Demur Magazine Spring Malarkey April 2018

Spring Malarkey APRIL 2018

FLUX

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MODERN ME

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CHRIS SANTOS

39

JP REYNOLDS

CONTENTS

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14

FASHION WEEK

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REAL TALK

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FESTIVAL SEASON

@DemurMagazine

Visit us at: www.demur.co Email: info@demur.co

A Fashionable Culture Š 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

Editor’s Letter M

y oh, my have we got an issue for you here. We know it’s spring time, but the English weather forces us to believe otherwise. We have prepared an edition that will help you enjoy Spring no matter what the weather is like.

For those of you who prefer to stay indoors and binge watch tv shows, we have a selection of shows that will make for great ice breaker topics and those who like to admire tv hunks from afar, we have Chris Santos from the Girlfriend Experience talking about his latest movie, Perfect and how he stays looking trim.

We don’t just take things at face value here at Demur and accept them as they are.

We give you our verdict on fashion week and if you read through the whole piece you will see just how much we really do look out for the independent guy (don’t

forget us in your thank you speeches). It wouldn’t be spring without a festival or two taking place. Our list of festivals this spring/ summer season will make you want to go to all of them and if you can, why not? There are some really big stars worth seeing live, hitting the festival circuit this year. I was also very proud to read about the back story of Strawberries & Creem, I’m sure you will be too.

We visit the streets of Harlem to talk to hiphop artists JP Reynolds about his loses and gains and mumble rap. Things get real as we discuss protest marches and their effect on matters of protests.

I hope this enough to keep you occupied and out of trouble.

Until next time, Noreen Chada

Subscribe to get a hardcopy delivered straight to your door

DEMUR IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY Noreen Chada – Editor Kay Samuel- Editorial Assistant Nicole Samoto – Social Editor Alice Diamond- Staff Writer Emily Bone – Fashion Writer Mia Seabrook – Music Writer Stella Dzingai – Contributing Writer Shirly Dee – Creative Content Manager Emma Gillett - Graphic Designer Hannah Smith - Music Writer Mia Woloszczynska – Music Writer Lydia Redpath - Features Writer Stefania Sarrubba - Arts & Culture Writer Jennifer Damian – Features Writer Nicholas Barber – Features Writer Published by Demur Ltd

Tropical Print Top £15.99 zara.com Would go great with some plain coloured wide leg trousers and a red handbag.

Strap Heel Shoes £24.99 parfois.com You can wear these with a head to toe denim outfit or wide legged bottoms

DEMUR

As it’s Spring we are adding some colour to our wardrobes and making the most of the longer albeit colder days.

Denim Pinafore Dress £19.99 stradivarius.com This can work with a plain coloured sweatshirt and some ankle boots or trainers. You can also let one strap down to add a bit of swag.

Sonia Delaunay: Art, Design and Fashion by Marta Ruiz del Arbol £49.50 ideabooks.nl Get some inspiration from some of Sonia’s work in painting, theatrical sets, advertising, interiors, fashion and textiles.

Sean Wotherspoon x Nike Air Max 1/97 VF SW Trainers £124.95 nike.com Let the shoes do the talking.

Keep it simple with a plain coloured sweatshirt and washed out jeans.

Distressed Denim Jacket £30.00 boohoo.com If you are going for the all denim look, you can wear this to add a bit of detail to your outfit.

Otherwise an oversized denim jacket works with many other outfits.

Hooded Jacket With Panels £25.99 pullandbear.com You can wear this with a white or blue shirt and skinny jeans.

PICKS Lace Culottes £27.99 hm.com Pair this with a plain t-shirt as there is already detail on the trousers and a pair of plimsole shoes Vans etc.

Jacket With Pouch Pocket £24.99-bershka.com You can try this with a pair of ripped jeans and just go for the casual look

Saucony Shadow 5000 Vintage Trainers £84.99 5pointz.co.uk If you own a pair of white jeans this would go well and you can top it off with an oversized blue or even black denim jacket.

Happy!

Netflix Based on a comic book series of the same name, Happy! follows the story of Nick Sax, a once high-flying police officer who is now battling alcohol and drug addiction. Unfortunately, Nick gets shot and left for dead, while he is unconscious he’s visited by a small, blue, goofy cartoonish winged horse by the name of Happy.

Nick is the only one who can see Happy. A little girl is kidnapped by a man dressed as Santa Claus and Happy happens to be the little girl’s imaginary friend. Happy convinces Nick to find the girl as she might be Nick’s daughter. With his new partner in tow, Nick accepts the challenge.

SPRING

WATCHING The shows

Good Girls Revolt

Amazon The show is based on a book by Lynn Povich one of the 46 women who sued Newsweek magazine for gender discrimination in 1970. Povich had to fight just to be promoted to Junior Writer before the female staffers rallied and took legal action against the publication. Good Girls Revolt is a period drama featuring typewriters, dial phones, flared trousers and big hair. However, what stands out even more in the series is the injustice women suffered in the workplace back in the day, but these women are not here for it, they are tenacious, audacious and spirited.

One Mississippi

Amazon Losing your mother and having a double mastectomy is no laughing matter but this is what Tig Bavaro is going through in this dark drama/comedy co-written by comedian Tig Notaro.

Perhaps it’s the trials and tribulations of Tig’s dysfunctional family that add the comedy. As we see how Tig interacts with her impassive step-father and clingy girlfriend we very soon realise Tig’s family is very much like ours. It’s no doubt Tig is going through a tough time as she discovers some truths about her late mother and some about herself. Although the show has not been renewed for another season, there are still two seasons for you to enjoy on Amazon.

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Santa Clarita Diet

Netflix You better hope and pray that this never happens to anyone in your neighbourhood. A woman who works with her husband as a real estate agent wakes up as a zombie and as expected, develops a taste for human flesh. As her family try and understand and adapt to her new lifestyle, they have to keep this secret from their neighbours and the rest of the world out of fear that they may not be as understanding of their mother’s new-found cravings. There are plenty of laughs and gore with Drew Barrymore and Timothy Oliphant playing the husband and wife lead characters. The series is now on its second season.

you can’t miss this month Please Like Me

Amazon Lead character Josh is dumped by his girlfriend and comes to discover that he has been wasting his time on the wrong sex. With this new realisation, Josh starts to adapt to life with the help of his now ex-girlfriend and roommate whilst also trying to help his mum battle through her depression. Life is a bit tricky when you are young, and you have all of this to deal with. Inspired by the award-winning standup comedy of Josh Thomas, Please Like Me is a charming and bittersweet comedy/drama about cavoodles, custard tarts, boyfriends and girlfriends.

David Letterman My Next Guest Needs No Introduction, Jay Z

Netflix – Available 6th April David Letterman came out of retirement with a bang with this new show on Netflix, My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman. In this six-part series David Letterman sits down with six high profile individuals all with interesting stories to tell and for the fourth episode, Letterman sits down with mogul Jay -Z. Jay-Z rarely sits down for interviews and is often not one to divulge much information about his marriage to one of the most iconic superstars in the world, Beyoncé. However, having poured his heart out on his last album 4:44 on things that are personal to him, family, race and the political climate of America, the people want to hear more of what Jay-Z has to say and this is the perfect platform.

FLUXEXHIBITION Fifth Edition

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LUX Exhibition returns for its fifth edition on 11th-15th April at Chelsea College of Arts London displaying works from 100 incredible artists. The show curated by Lisa Gray represents an opportunity to gain access to a vast and diverse group of gifted artists on the path to being the big names of tomorrow, showcasing international talent in a collaborative, inclusive show. FLUX celebrates artists on the precipice of wider accolade and fame. The FLUX opening party comes alive with, performance artists, live painting by the Grafitti Kings and Francesco Jacobello and site-specific installations, which complement the work and bring a new experimental approach to the exhibition.

The exhibition will also be featuring the unique, Mini-Masterpieces where smaller artworks by FLUX artists can be purchased for £300 or less. A great way for a new collector to invest in art at a fraction of the price of the artists’ normal sized works.

A WORK IN PROGRESS PIECE

BY PEDRO SOUSA LOURO

For a chance to win original artwork worth £450 by Pedro Sousa Louro (ABOVE) sign up for a free ticket to attend FLUX.

ARTWORK BY MARCUS JAKE

To celebrate this fifth and most ambitious edition FLUX will be giving away a limited-edition artwork (LEFT) by Marcus Jake worth £300 to those who purchase artwork.

EVENT Location

16 John Islip St, SW1P 4JU

Nearest Tube Pimlico

Opening Hours 11 April 12 April 13 April 14 April 15 April

18.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 10.00

– – – – –

21.00 Private View 20.00 20.00 19.00 15.00

fluxexhibition.com

Artists on display Marek Emczek Olszewski who was born in Poland in 1981 and has been living and working in London since 2006.

Marek is attracted to nonobviousness, light and shadow play, movement, reflection, geometry and extreme minimalism and is a member of the Free Painters and Sculptors collective. His work has been featured and bought by some of the world’s leading architects and interior designers, including Candy & Candy and a high-profile commission for the Qatari Headquarters in London’s Mayfair.

Iva Troj is a contemporary Art Excellence Artist of The Year 2016 and 2013 Towry Best of East England Award Winner, Iva Troj seamlessly incorporates her vast experience of traditional painting techniques with postmodern elements to create engaging and stunningly detailed works that challenge the notion of

societal conformity. Knowledge of traditional art techniques was first inspired by the necessity to fit within Cold War aesthetics of social realism.

Alongside this, however, lay an acute perception of the reality existent beneath external structures.

Tomas Harker is an emerging artist featured in collections worldwide and garnering increasing international interest. He has previously been included in an exhibition at the Tate Modern, London and has recently had two hugely successful solo shows.

He has received recognition from esteemed critic the late Brian Sewell and gained glowing appraisals from many publications.

Sally Buchanan’s work is original, individual and eclectic, she combines conceptual principles with meticulous craft and a dash of wit to

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make installations, sculptures, embroideries and land art. She achieved early success with her challenging and eerie multiple self-portraits as psychological boxes, and her trompe l’oeil sculpture Still Life Futures 1. Other “Art experiments” included, seek to integrate the self with a literal embodiment of truth to materials where she used her own body as a template and traced out the remnants of her own previous presence. At Byam Shaw, she embraced access to all the technical studios and through intensive making questioned her own actuality.

She graduated from Central St Martins in 2007.

As well as showing artworks within The Cookhouse and Triangle Galleries there will be site specific large-scale installations and sculptures in The Rootstein Hopkins Parade Ground opposite Tate Britain.

Chris Santos

IS JUST PERFECT

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ou might recognise Chris Santos from the Steven Soderbergh film ‘The Girlfriend Experience’ where he plays the role of Chris the live-in boyfriend of a high-end call girl in New York. Having developed a working relationship with Academy Award-winning Producer, Steven, the dream team are back again with another film ‘Perfect’ the movie that Chris pitched to Steven.

‘Perfect’ tells the story of a young man with a violent past as he enters a mysterious clinic where the patients wildly transform their bodies and minds using genetic engineering. Chris Santos is always hard at work over there in the hills of Hollywood. Whilst he is not working on bits and pieces to occupy your big and small screens, the adrenaline junkie can be seen practising his Muyai Thai (Thai boxing) and his rear naked choke moves (Brazilian jujitsu), fully clothed we hope. Chris took some time out of his busy schedule to talk to us about his latest movie, how his job as a personal trainer got him back into acting and Tom Cruise playing his dad.

On his working relationship with Steven Soderbergh and pitching ‘Perfect’ to him…

Steven is great to work with. He is so laid back, easy going and yet supper efficient. It’s like he sees the whole film in his mind already.

He shoots during the day and cuts it at night.

I’ve known him for a while now and yet I have never asked him to look at anything on my behalf. However, I just really believed that both Eddie (the director of Perfect) and Steven would connect on an artistic level. Also, I knew the film was truly something special.

Looking back, it would have been a tragedy if I

would have been not connected to them.

On preparing for his role in ‘Perfect’...

Well, my character’s name is S.T.R.I.P.S (Stanford Research Institute Problem Solver) which is a type of A.I (Artificial Intelligence).

The writer Ted created my dialogue by cutting up pages of biblical books, throwing them in the air and then writing them down in no organized order. So, all of my dialogue was very difficult and proved to be a challenge delivering. With that said, I was very happy with the outcome.

Chris almost didn’t pursue acting but…

My first film role was in Amongst Friends, which was such a great experience and I am still friends with the director Rob Weiss. I acted from the time I was 12-19 years old after which I left to pursue a career as a personal trainer. I really enjoyed helping people change their lives. After ten years of working in NYC, I moved to Los Angeles to be closer to my four brothers and sisters whom all had migrated to California. I decided to leave personal training and give acting another try. Shortly after that

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INTERVIEW one of my very first clients, David Levien called to tell me how he had just gotten finished writing a film with Steven about a high-priced escort (which was The Girlfriend Experience). He went on to tell me that he had written her boyfriend as a personal trainer and that a lot of his inspiration for the character was based on his experience with me. He set me up to meet with Steven strictly in a “consulting manner”. At the end of our dinner together Steven told me that he wanted me to play the character in the film, the rest is history.

Some common misconceptions about acting that we need to stop believing…

There are so many! First, that acting is easy. That couldn’t be further than the truth. If acting is something you really want to pursue, then you better be reading, training and studying because the people you are going up against will be. That it’s ‘who you know’. Well, you can know everyone in the world and be handed a three-picture deal today. However, if you don’t have the training and experience to execute on that opportunity you will find your-

self out of work very quickly.

If Chris could have played any role in a previous movie it would have been…

I think more about the roles I’d like to play in the future than roles that others played. I have a few: - The kid in me who was raised on comics would love to play Superman or Wolverine.

- The bad ass in me would love to play 007 or a Mission Impossible movie where Tom Cruise is my dad and while I follow in his footsteps as an agent, I am taken prisoner and he has to come rescue me. He does, we kill a bunch of bad guys and save the world.

- The comedian in me would love to do anything opposite Will Ferrell.

- The New Yorker in me dreams of doing anything by David Mamet or Aaron Sorkin.

- The artist in me would love to do a serious period piece.

Also, a character who has to deal with some great physical, health, or mental condition.

I know you asked for one, but I couldn’t resist.

‘Perfect’ was premiered at SXSW in Austin, TX in the “Visions” category on March 11th.

Chris additionally has the beautifully shot short film Someday starring opposite Dominican actress Katherine Castro, which just wrapped filming. The film follows two strangers (Santos and Castro) who meet on a 14-hr flight from Sydney to Los Angeles. Adam is a world-famous composer, but Melody doesn’t recognize her flight companion seated next to her.

Along the way they pour their hearts out, forging a connection that is more beautiful, precisely because of its simple, fleeting nature.

By Alice Diamond

Fashion Week The Verdict

By Emily Bone @emilybonewrite

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Fashion Week, the biggest event in the fashion calendar; an exciting time for all fashionistas. Is it worth all the fuss and excitement?

PHOTOS

Antoine Lassalle

Fashion Week provides an avenue to allow designers to showcase their work, rousing up commercial interest and journalists, plus it’s a golden opportunity for brands to raise their profiles. As Fashion Week in the four fashion capitals of the world, New York, Milan, London and Paris have come to an end; we consider whether the Fashion Weeks are still serving their original purpose.

C

elebrities, influencers, bloggers and other A - Z list stars, are flocking the FROW (even more than journalists it appears), the coverage from Fashion Weeks has turned into a Where’s Wally of celebrities spotted at the events instead of the clothes that are being showcased. And with a particular focus on the issue of body image, models can also be seen stealing the limelight from the designers and the clothes they are wearing on the catwalk.

So, who brings what to the party of Fashion Week? A report

by Launchmetics and the Council of Fashion Designers of America revealed the voices that have contributed to the changing landscape of Fashion Weeks, and these groups are the culprits. The media, fashion editors and us journalists are the most traditional and long-standing influential voices in the industry. The reviews from these sources help the readers imagine the overall experience the brand has portrayed on the catwalk.

Now with the influencers, whether they are big, small or have a celebrity status, these are the most prominent voices in this digital era whether we like to admit it or not. And for that, they are given priority over journalists at Fashion Week, (unless you are Anna Wintour.) With an uncountable number of followers or subscribers, influencers sit with smartphones poised at the ready on the front row. They feed their fans with exclusive content from the shows. Consumers alike contribute with the rise in social media and a need for immediacy, this gives the consumers the chance to follow along live. Of course, social media companies benefit from this as much, as they are now the platforms that the ‘regulars’ go to, to be a part of the magic. Social media companies also build up a buzz for the events and with the ability to see the action as it happens, everyone can be a part of it.

Who needs to be present at Fashion Week when Instagram Live allows you to see it all with a click

of your smartphone. If you thought your ticket for the front row at Burberry got lost in the post, don’t worry the Internet has you covered. So, for what was once an exclusive soiree, is the culture of Fashion Week changing?

At the dawn of Fashion Weeks, only journalists, press and buyers were present to get the exclusive preview from designers. Now there are three other factors that allow you entry, your wealth, status and technology. (Oh and a visit from the Queen was a first too.) With celebrities invited because of their status, is there a ranking of importance to get a seat?

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How do our beloved independent designers survive in this battle of Fashion Week? Well in recent years Fashion Week has been more supportive of emerging brands. There are initiatives such as the British Fashion Council Designer Showrooms, where emerging ready-towear, footwear and accessory brands can apply to have a stall at London Fashion Week’s main venue.

Then there is NEWGEN, a talent identification scheme that offers catwalk designers financial support towards their show costs. Fashion Scout

is also another fashion showcase that emerging brands can apply to present their designs at.

And, finally, On|Off is a creative platform that represents new talent and actively supports up and coming designers at London Fashion Week.

With a variety of platforms to back up our up and coming talented artists, independent designers stand to benefit from the publicity.

Amie Victoria Robertson was an example of this, after debuting at London Fashion Week two years ago in a group show with Fashion East, Amie

presented her first solo show last month. As the status reoccurs, however, the ranking of magazine superiority at attending the betterknown brands may mean the independent designers might not get as much coverage.

But it’s not all about catwalks anymore, brands have the ability to showcase their work in other forms. There are various presentations held during Fashion Week which are exclusive events usually featuring models wearing the brands’ clothes posing stood still in a formation on a decorated set. Or you can see their clothes on racks in pop up shops in the BFC showrooms as mentioned, and yes thankfully this includes our independent designers.

The bigger question that remains however is, are the clothes we see on the catwalk really the clothes you would wear out? The catwalk influences high street stores, which create replicas or a theme from fashion week. So, unless you have a large budget, designers’ clothes will stay on the catwalk or end up worn once by celebrities.

Look out at the next series of Fashion Weeks in September and look out for who will be in attendance.

EDITORIAL

Lingerie @lnkrules

Nuovo Serpente

EDITORIAL

Photographer Balint Nemes @balintnemes

Model Tereza

@terry_sestoradova

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Dresses

Sharka Bosakova @sharkabosakova

Partner

Czech Fashion Council @czechfashioncouncil

Welcome to Wonderland

Little Simz

James Kelly

delivers at Roundhouse Rising

Roundhouse Rising Festival returned for its ninth year this year with a line-up that was bigger than ever with support from Youtube. The annual event gives new music acts across a wide range of genres an opportunity to showcase and develop their talent through workshops, panels, talks, and performances. hen we attended the last W day of Roundhouse Rising, it was clear that there was a

prominent message. Welcome to Wonderland exhibited interesting talks about equality, feminism and the booming rise of hip-hop, soul, and rap. Curator, Little Simz successfully put on a full day of enthralling and educational talks, and we can tell she is definitely

ahead of the game in terms of start-ups.

Little Simz first played Roundhouse Rising a few years ago, before being invited back to curate shows for the whole day. The event is now known as Welcome to Wonderland, which is now in its second edition. (part II) and ends the two-week Roundhouse Rising

EVENT

festivities with a bang.

With an absolutely buzzing atmosphere and a little something for all creatives, the festival boasts three different themed stages, a marketplace, master classes, and an art exhibition. With some insanely popular names and massive performances from the land of hip-hop and rap, Welcome to Wonderland was also keen to promote various upcoming artists. Although these artists are only just emerging, they were certainly not short of talent. Packing out the event space and creating a massive vibey atmosphere, Lava La Rue performed an eclectic set of genre fusions, whilst Coah mesmerised the transmission stage audience with her sweet soul vocal chords.

The day developed, and the atmosphere got even livelier as Kojey Radical went in hard on the main stage giving a performance

to remember.

As much as everyone anticipated, Little Simz returned to the main stage like an absolute boss, bringing the whole week to a close. The show was vibrant, deeply conceptual and took us on a journey that was fascinating, decorated with bright visuals and portraying a strong message. It is no mystery as to why Little Simz has grown such a large fan base and such a positive reputation and ethos.

With such an enthralling line-up bursting at the seams with fresh unique talent, it’s completely clear that Little Simz will continue to make her mark on London’s music scene and will be confidently two stepping further into the music industry, leaving footsteps hard to fill.

Faber is the Soul Fused Rocker & Art Lover From London

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Festival Season he sun will come out tomorrow…at least we T hope it will. We can’t wait to be basking in the outdoors showing off some skin and enjoying nature

at its best. What better way is there to enjoy the sun than being out with your friends at a festival. These are just some of the festivals we will be heading to this season and we hope to see you there.

By Nicole Samoto

Strawberries & Creem

Saturday 16th June 2018 Haggis Farm, Cambridge Rd, Barton, Cambridge www.strawberriesandcreem.com We are so proud and excited that this festival is now in its fifth year, not only because it is independently run, but because it is run by young individuals with an average age of 24, who are either in full-time jobs or full-time students. With grassroots values as their ethos, Strawberries & Creem showcase some of the best UK talent and this year they are bringing Not3s and Kojo Funds who will make their Strawberries & Creem debuts this year. Along with fresh talent, the festival will also host some old school veterans including DJ Luck & MC Neat, Pied Piper and headliner the original auto tune innovator, T-Pain.

It’s more than just books, soiree and Oxbridge wars in Cambridge. They know how to have a good time and the proof is in them hosting Strawberries & Creem and you can bear witness to this in June. The only sad thing is, it’s only one day.

NASS

Thursday 5th – Sunday 8th July 2018 Royal Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet www.nassfestival.com Probably the liveliest festival on our list, NASS 2018 will bring together over 20,000 music and extreme sports fans at the Bath & West Showground, near Bristol. With live music performances and DJ sets from Vic Mena, Stefflon Don and Bugzy Malone, Eatbrain League x State of Mind b2b Jade b2b L 33 ft MC Nuklear, there are plenty of reasons to head to NASS even if you are not into extreme sports. With an eclectic range of music genres for you to enjoy, the festival is spread over 4 whole days giving you a chance to catch at least one performance from one of the seven stages.

If you want to pull away from the music crowds, you can go and check out the international BMX and skateboard competitions or the live and curated street art taking place and on display over the course of the weekend. To round off proceedings, NASS welcomes back the mighty SIKA Studios who will be running a series of showcases featuring fresh talent in the shape of Jack Jetson, Phatworld, Devilman, Sox + many more.

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We Are FSTVL

Friday 25th – 27th May 2018 Damyns Hall Aerodrome, Upminster www.wearefstvl.com There is a reason why We Are FSTVL is the 5-time award winning dance music show. We Are FSTVL is one of the few festivals championing and offering a platform to dance music. It’s also the one you can’t miss this year if you are really the dance music aficionado you like to call yourself. Since it started in 2013, We Are FSTVL has grown year upon year, proving itself as one of the biggest players on the dance festival circuit.

300 acts from dance music, underground and grime genres will take over 30 stages across over the three-day weekender in Upminster. Drum and Bass titans Pendulum have been added to the line up as part of the Sunday headliners line-up - they’ll be joining already announced Eric Prydz, Jamie Jones, Marco Carola, and MK. The multi-award winning festival has also revealed leading Techno DJ Ben Klock and talented electronic music duo Bicep, plus stage partners Oscuro London, and Paravana Project for their sixth celebration of Electronic and Grime music culture. We Are FSTVL also offer a payment plan for their tickets ensuring all your friends can attend.

Parklife Festival 2018

Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th June Heaton Park, Manchester www.parklife.uk.com Manchester’s most prominent festival returns for its ninth year with a line up that will leave you raging in jealousy of the ticket holders who have already bought up all the weekend tickets. Fear not however, there are still a limited amount of day tickets available as well as the VIP options too, but with such a line up we can’t see them being available for too long.

So, who is on this wonderful lineup? The festival will see Liam Gallagher return to Heaton Park for the first since Oasis’ famous show in 2009. It doesn’t just stop there; the 16 stages will not only be occupied by home talent. Overseas acts include A$AP Rocky, Lorde and N*E*R*D. This year the VIP Colonnade will pay homage to the iconic Manchester institution Sankeys Soap. Celebrating the venue’s huge influence on the UK club scene the tribute labelled as 'The Beehive Club' will host the original Sankeys Soap residents plus the club's legendary Phazon sound system.

Southport Weekender Festival

Saturday 9th June 2018 Finsbury Park, London www.southportweekenderfestival. com Tickets are selling out fast to the Southport Weekender festival, which is no surprise at all considering the loyal fanbase the brand has built up over the last three decades with their weekend events of the same name which ran for 28 years. The London festival back for its second year will bring London collective So Fresh So Clean with their selection of classic 90s hip-hop, while radio station Mi Soul will showcase a range of dynamic artists across soul music, house and reggae.

The one-day festival which is a celebration of house, soul, R&B, garage and disco will bring old school legends DJ Jazzy Jeff and one of the godfathers of house music David Morales, who will celebrate 30 years of his Def Mix Recordings imprint alongside Hector Romero and special guests Juliet Roberts, Robert Owens and Alison Limerick who will each perform a selection of live classic songs. VIP passes are also available, but for the extra extra special people with a bit of change to spare, there is an extra special VVIP package which allows festivalgoers backstage access and the opportunity to meet artists in the green room area.

South West Four Festival

Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th August 2018 Clapham Common, London www.southwestfour.com Set to return to London's Clapham Common this Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th August, South West Four will celebrate their 15th anniversary this summer with a huge selection of the biggest names in the industry including Chase & Status, Marshmello, Armand Van Helden and Example.

Standing tall as the capital’s longest running electronic music festival, the weekender will pull out all the stops for this special milestone with a series of exclusive performances, chart-topping artists, forward-thinking DJs and brand showcases in tow.

Playing the London event on Sunday, are drum & bass DJ duo Hype & Hazard are one of the hottest names in drum and bass right now booking sets across the globe and attracting fans with their high energy sets. Saturday addition, Martin Solveig is a Pacha Ibiza resident and ‘My House’ superstar and will bring his colourful and uptempo vibes to the UK capital fresh off the back of his 2017 hit ‘All Stars’

Island

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EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL

Photographer

Anna Khmeleva @annakhmeleva photography

Model Aneta

@konyovaaneta

Agency

Balint Nemes Personal Model Management @balintnemes

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Modern Me IN 4 4 MINUTES MINUTES IN

e recently came across Modern W Me, an indie band from California who describe their music

as ‘bipolar melodies’ and our first reaction was: WOW! If you haven’t already heard their latest single ‘Dead To Me’ I definitely recommend you search for them right now. If you fall in love with the band as much as we have, we’re pretty sure you are going to be itching to know more about these San-Diego based lads. With this in mind, we spoke to Adam Lamah, the band’s lead vocalist, to give us an insight into his experiences and love for music.

We all know how music moves us and makes us feel a certain way.

However, not many of us are us are moved enough to take it up as a vocation. We asked Adam about the

motivation that sparked him to get into music, because we feel this is the first question that everyone asks themselves when they first listen to a band. “Music is magic. I heard it, I felt it, and then I had to control it somehow. My Father bought me a drum set one Christmas and the journey began,” Adam explained. Of course, Adam had no idea at the time that he would be part of a band that would have their debut single receive heavy airplay all over the radio.

Once you have been through Modern Me’s Soundcloud you will be wanting more. “We’ve been working on some songs about nostalgia and the matrix. Keep your eyes peeled for a release this summer,” Adam assured us. Hopefully, that means we’ll be getting even more great songs from

INTERVIEW

“

Music is magic. I heard it, I felt it, and then I had to control it somehow.

the guys in the very near future.

We honestly feel like we can relate to Modern Me as most of their music is a recount of the boy’s personal experiences. As the guys have been friends for such a long time we were pretty sure they had at least one unforgettable clean and child-friendly experience they wished to share with our readers. “We were in San Pedro for a photo shoot. We managed to make our way out to a rock surrounded by water. Phoenyx was on his phone facing east when we saw a 5-foot wave was coming his way.

“We screamed at him to get out of the way and he was hit and was almost dragged into the ocean.

We laughed the rest of the day.”

Aside from being musical superstars Modern Me are just regular folks who like to have fun just like us.

It seems to be a common assumption that music is only a hobby and if you pursue it as a profession you lack intelligence, or you are lazy.

However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. The guys have been friends since high school and have been honing their craft since then.

With all these years invested in their music, we are certain this isn’t just a hobby for them. As Adam says, ‘Life is fairly short. We didn’t want to sit at a desk for forty years or so and regret it.’ With such strong words of wisdom, we couldn’t agree more This is a message to anyone who loves music and is waiting for that sign to pursue it as a career. Do it! While you will have to put a lot of effort and work into it, Modern Me show us it’s possible.

Modern Me are such a passionate group of individuals who clearly spend a lot of time on their music by incorporating their own personalities and experiences into their songs making them unique and their own, which is something many people in the music business lack. Most music these days seems fabricated and unrelatable and Modern Me offer a breath of fresh air to an industry that is saturated with songs that all sound the same. I personally think these guys are amazing and again if you haven’t listened to them yet, go and do so right away!

By Lydia Redpath @lydiaxredpathxx

JP Reynolds THE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH

P Reynolds is an artist who speaks the raw truth in his Jdown lyrics and is a hard-working man. When he’s not sitting writing bars for his next ethereal eclectic rap gumbo

track, JP can be seen plotting and calculating the next moves for his global mission ‘Peace and Power’, an artistic hub that produces music, visual and written content. JP is an advocate for society. We were intrigued to hear more of what JP had to say.

PHOTOS:

Kolin Mendez

Tell us about your venture 'Peace and Power', what is the vision for this project?

Peace and Power is a planet.

This vision is to create spaces and experiences through dope music and art, for people to encounter the divine. To know themselves more truly, to feel beauty, to express joy, to seek justice, to see the light in a darkened world. So, as an artist, I create to that end. As an MC and as a performer I seek to be a vessel for my creator. I've got a really dope team around me. And I've been able to build The Peace and Power Band committed to the vision. Peace and Power Media which seeks to develop an artistic hub, empowering budding creatives to build a sustainable and scalable platform for their craft.

'Dreamcatcher' is a deeply personal song for you. How easy was it for you to bear your feelings on to a song?

Yeah, deeply personal. I wouldn't say it's a matter of ease, I'd say it's a matter of

addressing a thing, I just got to express. I think it'd actually be harder NOT to write about something I feel so deeply and pervasively. If something is always on my mind or on my heart, then it's bound to find itself in my lyrics somewhere.

My feelings often come out on songs. When it comes to cathartic expression and release, family is important, faith is important, community is important, therapy is important; but my creative process still holds a unique and singular significance.

So you will be releasing one song a month throughout the year, why did you give yourself such a challenge?

Yes! I wanted to spread out the love! I want to stretch myself and give folks individual joints they can add to their playlists throughout the year. Got a bunch of different sounds dropping this year. I got some funk. I got an afrobeat joint.

I got straight bars. I got some vibe joints. I even got some love songs on deck. It's gonna be dope.

What are your views on what some term as 'mumble rap'?

I think folks are coming up with amazing rhythmics, sonics, and melodies. And the tides of rap will always change, because the genre and its creators are traditionally too innovative to remain monolithic. The genre has expanded and will continue to expand. I'm here for that. With all that said though, there's always a need for balance. So while mumble rap may give us turn up and escapism, we still need some substance and depth.

Who do you think is currently holding the throne in the rap game right now, and what is your favourite song from them?

Eh, I don't think about it in terms of thrones. The game is too broad and there are too many kings and queens wearing crowns out here! I'll give you a few of my favourite’s though.

Kendrick's "King's Dead" is crazy. Big. K.R.I.T.'s "Keep The Devil Off" is one of my joints right now. Lecrae's "Broke" is fire.

Stay connected to JP officiallyjp.com

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West Attend March For Our Lives Protest

Real Talk Can Anyone Hear Us?

ARE OUR MARCHES WORKING OR ARE WE WEARING OUT OUR SOLES TO NO AVAIL? saw pictures of the Ioverrecently ‘March For Our Lives’ protest in Washington DC, with various

celebrities including Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, Vic Mensa and Jaden Smith, in attendance. The march organised by students in collaboration with other non-profit organisations was calling for a much needed, long overdue change in gun laws in the US following the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting.

Women’s March took place last month, protesting for respect for women, quite frankly it’s disappointing that we’re still fighting for such a basic right in this day and age. With all these marches taking place across the world and with the millions of people uniting for a common cause, we must stop and ask ourselves, can anyone hear us? Are our marches working or are we wearing out our soles to no avail?

Sometimes as humans, we cannot help but feel like our efforts may be in vain, when we are forced to keep working and fighting for

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something over and over again with little or no results. The issue of gun control is not new on the agenda and the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School is not the first of a few either. So clearly the people who are responsible for making the laws are aware of the issue and they are aware of our antagonism and yet the response so far is, it is complicated to change the laws. Surely, they must realise this too affects them. I appreciate there are procedures to be followed when amending laws and yes it often does take time, but how much longer must we wait and how many more lives must be lost? Would a key law maker losing a loved one perhaps expedite a change? After all, we know unless something directly affects you, there is no real incentive to work on it.

Most of the protests have been non-violent

OPINION

Occupy Wall Street whilst carrying a hefty message and yet our diplomatic ways go unnoticed. The only way we can ensure we are heard is to continue protesting even after we get home and are resting our feet. If we just stop at marching, this could well be a waste of our time and the powers that be will continue to ignore us. It is not enough to just march we must follow it up with firm action we must stay on the case until we see a suitable result. It may be a long fight, but we must be persistent. Our perseverance will determine how serious we are about fighting for our causes.

We also have a responsibility to educate, engage and encourage those who are not present at our protests of our cause. It is not just the people at the top that need convincing, it is also our peers who we need to involve and edify them on how they too can be affected about the said thing we are protesting for, then they also through their own means can influence change. Just because you are in the UK it does not mean the US gun laws do not affect you. One day you or a loved one may find yourself on US soil and it would be unfortunate to be caught up in a shooting.

You may not feel like you are your brother’s keeper but you are your descendants guardian and whatever distasteful thing you sit back and allow to continue now, will only stick

around and wait to mutilate your offspring later on.

Protesting has become part of our nature and culture. We are fed up of broken promises and waiting for a change. This is our way of communicating our disenchantment as much as the authorities try to shut us down.

Marches bring solidarity, and the bigger the crowd the heavier the blow. It will take all of us to fight for our rights.

So, in spite of the marches working or not, we must not forget that we are the generation that is shaping the future for those to come after us and we all have a responsibility to ensure that the future is brighter. However, we cannot accomplish that if we sit back in silence and allow ourselves to be destroyed before our time. Whether it’s a march, a tweet, a petition or a boycott; keep fighting, one day someone, somewhere will hear us.

By Noreen Chada @noreenchada

Women’s March In Washington