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Issue 4 • july 2013 Free
Mat thew Rhys: A Welshman in LA HERITAGE VS HOLLYWOOD
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BON JOVI • LAWSON • WHAT DOES FREEDOM REALLY MEAN? FASHION • SHOPPING • BEAUTY / GROOMING • MUSIC • GOING OUT • CELEBRITY
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Editor’s Letter
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elcome to July! The summer is, I’m told, just moments away and we’re getting in the full swing of things by ensuring this issue is full of the perfect summer fashions to suit all tastes. This month we’re focusing on freedom and what it truly means, with our writers discussing the ideas of free choice, freedom of information and whether feminism is still a necessity in the modern world. We also meet Natasha Whiting who runs Acorn Overseas, an orphanage in northern Thailand that provides hope for dozens of underprivileged children. Once you’ve read about the amazing work Acorn Overseas does, you can use
your Blippar app to donate to this fantastic cause. We get up close and personal with the man of many accents Matthew Rhys, who weighs up Hollywood versus his Welsh heritage, and entertains us with his ability to switch accents at the drop of a hat. Blipp that feature to watch Matthew in action. Of course there’s all our regular beauty, going out, drink and food features and with long, hot, hazy days ahead, we’ve got plenty of ideas as to where you can go out and enjoy the sun. Until next time…
Rivkie Baum
Do you need a Visa for the MOO SPACE, TOURISM, IMMIGRATION AND OPEN BORDERS WORDS BY BREE WARREN | ILLUSTRATION BY SCOTT MASON
became the easily accessible safehaven across the channel. With South Kensington dubbed the 21st arrondissement of Paris, and London being billed as the sixth largest city in France, Britain has rolled out the red carpet for the affluent French in what has been nicknamed ‘L’Exodus’.
n Christmas Day this year, Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic will launch the world’s first commercial spacecraft, carrying paying customers to the ede of space. In the not-so-distant future, Virgin Galactic hopes to offer five commercial spaceflights per day. Yes, you read correctly: daytrips to space are becoming a reality, and who knows, perhaps one day even the moon. Well, that is of course if you have a cool £250,000 or 25million Virgin Velocity Points to spare. While it may be some time before the vast majority of us will become space tourists, I can’t help but wonder if you would need a visa for intergalactic travel? Would there be mid-air immigration? Who would be in charge? It may sound far-fetched but this could be a very real scenario in the coming years. Not only can you use frequent flyer points to go into space, but Virgin is also planning to create some kind of supersonic Concorde-on-steroids type aircraft that will fly from London to Sydney in just four hours. How and when this will become available remains to be seen, but it has made me rethink the very notion of travel and the speed at which it can be done. With international travel becoming so fast and easy, will tough immigration laws be rendered obsolete in the future? Will visas and passports become a thing of the past? In Europe, provided we stay within the realms of the European Union, we are very lucky to be able to live and work anywhere, reaping the benefits of what a new location has to offer. When newly-elected French President François Hollande threatened a 75 per cent income tax on those earning more than 1million Euros a year in France, London
Whether this is Europe’s elite cheating the system as tax exiles or simply intelligent entrepreneurial relocation I am not quite sure, but fortunately as EU citizens we have the ability and capacity to choose where we reside. In other parts of the world this luxury does not exist. While goods and money move relatively easily around the world nowadays, people on the other hand do not. It has been argued that by far the biggest missed opportunity in global development is the increased mobility and free movement of people. According to some economists, large-scale immigration and international open border policies would improve the lives of millions, boost global prosperity and double world GDP. In other words, there is a growing number of open border supporters who believe that in a truly globalised world, people should be free from immigration restrictions and have the right to live wherever they see fit. The possibility of breaking the deadlock on international migration is a very interesting prospect. Personally, and perhaps selfishly speaking, there are a number of places I would like to try. My own travel aspirations aside, what would happen if borders were open? Would people emigrate to where they can be most productive, allowing economic specialisation and evenly spread populations? Or would there be mass departures from the Third World to the first, leaving large unpopulated areas in disarray? Freedom of movement is an issue that has been likened to past problems with international trade. While trade is still not completely free and open, barriers are lower now than they have been in centuries. Some argue that immigration today looks remarkably like the protectionist and restricted global trade of the past. Trade was liberalised when political leaders recognised that the advantages of free trade far outweigh those of restricted
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national commerce. Ultimately, this is exactly what some hope will happen with our national borders: we will realise that the potential benefits of open immigration will overwhelmingly outnumber the negatives.
Along with other Silicon Valley leaders, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has officially launched Fwd.us: a lobbying group that aims to pressure the US government into bringing about immigration reform. They believe their current immigration laws are unfit for today’s converging world, in particular the tight regulations on highly skilled immigrants. With numbers of immigrants into Britain going up, David Cameron has pledged to more than halve annual net migration by 2015 and drastically reduce the benefits allowed to those already here. Whether this was David Cameron mirroring public opinion or a depressing sign of the future, either way it sounds grim. In tough economic times, it is very tempting to blame immigrants for the shortcomings of our society. It is almost engrained in our nature to automatically protect what is ours and what is familiar, but is this really the way forward? Those in favour of an open border policy argue that immigrants contribute more to our economy than they take in public service benefits and that the vast majority do not steal jobs, do not erode living standards, and do not threaten British culture. According to some lobbyists, the dividends could be unprecedented if policymakers and voters would just see past their fear of the foreign. Throughout history, cross-cultural influences and travel has broadened the horizons of many, yet somehow immigration has been painted with an undesirable brush. I like to think of it as a game of give and take. Movement of people across international borders needs to be a two-way street – one that is open at both ends. In our increasingly globalised world, even for those who do not believe in open borders, it is hard to deny that the free movement of people between countries should be a much higher priority than it is now. The internet and technology has already revolutionised the geographical and spatial boundaries of the past, transforming the way in which we live. Soon, the world could literally be your Oyster.
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WORDS BY KRISHAN PARMAR
hen it comes to this season’s hottest accessories, the spotlight is firmly focused on rose gold. Victoria Beckham, Rita Ora and Kirsten Dunst are just a few celebrity fans of the trend. The warm pinky tones compliment any skin tone and provide the most stylish way to add that sunkissed look to any summer wardrobe.
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ON YOUR MARKS... tip-top runne rs WORDS BY KR
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T N A V E L E R L IL T S M IS IN M E IS F ? D L R O W N R E D O M E H T IN I
WORDS BY BETHANY RUTTER
’ll be honest: I’m not even going to read whatever my male counterpart writes. The idea that anyone could deny that feminism is necessary in today’s society isn’t just stupid, it’s dangerous. I’m not talking about gender disparities in privileged positions (I’m bored and frustrated by endless discussions about women on the boards of huge multinational companies, for example), I’m talking about life and death. And that shouldn’t be up for debate by anyone, let alone a man. According to Women’s Aid, an average of two women every week are killed by a current or former male partner. Try telling the friends and families of those 100 murdered women a year that this country doesn’t have a problem with gender relations. Numbers of that magnitude show, definitively, that women are at risk because they are women.
doesn’t make feminism any less relevant. If you make the choice to view feminism as “women earning the same as men”, or “women buying their own drinks on a first date”, or “women not shaving their legs all the time”, that doesn’t make it true. Ignoring real and present dangers to women’s lives should be unthinkable, and yet ‘debating’ against feminism is seen as a completely legitimate position. Until women stop being murdered by their male partners, or dying because of lack of safe abortion provision, or having their lives shattered by rape, I won’t listen to a single word of why feminism is no longer relevant to our society.
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WORDS BY ROBERT BANNAN
omen should have entirely the same rights as men. In today’s civilised society, thankfully, that goes without saying. As far as I see it, feminism has already won. It’s over. You can pour a cold drink and congratulate yourselves on a job very well done. I mean, a woman ran for president of the United States of America. She didn’t win. But she could well have. And I seem to remember something about a certain female ex-Prime Minister passing away recently, too. Margaret something. The progress is there to see. Even for a man, being the Prime Minister is not a bad achievement.
Of course, there are still a few numb minded idiots out there who crack jokes about women and kitchens, but a world where a woman can run for office is not a world that, on the whole, discriminates against gender. Sure, there might be a much larger proportion of men in areas like politics and banking. But the doors are open and anything is possible – it has literally been proved. Being a feminist in today’s age only re-enforces the idea that there’s a divide between men and women. Obviously there is still a lot of ground to make up in certain areas of the world, and within organised religion in general (female Pope, anyone?), but here in the UK, a woman is free to climb to the very top of the ladder if she has the heart, desire and ability to succeed. Sexism is not ingrained into society any longer. It may still occur, and when it does should be confronted and dealt with appropriately, but here in London the options are endless. Maybe, as a man, I can never truly understand feminism. But if you’re a truly sexist person in today’s world, the vast majority of people will simply laugh in your face.
We like to think of ourselves as a progressive, forwardthinking country with openminded views and ethics, but as long as we stand back and let our women be killed while devoting column inches to the declaration that “feminism is irrelevant”, we are morally empty. If you make the choice to ignore rape, murder, homelessness and domestic violence as likely consequences of a misogynistic society, that ILLUSTRATION BY SCOTT MASON
W ORDS BY K YLE GOODWIN
WITH THE AMERICANS RENEWED FOR A SECOND SEASON AND A STINT AS MR DARCY ON THE HORIZON, DRAFTED CATCHES UP WITH MATTHEW RHYS TO TALK PRIDE, PREJUDICE AND NEW CHALLENGES… Cover: Burgundy Tweed Blazer by Topman Grey Shirt by American Apparel Below: Navy & Black Blazer by Topman Grey Shirt With Wool Pocket by Ben Sherman Navy Pocket Square by Ben Sherman
Photographer: ELLIOTT MORGAN www.elliott-morgan.com / Stylist: FRANCESCA PRUDENTE / Shot on location at BAR SOHO / Hair and Make Up: BOBANA PAROJCIC USING DERMALOGICA SKINCARE & BUMBLE AND BUMBLE
IT’S EASY TO GET CARRIED AWAY IN HOLLYWOOD, especially when you’re one of the most in-demand actors on the circuit. But for Welshman Matthew Rhys, star of US hit series Brothers And Sisters, staying grounded is part of his nature.
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ife changes very quickly when you score a big acting job in Hollywood, sometimes even overnight. Just one phone call can take you from being a part-time waiter to starring alongside Angelina Jolie (and all the obvious perks that come along with that type of lifestyle). The opportunities can be endless. For some, though, the rapid rise to stardom can be too much too soon, and it’s understandable that newfound fame can occasionally go to people’s heads. Matthew Rhys, like many stars in show business, resides in LA. He is experiencing what most actors can only dream of. But even with all the acclaim and recognition there’s no danger of him developing an inflated ego, especially not if his friends and family back in Wales have anything to do with it. “They actually treat me worse, now,” Matthew begins. “I think they take it upon themselves to make absolutely sure I don’t get any ideas of grandeur. They think they have to be twice as nasty to me. When the first episode of Brothers And Sisters came out, the abuse I got from my friends was hilarious. So there was never any danger of me getting above my station. It’s a British trait. I think, on the whole, we’re a nation that’s not allowed to get too big for its boots. It’s not tolerated.”
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atthew isn’t the first Welshman to make it in Hollywood. Over the years, the Welsh have produced some of the finest actors in entertainment. But in an industry dominated by Americans, scripts created with the Welsh accent in mind are scarce. And like Anthony Hopkins, Michael Sheen and many others before him, Matthew has had to perfect a variety of accents in order to be considered for the opportunities available. It’s a skill he pulled off so convincingly when playing American lawyer Kevin Walker in Brothers And Sisters, that some genuinely thought he was a born-and-bred Yank. “It does happen,” Matthew explains. “It happened a lot in the States when Brothers And Sisters was in its infancy and I hadn’t done that much press. I met a few people who were like, ‘Hold on! you’re not American’, which is what you want, really. It’s still nice to hear that. It’s reassuring to know.”
I met a few people who were like, ‘Hold on! you’re not American...’
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Like any skill that requires fine-tuning, pulling off a convincing accent can take hours of practice and preparation. Which is fine if you have the time, but when you’re a busy Hollywood actor free time is often a rare luxury. “I do a lot of my preparation in my car,” Matthew tells us. “The traffic is so bad out in LA. It’s famously bad. You just spend hours in your car each day, but what it allows you to do is spend time working on different things. So if I’m doing a new accent I get hold of as many voice CDs as possible and just have it on in the car constantly. And then I just repeat the sounds over and over again in a parrot-fashion until it becomes comfortable. I do that awful thing where I’ll go into a shop and test it out on people working there. I can’t stay in character with my friends or on set, it’s just with people I don’t know. I sometimes get into black cabs and try a cockney accent, just so they take me a shorter route. But it’s gone wrong a few times... normally when they ask where I’m from!”
celebrity | 17 15 Navy & Black Blazer by Topman Grey Shirt with Wool Pocket by Ben Sherman Navy Pocket Square by Ben Sherman Navy Trousers by Agi & Sam for Topman Grey Socks by Falke Burgundy Brogues by Hudson
Matthew’s rise to stardom has accelerated since the first season of Brothers And Sisters hit televisions across the world. The show’s success catapulted him into the public eye and he’s gone on to further reinforce his reputation as one of the finest in the business with a powerful performance in 1980s Cold War drama The Americans, where he plays an American acting as a Russian (again, putting those accent skills to good use). The years of hard work and dedication have certainly paid off, and he was recently confirmed for
his most challenging role yet, playing Mr Darcy in the forthcoming adaptation of Pride And Prejudice. According to Matthew, it’s a role that requires more thought than initially meets the eye. “Playing Darcy is a weird one,” Matthew considers. “People have a very clear idea of who Darcy should be from their interpretation of the book, so it brings its own set of rules in a way. I played the poet Dylan Thomas once, and there’s no footage of him at all. So no one really knew who he was, there are just these old voice recordings. But people
have such a personal relationship to him and have a very clear idea of who he should be. It’s the same with Darcy. There are all these references of what people perceive Darcy to be. On top of the book you have Darcy the literary figure. Then you have Colin Firth, the man who cemented Darcy to a degree – along with Matthew Macfadyen who did the same. The danger is saying: ‘I must create a different Darcy’. Because you risk trying to be different just for the sake of it, you ultimately just have to serve the script.”
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Experience goes a long way in the acting business, and being thoroughly educated in the artform can make all the difference when you’re taking your first steps in the industry. Matthew was trained at prestigious London acting school RADA, where he learned the tricks of the trade and developed his style into what we see today. “Whatever happens, you’ve got to create a real truthful performance,” he says. “If it’s not real and it’s not truthful, then no one is going to believe it. The problem with that is you always work from yourself. People have said, ‘Your roles aren’t very different’, but there are very few chameleon-type actors in this business, for a number of reasons. For one, casting directors rarely take a risk on casting you as someone incredibly different from yourself. And I think a
SECTIOn | 7 Black Suit by Topman White Cotton Shirt by Zara
Navy & Black Blazer by Topman Grey Shirt with Wool Pocket by Ben Sherman Navy Pocket Square by Ben Sherman Navy Trousers by Agi & Sam for Topman
lot of actors work from themselves as a starting point – from real emotions. I’m possibly guilty of giving similar performances at times. But I always start with what’s real to me and reach out to the character from there. So it’s always rooted in an element of truth.” Sting once sung about being an Englishman in New York; Matthew’s a Welshman in Los Angeles. Although he has many British friends spread out across the city, the differences in attitude and general lifestyle couldn’t be further away from that of the Welsh. “To me, LA is a combination of Never Never Land and a lunatic asylum,” Matthew smiles. “I’ve always felt it’s a transient city. People go there to work and do movies and it’s like the gold rush is still very palpable there. One big hit, one
big swing of the hammer and you can still find your nugget. It’s very possible to become an overnight success in Hollywood – but also yesterday’s news the next day.
To me, LA is a combination of Never Never Land and a lunatic asylum. You can achieve your goals and your dreams or spend the rest of your life believing in that. There are so many success stories about people going
from sleeping in their car and then making it with that one script they sell or one part they get. The casting directors will see everyone – they’re very fair like that – there’s a sort of fear that they’ll miss the next big thing. So you’ll get a shot at the title.” Apart from a role in Hamlet, Matthew says he’s fulfilled most of his career goals. He’s conquered many mountains, but Pride And Prejudice offers him his toughest challenge yet. Whatever angle he takes on Mr Darcy, though, he’ll no doubt deliver it with an accent of the utmost class and conviction. Matthew Rhys is currently starring in The Americans on ITV1 on Saturday nights.
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Destiny’s Children “Whatever will be will be/ The future’s not ours to see/ Que sera, sera,” sang Doris Day merrily in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1956 conspiracy thriller The Man Who Knew Too Much. Like its protagonist, we too are made aware of seemingly endless options for our own lives. But choice can brew unrest and confusion. Are we in control of our lives, or is it all predetermined by the lives we are born into? Is it – whisper it – all just destiny?
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don’t know about you, but I often think about my life like it’s a movie or a novel: a substantial middle bookended by a discernable beginning and discernable end. But I’ve never felt like I’ve known the plot. We can perceive chapters, sure, but not often can we see the arc of our life’s story. Instead we recall vignettes prefixed with clauses like “Back when I lived in France…”. It’s enough to make you wonder whether we follow a pre-destined thread; whether we’re guided by fate or biology to become the people we’re supposed to be. If I lived in Game of Thrones, as I’ve recently been wishing I did, I might believe this. But as it happens I live in Brixton, where people seldom have the chance to get a look at my dragons.
WORDS BY HENRY FRY ILLUSTRATION BY SCOTT MASON
the topic of the most elite Manhattanite’s conversation. Inside he may have stayed the same, but to the onlooker, he had the most enviable of lives – a beautifully constructed lie. But was it worth it? Concentrating on the same era that has set Hollywood and fashion magazines alight with sparkling highball glasses and glittering flapper dressers, American painter George Bellows recently had a retrospective at the Royal Academy of Arts. His giant, energetic oil paintings and disturbing lithographs showed the other end of Gatsby’s world: the downtrodden working people who inhabited New York’s underworld, going to boxing matches, swimming naked in the East River, and, in more evangelical areas of the States, preachers lamenting their congregation’s sins and white supremacists torturing AfricanAmericans. Bellows sought to show life as it was, not as the art establishment wanted us to perceive it to be. So what can they tell us about our own day-to-day existences? We still remark that things are ‘on the cards’, invoking
lost contact years ago, but whenever I hear the metallic tinkle of ‘Greensleeves’ on a mediocre summer day, I think of him, and whether fate led him to the striped pastel apron and 99s he always wanted. Sometimes I still wish life was as simple as a Wikipedia biography: laid out with sub-headings and an obvious thread of fate running through it all, making it look so simple, so easy.
“WHETHER WE BELIEVE IN A GUIDING FORCE OR NOT, THE FUTURE WILL ALWAYS REMAIN UNSEEN... BUT NOT TOTALLY OUT OF OUR CONTROL.”
Various artists, writers and philosophers have tried to come to terms with the scary notion that our lives aren’t a simple line of events. The existentialist thinkers of the early 20th Century concocted a variety of theories, varying from life being a total meaningless burden (as suggested by the constantly depressed Nietzsche) to a frightening, if empowering series of choices, whereby we create our own meaning (à la the Beauvoir-banging Sartre). F. Scott Fitzgerald’s charismatic central character of his recently Luhrmann-ised American classic, The Great Gatsby, distinctly chose to change what he saw as a fruitless destiny, moulding his life into the fate of another’s; a more lavish, elegant existence, where champagne flowed and he was forever
the mysticism of Tarot. Whether we believe in a guiding force or not, the future will always remain unseen – but not totally out of our control. We can try and see our lives as they are, and respond as best we know how. As a child my adult goals varied intermittently between writer-slashillustrator to vampire king, and for a while, Queen Elizabeth I. I’m not sure which one I’m closer to achieving. Yet as puberty took its awkward hold, friends around me started to become more realistic with their goals, moving from princess to nurse and taking A-levels accordingly. A primary school mate of mine for a long time wanted to be an ice cream man. We
Ultimately, I’m not so sure Doris had it right. What ever will be won’t necessarily be. We do have a choice. While we can’t always decide or control our surroundings, we can always decide how to react to them. Despite the nihilism of his name, Nietzsche also had a strong belief in ‘Amor fati’, or ‘love of fate’, the idea that even terrible things can be seen as part of something good, or at the very least inevitable, with a beauty of their own. Like a cinematographer or a painter, we can choose to see our lives in whatever way we want. You can be the arbiter of your fate, or destiny’s child. Maybe even Lizzy The First if you want it enough. Perhaps ‘Independent Women’ (change sex as required) is a more appropriate fateful song than ‘Que Sera, Sera’? It’s up to you to decide.
Photographer: Tiffany MuMford / Stylist: Vicki HillMan / Hair: cHarley Mcewen / Make up: carrie Jones @ carol Hayes ManageMenT using nars / Model: Tereza s @ Milk Vertical Stripe Jacket by Zara £79.99 Horizontal Stripe Dress by Zara £35.99 Cream Bucket Bag by Primark £12 Brogues by Clarks £54.99
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Black and White Floral Biker Jacket by River Island £55 Cream and Black Shirt by Marks and Spencer £29.50 Horizontal stripe skirt by Miss Selfridge £18 Shoes by Office £55
Vintage Sunglasses by Stylists own Quilted Tweed Jacket by Karen Millen £190 Horizontal Stripe T-shirt Dress by TopShop £28 Gold trainers by Adidas £65
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Jacket by Zara £79.99 Jumper by Miss Selfridge £35 Trousers by Mango £34.99 Shoes by Office £55
Blouse by River Island £40 Biker Jacket by Firetrap £215 Stripped Legging by New Look £14.99
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Meet Natasha Whiting: founder of Acorn Overseas
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licking through pictures of the smiling children who live at Acorn Overseas in northern Thailand, it’s easy to see why founder Natasha Whiting felt so compelled to get involved and help when she did. The children in these photos look genuinely happy. They are climbing trees, playing games, getting piggy backs from the volunteers and, most importantly, feeling safe, wanted and loved. But for the children living at Acorn Overseas, life hasn’t always been so secure. Located on the border of Thailand and Burma, the orphanage homes roughly 45 children who have managed to escape Burma’s military regime. Left in helpless and often tragic conditions, the children were welcomed into the shelter with open and loving arms. “I’d heard about this little shelter when I was living out in Thailand,” begins Natasha. “The kids there had no food or clothes and I really wanted to help them. When I drove up there, they just had nothing. It was started by an American guy who had just left them, so I went out and bought them a load of chicken from a shop nearby. The two-year-old devoured an entire chicken and the carcass. That’s when I thought I really needed to do something to help.” Natasha founded Acorn Overseas in 2010 with the aim of providing food, shelter and education to the underprivileged children who had lost their families – luxuries which, sadly, most youngsters in the area won’t ever have the chance
to experience. But, thankfully, with the help of Natasha and her team, these kids will grow up knowing what it means to be cared for. “All the children are either abandoned or orphaned,” Natasha explains. “They generally came from terrible conditions and a lot of the parents
“I WENT OUT AND BOUGHT THE KIDS A LOAD OF CHICKEN FROM A SHOP NEARBY. A TWO-YEAR-OLD DEVOURED AN ENTIRE CHICKEN AND THE CARCASS. THAT’S WHEN I THOUGHT I REALLY NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP.” will bring in their kids and just leave because they can’t afford them. There was one woman that turned up and tried to sell her baby for £50. It was awful.” Every penny raised for Acorn Overseas goes directly to the cause – towards improving the futures of these children and giving them a shot at a better life.
WORDS BY KYLE GOODWIN
And as more people have become involved, the shelter and its facilities have improved rapidly. “I brought some volunteers over and we built a stilted house for them,” Natasha continues. “We barely had any money so there still wasn’t any electricity or running water at that point. We did a lot of fundraising and a bit later in the year I brought a load more people back and we started building proper walls on the house, a kitchen, a bathroom area, toilets that work properly and a learning room where we could do after school activities. The main goal is just to give them a bright future.” The chance of a bright future is exactly what these children deserve. Every child should have access to their basic survival needs. However, we don’t live on a planet where that is always guaranteed. It’s cruel. But just being given a chance in life is the most precious gift anyone could give. “The kids are really intelligent,” Natasha says proudly. “They speak English, Thai and Burmese. They love to learn. They’re fun and energetic and considering their backgrounds, they’re just brilliant.” It costs £12,000 each year for Acorn Overseas to carry out its duty to the children who live there. It’s more than just a home to these kids, it’s a slice of hope in an otherwise very, very dark world. If you can, please Blipp this page and donate to this amazing cause. After all, to create a smile where there wasn’t one before is a truly beautiful achievement.
From left:
will wears:
rae wears:
matt wears:
duncan wears:
T-Shirt by Farah Jacket by Franklin & Marshall Shorts by Jasper Conran @ Debenhams
Dress by The Kooples Visor by Seafolly
T-shirt by New Love Club Jacket by Next Shorts by Paul & Joe
Vest by H&M Shirt by Billionaire Boys Club Shorts by Jaeger
Photography: Jay McLaughLin / Stylist: Krishan ParMar With thanks to: suzie street / Make Up: nicoLe Moores / Hair: Dave nobLe / Models: Duncan, WiLL anD Matt @ MoDeLs 1; rae @ seLect MoDeL ManageMent
fashion | 31
From left:
duncan wears:
will wears:
Vest by Cuckoo Shirt by Edwin Shorts by Wrangler Shoes by Kurt Geiger
T-shirt by New Love Club Shorts by Jasper Conran @ Debenhams Jacket by Jaeger Shoes by Superga
fashion | 33 rae wears: Dress by Longchamp Jumper by Twothirds Bangle by Aspinal Of London Bag by Tusting Shoes by Nike
will wears:
matt wears:
Swim Shorts by Varley Jacket by Franklin & Marshall
Swim Shorts by Speedo
duncan wears:
matt wears:
Swim Shorts by Bjorn Borg
Swim Shorts by Speedo Water Guns by Nerf @ John Lewis
fashion |35
From left:
duncan wears: Swim Shorts by Bjorn Borg
matt wears: Swim Shorts by Speedo Water Guns by Nerf @ John Lewis
words | 37
oF InFoRMatIon
WORDS BY ElisHEva sokolic
to lower teen pregnancies. With this information at our fingertips, we can’t help but question the ability of those in charge. How can we trust our MPs or our police officers? Or on a more day-to-day level, our children’s school teachers or the NHS? More worrying still is if this is what we’ve found out, what else don’t we know?
Boris Johnson’s lovechild, Kate Middleton’s topless sunbathing, even Roger Moore’s sex life.
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or many, this is what springs to mind when we mention freedom of information. But behind the sanctioned celebrity gossip and the debate on invasion of privacy, the real struggle is ongoing. How far are the public entitled to question the law enforcers and rule makers of this country? Do we as the public have a right to know everything when it comes to the government? In 2005, the full provisions of the Freedom of Information Act were put into place, and around 120,000 requests are made under it each year. This act gives us access to information from bodies which perform functions of a public nature, including the government, media, schools, colleges, and the NHS. Since its enactment, there is no doubt that some shocking revelations have been uncovered. Over 200 police officers serving within the Metropolitan Police have criminal records; more than 1000 girls aged 14 and under have abortions every year; illegal immigrants are using university courses to obtain visas, despite not showing up after enrolment; maybe most worrying was the discovery that the NHS had been giving girls as young as 13 contraceptive injections which made them infertile for up to three years, in an attempt
Unfortunately, far from helping the public to answer their valid questions and put our minds at rest, key figures in the political arena have actually fought to limit its influence. Tony Blair, responsible for passing the act, has now backpedalled into naming it “one of the biggest mistakes of [his] career.” Blair feels that the media are using the act to attack the government, merely as a form of aggression. “The information is neither sought because the journalist is curious to know, nor given to bestow knowledge on ‘the people’,” he wrote in his 2010 autobiography. “It’s used as a weapon.”
Over 200 police officers serving within the Metropolitan Police have criminal records Labour peer Lord Falconer has also been disappointed with the results of the act, criticising journalists for what he terms “fishing expeditions” where the media are actively searching for scandalous stories within Parliament. “[The Freedom of Information Act] is not for press, it is for the people. It needs to be properly used in order to promote good Government. Information needs to be handled responsibly.” Most worrying of all, an amendment bill was put forward to Parliament in 2007. It suggested that the Freedom of Information Act could no longer be used on any correspondence between MPs. Fortunately for the fight for transparency,
Sir Menzies Campbell spoke out against the bill, arguing there shouldn’t “be one law for MPs and a different law for everyone else” and the bill failed to pass a first reading. However, its very existence, together with the ministerial veto on the act itself (so far used 5 times) suggests that Parliament has something to hide. It is this lack of trust in our government and the reach of the Freedom of Information Act that has led to the popularity of organisations such as Wikileaks, where news and information, along with proofs and sources, are given to the public anonymously, all in the pursuit of transparency. They claim that “better scrutiny leads to reduced corruption and stronger democracies.” With the help of these arguments, freedom of information has moved beyond the Act itself. This decade is seeing the public make transparency their own responsibility. In a similar way to Wikileaks, across the board we are seeing individuals and organisations fight for more information and better examination of public facts and figures. Take the case of Boris Johnson’s alleged daughter with Helen Macintyre. Some would argue that his moral standing has no effect on his ability to serve as Mayor of London. This would make this case fall outside of the realm of freedom of information and more into that of celebrity gossip. Nevertheless, Lord Justice Dyson ruled that it was “a public interest matter which the electorate was entitled to know when considering his fitness for high public office”. As an individual, Lord Dyson has highlighted the growing public attitude in favour of wider-reaching disclosure. On a larger scale, this public need for freedom of information has led to successful ventures such as Sara Payne’s ‘Sarah’s Law’, where individuals can search to see if someone in contact with their child has a history as a sex offender. One anonymous father commented, “Without [Sarah’s law] we would have had no way of knowing that this man was not to be trusted.” The success of schemes like Sarah’s Law and Wikileaks, and the popularity behind individual decisions like Lord Dyson’s are just a few of the proofs that the world is moving towards greater transparency. Agree or not, we are taking our right to know seriously, and where the government may fail, we have no qualms in taking matters into our own hands.
N A M O R L A C I S U M to on Blippch Laws wat form an ersion d” per lusive v hearte exc Broken PAR P of “ BLI
FORIONS... E5 PAG TRUCT E E S S IN
As Lawson get set to release their new single ‘Brokenhearted’, Kyle catches up with the pop rock fourpiece to find out their story – from music college to the charts... WORDS BY KYLE GOODWIN
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hen it comes to music, Lawson are pure traditionalists. Submerged in romanticism (and midway through eating lunch), the boys talk us through their hopeless addiction to honest songwriting, and how powerful the connection between writer, song and listener can be. They discuss gigs and songs that have caught their attention – and how Muse’s Matt Bellamy is able to leap around a stage like a lunatic while still playing each note on his guitar with perfect precision. “He’s an absolute beast,” jokes frontman Andy Brown. “I have no idea how he does it.” Sitting down with the band – completed by guitarist Joel Peat, bassist Ryan Fletcher and drummer Adam Pitts – it’s pretty clear Lawson could happily talk about
music for hours. We get the feeling that if it was up to them, they wouldn’t ever talk about anything else (which is fine by us). Their addiction to music runs deep. And like most addicts, without their daily fix they would simply crumble. Luckily, though, there’s an ample supply of albums, gigs and festivals floating around to keep them pleasantly satisfied. “For us, nothing beats going to a gig or a festival and watching a group of musicians playing the songs they’ve written,” says Adam, followed by nods of approval from his band mates. “All the sound is coming directly from those people on the stage. All the words, music and melodies have been written by them, and they’re singing it right there in front of you. Nothing beats that.”
NTICS
celebrity | 39 Like most songwriters, Lawson are driven by their quest to fully conquer the art form, along with the craftsmanship that goes into writing the perfect song. And like most songwriters before them, they scrutinise the acute detail and subtleties that can turn a good song into a timeless classic. But when they take to the stage, it’s the sincerity in their writing that steals the show. “When you’ve written a song, and it’s your own words and you’ve really put your emotions into it, that really comes across in the live performance,” reflects Ryan. “It always shows. I don’t quite connect with a song in the same way if I know someone else has written it. But it’s normally only musicians that notice that kind of thing.” Being trusted to pen your own tunes in the mainstream music business is a rare luxury, with external writers often the brains behind the biggest singles in the charts. And although there’s nothing at all wrong with that, it’s just not Lawson’s style to sing other people’s words. “I don’t think we could put the same passion into our performances if they weren’t our own songs,” Andy explains. “There are bands out there that have songs written by the most incredible songwriters in the world and get Number Ones
“I don’t think we could put the same passion into our performances if they weren’t our own songs... We’re lucky that we get to write our own music and have a lot of creative control.” and achieve success in that way, which I think is important, too. We’re lucky that we get to write our own music and have a lot of creative control. But sometimes you have to make decisions based on what’s best for the band and the bigger picture. If Adam Levine had come to us and said, ‘Here’s a song I wrote called ‘Moves Like Jagger’, do you want to release it?’, then we’d have to consider it. I mean, it was
a massive smash hit all over the world. So I do get why people hire songwriters. It’s their job to be the best at it.” Lawson rose to fame in late 2012 when their debut album ‘Chapman Square’ stormed the charts, peaking at Number Four and swiftly going on to achieve Gold status. Their first three singles sold over half a million copies in the UK and after support slots with the likes of Avril Lavigne, Will Young, The Wanted and Westlife, Lawson firmly established themselves as one of the UK’s most promising young acts. In short, they’ve come a long way in a very short space
of time. It wasn’t long ago that the boys were shackled up in Music College, dreaming of doing all the stuff they’re doing right now. But although Ryan, Joel and Adam started individual courses to study music, it was never their intention to see it through to the end. “The way I looked at Music College was that if I left with a degree then I was behind where I wanted to be,” Ryan tells us. “I went to get my foot in the door but I wanted to be out of there and into the industry before I finished the course.”
just a means to an end while they were establishing a reputation in the business? “It hardly mattered at all,” laughs Joel. “In the first six months of trying to get signed, I learned more than in all my years of musical education. You’ve just got to get out there and do it. You do learn some good stuff there, don’t get me wrong, but at the end of the day they’re not going to give you a job. You have to use the tools they give you to get into it yourself.”
“In the first six months of trying to get signed, I learnED more than in all my years of musical education. You’ve just got to get out there and do it.”
So did Music College aid Lawson in their quest for musical success? Or was it a
2013 is going to be a big year for these four music addicts. Their new single ‘Brokenhearted’ is out next week, and as well as announcing a full UK
celebrity | 41
tour – including a show at Camden’s Roundhouse on 12th October – the band are quietly masterminding a plan to take over America. But even after receiving floods of positive emails and Tweets from fans across the Atlantic, Lawson see this as their biggest challenge yet. “It’s just massive,” Adam grins. “And different States have very different tastes in music. There is no national radio station, they’re all separate. So even if you get one station to like your song, that’s only one State. You have to get so many individual stations on board to even make a dent. We’re going out in August to play a load of shows and meet as many people as possible and see what happens.” Lawson are an organic band, and they do what they do for the right reasons. And even without all the chart success and the arena tours, they would still be writing songs and sharing ideas with equal enthusiasm. The question is now, though, how far can they take it?
Lawson’s new single ‘Brokenhearted’ is out on 7th July. www.lawsonofficial.com
Win the sexiest camera of the year so far...
Celebrate the launch of Drafted and the lovely new Olympus pen E-P5
To Win: Follow @draftedmagazine and @olympusUk and tweet #lovedraftedloveolympus You could win the ultimate street camera - the Olympus Pen E-P5 kit with new high resolution viewfinder and 17mm F1.8 lens worth £1350.
Unmistakeably PEN, unequivocally premium.
a whole wifi world of possibilities. Thanks to its built-in WiFi capabilities, the E-P5 offers a whole host of advanced and convenient features made possible from a connection between your camera and smartphone. See your camera’s live view right on your phone’s touchscreen and even shoot at a distance by releasing the shutter from your phone. You can even use this feature with a timer countdown to easily include yourself in group photos. Assign GPS data to your photos, or send your selected shots straight to your phone and then share them with your friends. It’s incredibly simple and fast with built-in WiFi.
Inspired by the now-legendary PEN-F camera that launched in 1963, the E-P5 features many of its retro design hallmarks such as the distinctive kink along the top edge, or the metallic front section of the new E-P5’s silver version with its unmistakeable “Olympus PEN” inscription. But that’s just half the story: The E-P5 has also been given a thorough design upgrade for the 21st century that’s unmistakeably PEN and undeniably premium.
high quality meets high speed. The E-P5 delivers the same image quality as the groundbreaking Olympus OM-D, for hotshots that match the top-end imaging standards of D-SLRs. It also features a mechanical shutter speed of up to 1/8000s – just perfect for bringing out the very best in high-speed lenses for full defocusing effects in bright shooting conditions, or for freezing fast-moving subjects from flowing water to the flapping wings of a hummingbird.
FAST AF WITH ADVANCED CAPABILITIES. As well its ultra-fast autofocusing credentials, the FAST AF in the E-P5 also brings other impressive qualities with it. Take minute details to new extremes with Super Spot AF, which is capable of focusing on an even more specific part of your image than even a D-SLR camera – all with your fingertip. Meanwhile, the high-speed release time lag mode reduces the time between shutter release and exposure to a splitsecond minimum – to capture even the fastest-moving subjects
ALWAYS SPLIT SECONDS FROM KEY SETTINGS. Ergonomically positioned for comfort and speed, the two dials on the E-P5 let you expand the realm of your creative expression: Simply adjust aperture and exposure, then – by changing the function of both dials with a quick flick of the lever – adjust ISO and white balance with exactly the same action. The E-P5 also gives you incredible scope to customise this lever for your own style of photography – letting you jump straight to your most-used functions to get just the results you want in the shortest possible time.
Competition closes 20th July. This competition is not open to employees of Olympus or DRAFTED media. The winner will be picked at random, the decision of Olympus & Drafted is final. There is no cash alternative for this prize.
words | 43
Kate Temple
GETS ANGRY FROM BEING IN THE OFFICE TOGETHER, WE’VE LEARNED ONE THING ABOUT KATE: SHE HAS A RATHER SHORT FUSE. Each month, we find out what’s making Kate Temple angry. ILLUSTRATION BY SCOTT MASON
I’m no longer willing to admit my age, but take my word when I say I’ve seen my fair share of summers. And rarely have I been impressed. All too often spring merges into autumn, and summer passes us by.
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re us Brits insane for staying in a country with such bad weather, or are we simply sadists for the rain, cloud and misery? And when the sun does come out, why do we all act like lunatic sun virgins with a serious aversion to clothing? I first realised we had a bizarre attitude to the sun while out with friends this time last year. All of us were vying for a seat in the sun, in the restaurant garden we were frequenting. But it quickly became a dogeat-dog scenario. There was tussling and bustling for the best seats in the house, and the rest of us left behind jostled our elbows for an inch of the good stuff. Is this a healthy attitude? When we do finally get a hint of the sun in Britain, it’s all or nothing. If you don’t bask in it, inevitably without sunscreen on until you burn to a crisp, then you’ve not made the most of your sun quota for the year. And we all know you’ll regret that for another 11 months. London may be observed as a cosmopolitan city by the rest of the world. But when compared to Milan in mid-July, we are the embarrassing aunt who wears knee-high hold-ups to your 21st birthday and tries to chat up your boyfriend.
It’s not so much gelato and Versace as sunstroke and headaches.
hours later with sodden feet and a rain-soaked attitude.
When that first glimpse of sun peeps through the clouds, every man and his dog strips down to an inappropriate level of nakedness to walk the streets. Pale, bandy legs are revealed and the tube begins to smell like your local Bikram Yoga changing room.
But Britain’s not always been like this. I remember the long, heady summers of my childhood filled with sun, garden parties and trips to Norfolk. What happened to those simple days when you could rely on going out in July and not being caught in a shower? Many blame the depletion in the ozone layer for the extreme weather we’ve experienced in the last few years.
If that’s not enough, you can’t even rely on the weather to stay warm when the sun does briefly shine. If you do decide to go out in your Kylie-esque hot pants and flipflops to match, it’s never guaranteed the weather will stay as bright as you hope. The likelihood is that you’ll leave the house humming LMFAO’s ‘I’m In Miami...’, with your shades on and a warm breeze in your hair, and end up scuttling back several
If global warming is to blame for our diminishing summers, then we really all must start recycling more. Even if it’s just to save my retinas from another summer of vitamin D-deficient skin lighting up the streets, and exposed midriffs inappropriately distracting me on my commute to work.
Summer skin looks incredible with minimal make up and a hot lip colour Using your hand, rub MAC Prep + Prime Face Protect SPF 50 into the skin for broad level sun protection. It’s the perfect hydrating and oil-absorbing base for make up. In the heat its best to opt for a lighter base like Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint SPF15. Bronze the face with Guerlain Terracotta Long Lasting Bronzer and highlight and sculpt the cheek bones with Terracotta Blush Sun Shimmer Highlighter. Coat the eyelids with a wash of shimmering colour like Paul & Joe Maui Eye & Lip Gloss Duo. Pat in with fingers for a fresh natural look and apply a longlasting mascara, like Lord & Berry Scuba Mascara to finish off the look. Make the focus of the look shocking bright lips with Lime Crime’s My Beautiful Rocket.
Photographer: CLAIRE HARRISON www.claireharrisonphotography.com / Photography Assistant: LUKE JOHNSON / Make Up and Words: LAUREN BAKER www.laurenbaker.co.uk / Hair: SEEMA CHOPRA / Nails: KAREN LOUISE @MY MANAGEMENT / Model MILLIE H @ www.milkmanagement.co.uk
beauty / Grooming | 45
Give the body a warm glow with Huile Prodigieuse OR Dry Oil Golden Shimmer For effortless glam try a simple natural eye (as before) and enhance with a sultry set of false eyelashes from www.posche-store.com. Top with your most diva shades and team with a vixen red lip like Rimmel Apocalips in Stella. Keep shine at bay in the heat with a dust of Liz Earle Natural Finish Pressed Powder.
Aquatic blues look incredible with a tanned glow Mix The Make Up Store’s Brilliance Eyedust with their Blend And Fix Cream to make a long-wearing paste and apply by blending with fingertips to the lid. Line the upper lash line creating a feline flick with Lord & Berry Liquid Eyeliner and then apply a volumising set of lashes (www.posche-store.com). Line the lower lash line with Paul & Joe Beach Baby Eyeliner / Crayon Duo in Las Palmas. Keep the lips soft with Liz Earle Signature Lip Colour in Blossom.
beauty / grooming | 47
Keep skin cool and hydrated by spritzing with Liz Earle’s Instant Boost Skin Tonic
Be daring and try zesty yellow eyes Mix The Makeup Store’s Blend And Fix with their Cybershadow in RA to create a long-lasting paste and apply blending upwards with a large flat brush. Try Silk Stockings Full Coverage Lipstick on the lips and don’t be afraid to team with a hot citrus orange on the nails!
beauty / grooming | 49
Instead of a standard black or grey smokey eye, try a deep amethyst smokey eye Apply Smashbox Limitless 15 Hour Wear Cream Shadow in Amethyst to the eyelid and along the lower lash line. Finish the eyes off with mascara. Team with a soft pink lip colour like Paul & Joe Natural Lipstick Prêt-à-Porter.
No one wants to pull on their favourite tea dress and shake out their ponytail, only to find they’ve got stubbly, hairy legs. Never fear, you can throw away your nude tights.
Perfect
Must -haves
pins
HERE ARE THE PERFECT PRODUCTS TO KEEP YOUR GORGEOUS LEGS JUST THAT – GORGEOUS.
Bring out the Thelma and Louise inside you:
Tie a headscarf around your head, pack your bags and escape for the weekend. But don’t get caught short with stubbly pins and flakey, dry skin. That would be so uncool. Take note of DRAFTED’s top beauty tips to survive your road trip this year.
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WORDS BY KATE TEMPLE
3 4 Venus Pro Skin Sensitive disposable razor: £8.99
2 1
3 Venus & Olay disposable razor: £10.99
2 Braun Silk-épil 7 Epilator: £139.99
1 Crabtree & Evelyn Tarocco Orange Eucalyptus & Sage Deep Cleansing Body Scrub: £17
www.braun.com With a plethora of close-grip tweezers, this unique dual epilator gives both epilation and exfoliation in one easy step.
www.feelunique.com Scrub up nicely with the deep-cleansing sunflower wax beads that ward off dead cells.
www.boots.com Not just your bog standard razor. Olay moisture bars release skin conditioners to help lock in moisture.
www.boots.com The quick and easy way to get great looking legs in under five minutes.
5 Rituals Brilliant Bliss shampoo: £8.50 www.rituals.com Brilliant Bliss intensely moisturises the hair, leaving it beautifully shiny and feeling silky soft.
TIME TO LET YOUR HAIR DOWN!
Treat yourself to one or all of these products – be it to achieve the perfect summer wave or to protect your coiffured mane from chlorine damage. Whatever the weather, there’s never an excuse for less than perfect hair (anymore)!
Luscious locks
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6 8 5
6 Alterna Summer Hair Ocean Waves: £12.50 www.alternahaircare.com This is a weightless volume moisturising spray that gives a natural wavy texture to all hair types for that sexy, back-from-the-beach look.
7 Silvikrin Classic hairspray: £1.49 www.superdrug.co.uk This secure hold hairspray gives a reliable, long-lasting, strong hold while keeping your style flexible.
8 Philip Kingsley Swimcap: £20 www.johnlewis.com Swimcap cream guards against discolouration and damage caused by weathering from the sun, chlorine, salt water and wind.
9 MoroccanOil hydrating shampoo and conditioner: £16-£17 www.moroccanoil.com Shampoo and conditioner designed to help prevent dryness and dehydration.
beauty / Grooming | 51 We all know we need to keep hydrated in the summer heat, but are we keeping our skin as hydrated as it needs to be?
moisturise
WE’VE GOT THE PERFECT LOTIONS AND POTIONS TO KEEP YOUR BODY MOISTURISED, NOURISHED AND DRY SPOT-FREE.
Mineral Botanic Honeysuckle & Lavender body lotion: £21
Rituals Mei Dao: £15 www.rituals.com Combines the gentle fragrance of white lotus with the nourishing properties of Yi Yi Ren, to leave the skin feeling silky soft.
www.ahava.com A lightweight serum that dries quickly for a hydrated look and feel.
Living Nature Ultra Rich Body Cream: £29 www.livingnature.com A nutrient-rich cream with active Manuka honey for its humectant properties, and Murumuru butters to deeply nourish.
treat
It’s been six months since Christmas, and it’ll be another six months until the next one. Who knows when you’ll get a gift again, so why not treat yourself to a mid-year treat? GO ON, YOU KNOW YOU DESERVE IT!
Rihanna Nude Eau de Parfum 30ml: £15
yourself
www.boots.com Sensual and provocative, this fragrance is so hip it hurts (not literally). Perfect for jazzing up your summer!
Birchbox’s monthly beauty bonanza: £10 per month + P&P www.birchbox.com The best way to discover new beauty and lifestyle products, Birchbox give you monthly treats catered perfectly to your age, skin type and preferences.
Beetox Bee Venom Set: facemask, serum and moisturiser: £139 (but also sold individually) www.beetox.co.uk The honey bee venom in the Beetox range contains at least 18 active substances – perfect for a summery beauty treat.
male grooming
FACE & BODY The summer’s finally here,
and whether you’re stripping off at Margate or headed for an oasis of calm in foreign climes, we have the products to keep your skin in tip-top shape. So don’t be scared to bare that chest or pull on those shorts: with these products you can feel top of your league.
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1 PROACTIV CLEANSING BAR £14.99 www.boots.com Whether you’re more Peter Kay or David Beckham, it doesn’t matter – everyone needs to look after their face. Don’t be scared by the word ‘acne’, this Proactiv bar is a great addition to your morning routine.
2 NAD’S BODY WAXING STRIPS / HAIR REMOVAL CREAM Both £8.99 www.boots.com We’re not saying take it all off, we’re just saying it’s best to keep it under control...
3 A’KIN PUREMAN Range starts at £9.50 www.hollandandbarrett.com Are you all man? If the answer is yes, then this PureMan range of treatments is a must-have to get summer skin that sings like a womanattracting siren.
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2
Tried tested
beauty / grooming | 53
KATE TEMPLE HEADS TO URBAN RETREAT
WORDS BY KATE TEMPLE
Therapist of the beauty kind Are feet ever attractive? I can only presume that Kate Moss’ feet are perfectly pedicured and hard-skin free – but how does one make time for that? I’ve heard women discuss the satisfaction of seeing their heels’ hard skin shavings hit the floor during a pedicure, but never experienced it myself.
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pedicure virgin, I was intrigued to see what all the fuss was about. So, naturally, I booked myself into Harrods’ Urban Retreat for a Custom Pedicure. Well, if you’re going to do something, you’ve got to do it properly! You might think you know Harrods, but it has many, many layers. The Urban Retreat is on the fifth floor, so you can either get the lift from street level or make your way up what feels like several thousand escalators. Travelling through the building you feel like you’ve entered an exclusive, 1920s-esque black hole where everything is fabulous and nothing is a problem. Up at the Urban Retreat you head for the reception where they confirm your appointment, and you climb your final set of stairs with, as mine were, decidedly
manky feet to meet your therapist. Finally at your destination, you’re asked to pick a colour from a sea of nail polishes while the beautician prepares your seat. Bright, neon colours sharply spring off the paler, delicate pastels in the collection. There’s a colour for every day of the year, so I’d advise you use the oodles of time you have on the escalator up there to have a think about what you want. Then the hard work’s over. You’ve made it there in one piece and you’ve picked your pedi colour. You can sit back in your grand, elevated chair, and treat yourself to a back massage with the remote control on your chair’s arm. While you relax into the back rub, piping hot water is expertly poured into the basin below your chair, you are asked what you’d like to drink and a plethora of
magazines are positioned at your disposal. It’s almost how I imagine the Queen might be treated for a pedicure. Or failing that, Kim Kardashian. As you settle into the relaxing Jacuzzi, your feet are taken through a wellrehearsed routine of removing any dregs of nail polish you already have on, cleansing, exfoliating, removing any dead or hard skin (this is especially vigorous) and, finally, moisturising. With soft, supple feet, they then shape your nails and then paint on the colour you chose at the beginning of the whole experience. I suppose the only thing that set the experience back was the plastic cup I was given to drink out of. But plastic cup aside, it was an hour of glorious pampering. And to answer the question I asked at the beginning: yes, feet can be attractive. But it comes with a price tag. Find out more about Harrods’ Urban Retreat at www.urbanretreat.co.uk/harrods Custom Pedicure: £57.00.
NEW BA NDS
D THIS LOT! GET YOUR EARS ROUN
Their debut album ‘Sing Hallelujah For The Old Machine’ is out now, and showcases their bluesy country rock and dependably heavy guitars.
young fathers WHEN EDINBURGH HIP-HOP threepiece Young Fathers say they’re just a pop group, it’s possible that they’re being slightly disingenuous. The more likely explanation, however, is that they’re just a lot weirder than they probably realise. ‘Deadline’ marries industrial noise with tribal rhythms, while ‘The Guide’ weighs heavy with a malaise that never dissipates. While the production is often dense and opaque they never lose sight of the hook, casually drawing avant guarde themes into the realms of pop and vice versa. Having cut their teeth on the open mic circuit, Young Fathers are now the latest signings to influential US hip-hop label Anticon. Expertly deconstructing the mainstream / underground dichotomy, Young Fathers are currently making some of the most exciting music in the UK right now.
c ideo a v h bandIPPAR eac5 FOR OBNL S...
I E PAG UCT SEE INSTR
WORDS BY LIAM MCCREESH
Three blind wolves WHEN IT COMES TO GLASGOW, there’s a definable lineage of dour young men with guitars that have made the city an almost fabled homeland for the drunk and romantically disenfranchised. But while Three Blind Wolves have drawn comparisons with groups like Frightened Rabbit, their sonic identity derives mostly from Americana, country rock and folk music, variously referencing Modest Mouse, My Morning Jacket and Fleet Foxes. Thanks to Ross Clark’s pained yowl there’s angst aplenty, but there’s also a defiant bombast that – dare we say – calls to mind London’s very own international folk stars Mumford & Sons.
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Gold & Youth BACK IN 2009, when The xx released their eponymous debut, nobody could have reasonably predicted that they had created a ‘year zero’ moment for a particular aesthetic in alternative music. In 2013, blogs are positively heaving with hipster-friendly synth-pop, replete with skeletal guitar figures and sultry male/female vocals. But to dismiss Vancouver’s Gold & Youth on grounds of unoriginality would be a critical mistake, and what distinguishes them from their peers is largely down to frontman Matthew Lyall. In Lyall, Gold & Youth have an arresting and literate vocalist, the cadence of his rich baritone rising and falling sadly in time with their soulful, crepuscular indie. Their debut album ‘Beyond Wilderness’ is out now.
MØ UNDERSTANDS THAT the best pop music is promiscuous, brazenly taking what it needs for its own gratification. True to this ethos, Denmark’s Karen Marie Ørsted borrows as she sees fit from dubstep, chart-orientated club music and the glitchy, altogether more cerebral end of the electronic spectrum. MØ’s glossy, high-tech electronica calls to mind recent crossover acts AlunaGeorge and Purity Ring, and while standout tracks ‘Pilgrim’ and ‘Maiden’ mark her out as an artist with intelligence, it’s not in any way overthought; unsurprising from someone who can name check Spice Girls and Sonic Youth in a single sentence when asked about her formative musical influences.
emily wells TEXAN SONGWRITER AND multiinstrumentalist Emily Wells is a frightening talent. Don’t take our word for it, go and watch one of her live performances on YouTube which typically involve violins, loop pedals, drums and various other bits of rather daunting-looking equipment.
With a recorded output that isn’t so much eclectic as it is schizophrenic, it’s almost impossible to establish any context for her music. Veering wildly from neo-classical to trip-hop, or Tom Waits-esque bar room waltzes, it’s enough to wear you out. It’s only her voice, and her child-like enunciation, that offers anything in the way of consistency. Were she ever to rein in some of her more unwieldy artistic excesses, then Emily Wells could be capable of unprecedented greatness. For the time being, though, she seems perfectly content to go on defying the kind of easy categorisation that makes the lives of people like us much, much easier.
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Lianne La Havas
GIGS
SOMERSET HOUSE // 13TH JULY If Amy Winehouse and Alicia Keys spawned a lovechild, Lianne La Havas would be it. Heart achingly soulful, La Havas’ brand of flittering jazz rummages deep into the heart of its listeners, pulling willingly at themes all too familiar: misplaced friendships and unrequited love. With the help of Jools Holland, 2012 gave the 23-year-old the belated recognition she’s long deserved. In a couple of months your mum is going to ask you, “Have you heard of that Lianna La Havas?” and you’re going to say, “Yup, and I got to see her at Somerset House back in July”. This homegrown soulstress isn’t going to be our little secret for long. Don’t sleep on it.
OUR PICK OF JULY’S TOP SHOWS WORDS BY JONO WHITE
braid GARAGE // 27TH JULY For those who have enjoyed the recent renaissance for ’90s emo, Braid will be held in the highest regard. Formed in ’93, The Illinois four-piece were at the forefront of the post-harcore movement, climaxing with 1998’s seminal ‘Frame And Canvas’, a record that defined a generation. Fifteen years on, Braid are set to play this colossal record in its entirety at The Garage in celebration of its 15-year anniversary. Although the phrase ‘not to miss’ is thrown around like a marriage proposal from Ross Gellar, this really does fit the bill. With support rumoured to be coming in the form of Cap’n Jazz, this one’s going to be a nostalgia trip to remember.
Japandroids
Tigers Jaw
DINGWALLS // 17TH JULY
FIGHTING COCKS // 4TH AUGUST
This Vancouverian two-piece flirt dangerously with fuzzy punk rock sensibilities that amalgamate in joyfully infectious low-fi, fist pumping, bro-jams. Yup, Japandroids know how to bring the ruckus, that’s for sure. That’s not to say they hang their coat on playing hard and fast; there’s a complexity and intelligence that flatters this intensity and makes for the most fervent of live shows. Last seen supporting The Gaslight Anthem in the capital, they’re hitting Camden’s intimate Dingwalls on the 17th for their own headline show. If you’re a reckless hormonal male, this is the show for you this month.
Tigers Jaw are a band you should know about. Their inimitable marriage between sullen vocals, gritty guitars and keys resonates deeply within even the hardiest of souls on first listen, which is a rare quality for any band. Emotionally-charged lyrical content makes for a genuine feel that’s as good live as it is on record. And why is this particular show so essential? It’s their last ever UK appearance. As far as heartbreak goes when a band calls time, Tigers Jaw and their decision to split hit hard. Banquet Records always ensure sweaty chaos at their Fighting Cocks shows, and this one won’t disappoint. Farewell, boys and girl.
Lemuria BLACK HEART & FIGHTING COCKS // 22ND & 26TH JULY Lemuria party like it’s ’93, and their gritty guitars and vocal melodies that hook on first listen make for the funnest of times. Despite their indie-pop charm, theirs isn’t a sound that takes itself too seriously, either. Their male-female dynamic and offbeat time signatures make them sound as though The xx dropped a ton of Prozac and bought a fuzz pedal, causing a stark diversity from track to track. The Buffalo trio’s ability to turn tempo has a get-upand-bop quality that permits live shows to be what they should be: a whole lot of fun.
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blow Londoners to e r a ep pr d n a b e th s y still got it. a Tico TORRES Bon Jovi have officiall er m m ru d h it w up ES h ONTH, Drafted catc M IS TH k r Pa e d y H at away e in the ’80s en sc e th to on g in st s changed since bur a h fe li ow h t ou d n fi to WORDS BY KYLE
GOODWIN
hey may not be the wildest band in the world, but Bon Jovi can still rock a stadium harder than anyone else on this planet. Okay, so you won’t read about them staying awake for days or trashing hotel rooms with naked porn stars. In fact, they’ve managed to create a somewhat immaculate public image through years of generally good behaviour and professionalism – but when you’ve sold over 100million records and played around 2,700 concerts to roughly 35million fans, the whole rock star thing just comes with the territory. And here in 2013, 30 years after forming, Bon Jovi
T
are still as relevant as ever, with their new album ‘What About Now’ going to Number One in countries all over the globe (it just missed out here in the UK and they had to settle for Number Two). It takes a cunning mind to stay significant in an ever-changing industry where popularity is a fragile luxury, constantly ticking down to its expiration date. And while many who’ve enjoyed a stint of fame are now pursuing other avenues, Bon Jovi are on another mammoth world tour, which includes a headline show in London’s Hyde Park on the 5th July. But has time taken its toll on
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“I n an y cr ea ti ve fi el d yo do n’ t re al ly ag e, yo u ju u be tt er at it. An d yo u enst ge t it m or e an d re al ly un de jo y w hy yo u do it. W e ke ep rs ta nd co m in g ba ck to it beca us it re al ly is en jo ya bl e.” e
the New Jersey rockers? Or is it just another day in the office, with the same attitude and hunger that drove them to fame in the ’80s? “Well, we’re a little more seasoned these days,” quips Bon Jovi’s long-serving drummer Tico Torres. “You get better with age, you know?” With all the years of success under their belts, you could forgive Bon Jovi for wanting to take things slightly easier these days, and perhaps start preparing for the sacred world of retirement. After all, they’ve been there, done that and sold thousands and thousands of T-shirts. But at an age where most people are thinking of golf courses and time shares, Bon Jovi are still full of the youthful passion which has seen them reinvent themselves with every generation that passes. “I haven’t aged at all when I’m on stage,” Tico continues. “I don’t look in the mirror until after the show. It’s the beauty of being a musician, it’s a blessing. In any creative field you don’t really age, you just get better at it. And you enjoy it more and really understand why you do it. We keep coming back to it because it really is enjoyable.” Speaking to us between shows in Germany, Tico muses over the good ol’ days and reflects on a career that has seen him travel to every corner of the world doing what he loves most – which, in his case, happens to be hitting a drum kit extremely hard. Each era of Bon Jovi’s career has offered something new to their ever growing fan base, and as the band revel in the midst of another stadium tour,
they don’t look ready to hang up their instruments just yet. There’s a distinct art to keeping things fresh in the music business and Bon Jovi seem to know every trick in the book. Whether it’s fair or not, when the times change, they change rapidly, and no mercy is ever shown to those left behind. Put plainly, if you’re not able to keep up with the times you might as well just pack up and go home. But that’s never been an option for Bon Jovi. “The word ‘record’ is now an antique,” Tico laughs. “But we adapt in the best way we can. We’ve been using augmented reality with our new app, so you can scan the album cover and we pop out – it’s a whole interactive experience – which is very new to us because we’ve never really explored that medium. It’s so immediate. Can you imagine what’s going to be happening in another 10 years from now?” So what is the key to reinvention? Is it all meticulously planned? Or is it an organic process that naturally evolves through years of musical and personal chemistry? “You have to stand true to yourself,” Tico explains. “We do what we do, put it out there and hope for the best. We had no idea the album would go to Number One worldwide. Even after all these years it was weird – pleasantly weird. It was a nice surprise because we didn’t have any preconceptions. You can’t really follow your tail. I think you falter when you do that because you’re not being true to your creativity. We never say no to ideas.” It’s this attitude that has seen Bon Jovi succeed over and over again. Like
any musician will tell you, just because your last album sold well there are no guarantees the next one will, too. But it’s that burning desire to move forward without ever compromising their beliefs that has seen them grow into one of the biggest bands of all time. Bon Jovi aren’t interested in what’s happening in the industry around them. They know the game better than anyone, and through it all they still have a strong message to promote. “I’d say the overall theme of the new album is a positive one,” Tico says. “It’s a reiteration of ‘Living On A Prayer’ personified in today’s sound of music. The socially conscious message will always be the same: ‘Let’s be as positive as we can in this world’. I think all our records are different in their own way but they all hold that Bon Jovi feel and sound and touch. We always have a positive attitude in our music. The world can be a difficult place and the idea is to release music that can take people away from their problems and into a different world. Our job is to make people happy.” In a career which has seen them inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Bon Jovi are figureheads for how to achieve longevity in a fast-changing environment. Their new album is a brand new take on a classic and unmistakable sound. Once again, it’s a job very well done. But when the dust settles, it won’t take long before their thoughts turn to the future all over again...
Bon Jovi’s album ‘What About Now’ is out now. www.bonjovi.com
DINE OUT lady ottoline
new burgers @ gbk
bill’s WELLINGTON STREET
WHETHER IT’S BREAKFAST, LUNCH OR DINNER YOU FANCY, ONE OF THESE BELLY-FILLERS COULD BE JUST FOR YOU… WORDS BY ANDY RITCHIE
THE COUPLE WHO RUN Holborn’s Lady Ottoline have a string of awardwinning gastropubs behind them (including another favourite of ours – the Princess Of Shoreditch), and after our visit here, it’s easy to see why. Offering hearty pub grub with a sophisticated twist, their fish is tender, their chips chunky, and their sirloin steak cooked exactly as Drafted requested: a juicy medium rare with lashings of Béarnaise sauce. And if you’ve got room for dessert, their marinated blood oranges with white chocolate mousse are divine, especially when coupled with their Saint Albert Pacherenc du
Vic-Bilh dessert wine, naturally. On the weeknight we stopped by it was quiet but not deserted, so if you want some decent conversation with your meal, the Lady Ottoline is a great choice hidden away from the chaos of central London.
IF YOU’VE NEVER dropped in to one of London’s many Gourmet Burger Kitchens to sample their exquisite list of offbeat burgers, then now’s the time to do so. They’ve recently welcomed back to their menu a couple of old classics that haven’t been seen in a while, and a brand new specialty burger in the form of the Persian Lamb – a scrumptious six-ounce lamb burger stacked up high with Harissa mayo and minted feta. Making a comeback are the much-missed Captain Cook haddock burger and the Billy The Kid vegetarian option, both of which we tried
on our visit that taste as good as we can remember. We’re not fooling anyone that it’s fine dining stuff, but sometimes your belly just needs its burger fix, and when hunger strikes, there are few more reliable burger joints in the capital than GBK.
THE SUSSEX-BASED SELFPROCLAIMED restaurant and produce store have been spreading their wings northwards over the last few years, and finally Covent Garden has got its very own slice of the country life. As you’re led to your table, be sure to eye up the walls around you, as everything you see is available to purchase – from their handmade sweets, to the quirky condiments, to organic pastas and vegetable oils. And when you finally do sit down to eat, get ready to be blown away by some of the best-looking food you’ll have seen this side of Sussex. Utilising the finest, freshest, locally-sourced ingredients, the chefs at Bill’s put as much effort here turning their dishes into works of art as they do culinary delights. Naturally it gets
busy here in the evenings as it’s a popular pre-show eatery for those heading to the Lyceum Theatre next door, so you need to time it right if you’re doing dinner. Brunch, though? Their English breakfasts are some of the heartiest and healthiest around.
OPENING HOURS Monday to Saturday: 12pm to 11pm Sunday: 12pm to 10.30pm
11A Northington Street, WC1N 2JF P: 020 7831 0008 E: info@theladyottoline.com www.theladyottoline.com
OPENING HOURS Monday to Sunday: 11.30am to 10pm
Locations throughout London E: info@gbk.co.uk www.gbk.co.uk
OPENING HOURS Monday to Friday: 8am to 11pm Saturday: 9am to 11pm Sunday: 9am to 10.30pm See their website for other locations.
21 Wellington Street, London, WC2E 7DN P: 0207 836 8368 E: wellingtonstreet@bills-email.co.uk www.bills-website.co.uk
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BARS oh, it’s a drink you’rE after?
try this lot... WORDS BY ANDY RITCHIE
no. 11 pimlico road THE HUTCH CLUB @ QUAGLINO’S
LOCATED UNDERGROUND BENEATH one of Mayfair’s most stylish brasseries, The Hutch Club offers everything and more when it comes to the hedonistic, decadent bygone experience. Where The Intercontinental’s Gin And Jazz night might be a more civilised affair (see opposite), here you can indulge in heritage cocktails, get your nibble fix at London’s first boutique alcoholic popcorn bar (yup!) and soak up some authentic ’20s swing, ragtime and Dixieland music courtesy of an array of exceptional live acts. Named after one of the most popular cabaret entertainers of the time who was famous for turning up to nightclubs with a white piano strapped to his car, expect a night as eccentric and unpredictable as the club’s namesake.
WHILE THEY OFFER an extensive all-day menu that offers everything from delicious antipasto platters to a diverse selection of mains and desserts, the real pride of No. 11 Pimlico Road is their evening cocktail experience. The modern, kitsch design lends itself to a composed post-work drink, where you’re presented with some of the most carefully-constructed cocktails you’ll find in West London. Our picks are the Elderflower And Earl Grey Fizz and the Brotherhood Brew – the latter’s smooth eggy consistency making it feel more like a meal than a drink. If wine’s more your thing, there’s a selection for every budget and palate (and to go with that, a cheese board fit for royalty). Warm, comfortable and inviting, there are few bars in West London with staff as friendly as this, either. Believe us when we say that: they see us a lot.
OPENING HOURS Monday to Saturday: 9am to midnight Sunday: 9am to 11pm 11 Pimlico Road, SW1W 8NA P: 020 7730 6784 E: info@no11pimlicoroad.co.uk www.no11pimlicoroad.co.uk
gin & jazz
@ the intercontinental FANCY RELIVING AN age gone by, soaking up some smooth jazz and sipping on some of the finest gin London has to offer? Then head to Park Lane’s Intercontinental on the first and third Thursday of this month, as their regular Gin And Jazz night returns in fine fashion. With over 35 gins on offer, the likes of Benoit Viellefon And His Orchestra stopping by for a jam and a setting that fully embraces the spirit of the ’20s, this is quickly becoming one of Drafted’s favourite nights out. We have a confession, though: it’s their Martin Miller’s cocktails that keep us coming back. Throw on your cherished period pieces, get yourself in the bygone spirit and we’ll see you down there. Just don’t blame us for the gin blues come Friday morning.
Open until 31st August. Entry is strictly by reservation only.
Open the first and third Thursday of the month from 8pm. Booking in advance is advised.
16 Bury Street, SW1Y 6AJ P: 020 7930 6767 E: thehutchclub@quaglinos.co.uk www.quaglinos-restaurant.co.uk
The Arch Bar, 1 Hamilton Place W1J 7QY P: 020 7409 3131 E: thearchbar@ihg.com www.ginandjazz.com
d n e k e e W A In m alta WORDS BY KYLE GO
ODWIN
Here at Drafted we don’t believe in all work and no play, as Kyle finds out on his weekend away in Malta...
I
t is 11:30am. The sun is beating down on our Dghajsa boat as we cruise along the calm waters heading into Senglea, the first city built by the Knights Of Malta back in the 1550s. My tour guide Vince DeBono is reeling off historical information as I frantically scribble into my notepad, trying my utmost to keep up with his vast knowledge of the island. And there’s a lot to take on board. Every brick in this country seems to have a story behind it – and there are an awful lot of bricks. Tourism in Malta is growing every year – increasing from 1.2million people in 2011 to 1.3million in 2012 – and this year the island is well on its way to surpassing the last once more. Malta boasts a very different experience to the standard beach and sun getaways.
Although the beaches here are stunning and there is a lot of sun to soak up, the country is steeped in a rich history of culture and tradition, dating back to 5,000 BC, allowing those that get fidgety lying on a beach to pack their holiday full of fascinating day trips and in-depth historical tours (even if it means leaving your partner on a sun bed and wandering off for the day – something which, according to Vince, happens regularly with holiday-goers out here). I checked in to the Phoenicia Hotel in Valletta four days ago having caught an early flight from Heathrow with Air Malta. The Phoenicia, a five-star hotel situated in the heart of Malta’s capital city, is an ideal base for a cosmopolitan city break, having attracted a host of celebrities and royals for many years. The hotel is just a short stroll from the vibrant waterfront and Grand Harbour – which is perfect if you
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want to freshen up or even have a sneaky nap while you acclimatise to the sun. I met Vince at seven o’clock that evening in the hotel lobby, having spent the afternoon attempting to finish up some work on the pool deck – which happens to be set into the city walls. And unfortunately for me, it also happens to be a great place to not get any work done. Vince has been a qualified tour guide in Malta since 1990 and as well as being a passionate historian, is also a keen and respected photographer on the island. Vince was politely convinced to bring his camera out that next morning and he provided all the lovely images you can see on these pages. The streets of Valletta were bustling that evening. The city’s annual fireworks festival was taking place a little later and the locals and tourists were out in their numbers. After ambling around for a while and soaking up the atmosphere, we were picked up by our driver Paul and driven to Sliema to have dinner at The Chophouse, a stylish restaurant which shares the reputation of being one of the best steakhouses in the country. Having gotten to know Vince a little better over dinner we finished up and left to find Paul again. Fireworks had already begun exploding in the sky above us, and as we followed the coast back towards Valletta the explosions steadily became more and more frequent. Vince knew a spot with a good view. And so we watched on as the night was lit up by two hours of flickering colour – climaxing with one of the most extravagant displays I’ve ever seen. Vince was waiting for me the next morning as I stumbled out of the Hotel’s dining area, happily full of coffee and croissants. We spent the morning roaming around Valletta, strolling through the Upper Barrakka Gardens and stopping for coffee at a couple of the quaint cafes dotted around the city. Just before midday, we ducked down one of the side roads to meet the owners of the Palazzo San Pawl hotel, a 17th Century building originally built by the Knights Of Malta. The building was lovingly restored by Norman Shaw and his partner Michael, who transformed the run down rooms into stunning suites with access
“A country steeped in a rich history of culture and tradition, Malta allows those that get fidgety lying on a beach to pack their holiday full of fascinating day trips and in-depth historical tours...” to the roof terrace, where you can enjoy your breakfast overlooking spectacular panoramic views of the Grand Harbour. The rest of the afternoon was spent wandering around the city, stopping off for a peek at the Grand Master’s Palace and Casa Rocca Piccola, a lived-in house museum belonging to the noble de Piro family. We took a break for lunch, enjoying some southern Mediterranean cuisine at Da Pippo restaurant, one of the busiest restaurants in Valletta, and then made our way down to the Valletta waterfront before heading back to the hotel to freshen up. That night we ate dinner at Palazzo Preca, an elegant 15th Century restaurant specialising in a wide array of fresh seafood. Palazzo Preca is located in the ‘gut’, an area synonymous with sin and sleaze, like Malta’s version of the Red Light District. Sadly my excitement didn’t last long, as Vince informed me the streets had been cleaned up many years ago to make way for a more innocent, tourist-friendly atmosphere. On the way back to the hotel we paid a visit to a couple of the city’s most popular bars, enjoying a few well-earned beers after a long day. Golden Sands beach was our first destination the next morning. Full of coffee and croissants once again, I left the dining area to meet Vince in the lobby. The beach, sprawled out across Mellieha
Bay, is one of the most frequented spots in Malta, attracting millions of people every year. What strikes me about Malta is the ease and accessibility of the country. The size of the island means you can maintain an element of spontaneity to your holiday as everything is either a short walk or short taxi ride away. After a morning of relaxing on the beach and discussing the changes in the music industry over the last ten years, we ate lunch outside at Rogantino’s, a delightful family run restaurant just outside Rabat. The personal touches were endearing and the attention to detail, along with their outstanding whiskey collection, make Rogantino’s one of the most prestigious restaurants in the country. That evening was spent drinking outside Agliolio with an Irish journalist on a separate press trip. Agliolio is a traditional steakhouse overlooking Golden Sands, with its patio area positioned virtually on the beach itself. More coffee and croissants were consumed the next morning before Vince and I spent a few hours walking through the city of Mdina, a colonial settlement of Imperial Rome. This is my third time in Malta, a country with boundless charm and culture. And here, on my final day, sitting back on this Dghajsa boat before heading to the airport to catch a flight back to London, I can’t help quietly looking forward to my next visit, whenever that may be.
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THINGS TO DO COMEDY, ART, FASHION AND MORE: HERE’S WHAT’S CAUSING A BUZZ IN THE CITY THIS MONTH… WORDS BY ANDY RITCHIE
LIVE AT UNION CHAPEL 6TH AND 13TH JULY
BY DAY A PLACE of worship, by night a gorgeous, multi-
purpose venue conveniently situated a quick hop from Highbury & Islington station, Union Chapel is one of the most unique places in London to grab a few midweek belly laughs. This month you’ve got two opportunities to do just that as the Friends Of The Chapel charity continue with their stellar line-up of comedy evenings. Stewart Lee’s irreverent observations will be getting an airing on the 6th, while Ed Byrne will be bringing his whimsical charm to the 17th Century north London church on the 13th. Admittedly there’s an initial squirm of discomfort when a comedian drops a blue word in a holy place, but we expect they’ll both be on their best behaviour. Probably.
zoo lates at london zoo EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT IN JULY BILLING ITSELF AS London’s wildest night out, Zoo Lates returns to London Zoo this year to bring late-night entertainment festivities to the world famous London Zoo in Regent’s Park. Every Friday night until the end of this month the animal park is open after-hours until 10pm, offering up live improvised comedy, pop-up bars and street food stalls, acoustic music, carousel rides, animal talks and more, to really bring that festival vibe to one of the world’s best-loved zoos. And for all the big cat fans out there, entry to Zoo Lates includes access to the new Tiger Territory enclosure, where you can get up close and personal with two of the world’s endangered Sumatran tigers. There are a range of tickets and add-ons available, but entry prices start at around £35, although we recommend chipping in the extra cash to order one of their ready-made picnics, which comes complete with your very own picnic blanket.
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Tickets priced £18 for adults or £16 for concessions. www.unionchapel.org.uk
BEAR GRYLLS SURVIVAL ACADEMY STARTS IN SEPTEMBER – BOOK NOW
HAVE YOU EVER watched Bear Grylls on TV doing his thing and thought, “You know, I bet I can do what he does. It doesn’t look that hard”. Well now you can put your outside survival skills to the test, as this September he’s launching his very own 24-hour adult survival academy just a short way outside of London. You’ll learn how to forage, lay traps, navigate by day and night, build emergency shelters and much more, all over 300-acres of lush Surrey woodland situated slap bang between the North and South Downs. Designed by Grylls himself, a highly-skilled team of experts will guide you over difficult terrain, lakes and woodland, putting your mental and physical strength to the ultimate test. Think you’ve got what it takes? Then book now to avoid disappointment, but be warned: Grylls himself says “it may hurt a little”.
Courses start in September and are strictly limited; £349 per person and meals and accommodation are included. www.beargryllssurvivalacademy.com
zandra rhodes: unseen 12TH JULY – 31ST AUGUST
IF YOU WANT TO explore the life and works of one of the
most important and dynamic names in fashion, then the Fashion And Textiles Museum has something just for you starting this month. The Chatham-born designer has been at the forefront of British fashion since the ’70s thanks to her innovative use of colour, print, fabrics and her own image, and this exhibition promises a concise introduction to her work. Covering everything from her Conceptual Chic collection that earned her the name the Princess Of Punk back in 1977, to the Egypt and Manhattan collections she conceptualised with the help of the Indian government to improve craft skills in the country, much of these pieces have been hidden away from public viewing for the best part of 30 years. Anyone who’s dabbled in outrageous or the alternative needs to come see how Zandra’s helped shaped their style – whether they know it or not! Tickets are priced £8 for adults, £5.50 for students and concessions, free for under-12s. ww w.f tmlondon.org
e v i t c a t ge WORDS BY STUART GOWER | ILLUSTRATION BY SCOTT MASON
When you think of boxing, do you think of fighting, blood and anger? Because that’s exactly what I imagined when I agreed to start boxing training. What I found out is that it’s possibly the best way of dropping weight and getting fit.
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here’s a reason boxing is not for the faint hearted: it’s one of the most intense all-round workouts you can try.
I turned up to my first session with a nervous grin on my face. What I saw when I walked into the gym didn’t particularly leave me at ease either: “Pain is just weakness leaving the body.” “Well this is going to be a barrel of laughs,” I thought. A barrel of laughs it wasn’t, but I left feeling like I’d had the best workout ever. Boxing demands total body skill. You need to coordinate your legs and your hips and your arms with whatever movement your eyes see. It’s quite amazing. When you step into a boxing gym, you’ll be made to do all kinds of exercises – push-ups, sit-ups, bag work, speedball work, sparring, jogging, weights, the list goes on and on. They have fitness down to a very fine art and they know how to get the best out of you. You also have very strict rest periods which are just the minute that you would have sat in the corner should you be in the ring. If you are on the pads, the rest comes when you’re holding them for someone else, which is a challenge in itself. Essentially, your whole body is being trained the entire time during the hour, with the trainer pushing you to your limits. Even when throwing a punch, you should utilise the whole of your body. The power comes up from your feet and then transfers into your hips where you twist hard and then punch the bag with your
arms. As your hand hits the bag, you tense your arm for a nano-second and sink your weight into the target to create maximum power. Throw 10 of those as a beginner and they will be in dire need of a rest. Boxing gives you the type of fitness where you can run for miles without getting tired, become faster
“What I sa w wh en I wa lked into th e gym did n’t pa rticu la rly le av e me at ea se EI TH ER: ‘Pa in is ju st we ak ness le aving th e bo dy.’ We ll th is is go ing to be a ba rr el of la ug hs ...” than your friends, you’re toned and lean because you are a fat burning machine, your muscles recover well after a workout and you are full of energy all day long. A typical class will start with a 10minute warm-up, 10 minutes of intense running, followed by about half-an-hour of boxing and finishing with a 10-minute warm-down. Classes will teach you how to punch properly, reminding you that it’s about technique not strength.
Boxing is seriously hard work. It’s a high-intensity, full-body workout that will keep you moving the whole time. When you’re not throwing a punch, you’re ducking and weaving, or doing squats and abdominal work.
Your instructor will tell you which combinations you’ll be doing, and may also get you to change partners part-way through the workout.
But don’t be intimidated by what you see on your television screen; it may not be for the faint hearted, but it is most certainly one of the best workouts you can do.
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WITH THE EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL JUST AROUND THE CORNER, KERRY GODLIMAN REMINISCES OVER FESTIVALS PAST... WORDS BY KYLE GOODWIN
off and on for about 15 years,” she recalls, “so I’m getting kind of used to it now. I know what I like, and I know what I don’t like and what to avoid.”
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got flashed once by a bloke in a kilt,” laughs Kerry Godliman, remembering an early, vivid encounter with Edinburgh’s Fringe Festival. “He didn’t have any pants on. I think that’s traditional, though, isn’t it? You’re not meant to wear any pants under a kilt. It was a bit distracting, though.” We can imagine, Kerry. Being flashed by an underwearless Scot right now would certainly be a little off putting to say the least – but these things happen - especially when you work in the often rambunctious live comedy business, where the drinks flow merrily throughout the audience from the moment they arrive. And we’re steadily approaching that time of year once again – as the city of Edinburgh prepares to welcome a host of the finest comedians around for three-and-a-half weeks of fun, giggling and general chaos.
“I got flashed once by a bloke in a kilt...” For many new comedy acts, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival is the ultimate platform to showcase material and start building a reputation within the comedy sphere. Agents, critics and fellow professionals all flock in their masses to catch the shenanigans and check out the industry’s most exciting new and established talent. But when it comes to the Fringe, few are more familiar and well-versed in the festivities as Kerry. “I’ve been going to the Fringe
Although the festival is known for its good-time vibe and friendly atmosphere, it can’t always be one big party, especially if you’ve got a job to do while you’re out there. “I don’t really stay out until three in the morning because that doesn’t usually help when you’re doing a show,” Kerry explains. “And I still don’t read my reviews. I just try to stay focused on the show. The festival is very long. It’s an amazing event but I find it can be a bit of a grind, as well. I could write a whole article about my feelings on Edinburgh.” After appearing on numerous television shows including Silk, Extras, Law Of The Playground, Rush Hour, Miranda and Life’s Too Short, Kerry’s stand-up career blossomed following a perfectly executed performance on the first Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow. A major support slot on Mickey Flanagan’s tour further established her reputation as one of the country’s freshest comics, while she later went on to create her own critically acclaimed Fringe show ‘Wonder Woman’ in 2011. But with all the success she’s achieved in the comedy world, being a stand-up wasn’t ever in the original plan. “I’ve always loved stand-up but didn’t really know how you could become a stand-up,” Kerry admits. “So I went to drama school because it seemed like a more legitimate career. I love acting, but when I left college I wasn’t really working enough to make me feel particularly thrilled or excited, so I thought I’d have a crack at stand-up and it went quite well. When you first start you don’t get paid and have to sort of do it for nothing, but I soon got an agent and started getting booked, and just kept it going.”
It’s not uncommon for comedians to make the crossover into acting; the two often go hand-in-hand. But then most comics trying to make that leap don’t have the privilege of co-starring alongside a certain Mr Ricky Gervais, who has since said that Kerry is simply one of the best actresses he’s ever worked with. And coming from a man who’s been on set with the likes of Kate Winslet and Sophia Myles, compliments don’t really come much bigger. But even starring in a hugely popular TV show with one of the world’s most famous men isn’t going to affect her day-to-day – not too much, anyway. “Life hasn’t changed that much since being on Derek,” Kerry assures us. “I have got a new kitchen, though. I get lots of lovely letters and emails and Tweets from people who seem to be very moved by it; I’ve been quite touched by a lot of the feedback.” Being on stage in front of a microphone is a very different experience to being on set in front of a camera. Both require entirely different skills and preparation according to Kerry – even if both are just as much fun as the other. “I don’t really have a preference,” she says when asked to choose sides. “I’m quite happy to do both. I think if you keep life diverse then no week is the same as another week. I don’t really have anything resembling a routine; I kind of like it like that, really.” Now, with her own Radio 4 show, Kerry’s List, and lead appearances in the BBC’s Our Girl and new series Frankie, 2013 is already a busy one for Kerry. And as she prepares for a Live At The Apollo performance in November, everyone here at Drafted hopes there won’t be any more kilt flashers in her life for many years to come. www.kerrygodliman.com
WORK EXPERIENCE In case this whole magazine thing doesn’t work out, our Deputy Editor Kyle is spending each issue trying to find a back-up career.
This month, he tried his hand at working in a crocodile sanctuary... WORDS BY KYLE GOODWIN
A
s our taxi pulled up outside the UK’s first ever crocodile sanctuary – Crocodiles Of The World in Witney, Oxfordshire – I was a mess of emotions; excitement, anxiety and absolute full-blown terror. As we stepped out of the car and walked up to the front door, I couldn’t help feeling this whole Work Experience feature has gotten slightly out of hand. I had absolutely no idea what was was in store for me. All I knew was that it would involve actual crocodiles.
On the whole, I think it’s fair to say crocodiles don’t have the greatest reputation for being cool with us humans (or most things that can be digested, for that matter). And so my initial apprehension, I feel, is totally justified. But as I entered the sanctuary and sat down for a chat with Shaun Foggett, founder of Crocodiles Of The World (and the man in charge of making sure I leave with all my limbs still intact), my nerves started to fade swiftly. Shaun knows his stuff; he’s been keeping crocodiles since he was 21. And if anyone was going to save me from the gaping jaw of a hungry croc, it’s him. Shaun took us on a brief tour of the sanctuary, which opens its doors to the public one day a week and exhibits three of the five most endangered crocodiles in the world. A large part of the work Shaun and his staff do here involves crocodile conservation, and using their expertise to reintroduce endangered crocs back into the wild, giving the species a shot at survival. After talking us through the different breeds they keep, it was time to start work. “So what’s first?” I asked, hesitantly. “Well, the young Nile crocodiles need feeding,” he replied.
Yep. Shaun asked me to enter an enclosed space and hand-feed a species of crocodile responsible for roughly 300 human deaths a year. They were young, but still capable of doing some severe damage if anything went wrong. “You’ll be hospitalised if one of them bites you,” Shaun informed me. “They could definitely take off a finger.” Great. “I quite like having fingers,” I thought to myself. And as we prepared to enter the Nile crocodiles’ home with a tub of raw chicken, I held my hands in front of me and took one last look at the full set of fingers I possessed.
“YOU’LL BE HOSPITALISED IF ONE OF THEM BITES YOU.” Luckily for me (and my fingers), Shaun has trained his crocodiles with precision. They know the drill. As we entered the enclosure and rang the feeding bell, they formed a somewhat organised huddle on the bank of the water. Blipp this page to watch a video of how the feed went – all I’m going to say for now is that, thankfully, I stepped back out again with all my fingers still attached. A few more jobs were carried out around the reserve and then came the most terrifying moment of the day: stepping into an enclosure with two fully grown crocs to fish wood chippings out of their water. Shaun entered first, holding a massive wooden stick. “If they try to attack us, I’m going to use the stick to push them back and distract them,” Shaun said. “Just don’t splash the water too much with the net.” I trusted Shaun implicitly, but the big wooden
stick wasn’t filling me with confidence. If I had to pick an item to help me escape a crocodile attack, it definitely wouldn’t be made of wood. But Shaun knew what he was doing. And so, as he kept me aware of the crocs’ movements, I began gently running my net through the water and fishing out the stray chippings. It took about 10 minutes altogether. Safe to say it was one of the longest 10 minute periods of my life. It’s amazing how slowly time goes when you’re potentially seconds away from becoming a crocodile’s breakfast. But, again, I stepped out with all my body parts exactly where they were meant to be. It was a fascinating experience, but I can honestly say I’m glad it’s over. And as our taxi pulled up to take us back to the station, I couldn’t get away quick enough. Shaun’s a pro, and Crocodiles Of The World is certainly worth a visit. But I can safely say that the next time I visit, I’ll be on the other side of the enclosure.
SHAUN’S VERDICT: HIRED “Kyle did very well at being a crocodile keeper. Looking after crocodiles in captivity is a dangerous job. You need to be respectful of the animals; calm and confident, but not overly confident. Kyle, you did an excellent job so be sure to give us a call if you ever fancy a career change!” You can read more about the amazing work Shaun and his team are doing at www.crocodilesoftheworld.com. Do you want Kyle to come try your job? Do you want some free labour in the name of journalism? Tweet us: @draftedmagazine
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