tokenism, but there are also very legitimate and rather awkward questions to be asked about what it is exactly we a re t r y i n g t o a c h i eve , a s a community - and what "diversity" even means, especially if it is now considered a prerequisite for certain award nominations. I find many calls by minority groups for those in power to lower the drawbridge uncomfortable, for this very reason. I feel that the

# O s c a r s S oW h i t e c a m p a i g n simply did not help but throw a little bittersweet shade over the recent success of "Moonlight", utterly regardless of the film's quality. We should spend less time demanding some kind of permission to make our films - and then demanding that the gatekeepers applaud us for having done so - as opposed to actually making the films, to find our audiences and creating our own platforms in the process. The more we expose ourselves to potentially being seen as boxes that need ticking, as opposed to a seamless and essential part of the overall creative landscape, the less we are taken seriously.

Lawrence – For me it's incredibly important that the right people are considered for the right roles.

It's all very well a candidate being academically qualified, but I think it's important that they are culturally qualified as well or at least sensitive to some of the issues their peers may experience, otherwise it's rather pointless. It is important to have a fair representation from an ethnically diverse community for t h e a p p o i nt m e nt of important/high profile roles but in the past some of the individuals have done more harm than good as they have become detached from the community they represent.

Iyare - Making films even for micro budgets is expensive. No one is going to invest in a project simply because of the race of the talent involved. All investors need a return on their investments and so they'll be looking at talent which they believe can provide a return. All creative investment is a risk so if talent can create a belief that they can succeed then for me that is merit enough.

The significant impact of S.O.U.L. What is S.O.U.L doing?

Nuru - Seeing the creative network expand, and the collaborations deepen, between all the attendees at our screening and networking events is incredibly exciting. Making progress in the arts is by its very nature difficult, hectic, and more than a little cut-throat, so being in a room so full of talent, where advice and ideas flow so freely is truly special. A little more behind the scenes, our strengthening ties with other organisations, from the simplicity of retweets, through to sponsorship deals, is enabling the next stage of S.O.U.L.'s vision to really take shape. There are some exciting things on the horizon.

Iyare – B.A.M.E talent in the UK is never further than three months away from the opportunity to showcase their work and interact with peers, that is our real achievement.

Nuru Rimington-Mkali (blue shirt) Lawrence Coke Lawrence: Every event the calibre of the films gets better; the audience gets bigger and we get more and more feedback of people working together as a result of meeting at our events. I believe the profile of the platform continues to grow and our ability to help creatives not only showcase their work, but also raise some of the issues they face with decision makers in the industry, has increased.

How exactly can independent filmmakers benefit from S.O.U.L? Lawrence – SOUL provides a platform for filmmakers to screen their work, it's an opportunity to meet and connect with likeminded individuals. As well as this, in-between events we do provide support often in the form of advice or promotion. There are many benefits to S.O.U.L, depending on the needs of that individual or project.

Iyare - S.O.U.L. offers the chance for independent filmmakers to interact with one another, to nurture relationships and foster new collaborations, as film is generally a team sport this is invaluable. Filmmakers also benefit from seeing each other's work and thus gaining inspiration.

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Nuru - The process of a creative reaching their audience has been transformed in so many ways by the internet age, with every filmmaker being a mere YouTube upload away from a day-anddate global release of their film.

While great in many ways, the diluting effect this has on an audience's attention is selfevident, and so very many voices get lost beneath the deluge of c o n t e n t . S . O . U . L .’ s Celebrate:Connect screenings at the British Film Institute are a platform to shine a spotlight on some of the best films out there that deal with the often under- or misrepresented, and to highlight the contributions made to those films by B.A.M.E creatives both in front of and behind the camera.

There are no submission fees, digital cinema packages or exclusivity clauses required by us - all we need is your film, and that ease of access to anybody with a story to tell is truly at the heart of our ethos.

What Lawrence, Nuru and Iyare bring to the S.O.U.L table Iyare - Each of us have skills and a vast amount of experience that we bring to the table. Nuru is incredibly technical. Nuru has a huge knowledge of how film works, everything from what is the impact of shooting with this particular lens, to what is a DCP (Digital Cinema Package) and how to make one. Lawrence is thoroughly connected to B.A.M.E filmmakers and has been for years so if you want to know how things worked in the past or who’s hot right now, Lawrence can put you in the loop. I have experience with big organisations and work well as a front man. We are all practically involved in the making of film.

Lawrence – We also share a fundamental, genuine love of film, the creative process and creatives in general means that despite coming from different

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points of view, the three of us are always rooting for filmmakers and anything that leads to more films.

Even though we are very different individuals, we all bring much needed different perspectives to the table, I couldn't imagine S.O.U.L being effective in the same way without the 3 of us, but specifically us 3. I could talk to Nuru about films all day, he loves films, he can forensically break down lighting, sound, and performances. He is also a filmmaker whose work I have great respect for. S.O.U.L as an event and as an organisation has had a positive buzz around it from day one and without a doubt Iyare has set the tone for creating a comfortable creative space.

Nuru - Lawrence, Iyare and myself each bring a great deal of experience to the table, across so many areas that are essential to the future of S.O.U.L.; from filmmaking, curation and training, through financing, promotion, and community engagement both inside and outside of the industry.

These complementary skills applied in pursuit of a common goal have proven essential thus far, but where I feel our greatest strength lies is in how completely we disagree on certain things. A couple of recent world events have made it very clear to me that there is nothing more important than disagreeing about things that seem self-evident. I’ve become convinced that we should disagree with our peers almost as a point of principle, just to see how much more interesting and enlightening conversations can become when we all go off-road. Again, it speaks to that most essential diversity of all; diversity of thought.

The gangs favourite movies Nuru - "The Silence of the Lambs", with "Memories of Murder" as a ludicrously close second. These to me are both perfect examples of how genre films should be built with character, story, and an almost allergic avoidance of clichés. Honourable mention for

"Fargo" and "Akira". This is truly an impossible question. I refuse to play by the rules of this authoritarian One Man, One Film dystopia you are suggesting…and “Demolition Man”. So there.

Iyare - This is a hard choice and my a n s we r wo u l d p ro b a b l y change from day to day. But today I'd choose 'Be Kind, Rewind'.

In the terrifying future reality in which I only ever get to watch one film over and over again, it would have to be a film that would inspire me to create new films or recreate old ones.

Lawrence - I've been asked this question many times over the years and I'm no closer to being able to answer it. I love waaaaaaay to many films to be able to commit to just one. I honestly couldn't choose just one.

I can't do it. Here's a brief list though: Breakdance 1 and 2, Immortal Beloved, Dune, Seven Samurai, Snake in the Monkeys Shadow, Wu Tang vs Shoalin, The Mystery of Chessboxing, Sleeping Fist, Blade Runner, American Beauty, Hellraiser, Big Trouble in Little China, Do the Right Thing, Mo Better Blues, Tuskeegee Airmen, Sugar Hill, Burning an Illusion, Krush Groove, Kicks, Carwash, Let the Right one in, The Lives of Others, Animal House, Nightbreed, Trading Places, Amelie, A prophet, Dune, Aliens, Star Wars (All of em), Star Trek (All of em), Pieces of April, Dope, The Imitation Game, The Long Good Friday, Krush Groove, Scarface, Smile Orange, Black Joy, Babylon, T h e Te n C o m m a n d m e n t s , Gladiator, Battle Los Angeles, S c r o o g e d , G r o u n d h o g D a y, Shawshank Redemption, The Princess Bride, Some Kind of Wonderful, Caddyshack, The Breakfast Club, Revenge, Say Anything, Human Traffic, Ride with the Devil, Inception, Finding Forrester, Buckaroo Banzai, I could literally go on and on and on…

Iyare Igiehon (centre) The next S.O.U.L Celebrate:Connect screening is on 3rd March at BFI Southbank SE1 8XT London, from 3pm -9pm.

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Lola Chel Model, Art Curator and Business woman doing the damn thing in South Florida.

What made you want to start up your various ventures within the modelling and arts industry? got my start in the arts before modelling. I grew up playing the piano, being trained in ballet and tap dance, participating in theatre troupes, using my summers for art camps, all the way up until high school where I focused on hip-hop dance and poetry. I grew up with an ingrained appreciation for the arts.

Once I got to college I was presented with my first real chance to get into modelling through a modelling troupe called Eclipse Fashion Society. From there I gained the confidence and skills I needed to pursue a career in modelling on my own.

I developed my strengths, weaknesses and principles as a model. Ultimately, I emerged as the model I am today, focusing on commercial and editorial print modelling, with runway appearances and work as a brand ambassador for various brands. This coupled with my love for the arts bore my brand, business, and events.

As a model of colour, do you think the modelling world has recently become more accepting?

I think though models of colour are becoming more visible and appearing in more high profile work and platforms, the modelling industry still has a long way to go. I still find it disheartening that looking at major modelling agencies, out of 100 female models they'll have only 20 women of colour (Hispanic, Asian, AfricanAmerican, etc.) and maybe 3 to 5 noticeably darker skinned women. Fellow black models and I will joke and say once they have a Lupita Nyongo, Grace Jones and Naomi Campbell their quota is filled and they will turn you away.

God forbid you're under 5'8”. There are a lot of overqualified and overlooked models of colour and right now we are just getting to the tip of where the modelling industry should be.

Your two businesses are in modelling/fashion and art. How do the two complement each other?

My business, FulCircle Services LLC, focuses on social media management for fashion, art, and beauty brands as well as art event coordination in the form of A.R.T. LIVE and The Creatives Network. My brand, Lola Chél, focuses on modelling and model development. They complement each other very well because through being a model I come into contact with clients and talent for both my business, brand, and events. Some of my first clients for FulCircle Services came to me as a result of networking at events I was invited to or honoured at. I host my own events, so I have a talent and audience following that I’ve encountered through the events I’ve worked on. So, I guess you could say all of my ventures come full circle!

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Running a business let alone two must be exhausting. What is your mantra in life and what keeps you going?

Sometimes my busy life does get to me but that's why balance is key. I don't have one single mantra but I do have a few sayings that I utter from time to time. They include: “Always remember your 'why' it will keep you going in tough situations”, “Make sure you're being the best version of yourself”, and “I'll sleep when I'm dead”.

As a modelling coach and your work with A.R.T Live, how do you chose the artists/models you work with?

As a model coach, I work with independent models, shows, and in the past modelling troupes.

Normally my clientele chooses me and I train them in various runway styles, model etiquette, and techniques. As far as how that factors into both of my events it gives me a model bank to pull on for the fashion elements of my shows. It's also used as an incentive for pulling in fashion designers because they don't have to provide their own models and they can just focus on their amazing designs.

Where can we keep up to date with your work?

Almost everything I do can be traced back to the following outlets: Website: Instagram: Twitter: Facebook:

LolaChel.com @lolachel_ @lolachel_ Lola Chél Brand

As far as my business you can find everything below: Website: Instagram: Twitter: Facebook:

FulCircleServices.com @fulcircleservices @fulcircleservic @fulcircleservices

A n d my eve n t s c a n b e f o l l ow e d b e l ow : Website: Artliveintl.com Instagram: @a.r.t.live Facebook: @areasontolive

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STREET STYLE Photo Credit: Yvonne GymaямБ

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DEMUR FASHION DIARIES WITH HELENA THEISE Helena Theise graduated from The Swedish School of Textiles in 2016 and presented her Spring/Summer 17 collection at Fashion Scout during Fashion Week last year. Helena's final collection was an exploration of rectangular constructions combined with the experimentation of print and pattern. When we first saw Helena's collection we were mesmerised by her use of colours and shape. Each piece from this collection has been digitally printed inside and out. While the prints are complex and provocative, there is a sweet simplicity in the geometric construction of each individual item. We caught up with Helena to find out about her collection and what it's really like to study for a fashion degree.

What is it really like to study a fashion degree? Is it more practical work i.e just making clothes or is there more to it and is it worth the thousands you pay?

It's frustrating, stressful, and includes many many sleepless nights and that's not from partying. At the same time, it is such a privilege and joy to be able to live and breathe what you're passionate about on a daily basis. Yes, it's a lot of practical work but there is definitely more to it than that.

I think it's easy to get lost in the expectations, demands and deadlines when you are studying and sometimes forget the playfulness and curiosity that drives most of us. But I would say yes - it was worth it.

What was the main influence behind your SS17 collection?

Starting this project my main influence was my utmost respect and fascination for Bernhard Willhelm and Jutta Kraus. I did an internship with them last fall and this experience inspired me in so many ways. They opened up a world of pattern cutting that I hadn't seen before and I developed an interest in 90 degree angles when making garments which I later used in my degree work.

Rebellion (or refusal to accept authority, code or convention) is another strong influence behind my work. It's frustration and anger mixed with longing. I like the mix between the poetic and the explicit.

Your collection was one of the more vibrant collections from your institutions' final collections. Did you design the collection hoping it would be commercially viable?

I did not intend for it to be commercially viable, no. I wanted to go as far as I could with what I had to work with, and not worry about whether it would be on

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trend. I view my pieces as conceptual (some more than others), but I definitely think there is a developing potential if I would choose to go more commercial.

If you could choose anyone to be your muse who wold you choose and why?

I get inspired by so many different people, it's difficult to choose just one. But I think there is a lot of strength in being able to show weakness, and I'm often inspired by strong yet vulnerable individuals.

What's next for you now that studying is out of the way?

Now I am going to figure out how to go forward with my passion for fashion but also with life in general of course. I really want to go to Japan and soak in their vibrant street fashion scene to just name one example. I'm intrigued to see what lies ahead, whether it's working for someone else or starting up my own business.

Photographer: Jan Berg Model: Helena Hedberg

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LONDON FASHION WEEK HANGOUT SPOTS London Fashion Week moves to a new venue, The Strand and we know many fashionistas will have a long list of shows to attend during these exciting festivities. As exhilarating as these merriments will be, the fashionistas also know that sometimes there can be quite a long gap in between shows. So, what do you do in between shows when you are not being snapped by streetstyle photographers to kill the time? We have put together a list of some cool hangout spots you can try out.

Sarastro Location: 126 Drury Lane, Covent Garden, WC2B 5SU 8-minutes' walk from 180, The Strand

If you like to eat your food in peace, this may not be the ideal venue for you. If you enjoy a bit of opera on the other hand this is perfect. From the setup which includes opera box themed tables, chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and waiters belting out opera classics, this is an experience that is quite different from the fashion week scene. For those who appreciate a bit of art you may wish to stop by the toilets, whether you need to relieve yourself or not, just so you can have a peak at some of the “exotic” art work displays. The menu consists of Mediterranean dishes.

http://www.sarastro-restaurant.com/

Department of Coffee & Social Affairs Location: 14-16 Leather Lane, Farringdon, EC1N 7SU 13 minutes' walk from 180, The Strand

What immediately attracted us to this respite was the name itself. We were curious to see whether this unofficial department could cater for our caffeine and social affair needs. Let's just say each cup of coffee is like a warm hug from an agony aunt. The coffee is second to none and with each order comes a lecturer from the baristas about how the beans were roasted and how the coffee came to life etc. What's also refreshing to see about DCSA, is the fact that staff members are also volunteers for various charities in the UK and internationally. Their taste in music is not too bad either. Stop by DCSA and pass some time.

https://departmentofcoffee.com/

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Timberyard Location: 7 Upper St Martin's Lane, Seven Dials, WC2H 9DL 14 – minutes' walk from 180, The Strand

Timberyard is the perfect place to stop by for the workaholic and coffee lover.

Having visited this hot spot too many times than we care to mention, we continue to thoroughly enjoy each experience. The way the café itself is designed, the warm friendly staff and of course…the coffee. We love this place because you can sit down and get some work done in a buzzing environment whilst sipping on an espresso or whatever you ask the coffee connoisseurs to serve you up. The café is spread over two floors and the place does get busy. So perhaps you can also use this as a networking opportunity whilst you wait for your next show.

https://tyuk.com/

Jamaica Patty Co Location: 26 New Row, London WC2N 4LA 13 minutes' walk from 180, The Strand

http://jamaicapatty.co.uk/

Anyone who appreciates a good patty knows h ow h a rd i t i s t o fi n d a n a u t h e n t i c , scrumptious one here in London. We are grateful to our lucky stars, Jamaica Patty Co exist! JPC provide a true island experience with the colourful interior of the restaurant and the various patty fillings on offer. Even the bright packaging will lift your spirits. You can try the curried goat patty, jerk chicken or prawn patties, whatever your taste buds are in the mood for. Also on offer is the rum cake, to give you a wee bit of Dutch courage, Blue Mountain Coffee, Chicken & Dumpling Soup and Jamaican porridge. This is a true gem, one that you might find yourself returning to even after fashion week is over.

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Out and about with Demur in Paris TRANOÏ Paris Women's Palais de la Bourse 28 place de la Bourse 75002 Paris & Carrousel du Louvre 99 rue de Rivoli 75001 Paris Fri 3rd – Mon 6th March – 10am -6pm Register to attend: www.tranoi.com Join over 550 designers as they exhibit their latest collections over 3 days during Paris Fashion Week. Tranoi will present emerging designers carefully selected to display their designs. Various designers from different parts of the world will rendezvous in Paris to bring to Tranoi their Ready To Wear collections consisting of, Clothing, Leather & Leather Products, Lifestyle & Fashion, Textile, Fabrics & Yarns. TRANOÏ Paris: Women's is one of the most diverse and truly international fashion trade shows in the world.

Sampha La Cigale 120 boulevard de Rochechouart 18e Paris Sat 11th March – 7.30pm till late From £25 Sampha has written and provided vocals for the likes of Drake, Beyonce and Kanye West. The Londoner is ready to go solo and make hits with no features. Sampha was ranked No 4 on BBC's Sound of Music list in 2014. Three years later Sampha is here with his debut album “Process” which certainly has been a work in progress for a long time. Catch him in Paris as he continues with his world tour.

Winter Hang New Galerie 2 Rue Borda 75003 Paris Open until 14th March Tuesday-Saturday, 2pm-7 pm & by appointment FREE Stop by the New Galerie and see a display of provocative works by various artists including Darja Bajagić, Dora Budor, Cédric Fargues, Sean Raspet, Florian Schmidt, Jasper Spicero, Amalia Ulman and Artie Vierkant. Darja Bajagić is well remembered for his first UK solo exhibition where he had on display, the heads of three women hanging as overblown images on a canvas. Go along and see what other enthralling work he has on display.

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5 minutes of IMAN's time IMAN is a well-rounded singer, songwriter and performer who has worked with Ed Sheeran, been on road with Rudimental and has sat in writing sessions with Mike Dean who has penned hits for Kanye West and many more. IMAN's latest single “Wishing”, mixed by Brett Shaw, is an infectious dance-floor smasher. After going through every artist's worst nightmare, where the phone stops ringing, IMAN has picked herself up and she is here, stronger, better, and well equipped to serve the world with IMAN the singer, the artist.

Having worked with various artist to create multi-platinum selling singles, when did you feel the time was right for you to break out on your own?

I have always been an artist, that's always been my focus and only reason for being in the music industry. The songs that ended up being sung by other acts actually came about because I didn't feel they were right for me and I'm super glad they found a home elsewhere!

Do you feel it's important for an artist to take their time developing themselves before sharing their art with the world?

I think now more than ever taking the time to develop your craft is essential. The internet is amazing for having your work heard but once it's uploaded it can be there forever if it gets shared on by others for instance. If after a year or two it's not representative of the artist you've grown into it can be a hindrance. Especially if people search for you and it's the first thing that pops up.

I'm not saying you should be super protective and constantly hold back but, I do think it's important, to be honest with yourself and ask am I putting this online for the right reasons? Is it because it really represents the artist I am or am I doing it out of frustration and wanting to just get the ball rolling. I know I've felt like that hundreds of times but I also knew that I had to be patient. Only put your dopest material out, something you feel sure that in a couple of years' time you'll still be proud of.

There was a moment "when the phone stopped ringing" for you, where work was dry. How did you deal with that, what kept you going?

My friends kept me going big time and still do. Also listening to the songs I'd written and feeling like if I give up now, no one will ever hear any of it and this I guess is my biggest fear. The thought of having all my work hidden on my Mac when I believe songs are created to be shared, that is a massive driving force.

What do you hope to achieve with your music? How do you want it perceived?

I want to be perceived as a bonafide artist that cares about the quality of my music. I am hands on with everything, obviously, the writing process, then through to the mixing, mastering of every record to all the imagery involved. I can't put my name on anything I don't feel is in alignment with who I am. I'd love for people to be inspired and feel a connection to my music. My ultimate hope is for my music to be viewed as timeless, I want to make records that people can listen to years from now and still feel like damn this is a classic! That would be amazing.

What's next for IMAN the solo artist?

2017 is a big year for me. My single ‘WISHING' will be available for download late March, for now, it's available on my Spotify.

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I feel like after all this time I have been quietly working behind the scenes developing myself, it's time for me to showcase all I've been up to. I have a 15 date UK tour and will be releasing numerous singles throughout the year to coincide with it all.

I'm already writing songs with 2018 releases in mind.

Growing my fan base and getting them involved in my journey is going to be fun, I want to grow more artistically, write new songs and collaborate with other artists. Lots and lots more to come, stay close to me here – www.imanmusic.co.uk Go to www.imanmusicuk.co.uk for a FREE DOWNLOAD You can catch IMAN at the following dates and venues.

7th March - Pop Revue, London 28th March - ROAR, London 12th April - Collage Nights, London

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