Basic the visual experience by Eireann Beardon

December 2014/January 2015

BASIC

HOW TO BE A D-LISTER

HOW TO GET INTO THE CHILTERN FIREHOUSE

Are you a Cyber-stalker? The Weeknd: The New Face of R&B Boybands: Why are They So Irresistible?

TULISA: RISE LIKE A PHOENIX

DEC 2014 - JAN 2015 £5

BASIC MAGAZINE

December 2014/January 2015

BASIC MAGAZINE

December 2014/January 2015

BASIC MAGAZINE

EDITOR’s LETTER Hey bbz, The other day I was stood, waiting to see Charli XCX, in a crowd full of amazingly dressed people at London’s infamous Heaven. She was everything you want in a popstar (good hair/good lighting/good songs), but that’s not the point of this story. The people in that crowd all had that something that made them individual, but not in a way that was un-organic or done for the sake of being individual. I guess it’s an effortless coolness. And, much like Sam Bailey’s daughter, that’s where BASIC was conceived. Perhaps the secret to being cool is to do what you like and to stand by your decision to do so. That’s the basic mantra (excuse the pun) of BASIC: all the stuff you’re about to read sums up everyone who writes for BASIC. To add to that, BASIC is a way of expressing our obsession with pop culture. When I was younger, I used to get infuriated when people didn’t really care about the latest Rihanna single, but thought it was acceptable to talk about wars and politics (seriously, the 10 o’clock news needed a dedicated report when she dropped ‘Russian Roulette’). D-List culture is something that we love in particular. Let’s be honest, who doesn’t love seeing pictures of Rita Ora falling out of the Chiltern Firehouse. Who doesn’t want to go to the Sugar Hut just once (or ten times)? Who doesn’t have a sneaky look at the sidebar of shame every day, but ferociously denies it if asked? And that’s what BASIC basically (I’ll stop) is. I hope y’all enjoy it as much as we have all enjoyed making it.

“MTV, welcome to our world.”

Matt Hooper, Editor

December 2014/January 2015

BASIC MAGAZINE

December 2014/January 2015

THE BASICS

BASIC MAGAZINE

OUR

obsessions

This month we saw all our favourite d-list celebs come out to turn the Christmas lights on. Let us tell you what else we loved.

Kim K Okay, sorry, but how could not put this in? Whther you love or you hate it, you’ve been talking about it. Although my internet still seems to be working just fine.

Pretending we like green juices as much as chocolate

With party season upon us, we will fit into our new dress, if we don’t faint from fatally low chocolate intake first, that is.

Complied by Eireann Beardon

The Daily Mail’s sidebar of shame

We just can’t help ourselves, when we’re having a hard day, a quick look at the Mail Online and we instantly feel better about our lives.It will always be on our obsessions page. Shamelessly, of course.

December 2014/January 2015

S club are back... again So, we know they came back in 2008 for a mini-reunion tour with only three members. But now all 7 are back and after their Children In Need performance, we can’t wait to get our tickets! P.s. How has Rachel’s not changed at all in 10 years?!

Romeo for Burberry How could you not fall in love with this Christmas campaign? Dancing his way through the advert, he surely stole a few hearts, and definitely lives up to the Beckham name!

Wondering whether ombre hair is still in And whether we should get it, or will it just turn out like this?

putting the word skinny in front of every beverage we order Because this will make us skinner, right?

starbucks red cups So all you basics out there have probably already instagrammed your first gingerbread spiced latte in the Christmas red cups captioned “omg, feeling festive already! #redcups #starbucks #christmas” and yes, we couldn’t help ourselves either! Skinny cinnomon latte for one.

BASIC MAGAZINE

POPsessionS

The Best POP YOu haven’t Heard yet

FIFTH HARMONY

Power Pop gets exciting

he X Factor USA was an embarrassment for all those involved, wasn’t it? Poor ratings aside, the judging was appalling (sorry Britney) and the talent was mostly dire. But, one act who were good was Fifth Harmony. They were, like all good X Factor bands, put together at bootcamp. Members Ally Brooke, Camila Cabello, Normani Hamilton, Dinah Jane Hansen and Lauren Jauregui went on to come third in the 2012 series and were signed immediately to Simon Cowell’s Syco and LA Reid’s Epic Records. They released an EP in 2013, but it pushed the girls into the child market (they had a Disney single) and it didn’t do much to establish the band as a proper , allconquering girlband. Then they released ‘Bo$$’, a slice of R&B-pop complete with a horn section and Michelle Obama-

references. It’s as bonkers in reality as it is on paper, and sits comfortably alongside ‘Biology’ by Girls Aloud or The Saturdays’ ‘Gentleman’. Now they’re coming to the UK with the Meghan Trainor-penned ‘Sledgehammer’, which is the best song that Atomic Kitten didn’t get their hands on in the early noughties. The glittering synths are complimented by drums that would make a great accompaniment to a Beyonce routine. They’re excellent performers too. For a pure-pop expolsion, see them perform at a pink tea party for ‘Anything Could Happen’ on The X Factor. If you prefer your girlbands in black and leather, they killed it at the EMAs doing ‘Sledgehammer’. They’ll also be performing that track (‘Slay-gehammer’?!?) at The X Factor next month. MH ‘Sledgehammer’ is out December 7

December 2014/January 2015

MNEK BRINGING THE BEAT BACK

aving already collaborated with the likes of Rudimental and Gorgon City, Uzo Emenike, known throughout the industry as MNEK, has established a name for himself in the world of music. His Twitter bio states “I sing the tunez / I write the choonz / I make the beatz too,” which applies to his own music, however his writing and production credits include Duke Dumont, Chris Malinchak, Becky Hill, Little Mix, The Saturdays and Kylie Minogue to name just a few. Having featured on Rudimental’s number one debut album ‘Home’, the 20-year-old Lewisham born musician has gone on to carve out a solo career for himself, writing, producing and singing tunes that are gaining more and more recognition by the day. Sticking to his Nigerian roots, MNEK layers infectious beats on rich vocals, producing upbeat, mood-lifting dance-pop tracks. His latest track ‘The Rhythm’ dropped online very recently, and has gained a massive response from fans. The dance club anthem has sparked its own twitter hashtag (#TheRhythm) where users take to twitter to express their reactions to the beat drop through words and (often hilarious) photos. His music has an uplifting, feel good vibe - and with his debut album yet to be released, it’s clear that MNEK has a bright future ahead of him.

BASIC MAGAZINE

POPsessionS: The best pop you haven’t heard Yet

LUKE JAMES

the rugged prince of smooth R&B

ith his soulful vocals and mellow vibes (not to mention that amazing, cheeky smile), Luke James is definitely one to put on your watch list. You may know of him after he was personally chosen by QUEEN BEY HERSELF to be one of the opening acts for her 2013 Mrs Carter Show World Tour, or from his appearances in her Run the World (Girls) music video as well as Destiny’s Child’s Soldier video. To be honest, if Beyoncé is a big enough fan to have chosen to work with him more than once, you know the guy’s got something special. After starting his career as a backing vocalist for the R&B artist Tyrese, Luke (who is rumoured to be Jessie J’s new beau) went on to co write tracks for the likes of Chris Brown, Britney Spears, Keri Hilson and Justin Bieber. It was only a matter of time before he released his first mix tape in 2011, which featured his single ‘I Want You”, a track that earned him a Grammy nomination for best R&B performance, and then another nomination for Best New Artist at the 2012 Soul Train Awards. With all this hype surrounding him before he’d even released his first album, the self-titled masterpiece that dropped earlier this year, it was clear that Luke James was going places. Combining smooth melodies, soft beats and killer harmonies, along with his passionate vocal, Luke delivers tranquil tracks with an edge, in a style unique to him. Think soundtrack to a candle lit, chilled night in; perfection.

December 2014/January 2015

ZARA LARSSON

The New Princess of Scandipop

magine if Girls Aloud were Swedish and there was just one of them. It’d be incredible. Introducing Zara Larsson. Zara Larsson is a sixteen-year old from Stockholm. She won the Swedish version of Got Talent back in 2008, when she was just ten. And, like all the best talent show contestants (well, Ella Henderson and Tamera Foster), they’ve taken the last six years to turn her into a proper popstar. Current single ‘Rooftop’ is a shimmering slice of electro-pop, not too dissimilar from ‘Call The Shots’ by Girls Aloud and ‘Love Me Harder’ by Ariana Grande. The song itself is about going to a rooftop barbecue, a fight starting and the police shutting the whole thing down. It’s not all bad news for Zara, she does get to say ‘hi’ to a guy at the party. It’s this blissful naivety that sets her apart from her contemporaries. She’s not skinnyshaming like Meghan Trainor; she’s not milking high-profiled break-ups like Taylor Swift. There’s also ‘Carry You Home’, which is about helping your friends out when they’re feeling a bit shit (all over a faux-country track). What a hun. She’s also supported Cher Lloyd on her last tour, which is the perfect match given how dreamy her latest album is. If you need any more proof that Zara Larsson is worth listening to, her imaginativelytitled debut album ‘1’ went to Number 1 in Sweden. Singles ‘Uncover’ and ‘Carry You Home’ went triple and double platinum, respectively. MH ‘1’ is out now in Sweden.

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BASIC MAGAZINE

Kendall and Kylie take over The coolest of the Kardashian clan, they are set to become even more famous in the fashion world than their older half-sisters Kim, Khloe and Kourtney!

endall, 19, and Kylie, 17, are both darlings of the world of high fashion, and both have being modelling since their early teens. Now, the girls have a fashion collection with American store PacSun and are becoming a brand in their own right. The clothing line is bohemian in style, laced with Californian cool with a dash of rock chic. It’s been a huge success so far. Their love lives are also suitable gossip worthy, of course. Kendall was linked with Harry Styles, Justin Bieber, and now basketball player Chandler Parsons. Kylie has dated singer Cody Simpson in 2011 and couple months ago Jaden Smith. The hype around the duo is massive and we predict a major signing in the UK in the footsteps of their sisters: Khloe, Kim and Kourtney. Here are the most interesting highlights of their careers and personal lives... 2010 Kylie was just 13 when she modelled for Avril Lavigne’s clothing line, Abbey Dawn, during New York Fashion Week, and both sisters featured in Paper magazine. Kendall also signed with Wilhemina Models. 2011 The girls appeared in Seventeen magazine and were chosen as its Style Ambassadors. They hosted red carpet events together for Glee, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, and launched the Hello Kitty collection for Forever 21 in LA.

2012 Kendall and Kylie took over the red carpet at the premiere of The Hunger Games and interviewed the cast. They were also on the cover of Teen Vogue. 2013 The sisters appeared on the cover of popular Seventeen. Kendall signed a modelling contract with The Society Management. 2014 Fans mobbed Kendall as she arrived at Topshop Unique’s show in May during London Fashion Week, flanked by three bodyguards. Afterwards, it was rumoured that she’d been signed as the face of Topshop clothing line. Both Jenner girls hope to pursue acting careers and made their debut in a promo video for the 2014 Much Music Video Awards, which they hosted. Kendall walked the runway at 13 major shows in NY, London and Paris, for labels including Chanel, Stella McCartney and Marc Jacobs. She removed the name Jenner for work and is simply known as Kendall, she is very serious about her career. We hope that she will succeed all her goals and may be she’s the next Kate Moss? Time will show. Meanwhile, Kylie has been criticized after posting selfies and videos on social media, which seem to show her with larger lips than before and for rumours claiming that she’s dating rapper Tyga, who is 8 years older than Kylie. AA

December 2014/January 2015

7life lessons from toddlersandtiaras because sometimes a little guidance is needed and nobody handles life better than toddlers, right? 1. “My mum tells me if i eat too much i’ll be fat. i don’t see the problem with that”

4. “I cant, no, no i’m not doing that, i’m sorry”

There is no such thing as too much food. When you’re lying in bed on a Friday night surrounded by empty wrappers and fast food, sobbing over how much you have consumed and wondering how you are capable of such sins. Every Monday you tell yourself you’ll be a born-again health freak, yet here you are again crying into a pizza box. Just remember this little lady and her inspiring revelation because who really cares?

Don’t do things that make you unhappy. We all have to do things that we might not particularly enjoy but do you ever question the point? If it doesn’t make you happy or benefit your life in any way, then simply don’t do it. Life is too short to waste time doing things that don’t bring joy to you or others. Never be afraid to say no to people and just apologise for the inconvenience you may have caused.

2. “sometimes when people are rude to me, I pray they get run over by a huge truck”

5. “and i am always beautiful”

There is no time for rude people. Ok, so maybe wishing possible death on somebody is a little over the top, but we can at least appreciate the metaphoric message. Manners don’t cost a thing and rudeness is just unnecessary when there is already so much hate in the world. We shouldn’t have to put up with it and this innocent girl knows that. Although maybe a little sass would be more appropriate than a hit and run.

You are always beautiful (no matter what they say). The formula for beauty is confidence and everybody knows it. We spend way too much time examining ourselves and worrying about other people’s opinions, but what for? Find your inner beauty and love yourself as you are. If you can’t change it then just work it girl. You don’t want to look back at your life and realise you spent too much time worry about these things. Besides, the only one who can see your imperfections is yourself.

3. “When I grow up i want to find a cure for cancer or reunite destiny’s child”

6. “ain’t nothing wrong with being gay. Everybody’s a little gay”

No ambition is out of reach but always have a back up. There isn’t a dream too big, but sometimes our childhood ambition of making world peace or becoming the Queen just doesn’t work out. They say God laughs when we make plans so don’t be disheartened. Never forget that even if we fail there is always good to be done elsewhere. And even if a Destiny’s Child reunion is what makes you content in life- that is absolutely fine.

Discrimination is arrogant and makes you look silly. There is nothing better than the innocent mind of a child who hasn’t been corrupted by other opinions yet and it’s precious how they see the world. There are a lot of nasty things in this world and fascism pretty close to the top. This child could teach some people a thing or two. Everyone deserves equality and we’re getting there, one step at a time. Preach it. SC

BASIC MAGAZINE

I’VE BEEN SEARCHING ALL OVER FACEBOOK... Whether it’s spending hours trawling through Rihanna’s Instagram, or ending up on your best friends boyfriend’s sister’s Facebook - we’re talking about Social Media Stalking. words By Eireann Beardon

December 2014/January 2015

et me stop you before you leave thinking: “I don’t do this, I don’t need to read on.” WAIT. When you broke up with your ex did you purposely look at their Facebook? Just to see what they were up to? Have you ever looked at a crush’s Instagram to see if they were still hot 7 weeks ago? Ever looked through your best friends other best friends Twitter to see what they’re all about? We thought so; we’ll just carry on shall we? Yes, so this really is the most time-wasting, unproductive activity we do. Yet we still go back and spend hours aimlessly trying to see if Rachel has put up another before and after pic of her weight loss. So we’re clear, I’m not talking about literally following someone on the streets, just on Twitter. But, the thing is, is it much more sane to be doing this? Here’s the history. Back in the day you had to accept a friend request, which is still how it works with Facebook and Myspace (we still love you Tom!) But then their social friends Twitter and Instagram came along. On these, the majority of us have our settings still on default with our profiles open for the world to see. Some do change their privacy settings, and we all judge them. Don’t we? I mean, who does that? I accept people will stalk me, so please let me stalk you without having to request to follow! This teamed with the fact that we probably started said Facebook account years ago, means we have loads of random people to stalk. The quiet girl from college is now a model? LET ME SEE. And the gossip! Endless conversations now start with “She’s always going out, look at her Insta!” or “did you see on his Facebook…” (Apparently his new profile pic is now his ex girlfriend! But that’s a story for a different day…). I sometimes even have to stop myself from saying things because I only know it through social media. “Oh yeah! Your brother’s wedding!” Oh, that was 2 years ago and I didn’t know you then. I’m just being nice, I’m not a psycho-stalker. But this all fun and games until something gets liked. Just casually stalking your rivals Facebook. They don’t know you’re rivals, of course. You just stalk her because she seems happier/ richer/skinnier than you and that’s your goal. But then – you accidently like a post from a year ago. ABORT, ABORT, MAN DOWN. *Immediately deactivates Facebook*. Although this is one of the most pointless things we do with

our lives, it is fun, right? But if you think about it, it’s actually kind of creepy. Being able to see someone’s thoughts on Twitter without that person actually knowing. Weird. In a poll, 61% of you said you would be happy if you found out you were someone’s favourite person to stalk. Again, weird. Don’t you think? Surely this can’t be healthy for our young brains? ell, apparently we normally stalk people of the same age and sex as ourselves, usually to compare lifestyles. Now, it can’t only be me that becomes resentful of the size 6 bikini-snapping girl that seems to always be on holiday, and the constant #tbt to her trip to South Africa/India/ Thailand/Cambodia/Vietnam? Or sometimes just feel completely unsuccessful in life all together. “HOW is she already a senior fashion buyer for ASOS, I’m still a penniless student and we sat next to each other in maths?!” Well, it seems it isn’t just me! 89% of people asked, said at some point looking through other’s social media has given them negative thoughts. We don’t only compare our real lives with others, but our cyber lives too. Ever caught yourself thinking “I need to put this on Instagram!” Or filming an entire gig so that when you get home you can trawl through all the videos to find the best one to upload to social media? Don’t you think it would be more enjoyable to just live for the moment and enjoy the gig? (Not to sound all patronising and cliché.) But I just feel our brains may be more relaxed without us constantly worrying that we haven’t uploaded a picture to Instagram for 2 weeks, “people must think I’m in social hibernation.” (I’m not saying everyone is like this, but some people might be. It could be your future.) Although the majority of you thought that stalking on social media was common, you didn’t think it was right. This constant comparing of ourselves to other people and other people’s lives can get so stressful. We don’t really want to end up like Bree Van De Kamp, faking our lives now do we? No. We have to remember this it is just the Internet and that her perfect tan is probably just the work of a filter. 87% of people said that they sometimes lie on social media; so just have that in your minds when looking at that girls Louboutins. They’re probably not hers. As well as making us resentful sometimes, it can also seem to fake relationships. Instead of calling or meeting up with friends we can now sit with tea and a biscuit and follow their lives on Facebook. And they could be doing the same to you, too. From seeing their (endless) photos and status updates, we feel like we’ve made a connection. We haven’t. And liking a photo isn’t the same as physically saying “I like your new hair.” So what I’m trying to say it although we can laugh it off by saying “I’m such a Facebook stalker!” or “I’m totally stalking his Facebook to see if he has a girlfriend”, maybe it shouldn’t be such common practice. I mean, I can’t promise that I’m going to completely stop – but maybe we could all tone it down a bit? With the time we give ourselves off from stalking we could we toning our muscles at the gym! (Maybe. Orrrr, maybe tone our jaw muscles by eating chocolate.) Well, whatever you decide, I hope this made you think at least a little. And maybe we can all put our phones down more often to get on with our real lives for a bit.

BASIC MAGAZINE

December 2014/January 2015

‘And we’re gonna let it

burn burn burn’ The heart wrenching and consuming struggle of getting a table at the infamous ‘Chiltern Firehouse’ 21

BASIC MAGAZINE

t’s a little known fact that every D-listers dream is to gain entry to the hallowed rooms of one Chiltern Street. First it was nibbling on lettuce leaves at the Ivy, and then it was sipping on sake Nobu, now it’s all about Chiltern Firehouse. The restaurant is the latest gift to the world from hotel magnate André Balazs, with the Kitchen headed up by chef Nuno Mendes. The old Marylebone fire station has suddenly set alight, quickly becoming London’s number one celebrity hangout. Lindsey, Rita, Cara, EVERYONE is there! You only have to glance at the Daily Mail sidebar of shame and you’ll see countless celebs falling into taxis outside the red brick bastion. Even David Cameron paid a visit there last week with Sam Cam in tow! So how do normal people like us get a table?! I made it my mission to achieve the impossible, a table at Chiltern Firehouse is all anyone could ever want, and my god I had to get one! Rather naively I try my luck with what you’d think would be the most obvious way to book a table, I give them a call. Finding their number on their painfully chic bare and illusive website I spend the evening attempting to reach contact. By 10pm and after four hours of

excruciating trying, the sound of endless ringing is slowly crushing my soul and sending me into Firehouse frenzy. ‘Why won’t they answer me?!’ I cry as I lie on my bed listening to GRL. Oh Chiltern Firehouse you are so pretty but you have an ugly heart! The sad reality dawns on me, you really do have to either be somebody or know somebody to get in. I HAVE TO FIND A WAY. I wake up and immediately start my research. I find out that Brunch is the most achievable time of day to get a table. However I don’t want a table at brunch. When has Rita ever been there for Brunch? Brunch will not do. I also discover that there is no dress code. They want to make you feel bad about who you are not how you’re dressed you see. You have nothing to hide behind. Still fragile from the night before, I can’t face another minute more of dream crushing ringing. I email them requesting an evening table within the next few weeks. Suddenly I’m in an email conversation with Josh, then Alice, then Lauren, the Sean. I’m basically told there’s no way I’ll get an evening table but am offered breakfast for almost a month away. Obviously I am devastated. I try calling one last time, this time I get through. My hearts racing as I

December 2014/January 2015

listen to the wailing sound of violins they’ve put me on hold to. It clearly represents the cries of the rejected. I can almost hear them laugh like the maître’d at Dorsia in American psycho as I request an evening table. So I begrudgingly take breakfast. Breakfast is better than nothing and I’m treating it completely as a reconnaissance mission.

“The place is hotter than the surface of the Sun. I reckon even God would have to wait for a table.” Tom Parker Bowles, The Daily Mail I arrive bleary eyed at the crack of dawn (8am). I recognise the place immediately from the paparazzi shots of the big black gates on the sidebar of shame, and even at 8am there’s a bouncer standing guard. It all feels like a dream. I hurry inside hoping to be met with the sight of some form of C+ lister. Oh wait, it’s 8am and they’re all in bed. However this is only my foot in the door, and I’ve already hatched a plan to ensure my return. After a delish breakfast (green smoothie and eggs benedict) I ‘accidently’ (on purpose) leave a big Selfridges (I had to fit in) shopping bag tucked behind my chair. The shoe box inside is empty of course, but they don’t know that. I bolt out of there before anyone has a chance to spot my bag and practically sprint down Chiltern Street. Everything is falling into place. I give it some time and then I ring up. This time its jazz music and I dance around celebrating my scheming success. Its amazing news, they have my bag, but I’m ‘busy’ all day you see, and can’t possibly come and pick it up until later that evening. Come 9pm I make my way back. This time I confidently walk through the big black gates and past the

bouncer who tips his top hat and smiles at me. Inside is a smouldering crimson haze, this is the Chiltern Firehouse I’ve been dreaming of. The plan is to drag this bag collection out as long as possible; I’ve infiltrated the Firehouse, at night, without a reservation. This is a massive deal. I ask the nearest waiter if I can have a drink at the bar whilst I wait for my car to pick me up (there is obvs no car picking me up). His moment of hesitation feels like hours and I hold my breath waiting for my fate to be decided. He directs me to the bar and I manically scan the surroundings for celebrities. Being the D list celeb crazed gal I am I instantly recognise Rex the bad boy chef from Big Brother nine and squeal with excitement! I’m offered a ‘quick one before dinner’, must be some sort of sad joke, they really are rubbing it in my face. After sipping so slowly the straw hardly functioned, my drink is finally finished and I make my way out savouring every last bit. Breaking news, a table at Chiltern Firehouse is achievable and SO worth the effort! Admittedly it’s not everything I wanted, I didn’t meet Harry Styles and he didn’t fall hopelessly in love with me, but I think I’ve finally cured my Firehouse fever!

“I left Chiltern Firehouse in such a giddy manner that I demolished a pair of Lucy Choi high heels and had to be carried to my car holding them in pieces.” Grace Dent, Evening Standard.

BASIC MAGAZINE

itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard out here for a bitch Feminism is a taboo that everyone is confused about but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fear my ladies. We present to you our simple guide to being a sassy feminist when times get tough. So click your fingers in a z-formation. words By shannon cowley

December 2014/January 2015

omen have come a long way since the days of the Suffragettes movement where protesters were throwing themselves under horses to fight for gender equality. A success? Well, in Western society women (almost) have equal pay, education and of course, they did eventually win the right to vote. But, just what do these ladies need to do before the rest of the population can accept the fact that females are equal human beings. Is it really that hard? However much men swan around acting as if God put them here as a gift, it’s just not happening guys. Surprisingly there is no superior gender. Fascinating, I know. Feminism is a scary topic there is no doubt about that. Everybody has conflicting arguments and their own idea of what it’s all about and people naturally become intimidated. It seems people are confusing the fight for gender equality with a group of man-haters trying to destroy the male population but it’s just not the case. You are a woman and you believe that you should have the right to your own body, your own choices and freedom. So tell the world and be a sassy bitch.

Getting hit on in a club: Shoo them away like you’re beyonce No matter how much men like to think their attention is important enough to make women dress for their desire- it just isn’t. You metaphorically cover yourself in glitter and slip into your best dress to showcase your hard (or not) work at the gym. Heading out with your divas it becomes apparent that a little leg is magically an invitation for men to heckle you. Maybe you like the attention, but maybe you don’t. Yes girls, you do have to right to decide. Men touching you without your consent is not ok and don’t be scared to say, “honey, please don’t touch this work of art.” Surely being left alone to dance with your ladies isn’t too much to ask, is it? No girls, it really isn’t. Nobody has the right to give attention where it isn’t wanted. Guys, this is 2014, women have rights you know. The sassiest way to do this is to shoo them away with a hand gesture. Although, phrases such as ‘please don’t fucking touch me’ should always do the trick. If this doesn’t work don’t be afraid to get passive aggressive. You don’t owe an explanation to anybody as to why you don’t want their hands all over your new gown. You’re a queen; get back on that dance floor.

unfortunate views on the world. “You all have got to stop calling each other sluts and whores, it just makes it ok for guys to call you sluts and whores.” – Miss Norbury, Mean Girls. Amen to that sister.

Body shaming: go ahead and tell them skinny bitches that Hi Megan Trainer and thanks so much for the catchy pop song that teaches everybody to shame one body type in order to praise another, great job. Why are we stuck in in the mind set that ‘real women are curvy’ and ‘only a dog likes a bone’? In terror over the size-zero model on the catwalk, we seem to think that the only body type being oppressed is the ‘curvy’ kind. Fearful of the anorexia epidemic we have shouted out ‘big is beautiful’- but what about tall and skinny? It seems we can’t understand that body shaming is actually using the body as a tool of victimisation. We need to teach everyone that all shapes are beautiful, as cliché as that sounds. So next time you go to say ‘eat something’ or ‘get some meat on them bones’ just remember it’s the same as telling somebody to ‘go on a diet’ or ‘you’ve put on a few pounds’. Being body confident is about being happy in your own skin and having a positive mind. So why are we basing our self-worth on pleasing dudes? Women are constantly using men as a weapon against other women and it really needs to stop because by doing this it makes them powerful. Who cares whether men prefer curves? That doesn’t make petite body-types less womanly as much being curvy doesn’t make you more feminine. I think we’re forgetting that there are a lot of people in the world who all like different things. The first step into accepting your body is to stop body-shaming others. A positive mind makes positive energy and just makes the world a better place.

What feminism is about: Gender equality for men and women

Slut shaming: Who here has ever been called a slut? Somewhere along the line everyone has been taught that a woman who is sexually promiscuous is automatically classed as a slut or a whore and told to get some ‘self-respect’. But of course, if a man does the same thing they’re praised and congratulated by the entire world on his victory of getting laid. Where did this double standard even come from? And why are women using it on each other? No person has the right to tell you that your sexual activity defines you as a person. This demoralising word is preached to everybody as way to shame freedom of choice. Girls (and boys) never forget that your body is just that, yours. If a man slut-shames you, don’t give him the satisfaction of a reaction and laugh at his childish beliefs. If a fellow lady slut-shames you, please feel bad for their

removing stereotypes of what ‘real’ men and women should be having control of your own mind, body and choices equal opportunities

showing your nipples without complaint what feminism is not about: Hating men growing your armpit hair being a stuck-up bitch

wanting women to be more important than men

BASIC MAGAZINE

he’s about to earn some bragging rights with his mellow tunes and that beyond incredible hair, could the weeknd be the new face of R&B?

“The Weeknd is one person? Oh my god I thought it was like, a group!” tended to be the standard reaction I got when I played one of his tracks for someone. That, followed by a variety of facial expressions indicating that they loved what they were hearing. The Weeknd, as an artist, validates my taste in music; he restores people’s faith in me after I tell them about my guilty pleasures (hello, old school Jonas Brothers/Justin Bieber). My love of R&B is something that hasn’t faded with time, however time has done it’s bit in the evolution of the genre. Whereas growing up, we listened to Destiny’s Child, R.Kelly and Mario, to name just a few, the last few of years have ushered in some new names with a new take on the genre, and unique twists on it. Fresh faces such as Frank Ocean, Trey Songz and Janelle Monae appeared on our screens and made their own mark in the industry, with refreshing tunes and a reassurance that R&B is not dead, it is very much alive. Of course, R&B isn’t the same today as it was ‘back in the day’, but styles are changing; it all adds to the intrigue.

The Weeknd (real name Abel Tesfaye) is one of these aforementioned artists, bringing a new vibe to R&B, with a voice capable of making any girl catch her breath ever so slightly. The 24-year-old Canadian born artist has been gaining more and more recognition in the last couple of years, after having initially anonymously uploaded songs onto YouTube under the name ‘The Weeknd’ in 2010. Since then, he has released three mix tapes, a compilation album, set up his own record label, released a debut album called Kiss Land and toured with Justin Timberlake and Drake. As if that wasn’t enough, he also featured on a track called ‘Or Nah’ with Wiz Khalifa, Ty Dolla Sign and Dj Mustard, and has recently collaborated with Ariana Grande on the track ‘Love me Harder’, which peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. So what is it about The Weeknd that makes him so different yet in demand? He is one of a new flow of alternative R&B artists, artists who, in simple terms, take inspiration from contemporary R&B, and inject it

December 2014/January 2015 with a little bit of mellow. Earlier this year, The Weeknd remixed Beyoncé’s ‘Drunk in Love’, changing the beat up to suit his tone, and singing the song from a male’s perspective. This particular remix gained lots of popularity among fans, and along with his contribution to the The Hunger Games: Catching Fire soundtrack, and his cover of Michael Jackson’s ‘Dirty Diana’ at his debut London show (in front of an audience which included Katy Perry and Florence Welch), he’s been dubbed “the songbird of his generation” and “the best musical talent since Michael Jackson” himself. Abel Tesfaye was born in Scarborough, Ontario, and as a child, grew up listening to a variety of musical genres, from soul to hip hop to indie rock and more, inspiring his own eclectic style. The first language he learnt to speak was Amharic, being of Ethiopian descent, and because he was looked after by his grandmother. His stage name was something that came about when he dropped out of school at the age of 17, and, along with a fellow crew-member “left one weekend and never came home.” He adopted “The Weeknd” in memory of that weekend, but had to drop the ‘e’ because there already happened to be a Canadian band named The Weekend. Once he embarked on his journey to success, The Weeknd became a force to be reckoned with within the music industry. His music, which he had posted online in the form of free mix tapes, created a huge buzz, and began to spread through word of mouth. After a while he was discovered by none other than Drake, who posted a blog post featuring more of The Weeknd’s music. The rest is pretty much history. The Weeknd’s sound is quite Frank Ocean-esque, but mostly it’s a style that is completely his own. He

He’s been dubbed “the songbird of his generation” and “the best musical talent since Michael Jackson”

manages to combine haunting melodies, soft beats and a deep bass with an achingly passionate vocal. It’s very much a ‘give it a listen and two minutes later, you’re hooked’ kind of scenario. He isn’t your average contemporary R&B artist, but that isn’t to say that R&B is dying out. Rewind to when Destiny’s Child started; they brought a new style with them. They were a strong female group with solid beats and powerful attitude. It didn’t take long for the world to fall in love with them, and they inspired loads of artists with their music. They built an image with their talent, and became a band that went on to produce hit after hit, and who are still massively appreciated today, after their separation. They brought something new to the world of R&B, and in a way so did lots of artists at that time. Similarly, The Weeknd is bringing something to new to the game. While contemporary R&B is still around, artists like The Weeknd are making PBR&B (or hipster R&B) more and more popular. It was a brilliant decision to remix ‘Drunk in Love’ because of Beyoncé’s phenomenal success with her self titled album (well, let’s be honest, she’s just phenomenally successful full stop) and his recent collaboration with Ariana Grande was his first ever top ten single til date. He makes himself instantly recognizable through his image as well as his sound – have you seen that hairstyle? It’s pretty hard to miss, and even harder to forget. There seems to be a pattern - every few years, there are a few game changers that emerge, shaking things up in the music industry and bringing something fresh (let’s be real, if new artists weren’t discovered, with their own individuality, the world would be a pretty monotonous place). The Weeknd is one of the freshest and most listened to new R&B artists out there at the moment, and with future collaborations and tours in the works, it looks like he’s just getting started.

BASIC MAGAZINE

December 2014/January 2015

How to be a... a quick guide that Puts your basicism to the test. Are you really worthy of being basic? Here’s how to reach your full potential as a basic and own it.

he term “basic bitch” is thrown around so often that nowadays it’s hard to differentiate yourself from all the other ready-branded basics, but to truly earn your status, we urge you to keep reading. basic bitch (bay-sik bich) -noun 1. a person with a prefererence for the satisfactory things in life. 2. the subject of a Taylor Swift ballad. Be honest; have you ever had to take a minute out of your daily routine to ask yourself, “Does this ponytail make me look basic?” Have you then proceeded to put your hair into a bun in the McDonald’s toilets, stuck on whether to order a chicken mayo or sweet chilli wrap? What about if you’ve ever wondered if the reason your best friend kept her lips pursed throughout the whole trip to town was just because she didn’t want to risk losing you as a friend by asking why you’re happily sporting those see-through H&M leggings with those Keds? Just an FYI, it has never been a good look. If you’ve had to think about anything mentioned above then congratulations – you’ve passed the first part of the initiation. It’s fairly easy for anyone to comfortably lead the life of a basic bitch: THE LOOK Of course being basic is all about the aesthetic. When opting for a more reserved look, there’s nothing wrong with getting the velour tracksuit out. You’ve got to really go for it, without confining yourself by only wearing it in the privacy of your own home. Team it up with the Uggs your ex got you last Christmas and you’re bound to have a few heads turning as you strut down to Tesco Express for that bottle of value vodka. THE LINGO To fully immerse yourself into Basicism, you need to start using more abbreviations like “obvs” and “fave”. If you want to go the extra mile, I suggest making text-talk your only means of communication. Practice variations of saying “One pumpkin spice latte please.” Mentally tally in your head how many times per day you say “literally”. If you can keep count, you’re doing it wrong. Quote Mean Girls until your dog can tell you what colour is worn on a Wednesday. THE LIFE In order to fully get into the mindset of a basic, you must start your day by tweeting how you’re never drinking again, with a monkey emoji obvs. For extra points, let your followers know how many beverages you had. If you’re an expert in Basicism, Taylor Swift’s album will be playing on shuffle as you check your ex’s page, treading carefully so you don’t accidentally favourite. Later on, Instagram your cheeky hangover cure Nandos, but don’t forget to hide your garlic bread because no one needs to know you‘ve eaten an excessive amount of carbs today. So there you have it, hun. Though at times you may be forced to step outside your comfort zone, who’s to say you can’t make your third trip of the day to Starbucks wearing yesterday’s outfit?

BASIC MAGAZINE

THIS IS THE PART WHEN TULISA BREAKs FREE SEX TAPES, DRUG SCANDALS AND POP: TULISA IS THE TABLOID ROCKSTAR. BUT Why should anyone care about her Comeback? Words: Matt Hooper

n 2012’s ‘Young, Tulisa sang “forgive me for what I have done, I’m just young”. In that moment, no one quite knew how biographical the song would become. Two years before The Fappening, her sex tape leaked. In 2013, The Sun ran a story accusing Tulisa of setting up a drug deal. She spent the early half of 2014 in-andout of court (looking flawless) before the case was thrown out of court. Last week she unveiled the video to her comeback single ‘Living Without You’, complete with vogueing and the essential pop accessory: a Moschino handbag. In an interview with Kiss FM, she described the song as being about her fear of living without music amongst all the drama of the last year. This message feels like she’s almost come full-circle from the ‘IDGAF’ ‘Young’ to today. But should anyone give a shit about her comeback? Tula Paulinea Contostavlos was born in 1988 in

Camden Town. Both her mother, Anne Byrne (not a relation of the iconic X Factor contestant Mary ‘Tesco’ Byrne) and father, Plato Contostavlos were performers, with her dad having a worldwide number one with ‘In The Summertime’. In a later interview with The Mirror, Plato Contostavlos revealed he was unsure where Tulisa’s now infamous ‘urban roots’ came from as she was educated at the Haverstock School. Which is the same place as both Miliband brothers. Imagine the three of them in the playground bopping to ‘No Diggity’. Tulisa has spoken openly about her struggles as a teenager with violence, depression, drug and alcohol abuse, anorexia, mental health, money, bullying and attempted suicide. Perhaps ‘having urban roots’ no longer means enjoying a bit of Jay-Z on a merry-go-round whilst drinking white lightening. Perhaps, to have ‘urban roots’ now means to have had a bit of a hard life. Perhaps ‘urban roots’ is just a way of distinguishing those who didn’t grow up with a silver spoon in their mouths from

December 2014/January 2015

“‘The Female Boss’ sounds like Freddy Kruger scratching an infinite blackboard,” Metro 31

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“It tests your faith, it tests your self assurance and confidence. Every part of you,” The Veronicas

But anyway, Tulisa (alongside cousin Dappy and → friend Fazer) formed N-Dubz in 2000 (under the name Lickle Rinsers Crew – which does sound like a hair salon run by children). The trio released their first proper single in 2006, entitled ‘You Better Not Waste My Time’. It wasn’t until 2008’s ‘Ouch’ that things properly got going though, with that being their first single to be released on a major label. The song was described as a ‘banger’ by Urban Review. Is there any higher praise than having your song called a banger? From there they went on to have eleven more Top 40 hits, including ‘Number 1’ with Tinchy Stryder which did actually go to number one. The band split in 2011, which is when Tulisa began her solo onslaught. But why should we care about Tulisa’s this time around? There is every reason not to. Her last musical offering was ‘Sight of You’, a ballad which is about as exciting as a Sam Smith take on John Legend’s ‘All of Me’. The album ‘The Female Boss’ also tanked both critically and commercially, selling a mere 7,295 copies in its first two weeks and being described as like “Freddie Kruger scratching an infinite blackboard” by Robert Heller of the Metro. At least it gave us some lols when the staff at the Oxford Street HMV filled three racks with unsold copies during their closing down sale. But the British love an underdog. Take The Veronicas, for example. The band was trapped by a label that had no idea what to do with them, meaning that their third album was delayed by five years. Speaking to the BBC, Jessica said “it tests your faith, it tests your self-assurance and confidence. Every part of you”. Fortunately, their comeback single ‘You Ruin Me’ is the bands biggest hit to date (and it’s probably their best too). It would be fair to say that “every part” of Tulisa was tested during the last year. In her documentary, ‘Tulisa: The Price of Fame’, she revealed that she tried to commit suicide, saying “I picked up 11 co-codamol and necked them with a bottle of water”. This is what she says inspired her musical comeback. Speaking to Grazia, she said that after waking up the next day, she was booked into the studio. “You have to break yourself down to

rebuild yourself stronger,” she said. Now, taking any opinion of Tulisa out of the equation, ‘Living Without You’ is a perfectly serviceable pop song. Her voice sounds better than ever, all whilst hitting the ‘pop-house’ Zeitgeist. The only real issue with the song is that it sounds like a watered down ‘Hideaway’, which Kiesza herself has since topped with the ten-out-of-ten ‘No Enemiesz’. Is ‘perfectly serviceable’ good enough though for a kitchen-sink, balls-out comeback moment? A quick search of Twitter and the feeling is seemingly that the song is just decent. One user, @oneofthosefaces says “the Tulisa song sounds a little bit remix or Tulisa-guesting-on-a-dance-single-by-an-average-producer but I quite like it.” Should a comeback single really evoke such weak feelings? The Rolling Stones were stuck in a creative rut in the mid-sixties. In desperate need of a comeback ‘moment’, the band returned to their roots and came up with ‘Jumpin’ Jack Flash’, which Pop Matters describes as “the first great rock-and-roll comeback single”. The same could be said for Beyoncé, who desperately needed ‘that song’ to launch herself as a solo artist. Enter ‘Crazy In Love’, which is arguably the most instantly recognisable song of the 21st century. But, in Tulisa’s case, decent may well be good enough. Yes, ideally she’d comeback with a ‘Crazy In Love’, but at least it’s not a steaming shit of a song. And at least it means Tulisa hasn’t stepped into ‘a bit of a joke’ territory. She was very close though, what with a dire album and alleged-surgery turning her into a bit of a caricature. In her case, perhaps ‘playing it safe’ could normalise a popstar, who bore the brunt of a lot of jokes in the last year. So should we forgive her for what she has done? She is young, after all. Yes, we should; admittedly it sounds a bit fourteen-year-old on Instagram but everyone makes mistakes and it seems Tulisa realises she was a bit stupid. What about the music? Well, at least it doesn’t sound like Freddy Krueger scratching his nails down a blackboard this time. ‘Living Without You’ is out December 7.

December 2014/January 2015

THE OLD ME HAS GONE I FEEL BRAND NEW AND IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT F*** YOU Popstars have been doing it since the dawn of time. Here’s How To Stage a Comeback: 1. Get a haircut Perhaps the easiest way to make a comeback is to get a haircut. Take Rihanna, for example. Back in 2007, Rihanna chopped her flowing, brunette locks into a sleek black bob, signalling her change from the girl-next-door to a ‘good girl gone bad’. Since then, she went cropped and blonde for 2009’s defiant ‘Rated R’, scarlet-red for 2010’s pop explosion ‘Loud’, wild-and-free for 2011’s ‘Talk That Talk’ (although perhaps a patchy cut would suit that album better) and short and black for the sex-laced ‘Unapologetic’. See also: Pixie Lott’s bob in ‘All About Tonight’, Britney Spears going brunette for ‘Blackout’. 2. A new look Why stop at the haircut; change the whole look. Back in 1968, Elvis Presley was stuck in a rut. Flagging record sales, poor films and a few extra pounds made him look like the kind of popstar who would do Celebrity Big Brother if it was a ‘thing’ in the sixties. Anyway, in preparation for his comeback show, he lost the weight, and wore head-to-toe leather (which was also the first time he wore a high-collared shirt). More recently, Nick Jonas has lost his Jonas Brothers ‘image’ with a series of topless photoshoots and a newly bulked-up body. 3. Get a new direction It’s all well and good getting a new image, but if you’re still peddling the same old shit, there’s little point. Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ took the disco-influence of previous album ‘Thriller’ and threw in some pop, rock and R&B to create something that really can only be described as the ‘Michael Jackson’ sound. ‘Thriller’ is still the biggest selling album of all time, so he must have done something right. More recently, Taylor Swift threw away middling-pop and country in

favour of full-on, no-fucking-about eighties pop on ‘1989’. The album sold 1,287,000 copies in its first week in America, making it the only artist album to sell more than a million copies there this year. Here in the UK, she’s playing in Hyde Park for the first time next year. However, it has to be better than before. WARNING: don’t do a Gwen Stefani and release a ‘Baby Don’t Lie’ icons should not release average stuff. 4. Do something controversial There’s no better way of telling people that you’re making a comeback than by doing something absolutely ridiculous. Following her immensely successful greatest hits album and a two year break, Madonna made her comeback with ‘Erotica’. To promote the album, she released ‘Sex’, a coffee-table book of erotic images of herself and other celebrities (such as Naomi Campbell and Vanilla Ice). The book was highly controversial obviously, with The Vatican calling it ‘morally intolerable’. More recently, Miley Cyrus rode a machinery naked and licked a hammer in the video for ‘Wrecking Ball’. 5. AND REPEAT This process needs to be repeated every four or five years, each with a different theme. Christina Aguilera is fine example of this. She started off as a belly-glitter wearing Disney queen, before becoming dirty, a big band diva, a futuristic Lady Gaga (before she was a thing), a sex fiend and back to being a pop princess again. She’s so unpredictable that most of us though alt-pop anomaly iamamiwhoami (real name Jonna Lee) was just another incarnation of the singer when she chucked out a series of viral videos – including one of her in a womb. See also: Goldfrapp, who have dabbled in electro, folk-rock, 80s power-suit pop and introspective folk too. Ariana Grande has done it in one era: channeling sixties siren on ‘Problem’, barbarella on ‘Break Free’ and sexy electro (sexlectro?) on ‘Love Me Harder’. MH

BASIC MAGAZINE

How could it hurt you when it looks so good? We all love it when a pop diva decides to spice up her image with hopes of starting a new trend. But just where do they get the inspiration from? Here’s a QUICK LOOK INTO THE APPROPRIATED WORLD OF POP MUSIC - and how not to appropriate. by simone wright

here’s always that one question that undoubtedly crosses our minds when scrolling through the endless amount of photos from the Daily Mail’s recap of last night’s award show: “What the hell is she wearing?” These revelations of a celebs new look can often cause confusion and the response can turn out to be quite sour, especially as there is no limit to what they’ll do next considering the strenuous task of trying to outdo each other at hand. So much so, we’re so used to the act of a pop star subtly borrowing from others to better and reinvent themselves that things seem to fly over our heads and appear normal to us, like when a certain ubiquitous twerker discovered her true self throughout the whole of 2013. Cultural appropriation is the practice of popularising or embracing elements of cultures, or cultural artifacts, for mainly fashionable purposes. It is something that has been going on for several decades. Madonna has been associated with starting the Voguing movement, when in actual fact its origins lie in the ballrooms of Harlem where the LGBT community could express themselves without being judged. Throughout her Ray of Light era, she repeatedly appropriated the sari and geisha imagery. Around the same time, Gwen Stefani repeatedly wore the bindi as a fashion statement, and then later on in her solo career utilised the Harajuku culture by using Japanese women as an accessory. Enter Miley Cyrus, Iggy Azalea and Katy Perry. The women, who happen to be three of pop’s biggest names, have earned masses of achievements, awards and have huge fan bases. They’ve never been slapped with a DUI or been spotted leaving parties at odd hours in the morning, fuelling rumours of substance abuse. It must also be noted that they have also never done anything overtly outrageous enough to make the front page of TMZ. They also share something else in common: each time they release new music; their efforts are often slandered and booed at. But what is it exactly that these women do to cause them to constantly be facing some sort of criticism? The answer is that there is a problematic aspect to their music; they deploy a pick and mix approach when seeking inspiration and when it comes to what seems interesting and appealing to them, they then adopt it and make it their own. It’s a process that goes unnoticed by their adoring fans, but to those who are more attuned to these cultural habits, it may come across as bigoted and politically incorrect. There is a difference between appreciating cultures and appropriating a culture, to advance your career. Though Miley, Iggy and Katy may

December 2014/January 2015

have brought about a new found acceptance of these cultures, they play upon stereotypes in their videos to come across as cool and innovative, hoping nobody will pick up on their antics. An obvious example is Katy’s video and very basic attempt at accessorising the black aesthetic in ‘This Is How We Do’, where what is seen as black or “ghetto” culture is heavily parodied, such as gelled down baby hair and the use of slang to portray black mannerisms. Miley Cyrus’ infatuation with popular dance style twerking and the use of black women’s bodies as props during performances is also a form of appropriating. Similarly, Iggy Azalea works against her authenticity by rapping in a “blaccent” and flaunting the anatomy and personality of black women to add to her persona as a rapper. Appropriation is not only evident in music, but also in other industries too. Some fashion editorials receive a lot of heavy criticism due to the use of blackface, redface or brownface on their models and the use of props such as headdresses and rags to portray the model as coming from a specific culture, diverting the attention from what is actually being sold.

“Imagine coming across a Native American wearing Uggs teamed with a Hollister hoody and a Pumpkin Spice Latte in his hand; it just doesn’t work.” The music industry thrives off controversy and with cultural appropriation comes backlash and with that comes more attention and exposure. It seems to be a good plug for a new single or project, which is why it’s such a popular practice among pop stars. Obviously, there are ways to avoid causing offence to others, the first being just don’t do it. You may think that your bindi completes the festivalgoer look, without actually realising the religious significance behind it. Bindis come in different colours to represent spiritual and religious

meanings. Unless you’re from South Asia or follow the Hindu religion, Iggy Azalea, there shouldn’t be a bindi on your forehead as an accessory. It could come across as a form of mockery or simply as disrespectful. Imagine coming across a Native American wearing Uggs teamed with a Hollister hoody and a Pumpkin Spice Latte in his hand; it just doesn’t work. While we’re on the topic, let’s talk about hair; in particular Bantu knots, box braids and cornrows. Changing hairstyles is common and everyone is allowed to experiment with their own hair, considering it grows out of their head. These hairstyles originate from Africa and have been ridiculed for the most part of their existence. If in the midst of sitting through the excruciating pain of having someone trudge through your scalp you realise that you don’t really have the capacity to maintain a heavy head of braids, take them out. It’s all just a bit odd looking. Whatever happened to rocking a nice fishtail plait? Again, unless you really admire and appreciate the history behind them and are happy to deal with them every day and not just for fun, you shouldn’t really have them in for let’s say, a music video. Looking directly at you, Katy Perry. Just for the record, cultural appropriation in some cases is not outright racism; it’s just offensive. It may seem harmless or purely for inspirational purposes, but the people whose cultural identities are being utilised as a fashion accessory have faced oppression for years simply for identifying with their culture. However, it does make it difficult to distinguish between whether it’s genuine admiration of the culture or if they are using it to their advantage. It’s true that everybody comes to Hollywood with dreams of making it in the neighbourhood but Katy, Iggy, Miley and the other girls in the music industry need to tone it down a little in order to elevate them from being associated with the previous malicious intent in their work by not borrowing from what doesn’t belong to them.

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The

power of spice two decades ago,the British pop band the Spice Girls took the world by storm, selling millions of records. But has their promotion of ‘Girl Power’ created a new kind of feminism, or has it set back years of feminist campaigning? words By Aktolkyn Auyen

n the 1990s, the British pop sensation the Spice Girls (Emma Bunton, Geri Halliwell, Melanie Brown, Melanie Chisholm and Victoria Beckham) became one of the biggest selling bands of all time – selling over 100 million records – and they ushered in a new era and brand of feminism, which they called ‘Girl Power’. For their manager, Simon Fuller, “Girl Power was no empty slogan. Every strategy was discussed and argued over at great length” . After forming in 1994, nobody could have predicted what would follow, with the all-girl band becoming a global sensation and cultural icons – rivaling even the success of fellow British band the Beatles. Spice Girls were so good, they named them all twice. Grandmothers, even teenagers who missed them the first time round, can still name Baby, Ginger, Scary, Sporty and Posh. At first glance, it seems that the Spice Girls offered everything that traditional feminists are against – with their raunchy, provocative outfits arguably made them the objects of sexual desire and satisfaction – but perhaps there was much more to their presentation. Author Majorie Goodwin calls it “a 1990s feminism celebrating the independence and strength of women”, and it was a movement that was all about women being comfortable about their sexuality, wearing what they want and not be shy – something that has continued and evolved in the world of modern pop music.

The Spice Girls also represented diversity as the five female members of the band were not just clones of each other, but conversely they were all very different in terms of style, hair colour, and ethnicity. The very fact that so many authors have written about the Spice Girls is one more proof of their success and even now both pop writers and journalists writing at length about their achievements and effects on society. Was the Spice Girls phenomenon essentially a re-branding of feminism? Although the music of the Spice Girls itself has undoubtedly been popular and successful, a decade later, it is not the music that people remember so much about the band, but rather, it is the phenomenon of ‘Girl Power’ that they helped to create. Indeed, the very phrase is credited to the Spice Girls, and the term was used repeatedly as a slogan in interviews. However, the very term ‘Girl Power’ has come to represent a new wave of feminism, a post-feminism that “get rids of the notions that feminism is necessarily anti-feminine and anti-popular”. ‘Girl Power’ served to re-popularise feminism, something that had begun to be seen as old-fashioned and unattractive by the general public. How the Spice Girls got their iconic names? A feature in Top of the Pops magazine gave the Spice Girls their nicknames, Posh, Baby, Scary, Sporty

December 2014/January 2015 and Ginger. Editor Peter Loraine suggested the names to the band in Notting Hill. “I simply said it would be a good idea if they had some nicknames. The girls liked the idea, so I had an editorial meeting back at the office and about four of us started thinking of names. Posh was the first one to be thought up because Victoria looks pretty sophisticated. The rest were pretty easy really because the girls’ characters were already really strong. The names jumped out at us. We laughed the most when we came up with Scary. Jennifer Cawthron, who was also from Leeds, came up with that one because Mel B was so loud and had tried to take over our whole photo shoot.“ 1997

It was the time when mobile phones were the same size as Paris Hilton’s dogs and it took half and hour to get internet access. During the pick of the Spice Girls phenomenon in 1997, the BBC News reported that: “According to the band, ‘girl power’ is about a positive attitude to life, getting what you want and sticking by your friends. But it is not clear whether the slogan is just a marketing ploy or whether it will have a serious impact on the way young women view themselves” Ooops moment... The girls took two Brit Awards. Fans chose Say You’ll Be There as Best Video and Wannabe won Best Single. Geri’s union jack dress from the band’s live performance takes over the headlines next day. The following year, the dress was sold for £36,200 at auction. During the event Geri’s boobs pop out twice, but she

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‘Spice World’, a British-American comedy

ince then, there can be no doubt that the mantra of ‘Girl Power’ has had a huge impact on the way that young women view themselves, particularly for the generation of teenagers who lived through the 1990s. However, while these ideas may have given women a sense of empowerment in the lower level of society, at the very top women are still underrepresented in parliament, in corporations, and in other positions of power. Thus, ironically, the fact is that men did and still do have the power - in any meaningful sense at least. Just a year after the release of their debut single ‘Wannabe’, in 1997, the Spice Girls released the box office film ‘Spice World’, a British-American comedy with Emma Bunton shown one scene in the film provocatively sucking on a lollipop in order to manipulate males into doing what she wants. For some, Girl Power should be about the dedication to recognise girls as individuals and as cultural producers in their own right, but perhaps such depictions are sending the wrong message to young girls and are in fact reproducing rather than breaking down patriarchal structures. Author Mary Sheridan-Rabideau suggests that the Spice Girls were ignorant of feminist history and theory, and it might be suggested that the ‘Girl Power’ phenomenon has undone decades of work by feminists. Yet others will contend that the Spice Girls and the brand of post-feminism that it helped to formulate has empowered women by allowing women to take control of their lives and to aim to the success of their pop idols.

From 2000-2007 The Spice Girls embarked on solo careers and a seven-year hiatus from the band. Geri Halliwell was the first to break from the group in May 1998, stating that: “I would like to confirm that I have left the Spice Girls. This is because of differences between us”. In December 2000, the rest of the Spice Girls also announced that they are leaving the group. According to their manager, Simon Fuller: “The girls were very different and sometimes tensions erupted and it became a real challenge to keep the show on the road. In the end it were these conflicts that led to the break-up of the group”. However, despite this, after all five of the Spice Girls had embarked on solo careers, in 2007/08, the band reunited for a one-year world tour and released a Greatest Hits album. This reasserted the notion that the band had earlier preached, that girls should stick together and support each other. Two decades on since the formation of the Spice Girls in 1994, and the world has changed a great deal. While many have contended that a new kind of feminism emerged out of the ‘Girl Power’ phenomenon that the Spice Girls helped to promote, others argue that feminism has taken a step backwards, and that women are exploited and presented as objects of sexual gratification more than ever. It seems that this is an argument and a debate that is not going away anytime soon – a discussion that was begun by the Spice Girls, and which has been left to be finished by somebody else.

December 2014/January 2015

I’m not a girl, not yet a woman not feeling that kale diet? here is Why watching Sex and the city is ideal for women who are unsure about their womanhood.

he transition into womanhood is bound to be a rocky ride as there has been no scientifically proven way to determine your womanly worth. Nor is there a smooth way to go about it, or a handy guidebook to refer to when you’re up at 03:23 contemplating whether to carry on watching Sex and the City, because Carrie has a new man, or if you should message that guy because you’re the one who should have a new man. The idea of “being a woman” is a somewhat daunting concept that subconsciously hangs over our heads in our day-to-day interactions. It’s no secret that leaving your teenage years will mean that you’ll leave behind a number of antics and mannerisms; no longer will you be the girl screaming at the DJ to play “Turn Down for What”, five minutes before closing before going to the local and ordering a doner kebab smothered in mayo. Should you choose to opt for this, your twenty-something year old brain will encourage you to complete a 5k run the next day to burn off all the calories. Yes, a whole five kilometres because you do want to look like Beyoncé in the Baby Boy video and yes, you will do some squats instead of retiring to the changing rooms and getting the bus home. Essentially, there are several things that must be cut out of your life once you reach your twenties. It may come as a bit of a shock that

your inner party girl will begin to make rational decisions, like declining the invite to ‘HOUSE PARTY!!’ on Facebook and instead tuning into that seventh episode of Barefoot Contessa. Try to picture yourself saying no to that forth double vodka and lemonade - because even though it’s free you’re aware you have plans for the next day that you’re in no position to cancel because you want your manager to see that you’ve got your priorities straight. Your womanhood can only be defined by you as an individual. You have got to own your womanhood in the only way known to, well, woman. However, to properly set you on your plight, we suggest purchasing the Sex and the City box set. We must warn you that it’s wise not to watch it all in one sitting. Allow Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha to become your spirit animals, all while teaching you valuable life lessons - but take their teachings with a pinch of salt. The one you have ready on Kudos must be given to the writers of the show as it offers a great way to live vicariously through television simply because Carrie and the gals are women. They are women with real problems. They’re women who always find ways to dodge anything that is hurled at them, on a quest to figure life out. Though they get hurt along the way, they learn from their mistakes, which is exactly what you’ll realise…in ten years time.

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December 2014/January 2015

All we need is the magic formula We all love a good boy band, but have you ever wondered what makes them so bloody irresistible? Words By Lauren Banton We happily devote our time to worshipping; researching and stalking the hotties, but then you realise they aren’t even aware of your existence, let alone your devotion. Through the years we’ve had our fair share of hunk moments as well as heartbreaks when our favourite bands split. It seems as though there is guaranteed success every time these perfect human specimens are produced- so what’s the magic formula? You could even argue whether or not there is in fact a magic formula, I mean surely then a lot more of us would find fame. How hard could it be to look the part-especially in a modern day Boy Band, all you need is a short back and sides hair cut and you’re good to go! The next step would be learning to dance, In the 90s all it took was a few goes on the dance mat at the arcade in the bowling alley and you were sorted. Singing is the least important, you just have to make sure your miming is convincing, making sure your face looks a bit strained when you are ready to hit the high notes and Bob’s your Uncle- you’re done! Ha. Ha.Ha. If only it were that simple, eh! Never mind, just think of the positives of not being in a band, I bet it’s not all it’s cracked up to be, Every band has different characters and they all follow the general pattern of “the

Cute Boy”, “the Bad Boy”, “the Poster Boy”, “The hunk” and “the Irrelevant Boy” “THE CUTE BOY” Examples: Liam Payne One Direction, JB JLS, Brian Littrell Backstreet Boys and Jordan Knight New Kids On The Block (NKOTB) AH! Their face is the epitome of innocence…or is it? These are the non-rule breaking members of the band and even if they did do something terrible you’d forgive them in an instant by taking one look at their child-like face. Typically they are the ones that answer few questions in a group interview and instead sit there acting as though they are interested whilst making sure they still look good for the camera. The cute one is also most likely to be the one in a relationship from the beginning of the band’s stardom, although we are not likely to know what they look like or anything about them. There is a fine line between cute and creepybecause you are cute, I would say that JB from JLS fits into this sub-category. There is something about his smile that doesn’t sit quite right with me, hence why you won’t find a picture of him anywhere on this page.

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December 2014/January 2015

“THE BAD BOY”

“THE HUNKY BOY”

Examples: Niall Horan One Direction, JLS were boring, A.J. Mclean Backstreet Boys, Donnie Wahlberg New Kids On The Block The Bad Boy isn’t necessarily the one who turns to drugs, who says something controversial in an interview or just goes completely off the rails. With social media you can be the Bad Boy by clicking send on a Tweet that is considered “inappropriate” Well at least that’s what happened to Niall Horan from One Direction. He tweeted “I’m not getting out of bed! Couldn’t be bothered” 5 minutes before he was due to make an appearance on ITV’s This Morning- I know, he’s hardly a Bad Boy! In the 1990s the bad boys of the bands definitely lived up to their name, take AJ Mclean from the Backstreet Boys for example. Before now A.J Mclean from Backstreet Boys was the perfect example of a Bad Boy in a Boy Band. In 2001 he began a 30-day stint in rehab to help treat his alcohol abuse, depression and anxiety. The Backstreet Boys decided to share this information with the public in the hope it would help others who are going through similar problems. The bad boys may have their flaws but in no way does this detract from their undeniable sex appeal.

Examples: Zayn Malik One Direction, Marvin Humes JLS, Howie Dorough Backstreet Boys and Danny Wood New Kids On The Block Well, well, well they come in all shapes and sizes but one regulation is they must be HAWT. The Hunk of the group doesn’t have to talk, or sing or even have any major talent but they are nice to look at- it’s just a bonus when they do. A lot of the time they are shy and reserved but that adds to the mystery and gets them noticed. The exceptions to the rule in this line up are Marvin Humes, who just happens to now be a chatty daytime TV presenter! Zayn Malik from One Direction is the ultimate modern day hunk; his nonchalant attitude makes him that bit more appealing. An added bonus is his amazing smizing skills emphasising the glow of his glistening brown eyes. Another feature of the hunky boy is rippling muscles; the award for this goes to Danny Wood from NKOTB. In the 90s his guns would show through any garment that was draped over his fit stature making you want to rip them off in a second and admire the artwork that was his body.

“THE POSTER BOY” Examples: Harry Styles One Direction, Aston Merrygold JLS, Nick Carter Backstreet Boys and Joey McIntyre New Kids On The Block The Poster Boy is similar to the Cute Boy, however with at least 10 times the amount of talent. These are classed as the voice of the group; they tend to be the ones with the most vocal ability and the ones who are guaranteed at least a verse worth of a solo in practically every song they release. Aston Merrygold drifts between the Poster Boy and the performing monkey doing backflips at every opportunity given to him. The Poster Boy will try to please everyone by following as many people back as they possibly can on Twitter. They are the member with the largest amount of die-hard stans and every one will know their name even if they aren’t too sure of who the band are or the songs they sing. In order to please their fans they have to keep up the persona of them being single and looking for love- the skeptics out there know that they probably sleep around or keep their side chick occupied. In the end it works out well for the Poster Boy, as they are most likely to be booked for appearances and presenting jobs when the band inevitably split up. Nick Carter certainly managed to rake in the dollars after the Backstreet Boys called it quits, his success even rolled into 2014 when he starred in a reality TV show on VH1 that was centred around his marriage to Lauren Kitt.

“THE IRRELEVANT BOY” Examples: Louis Tomlinson One Direction, Oritsé Williams JLS, Kevin Richardson Backstreet Boys and Jon Knight New Kids On The Block I know this sounds harsh but it’s true, okay, they aren’t completely irrelevant; if they weren’t present the band would definitely be missing something. But they can be categorised as the ones who occasionally get a solo line on the last verse of a song made up of lyrics that we never bother to learn. When performing live they are always chucked on end on the right hand side- the space our eyes aren’t drawn to and where the camera barely ever pans. If they’re lucky their solo may come at the point where the band are transitioning into new positions where they are slightly more visible for a split second. Don’t tell me I’m the only one that has noticed the same recycled formula they use every time a new band is created. As you’ve been reading this, I’m sure other Boy Band members have popped into your minds that fit the different categories. I can’t help but think a strong PR team has carefully constructed our perceptions of the boys. That, or they tirelessly scout boy after boy who fits the stereotype. Either way, i’m happy, it works for me and I’m grateful that someone out there sincerely cares enough about us to thoroughly fulfill each and every one of our Boy Band desires.

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December 2014/January 2015

‘Appreciate my lean body, nice shape wanna take me on a date?’

In the Tinder age face to face first encounters seem like a distant memory. But just how can we meet a nice normal guy? here are the most fool proof ways to meet the man of your dreams...

n the words of Pat Benetar love is a battlefield, especially in 2014. As a recently single girl I’m on the prowl, and it’s a well-known fact you need to get under someone to get over them right? You’d think in London a city of eight million people I’d have a chance at finding someone but no. The sad truth is that as Brits we all hate each other, we’re too scared to talk to each other, and we’re all as cold as the weather. So how do you find a date? Dating options today are more advanced and available than ever before. We have Plenty of Fish, singles club nights and events, and even the wonder that is Tinder. But lets face it; do we really want to go on any of them? I cringe at the idea of a Tinder date, and would never live down the shame of a singles club night. However there are other ways, if you are truly dedicated to the cause and willing to put the extra work in you may just find your dream guy.

top tops to meeting mr right Career change - Why not jump into a career where men outnumber women? As good a reason as any for a change in life path! Consider the armed forces, there are loads of hunky men in the navy and the army. There are also very few women, meaning less competition (win). You could also try politics, law, or accountancy, they’re stuffed with men and an unending stream of man-candy! Car fests – men love cars right? Do some research before and strike up a conversation with a dapper driver. Go to events that you know will attract men. According

to statistics you’ll have a good chance of meeting one there… Get a wing girl - getting your friends involved is probably one of the best ways to meet guys. Groups of guys are drawn to groups of girls, its only logical? It’s also a great to use your friends to your advantage. I’ve met most guys from mutual friends so beg your friends to set you up! You can act desperate because lets face it, you are desperate. Take up a new sport – Start jogging, or training for a marathon. There’s a high chances the guys you meet will be uber hunks, physically fit, and take care of themselves. You’ll also get fitter in the process! Admittedly there are some downsides; you will actually have to run... Blood Drives - Any guy who would give up his own body fluids to help out a stranger has got to be a quality date, and the waiting rooms are a great place to start up a conversation. It may make you feel faint, but so does the right kind of love! You’re nervous, he’s nervous, lets date? But honestly the best advice you can have is to stop looking, stop caring completely. You will most likely find someone when you’re not looking. Its almost as if guys can smell the desperation! In the words of Lauren Conrad, ‘As soon as you’ve stopped thinking about them, they’ll know you’ve stopped thinking about them, it’s like a radar.’ IS

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manspiration:

TINIE TEMPAH

JOHANNES HUEBL

GQ’s best-dressed man of 2012,Tinie continues to impress people with his unique style. He combines classical and modern styles, adding his own personal twist. He launched his own clothing collection: “This brand expresses my style of street-cool culture mixed with high-end fashion”. He loves risks and his experiments with mixing and matching different colours brings him to our list of the most stylish men.

German-born model,amazing husband and talented photographer Johannes is the best-known stylish man on social media.His photos are everywhere now and we can understand why! Huebl is a modern-day fashion icon and role model of how the real man must look. His red carpet looks are perfect and his street style outfits are just incredible.

DAVID BECKHAM In 2013 David hung off his boots, calling time on a glittering sport career. Finally he ended in the city of fashionParis! Beckham without any doubt is the most fashionable athlete in UK. His choice to look hot and stylish is suit, which he wears like a second skin. “Be comfortable. But if you’re buying a suit, the cut and fit have to be perfect”. To stay unique he adds accessories like a baker boy hats and scarves.

December 2014/January 2015

top 5 stylish men of 2014

PHARELL

DOUGLAS BOOTH

One and only…Forever young Pharell Williams got the success during 2013. There’s one thing that no one could deny when talking about Pharell, it’s his amazing fashion sense. His style is indefinable; most of his styles are so unique and shocking that only few – if any - can make them work. Only he can combine retro sneakers with jackets, shorts with classic shirts,mix old and new, finishing the look with big hats, which only Pharell dare to wear. And who will believe that this year he turned 41?!

Douglas is not only one of the youngest and successful actors all around the world but he’s also becoming a style icon. His style is mix of casual and smart, which makes him look always perfect. Despite his involvement with the model career, he shows that it’s still possible to be independent. Nowadays it’s important to have own taste and Douglas definitely has it, he can transform his outfits depending on the event he visits, whether is a fashion show or a charity dinner he looks consistent at the same time fresh and youthful. AA

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‘DOn’t hate me cause i’m beautiful’

it’s one of the most googled searches this time of year, so just how do we get that angel look? we reveal how victorias secret is not such a secret anymore...

t’s the time of year when glitter and sparkles take over our lives. And no I’m not talking about Christmas; I’m talking about the Victoria’s Secret fashion show, obvs? The annual extravaganza is coming to London for the first time ever and I just don’t think we’re prepared for the amount of gorgeousness that’s going to hit! Everyone’s dream is to be a Victoria’s Secret angel, there’s no debating it, it’s a fact. Unluckily for us only a select few are chosen. So how do we achieve

that Angel look? Aside from covering ourselves in body oil and rolling around in glitter I mean. The line-up for the 2014 winter spectacular is full of more hotness than ever before and we need a piece of it for ourselves! I delved deep into some of the Angel’s inner most beauty secrets, what makes them so glossy and perfect? I searched high and low to find each Angels most achievable beauty secret. Our dreams could soon become reality,.. IS

December 2014/January 2015

candice

Adriana

Well firstly the most obvious way to become as similar to Candice as possible is to buy blonde hair dye and adapt a South African accent. But don’t worry, there are plenty other less drastic ways

At 33 and a mother of two Adriana is insanely hot! She is obsessed with fitness and credits a lot of her looks to exercise, but who really has time for that?

“Natural products, my skin is really sensitive so I use a lot of natural Tea Tree oil or Green Tea infused products. I try to use mostly organic products too. Is also all about oils too. Bio oil and flaxseed oil are amazing for hair and skin!”

“Always use the same colour on your lips as your cheeks, they compliment each other and it looks natural, in brazil its all about natural beauty. When reapplying makeup never take off your mascara, always build on it and add more!’

Doutzen

Karlie

The Dutch beauty has been modelling for Victorias Secret for six years, so she knows a thing sbout beauty! She credits her insane body to ballet workouts but reveals her less strenous beauty tips.

The all American beauty treats herself more like an athlete than a model, and at 6ft 1 there’s a lot of her to maintain! She revelas the quick fixes we need to make us grow wings and transform into angels ASAP!

“My everday makeup is just a little L’Oréal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes mascara and a bit of concealer. But for night lots of black. I like to do black eyeliner, smoky eyes and brown eyeshadow on top to lighten it a little.”

“I love all oils, coconut, olive, I actually use olive oil on my skin weirdly enough. I like taking a basic cream, like Embryolisse, and mixing in a drop of the Decleor Neroli Serum or Rodin Oil.”

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6 top tips

to keep your hair looking gorgeous this winter

1 3 5 50

Problem:Damp weather makes my hair flat and limp. Solution: Lee Stafford Climate Control Spray, £5.99 Repelling anything this English weather may throw at it, this control spray leaves hair looking fuller for longer. It has flexible hold that helps to waterproof hair in not only wet and windy weather, but hot and sticky, too!

Problem: My scalp is dry and flakey Solution: Salon Science Hidrofoliant Scalp Scrub, £15 This pre-shampoo scalp treatment contains powerful exfoliants which help lift old or dead skin from scalp, giving you a clearer scalp. Try to shampoo and condition regularly, as less-frequent washing encourages flakiness.

Problem: My ends are dry and wispy Solution: KÉRASTASE SÉRUM OLÉO-RELAX £16 Make hair serum your very best friend over the next couple of months. Allow hair to dry naturally (or lightly blow dry if you must) and apply to damp lengths. Serum helps to seal in the moisture you’ve just added when conditioning.

2 4 6

Problem: Breakage Solution: Aveda Damage Remedy Restructuring Conditioner, £22.50

The cold air outside makes your hair extra fragile *sigh* and the more parched your hair is, the more likely it is to snap off. Using this twice a week will make you see your hair looking healthier and nourished.

Problem: My short hair has no life Solution: Toni& Guy Creatuve Style Spray Wax, £7.49 Short hair needs texturizing and sculpting, making this the perfect product. Adding texture to layers, it will help your hair and won’t hurt your bank balance.

Problem: Frizz Solution: Redken Smooth Lock Stay Sleek £12.95 Blustery weather means jumpers and hats, which can all contribute to frizz. Frizz fighters like this leave-in cream helps to combat dry and unruly ‘dos. Formulated to tame, nourish and control hair, it also conditions with the sweet sweet smell of almonds.

December 2014/January 2015

do tattoos have to mean something? Let’s face it, some are just pretty aren’t they?

n tribal cultures getting a tattoos can signal a change, like coming of age. And in American prisons, members of gangs get tattoos to show they have killed. In western, modern life, tattoos may have lost their significance, but is this really a problem?

your inner thigh. Awks. Sometimes it probably is better get something with little less of a message. I’m sure she would have appreciated just getting a heart, which “represented” her relationship. But when it ended, just as easily “represent” a heart. (Again, duh.)

Of course a tattoo is a permanent thing inked onto your skin, so I’m not saying to think too lightly of them. However, if you want a bird shape object to simply represent, a bird (duh) then why do you have to be judged?

Ultimately, because of how mainstream tattoos have now become, different types of people are getting them done too. Again, I’m not saying to get something completely spur of the moment, or to get one when you’re drunk – because YOLO - because after all they are permanent (unless you get them lasered off blah, blah blah.). But if you’re trying to decide on a tattoo and want to get a pretty, popular design rather than one in memory of your dead goldfish – then you go girl E.B

I always notice the look of slight fear in a persons eyes when asked what their tattoo means - as if they have to remember a script they’ve been learning for years. But really, do all tattoos have to have a deep story behind them? Okay so some people are going to judge you, I might even judge you, but it really doesn’t matter what I think! It’s your body, and your decisions. Yes, you may regret getting a Hello Kitty tattooed on your arm. Or getting Rihanna’s signature “shhhh” on your finger. But at least it will remind you of being young, and I assume, carefree. One thing that people can do, maybe from trying to fit in with the “all my tattoos must mean something” group, is try desperately to stretch an idea for their tatt. They could just admit they got it because the design is popular, or because they just love birds, but they don’t. Yes, it is nice to have a happy memory tattooed on you forever, but when the only reason behind getting the tattoo is: “it has a meaning” it’s not cool either. Yes, I’m talking to you mrs “I got his name tattooed on me!” only to then break up and have some random name on

Haven’t got the guts? try temporary tattoos!

fickletattoos.com

£5 each (two included)

rosiewonders.co.uk

Topshop

£6.50 for set

£8 for set

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how to be: the queen of glitter Glitter will always be there to brighten your day. don’t leave it behind as a childhood memory- here are some ways you can bring it back into your mature (ish) adult life.

FAIRY LIPS Glitter lips can be bold or discrete but either way they always make an impact. It can be used over a dark lipstick to create a 90’s grunge effect or just used on it’s own to enhance a natural look. We suggest buying a clear, glitter lip-gloss to get the best results. Bobbi Brown

Claire’s

£7.99

£2.00

crystal glitter

white glitter ball

Fingertip sparkles Glitter nails are our favourite trend and one that never seems to get old. There are so many ways to work sparkly nail varnish, you can either choose a coloured glitter nail varnish or go for a clear, glitter varnish as a topcoat. If you want to tone it down a litte, try applying glitter only to your ring fingers. Bary M

Opi

£2.99

£10.75

jewel glitter nail

pirouette my whistle

Sally Hansen

gem Crush

£6.99

Magic dust eyes This is a more daring way to use glitter in your make-up routine- but done right it can be perfect for a night out. Smokey eyes are taking over but we think adding a touch of glitter to the dark, grunge colours gives you the edge you need to stand out. We suggest using your fingers and pressing a small amount onto the edges of your eyelids. It’s subtle but will make your eyes pop and complete your unique look. SC Barry M dazzle dust

£4.15

Urban Decay

moondust eyeshadow

£12.60

Mac

glitter

£18.50

December 2014/January 2015 It’s time to have cosy nights in by the fire in a blanket, with your fluffy socks on to keep your little tootsies warm. You look out the window and expect to see a cute movie scene where snow is falling and as far as you can see there is a blanket of white. But instead you’re faced with a downpour that’s so miserable you want to hibernate until at least April. What if I gave you a reason to leave the house? With these Autumn/Winter essentials your face will be so beautifully beat, you won’t be able to resist the urge to be strutting around on the streets. So sit back, relax and thank me later. LIPS-It’s crucial that they’re kissable for that special New Year’s moment. Charlotte Tilbury: Matte Revoloution (Birkin Brown) £23 Revlon: Super Lustrous Lipstick (Black Cherry) £7.49 Max Factor: Colour Elixir Lip Liner (Brown ‘n’ Bold) £4.99 The good thing about these products is that a regular touch-up isn’t necessary.

shine like a crystal all through the night Autumn/winter make-up must haves CHEEKS-Warm up your face or add shimmer for that night out. Estée Lauder: Pure Color Blush (Hot Sienna) £27 Revlon: PhotoReady Cream Blush (Charmed) £7.99 MUA: Blusher (Shade 6) £1 Apply a highlighter on the cheekbone just above your blush to intensify a light shimmer. NAILS-They bring a well-thought-out make-up look together. Sally Hansen: Miracle Gel (Spice Age) £9.99 Maybelline: Colour Show (Burgundy Kiss) £2.99 Barry M: Nail Paint (Red Wine) £2.99 Add an accent of gold glitter to get into the Christmas spirit. EYES-They’re windows to your soul, so let’s make them inviting. Too Faced: Chocolate Bar Eyeshadow Palette £39 Sleek: i-Divine Vintage Romance Palette £7.99 Rimmel: Scandal Eyes Shadow Stick (Bad Girl Bronze) £4.49 Darken up the look by going heavy on the eyeliner. FACE-Let’s be perfectly dewy for those fresh winter mornings. MAC: Mineralize Moisture SPF15 Foundation £28 Bourjois: Healthy Mix Foundation £9.99 Rimmel: Stay Matte Powder £3.99 Of course to achieve that dewy glow, go light on the powder! LB

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REVIEWS Albums

The Veronicas The Veronicas After being in the musical wilderness for five years, The Veronicas are back with a self-titled third album. Lead single ‘You Ruin Me’ hinted at a new direction for the band, with it’s dramatic strings and emotional lyrics: “You play me like a symphony/play me till your fingers bleed.” Fortunately, their rock sound has not died: ‘More Like Me’ sounds like the 2014 Kelly Clarkson single that never was and electronic crunch of ‘Did You Miss Me (I’m A Veronica)’ is the perfect comeback statement of intent. Things get a bit weird on opener ‘Sanctified’, a dirgey country record that fits in as well as a Gwyneth Paltrow in McDonalds. Highlight ‘If You Love Someone’ brings it back; a glossy pop banger about liking someone a lot. Although it’s patchy in places, the highs are very high. To answer their own question: yes, we did miss you. 7.5/10 ‘The Veronicas’ is out February 23.

One Direction Four If rumours are to be believed, the One Direction empire is about to fall apart. From Zayn being rumoured to be on the way out, to Liam being ‘a bit of a knob’ to fans, all is evidently not what it seems. Amidst all the drama, they’ve somehow delivered their best album yet. Single ‘Steal My Girl’ suggested that the album would be more grown-up and it is: the majority is in the mid-tempo bracket, and all are laced with guitars and false credibility. ‘Night Changes’ is their most intimate song so far, with sparse production and a subtle but definitely-there chorus (think ‘Just Give Me A Reason’ by P!nk). Elsewhere, ‘Where Do Broken Hearts Go’ wears it’s 80s rock influence not only on it’s sleeve but it’s whole body and ‘18’ is the natural successor to ‘Little Things’. They’ve finally delivered the hype. 8.5/10. ‘Four’ is out now

Kiesza Sound of a Woman

Kiesza has had one hell of a 2014. She went to Number 1 with ‘Hideaway’ in April, after the music video went viral. You can’t really go wrong with house in 2014 though. It would seem that no one passed this message onto Kiesza though. Trailer singles ‘Hideaway’, ‘Giant In My Heart’ and ‘No Enemiesz’ hinted that ‘Sound Of A Woman’ would be a 10/10 90s house masterpiece. ‘The Love’ matches this, which sounds like falling in love in that guy vogueing in the club. Self indulgence takes over though, with hip-hop attempt ‘Bad Thing’ sounding like musical lethargy and the title track being almost painful with screechy vocals and cheap production. The cover of ‘What Is Love’ is quite nice though. 5.5/10 ‘Sound of a Woman’ is out December 1.

TOVE LO Queen Of The Clouds Tove Lo quietly managed to sell 2,000,000 copies of break-up anthem ‘Habits (Stay High)’ is the USA alone. Which is alright for a girl from Sweden who had been making money writing for the likes of Girls Aloud (‘Something New’) and The Saturdays (‘What Are You Waiting For?’). Any popstar who writes for the likes of those carries a wait of expectation, but Tove Lo more than delivers. ‘Moments’ marries a tender message (having a bit of an inferiority complex) with a sledgehammer chorus (“not the flawless one I’ve never been/but I have my moments”). The sledgehammer chorus is her ‘thing’, with ‘Not On Drugs’ and ‘Thousand Miles’ being equally anthemic. ‘The Way That I Am’ is the only moment when she misses the hype, but she’s destined for the success of the people she’s penned for. 8/10 ‘Queen of the Clouds’ is out in the spring.

BeyoncE Beyonce (The Platinum EditioN) It has been a year since Beyonce released her self-titled fifth album, and it would be no understatement to say that she owned the first half of the year. Tours, award show performances and more tours created peak Beyonce hysteria. The problem with a surprise release is that hype will drop quickly from a campaign you can’t get anything new from, and so here is the platinum edition (Christmas cash-in). Single ‘7/11’ sounds like a demo, but one that would get declined. Other new song ‘Ring Off’ is not completely awful, but the chilled reggae vibe is more lazy than ‘chilled’. The remixes can only be described as cobbled-together. For a woman who is so meticulous, it’s hard to believe she has any input on this. 0.5/10 ‘Beyonce: The Platinum Edition’ is out now.

Nick Jonas Nick Jonas It’s hard being a male popstar. Stand behind a mic and you’re boring. Sell sex and you’re not a ‘proper musician’. Enter Nick Jonas in 2014. You’ve probably seen the (very, very good) pictures, but does the album live up to the pictures? Not entirely; Jonas could not have played it any safer than the Demi Lovato-assisted ‘Avalanche’. Elsewhere, there are moments of huge potential. ‘Chains’ turns his sex appeal into a perfect R&B slut jam and on ‘Jealous’, Jonas does Robin Thicke better than Robin Thicke. The high point is his collaboration with Angel Haze, ‘Numb’, a trap banger that completes a holy 2014 trinity with ‘Dark Horse’ and ‘Black Widow’. ‘Bangerz’, this is not, but it hints at something very special. 7/10 ‘Nick Jonas’ is out March 2.

December 2014/January 2015

reviews BOOKS & FILMS

HOLLY HAGAN not quite a gEordie Struggling with weight gain and loss in the public eye, Holly’s autobiography follows her from a young schoolgirl to the loveable reality star she is today. The loud (and sometimes annoying) party girl seems to show another side to herself, openly talking about being bullied and turning to selfharm. Seeing a vulnerable side to the Geordie Shore is a far cry from the shenanigans we usually see. The book is actually not as trashy as you may think, however, gripping holiday read this is not. 4/10 ‘Not Quite A Geordie’ is out now.

Lena dunham not that kind of girl Lena Dunham is (as always) the ultimate over-sharer in her new book of life essays. She speaks about growing up in New York and being on the set of Girls as well as detailing every boyfriend/ crush/sexual partner she has ever experienced. It’s quirky, easy to read and filled with honest moments that will make you laugh and cringe. This is a perfect pick-me-up book that will help you look at life from a different angle. 8.5/10 ‘Not That Kinda Girl’ is out now.

helen fielding Bridget jones: mad about the boy I myself saw Bridget as a soul sister, battling time-old problems such as weight, sex life and romance. However, after 14 years of silence, Helen doesn’t seem to have changed the character much at all. Instead of showing the trouble Bridget may face transforming from passion to marriage the book revolves around the same themes of sex, alcohol and romance. I think Helen could have made Bridget evolve a lot more rather than simply regurgitating the same things as the previous two books. Although the tone is similar and she is still witty - if you’re hoping for it to live up to then, think again. 6/10 ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy’ is out now.

Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike

gone girl Based on the novel by Gillian Flynn, Gone Girl is a psychothriller around the sudden disappearance of a married woman. It follows husband (Ben Affleck) being accused of her murder as he, with the audience, figures out what happens. Although the film stays pretty true to the book, the ending is quite weak, and not as anticipated. Affleck’s performance is incredibly moving, however this is simply a thriller with a smart storyline and mounting suspense throughout. 7/10 ‘Gone Girl’ is in cinemas now.

eddie redmayne, felicity jones

the theory of everything This tells the life story of Stephen Hawking and his fight with Motorneron disease. It had the potential to be a truly moving and inspiring film, but unfortuantely there was just something missing. Eddie Redmayne’s performance is outstanding but it was hard to follow and a little slow in places. It was definitely interesting to try and understand Stephen Hawking and the disease itself- but it could have been portrayed a lot better. 5/10 ‘The Theory Of Everything’ is out now.

jennifer lawrence, liam hemsworth

The hunger games: mockingjay - part 1 Jennifer Lawrence is flawless as she leads the revlution against the Capitol alongside a very handsome Liam Hemsworth. As its part 1 of the Mockingjay pair there is a lot of build up which leaves you desperate to know what will happen next. It moves away from ‘The Hunger Games’ and focuses on the rebelion. I would recommend watching the first two films of The Hunger Games series before diving straight into this one otherwise you will be left confused. Although you could definitley sit back and enjoy Jennifer’s flawless skin and have just as much fun. 7/10 ‘The Hunger Ganes: Mockingjay - Part 1’ is out now.

BASIC MAGAZINE SETLIST NIRVANA TOGETHER LEAVE YOUR LOVER I’M NOT THE ONLY ONE I’VE TOLD YOU NOW LIKE I CAN RESTART HOW WILL I KNOW GOOD THING LA LA LA LAY ME DOWN

SAM SMITH 7/11/14 EVENTIM HAMMERSMITH APOLLO Here Is where the sell goes

MONEY ON MY MIND/FINALLY LATCH MAKE IT TO ME STAY WITH ME

It was the dimming of the lights and the collective, euphoric scream that signaled Sam Smith’s arrival on stage at the Hammersmith Apollo. Entering to the sounds of ‘Nirvana’, the track after which his first E.P was named, he had the crowd singing his lyrics back to him right from the first second. 2014 has been a massive year for Sam Smith, seeing the release of his first album “In The Lonely Hour”, as well as various awards including Brits, MOBOs and the BBC’s Sound of 2014 Poll. Although he has been enjoying success of stratospheric proportions for someone who came into the industry so recently, he maintains the humbleness that makes up such a huge part of his character, greeting his fans with a meek little smile and a “you’d think I wouldn’t be nervous right now but I’m shitting myself”. Following Nirvana, Sam launched into a strong 16 song set list, including his number 1 hit ‘Money on My Mind’, and Naughty Boy’s ‘La La La’ which featured his vocals. He tailored his set list perfectly, getting the crowd going with ‘Together’, a track which also features Nile Rodgers, Disclosure and Jimmy Napes, and then mellowing the atmosphere with slower songs such as ‘Leave Your Lover’ and ‘I’ve Told You Now’. He took the audience on an emotional journey through his own experiences, something that was particularly reflected when he performed a tender cover of Whitney Houston’s ‘How Will I Know’, which had a number of people in tears. It was pleasurable to witness the incredible chemis-

try shared by Sam and his backing vocalists and band. The atmosphere was electric, every individual on stage fed off the energy from the audience, and bounced off each other. It’s always great to watch performers who aren’t afraid of showing what a great time they’re having. Their energy was infectious. Between songs, Sam would stop and ask the audience if they were enjoying themselves, before talking about the next track that he would perform. He wouldn’t simply introduce the track; he spoke to the audience about the emotions and experiences that fuelled his inspiration to write it. It was deeply personal, and the audience cheered in celebration as he mentioned his high points and achievements, and cheered even louder to bring a smile to his face when he spoke of trying times. It’s amazing when someone who seems quite unaware of his or her talent, puts on a show as breathtaking as this. Sam Smith’s vocals are so rich and soulful, and perfectly matched to the depth of his lyrics. ‘In The Lonely Hour’ is a body of music that encompasses real, raw feelings, which is why so many fans love it; it’s something that they can relate to. The album itself sees Sam from the heartbreak stage to the ‘Restart’ stage, and is able to take listeners along on this journey. Seeing Sam Smith live is an unforgettable experience, and with his UK Spring Tour for 2015 completely sold out, it looks like he is set for bigger and better things in the year to come.

December 2014/January 2015

Setlist Alibi This Is What It Feels Like Brain Goddess Fuck ‘Em Only We Know Change Fall Over Warm Water Bedroom Wall And I Drove You Crazy Drowning Waiting Game

BANKS 23/11/14 02 Brixton Academy

Beggin’ For Thread The Motion Stick

‘Serpent-Like’ singer charms with downbeat set. Jillian Banks is very much the anti-popstar. Back in January, she came third in the BBC Sound of 2014 list (beaten by Sam Smith and Ella Eyre). Since then, she hasn’t really ‘taken off’ in quite the same way as those two. Well, she’s yet to have a Top 40 single (‘Waiting Game’ came closest – peaking at 99). But then there is no fanfare with her singles; no three-month wait to download them. Having said that, Banks has reached the optimum level of ubiquity, in the sense that she gets the radio plays (and people know who she is), but they may not buy into the Banks ‘brand’ (Robyn does this very well – what doesn’t she do well). She’s popular enough though to almost fill the 5,000 strong crowd of the Brixton Academy. Much like her music, there is no fanfare as she arrives on stage; no fireworks or Cheryl swan-dive (which would be otherworldly, tbh). She opens the set in the same way that she opens her debut album, with the downbeat ‘Alibi’. She struts onstage, only for her microphone to be turned off. “Fuck this” she shouts, as soon as the hitch is fixed. The set continues with a triple punch of singles: the sensual ‘This Is What It Feels Like’, the moody ‘Brain’ and the empowerment non-anthem ‘Goddess’. The set then veers into deep-cut territory, with early tracks ‘Change’ and ‘Warm Water’. The setlist lacked balance – packing the middle of the set with album tracks is risky and looked a little self-indulgent. The crowd didn’t seem

to mind (there was no mass walkout) but it was pretty hard for a casual fan to enjoy it. She did however manage to charm the crowd with serpent-like dance moves and an outfit that looked like Paris Fashion Week meets the Scottish Widows She bought it back though with fan-favourite ‘Waiting Game’. It was a shame that she didn’t bring Neon Jungle out to do an ‘X Factor’-style duet version. Given how toxic Banks got about said cover, there was more chance that she’d bring David Guetta out for a cover of ‘Sexy Bitch’. Closing the set with her most commercial songs was a wise move, with ‘Beggin’ For Thread’ in particular sounding like a worldwide monster hit (imagine if it was the Rihanna single). At one point, the spotlight made her look like an actual goddess. But once again, the set became self-indulgent in the encore with a Drake cover. It fell flat after ‘Beggin’ For Thread’, and fell even flatter in comparison with her cover of Aaliyah’s ‘Are You That Somebody?’ which she was performing earlier this year. The show closed with ‘Stick’, which is the equivalent of ending a storm with a slight breeze rather than a hurricane. It was clear that Banks has managed ubiquity (she had the crowd eating out of her hand for the most part) but it would be nice if she had some more massive bangers. For a popstar as good as Banks, it would be good to see her take-off properly. MH

BASIC MAGAZINE

THE REAR END

How BASIC CAME TOGETHER Even the most effortless things take a lot of work. Unfortunately, Team Basic didn’t just roll out of bed and make Basic Magazine. Here’s how it all came together.

1 day in DALSTON 2 offices 13 votes 1 PULLED PORK SANDWICH

7 Kardashian debates 13 :) 2 names 8 HUNS 1 night in Brixton

1 CHARLI XCX GIG 4 EOS 12 weeks 2016 Hours ‘1989’ 2 PITCHES 144 lunches 6 lecturers 1 d-list hero 1 night in w6 18 mornings 1 creative discussion 1 University Our basic lifestyle

December 2014/January 2015

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