Exposed September 2020

january 2020

september 2020

Glass Animals

Carnall’s back with in dreamland another Christmaswith dave bayley cracker

Jackie Moonbather // wellbeing Doc/Fest // Honeyblood // Migration Elephant records //// Simon sea girls Matters //Arch Blackwaters Reeve josephine // Exposeddellow Awards// movers & Makers

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30 30: Glass Animals Elliot Lucas gets personal with chart toppers Glass Animals.

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36: Sea Girls

Carnall’s baCk with in dreamland another Christmaswith dave bayley CraCker

Our Orla Foster grabs frontman of indie outfit Sea Girls for a natter about the history of the band.

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top brass Phil Turner (MD) phil@exposedmagazine.co.uk

26: jackie moonbather

Nick Hallam (Sales Director)

Jackie Moonbather has become one of the leading figures in the city’s neojazz/soul scene, bringing out experimental, melodyfocused music with a strong DIY ethic. Here we catch up with him ahead of the release of Jones on the Phone.

nick@exposedmagazine.co.uk

contributions from Elliot Lucas Eloise Feilden Cal Reid Orla Foster

the business stuff Exposed is published monthly

by Blind Mice Media Ltd Unit 1b 2 kelham square kelham riverside Sheffield s3 8sd

24: holly clifford In our Movers and Makers feature, we’re shining a light on jewellery maker and silversmith Holly Clifford.

The views contained herein are not necessarily those of Blind Mice Media Ltd and while every effort is made to ensure information throughout Exposed is correct, changes prior to distribution may take place which can affect the accuracy of copy, therefore Blind Mice Media Ltd cannot take responsibility for contributors’ views or specific entertainment listings.

49: Staying Mindful We speak to Josephine Dellow, a Sheffield-based illustrator who has released a brand new duo of books focussing on mindfulness and wellbeing for children.

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jaCkie moonbather // wellbeing DoC/Fest // honeyblooD // migration elephant reCorDs //// simon sea girls matters //arCh blaCkwaters reeve josephine // exposeDDellow awarDs// movers & makers

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Elsewhere 13: Make Yourself at Home 16: city views 20: Elephant Arch Records 40: take care - looking after your mental health in sheffield 50: gaming 52: film

www.exposedmagazine.co.uk | 7

upfront: kick off

in numbers

Culture Club

As we saw off the remaining weeks of what has been a strange and at times trying summer in the Steel City, we at Exposed were cheered up considerably upon hearing that a number of the city’s iconic museums and galleries would be reopening their doors. You can now book online to visit the Millennium Gallery, Weston Park Museum, Kelham Island Museum and The National Videogame Museum – with Site Gallery and the National Emergency Services Museum both to open on 9 September. Time to bone up on much-missed some cultural education, we reckon…

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Ancient Egyptian era coffins containing the mummies of Nesitanebetasheru and Djedma’atiuesank can be found at Weston Park Museum.

13,000

Pieces of Sheffield-made cutlery, flatware and holloware featuring in Museum Sheffield’s famous Metalwork Collection – around 800 of which you can view at the Millennium Gallery.

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Bessemer Converters still remaining in the world, with one of the trio stood outside Kelham Island Museum. These huge machines were responsible for converting iron into steel and instrumental in Sheffield’s rise to a worldwide manufacturing power in the 1800s. www.exposedmagazine.co.uk | 9

This is home.

For you, and everyone else here.

Many businesses might not survive a second lockdown.

Please socialise responsibly so our doors can stay open.

Visit welcometoSheffield.co.uk/makeyourselfathome and follow @VisitSheffield for the latest on supporting your local economy and city culture.

Sheffield

Go to gov.uk/coronavirus for details on how to socialise responsibly and make sure you aren’t the one helping to spread the virus in Sheffield.

Summer may be reaching its close, but don’t fret – there are still plenty of ways to safely make the most of Sheffield in the run-up to Autumn, including the re-opening of prized venues, cultural events going ahead, online activities to seek out and plenty more to enjoy. In support of the Make Yourself at Home campaign, we’ve highlighted some positive updates that have us all excited about the upcoming months...

Welcome Back: What’s reopening and when?

Weston Park Museum & Millennium Gallery In a major boost for the city’s culture vultures, Museums Sheffield reopened two of their much-loved venues last month, welcoming back visitors for the first time in over five months with a host of new safety measures.

Both museums will initially be operating revised opening hours, with each site open 11am-3pm every day. Walk-up visits will still be available, although numbers will be limited, so booking is strongly advised to guarantee entry. To help manage numbers in the building, the Millennium Gallery will also temporarily change how its entrances and exists operate, with visitors being asked to enter via Arundel Gate and exit through the Winter Garden.

There will be plenty to see when the museums reopen, including a brand-new gallery at Weston Park Museum. ‘Sheffield Stories’ celebrates the very best thing about our fantastic city: its people.

Looking at life in the city during the 1950s, 60s and 70s, the new gallery’s first displays have been developed in partnership with residents in the South East of the city and bring together fashion, photographs, toys, mementos, and more. Visitors will also find all their favourites waiting for them, including the new Ancient Egypt gallery which made its debut earlier in the year.

At the Millennium Gallery, visitors will initially be able to enjoy the Metalwork and Ruskin Collection displays, as well as the ‘Nomadic Tales’ exhibition from Sheffield-based artist, Richard Bartle. Then from Saturday 12 September, the popular ‘Lines of Beauty: Master Drawings from Chatsworth’ exhibition returns, showcasing work by greats including Rembrandt, Rubens and Van Dyck from the Devonshire Collection and continuing until 1 November.

Each venue’s Ambulo café is scheduled to reopen on Tuesday 1 September, initially with a limited menu – they’ll be operating socially-distanced seating, with an extended outdoor space at the Millennium Gallery. The toilets at both sites will be open from the outset, in a limited capacity. museums-sheffield.org.uk The National Videogame Museum The NVM, our national cultural centre for videogaming, are back in operation following a successful trial weekend last month.

Alongside new safety procedures, pre-booking is now essential for visits, with two time slots of 10:30am-1pm and 2:30pm-5pm available every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

If you’re unable to make a physical visit to the museum, there are a range of free online activities on the website (thenvm.org/nvm-athome) ranging from guides on creating pixel art to creating your own interactive stories online.

Tickets available online at thenvm.digitickets.co.uk Showroom Cinema The city’s best-known independent cinema has marked Friday 18 September as their reopening date, having spent the last couple of months ensuring they can offer a safe environment for film-lovers to enjoy.

Head to showroomworkstation.org.uk for the latest updates. If you’re unable to make the cinema in person, by becoming a Showroom member you can get free six months access to the online BFI Player and a three-month MUBI subscription – plus a whole host of ticket discounts and food and drink offers for when you do decide to return to the cinema.

Image: Adrian Richardson

home, sweet home

Kelham Island Museum The popular industrial museum is back open to the public and welcoming visitors after almost five months of closure.

New measures have been put in place to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of staff and visitors and to keep the museum a COVID secure space. The museum has also received Visit Britain’s ‘We’re Good to Go’ certification, recognising it as a COVID-19 secure attraction. The River Don Engine can be viewed but will not be ‘in steam’ and the Melting Shop soft play area will stay closed.

Throughout September, visitors can visit the museum 6 days a week during reduced opening hours of 11am-3pm Monday to Thursday and 11am-4pm at weekends. The museum is closed Fridays. Adult admission has been reduced to £5 for adults and children (age 0-16) remain free of charge. The onsite Island Café+Bar and Millowners Arms traditional pub are both open daily, offering a range of food and drink and a huge outdoor socially distanced beer garden with table service.

Make Yourself at Home: What’s it all about? Make Yourself at Home is all about promoting pride in our city and sharing stories about the wonderful independent businesses, communities and institutions that make it such a special place to live.The distinction between this and ‘Open For Business’ campaigns seen elsewhere is the acknowledgement that moving forwards will be especially difficult for some groups and individuals in our communities.

Therefore it focuses on bringing them into the conversation, listening, providing reassurance, and truly uniting the city. Want to get involved?

A homepage has been set up at welcometosheffield.co.uk/ makeyourselfathome, where businesses and organisations can download the Make Yourself at Home toolkit, which includes badges to use on artwork, images to share on social media and a guide to how the campaign can be used to suit a wide range of purposes.

National Emergency Services Museum The iconic West Bar museum (which recently celebrated its 120th birthday) will be reopening its doors on 9th September. There’s a revamped main display room and a new exhibition telling the story of the Fire Service from the 18th century to the 1920s.

Book tickets and find out about all upcoming events at visitnesm. org.uk www.exposedmagazine.co.uk | 13

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One dish selection from our brunch menu with unlimited cocktails*, wine and prosecco for an hour and a half ÂŁ35 per head

a taste of Yorkshire 0114 270 6160 silversmiths-restaurant.com 111 Arundel St, Sheffield S1 2NT

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What’s On? Fancy getting stuck in? Here are some key events to stick in the calendar…

Off The Shelf Taking place online and onstage, this year’s festival of words returns 9-31 October with some of the biggest names in literature and the arts. In light of the recent global pandemic and countrywide lockdown, books and reading have become more important than ever before and the team at OTS have been working hard to provide another thought-provoking programme. Guests this year include Simon Armitage, Lemn Sissay, Helen Mort, David Olusoga, Lee Child, Kit de Waal, Luke Jennings, Stuart Maconie, Susie Dent, Jonathan Porritt, Laura Wade, Nazir Afzal, Dan Walker, Sam West, Luke Harding, Candice Brathwaite, and more. Tickets will be available online at offtheshelf.org.uk from 14th September, where you’ll also find a full programme of events. each day. This will be 10.30am-14:00pm and 14:00pm-17:30pm, and you must turn up to the session that you book tickets for eventbrite.co.uk/art-in-the-gardens2020-tickets.

Art in the Gardens Sheffield City Council has given the green light for its celebrated Art in the Gardens Event to return to the Botanical Gardens next month and they’ve teamed up with the city’s Graysons Solicitors to make it happen.

On 5-6 September, paintings, sculptures, crafts, demonstrations and entertainment are set to fill the Gardens and will also see premier artists in the pavilions and marquees, sculpture on the lawns, the Open Art Exhibition, ‘Home and Gardens’ area and a host of professional artists and craft makers. Soak up the atmosphere in the beautiful landscaped gardens, meet the artists, enjoy some locally sourced food and drink and see some beautiful artwork.To help manage capacity within the park, there will be two sessions

Festival of the Mind Get the synapses firing with this year’s Festival of the Mind taking place 17-27 September – a prestigious occasions celebrating a coming together of academics and creatives from across the city in a unique collaboration of workshops and talks.

Events will be announced at festivalofthemind.group.shef.ac.uk Heritage Open Days With a number of events taking place between 11-20 September, this year’s Heritage Open Days will feature a mix of in-person and virtual experiences to keep all entertained. Each one free to attend as always. There’s a wide range of events taking place all across the city, featuring everything from historic river walks to online tours of famous cutlery works in the city. Head to heritageopendays.org.uk for a full list of activities taking place.

Why Not Try? The Sheffield Round Walk A perfect way to see picturesque sides of the city and burn a few calories while you’re at it, the Sheffield Round Walk takes hikers through suburbs and rural areas in a 15-mile loop that includes some beautiful sightseeing and spectacular countryside routes.

Get your route mapped out at theoutdoorcity.co.uk/activities public health

The Covid-19 pandemic obviously poses a risk to health – but it also poses a risk to the livelihoods of people who own businesses in Sheffield.

It’s important to remember that stopping the spread of the virus will not only help reduce the risk of illness and death in our communities, but it will also help ensure we don’t have to have a local lockdown which could force the closure of the places we have come to know and love as part of our home.

So please socialise responsibly.

If you feel comfortable going out and doing things again then please do so – just hold back on going completely back to normal.

Follow good hygiene and physical distancing measures for the good of yourself, others, and Sheffield businesses.

www.exposedmagazine.co.uk | 15

“Onhts” Nig Words: Jake Pearson // Illustration: Joe Bunting (joebuntingdesign.com) The shrill shriek of the alarm clock pierced through Frank’s warm, fuzzy, dreamlike state and caused him to sit up violently. He hit the snooze button and laid his head back on the pillow. Five minutes passed and the same event occurred but this time Frank tried to keep himself awake, staring at the ceiling with exaggeratedly wide eyes. Frank decided to allow himself another 30 seconds in the warmth of the bed before stepping out into the world, so he began to count backwards. 30, 29, 28, 27… That was as far as he got before his eyelids closed and he dozed back into slumber.

Frank jolted up. He looked at the clock and let out a sigh.

Frank lent his left leg out of the bed and searched the floor for his slipper, his foot darting back and fourth across the wooden flooring, each toe the nose of a bloodhound trying to pick up a scent. Frank eventually rolled himself fully out of bed and placed both his feet in their corresponding slippers. He put his robe on, first left arm, then right, then tied it around the waist and opened the curtains. The sky was grey and full of thick fog, so thick it looked as though you could take a bite right out of it. Frank yawned a great, lion yawn then headed downstairs.

Frank made his way into the kitchen and sat at the table.

His wife Jane was there. “Afternoon” she said with a smile.

Franked smiled back at her and rubbed his eyes. Jane poured him a cup of coffee and asked if he wanted anything to eat.

She opened the fridge and took out a packet of smoked bacon and a carton eggs. “Bacon and eggs?” she asked. Frank smiled again and nodded.

As Jane heated the frying pan Frank got to his feet and headed toward the living room. Frank’s son, Tommy, was sat on the carpeted floor playing with a small toy truck. Frank knelt down and picked up another truck, a blue one. Tommy watched his Dad as Frank revved the truck backwards quickly across the carpet, once, twice, three times. Frank then held the truck tight to the carpet before letting go. The truck shot across to the other side of the room and crashed into the door. Tommy laughed at his Dad and tried to replicate what he had just done. Frank got back up to his feet and walked back into the kitchen.

The smell of bacon now filled the entire house and made Frank hungry. He sat back down at the kitchen table and took a sip of his coffee.

“Tired, love?” Jane asked.

“Bloody knackered” Frank replied, taking another glug of coffee.

“Not much longer now though, is it?”

“No, one more night then back on days for a month” “I told Tommy I’d take him to the pictures tomorrow morning if you want to come?”

“I’ll see how I feel.”

Jane scraped the bacon and fried eggs out of the pan and onto a plate, which she gently laid in front of Frank.

“Thanks, love.” Frank said.

Jane smiled at him and walked off to tend to Tommy.

“Right you, bath time.” Frank heard her say as she took Tommy in her arms and carried him upstairs.

Frank wolfed down his breakfast and coffee and headed upstairs to get ready for work. Jane had Tommy in the bath and the two were playing with the bubbles and a toy ship when Frank entered the bathroom. Tommy splashed about as Frank washed his face.

Frank shouted his goodbyes as he pulled on his overcoat, fastening it tight across the waist and pulling the collar up high against his face in anticipation of the cold. He was instantly hit by a gust of wind as he opened his front door. The wind didn’t die down as he made his way out of the house and down the street. The sky was dark now as the night drew ever closer. Frank walked with his hands stuffed deep inside his pockets as he passed houses, houses that gloated warm contentment of the evening. Windows glowing with the warmth of lamps and fireplaces.

Families huddled together in front of the telly.

Frank closed his eyes as a bitter wind blew harsh into his face. He was thankful to eventually reach the shelter of the bus stop. The bus pulled up and Frank got on. It was full of people heading to town. Friday night. Frank leaned his head against the window and as the bus set off he felt the vibrations all through his body.

The bus home was always a much more pleasant journey. The sun was just about peering over the top of the houses, bouncing off of the illuminated slate roof tiles. The bus arrived at Frank’s stop and he got off, thanking the driver as he did. On the opposite side of the road there was a crowd of people waiting for the bus in the opposite direction. Fresh faces.

Sleep still in the eyes after a good night’s rest. Frank made his way up the street and towards his house. He softly slid his key into the lock and turned it gently.

He knew Jane would get up if she heard him, but it was too early yet and she should sleep for a little longer.

Frank opened the door and slipped off his shoes before tiptoeing across the carpet. He undressed downstairs and headed up to the bedroom in just his underwear. He opened the door with precision and care and, after cautiously pulling back the duvet, he climbed into the warmth of the bed. Jane stirred and muffled but did not wake. Frank looked at the clock. It was six-thirty. Frank set the alarm for nine o’clock. Two and a half hours sleep and then off to the pictures Frank thought. Frank smiled to himself, then closed his eyes and quickly fell asleep.

want to share your sheffield story? drop a line to joe@exposedmagazine.co.uk www.exposedmagazine.co.uk | 17

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W E D N E S D AY - F R I D AY 4 P M - 1 1 P M | S AT U R D AY 1 0 A M - 1 1 P M | S U N D AY 1 0 A M - 1 0 P M

Sheff Life

5 things you only know if you’re...

...renowned SHEFFIELD SOUND ENGINEER PAUL ‘TUFTY’ TUFFS You can come across some interesting people in this job If you mean proper musicians that play instruments and perform live, then yes, plenty.

If you mean someone from the latest series of X-Factor, then probably not (although there may have been one or two!). There are loads of messy events and stories over the years, but most are far too salacious for the pages of a good wholesome family-friendly magazine.

You can have two that are pretty tame. I can tell you for a fact that Damon Albarn will beat you at ping pong, as he is a grand master at it and tours the world with a full-size flight-cased table in the back of the articulated truck! And Buster Bloodvessel from Bad Manners is a nightmare and to be avoided. He won’t turn up to soundcheck, pretends things aren’t working, and thinks he’s hilarious. Ha-bloody-ha! If you want the proper gossip and scandal you’ll need to buy me a beer or three and take an oath of silence!

When it comes to “making it”, it’s about more than just having talent.

There are obviously a lot of variables, so you

It’s a team effort … In most situations. Put someone in a strange venue with no assistance, chances are they’ll spend the entire sound check looking for breakers to turn the rig on and where the microphone stands are kept! The secret behind running a great live venue is the symbiotic relationship between the house team and the touring crew – advancing, maintenance and preparation is vital! Obviously that all goes out of the window when there’s been a three-hour traffic jam on the M1 and the talent turn up 15 It’s not all about the minutes before showtime; that’s when the real technical stuff, you fun starts and certainly sorts out the pros from the have-a-gos! know…

Technical skills account for maybe 20% maximum, people skills = 75%. Some situations Some people can get on require you to have immense empathy, patience your nerves and emotional understanding; others are a “Can you turn my son/daughter up? They’re not mental and sometimes physical battle that loud enough!” require the response of a savage tyrant! (I would “Fuck off.” like to thank my former comrades Brian and Ash at The Grapes for many an invaluable lesson here!). The key is deciding which strategy Have some interesting tales from is the appropriate one to take! The remainder your trade or know someone who is split between boozing skills (around 2.5%) does? Drop a line to joe@exand lumping heavy speakers about skills (again posedmagazine.co.uk and we’ll 2.5%). feature them in an upcoming issue. can never say for sure; but I can definitely tell if they have the right attitude to make it. In my experience these are: a fantastic hard work ethic, super charming people skills and a mystical ability to capture the zeitgeist, bottle it up with a capitalist fervour and flog it to the eager kids following as you pipe out your merry tunes.

Being naturally gifted rarely builds a career in the music industry on its own – although it doesn’t do much harm as long as you also possess the vital attributes above.

www.exposedmagazine.co.uk | 19

Herd It Here First Exposed caught up with Ben Ward, Co-Founder of Elephant Arch Records – a new Sheffield-based label formed during lockdown and aiming to lend a helping hand to up-and-coming northern talent.

So, things are up and running at Elephant Arch now?

Yep, launched with socials and the website all up and running. We’ve announced our first band, Soft Jocks, who are from Leeds, and I’ve just been lining up some release schedules for them today. Before the end of the year it’s looking like we’re going to have some music videos out, and early next year we’ll be looking to have a release out on vinyl as well.

Tell us a bit about your background and how the label was formed?

I work at Breed Media, who actually sponsored the Exposed music sessions for a while, and so make vinyl and CD through my day job, which obviously means I’ve got a few contacts. I was furloughed around March/April time, so instead of playing Xbox all day I thought I’d do something productive and start this label.

Who else is involved?

I’m doing it predominantly with my mate, Ali, who I met at uni. He’s behind the branding and design and goes under the artist name of Kunstity. An old friend of mine, James, is looking after our digital marketing and is a good copywriter – so yeah, it’s a nicely rounded team.

With a lack of gigs taking place, how do you go about picking up bands?

Yeah, obviously it’s a bit tougher in that respect, but it’s just been a case of looking up local playlists and having a listen. Brudenell Social Club do a great ‘New in Yorkshire’ one, where I picked Soft Jocks up from, and there are contacts via my day job who I’ve been speaking to as well. But being a new label we’re going to focus on one band initially.

20 | www.exposedmagazine.co.uk

Cool. So what can you tell us about Soft Jocks?

For want of a better term, I’d say they’re pop-punky but pretty experimental as well. They would describe themselves as “bubble gum punk” and their biggest influences would be Descendents and Pavements, if that gives you any more of an idea.

Have they got any releases coming up?

Yes, they released a five-track EP back in April, Socking Dinners, which is available to stream online now and they’ve got another EP being mixed at the minute. When everything’s ready, we’ll put putting that on a 12 inch – with the new record on Side A and the old record on Side B. There’s also a single coming out on 25 September, ‘Lemon’.

Is there a specific genre that Elephant Arch will be working with?

Not really. My tastes are quite eclectic, so I suppose anything from punk to blues to indie rock.

Is there a specifically local angle to the label?

Yeah, that’s absolutely one of the USPs; we’re all about supporting northern music and using local businesses.

In your opinion, do labels have a bigger role to play helping bands get their music out there now that gigs are almost non-existent?

I’d say so, and don’t forget that a lot of bands will be juggling full-time jobs as well. Some of these bands will have no knowledge of the industry other than playing gigs, so hopefully that’s where we can be of help: getting them press exposure, album releases, lineup opportunities, branding, and just getting them on playlists and out there.

What’s the plan going forward over the next

elephant arch records

couple of years for Elephant Arch Records?

Other than being just a label, we also want to be at the centre of the musical community in the city. When it’s safe to do so we’ll be looking at hosting a networking event with local creatives and musicians, but most of all we’ll just keep pushing northern music. The music industry has been centred around London for too long now, so we’ll be focusing on Sheffield, Leeds and Manchester.

Find out more at elephantarchrecords.com

www.exposedmagazine.co.uk | 21

OPENING TIMES MONDAY - FRIDAY 4PM - 4AM SATURDAY & SUNDAY MIDDAY - 4AM

Framery

picture perfect Nestled nicely amongst the haven of independent businesses lining Sharrow Vale Road, The Framery has provided a bespoke picture framing service for the good people of Sheffield since 1981.

Step inside today and you’ll also find a selection of prints showcasing local and national artists as well as a unique gift card selection.

After purchasing the venue two years ago, sibling co-owners Gabriella and Emilio Arciello set about refurbing the space and extending its offering to a licensed restaurant and café/bar.

“We thought we could bring something to what is already a great area for independent food and drink in Sheffield,” says Gabriella. “Emilio is a great chef and when the opportunity arose to take on The Framery from the previous owner it was too good for us to turn down.”

The tempting all-day brunch menu is available Thursday, Friday and Saturday 9am-4pm, where you can opt for anything from the Italiano Breakfast featuring nduja hash brown, poached eggs, pancetta strips, Italian sausage, cannellini baked beans, roast tomatoes and Marsala mushrooms; to the Shakshouka – baked eggs in a spicy tomato sauce with feta and sourdough bread courtesy of neighbours Seven Hill Bakery.

The evening menu runs from 6pm on Friday and Saturday, featuring a range of small plates and sharing plates using organic ingredients taken from The Framery’s very own allotment and local Sheffield producers. All of this feeds back into the restaurant’s closely-held ethics: reducing carbon footprint, minimising waste and supporting local business.

Despite opening during a challenging period for the hospitality industry, Gabriella claims that business in the first couple of months has given them cause to be optimisitic.

“We obviously didn’t know what to expect opening so soon after lockdown restrictions were lifted, but the response has been brilliant. At the moment we’re taking things steady and only opening Thursday to Saturday, but we’ve had some great feedback on the experience so far and hopefully we can look at offering a bit more in the not too distant future.”

The Framery // 349 – 351 Sharrow Vale Rd // S11 8ZG

www.exposedmagazine.co.uk | 23

movers and makers Photography: Marc Barker // @Marcabarker In this city of makers, we provide a monthly showcase of Sheffield-based creatives at their place of work. For this month’s issue, Elliot Lucas spoke to Holly Clifford who produces both stunning art jewellery (hollysuzannaclifford.com/@holly_suzanna_ clifford) and a bespoke topographical contour map collection (contourmapcollection.com / @contour_ map_collection) How did you get into silversmithing and making jewellery?

When I left school, I studied at Oxford Brookes on their Art Foundation course for a year, as I knew that I wanted to go into the arts in some form, but was unsure of which area specifically - so this BTEC diploma really helped me to focus my passion. I hadn’t really even considered jewellery design and silversmithing as an option, but whilst specialising in 3D design at Brookes (the only jeweller alongside a whole class of architecture students!) I became aware of the course at Birmingham School of Jewellery and was really taken with the possibility.

What is your creative process?

It varies, for my ‘art jewellery’ there really is very little design based work, I prefer to simply begin painting the eco-resin sheets with big bold brushstrokes, then figure out how these will work with the silver shapes I have in my mind. Every piece is a one-off, not only because the paintwork will naturally be different in each make, but I consciously try to be very fluid and experimental with my making.

24 | www.exposedmagazine.co.uk

But for my other half of the business - Contour Map Collection, it’s a totally different story. The designs come straight from maps, the whole essence of these pieces is that they are true to the landscapes they are depicting. That means there’s a bit of tracing involved, lifting all the contour lines from the customers chosen location, playing around with the scale/positioning of the map, and giving the customer different personalisation options such as setting stones as map markers or engraving of initials, location names, dates. I really enjoy giving the client options, to make sure they end up with a piece that is truly evocative.

Do you want your pieces to be appreciated more as works of art or as fashion?

Maybe this is avoiding the question, but I ultimately would like them to be considered as both simultaneously. My art jewellery is very much wearable art, as the name suggests! I would like the pieces I create in both sides of my business to be appreciated for the level of craftsmanship and ingenuity, as well as their aesthetics.

movers and makers

What’s the hardest thing about your job? What’s the best?

There are so many positives about what I do. I especially love getting messages from pleased customers, or unexpected responses to my newsletters with words of encouragement and support, those sorts of things really mean a lot and reassure me that the work I create is making an impact. The hardest thing may be working out how to juggle all the hats you have to wear as an independent self-employed designer/maker. I’m constantly trying to build up knowledge in areas I struggle with, such as the website side, accounting and marketing - things that are vital business wise, but I don’t have much of a head for!

Have you made something that you’re especially proud of? Something with an interesting backstory?

I have actually just finished making an anniversary present for my parents this week, it’ll be their 30th year married this bank holiday weekend so I wanted to mark it with something extra special. I decided to collaborate with myself as it were, and bring both my art jewellery and contour map collection together, to create a beautiful silver tumbler with a layered eco-resin and map lid. The map is of the area my parents have made their home for the last 20 years; the topography of a village on the very Northernmost edge of the Cotswolds. I marked the location of their house with a tiny faux pearl (we’re vegan) as a nod to it being the pearl anniversary. It’s tilted on its base, giving it a more of a modern look and also really shows off the silver map.

The Sheffield hallmark, applied by the Assay Office in Hillsborough is really made a feature of, positioned on the outside of the tumbler. I really enjoyed making something so personal, unique and meaningful for them to treasure.

How has covid affected your business?

With the cancellation of all face-to-face events and the closure of shops galleries things have been tough. I was really looking forward to showing at the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair and Goldsmiths North in the city this summer, but let’s hope next year these events will be even better! It’s been interesting experimenting with online shows and taking part in campaigns on Instagram such as the Artist’s Support Pledge, there’s been some real positivity coming out of this situation, however, I can’t wait to meet customers in person again!

What do you have in the pipeline to tell our readers about?

The Starter Studio at Yorkshire Artspace are taking part in Art in the Gardens next weekend, which I’m really excited about! I’m so pleased the event is still going ahead, this year we have a really great stand which we’ll be sharing with some other studio holders at Yorkshire Artspace, so you’ll get to see a really wide variety of handmade work. I’m also looking forward to welcoming people to our Open Studios event, which is still scheduled to go ahead this November at the Persistence Works building in the city centre. www.exposedmagazine.co.uk | 25

Jones on the Phone Following the release of a fresh lockdown-inspired release, Eloise Feilden catches up with Jackie Moonbather.

My Zoom call with Jackie Moonbather, scheduled for noon on Tuesday 11th August, occurs at exactly the same time as the YouTube premiere for the artist’s latest single ‘Jones on the Phone’ goes live – a fact he himself had forgotten until I reminded him as we began our conversation. The song was originally made and released in May during the height of lockdown, and took Jack only 48 hours from making the initial beat to uploading it for streaming. “It was a product of just being stuck in my room a lot, for obvious reasons.

It seemed fitting for the times because it’s about missing somebody and not being able to do anything about it because we’re all stuck at home. There’s only so long that we can keep singing about that so I thought I’d release it really quickly.”

The video was shot by Miro Kiss from GRIT Multimedia, and the bright and open white-walled bedroom that forms the video backdrop reflects a dreamy and romanticised depiction of the solitary lockdown experience. Jackie’s personal experience of this period mirrors the lightness of the video’s aesthetic, as he saw it as the perfect opportunity to get some creative juices flowing and start making as much music as he could. As with many of us, though, at some point that initial burst of energy came to an end, and he tells me there came a point where his attitude altered. “It suddenly just stopped. At some point I’ve just been stuck in my house for months now; I’ve got nothing left to sing about. I have no new experiences.”

As well as making his own music, Jackie Moonbather is also a producer for other local talent as a key member of music collective Blancmange Lounge alongside fellow artists Katie Pham, Oliver Harrap and Rosey PM. Despite the drought of personal creativity that he’s been suffering in recent months, Jack explains that when it comes to producing music for other people there’s a kind of freedom he feels in collaboration. “When I’ve produced for other people it’s using beats that I’ve had for a little while and don’t really know what to do with, but then other people do. There are less blockages because I can just make stuff because it’s fun to do and it sounds cool and then whether I sing on it or somebody else does, it doesn’t matter.”

Experimenting with new sounds and methods is essential to Jack’s way of creating music, and he dislikes the idea of being confined to one genre or style. As he describes it: “There’s so much that I like to listen to and there’s so much that I like to make, it’s gonna take a while for me to get all of it out – all of the different feelings and sounds that I wanna play with. I think my music will keep on changing for quite a while as I express all the different parts of what I like and what feels like me. I don’t like it when an artist just releases the same things over and over again; I lose interest really quickly. I like artists, myself included, to always be reinventing.”

I ask Jackie how he considers ‘Jones on the Phone’ to be a reinvention of music he’s made in the past, and he explains how he’s been playing around with more electronic sounds.

“There are no acoustic instruments on there apart from the piano. I think it’s the first time there’s been a piano in one of my songs.”

Confused for a moment, and with a recent listening session still fresh in the mind, I remind him of ‘Sam’s Room’ off 26 | www.exposedmagazine.co.uk

his 2018 EP The Month of May, a track lasting only 39 seconds and played solely on the piano. Unfazed by the correction, he thanks me for the reminder, and the conversation moves towards discussions of his approaches to music.

Having looked through interviews with Jackie Moonbather from the past he is more often than not described as having a DIY ethic in his attitude towards making music. I wondered whether he thought this an accurate description of his method of working, and I probed what it means exactly to be “DIY” when it comes to being a creative. “Everything we do is just totally DIY. Everything that me and my friends in Blancmange Lounge Collective have done we’ve recorded ourselves.

The way that we as a collective, and I as an artist, have found our way to fit in with the scene and especially with local music is just doing it ourselves, putting on our own gigs and selecting ourselves and all our friends to play.”

And the music scene in Sheffield is the perfect place to explore this DIY attitude. Jack refers to Delicious Clam and Plot 22, two venues which share in the build-ityourself kind of music-making that appeals to him and his colleagues, as part of the community that Blancmange Lounge have helped create here in the Steel City.

Somewhat inevitably, the black cloud that the pandemic has cast over the music and live performance industry hovers over the conversation at this point, and I ask Jack what he sees for the future of live music in the coming months. “I guess we’ll have to wait and see what manages to survive after all of this,” he tells me. “I’ve seen a lot of people getting creative at home, like the live streams that keep happening. I think that will just have to continue for a while. It’s gone on for longer than I thought, live stream gigs and stuff, which I assumed would just be a bit of a novelty at the start, but it seems to be growing.

I did one right at the start of lockdown and I thought it was weird and didn’t like it. I haven’t written it off but I’m not in any rush to do more. It was weird and awkward, and also I’ve got really bad internet connection. (At this point in the conversation our Zoom meeting has been interrupted three separate times by said bad connection, so I’m under no illusion that this is an excuse to get out of future awkward livestream events).

As we close up our conversation, I ask Jackie about upcoming projects and music to come. He gives little away, and I joke that he’s keeping his cards close to his chest, to which he says he’s not keeping any secrets from us, but simply doesn’t like to announce anything before it’s done. “Creativity stopped during the lockdown at a very specific point and it felt like attention had to be distributed elsewhere, to focus on other things for a little bit. I just got really into cooking and being really domestic. I’m feeling more creative again now, having been able to go outside again for a little bit, and with things coming up I’m not going to pigeonhole myself. I’ll just do what I feel like.”

Jones on the Phone is out on all streaming platforms now blancmangelounge.bandcamp.com

Image: Miroslav Kiss

Jackie Moonbather

www.exposedmagazine.co.uk | 27

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Getting Personal Words: Elliot Lucas

Exposed meets Glass Animals...

Glass Animals are the chart-topping indie-pop group consisting of four childhood friends: frontman Dave Bayley, drummer Joe Seaward, and guitarists Ed Irwin-Singer and Drew MacFarlane. Their debut album Zaba spawned a platinum-selling single, and was unlike anything mainstream audiences had ever heard before. With the psychedelic weirdness of Animals Collective, the sexy riffs and vocal arrangements of RnB and the catchy hooks of solid pop music, Glass Animals’ offering is a sumptuous experience for the ears.

Their latest album Dreamland is the band’s most personal yet.

Following a tragic incident involving a member of the band, Bayley was prompted to do a deep dive into his own memories and psyche.

The result is like witnessing somebody’s mushroom trip from the inside. You revel in second-hand catharsis as he gets things off his chest, amidst a swirl of thick basslines and Lewis Caroll-esque 30 | www.exposedmagazine.co.uk

metaphor. Last month I had the pleasure of sitting down with the singer to discuss the inspiration behind the album, gender norms, fruit as metaphor, the price of fame, Black Lives Matter and much more...

Do you want to talk a little bit about the background to this album and how it came to be?

It’s an album about memory, from my first memory to now. The idea came about when our drummer had a really terrible accident, and we didn’t know if he was going to survive. We were scared about him.

Obviously, we cancelled everything. We cancelled all the tour and everything we were doing until next year. I didn’t know if he was going to recover, and he didn’t have the best chance of doing it. So yeah, the future just looked absolutely terrible to be honest.

I was at the hospital waiting for news and there was a lot happening in my life in terms of that. So the natural thing for the brain to do is, well, it goes to the past. It starts finding comfort in memory. It started digging up all sorts of weird bits of the past that were floating around my head.

When it looked like he was going to make a good recovery (and he has

cover story

since made a miraculous recovery) he was like “It’s time to recover and go do some writing”. So that’s what I did: I went to LA and I just started writing.

And that’s what came into my head, the personal, and memories.

You’ve previously said that writing about yourself was “selfish”, but what changed your perspective?

It’s a couple of things. My mum always told me that it’s selfish to talk about yourself, and I never did it. I liked writing about other people. And then, the first time I did it was a song called ‘Agnes’.

I’d written the song, and I didn’t even want to play it to the band. But I did, and they really liked it, and Joe convinced me to put it on the record. I didn’t want to do that, because I thought it was too personal. But Joe was like “You have to do it, just put it on as the last track”, and the response that people had to it was pretty incredible. I found it difficult to perform it live for a long time. But then, I remember the first time we played it live, a lot of people said that song meant a lot to them. If you can write something really personal, and it means a lot to somebody, even more than a song you might have written about them, then that’s pretty incredible. I realised that a lot of my favourite songs and songwriters are very personal. It makes you feel less alone, if you’re feeling strange, to see somebody else being vulnerable. It makes you feel justified, less lonely.

‘Space Ghost’ is another very personal song, about an old childhood friend of yours who would later try to bring a gun into a school.

What inspired the decision to use a very upbeat melody alongside such sombre lyrics?

Well, ultimately that song has kind of an optimistic swing to it. Because the person that it’s about really changed their life and is a new person now. But, I don’t know; I always like the juxtaposition. A lot of modern soul tracks have always done it. A stomping beat and a catchy melody, but the lyrics are much darker. The juxtaposition between something playful and something really dark and sad can be really powerful. A lot of my favourite books and films do that.

You also write about gender norms on the track. Were you uncomfortable with gender norms growing up?

Definitely, I grew up in Texas. That’s a place where gender stereotypes are very heavily enforced. If you’re a boy you’re meant to be on the football team or play basketball, and I was terrible at those things. So I never quite felt right. That ended up being a good thing, that’s how I found music. But for a long time I felt … out of place.

Like I wasn’t good enough.

And the track ‘Space Ghost’ is sort of making fun of what a lot of people in America at that time thought was the cause of bad behaviour and of kids acting out. They were blaming hip-hop and video games. I think ultimately there’s probably much bigger things at play, and that’s what the song is saying. It’s going through a couple of those. www.exposedmagazine.co.uk | 31

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cover story

What’s the symbolism of the use of fruit throughout your music? *Laughs* I love fruit. I love food in general. I think that what people eat says quite a lot about them. I don’t know why. I find a lot of inanimate objects, such as foods, have their own personality. I like using them to describe people. It’s just fun.

What kind of fruit are you?

I don’t know. That’s like asking someone to describe their own personality. It’s quite a tough thing to do. Someone else would be much better at it than me.

For example, it’s like tangerine is about somebody who on the outside is tough.

They’ve got this sour, waxy, bitter skin.

Inside there’s still a softness and sweetness but on the outside, they’ve just been completely hardened over by the world.

They’ve made a shell to protect them from everything else.

You decided to postpone the release of the album due to George Floyd situation in America. Do you feel that artists have a responsibility to be activists?

I think everybody in that moment had a responsibility to be active, not just us.

Everyone had to be vocal and do what they could to make change and make space for that movement. I don’t think artists have to be political, but it can be a good thing.

We realised we had a platform and could potentially do some good there.

In fact, we were actually meant to release a song the day after the video was released.

George Floyd was dead, and it just couldn’t have felt more like a wrong time. It was then that I realised I could my platform for quite good things. I felt a bit of a responsibility.

If you want to stay quiet that’s your thing. I recognise that it’s hard. You’re sticking your neck out. You panic so much about saying something wrong. About messing it up and offending somebody without meaning to.

And there is a backlash. Whenever you put up a political post you get a lot of backlash from extremists, saying horrible things. So I

understand why people stay quiet, although I’m not sure it’s good enough.

Do you enjoy being famous?

I don’t know. I’m quite shy. I’m happy that the project is successful because it means I’m lucky enough to make music with my friends all day. It is really enjoyable. But do I like being famous? Not particularly. I like being able to go to a shop in my pyjamas with no one saying hi.

Being able to be normal.

we were actually meant to release a song the day after the video was released. George Floyd was dead, and it just couldn’t have felt more like a wrong time. It was then that I realised I could my platform for quite good things. I felt a bit of responsibility. www.exposedmagazine.co.uk | 33

cover story Although, I wouldn’t say that we’re that famous. We’re not Instagram celebs or anything.

Social media has never been a huge part of our project.

How do you guys settle on a sound for an album? What’s your creative process?

I tend to have a bit of an umbrella idea. This one’s about memories for example. I asked myself about how I would soundtrack my past? What are the backbones of older music that I grew up with? That would be The Beatles, Beach Boys, American hip-hop like Dr. Dre and Timberland. The next is everything produced by artists like Missy Elliot. Those are the two backbones. Those are the pockets I drew from trying to get a sound for this album.

I bought a lot of Beach Boys

34 | www.exposedmagazine.co.uk

I grew up in Texas.

That’s a place where gender stereotypes are very heavily enforced. If you’re a boy you’re meant to be on the football team or play basketball, and I was terrible at those things. So I never quite felt right. That ended up being a good thing, that’s how I found music.

and Beatles equipment and I resampled it with the sort of samplers that Dr. Dre and Timberland might have used. I sort of get a concept and then get a soundscape based on that. I’ll do rough demos of all the songs.

And then I’ll play it to the guys.

Sometimes they hate it, most of the time actually, and I have to convince them. *Laughs* What’s a better feeling than performing live, if anything?

Seeing my mum smile, that’s great. I love that. She hated the album initially. She hated it because I used her voice. She told me “Take my fucking voice off ”. But I managed to convince her eventually. She’s my one constant and the album is about memories. She’s part of all of those memories.

Is there anything you want to talk about that you don’t normally get asked about?

Well, I hope people enjoy the album. I’m a bit nervous about this one because it’s so personal.

And I feel very lucky to be able to make another album, especially in these crazy times.

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While lockdown might have forced most of us to stick this year on pause, Sea Girls aren’t a band to rest on their laurels. Hot on the heels of their debut album Open Up Your Head, the indie outfit just can’t wait to be back on the road. Singer Henry Camamile took another Zoom call for the team to talk Orla Foster through how 2020’s been stacking up.

You met at school and have been in tons of bands together. How did you know Sea Girls was the one which would stick?

Because it didn’t break up! Sea Girls just felt like it was going somewhere, things fell into place almost with no discussion. The line-up is comfortable, it makes sense. The only reason I got into music was to be in a band with Andrew, Oli and Rory. We auditioned a drummer once, and then thought ‘Why are we doing this when Oli could just learn drums?’ We help each other discover what we’re best at. It’s an ever-evolving thing.

How have you evolved since?

We’ve probably got better looking! That’s a joke.

Surely there must be some embarrassing school bands behind you?

I actually think mine and Oli’s school band was really cool! Perfect Treats. Okay, maybe the name is embarrassing. And there were some really bad songs written when we were about seventeen, because we’d agree to gigs before we’d finished any songs. I’d write maybe a first verse, and assume that I somehow knew what was coming next. Which resulted in some bad gigs with some bad lyrics.

How has that affected your attitude to gigs?

I guess being spontaneous is a good way of learning, but you’re not guaranteed to come out with anything good. I’d say 30% of those gigs were improvised. We kind of felt our way through and sometimes it would work out, sometimes not. But it was so much fun finding our way. Even now we’ve tried to keep that excitement for every show, the feeling that ‘this is the big night’. We never want to lose that.

You have quite a stadium-friendly sound. Are live settings on your mind while you’re writing?

Even if you don’t picture yourself in a particular venue, you always literally write live. It’s not something that’s happening just in your head. You’re singing out loud, you’re immediately already performing to yourself.

Sometimes if I want to come up with something better I’ll move around the room and try to get a bit of energy into it. I don’t know if everyone else does that!

And you do kind of hope you’ll play every song live one day. But there aren’t enough gigs in the world for that, even without lockdown.

It’s still been a prolific year for Sea Girls, with an EP in March and your album in August. How did you keep motivated?

Lockdown hasn’t really hampered us. I think creatively it’s been really good, actually? We knew even at the beginning we would release an album this year. In the meantime our fans have kept engaged with us, we’ve done lots of Instagram live shows. And now we’re putting an album out without any immediate gigs, so that’s kind of crazy. You just adapt to it, you know?

What are you most proud of with the new release?

Gosh, you know, we’re so proud of all of it. I feel weird picking out favourites. Forever feels super special. And Lie To Me is a new sound for us, it has that Americana rhythm but in a completely different style.

Do you think this album is more confessional than previous work?

36 | www.exposedmagazine.co.uk

Yeah, about half of the album is about matters that are a little difficult. Songs like You Over Anyone is a fake love song about my relationship with my own health.

It’s about how I treated myself, with partying and things like that.

A lot of your songs seem addressed to another person, is that a conscious move?

I guess it is deliberate. Even if I’m not thinking about a real person, I’ll personify a feeling. Or I’ll even address myself, sometimes. ‘Do You Really Wanna Know’ has some hidden messages, I don’t quite lay it out on a plate. But if the lyrics seem cryptic, I’ll try to make them more accessible. There has to be an energy that people can pick up on. It has to be soulful, it can’t just be opaque.

Was it weird knowing it could be a lifetime before you performed the new material?

Playing live was always what we positioned ourselves around. We’d been playing gigs for around three years non-stop, so lockdown was a big adjustment in that sense. It’s been weird, but we’ve still been writing together, sending each other ideas. We’ve done some online recordings with a metronome, and now that things are slacker we can rehearse properly again.

Music is still music, live or not.

What do you miss about being on the road?

We did our first European tour just before lockdown, which gave us a lot of purpose. But I don’t miss not getting enough sleep! You’re absolutely gone by the end of it. You’re not the full human you were at the start. That’s just the nature of it.

Any moments you’d rather forget?

Yeah, there was one festival a while back where I got too drunk. I played so badly and could barely sing.

People left! We started with about twenty people, and then fifteen in the room by the end. But it was funny, and we needed that to happen so we could learn. We spent years playing to between five and forty people, whatever gigs or clubnights we could get.

Are you worried about the future of live music?

I do worry when I hear about places like the Leadmill having to do a crowdfunding campaign, because that’s not even a small venue. But we try and keep optimistic and I just hope that the government sorts out extra funding, d’you know what I mean? This COVID thing can’t last forever. The industry is going to come back because it has to, because it’s what people want.

Which other new bands do you rate?

The Mysterines are really sick. We did our last UK tour with them and they’re just amazing. Like early Kings of Leon. When you’re backstage, you think, ‘Are Kings of Leon playing downstairs?!’ Holly Humberstone is also really happening at the moment, AND she’s from Grantham, which is near where I’m from. There isn’t much of a Grantham scene beyond pubs, but she’s really cool.

What does the rest of the summer hold for you?

We’re gonna enjoy having the album out. We’re gonna do some barbecues. We’ll play, write, and keep things happening. We want to make sure we’re on form for when we get back to playing live.

sea girls

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www.exposedmagazine.co.uk | 37

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Wellbeing

Take Care During difficult times in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s more important than ever to prioritise our mental health and wellbeing. For this month’s issue we teamed up with mental health charity Sheffield Flourish to give you a taste of the support available and provide our own tips for leading a relaxed and happy lifestyle...

Who Are Sheffield Flourish?

We are a Sheffield mental health charity rooted in our community. We support people to use their skills, ideas and talent to build the lives they want through digital and community activities.

On our website Sheffield Flourish local people share their mental health stories, reminding Sheffielders that they are not alone. If you have something to share, we’d love to hear your story.

We also run three other websites. The Sheffield Mental Health Guide is a directory where you can search for support services in Sheffield. You can save useful services from the Mental Health Guide, and make

40 | www.exposedmagazine.co.uk

a plan for managing your mental health, on the My Toolkit platform. Finally, Sheffield Suicide Support is a website listing all the local support services for people experiencing suicidal thoughts or feelings.

Our Enterprises

Within the city, we support five community enterprises that run regular sessions which are open to everyone: Brunsmeer Awareness FC – A mental health friendly football team. To find out more about the have a look at the Brunsmeer Awareness page on the Sheffield Mental Health Guide.

CAST – A group who run open mic nights, online weekly art groups and creative writing sessions. If you’d like to talk to someone about CAST or if you’d like to join any of their groups, please call 0114 273 7009 or email mhguide@sheffieldflourish.co.uk .

Connected Worlds – An art-based creative project which runs courses designed to build communities and solidarity. They are planning to start a creative course aimed at people of colour who’ve experienced mental health issues or social isolation. Email info@ sheffieldflourish.co.uk to get in touch.

Oasis – A mental health friendly gardening and food growing enterprise, welcoming people from all walks of life. Anyone is welcome to come along to their weekly food growing sessions, and you don’t need to have any experience of gardening or food growing.

Email oasis@sheffieldflourish.co.uk or phone 07926097027 to get involved.

Open Door Music – A music group for people to learn and develop their skills and interests within singing, music production, and jamming. Everyone’s welcome at our sessions (the door is always open!), whether you have experience or are completely new to making and performing music. Email info@sheffieldflourish. co.uk to get in touch.

Other Services

SODIT (Survivors of Depression in Transition) are currently running a range of different services including text support (07493327445) or 0755 822359), a WhatsApp group (07493327445), Facebook group, and two Virtual Coffee ‘n’ Chat group peer support groups (Tuesdays 12.30-2.30pm, Fridays 1-2.30pm). The text and Whatsapp support are designed to help people who need some extra reassurance or grounding. However, if you are looking for online/phone counselling please call 01142421700, text 07493327445 or07554822359, or email referrals@ sodit.org. Please note: this service is women only.

Sheffield IAPT are offering a free four-week Coping With Covid online course. You can either refer

online at iaptsheffield.shsc.nhs.uk/, or by calling 0114 2264380.

No Panic Sheffield are now offering Wednesday evening and Thurs morning support groups online for anyone struggling with anxiety or anxiety related symptoms.

Listening Ear are a telephone helpline providing support, advice and guidance to anyone over the age of 11 who is registered with a GP in South Yorkshire and is bereaved during the Covid-19 crisis. Mon-Fri 10am-5pm. 0800 048 5224. To find out more about Listening Ear you can watch this video about accessing the helpline and this video about being a helpline professional.

Here to Hear are a Sheffield-based multi-faith, multilanguage pastoral helpline for anyone affected by bereavement. Available Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm, on 0333 3445659.

ADIRA is a mental health and wellbeing service for the Afro-Caribbean community, offering online support for men and women. Find out more at adira. org.uk Sheffield Mind are running two sessions online: an

‘informal peer support group’ called Springboard, Wednesdays from 2pm-3:45pm; the second is a men-only support group called Mankind, which is Thursdays from 5pm-6:45pm. For more details of how to join the groups, please contact Haeran.young@ sheffieldmind.co.uk. The Sheffield Mind website (sheffieldmind.co.uk) also features a list of services and support to improve wellbeing and provide advice.

If you need more help finding the right support for you call: 0114 273 7009 or email mhguide@sheffieldflourish. co.uk, we’d be more than happy to help.

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Wellbeing

Express yourself How journaling and self-reflection can change your life...

Open Narrative is a small independent publisher based in Sheffield which creates diaries, journals and games to support mental wellbeing.

Open Narrative was founded in 2017 by Lorraine Dixon, a life coach and English teacher. Lorraine created Being Me, her first publication so that she could reflect on the smaller things in life and the subtle changes that take place without us even realising.

Being Me is a space to tell your story. It’s a five-year diary with a different question every day so you can spend just a few moments for yourself.

In 2019 Lorraine then joined forces with Games Explorers to create Reflections – the conversation starter, which encourages players to explore and discuss a range of interesting topics related to wellbeing in everyday situations.

It’s a card game based on honesty and kindness as each player answers questions and the conversation flows.

In 2020, Open Narrative are launching a series of new journals so watch this space.

Covid-19 has changed much in the world around us and about ourselves. It has given us challenges that we have not experienced before so don’t be afraid to talk about your experiences and tell your story. One day at a time. opennarrative.co.uk // @opennarrativeuk Coming Soon Keep your eyes peeled on the brand new journals from Open Narrative which will be available online in time for Christmas!

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Diarising or journaling is a habit that can have a positive effect on many different areas of your life. it can help you to: Lower anxiety Clear your mind Organise your thoughts and feelings Gain insights into your own way of thinking Have a better understanding of who you are

We all have a story. What’s yours?

Being Me five year diary 365 different questions to record and reflect to tell your story one day at a time.

Reflections The conversation starter, a card game where honesty counts and kindness is offered.

COMING SOON

My Journal A space to express yourself and unleash your imagination.

Open Narrative helps you to ask the questions about who you are and what you want to be. We provide opportunities and space to reflect on where you’ve been so you can identify where you’re going.

Free P&P on all UK orders Order from www.opennarrative.co.uk Sign up for the ON newsletter for updates, new products and Christmas special offers.

@opennarrativeuk

Wellbeing

Mindfulness what’s it all about?

A hugely popular and evidence-based technique for improving mental health, mindfulness is about becoming entirely present and being able to foster an awareness of your mind, body and surroundings without judgement. It can help your to notice thoughts as they come and go in your mind, therefore creating a sense of space and ease.

Mindfulness practices include focusing on the breath and body as well as mindful movement and paying closer attention to everyday activities. Through practice you learn that thoughts are just thoughts; they are not facts. You can choose whether to give them power.

Be Present The science-backed benefits of meditation are plentiful. Studies have shown that the practive cane help build up areas of our brain and rewire it to enhance positive traits like focus and decision making and allow us to step away from fear and stress. Kadampa Meditation Centre Sheffield offers a number of online classes in the practice – they are easy to access, with no software to download, and all stream from their website. meditateinsheffield.org.uk

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Image: jared rice

Peak Times Being out in nature can improve both your mental and physical health. Sheffield is a wonderful city for many reasons, one of which being its close proximity to natural beauty into the Peak District and it won’t be long before you reach Mam Tor. This striking outcrop and the surrounding area are just begging to be traversed, one of hundreds of breath-taking walks in the Peaks, but this one is up there with the best. Whatever the time of day and whatever the weather, this vast open landscape constantly changes in beguiling new ways. Now, go out there and breathe in that natural goodness! visitpeakdistrict.com

Image: Matthew Feeney

Mindfulness Practice 1: Take a seat. Find somewhere quiet and relaxed to being the practice.

2: Set a time limit. 5-10 minutes is a good start for beginners.

3: Begin to notice your body. Feel the weight of your body where you are sat, the different sensations you may notice as you scan through the body.

Don’t judge; just observe.

4: Focus on your breath. Feel the rising sensation with each inhalation, and then feel your muscles relax with each exhalation. Count each breath if that helps.

5: Allow thoughts to come and go. Your mind will naturally wander at times, but as soon as you’ve noticed, simply acknowledge it and return to the breath.

6: Keep it up. It takes time – you are learning a skill for life here – but with regular practice you should begin to develop an easier relationship with your thoughts and mind as a whole. www.exposedmagazine.co.uk | 45

Sheffield Cathedral, a place for all people, even during the most challenging times.

We are always here for the people of Sheffield and South Yorkshire. Please join us in prayer and visit our digital platforms to see how and what we are communicating at this difficult time for our families, our communities, our city, our country and worldwide.

CONNECT WITH US:

enquiries@sheffield-cathedral.org.uk @SheffCathedral @sheffcath sheffieldcathedral

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Wellbeing

Healthy body, healthy mind Offering a range of support, advice and encouragement, Smoke Free are there to help you pack in the cigs for good. You can head over to their website to learn more about the support they offer and to book an appointment. shsc.nhs.uk Hot Stuff The teachers at Hot Yoga Sheffield are ready to guide you through the movement of your body to find a sense of strength, comfort and peace. Open to all abilities they also offer classes in Dharma Yoga, Aerial Yoga and host a range of holistic therapist. Booking online is essential. hotyogasheffield.co.uk Give your time Volunteering for good causes can help us feel like we’re making a difference and have a beneficial impact in increasing our mood and self-esteem. The Sheffield Volunteer Centre posts a monthly bulletin of opportunities to help out with a range of charities and organisations in the Steel City. sheffieldvolunteercentre.org.uk Keep Talking While not Sheffield-specific, it would be remiss of us not to mention the important work that Samaritans do. Even just a single chat with a sympathetic pair of ears can greatly improve your world view. Sometimes feeling good takes a bit of work, but it’s always worth it. Contact Samaritans Sheffield at 0114 272 4010.

Breathing Exercise: 4-7-8 for stress or anxiety 1: Let your lips part and exhale completely through your mouth, creating a whooshing sound to begin the exercise.

2: Close your lips and inhale through your nose for four seconds.

3: Hold your breath for seven seconds.

4: Exhale through your mouth, creating the same whooshing sounds, for eight seconds.

5: Repeat four times, two times daily.

Top tips: Looking after your mental health 1: Talk about your feelings; don’t bottle them up.

2: Keep active. Exercise is a sure-fire way of providing endorphins!

3: Eat well and avoid excess alcohol and caffeine consumption.

4: Keep in touch with friends and family – whether that’s a coffee or a phone call, social interaction is key to boosting our mood.

5: Ask for help. You’re only human and life can be overwhelming at times. Don’t be ashamed – seek out the help and support you deserve!

6: Do something you enjoy. Whether it’s reading a book, painting, or going out for a run, give yourself regular slots to focus on something that makes you happy.

7: Care for others. Being kind and helping people around us deal with their problems can help to put things in perspective and provide a boost in self-worth.

8: Get good sleep. Establish an effective night-time routine so your brain can properly recharge each night.

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Josephine Dellow

MindfulMatters Last month we spoke to Sheffield-based illustrator Josephine Dellow, who recently released a duo of books focussing on mindfulness and wellbeing for children. Published by Upside Down Books, Chill Out and It’ll Be Okay are the first books to be released with proceeds going to the Shaw Mind Foundation – a global charity that focuses on mental health.

Hi Josephine, could you tell us a bit about yourself and how you first came to be involved in these books?

Hello! I’m Josephine, I’m an illustrator and I live in Sheffield. I’ve been illustrating full-time since I left my job in the greetings card industry in 2018.

Since then, I’ve worked on various book projects as well as murals, content illustration and personal commissions, while running my Etsy shop where I sell prints of my drawings.

I was commissioned by Upside Down Books after I met them at London Book Fair last year, and I started working on them in the summer.

What initially drew you in to the project?

I loved the sound of the brief when the publishers got in touch. The wellbeing theme is a subject close to my heart, as like many people, I’ve suffered from anxiety in the past. I only started to learn about cognitive health as an adult but if I’d learnt about it as a child, I might have found it easier to deal with life’s knocks as I got older. It’s amazing to see children learning about mental health from a young age nowadays and I’m so proud to be involved in a project that does just that.

Can you tell us a bit about the aim of each book and how that relates to mindfulness and wellbeing in children?

Each book helps children to understand feelings and mindfulness in a friendly and fun way. The puzzles, crafts and games introduce ways to see things differently and help deal with life’s ups and downs. I feel these can be great tips to learn early to remember later, when they face life’s big or small challenges.

Proceeds from the books all go to the Shaw Mind foundation charity. What can you tell us about the work they do?

The Shaw Mind foundation charity is committed to helping individuals and organisations understand mental health and emotional wellbeing and how to manage them effectively. They provide training courses and initiatives to help support mental wellbeing issues, including initiatives for men, young people and schools.

How can people purchase the books?

The books are available in bookshops and online, plus I have signed copies available on my Etsy shop, where I also sell prints and other gifts like colouring books, mugs and tote bags.

What else have you got going on work-wise at the moment?

I’ve started working on the next book project which is exciting. Though I can’t share more about that yet, I’ve got a feeling they will be equally lovely!

I’m also working on ideas for children’s stories and planning what to draw next for my Etsy shop. People can keep updated by following me on Instagram at @josephinedellow or visiting josephinedellow.com.

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Mind Games Exposed’s gaming blogger Matthew King rounds up a list of gaming titles that can help provide some needed self-care for the mind.

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Believe it or not, playing video games has shown great promise in reducing stress and helping with mental health issues. It can have many positive benefits, such as increasing your hand-eye coordination, improving your brain activity, and can even help you become more sociable via online services like Xbox Live and PlayStation Network (PSN), which can in turn lead to long-lasting friendships.

As someone who deals with the hardships of anxiety, video games help me when I am dealing with negative thoughts. So here is what I believe to be the best ones out there to help bring you better mental wellbeing.

ABZU If you are looking for a calming yet spectacular experience, then ABZU is a must-play. Its graphics are gorgeous and stylised, the soundtrack is breathtaking, as you explore an open ocean filled with aquatic life, following an in-depth (excuse the pun) story through beautiful scenery.

ABZU provides a relaxing experience that features no killings, deaths or dark story plots. Just you, the undiscovered blue waters and plenty of sea creatures to befriend and admire. It’s a true celebration of nature and wildlife.

Animal Crossing Although Animal Crossing may seem a little daunting at first, it is its positive charm and endless creativity that will keep you coming back for more. The ability to achieve little tasks, such as talking to your fellow furry neighbours, or pick weeds around your island so that it looks more presentable, can make you feel like you are doing something right, without it being too overwhelming. It can really put you at ease if you are ever feeling anxious or alone. The game has personally helped me develop closer relationships with loved ones and friends across the globe with its simple gameplay. Once you start, it is very difficult to put down.

gaming journey

A video game that tells a story through smooth gameplay and visually stunning cut-scenes, Journey is an experience unlike any other. Exploring a desolate and seemingly empty world, it is surprising just how rich this game is. You will discover many secrets of a fascinating, deep narrative on your journey towards your goal that shines brightly on top of a vast mountain

GRIS

An artistic display of watercolours brought to life that reflects mental illness in a significant way, Gris is worth checking out. The central element of the story here is unravelling the mystifying narrative of a girl. Whilst it may seem simple, it is the combination of world-building which portrays a symbolic notion that will have you feeling emotionally connected to Gris. As you explore a world that you eventually fill with more vibrant colours, this aspect shows growth through the girl’s mental environment and, quite possibly, your own. It is a way of showing that you are not just moving forward in a beautifully scenic video game, but instead, moving through your own mind as you break down emotional barriers that will potentially lead you to acceptance and inner peace within yourself. The game is full of symbolism, such as the bird representing anger, the water environments signifying tears and sadness. Gris is about teaching yourself to gain your own confidence back and accept who you are as a human being. It is, without a doubt, one of my favourite titles to release this last generation.

on the horizon. Everything within this spectacle flows so smoothly that it seems as if your worries worries just fade away behind you, as you keep moving forward to a beautiful soundtrack that will keep you engrossed until the very end of the game. It is truly a stunning masterpiece in storytelling and gameplay.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Breath of the Wild is a marvel that needs to be experienced by everyone, not just gamers. For me personally, Breath of the Wild is my escape from the tight grasp that anxiety has on me. It can be a peaceful and meditative time while you just wander around, exploring the land, filled with wonder and adventure.

It certainly helps when you are perhaps feeling overwhelmed, and even though it might have not been intended for that, it can make you feel more relaxed according to some studies. It is an astonishing achievement for the video games industry that really immerses you, and it has been proven to raise mood, decrease anxiety, and be beneficial for your wellbeing.

Image: Langgi

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice

You may be confused as to why I picked out a dark fantasy title that has you play as a character suffering from psychological trauma. Well, let me explain. Hellblade is a game like no other, seriously. Its attention to detail, fierce enemies and incredible narrative will have you on the edge of your seat for the majority of the adventure. And with its stunning graphics and superb acting from Melina Juergens, who brings Senua to life, the game will have you experience the mind of someone who is plagued with the mental anguish that is psychosis. Because of this, Senua’s mind will manifest dark and twisted illusions that you must fight to continue forward. While the game is certainly a challenge at times, it is overcoming these obstacles that can give you a real sense of accomplishment. It is a groundbreaking portrayal of mental illness that, in a way, shows empathy to those who deal with psychosis, and believe it or not, has saved many lives in the real world

Stay strong, and stay safe.

There are a lot of games out there that can represent, and help understand mental illnesses in a big way. If you are someone who deals with any kind of mental health problem that is causing you distress, please seek professional help. Your mental health matters. www.exposedmagazine.co.uk | 51

a wellneeded bruce-up Nolan’s Trilogy Re-screened

My first proper trip back to the cinema has been a pretty heavy one, but very satisfying. I came out of the screenings with the biggest smile on my face since meeting Roger Moore!

Cineworld Sheffield have been re-screening the Nolan Dark Knight films during the week in IMAX no less). All three were monumental movies when they were released, and I remember going to the cinema to see all three, although being a little too young to fully appreciate the brilliance of the first two. There was a time when The Dark Knight was the undisputed number 1 on many folks’ greatest films list. All three however, were big deals when released since they brought something to the table that audiences hadn’t experienced from a superhero blockbuster before. Featuring some of the finest writing, acting, cinematography and music to ever grace the screen, Christopher Nolan changed the face of the action blockbuster forever.

I’m going to put this out there right away, this is not a rankings list. Having seen them all back-to-back over the weekend, there is really no difference in quality between them. All of them are superb, and all are very different films that are connected by one narrative. It really does come down to a matter of preference. I asked several people coming in and out what their favourites were.

I expected The Dark Knight to be everyone’s favourite, but I heard quite a few shouts for Rises and several very passionate appraisals about Begins. So, let’s take a loo.k..

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Batman Begins 2005 The profound importance of this film cannot be emphasised enough. In 2005, superhero films were beginning to go sour. Although X-Men and Spider-Man had shown superhero films could be great, films like Hulk, Daredevil and Fantastic Four were demonstrating that for the most part superhero films were still pretty lame!

Batman Begins showed that not only could superhero films be a little bit more than great, they could also be taken seriously as pieces of cinema. Begins ushered in the era of the thinking man’s blockbuster. It featured an emphasis on practical stunts, fantastic haunting visuals that combined realism with the expressionism of a Frank Millar comic book, and stellar acting from everyone involved. My jaw dropped and a tear of joy came into my eye, during the Tumbler car chase. At the heart of it, Begins is a sensitive story of a man wrestling with a crippling and unyielding pain, desperately trying to find a reason for living. On a nerdier point, the choice of Ra’s al Ghul as the film’s villain was a great move, rather than going straight for the more well-known Batman villains. 5/5 The Dark Knight 2008 The one that everyone goes mad for, and there is no difficulty in understanding why.

The Dark Knight moves away from any comic book elements present in Begins, and plays out more like an epic crime thriller, in very much a similar fashion (visually anyway) to Michael Mann’s Heat. The film is very much about three characters, Wayne, the Joker, and Harvey Dent, and explores the complex issues surrounding corruption and morality through all three. Like Begins, everyone is great here, but obviously the star is Ledger. Watching him on the IMAX screen it still stands as the best portrayal of the Joker, and certainly the most frightening. The film has some brilliant set-pieces, my favourite being the ferry finale. The intricately plotted story is still flawlessly

film

Streaming Jim Carrey Dumb and Dumber, The Cable Guy and The Mask: If you’re looking for something to provide the belly laughs over the next few weeks, it is well worth visiting Prime and Netflix for one the 90s best comedic stars. I put on Dumb and Dumber as a stay-in pizza day with a friend and we laughed from the moment it began to the final scene. The sequel has its moments, but is nothing compared to the first. Jeff Daniels, a more dramatic actor, is just as funny as Carrey, finding his own methods of creating comedy opposite his co-star. It’s vulgar, gross and thoroughly childish. If that’s not a good excuse to watch something I don’t know what is!

This led me to look at a couple of Carrey’s other films from that period. It was one of those times where he could do no wrong, even making Batman Forever watchable.

The Cable Guy saw a tiny drop in sales, but was still a significant hit. This features Carrey taking his rubber-faced comedy and applying it to a darker tone befitting a psychological thriller. Carrey is cartoonishly creepy and hysterical at the same time. The only man to make having a lisp priceless.

Matthew Broderick provides a solid foil, and for a change is a somewhat likeable presence.

Finally, and perhaps Carrey’s best role, we have The Mask. Adapted from a very violent satirical comic series from Dark Horse, it was significantly remodelled to fit Carrey’s child-friendly image and really ramped up the cartoon side of the comic, transmitted flawlessly it through its lead actor. It’s also impossible not be quoting the film for days afterwards, and if you’re anything like me you’ll find excuses to use them in any given situation.

engrossing. Probably the most impressively structured of the three as it manages to captivate you at every turn despite the many thousands of cogs, and mostly thanks to Legder, the most iconic. 5/5 The Dark Knight Rises 2012 The darkest thematically, and definitely the most beautiful looking of all three. Rises packs the greatest emotional punch here, as we see Bruce Wayne really at the bottom of a hole. Not just literally I might add, but metaphorically. Following on from the events of Knight, the film is really a thematic sequel to Begins, beginning the trilogy full-circle, as well as confronting Bruce with the notion that perhaps all his efforts as Batman have been useless. The downright terrifying juggernaut that is Tom Hardy’s Bane is evil personified, and his branch of the League of Shadows represents Wayne’s past rising out of the ashes of the Harvey Dent lie, to bring about an apocalyptic end to Gotham.

It features my favourite screenplay with some chilling lines: ‘I didn’t see the light until I was already a man, by then it was nothing to me but blinding!’ The fight scenes in this get you pumped the most, not least because we have two gorgeously set confrontations between the Batman and Bane, the second of which being one of the most epic showdowns in the movies.

Zimmer’s score is at its most bombastic, and the stakes have never been higher as the conclusion brings back the comic book elements we saw in Begins. A very fitting end to the trilogy, and with a wonderfully hopeful yet bittersweet ending. 5/5 www.exposedmagazine.co.uk | 53

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