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Be Creative
Page 6- We speak to Masato Jones, a fashion designer whose ambition has got him very far. Find out who he turns to for inspiration, his first fashion memories and what Giles Deacon is really like in the studio. Page 10- It was one capturing performance that got this band started and now they’ve never looked back. Learn more about this eight-piece group - Silas & His Band and their future projects.
Hi and welcome to the 12th issue of L’ART; the ‘Breakthrough’ issue.
CONTENTS
Page 4- Your editor’s choose a male and female fashion item must have for the present season.
Happy 2013 and we hope you have had a great start to this New Year.
Page 12- 17-Year-Old Singer Songwriter Ella Martini – Growing up with a musical family, Ella has carried on the tradition. Page 14- Word On The Street: Writer and poet Dean Atta prepares to release his debut collection next month.
Page 20- Boy band JLS team up with charity Cancer Research UK to bring you The JLS Foundation. Page 22- UK singer Daley is fresh off Miguel’s Kaleidoscope Dream Tour. See what’s next for this upcoming talent.
Image Source: Time and Date & Shutterstock
Page 17- Move It 2013 returns for a new focus and an even bigger line up. Catch up with Creative Director Georgina Harper.
Plus we have a young man whose work ethic got him his most amazing working relationship to date. And make sure you take a look at an inspiring poet, a foundation led by one of the UK’s biggest boy bands and the return of Move It 2013! Daniella & Letisha
EDITOR’S LETTER
We have had the pleasure of meeting even more local music acts that are all about being passionate with what they do. We have a band who recently joined forces for a showcase and have continued to work together by popular demand. We also caught up with a solo member from this band to learn more about her journey as a female singer.
e l y t S L & D Topman £50.00
Zara - £69.99
Image Source: favim.com, Zara UK, myfashionpolice.com
MASATO JONES The London-based fashion designer with a lot of determination MAKING ONE BOLD DECISION.. ..can end in excellent results. Fashion designer, Masato Jones knows this very well. One day he decided to approach Mr Giles Deacon with his portfolio and now he is called back every season to work alongside the British fashion designer, which makes Masato very happy! “It’s a really good studio,” said Masato. “There are so many things you have to look at if you’re a student and you
don’t know anything about making clothes. “Giles is always around in the studio. He cares about people around him. He’s very tall with big glasses, so he has this huge impact on you because of how he looks, but he’s a very nice guy, very funny and makes jokes all the time.”
As a child Masato grew up with his mother and grandmother making clothes. He would always be wearing the same clothes as his brother and it was growing up around women who loved clothes that sparked his interest to do the same.
Masato studied fashion design in London, but during a gap year he wanted to gain some experience in the real world of fashion.
Every designer works differently when creating a new project and Masato simply looks to films for his inspiration. He likes creating stories which then turn into an original design!
Image Source: Ann Charlotte Photography Masato Jones
INSPIRATIONAL MOVIES “It is quite good exercise to watch films and get ideas of how to create characters of my own story.” He’s not necessarily watching the film, but he takes note of the individual stories within the production. “If you watch a film ten or 20 times, you know the story and what is coming, so it’s a nice background to have. With my last collection I watched Harry Potter from the first one to the last. It’s a fantasy so it’s quite a nice combination.” Rock and Roll music and photography is also a big influence of his. Images captured from the 1920’s to the 1940’s reflect the style he is very much into. Until recently, Masato’s main focus was on women’s fashion, but this month in Germany, expect to see some glimpses of menswear.
Image Source: vogue.fr, Masato Jones
BE YOURSELF “I never try to be different, I don’t know what different is. I try to be myself and always believe my first insight. Trends do somehow encourage you subconsciously, but I just create something that I like.” And when creating something he likes, Masato prefers to be on his own. He concentrates a lot more when creating those all important designs, that reflect a unique side of fashion. “Individual designer’s outfits are quite different compared to the high street. People buying these outfits may be very quiet but want to be a bit different and try to get attention by how they look.”
Masato reveals that they have also been asked to do a charity event and create some costumes for a few music artists, but that is all he GILES DEACON can say at this present time. When working with Giles What an exciting project if all Deacon they sure do fulfil the plans go ahead! British public’s fashionable needs and future projects will All this hard work is the result include new t-shirts, print de- of one bold decision. And besigns and tunics as well as a cause of this, Masato Jones is menswear collection. working in his desired environment. Pretty inspiring!
Their sound: A positive, hip-hop, dance mix with deep lyrical content
Members Silecta - MC. Ella Martini - Vocals. Patrick Amos (P. boy) - Guitar Adrian Reid (KnowledgeJams) - Keys Alan Metcalfe (Bass Mental) - Bass Andy Smith - Trombone Ed Sobczak (Edolution) - Trumpet Joe Porter (tBeat) - Musical Director & Drums Visit www.silectamusic.com for upcoming gig dates
Image Source: Jeff Slade http://www.flickr.com/people/madjeff/
SILECTA & HIS BAND
A Word From Joe.. “There’s a real mix of characters in the band. I write and produce stuff with Silecta and we’ve had a musical partnership for quite a while. Last summer Silecta decided he wanted to put an EP out. We wrote the tracks and
organised to do a launch at the Cellar and one of the things we said we’d do is get some support acts in. A mix of acoustic, songs with backing tracks from a DJ and tracks with a live band. We put the band together for that live event and it turned out to be very popular. “A lot of people that came to support Silecta that night really enjoyed it. It picked up from there. I pulled together artists that I knew in Oxford and everyone gets on really well. It’s a lucky coincidence. “We mostly perform our own stuff but we do have one specific melody with a Calvin Harris track and ‘Drop The Pressure’ we put our own flavour into it.” Future projects: Festival appearances, Oxford gigs and music releases.
E LLA
like listening to how it’s produced and listening to the stories behind the song. My own music has more of an Electro, Garage vibe with an R&B twist.
I like performing my own stuff. I do like performing covers but I like making the covers my own. I’d mix around with the structure of it and I can relate to my own stuff a lot more and I get a kick out of writing my own stuff because you get an honest reaction of what people think about your music.
“I play around with the structure of songs which is quite different and I like experimenting and not necessarily sticking to a certain sound, like making someone really feel a song.”
M ARTINI
“I got into singing by jamming with my cousin and my brother, then I went on to doing concerts at school and got really serious about it.
“I grew up listening to old school R&B like LL Cool J, Motown and a lot of Jackson 5. Now I’m open to all types of music. I
and that’s what makes it so nice, because it’s pure passion. Everyone is uniquely talented and work to put on the best show.” Musical Future & Idols “I want to work with another local female singer who also writes. Me and
“I love Jessie Ware and Emeli Sande on a songwriting level is just amazing. As an all round performer with presence, one of the greatest is Michael Jackson and Beyonce. “I would want more of a fan base by the end of this year with singing, gigs and working with different people. I grew up around a musical family and really enjoy it.”
Working with Silecta “We bounce ideas off each other really well and we’re both very deep with our lyrics. We get each others concept of a song and working with Silas & His Band is the best experience ever. There’s never any money in it
17 Year Old Singer Songwriter
Joe (musical director for Silas & His Band) and I was gigging all last year with solo performances and working up in London more.
Image Source: Ella Martini
I Am Nobody’s Nigger is the highly anticipated release from writer &
Dean Atta.
We caught up with Dean
Image Source: Ailah at Saqi Books
award winning poet ahead of his March 4th release.
How do you feel when described as ‘the Gil ScottHeron of this generation’? There are so many poets I look up to such as Benjamin Zephaniah, Lemn Sissay and Ursula Rucker, but Gil ScottHeron and Maya Angelou are my ultimate inspirations. What career moments stand out for you? Definitely signing my book deal with The Westbourne Press in August to release my book this year. It marks ten years of me writing poetry and validates the dedication and sacrifices I had to make to follow my calling as a poet.
draft. Don’t expect it to be perfect; don’t even expect it to be good. But you won’t get to the good stuff unless you put pen to page, be brave and write. Love or Money, what was the inspiration and thought process behind the EP? The EP was created with a small group of musicians in their spare time. It was actually at the launch for Love or Money that my publishers saw me perform and decided to offer me a book deal. If I hadn’t been so proactive in getting my work out there (for free) I don’t think I would have a book deal now.
What message do you like to leave with your workshop pupils? How has the reception The most important thing is been with ‘Nobody’s Nignot to be afraid of your first ger’ (a Stephen Lawrence
Word On The Street
www.deanatta.co.uk tribute)? Over 75,000 people have watched or listened to the poem online. The reception has been positive and the sentiment of the poem is shared by a lot of people around the world. A lot of people have thanked me for writing the poem because it’s something they felt uncomfortable to bring up. They would instead play my poem to people as a way to express their own feelings. The main themes of the book are identity and relationships and I have drawn a lot of inspiration from London life. How did the birth of your show Come Rhyme With Me occur? It started in July 2010 when fellow poet Naomi Woddis told us Cottons Caribbean Restaurant, London were looking to host new nights. With Deanna (Rodger) and I having Jamai-
can heritage, the Caribbean food was the main attraction. We designed the night to be a dining experience and present the performers as a menu. Eating and watching the poetry, there’s something to please all your senses. We have now launched a second in Brighton. Where can we get a copy of your book? It will be available from online stores such as Amazon and it will be an e-book as well, so anyone with an e-reader can download it. All performances I do from March onwards, the book will be available to purchase on the night. No matter who you are there will be something in this book you will relate to and a lot I will shed light on for you.
R
eturning for its 8th annual show, Move It, London’s biggest dance platform weekender is back and promises to change any preconceptions made from previous years. With dance workshops in different styles on offer, teacher advice sessions, live performances and clothing and dance school stands around, the three day dance showcase returns March 8th-10th at London’s Olympia. Speaking on the event that
she has been a part of since its first show, Creative Director, Georgina Harper has enjoyed watching the show grow and develop into the platform that attracts thousands each year today. “I really love it when an unexpected performance comes on and captures the audience,” Georgina says, as she expresses her love for the talent seen on the main stage; what some would describe as the events main attraction.
“It’s such a big buzzing event and sometimes it comes to a standstill,” and these are the moments that make Move It for Georgina. The times where people are captured by something that they weren’t expecting and you can see their live responses to something that you’ve helped bring to the stage. This year will see a new piece from company Boy Blue who are premiering at the show; a piece that is that bit more exciting to see, as they have been absent from the stage for a while. Plus their Artistic Director was working on the Olympic ceremonies last summer. British choreographer Wayne McGregor | Random Dance and his technically talented dancers and BBC 1’s Strictly Come
Dancing judge Darcey Bussell will also be present over the March weekend.
Admittedly, Georgina admits with so many opportunities on offer, things can get a bit overwhelming, but tools are available on their website to help you ensure you get the most out of your day. Booking classes early and leaving time in the day to wander around and soak in the atmos-
It was actually during the early days of the BBC show that Move It was born. A chance meeting with a business man wanting to start a dance exhibition, saw Georgina and her new business partner feed off the nation’s new found love. After an early career in drama, film and media, the exposure to dance saw Georgina fall in love with the art form and she hasn’t looked back since. Thinking back to one of the first shows, Georgina remembers a time where they only offered one room for dance workshops to take place, something she feared would have a negative effect on the visits of all. Luckily the want to dance was bigger than the lack of space available and today they have up to eleven dance classes with 30,000 places available.
Image Source: Hot Minute Mag, Fiona McPherson and Wayne McGregor | Random Dance
Describing the line up as ‘the most spectacular thing’, this year sees a huge focus on contemporary and ballet dance.
phere are also top tips which remain high on her list. So with all that said, who’s looking forward to the contemporary inspired, premiere featuring, raw energy filled dance event? “I think you’ll be surprised.”
ince rising to fame after the final of X-Factor 2008, boy band JLS have released four studio albums, toured cities and won numerous awards (most recently the MOBO Best
himself, Oritse, Marvin and JB also share another passion, seperate to that of their music? The JLS Foundation was launched in 2010 and is something JLS are hugely involved in, along with the charity Cancer Research UK. Being the philanthropists that they are, the decision to use their musical platform to raise funds and awareness for the charity came naturally.
Video for ‘Do You Feel What I Feel’); all just within five years. Of course member Aston Merrygold is currently on your TV screens in Sky One’s Got To Dance, sharing his love for the art, but did you know that
Image Source: Cancer Research UK
F O U N D A THE JLS I S O N
Re-launching the Foundation in December, as it coincided with Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, JLS made it their mission to ‘energise, excite and empower healthy living in all young people’. With an added focus on the well-being of children, teenagers and young adults, the
group highlight healthy living, with a personal touch and have created advice videos, showing you how to enjoy life with healthy food, tasty juices and of course dance. Showing their moves in the studio and positively promoting diet and exercise, their audiences are shown how to enjoy leading a healthy lifestyle. If you want to get involved with the JLS Foundation, you can find out more about their work and how to donate by visiting www.jlsfoundation. co.uk, where you will also find a hotline number and links to Facebook and Twitter. As Cancer Research relies on donations, you can be part of the aim to keep doubling survival rates and bring forward the day all cancers are cured.
Image Source: Chuff Media
H
e’s toured with US singer Miguel, released a 2012 single with Jessie J and his debut album Those Who Wait dropped last summer. Manchester born singer and songwriter (Gareth) Daley appeared on the scene back in 2010 and has wowed with his covers (Maxwell’s ‘Pretty Wings’ and Usher’s ‘Climax’) and features with Gorillaz (‘Doncamatic’) and Wretch 32 (‘Long Way Home’). We caught up with him ahead of his London show to discuss the KD experience and all things Daley. “It’s amazing, it’s the best support tour I’ve ever done,” he revealed, as supporting Miguel particularly stands out for him. With each day being a fun experience and genuinely feeling audience members were as happy to see him as they were Miguel,
DALEY
were in New York at the same time. A phone call from his manager to hers led to Marsha taking a chance on “an unknown artist” and there you As for the tour bus and any pre- have it. show rituals, what does the UK’s rising star stand by to ensure a “I like performing ‘Alone Together’. I can really get into smooth running show? it and lose myself on stage.” “Generally don’t get horrendous- ‘Love Lost’ is also a song Daly drunk the night before a show,” ley likes to perform, as he enhe laughed, but other than that, joys doing a mash up of R&B eating healthily, having a steam favourites with some of his and drinking water, honey and own tracks. lemon are top of his list. So what’s next for the 23-yearFortunate to have worked with old? In time he would like to many artists early in his career, collaborate with greats like Daley recalls on working with Prince and Chaka Khan & UK Jessie J. Stating that “she put talents Lianna La Havas, Emeli the cherry on top” of his current Sande and Imogen Heath. But single release. The pair wanted for now he will focus on himto work together for a while but self, starting with new single were adamant to wait for the right ‘Broken’, due out this month. song. As soon as he wrote ‘Remember Me’, the result was “per- Being as this is the month of love, just how will Daley be fect”. spending Valentine’s Day? A As for his duet with Marsha Am- potential working trip to LA is brosius, ‘Alone Together’ hap- actually on the cards, “If not, pened on the realisation that they ironically I’ll be writing love songs”. Daley definitely sees similarities in them both; being their fan base and what they want to achieve in life.
@DALEYmusic
Founder, Writer & Designer- Daniella Jones-Ellis Founder, Writer & Designer- Letisha Jones-Ellis