Don’t Judge
JANUARY 2018
Editor’s Letter Dear Loyal Readers,
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ew Year Same Me, Because Frankly I’m Already Freakin’ Fabulous’, this was the best one I saw out amidst all the new beginning memes I came across and it kind of sits well with
me. I am trying hard to resist the whole ‘new year, new me’ chant, because really you shouldn’t need a whole new year to start creating a better version of yourself. Each day you wake up is a new day to become someone better, not that there is much wrong with you anyway. However, there is something about a new year that just screams ‘new beginnings’ almost as if the last year that has gone can completely be written off. Whatever the case we have some epic things planned here at Demur and I am grateful we have a team who always go the extra extra mile to ensure we meet our goals. More so our readers, the people that follow and keep up with everything Demur does are the ones that make it worthwhile. We know how precious your time is and one of our goals this year is to reach out to more of you and serve you better. We want to give you something that is worth taking your time to read, listen or look at. On a more personal level, by the end of this year, I would like to learn how to ride a bike and swim. Those are two life lessons I missed out on whilst my siblings excelled at both. I now feel like this might be the right time for me to get involved rather than just stand at the edge of the water or force others to pedal slower as I walk beside them. I owe it to my friends and family so if anyone has any Youtube links or any tips, please do not hesitate to share them with me. To celebrate the new year, we have in this issue, an interview with New York fashion designer John Byrd-Olivieri who talks to us about dressing women and what you need for a sustainable career in fashion, a royal playlist by Manchester-born hip-hop artist Jamaal Monarch featuring his go to karaoke song, a bucket list for 2018 and some top artsy Instagram accounts you might want to follow. If you are like me and are always hungry, we have a list of restaurants serving up some comfort food right here in London. We turn our heads to something serious and talk about the exploitation of women and what more can be done. I wish you the happiest new year and thank you for your continued support.
Until next time,
Noreen Chada, Editor, @noreenchada Noreen Chada – Editor Kay Samuel – Editorial Assistant Nicole Samoto – Social Editor Alice Diamond- Staff Writer Emily Bone – Fashion Writer Hollie Ismail – Music Writer Mia Seabrook – Contributing Writer Stella Dzingai – Contributing Writer Harrison Madzivachando – Creative Content Manager Emma Gillett - Design & Art Direction
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CONTENTS 31
COMFORT FOOD RESTAURANTS
8
BUCKET LIST
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15
CONCERTS
16
MISINTERPRETED LYRICS
REAL TALK
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A QUICK COFFEE
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PODCASTS
@DemurMagazine
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1. Explore more of England, apparently there is life outside London Here is Lake Windermere, Britain’s largest natural lake. Lake Windermere is just outside the Lake District National Park and it is the most popular destination in Cumbria amongst tourists.
Demur’s 2018 Bucket List A list of the things we would like to try out before the year is out.
2. Bungee jumping – at your own risk
The thrill and anxiety of jumping from a tall structure gives us that adrenaline rush that we so seek.
3. Road trip – make sure you have a roadworthy car and perhaps roadside assistance
Grab some friends or go solo and just keep following the road.
4. Fishing – there are some rules and regulations to check up before taking this up
We have many fishing spots in England, which you can also check out whilst you are exploring the country. Kill two birds with one stone.
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8. Star gazing – just tilt your head to the sky at night and be mesmerised These are just some of the things we often take for granted. It’s free and all you have to do is stick your head out of your window.
5. Study a new subject – something completely irrelevant from your passion or work
You can surprise people with interesting knowledge next time you are out there networking. You might find that you actually have a passion for something you have never considered before.
9. Learn how to play an instrument – you could be an undiscovered Jimi Hendrix
How cool would it be to just pick up a guitar or a sit at a piano and start entertaining your friends and family?
6. Volunteer at a care home – the greatest lesson in gratitude
This will help you appreciate what you have and what you can still do. You can also pick up some words of wisdom from the older generation.
7. Start a random conversation with a stranger on the tube – you might cheer someone up London commuters are known for being anti-social. Show them you are different, don’t make the topic of conversation too random though.
10. Desert Quad Biking – the quickest way to get through the desert This always looks like great fun and seems like the perfect way to explore and see the beauty of a desert.
13. Take a helicopter ride around London – how much of London do you really know?
11. Take part in a mud challenge – a little bit challenging and dirty but worth it
Many of us were born and raised in this beautiful city of London, but we would make the worst tour guides.
A lot of us have seen the show Takeshi’s Castle and thought ‘I could do that’. Well now you can! This can also be a fun way of raising funds for your favourite charity.
12. Wild camping – festivals don’t count It might just be the perfect way to be at one with nature. However, the weather needs to be right for it, so preferably in the summer.
14. Go on a zipwire – for a quick thrill
This might be a great challenge to conquer for someone who is afraid of heights. Descending from an inclined wire at a high speed is an exciting adventure.
15. Visit Richard Branson’s Necker Island – might have to cash in the whole family’s savings
Not only would it be cool to say you have been on Richard Branson’s island, but this will hopefully serve as some motivation to one day own your own island.
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16. Go Zorbing – because it just looks like fun
For some it is the scariest experience of their lives being attached to the inside of a ball and being rolled down a hill. Just don’t eat a big meal before.
19. Go to an outdoor cinema – there is something magical about it
It is the perfect way to enjoy a movie in the beautiful open air and in a different setting. On a warm summer evening this is quite a nice thing to do. Grab your friends and your picnic and go and relive your favourite movie.
17. Go to Disney World – the place where dreams come true
This is a childhood dream for most people, seeing all your heroes and memories in one place. It is truly the ultimate experience for all ages. No one ever said you had to grow up.
20. Go to the Maldives – might not be around for much longer
18. Learn martial arts – however, violence is never the answer
It would be quite nice to see the Maldives before it’s all gone as we hear it’s fast sinking and there are only about 30 -50 years left until it’s all gone. You also deserve an experience in paradise.
There are plenty of benefits for picking up martial arts. It can improve your discipline, enhance your spiritual growth and your physical body. You can also pick up life saving skills and defend yourself should you ever need to.
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AD
Demur’s Watch List Here some shows and movies to stream and keep you entertained this month.
Detroit – Hulu
This movie was released last year marking 50 years since the Detroit 1967 12th Street riots. The majority of the movie focuses on police officers who respond to a reported incident and decide to take matters into their own hands rather than deliver justice. We have loved Will Poulter since we first saw him in ‘We Are The Millers’, you may feel a bit different about his character in this movie.
Hustle and Flow – Amazon Prime
This is the movie that brought Terrence Howard great prominence before his ‘Empire’ stint. In this drama, Terrence plays a low-level pimp and drug dealer who has come at his wit ends with life and decides to pursue a career in music. Taraji P Henson is by Terrence’s side again, she plays one of Terrence’s live in girlfriends. Terrence was nominated for an Oscar as best actor for his role and the movie won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for ‘It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp,’ the chart-topping hit taken from the movie’s soundtrack.
Schitt$ Creek – Netflix
Now on season 5, ‘Schitt$ Creek’ will take some time getting used to. The series follows a wealthy family who have lost everything due to their business manager failing to pay their taxes. After realising they bought a small-town a while ago as a joke, the Rose family move to the small scarce town, ‘Schitt$ Creek’, named after the local Mayor’s family. The father and son team Eugene and Daniel Levy serve as the show’s executive producers and writers and also play father and son in the series.
The Godfather Parts 1,2 and 3 – Netflix
For those of you who may not have heard of it before, ‘The Godfather’ series is about Vito Corleone and his family and their reign in organised crime in America. This is explored in the first series of the film. The second series follows Vito’s son as he takes over his father’s empire and also features some flashbacks to Vito’s childhood in Italy. ‘The Godfather’ has had a great influence on pop culture and has often been referred to in other movies and tv shows. Many have dubbed it as the greatest film series of all time.
The Handmaid’s Tale – Hulu
With the second season coming in April 2018 you can get started on season 1 whilst you wait. Based on a novel by Margaret Atwood, ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ follows a story of what happens in the estranged town of Gilead where the fertility rates have dropped as
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a result of STI’s. In this town, women are seen more as objects with limited rights. The few remaining fertile women are called ‘Handmaid’s’ and are forced to live and serve the elites of the town. These women are also subjected to rape in order to conceive children for their masters. This is a bit dark, but you have been warned.
Katt Williams: Great America
No doubt you are probably aware of what has been going on in the US over the last year. To make light of the situation, several comedians have taken to the stage to address the various Trump related stories we have been hearing on the news since he went into office and Katt Williams is no exception. Katt embarked on his comedy tour stopping in 100 cities in America last year and his tour was filmed for a Netflix special and for DVD release later on. Katt’s material will mainly be around the current political climate in America.
The Foreigner – Netflix
Set in London and Ireland, Jackie Chan plays a grieving father whose daughter was killed in a terrorist explosion. In search of the people behind the terrorist plot, Chan gets into a tug of war with Pierce Brosnan who plays a top Irish Minister. Pierce’s position is threatened whilst his hidden skeletons are reveleaed to the nation. Jackie Chan is still as active, and we really enjoyed watching him in this Netflix Original movie. We hear he is still doing his own stunts at 63!
Miss Sharon Jones – Netflix
This documentary pays homage to Sharon Jones, lead singer of Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings who passed away in 2016. As Sharon was battling with pancreatic cancer she was also in the process of working on a new album and getting the band together for a stage performance. The film reveals the strength and courage Sharon Jones demonstrated as she fought for her life and her career.
The A Word – Amazon Prime
The Hughes family are a ‘normal’ family until their youngest son Joel is diagnosed with Autism and suddenly they don’t feel so normal anymore. The series follows the Hughes household as they adapt to Joe’s condition and learn to communicate themselves as a family. Although this BBC drama is moving and thought provoking, there is some comedy chucked in there to make it lighter hearted. In season 2 of the series, we see how neighbours and other locals react to Joe’s diagnoses. ‘The A Word’ is poignant and enlightening.
Sneaky Pete – Amazon Prime
As Marius is released from prison he can’t go back home because, before he was sent down he managed to upset a drug lord who wants his $100,000 back. Marius does the ‘sensible’ thing of moving to a different town and assuming the identity of his prison mate Pete, who is not due to be released for a while and who does happen to look a bit like Marius. Pete’s family haven’t seen him in 20 years so Maurice might just get away with it. Ironically Marius picks up a job working as a ‘skip tracer’, someone who chases up people who have skipped bail.
Real Talk
Let Our Women Be Great
By Noreen Chada
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o doubt many of us have heard about the various sexual scandals that emerged out of Hollywood and from the UK Government last year. It came as no surprise to some, that people in power were abusing their positions. It is no secret that women have been objectified for a long time and although it has improved vastly, in these modern days it seems society is still oblivious to the issue at hand, society does not value women. I can’t tell you how many people I see scroll though Kim Kardashian’s Instagram page on a daily basis, and how many others sit through several episodes of ‘Keeping Up With The Kardashians’ and then go on to say how much they hate the Kardashian women. The Kardashians have been branded as whores and people have shunned the men who have chosen to be with them as if the Kardashian women are not worthy to be loved. As much as we may not agree with their lifestyle choices, we have a choice to ignore them without destroying them or judging them on how they choose to make their money and live their lives. We are aware of the tape that kicked off Kim’s career and while we may choose to forget the fact that there were two people in that video, some are insulted that Kim
managed to turn something disparaging into something positive. Whatever your beliefs are, Kim seems to have excelled and built an empire for herself and her family. In spite of all that she has achieved and the many other young women she has influenced, we refuse to let her past go and just let her live how she chooses. Whatever money she has made, it is because people have chosen to buy into her brand and again you have a choice not to buy into it if you don’t want to. As a society, we will not let our women be great. I am no real fan of politics, nor do I follow it heavily, but I often wonder if Theresa May wasn’t a woman, would she be less scrutinised? As I recall the Brexit trouble spewed after an announcement made back in 2016. It is not just men who are keeping women down anymore, women are also doing it. We need to seek for more opportunities that uplift women and human beings in general. There are many organisations and campaigns that push for this. ‘Girl Gang Cyphers’ is a platform that combines female artists, poets, singers, songwriters and other creatives to come together and showcase their talents. There is no competition involved in this group 17 encouragement and but rather enrichment, support from other women. The conversation is no longer about equality, women are now presented with more opportunities but it’s just a matter of clearing the way for them to get to those prospects. To some this will seem as if it’s another woman moaning again, but we will only keep nagging until we are certain we have been heard. Less negativity towards women and more support. Make way for all women to be great.
INTERVIEW
John Byrd-Olivieri
A QUICK COFFEE WITH NEW YORK FASHION DESIGNER
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e are always on the lookout for new, exciting fashion designers with something ingenious to offer. So, during our recent insta scroll session we bumped into the Byrd-Olivieri Atelier label (@byrdolivieriatelier) and we were even more thrilled when we could get some time with John ByrdOlivieri, the New York Designer behind the brand to talk about back up plans, knowing what women want and the two ‘C’s’ and one ‘R’ you need for a sustainable career in fashion. The Byrd-Olivieri brand epitomizes the true meaning of “individuality”. What does individuality mean to you? Individuality, to me, is being unapologetically confident and allowing yourself to be in full creative control of expressing one self. Marching to your own beat and leading by example. You have gained your experience through working with various tailors and seamstresses. What is the one thing you have learned about the fashion industry that no one ever told you? I am grateful to have worked with and trained under some of the best seamstress and tailors
in New York. I can honestly say that I have learned a few great lessons thus far. The first is to always be open to trying out new techniques and listen to advice from others more experienced. It’s very rare that people mentor or share their skill set with others. The second would be the importance of image and how big of a role image plays in this industry and your career in general. Was there ever a backup plan for you if the fashion thing didn’t work out? Throughout my life, I have always dreamed about a life in fashion. I couldn’t see
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myself doing anything with my life other than living a life immersed in fashion. It really is the only thing that I am good at and truly understand. You are a womenswear designer (as well as menswear). As a man do you think you truly know what women want to wear? The Byrd-Olivieri woman has an ease about her. She appreciates comfort and transitional garments that go from day to night. She is the person who shows up to the party and it looks like it only took her 10 mins to get dressed, yet she is the
coolest person at the party. I feel as though I have a connection with women. I was raised by women and I am constantly surrounded by women with impeccable style and grace. I believe women emphasize the importance of comfort, functionality and proportion. I know both men and women want to feel comfortable and confident in their clothing. Everyone wants to dress the assets that they have to the best of their abilities. What do you think designers need to have to make their brand stand out more in such a saturated industry? The most important qualities to have as a designer are consistency, common courtesy and respect. Consistency is a key component that can make or break your career. When you are consistent with your work ethic, everything else
will fall into place. Being humble at all times, showing common courtesy and respect for others will speak volumes for your character. Fashion can seem redundant as well. If you are unapologetically true to your style and aesthetic, people will recognise that and appreciate such standards.
You can shop the Byrd-Olivieri at www. byrdolivieri.com
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2018 Podcasts
Being a creative entrepreneur is tough but exciting at the same time. You always feel motivated and determined to create a better version of you at the beginning of each year. Unfortunately, it is hard to keep the momentum a few months in. We don’t want to see you fall behind, here are some podcasts to take us to the top this year.
The Gary Vee Audio Experience
We just love love love this podcast by non-bullshitting, nor sugar-coating businessman Gary Vaynerchuck. Gary is the son of an immigrant, he and his family moved to the US when he was just three years old. Gary speaks on social media, marketing, business strategies and hard graft through interviews with various individuals, his own keynote speeches and snippets from his daily documentary video series, ‘Daily Vee’. Gary seems like a good ole down to earth man who just wants you to win.
Wanna Be
Wanna Be
thecommute perfect podcast fora the commute Wanna Be is the perfect Wanna podcastBe foristhe to work, quick run, or to work, a quick run, or in the morning whilst you’re getting ready. 30 minutes or less is all it in the morni takes to get through this insightful podcast where Imriel discusses various her guest of like-minded achievers. During the last day of every month, Imriel is topics joinedwith by Prisca Moyesa, the founderhigh of the Monday of every month, is joined by Prisca Moyesa, the founder successful branding agency Moyesa Co., Prisca willImriel answer your branding of the successful branding Moyesa Co., Prisca will answer your and career questions. Imriel is also the creator of theagency ShoutOut Network, branding and career questions. Imriel is also the creator of the ShoutOut the UK’s diverse podcast network. Network, the UK’s diverse podcast network.
Growth Everywhere
Eric Siu, CEO of digital marketing agency Single Grain hosts Growth Everywhere. Eric is joined by fellow entrepreneurs on this show who share with their audience knowledge on building businesses, branding and digital marketing. Like any other entrepreneur, the guests together with Eric divulge their downfalls and experiences. The show has featured reputable business men and women who have all built valuable brands including John Lee Dumas, Pat Flynn, Neil Patel and Noah Kagan. This show will really help you grow personally and in whatever venture you are pursuing this year.
Generation Why
Generation Why
This podcast is really interesting, andis we areinteresting, not just saying because This podcast really and that we are not just saying that because we have ran out of things we to say about all these podcasts. genuinely have ran out of things to say Itabout all these podcasts. It genuinely is. The Generation Why podcast is hosted by two friends, Justin and by two friends, Justin and is. The Generation Why podcast is hosted Aaron who explore and discuss lifeexplore storiesand thatdiscuss once appeared in Aaronreal who real life stories that once appeared in the news but now have been forgotten about, asforgotten unsolved about, crimes,such as unsolved crimes, the news but now havesuch been conspiracies and several other controversies. friends really dig two friends really dig conspiracies and severalThese othertwo controversies. These deeper into the why ofdeeper these into issues leaves your mind wandering all mind wandering all thewhich why of these issues which leaves your day. This podcast is a mind whichisisaalways good for any creative, day. opener This podcast mind opener which is always good for any creative, but it may turn you into a doubting Thomas. but it may turn you into a doubting Thomas.
Sodajerker on Songwriting
Songwriting is an art that’s often overlooked and this podcast pays the perfect homage to it. How did your favourite song come to be? Sodajerker who are known to family and friends as Simon Barber and Brian O’Connor are a Liverpool based songwriting team. In their podcast they sit down with some of the most famous and significant songwriters of our time to discuss the craft of writing a song. Guests on the show have included Noel Gallagher, KT Tunstall, Declan McKenna and the Holland Brothers wrote Motown hits such as ‘Baby Love’ and ‘Stop! In The Name Of Love’.
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EDITORIAL
Don’t Judge "Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers" - Voltaire
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Model Denisa @auterski Photo Balint Nemes @balintnemes
Denisa had no questions, no answers. But something made her do it. I love people who know what they have to do without any logical reason.
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Demur’s Comfort Food Restaurants There is nothing like a good bowl of mama’s homemade chicken soup to warm your cockles. This unbalanced weather that we have here in the UK certainly calls for some hearty comfort foods to remind you the sun will come out tomorrow and if not tomorrow, at least one day out of this year. For those of you who have just signed up for that gym membership we are proud of you, but you may want to look away now from our list of carb-loaded, taste bud satisfying, restaurants serving up some hearty comfort foods. Mother Mash (above) 26 Ganton St, Soho, London W1F 7QZ Mash is hearty filing food, sort of like a warm hug, but it’s got to be done just right. No one likes a lumpy mash. Mother Mash are turning those locally sourced Maris Piper potatoes into the staple the British nation adores. The menu is simple and offers exactly what it says on the tin. Choose your freshly made mash, from eight different flavours, pick a main, sausage or pie and then choose your gravy topping. At £9.25 this is reasonably priced considering the location of the restaurant. We have no doubt you will become a regular after just one visit.
Joanna’s 56 Westow Hill, Crystal Palace, London SE19 1RX This family-run restaurant has been feeding the local residents and visitors for 40 years as of this year. Their American inspired menu includes a Golden Fired Goat’s Cheeseburger and a Fish Prawn Burger Smothered with a Tomato and Chilli Jam and a Lemon Mayo. As if that’s not enough to leave you salivating, this restaurant would not have made it onto our comfort food restaurants list if it wasn’t for their Roasted Sirloin which is served with Potatoes roasted in Duck Fat and of course Yorkshire Puds.
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The Poutinerie Brick Lane Food Market, E1 5 Nothing says comfort food more than ‘Poutine’, chips drenched in cheese curds and gravy, a FrenchCanadian dish served by The Poutinerie. The stodginess of this dish is enough to warm you up in this cold weather and fill you right up. If you are more of a meaty person, you can get your poutine with shredded meat and a hot sauce on top of your chips. This also sounds like the perfect bite to pick up after a night out if you can find The Poutinerie. The Poutinerie is a street stall which can often be seen around Brick Lane and Spitafields.
Spring Restaurant (above and right) Somerset House, Lancaster Place, London WC2R 1LA Spring Restaurant is located right at the centre of art and culture in the New Wing of Somerset House. As you can imagine being in Somerset House, the décor is stylish and assumes an understated elegance. The daily changing menu consists of dishes made with seasonal produce and includes, the Onion squash, Pancetta and Chestnut Soup, a comfort dish you can indulge in without the guilt of carb overload. They also have a pre-theatre scratch menu which is made using ‘waste’ produce, food that we often throw away because it’s misshaped or just doesn’t look appealing. Dishes from the scratch menu are made with whatever is available on the day.
The English Restaurant 52 Brushfield St, London E1 6AG Although it’s located in the city, in Spitafields, the way this restaurant is set up and decorated just oozes old-school British pub. You’ve got the wooden floorboards on show and the rustic looking chairs and tables on display. The English Restaurant is revered for its Bread and Butter Pudding but there are other things on the menu too, whether you choose to eat from the field, sea or greenhouse, there is a dish on the menu that will leave you full and satisfied. Along with your fish and chips, roast dinner and other traditional English dishes, there is much history to be enjoyed at this family-run restaurant. More importantly, they serve the best Belgian beer and Stout in London according to reviews.
St John’s Bread and Wine 94-96 Commercial St, London E1 6LZ From the outside, it looks like a bank, if anyone still remembers what those look like. The bread is made on site and most of the wines on the menu are French. The menu is updated daily which makes it exciting for diners as if you are going to your mum’s for dinner and not knowing what to expect. Regulars on the menu include some bits you are likely to see on a bushtucker trial. You can grab yourself a Pig’s Tongue with Dandelion and a Mustard Sauce or Lamb’s Tongue with Chicory and a Green Sauce or just grab their famous Custard Filled Doughnut from their bakery section if your carnivore instincts are not aroused.
Online Dating Myths Debunked Online dating; the topic once seen as taboo seems now to be a normal part of life. We live in a tech world where we do everything on our phones - including meeting our soulmates.
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et, whilst we put our trust in food apps, clothing apps, even contraceptive apps to deliver, there are still some people out there who aren’t convinced that online dating is the way to go. So, we signed up to the world’s biggest dating app, Badoo, to see test the waters and debunk some of your concerns. How am I going to meet someone who looks like my celebrity crush online?
Girls, it’s time to finally face the cold hard truth; Prince Harry is off the market. But, you need not despair. Badoo’s clever lookalikes feature lets you upload pics of your crush, and uses face recognition to find any dopplegangers that are on the app. So, you can have your very own Prince Harry… now just the palace and the crown to find.
I’m very picky
They say there is someone out there for everyone. With 366 million people on Badoo to choose from, there’s bound to be someone for even the pickiest of girls. Swiping or using the ‘People Nearby’ feature means you can be really specific on on who you speak to. Plus Badoo allows you to video call a guy you are in convo with, so you can see whether your potential partner just has good angles, or they are the hot spice their profile picture says they are.
How do I say no politely?
What girl hasn’t experienced a clinger? One of those guys who follows you and your girls around a club, despite being given clear ‘thanks but no thanks’ signals. And you are just too polie to tell him to get lost directly. That’s the beauty of Badoo- if someone messages you more than twice and you don’t respond, they lose the privilege of messaging you again.
I want someone close by or an adventure
Whether you have been around the block already or whether you just want to experience something new, Badoo let’s you choose from 366 million people scattered across 190 countries, who speak 47
languages. You see your high school French teacher was right when she said learning another language would come in handy.
I don’t trust people online
As much as I love the show Catfish, I certainly don’t want to be on it. So whilst checking out Badoo, we found they have several verification steps you have to follow to be able to message people. One of them asks you to take a picture copying the gesture displayed on your screen and the clever people at Badoo HQ check out. So, you won’t really get any Katy Perry impersonators. Whether you meet your Prince Harry, just a regular Harry, or just a friend, Badoo, and online dating in general allows introverts and extroverts alike to find their partner with ease and safety. But in truth, you won’t really know until you try it yourself. This sponsored post has really come at a perfect time (you’ll defs get a date by 2018)
By Kay Williams
Song that describes your current mood CTEPEO – ’57 Sputnik I’ Extroverted, yet slightly reserved, euphoric, yet not too gassed. I’m on a level right now, happy with how the future is looking… What is the one song that describes what you have up your sleeve for 2018? A$AP Mob feat. Chief Keef – ‘Blowin’ Minds (Skateboard)’ That’s what I’m going to be doing, besides the skateboarding… I think? What is the one song you cannot get out of your head? Miguel – ‘Harem’ The force is strong with this one. Miguel did really well on this new album… What is the one song that gets you fired up? Bankroll Fresh – ‘Hot Boy (RIP BANKROLL)’ Play this song on a treadmill and you’ll be ready to do a marathon!
New Year New Jamaal The Monarch Playlist What is favourite song from one artist you are excited about for 2018? Tame Impala – ‘Sundown Syndrome’ I am in desperate need of a new Tame Impala album. They’ve always been great man, ‘Currents’ is brilliance from start to finish. Your go to karaoke song Michael Jackson – ‘Rock Wit’ U’ A karaoke night for me will usually involve a drink or two, so considering I love to dance after a couple rum and cokes, I need something funky. Song that describes you D’Angelo – ‘The Root’ At this point, this song is fused with my genetic makeup. The details, the guitar, the drums, everything is harmoniously perfect for me.
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Jamaal Monarch is an eclectic hip hop artist from Manchester and currently based in London. Jamaal’s latest track ‘Blue’ from his album ‘These Times Don’t Last Forever’ is available to stream now with the visuals for the single on Youtube.
Demur Picks 2018 Concerts
Jhene Aiko @ O2 Shepherds Bush Empire
Mon 5th February 2018 Last year Jhené Aiko released her second solo album ‘TRIP’ together with her autobiographical film written by Jhené herself and Girl’s Trip Tracy Oliver. As well as opening for Lana Del Ray on a few select dates for her ‘LA To The Moon Tour’ this month, Jhené will be embarking on a European tour herself from 31st January with two days here in London as well as Glasgow, Birmingham and Manchester. The Koko London show has already sold out. Jhené says ‘TRIP’ has taken her 10 years to put together and this her most honest work to date. We have always appreciated how open Jhené is and how much she is always willing to share with her fans. We look forward to seeing her live for what we are certain will be an intimate experience.
Billie Eilish @The Jazz Cafe
Thur 15th February 2018 She has been working at her craft from a very young age and now at 16 Billie Eilish is taking the world by storm. Billie works with her brother Finneas O’Connell who is a Songwriter and a Producer. Billie has also previously released music with her brother ‘just for fun’. Billie’s music career was discovered when she submitted a track to her dance teacher which then went viral on Soundcloud. You might have heard some of Billie’s music on the show ’13 Reasons Why’ as her track ‘Bored’ was featured on the show’s soundtrack. Billie makes gory pop music which will leave your mind racing.
The experience of seeing your favourite song performed live is unreal. This year there are plenty of artists who are hitting the road and who we would love to see. Check out our list below and hopefully, we will bump into you at some of these shows. Kendrick Lamar @ SSE Arena
Tues 20th February 2018 Some (including Kendrick) have noted him as the greatest rapper of our time and some have been offended by his controversial, confrontational lyrics. Kendrick comes like Marmite, it’s either you like him or you don’t and frankly, he doesn’t give a DAMN. Kendrick spent the best part of last year touring his yet again provocative fourth album DAMN. Kendrick embarks on the European leg of his tour stopping in London for a few days due to popular demand. Kendrick has been instrumental in addressing social issues with his music and we are excited to see him here in London.
Elisa & Srigala @ Bermondsey Social Club
Thur 22nd February 2018 When Elisa Imperilee and Srigala first met in a playground when they were younger, they probably had no idea they were going to become a neo-soul music duo. Their musical relationship first blossomed in 2012 after a night out in Manchester and Elisa and Srigala have so far released their debut EP ‘1 o’clock club’. Their music is reminiscent of nostalgic artists who presented us with mellow chilled out sounds whilst addressing social issues. Think Lauryn Hill Erykah Badu, Floetry type of sound.
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Arlo @ Waiting Room
Wed 28th March 2018 Arlo has been hard at work since he graduated from Goldsmiths a few years ago. The upcoming East London artist moved to Harlem, New York, producing music with professionals who have created epic tracks with chart-topping artists. Arlo will be playing his first headline show at London’s Waiting Room, with support from fellow London rapper aptly named, Eff Raps. Following the release of his singles last year ‘Ivory’, ‘Shake The Room’, ‘Refuge and Safe’, Arlo has received much support from his growing fan base and BBC Introducing.
H.E.R @ Koko
Tues 20th March 2018 Most of us may have heard of H.E.R but are still left wondering who she really is. In an effort to remain an enigma, H.E.R released music with writing credits under her real name Gabriella Wilson. This hasn’t stopped her fan base from growing and spreading over the world. The first UK date on her tour has already sold out, she will also be hitting Manchester and Birmingham before coming back for a second stop at Koko London, come along to hear her sultry, smooth voice.
Ider @ Richmix
Tues 27th March 2018 IDER are two friends from North London, Megan Markwick and Lily Somerville, they released their debut EP early last year to much critical acclaim. Now the girls are taking their blend of pop electronica, R’n’B around Europe stopping in the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway before coming home to London. The first track we heard from IDER was ‘King Ruby’ which was written for a close friend who had just been through a tragic accident. One listen to this track and you will make every effort to come out and see IDER.
Gwenno
@ Hoxton Hall
Thur 12th April 2018 She is a DJ, radio presenter, singer and a keyboard player. This quadruple threat comes in the form of Gwenno Saunders who won the Welsh Music Prize in 2015. Gwenno usually sings both in Welsh and English. Gwenno was a member of the indie girl group, The Pipettes along with her sister Ani Glass before both embarking on their own solo careers. Gwenno will release her second solo album ‘Le Kov’ in March 2018 and the album will address the importance of protecting minority languages. ‘Le Kov’ will be in Cornish, one of the languages Gwenno grew up speaking.
Molotov Jukebox @ The Borderline
Sat 5th May 2018 All Harry Potter fans will recognise Natalia, singer of Molotov Jukebox as Nymphadora Tonks. However, this year she is coming to us with her 6 piece funky, psychedelic band Molotov Jukebox. The band which features Natalia’s husband, Sam who plays the violin, will be bringing their diversified sounds to London. Molotov Jukebox’s sound infuses Caribbean medleys, Romanian trumpet sounds, UK house and Spanish flamenco.
Milk and Bone @ Ace Hotel
Wed 11th April 2018 Camille Poliquin and Laurence LafondBeaulne who go by the name Milk & Bone are an electronic pop duo from Canada. Milk and Bone first met at Saint-Laurent, a Frenchspeaking college that’s part of Quebec’s CEGEP system. Fast forward some years later and the two are making truthful enchanting music with a sophomore album expected sometime this year. Milk and Bonewill be touring throughout March and April across the US, Canada and Europe.
By Stella Dzingai
Demur
Most Misinterpreted Songs …yea you heard it wrong.
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e have all been there, a song comes on and you scream out ‘oooo that’s my jam!’ and as the song proceeds everyone is looking at you because you are singing the wrong lyrics. Here are some of the songs we have heard misinterpreted by others. Some people here at Demur HQ are guilty of this.
Usher
Good Kisser
A certain someone here (we won’t expose her, but she goes by the name of Nicole) is the number one culprit on butchering songs. Even after correcting her on this song, she still insisted she was right, even after we showed her the lyrics. In the first verse of this song Usher sings ‘It’s 5 in the mornin’, kush is rollin’ while she’s makin’ steak and eggs, yeah’. The colleague in question is adamant even till this day that Usher is saying ‘while she makin second glances’, ok whatever that means.
Rihanna featuring Drake Work
TLC
Waterfalls
For so long I myself did not understand why TLC where begging ‘Jason Waterfalls’ not to go, after all, they are strong independent women who don’t want no scrubs and surely they will not care if Jason goes. Furthermore, why should he ‘listen to the rivers’? It turns out the advice from these ladies is ‘Don’t go chasing waterfalls. Please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you’re used to’ which seems like sound advice.
The way we have been dancing to this song since it came out is ridiculous. We thought we felt every inch of this song and could connect to it until we found out our girl Riri was singing about something completely different to what we thought (you really don’t want to know what we thought). Rihanna is singing about wanting something deeper from her man other than just intimacy. This is portrayed in the first line of the first verse ‘Dry! ...Me a desert him’ said in Patois. All this time we thought she was saying ‘Try me, I deserve it’, which made sense because of what we thought the song was about.
Chance The Rapper No Problem
Beyonce featuring JAY-Z Crazy In Love
We respect Beyoncé’s professionalism in keeping her private life, private. When she released ‘Crazy In Love’ from her first solo album, this was a confession from Beyoncé of her love for her then-boyfriend Jay – Z. Of course, when you meet a new guy and you are smitten in love you want to tell all your friends about it. As Beyoncé sang ‘When I talk to my friends so quietly’ we thought they would obviously be happy for her and respond ‘Oweeee Bey Bey!!’ Actually, they didn’t approve of him and were saying ‘Who he think he is?’.
We certainly had no problems listening to Chance’s track from his ‘Coloring Book’ mixtape. However, we were impeccably baffled when we heard him talking about how he ‘went to pick up all the mayo’. I mean is there a mayo shortage, what’s happening Chance? After a few more listens and looking the lyrics up it makes sense that he ‘had to pick up all the mail’ considering that he is not so fond of record labels and kinda runs the show by himself.
Zayn
Pillowtalk
Zayn Malik’s first solo release was well received, however, that didn’t stop us from not learning the proper lyrics. We knew something was going on his bed all day but we also thought he was going to go out and have a strong word with the neighbours. The lyrics, ‘So we’ll piss off the neighbours’ to us sounded like, So if we stop the neighbours’, stop the neighbours from what though?...
Jennifer Lopez featuring Ja Rule I’m Real (Murder Remix)
It’s only right that an artist introduces their song and hypes up the listener before proceeding to perform the song. This is what we thought when we believed Jennifer Lopez to be asking us ‘ Are You Ready?’ on the remix track featuring. In fact, Jenny from the block was telling us that Ja Rule is on the track as she sang ‘R.U.L.E’.
Jack U featuring Justin Bieber Where Are U Now
We all go through things in life and we all have our sombre moments. We were saddened to hear Justin Bieber was ‘sitting all alone and mopping’ as we listened to his smash hit ‘Where Are Ü Now’. We were less concerned when we found out the correct lyrics, Justin confirmed ‘Now I’m all alone and my joys turned to moping’. We hope he feels better now.
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Sarah Bird Meets Icona Pop & Peking Duk
When Sarah Bird met Icona Pop and Peking Duk From one artist to another
A
head of their sweat dripping, fun and peaceful but mayhemfilled show, singer/ songwriter Sarah Bird had a chance to sit down with double duo to talk about the power of the internet. SB: So, you guys have got this new killer track which I am very excited to see you perform tonight. Is this your first time performing together? PD: It’s the second time woo!! The first time was at The Garage in Islington and now we get to do it at a bigger, more iconic venue (Koko, Camden) You’ve got pictures of Pete Doherty and Amy Winehouse on the wall, a bit of a British staple
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Images by Ed Whitmarsh
SB: How did you guys get to meet? You girls are from Sweden and you guys are from down under? IP: It’s a bit of a long way but we have a lot of mutual friends. PD: A lot of mutual friends and luck brought us together. We were working at Northbound Studios in Stockholm about a year ago and the girls were recording in the next room. We saw IP and we were like check out our new song we’ve just made with Elliphant and Caroline and Aino were like this is dope, maybe you should hit us up with a song one day. So, a week later we had a song we made in London on the River Thames, on a boat that was owned by Peter Townshend from The Who. We knew IP would be the perfect fit for the song. We sent it to them crossed
our fingers and toes and they just came and said ‘yea this is sick let’s do it’. IP: When we heard it we definitely knew this was an IP type of sound and when you hear it you will hear exactly what we mean. We also love these guys, Australians are very cool. SB: How does it work? Do you guys (PD) write the lyrics and music and send it over by email? PD: We work through the power of the internet. What the girls sent back was so perfect. It was like here’s the nail and the hammer and they hit it right on the head, which is sometimes very rare. IP: It felt so natural. It was so much fun. As soon as we heard the song we knew we had to do it. SB: Speaking of the power of the internet, you guys
SB: Speaking of the power of the internet, you guys (PD) are from Canberra and you girls (IP) are from Stockholm. How do you view the sense of community in your hometown compared to the power of the internet in spreading your music worldwide? What do you think helps an artist get to where they want to be? PD: If people fuck with the music then they will support you whether it’s through the internet or word of mouth, it’s all the same really. A lot of the local support is from the people you get to work with and that’s what we noticed when we were in Stockholm. They will post and spread the word about who they are working with and that was epic in Stockholm which is now like our second home.
SB: You moved to the US to pursue your music career? IP: For us it was like more people abroad were listening to our music long before people back home were. People nowadays have different ways of discovering music. The main thing is to do what you love and just put it out there and keep doing that, the fans will love it. If you can do that it resonates with your music. If you try to please everyone it will not work. Sometimes you spend so much time thinking, what will that radio station thing etc SB: Is there a chance of you guys moving from down under? Maybe we will move to Stocktown! “Let You Down” is the latest release by Australian electronic music duo Peking Duk featuring Swedish duo Icona Pop. Sarah Bird’s latest release is ‘In My Mind’ with fellow Aussies Secret Spades. Next year is set to be a big year for Sarah Bird. Keep an eye on Sarah and all that she is doing through her: Soundcloud: sarahbirdmusic Facebook: sarahbirdmusic1 Twitter: sarahbird_music Instagram: musicbirdy Youtube: sarahbirdmusic1
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