L'ART Issue 13, April 2013

DL

Publications

L’ART

ISSUE 13

Be Creative

10 The Pulse Tour UK 11 Criss Judd

14 Brian Friedman 17 Word On The Street

18 The Vogue Festival 2013 19 Megan Tyce - Photographer

22 Amanda Brown - Fashion Designer 25 Levert II 28 Kimberly Wyatt

Image Source: 1ms

6 Damage

CONTENTS

4 D&L Style

Ed ito Let r’s ter

Hi and welcome to the 13th issue enough to be excited about, we of L’ART; the ‘Anniversary’ is- don’t know what is! Read exclusue. sive interviews with faculty members and upcoming faces in fashIt’s going to be a great month ion inside. for fashion and performing arts, as April will see the US dance 90s rnb group Damage are back!

Pulse Faculty stop off in London Music lovers can catch up with on their international tour! Plus Jade Jones and Rahsaan J Brothe Vogue Festival will celebrate mfield as they reveal their latest its second anniversary in the city, plans, along with the future of with models, stylists and design- soul and rnb groups The O’Jays ers being celebrated. and LeVert, Levert II. Professional dancers, Brian Friedman, Cris Judd, Laurieann Gibson and Carmit Bachar will be at London’s Olympia, as well as Victoria Beckham, Cara Delevingne, Donatella Versace and Alexa Chung at Queen Elizabeth Hall. If those line ups aren’t

Marking two years of L’ART Magazine, look out for our new website coming soon at our new address lartmagazine.co.uk plus online interviews with Carmit Bachar and Laurieann Gibson!

Daniella & Letisha

e l y t S L & D Topshop Diamante Neck Playsuit, £55.00

River Island, £34.00

Dru Hill, Blackstreet, SWV and Changing Faces at Wembley, Damage are officially back.

What have you all been up to since the band split up?

Who remembers R&B boy band Damage? Well it seems that a lot of you have never forgotten about these boys because it was you that helped get them back together. Jade Jones, one of the members will tell you how in our feature interview with him and Rahsaan J Bromfield, as we caught up with them after hearing the news of their reunion.

in the 90’s with some of our favourite hits including ‘Ghetto Romance’, ‘After The Love Has Gone’ and ‘Still Be Loving You’.

Now returning as a quartet, Jade Jones, Andrez Harriott, Rahsaan J Bromfield and Noel Simpson have got some big plans for music in 2013.

Following their performances at London’s Jazz Café last month Damage achieved great success and supporting acts such as

Rahsaan: We all went our separate ways. I went into youth work with disadvantaged young people within the borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Then I ended up working in conjunction with the Prince’s Trust.

Noel was running a couple of youth centres out in Windsor and Andrez went into the youth criminal justice service.

Jade: I went into cheffing. I did some work on the TV, did some cooking on tele and worked in a restaurant as a Sous chef.

Music has always been within us and Rahsaan has been into production as well whilst he was doing his youth work. And me and Andrez did a little funk rock band and did an album, video and toured. So we kept busy.

Whose idea was it to get back together?

J: Mine!

Had you been thinking about it for a long time?

J: There was a big Facebook campaign asking to bring Damage back together. So that was a bit of an incentive for us.

Michael Jackson had passed away and Andrez had an epiphany and thought it’s

What was it like getting back together then? Were things the same or was it a different dynamic?

Rahsaan: It was quite cool actually. It was nice to be back with the friends that you grew up with and have that kind of unity. Everything fell back into place once we got back into rehearsals and remembered the old dance routines, and realised that some of them we can’t actually do anymore because we’re too old!

Jade: And we still got it! We got together and it sounded sweet. Once you get it, it never leaves you.

Musically, what are you most looking forward to in 2013?

R: I’m looking forward to hopefully seeing Usher tour and hopefully later on in the year you’ll get a greatest hits album from Damage.

They recorded this at the Jazz Café last month.

R: Once we’ve done that we’ll take it back to the studio, mix it, master it and then that will be available hopefully around the summer time.

knowledge on our side.

Rahsaan: We’re more versatile.

Rahsaan: For us, we could go and do a pop song but at the same time we can also go and do an R&B urban song like your Jodeci feel. Whereas JLS wouldn’t be able to do that and One Direction definitely wouldn’t be able to do that.

Are there any future collaborations that you would like to do?

Jade: We cross boundaries.

With a lot of boy bands out at the moment like JLS, The Wanted and One Direction, to avoid comparisons what do you think separates you from those bands?

Rahsaan: Because there is no comparison.

Jade: Our style is totally different to any of those bands. One Direction have got really good pop songs, JLS have really good pop songs too, but Damage we’ve been around for a long time and we’ve got a lot of wisdom and

Image Source: Damage

been way overdue since we’ve all been together. We all just got together and spoke about old times, chilled together and then it organically started coming together as a band.

J: I’m really loving AlunaGeorge (English electronic music duo) at the moment. I think they’re brilliant. I love their vocals, they’re bringing it back to the old school and it’s futuristic. Working with those guys would be amazing.

Cris Judd

Making the London dates of April 20th-21st one to remember are artistic directors and choreographers Brian Friedman and Laurieann Gibson, as well as professional dancers Cris Judd and Carmit Bachar, formerly of the Pussycat Dolls.

For just £150 (170 Euros), passionate dancers 13+ who

“

The relationship that we have among the Faculty is truly a family. We have known and worked with each other for many years and we are all very close friends. I couldn’t have asked to be a part of a better Faculty,” speaks professional dancer Cris Judd.

seek professional careers and/or a want to train with some of the best the dance world has to offer, can simply register online and the rest is there to be enjoyed.

Read on for L’ART’s exclusive interviews with Brian and Cris ahead of their UK appearances. http://www.thepulseontour. com/london.html

As you can see, being part of a hugely talented dance unit means a lot to him and the experience is an enjoyable one with his family away from home. Of course it helps knowing that he also plays an important role in helping others who share his craft, go on to succeed and achieve great things.

Image Source: thepulseontour.com

AT T E N T I O N DANCERS: London’s Olympia is to host a dance weekender like no other. This month, international touring group The Pulse will bring their American tour to the UK and not only offer two full days of workshops, but meet and greets, photo opportunities and chances to be scouted and offered scholarships courtesy of the team too!

“They are in for a once in a lifetime opportunity to train and assist, in my opinion, some of the best choreographers in the business,” he says, on the new intake of protege’s. “Pulse is beneficial to lovers and trainers of dance because it is the gateway into becoming a professional dancer.”

Lovers of dance is exactly what Cris and the

Image Source: THE PULSE and Lee Cherry

team will be looking out for during the London weekender and with scholarships and possible scout positions up for grabs, anything is possible with the Pulse Tour in the building.

will never forget; priceless.”

An experience he continues to thank Travis Payne and LaVelle Smith for making possible.

“He was a perfectionist,” he continued. “Not that he de“It will prepare you to follow manded it, he expected it. All your dream as a professional we wanted to do was make dancer and life as an artist.”

Michael proud of us, so we busted our asses.”

Cris became part of the Pulse family after hosting US TV Following London and US show, Dirty Dancing. Brian summer stops, The Pulse (Friedman) approached him Tour will come to an end, so in 2005 and the rest is history. what’s next for Cris? Without revealing too much, Cris The word ‘inspiration’ crops teased about future projects in up a lot when speaking to the pipeline. Keep your eyes Cris. Not only to describe peeled!

Faculty members, but also when he speaks of a music “The Pulse is an amazing artist and entertainer that he experience. The wealth of had the pleasure of supporting knowledge that will be shared on his world tour... is like no other. You will not be disappointed, so come “Michael Jackson; I have dance with us.” learned so much from him.

Sharing the stage with We’ll see you there!

Michael was an experience I

BRIAN FRIEDMAN How did you become to be the Creative Director of The Pulse?

I started out as one of two master teachers at the first Pulse event in New York City a decade ago. The annual event was such a success that I teamed up with Pam Chancey and Mary Andreason to take it on tour. I have acted as Creative Director ever since.

Can you explain to our readers how the dancers and performers that are in the faculty came together?

I wanted to bring a faculty to the public that before then were not accessible.

Our first group of teachers were myself, Mia Michaels, Wade Robson and Cris Judd. Since then we have brought on such legendary names as Tyce Diorio, Laurieann Gibson, Dave Scott, Gil Duldulao and Desmond Richardson.

Our Emcee is none other than the incredibly talented award winning Pussycat Doll Carmit Bachar. Carmit came from a dance background so this is the perfect event for her to be the face of.

Where did the idea to take The Pulse

on tour come from?

Our original annual NYC event was sold out to nearly 2000 students each year. It was so crowded that we had to do it at two locations simultaneously.

We knew there was a massive demand for us to expand. We started with four cities, then the following season expanded to eight and the rest is history.

How do you feel about bringing the tour to the UK for the first time?

I am ecstatic! The UK is my second home and I am such a fan of the talent; not only that comes out of the UK but Europe in general. A dance event of this calibre is unheard of in London. We are thrilled that the dancers overseas will have the chance not only to train for us but in a sense ‘audition’ for us. We are always looking for incredible dancers to work on the projects we produce, direct and choreograph, so this is a perfect way to see the best of the best outside of the US. What can those planning to attend the London date look forward to?

H& M’s

WORD ON THE STREET

‘New Icons’ Collection

Word On The Street is that H&M are releasing a new collection inspired by ‘New Icons’ - some of the industry’s top models!

Image Source: LOOK Magazine

Having worked on projects in the UK before, what differences do you see in the dance scene here, compared to that in the States?

The dance scene in the States is far more organised. In the UK a dancer is allowed to sign with multiple agencies, whereas in the States you can only have one agent. Because the dancers have a much stronger fighting quality in the UK, you tend to see them work harder at auditions. There is more work to go around in the US and I think because of that, the dancers don’t work as hard as they should. In the UK and Europe, there is a fire that exists in dancers that can’t be rivalled anywhere else in the world.

Once the tour is complete, what’s next for The Pulse as a group?

Everyone is constantly working.

Curently, Tyce Diorio is choreographing for Taylor Swift, Laurieann Gibson is directing for Nicki Minaj, Gil Duldulao is choreographing for Nicki Minaj, Desmond Richardson’s company Complexions is touring the world and I just choreographed a music video for Cher called ‘Woman’s World’ and my clothing line Brian Say’s B Free just launched and is now available worldwide.

Image Source: The Pulse & Lee Cherry

A life changing dance event! When dancers leave The Pulse, they leave not only a different dancer but a changed person as well. We give the knowledge that we give to the artist we work with in our professional careers, to the students who attend our event. If they’re open to the information we’re giving, their careers will thrive. If a student is there to participate for fun and dancing isn’t necessarily their career, the results are still just as beneficial. When you leave a Pulse event you feel like you’ve been reborn!

What do you enjoy most about touring with the faculty?

The Pulse faculty is a family! We all share so much together while teaching and have so much in common, being that we all share the same passion. We use our time at The Pulse not only to inspire the students but ourselves as well.

We also are all incredibly passionate when it comes to food and travel, so being able to share the cultures that each city has to offer is the icing on the cake!

The students by far take the prize when it comes to what we get back from the events. Watching their careers thrive after they’ve trained at The Pulse is the biggest reward we could ask for.

The clothes will represent the off-duty looks of supermodels including Joan Smalls and Daphne Groeneveld. Plus the modern boho collection will feature a range of leather jackets, embellished vests, fringed bags and more!

What’s great about this range is that you don’t have to buy certain pieces together. You can easily buy one popular piece to update a look you already have.

Look out for the official launch on Aprill 11th 2013!

FESTIVAL

O

n April 27th and 28th, ‘the most glamorous festival in London is set to take place. Over these two days, photographers, models, celebrities, designers and fashion editors will be attending the extravaganza at the Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room Southbank Centre.

MEGAN TYCE

names as there will be chances for interviews, panel discussions and talks with those present. Participants include Cara Delevingne, Anna Dello Russo, David Gandy, Michael Kors, Yasmin Le Bon, Tamara Mellon, Livia Firth and a lot more.

You’ll be spoilt with cover shoot opportunities, mentoring, workshops, demonstrations and makeovers.

Make your speciality known and you can get first hand advice from those who have lived it.

This may only be the second of its kind but there have already been huge plans to make this even better than last year. The Vogue Festival will be bringing together some huge leading figures and creative talents, with celebs such as Victoria Beckham, “Our first Vogue Festival was such a Alexa Chung, Donatella Versace and success that for 2013 we are planning to do it again on a larger scale,” said Christopher Kane taking part.

Alexandra Shulman, editor of Vogue.

It’s a great platform for those who as- Tickets are still on sale at southbankpire to succeed in their fashion based centre.co.uk. Have you got yours? career. Take advantage of the big Vogue Festival Queries - Nicky Eaton or Melody Rayner 020 7152 3377/ 3807

A

s a child, my mom took found out that I could study her Olympus Trip film Photography for A-Level, my camera everywhere. passion flourished and that’s when I started to take photogAlways had it in her hand- raphy seriously. bag and was constantly taking photos. My brother and I I’m a big fan of David LaChmodelled in London from the apelle, as his work is very age of five and six until our sexual, colourful, modern late teens, so we had always and intense. been in the camera limelight and I really loved the glam- I like Cindy Sherman as well, our of it all. Photography as her conceptual portraits enabled me to express art in raise challenging and impora more lifelike way. When I tant questions about the role

Image Source: Megan Tyce

After uni I want to travel the world and take photos of different cultures through people. I want a degree to enable me to teach in schools or even at a higher level and become a university lecturer.

I love taking photos of people.

and representation of women in society, which I find very interesting.

I always use Canon cameras as they’re good quality, reliable, sufficient and ensure exceptional results.

I have learnt more about skills needed for editing properly, digital photography, film cameras and the difference between them.

I want to achieve more knowledge about photographers who aren’t as well known in society; discover an underground talent.

The way facial expressions show so many different emotions and some can be deceiving. I used myself throughout A-Levels as the main model and achieved A grade. I had a real passion for expressing my emotions and feelings through self portraits.

I would like to work with Angelina Jolie because she has natural beauty, which is ideal to photograph.

I would also like to photograph Paolo Gallardo, as he has a distinctive face, which is very photogenic and has the perfect figure for a runway model.

AMANDA BROWN

My style has really devel- there’s so much to see and oped on completion of my embrace. degree.

Working with Thread is I was exposed to many new great. Our clientele is so ideas in University and my varied, which keeps the job graduate collection was a re- interesting. flection on everything.

I work with different brands I feel confident in sophisti- high street and designer, all cated, tailored, simple pieces. on a one to one basis. It’s I’m drawn to clever construc- taught me a lot. My previous tion techniques. My print experience in luxury retail has and use of colour can be de- tremendously helped me fulfil termined by my mood and the requirements of this job. what I’m obsessed with at that time. It could be something as I was approached by a stylsimple as the colours inside ist [Pride] who had seen my an exotic fruit. work online.

Inspiration is everywhere.

I’m a people watcher. I’m always inspired by how people put their outfits together, their use of colours, mix of designers. There are many designers who inspire me and for different reasons.

She let me know the look she was going for and I was immediately interested. I was so happy to see it published in such a reputable magazine; definitely a platform for me to promote and expand awareness for my work and brand.

I’m really proud.

I’m inspired by everyday life; When I cast models, I gen-

Image Source: Amanda Brown

erate what I’m looking for, based on the theme and style of the collection.

What matters is the model is a reflection of my collection & brand, is experienced and professional. I think it’s really important that you get that person right.

I am currently working on a new collection.

This will be the official introduction to who Amanda Brown is, so watch this space!

The line-up of speakers this year is amazing; so excited about hearing Lanvin designer, Alber Elbaz.

I’m also looking forward to Christopher Kane and Alexander McQueen CEO on ‘The Secrets of Creating A British Brand’; that will be beneficial to me, hearing directly from success of the British fashion industry.

The O’Jays came in the 1950’s, with a quintet including Eddie Levert, who released hits such as ‘Love Train’ and ‘Use ta Be My Girl’. Gerald and Sean Levert later followed with Marc in the eighties, as the rnb, new jack swinging Levert, musically influenced by their father. Singles ‘Just Coolin’’ and ‘(Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop) Goes My Mind’ soon became chart favourites and their second album release The Big Throwdown was hugely successful and included the funk hit ‘Casanova’. “‘Just Coolin’’ was an ac-

complishment being the first rnb group to feature a rapper, Heavy D,” Marc explains. “It was a number 1 record for us and forever fused rnb and hip hop. The Rope A Dope CD was my overall favourite.”

Sadly, faced with the loss of Gerald and later Sean who made up a third of Levert II, Marc and Blaq were faced with completing their new album Dedication, without the inclusion of their brother.

“It was important to get this project out because it was a dedication to our fallen brothers. I’m the type that likes to finish what I start,” Blaq explains. “After losing Sean it became even more of a mission for us, had even more meaning.

It was even closer to my heart.”

“It was therapeutic and nec-

essary to get it out, so people can hear the dedication to both Gerald and Sean,” Marc adds.

the heartfelt intro of realisation, as well as the personal single ‘My Brotha’ featuring Sean’s son, Sean Jr.

Although facing some critics questioning motives behind the Dedication release, Blaq and Marc have had a great reception and don’t allow the scepticism to bother them.

What was an emotional and personal process led to a positive outcome, with the hope Sean will be remembered as the man with ‘a very good heart’ and a ‘fun loving father that really loved his family’.

“I’ve learned to stay the course and don’t get discouraged. Believe in myself and take everything in, use it accordingly,” says Blaq.

“I wanna keep the memories of my guys alive with the old and new music; representing the brand I helped create and built,” Marc continued.

“I want people to remember and recognise that he [Sean] was a big part of LeVert and Levert II.” Dedication fittingly includes

“I wanna thank everyone that helped get this project out; my 9311 Ent. Group fam and everyone who supports LeVert & Levert II. If you don’t have Dedication and you love rnb, order it here www. levert2.com.

We look forward to hearing new music and viewing a TV reality show from the duo, plus a new member? Watch this space.

Sean’s Law was created in Sean’s memory to make sure he did not die in vain.

Find more information on the cause at levert2.com.

Image Source: Levert II

I

t’s great when today’s music artist’s can be proud of the generations that came before them and continue the legacy through their own music releases. That is exactly the case with Blaq Rose and Marc Gordon, who together make independent duo, Levert II.

Kimberly Wyatt

G

“I’ve been in the studio making music, working with songwriter Ali Kennett and The White Nerd who produced ‘Derriere’. ‘Derriere’ will be followed by many other aweGracing the stage at Move It some tracks,” she revealed.

2013 and one of GTD’s semi finals to premiere her new “I’m a dancer first and foretrack ‘Derriere’, Kimberly most and I will never forget continues to spread her mu- that. When I’m on stage my sic and also filled us in about biggest attraction is throwing other projects she has up her down to the music. While I’m sleeve. in the studio, I’m really trying to find that balance in finding

Image Source: Radiator PR, PCD Music

ot To Dance series 4 may be over but by no means does this mean the end of Kimberly Wyatt’s presence in the entertainment world.

vocals I’m able to sing while excited about. dancing. That’s how ‘Derriere’ was born.”

“Contemporary was my first love. As a competition kid Kimberly has also been busy I performed a lot of contemin the dance studio, leading to porary solos. Commercial the birth of her appropriately dancing, that’s where I found titled management and pro- myself working for the past duction company, Beautiful 14 years of my professional Movements. career. I think for a contemporary dancer, that’s the next “Anytime I feel inspired by step; getting into the commera story or by music, I put the cial world.” project together and make it happen with Max Rogers; my Kimberly continues to be inpartner in it all.” spired by others and their want to learn, but as one of today’s Wanting to tell a story through idols, who does she persondance and performance led ally place up on a pedastool?

Kimberly to team up with tap dancer and good friend Adam “Choreographers Taylor and Garcia, to produce the Beauti- Queen, Gwen Fall, Dominic ful Movements short film, Tea Chipper, Matthew Vaughn; For Two. I really do love his company and fantastic shows.” She “I really hope people like it. even name dropped a few The next one is called The GTD contestants as the ‘craRed Pillow, which I’m very zily, amazingly talented’ in-

dividuals that continue to inspire...

“Rhys, Poison, G-Nome, Alleviate; all of them have been so incredible.” We have to say we’re with Kimberly on this one.

Look out for: The launch of Beautiful Movements Cosmetics Range at Holland and Barrett & possibly Next.

Her perfume release, Kaydance in June.

Dancewear merchandise at kimberlywyatt/online.